Author: Patrick Fee

Stonehenge Kennels in West Point, Iowa, is now operating under a new license.  This change has erased all past violations and may dismiss a lawsuit over the government’s oversight of the business.  Stonehenge is one of Iowa’s largest and most troubled dog-breeding operations in the state.

Steve Kruse, longtime owner of Stonehenge Kennels in West Point, Iowa, has been repeatedly cited for failure to provide adequate veterinary care. For decades, Kruse has operated Stonehenge Kennels, a dog-breeding facility.  According to federal inspection records, the kennel has had as many as 700 dogs on site at times.

Federal records collected by the Iowa-based animal welfare group Bailing Out Benji show the animal dealer’s license for Stonehenge Kennels in West Point, is now in the name of  Christine A. Snakenberg and the kennel now has a clean record of compliance; however, Lee County Property Records indicate the land and buildings where the kennel is located are still owned entirely by Kruse.

Over the years, Kruse has been cited for numerous animal-welfare violations but has continued to operate and be relicensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Last year, the ASPCA sued the USDA, alleging the agency had failed to provide adequate oversight and enforcement of federal regulations related to Kruse’s operation. In November 2024, the USDA filed a motion with the court seeking dismissal of the case based on jurisdictional issues.

The court, however, never ruled on that motion and the case has been at a standstill for nine months. On Wednesday, with the motion to dismiss still pending, U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb issued an order noting that the matter might now be moot since Kruse’s three-year license, issued in August 2022, had recently lapsed.

Fire Prevention Week 2025 is Sunday, October 5 through Saturday, October 11^th.   The week in October commemorates the Great Chicago Fire which began on October 8, 1871, and killed over 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed over 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.

This year’s theme is “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home”. This campaign is sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association, and the goal is to educate the public on how to safely purchase, charge, and recycle lithium-ion batteries to prevent fires.  Other things to keep in mind: have a home fire escape plan, test and replace batteries with smoke detectors, and practice natural gas safety.  Area Fire Departments have the opportunity to focus on fire safety education.

The ISU Extension office in Mt. Pleasant is holding an open house/kickoff event for 4-H Kids and families on October 7^th and 8^th.  These events are open to all Henry County families: new and returning, and give people the opportunity to see what 4-H is about.  Tuesday, October 7^th, is Clover Kids Night for grades K-3 from 6-7pm and Wednesday, October 8^th is Welcome Night for grades 4-12.  Explore what 4-H has to offer, meet your local clubs and leaders, get enrolled for the year, explore activity stations.  The Henry County ISU Extension office is located at 127 N. Main Street in Mt. Pleasant.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather outlook for Southeast Iowa for today and tomorrow: Breezy conditions and unseasonably warm temperatures combined with dry cropland will lead to a risk for field fires that could spread quickly today. Winds could gust up to 25 to 30 MPH.  Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Fire danger is elevated again on Sunday.  There is a chance for thunderstorms Sunday night through Monday.

Henry County reported over a dozen field fires in October a year ago due to dry conditions.  The ISU Extension and Outreach Department reports that the primary factor related to field fires is the higher air temperature.

With dry conditions, the risk of machinery fires increases. The Iowa State University Extension Office advises farmers to keep machinery clean of caked-on oil, grease, and crop residue. Stay on top of maintenance by checking air filters, coolants, and oil levels. Keep fire extinguishers on hand.

The City of Danville City Council will hold two meetings on Tuesday, October 6^th.  A motion to meet in closed session will begin at 5:15pm.  There will be no action taken during this meeting.  The council will then meet in regular session at 5:45pm.  This meeting is open to the public.

Gas prices continue to trend down in the latest fuel report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and AAA Iowa The price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Iowa fell five cents from last weeks prices and is down 13 cents from a year ago.

The state’s average remains 30 cents below the national average. Retail diesel prices remained unchanged throughout Iowa at $3.50 cents, which is an increase of 19 cents from prices reported in 2024. Iowa prices remain below the national average for diesel by 21 cents.  Federal reporting will now begin on retail heating oil and propane prices, which will be released in upcoming fuel reports.