Author: Theresa Rose

So far there have been no reports that any tornadoes were spotted Sunday in Henry County but the high winds, hail and heavy rainfall were enough to cause alarm.  A severe thunderstorm warning went out about 6:30 pm followed by the high winds that brought what looked like a sandstorm. Temps dropped and the skies became dark as the winds reached reported speeds of 60 plus miles per hour. The rain finally arrived and continued thru the night. Totals varied. So far this morning the KILJ report is .52 inches Mount Pleasant Utilities had to dispatch crews to deal with a widespread power outage. Some parts of town maintained power thru out the storm.  Other areas lost electricity as soon as the winds became severe and as of 8:30 pm were still without.  There were also power outages reported in the rural areas. KILJ is checking in with electric providers and Mount Pleasant Public Works Department today for other reportable damages.

As far as damage, the front window of the HyVee convenience store behind the check out area blew out causing damage inside and outside the store. No injuries were reported. And the store opened as usual this morning. Semis had a hard time staying upright and of course limbs and trees came down.

Just after 8 pm there was a report of a motor vehicle crash at the corner of  South Main and Warren  in Mount Pleasant involving a Arkansas Vortex storm chaser vehicle and a truck. It looks like the storm chaser vehicle was headed south on Main when the driver of the truck pulled in to the path of the storm chaser vehicle. Just before 9 pm the Mount Pleasant Fire Department and other responders were called out headed north on Grand Avenue.  We are checking in with fire and law enforcement officials for more details.

Saturday night at about 7:30 Mount Pleasant police were called to investigate a motor vehicle crash involving a motorcycle at the intersection of South Walnut and East Washington Streets. Eiman Mahammad Ali of Iowa City was driving a car south on Walnut.  Ali failed to obey the traffic signal at Washington Street and continued south thru the intersection where his vehicle hit a motorcycle operated by Randy Corbisier of Mount Pleasant.  The car then went over the curb and hit a fire hydrant and a tree. Corbisier was taken to Henry County Health Center and then airlifted to Iowa City.

Early Saturday morning Mount Pleasant Police attempted a traffic stop in the 1100 block of East Washington Street. The driver of the passenger van, Dewayne Lenoir Junior of Mount Pleasant, failed to stop and instead tried to elude the officer. The pursuit continued east on Washington for several blocks. The driver did finally stop in the 2200 block of East Washington but after getting out of the van failed to follow police directions. He was eventually taken into custody and charged with eluding, interference with official acts and driving under suspension. Mount Pleasant Police were assisted with the incident by Henry Count Sheriff’s Deputies.

Friday night the Mount Pleasant Fire Department responded to a call at 1201 East Monroe Street just before 7 pm.  There was a fire outside a garage walk-in door. Two engines and ten firefighters were on the scene for less than 30 minutes.  The fire remains under investigation.

Congratulations to recently named award recipients of the 2023 Access Energy Cooperative Lineworker Scholarship program! Receiving $2000 toward a line worker educational program are Payton Stevens and Vegas Watson. Payton will graduate from Central Lee High School. His plans are to attend the Powerline program at Northwest Community College. Vegas will graduate from New London High School, and also will be attending the Powerline program at Northwest Community College. In addition to the $9000 in scholarship money awarded to students whose parents or guardians of the applicant are members of Access Energy Cooperative, up to two $2000 line worker scholarships can be awarded to students planning to pursue a career as a line worker. Winners are chosen based on their academics, achievements, community involvement, and a personal interview. They must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a lineworker educational program. Access Energy Cooperative is a rural distribution electric cooperative, providing power to homes, farms, business and industry in 10 southeast Iowa counties.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered flags in Iowa to half staff today (Friday) for the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony as the state honors law enforcement who died in the line of duty over the past year. Two officers will be honored during the 2023 ceremony: Fremont County Deputy Austin “Melvin” Richardson and Coralville Police Sergeant John Karl Williams. Richardson was returning from a call for service on June 14, 2022, and collided with a combine on Highway 275 near Hamburg. On July 3, 2022, Williams died of cardiac arrest after responding to a fatal shooting involving a three-year-old child. Reynolds says, “These officers lost their lives defending and protecting their communities. The community of Coralville, the state of Iowa, and their brothers and sisters in law enforcement will never forget their service. While their families and our state continue to grieve, lowering flags across the state serves as a small memory of their sacrifice and is a reminder to every Iowan the importance of law enforcement to our communities.” Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex from sunrise to sunset today (Friday), May 5. Flags will also be at half-staff on all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties, and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.