Author: Theresa Rose

On the evening of Friday, January 7, a correctional officer was assaulted by an inmate at the Iowa State Penitentiary.

The department can confirm that the inmate approached the officer at his post and a short time after the inmate began assaulting the officer. Nearby staff were alerted and responded to restrain the inmate. As a result of the incident, the facility has been placed on modified restricted movement until further notice.

The officer was transported by department vehicle to the local hospital and after further evaluation was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for examination and observation. The department continues to follow the recovery of the officer closely. The inmate was found to have not suffered any injuries.

The department is continuing to collect and confirm all details and the incident remains under investigation.

At approximately 12:55 AM the Washington County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a house fire at 1047 Vine Ave., Riverside with two occupants inside. There were visible smoke and flames showing when emergency responders arrived on the scene. Two bodies were recovered from the house. Emergency personnel from the Riverside Fire Department, Ainsworth Fire Department, Kalona Fire Department, Wellman Fire Department and Wellman Rescue, Hills Fire Department, Lone Tree Fire Department, Riverside First Responders, Washington County Ambulance, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office all responded to the scene. They were assisted by Washington County Secondary Roads, Eastern Iowa Light & Power, Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral Home, and the Washington County Medical Examiner. The fire is under investigation and the bodies were sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny for autopsy. Further information will be released when it becomes available.

At approximately 8:10pm on Friday, January 7, 2022, Washington County Communications
dispatch received a 9-1-1 call from a male indicating he had been shot.
Officers with the Washington Police Department located the victim at the intersection of South
Iowa and East Monroe. The victim was transported by the Washington County Ambulance
Service to the University of Iowa Hospital with a single gunshot wound.
It was determined the shooting had occurred in a parking lot in the 600 block of West Adams.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Washington
Police Department at 319-653-2107. There is no threat to the public at this time.
The Washington Police Department was assisted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office,
Washington County Attorney’s Office, Washington EMS, Washington County Ambulance
Service, Keota Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Transportation Motor
Vehicle Enforcement, University of Iowa Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal
Investigation.

Gov. Kim Reynolds  announces her appointment of Joshua Schier as a district court judge in Judicial Election District 8B.  Schier, of Burlington, Iowa, currently practices law with the Cray Law Firm in Burlington. Schier received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Illinois University and his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. Schier fills the vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of District Court Judge Mark Kruse. Judicial Election District 8B includes Des Moines, Henry, Lee, and Louisa counties. 

Free Christmas tree pickup for Mount Pleasant residents has been scheduled for the week of January 10, weather permitting. The pickup will be done in conjunction with the normal garbage collection schedule.  If you do not use the City garbage collection service you may need to call City Hall at 319-385-1470 to find out when garbage is picked up on your street.

Live trees should be placed next to the curb.  Please remove plastic coverings, decorations and tinsel before putting the tree out for pickup.

Monday, January 10, the Iowa Legislature will convene in Des Moines for the 2022 legislative session. On Tuesday, January 11 Governor Kim Reynolds will address the legislature and the residents of Iowa when she delivers her Condition of the State message. KILJ FM 105.5 will carry the Governor’s speech live at 6 pm Tuesday.

On January 6, 2022, at approximately 7:18 P.M., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of 210^th Street and Racine Avenue, near Mount Union, for multiple traffic violations.

Upon approaching the driver, later identified as Shawn Edward Stein, 39, of Winfield, deputies observed open containers of alcohol in the vehicle and asked Stein to step out of the vehicle to make sure he was not impaired.

After further investigation, Methamphetamine drug paraphernalia was located on Stein’s person.  Stein further stated he had consumed alcohol prior in the evening.

Resulting from the investigation Stein was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – (Serious Misdemeanor) and cited for Open Container – Driver 21 Years Old and Older (Non-Scheduled Violation)

Mount Pleasant, Iowa, [January 7, 2022] –  Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, Henry County Health Center reminds the public of its current visitation policy. During this pandemic, we are prepared and committed to caring for you and your loved ones. Our current safety precautions require the following:

• Visitors are allowed for inpatients, hospital-based clinics, Laboratory, Radiology and the Emergency Department and must be at least 18 years of age. Visitors are only allowed if they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and are required to wear a mask at all times while in the health center. Visitors are required to be screened when they enter the facility. Any visitor who fails the COVID-19 screening will not be allowed into the health center. Children under the age of 18 are not allowed unless the child is the patient.
• Inpatient visitor rules and requirements:
  • Visiting hours for inpatients is 10 am-4 pm.
  • Each patient may have one visitor at a time during visiting hours only.
  • Permitted visitors must stay in the patient’s room during their visit.
  • Visitors for patients who are COVID-19 positive or patients considered under investigation for COVID-19 will be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Support may be provided via telephone or video visiting if visitation is not allowed.
• For outpatient services, patients may have one visitor with them. This includes Surgery and the Emergency Department.

Please remember to social distance in the halls and waiting areas, practice good hand hygiene, cover your coughs and sneezes, and stay home when ill to protect our community and help stop the spread of COVID-19.

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