Author: Theresa Rose

This coming Sunday Iowa Wesleyan University presents the SEISO Chamber Orchestra and Iowa
Wesleyan Vocal Department in a free holiday concert that will include both chamber works and holiday
music with works by John Rutter, Leroy Anderson, Antonio Vivaldi and traditional carols. SEISO Music
Director, Robert McConnell and Iowa Wesleyan Vocal Director Blair Buffington will be working with
musicians and students from the Southeast Iowa area.
The concert is supported by free will offerings and the Clear Creek Heritage Association and takes place
in the beautiful former St. Peters & Paul church in the countryside southwest of Keota, Iowa.
Sunday, December 5th. 2 PM.
St. Peters & Paul Church (Clear Creek Heritage Association). Harper, IA
For directions and information please visit their website: www.clearcreekheritageassociation.org or call
319.636.3018.

A recent survey found nearly half of the 2,000 consumers surveyed are dreading the holidays due to the financial costs.  There are ways to reduce the financial stress of the holidays and purchase gifts that promote financial wellness.

• Start with creating a budget for all your holiday expenses such as gas, food, decor, holiday cards, and travel.  Include a predetermined monetary amount for each person on your gift-giving list.  Sticking to a budget will prevent you from spending more than you can afford.
• Consider using a cashback credit card or other similar rewards offer, but only if you can use credit responsibly and can pay off the balance in full.
• If using credit cards is a struggle, consider using cash for all purchases and next year begin saving year-round. You may also want to consider a prepaid card to help you stick within your budget.
• Credit cards provide protections that may not be available with debit cards.

• When shopping online protect yourself and your money by keeping your phone or computer updated and having unique usernames and passwords for each site.
• Avoid using free wifi and unsecured connections to make financial transactions.
• Beware of phishing, which is when a scammer sends an email that appears to be from a legit company in an attempt to obtain your personal information.  If you receive an email from a retailer with a special sale offer, go to a new browser and type in the website URL to guarantee you are visiting the correct site.
• Watch for grammatical errors, misspelled or extra words or numbers in a web address which may signal a scam.
• Before doing business with a new company, read customer reviews and search the business name followed by the word “scam”.  Also, be aware if there is a limited amount of contact information on the website.
• Monitor your credit cards and bank statements so you may report any suspicious activity immediately.

If you need gift ideas this year, consider these financial gifts:

• Donate to a loved one’s favorite charity and inquire with your tax advisor to see if the donation is tax-deductible.
• Purchase stock they will recognize and have an interest in.
• Contribute to a 529 plan.
• Contribute to the IRA of an eligible loved one with earned income.
• Give the gift of cash and provide ideas on how to grow the money in a CD or investment account.  Save 4 Later Iowa provides financial education for free.
• Pay for a visit to a licensed financial advisor.
• Give the gift of financial learning with a book about finances.
• Purchase a savings bond for your loved one.

If you purchase or receive gifts such as jewelry, art, or collectibles make sure they are properly insured by contacting your licensed insurance agent to discuss if your new possession should be insured with a rider to your homeowners or renters policy.

If you have leftover money in your budget, give yourself a gift by placing it in your IRA, emergency fund, or that holiday spending account for next year.

In the interest of keeping Henry County residents informed, the Henry County Sheriff’s office has requested KILJ post the daily jail count. During the jail referendum campaign it was publicized that the jail would be able to house additional inmates from surrounding counties and this would generate revenue for Henry County.

Date:   ____12-2-2021_____

JAIL COUNT

  17_    Henry County Inmates

 52_    Out of County Contract Inmates              

 69   Total

Mount Pleasant Community School District

 School Board SITE COMMITTEE MEETING

 Mt. Pleasant CSD – Central Office

1010 East Washington Street – Suite 102

Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641

 The Mount Pleasant Board of Education SITE COMMITTEE will meet at 4:30 PM on Thursday, December 2, 2021 to review/discuss:

1. SAVE (Penny Sales Tax) Funding Update
2. ESSER III Plan
3. Master Planning Update
4. Elementary Roof Restoration Update

 The meeting is open to the public and patrons are welcome.

On Thursday, November 25, 2021, at approximately 4:52pm, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a motor vehicle rollover accident near the intersection of 260^th Street and Highway 34.

Upon investigation it was discovered that Kyler Robbins (14) of Mount Pleasant had driven from 260^th Street and onto Highway 34 west bound in front of another vehicle being driven by Grant Williams (21) of West Des Moines.  Kyler’s actions caused Grant to swerve and avoid a collision.  This resulted with Grant’s vehicle rolling over and landing in the ditch.  There did not appear to be any contact made between the two vehicles.

Grant reported minor injuries and was treated by Henry County Ambulance Crew at the scene.

Kyler was cited for Improper Lane Change.

Deputies, Iowa State Patrol, and First Responders responded to the accident.

The Mt Pleasant Police Department participated in the Safety Traffic Enforcement Program (sTEP) during Nov 15, 2021-Nov 28, 2021 with numerous agencies across the State of Iowa in an attempt to reduce fatal car crashes.

During this time frame, there were 473 contacts made. As a result of these contacts the following occurred:

1 OWI

30 citations

100 warnings

5 felony arrests

2 narcotic arrests

14 motorist assists

The Mt Pleasant PD encourages everyone to buckle up, slow down, and don’t get distracted while driving.