Preschool Scholarships

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, August 10th, 2021 at 3:18 pm CDT

Preschool Scholarships are available to qualifying families residing in Des Moines, Henry, Louisa, and Washington Counties; income guidelines apply.  Scholarships are funded by Early Childhood Iowa and administered through Community Action of Southeast Iowa.  Contact Kalisha.Lutz@caofseia.org or 319.753.0193.

Note:  If eligible for free preschool, you are not eligible for a Preschool Scholarship unless denied or on a waitlist for those programs.  Head Start is a free preschool program.  Call your local Community Action Neighborhood Center or apply online at www.caofseia.org.  4 year olds may attend preschool free through local school districts.  Contact www.iowaccrr.org or call 855.244.5301 for free preschool and child care referrals.

Jay “Pete” Wehrle

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, August 10th, 2021 at 1:56 pm CDT

Jay “Pete” Wehrle, 85, died Sunday, August 8, 2021, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.

Pete was born September 8, 1935, in Rome, Iowa, the son of Walter and Anna (Hoffman) Wehrle. He obtained his GED from Burlington High School. On November 21, 1959, Pete was united in marriage to Sally Swailes at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. Pete began his working career at the Ordinance Plant (IAAP) in Middletown where he worked assembling medium- and large-caliber ammunition for the United States Department of Defense from 1958-1964. He then went to work for Monroe (Litton Industries) in Burlington selling calculators and other electric office machines. He was a good salesman and was promoted to Branch Manager of Sales for Monroe in Waterloo. Pete would stay in Waterloo during the week and come home to Mount Pleasant on the weekends. In 1977, a business opportunity in Mount Pleasant presented itself and was offered to Pete. He and his longtime friend, Ron Anderson, purchased Hannum’s Plumbing and Heating. After a few years in business, Pete bought out Ron’s interest in the business. He went on to operate Hannum’s for a number of years until his retirement in 1997.

First and foremost, Pete was a family man.  Family was everything to him and he was a constant source of support, encouragement, and love to those closest to him.  Pete was also an avid sportsman who liked to spend his free time outdoors.  He enjoyed golfing and bicycling, and was a skilled fisherman and hunter.  He also enjoyed hunting mushrooms each spring and always seemed to know where to find a “mess” of them.  Pete found time to give back to the local outdoor community by serving on the Grant Cemetery Board, as well as the Henry County Conservation Board, for a number of years. He was a faithful member of the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.

Pete is survived by his son Mike (Kimberly) Wehrle of Little Rock, AR; two daughters Lisa O’Donnell of Cedar Rapids, Susan (Josh) Day of Batavia, IL; seven grandchildren, Luke, Rachael, and Caroline Wehrle, Tyler (Blake) O’Donnell, Emma, Caden, and Cece Day; a brother Roger (Susan) Wehrle of PonteVedra, FL; five sisters Betty Ensminger of Mount Pleasant, Kay (Jack) Behmer of Urbandale, Diane (Bob) Olaszek of Plainfield, IL, Elizabeth Kerr of Mount Pleasant, Ginny (Jim) Ritchey of Burlington and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, loving wife Sally, brother Jack Wehrle and sister Shirley Wehrle.

Public visitation will be held from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, Friday, August 13, 2021 at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel in Mount Pleasant. A private Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:30 p.m. with Father Paul Connolly, Celebrant. Inurnment will be in the Grant Cemetery near Rome, Iowa. A memorial fund has been established for the Grant Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed at Powell Funeral Home Facebook Page and at  www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Daily Jail Count

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, August 10th, 2021 at 11:50 am CDT

 

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:   08-10-2021______

 

JAIL COUNT

 

  _21_      Henry County Inmates

 

  _47_      Out of County Contract Inmates              

 

 _68_     TOTAL

Car vs Dumptruck

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, August 10th, 2021 at 11:11 am CDT

On August 5 at approximately 2:58 p.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s took a report of a dump truck versus car accident, at the intersection of 260th Street and Marsh Avenue.

After an investigation, it was found that Megan Wagler, 27, of Fairfield, was operating a silver 2012 Toyota Highlander and Kevin Peterson, 60, of Mount Pleasant, was operating a black 1975 Mack dump truck.  Both vehicles were traveling northbound on Marsh Avenue.  At 260th Street, Kevin’s vehicle was turning eastbound when it was rear ended by Megan’s vehicle.

Estimated total damage was approximately $9,000.00 and no injuries were reported.

Man Arrested on Several Assault Charges

By Theresa Rose · Monday, August 9th, 2021 at 10:00 pm CDT

Sunday afternoon the Henry County Sheriff’s office received a report of a vehicle headed west from Winfield on Hwy 78 operated by a driver who was possibly intoxicated.  The driver was identified as Samantha Schaapveld. It was determined that she was being assaulted while driving by David Mertens.  Several individuals tried to assist Schaapveld but were also assaulted by Mertens.  He left the scene in the vehicle and was later stopped by the Iowa State Patrol and arrested by Henry County Deputies.  Mertens was charged with Assault Causing Injury, Assault with No Injury and disorderly contact.  He was taken to the Henry County Jail and later had to be moved to a different cell because he was being unruly.  In the process of being moved Mertens spit on a jailer and was charged with Assault of a Person in Certain Occupations with no injury.  As to Schaapveld she was arrested on multiple charges by Winfield Police.

One Injured in Boat Ramp Incident

By Theresa Rose · Monday, August 9th, 2021 at 9:49 pm CDT

Washington County authorities have not yet released the name of the individual who was seriously injured in an incident that occurred at the Brighton Boat Ramp Saturday night.  Washington Count Communications received a report that a subject had possibly been run over by vehicles that rolled down the boat ramp at 3180 Hwy 1, Brighton.  When officers arrived on the scene there were two pickups on the river bank and one was partially submerged in the river.  The injured person was found near the trucks and was transported by air to University Hospitals in Iowa City.  No other details regarding the incident have been released.

More Road Construction

By Theresa Rose · Monday, August 9th, 2021 at 6:20 pm CDT

Henry County Road Department is placing lane traffic signals for one lane roadway on New London Road south of Lowell until further notice.

Please drive with caution in this area.

Doris Joan Warth

By Theresa Rose · Monday, August 9th, 2021 at 6:18 pm CDT

Doris Joan Warth, 85, of New London, died Saturday, August 7, 2021 at Mercy Hospital, Iowa City.  She was born in Lee County, Iowa September 15, 1935 to Andrew Henry and Bertha Mabel Murphy Hammer.

On October 22, 1966 she married Donald Wesley Warth in West Burlington; he preceded her in death.

She attended Lee County Country School through 8th grade and then attended Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mrs. Warth was a homemaker and was of the Christian faith.  She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, playing cards, and when she could hear…listening to Doris Jean play and sing songs she wrote, crocheting and knitting, going for car rides, and when able she enjoyed sitting outside visiting with friends and neighbors.

Survivors include her daughters Gloria Ann Stenner of Burlington and Doris Jean Warth of New London, one son Donald Wesley Jr. of New London, and five grandchildren, Eugenia, Tamera, Jolene, Ryan and Tyler.  Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Kenneth Hammer and sisters Grace Peek and Mary Wills.

A memorial service will be held at 6:00 pm, Saturday, August 14, 2021 at Elliott Chapel, New London with Pastor Rod Cooper officiating.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 until the time of the service.  A memorial has been established to help with funeral expenses.  Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.