Author: Theresa Rose

Construction work on Iowa Avenue south of Mt. Pleasant will take place on Thursday, July 22nd.

Portable traffic signals will be utilized, as traffic will be limited to one lane.

Please travel this area with caution.

Are you eager to put your professional skills to work for the greater good of your community? If so, Henry County Habitat for Humanity is seeking skilled carpenters and board members.  Both opportunities offer you the chance to be a part of making positive changes to our community and the families that live within it. Habitat offers opportunities to volunteers with different time commitments and requirements, meaning you can serve in whatever capacity works for your passion, goals, and lifestyle..  Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity is fun, fast paced and fulfilling.  Together, we can all help build a community where everyone has a decent and safe place to live.  through our efforts, families achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life.  Please contact Lisa Diener at 319-931-0656 or  hchhinia@yahoo.com if you are looking for a service opportunity to build on the skills you have already gained.

If you have a dream of owning your own business, the Dream Builder class is a great place to start. The Dream Builder program will be coming to Mount Pleasant beginning in September.

“A common analogy of a strong economic development strategy is that of a three-legged stool. The first leg, and the one that gets the most attention, is attracting new business. The second leg, and one that is just as important, is retention which is the act of helping an existing business grow. But that third leg of the stool is the one that most people dream about – the act of entrepreneurship and owning your own business” explained Kristi Perry, Executive Vice President of the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance.

If you have always dreamed of owning your own business, we encourage you to join us for Dream Builder. This course helps you explore and plan your dream, market and sell your dream, manage and profit from your dream plus much more. Dream Builder is a hybrid of online courses that teach you how to start or grow your own business. It also incorporates local speakers and conversations with successful businesses right here in our own community.

The cost to attend this session is $120 per business idea. If you complete the entire seven-week course, that money will be refunded to you. Once completed, you will walk away with a business plan and will even have the opportunity to pitch your business idea for prize money.

If you are interested, please contact Kristi Perry at 319-385-3101 or email kristi@mpiowa.org. This program is brought to you by the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance, Main Street Mount Pleasant and America’s Small Business Development Center.

Test Iowa has transitioned from hosting drive-through sites to providing take-home test kits and Henry County Public Health will become a pick-up site for the free test kits effective Thursday, July 22^nd. These test kits will be saliva sample PCR tests that you can do at home and send directly to the State Hygienic Lab.

To request a test please call our office at 319-385-0779 to make an appointment. Please do not come inside our office if you are sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. The test kit will contain instructions and samples can be returned using a UPS drop-off box (at U.S. Bank, Pilot, and Alaniz in Mt. Pleasant). Visit testiowa.com for more information or contact their call center at 833-286-8378.

Ending this pandemic is a group effort and we need to use every tool available. The COVID-19 vaccines are extremely effective and safe, and the best way to keep us on the right track is for every eligible adult and child to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, please continue to wear a mask, social distance, and make a plan to get vaccinated. Find more information at HealthyHenryCounty.org/covid.

On July 19th at approximately 11:38 a.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office was investigating a possible stolen or abandoned vehicle. While investigating, Levi Rogers, 32, drove up in a car and it was discovered he was driving on a suspended license. Levi was arrested for Driving While Suspended, a Serious Misdemeanor. Further investigation was conducted, subsequently, Levi was also charged with Criminal Mischief 3^rd and Theft 5^th for cutting off and attempting to sell a catalytic convertor.

***A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.***

On July 19^th at approximately 8:20 a.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a single motor vehicle collision in the 2300-grid of 220^th Street.  An investigation into the collision determined Bryan Kinsey, 20 of Wapello, was driving a pickup west bound on 220^th Street.  He lost control of the vehicle striking the end of a guard rail and going into the ditch.  Mr. Kinsey was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.  The damage to the vehicle was estimated at $6000.  The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by New London Fire and Rescue and the Henry County Health Center Ambulance.