September 27 at about 8:30 pm Mount Pleasant Police received a report of a two vehicle collision at the intersection of South Jefferson Street and West Washington Street. Jason Vanzile was stopped at the northbound red light on Jefferson in the left turn lane. As the light turned green Vanzile observed a van driven by Jesus Baeza headed south on Jefferson approaching the intersection. Baeza activated his turn signal for a right turn. Vanzile said he assumed Baeza was turning right so he turned left. However, Baeza continued straight thru the intersection hitting the Vanzile vehicle. Vanzile pulled over but Baeza continued south on Jefferson Street. Vanzile was found to be a fault for failing to yield the right of way upon a left turn. Baeza was located at his home where it was discovered that he did not have a valid driver’s license. He received a citation and was also warned for leaving the scene of an accident.
Harold R. Steele
Harold R. Steele, 97, of formerly of Wayland, died Sunday, September 27, 2020, at Halcyon House in Washington. A funeral service will be held Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 10AM the Beatty Funeral Home in Washington with social distancing guidelines observed. The service will be available via livestream on the Beatty Peterseim Facebook page. Burial will follow at the Crawfordsville Cemetery. An open visitation will be held Wednesday, September 30, from 9 AM to 7 PM at the Beatty Funeral Home in Washington. A memorial fund has been established for the United Church of Crawfordsville and Every Step Hospice in Mt. Pleasant.
Harold Ray Steele was born January 27, 1923, in Ainsworth, IA, the son of Ray and Elsie (Wingler) Steele. He was united in marriage to Marcia Allen on February 27, 1943 in Canton, MO. Harold was a farmer the majority of his life, except for seven years when he worked as a tractor mechanic for Lucky Implement in Columbus Jct. In 1950 he and Marcia bought a farm northwest of Wayland and he farmed that land until retirement. Harold was a member of the United Church of Crawfordsville and the Circle 8 Square Dancing Club. He enjoyed telling stories, working with cows and calves and woodworking.
Survivors include two children: Doug (Carolyn) Steele of Crawfordsville, IA, Brian (Heather) Steele of Mechanicsville, IA, five grandchildren; Carmen, Carrie, Cory, Heidi and Derek, and five great grandchildren; Emma, Kylee, Clayton, McKenna and Mason.
Preceding Harold in death were his parents, his wife Marcia in 2014, and four sisters: Wilma Beauregard, Edith Nicholson, Luvania Kauffman and Betty Eash.
Hills Man Sentenced to 22 years in Prison for Child Sex Trafficking, Methamphetamine, and Firearms Offenses
DES MOINES, Iowa – On September 24, 2020, Kendall Andrew Streb, age 53, of Hills,
Iowa, was sentenced to a total of 268 months in prison after being found guilty by a jury of three
counts of child sex trafficking, two counts of distributing methamphetamine to children, one count
of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of being an unlawful user in
possession of a firearm, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking
crime. The case was presided over by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose.
During trial, the government presented evidence that Streb trafficked three teenagers in
Iowa City, Coralville, and Cedar Rapids, primarily from November 2018 through February 2019.
Streb solicited the three minors, aged 15 through 17 years old, by paying them in cash and
methamphetamine in exchange for sex acts. Streb, at times, transported the teenagers to hotel
rooms where he engaged in commercial sex acts with them. The evidence at trial showed that Streb
knew one or more of the girls was under 18 years old, and he was otherwise was in reckless
disregard of the fact that they were under the age of 18. Sex trafficking of a child is punishable by
a minimum of ten years in prison, and up to life imprisonment.
United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum stated, “Kendall Streb will spend the next two
decades in federal prison because he knowingly exploited teenage girls by paying them for sex.
This sentence should serve as a wake-up call to anyone who believes he can escape serious criminal
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consequences if he is ‘just a john.’ We will continue to aggressively prosecute both buyers and
sellers who sexually abuse children.”
Human trafficking is defined as a crime involving the exploitation of youth under the age
of 18 for commercial sex; the exploitation of adults for commercial sex through the use of force,
fraud, or coercion; and the exploitation of any individual for compelled labor. Human trafficking
does not require the transportation of individuals across state lines, or that someone is physically
restrained. Signs that a person is being trafficked can include working excessively long hours,
unexplained gifts, physical injury, substance abuse issues, running away from home, isolation from
others, or having a person in their life controlling them or monitoring them closely.
Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring, be it a minor engaging in paid sex
acts, or anyone being coerced into prostitution or labor, is urged to call the National Human
Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
This matter was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department, with assistance from the
Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Coralville
Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the
Southern District of Iowa.
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Burlington Man Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Prison for Meth Offense
DAVENPORT, Iowa—On September 25, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced Norris Davison, age 39, of Burlington, to 188 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. Following his
prison term, Davison will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Davison admitted to conspiring to distribute four kilograms of ice methamphetamine in the Burlington area. Davison’s criminal history included convictions for a felony drug offense, and three felony convictions for unlawfully possessing weapons. This matter was investigated by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, and the Burlington Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Deer Hits Windshield
On September 25th, 2020, at approximately 05:15 p.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a deer versus car accident in the 2400-grid of US Highway 34. An investigation determined that Linda Newcomb of Burlington, 38, operator of a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country, was headed eastbound when a deer entered the roadway causing a collision. The deer hit the front windshield causing the glass to shatter. The driver of the vehicle sustained minor lacerations from the glass, the 2 juvenile passengers were not injured. The vehicle sustained disabling damages and was towed.
Lura L. Anderson
Mount Pleasant Community School District School Board Work Session
Date Monday, September 28, 2020 6:00 PM
Mount Pleasant Community School District: High School Media Center
Mount Pleasant, Iowa 52641
- Call to Order
- Roll Call
- Approval of Agenda
- FY20 End of Year Financial Overview
- Return to Learn Plan Review
- Legislative Forum – Jeff Reichman, candidate for Iowa Senate District #42
- Adjournment