Ronald L. DeWitt, of Cedar Rapids and formerly of Mt. Pleasant, died Wednesday, September23, 2020 at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids.
Funeral arrangements are pending at the Kimzey Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant. On line condolences may be left at www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.
The number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Henry County has spiked again. About 30 new cases are being reported since Wednesday’s numbers were posted. Henry County Public Health Director Shelley Van Dorin said Thursday morning that cases at the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility are still affecting county numbers after testing was done there again yesterday. But she said there is now widespread community positivity. The 14 day average positivity percentage also went up from 17.7 percent Wednesday to 19.9 percent today. The prison numbers from September 14 are still affecting that. Van Dorin hopes that percentage will look better September 28 when those numbers no longer count. Van Dorin continues to emphasize wearing masks, avoiding large gatherings and practicing good personal hygiene.
Three people were injured in a single vehicle accident Tuesday night. The three were not from Henry County but the crash occurred on Hwy 34 just east of Henry Jefferson Avenue in Henry County. At about 10:30 pm the Iowa State Patrol, Henry County Sheriff’s office, ambulance and MP fire all responded to the scene. Connor Sheehan, of Ottumwa, was driving west on 34 when the vehicle went off the roadway. Sheehan over corrected and lost control. The car went off the roadway and rolled. Three passengers were injured. Madison Beltran, of Ottumwa, was transported to HCHC and airlifted to Iowa City from there. Michael Cole, also of Ottumwa, was taken by ambulance to HCHC and Emily Orman, of Oskaloosa was transported by private vehicle. The driver is charged with failure to maintain control.
Dr. Grant McPheron has joined his father, Dr. Robert McPheron at McPheron Optometry in New London. A recent graduate of Southern California College of Optometry, McPheron is now licensed to provide comprehensive eye exams, emergency eye care, glaucoma treatment, contact lens services and more. He is the third generation optometrist in the McPheron family, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who founded McPheron Optometry in 1951. He is also a graduate of New London High School and the University of Northern Iowa.
McPheron Optometry has also recently completed a new building project, relocating just next door to their former office at 107 West Main St. in New London. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday and Saturdays.
Congratulations to this year’s New London Homecoming Court, announced Wednesday night during Boom Night activities. The Queen candidates are:
Marah Hartrick, Clara Jones, Kyra Lincoln, Sophie Riegard and Ivonna Lajznerova.
The King Candidates are:
Brody Butterbaugh, Currey Jacobs, Clayton Phillips, Caydin Wahls and Mac White.
The King and Queen will be crowned Friday night.
A change in dates allowing fireworks in Mount Pleasant is one step closer to happening. At the regular meeting of the City Council Wednesday, the members passed the second reading of an amendment to the ordinance. The amendment shortens the time period to June 21 thru July 6. Council member Terry McWilliams was the one nay vote. The Council has been split in their opinions on this topic since first hearing from residents this year. There were more complaints called into the police than previous years and there were residents who asked the council to at least shorten the time frame for the legal use of fireworks.
The Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, and Fairfield Economic Development Association, with the support of presenting sponsor Freeman Kevenides Law Firm have partnered to present the 2020 Fairfield Area Candidate Forum series on Tuesday, October 6th, and 7th, 2020.
On Tuesday, October 6th, Bart Richmond and Tracy Vance, the candidates for Jefferson County Sheriff will weigh in on a variety of questions, with doors opening at 5:45PM and the moderator, Lindsay Bauer, Executive Director for the Civic Center introducing candidates at 6:15PM. The sheriff’s forum will end at 7PM and Dee Sandquist, Susie Drish, Nick Adam, and Keith Vlademar, the four candidates vying for Jefferson County Supervisor, will be introduced at 7:05PM. The event will end at 8:30PM.
On Wednesday, October 7th, Rich Taylor and Jeff Reichman, the candidates for the Iowa Senate District 42, Joe Mitchell and Jeff Fager, candidates for House of Reps District 84, and Phil Miller and Jeff Shipley, candidates for House of Reps District 82 will be introduced at 6:15PM. The event will end at 8:30PM.
The events will be held at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center with doors opening at 5:45PM each night. Seating will begin at 5:50PM. Due to current CDC guidelines, the in-person capacity of the Civic Center will be limited to sixty people.
This event is free and open to the public but due to limited seating, there is a lottery for open attendee seats. Interested persons should sign up for the seat lottery by one of three ways. You may call the Chamber at 641-472-2111, or email ceo@fairfieldiowa.com. You may also apply online at www.growfairfield.com/2020forum. Seats will be drawn on Friday 10/1/20 and seat recipient names will be posted on the above websites. At 6:05PM both nights, any unclaimed seats will be released to people who are in line for the event but not registered in the lottery.
Livestreaming of both these events will be available on the Fairfield Media Centers YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/FFMediaCenter or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FairfieldMediaCenter/ . Both nights will also be available for later viewing at those websites. 1570 KMCD radio will also host a radio broadcast of the events in cooperation with the Media Center.
Questions for the candidates may be submitted by calling or emailing the Chamber, or online at the FEDA website, as shown above.
Per Civic Center policy, all attendees must wear a mask as the enter, leave, or move about the Civic Center. Once individuals are seated, masks may be removed as long as the individual stays seated.
Due to the uncertainty of the pandemic environment, last minute changes that move the events to only online will be posted at the Chamber and FEDA websites, as well as the Civic Center website, www.fairfieldacc.com.
