The Mount Pleasant City Council voted Wednesday night to approve the plans and specs for the next phase of the city rec trail. This section will run from South Street north on Jefferson to Webster, to Warren to the Family Aquatic Center. It is hoped construction can start the first part of August. Bid letting will take place June 16 in Ames at the Iowa Department of Transportation. This is because the City is receiving $257,000 from the IDOT for the project. $100,000 is coming from a Wellmark Blue Cross health initiative grant.
City Hopes to Open Family Aquatic Center
The Governor has said public swimming pools can be open to the extent that the facility takes reasonable measures under the circumstances to ensure social distancing of employees and patrons, increased hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with Guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health. But many communities are not opening their city pools because those measures seem overwhelming. At Wednesday night’s Mount Pleasant City Council meeting City Administrator Brent Schleisman said he and Park and Rec Director Gary Grunow are hoping to open the Family Aquatic Center in a couple of weeks. They want to make sure they can implement the plan they have come up with but are still working on that plan. The staff will need to have some training and they want some time to sell season passes.
What About Old Threshers?
On the same day the Governor issued a new proclamation easing restrictions on businesses and other public places the Iowa State Fair Board decided there would not be a 2020 Iowa State Fair. That decision was expected to come next week but the board voted Wednesday 11 to 2 to cancel this year’s event. Midwest Old Threshers Administrator Terry McWilliams had postponed the Association’s Board meeting until next week, waiting to see what would happen with the state fair. McWilliams said it will be up to his board whether or not to cancel the annual reunion in Mount Pleasant but they will be looking to him for a recommendation. As of last night McWilliams is determined to have reunion if possible. But he continues to wrestle with how he can make that happen if the 6 foot social distancing recommendations are still in place. He is hearing from those who don’t feel it’s wise to bring all those visitors into town and those who say the town needs the economic boost and he understands both. Unofficially, the Midwest Railroad organization says it can’t operate the train, a favorite attraction, if social distancing is still 6 foot. McWilliams said he can put off a decision until the first of July.
Woman Chased Down After Stealing
On 6/10/20, the Mt Pleasant Police Department responded to Wal Mart located at 1045 N Grand Ave in Mt Pleasant IA for a reported fight in the parking lot. It was determined that a female later identified as Sherry Foster of E Moline IL, had stolen a purse from an 82 year old victim in the bathroom.
Foster was then chased through the store by witnesses in an attempt to get the purse back. Foster then took off in a vehicle and was eventually located by a DOT Officer near the Henry/Washington County Line.
Foster was taken into custody for the theft and transported to the Henry County Jail where she was held pending arraignment. Foster was charged with Theft 3rd, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Equipment.
Some items were recovered and a search warrant for the vehicle will be executed.
The Mt Pleasant Police was assisted by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Transportation, Newberry’s Towing, and numerous Wal Mart staff and community members.
2020 Iowa State Fair Postponed
Wednesday afternoon the Iowa State Fair board met to discuss whether the 2020 Fair would take place. On an 11-2 vote, board members voted to postpone the 2020 fair to 2021 amid ongoing coronavirus concerns.
Board members said the decision was made to protect the health and safety of all fairgoers. The State Fair had been scheduled for August 13-23, 2020.
According to a news release, the Iowa State Fair Board delayed a decision as long as possible and believed it was important to make a decision on the Fair now in order to give concessionaires, vendors and fairgoers enough notice.
Several states, like Minnesota and Wisconsin, had already canceled their fairs due to COVID-19 concerns.
Governor Eases Business Restrictions
Gov. Reynolds signs new proclamation continuing the State Public Health Emergency Declaration
DES MOINES – Today, Governor Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency. The proclamation, effective at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, June 12, 2020, continues to ease restrictions on businesses and extends other public measures until Thursday, June 25, 2020. It still encourages all vulnerable Iowans, in all counties, to continue to limit their activities outside of the home.
The full proclamation is online in its entirety and substantive information can be found below:
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has reported an outbreak of thousands of cases of Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in multiple countries, causing illness and deaths; and
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services declared a national public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency was issued to coordinate the State of Iowa’s response to this outbreak and such disaster continues to exist; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation declaring that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a national emergency; and
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, a Proclamation of Public Health Disaster Emergency was issued to provide additional needed resources and measures to respond to this disaster, and such public health disaster continues to exist; and
WHEREAS, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 may be substantially reduced by continuing to ensure business takes appropriate public health precautions while reopening.
NOW THEREFORE, I, KIMBERLY K. REYNOLDS, Governor of the State of Iowa, by the power and authority vested in me by the Iowa Constitution, Art. IV, §§ 1, 8 and Iowa Code §§ 29C.6(1), 135.140(6), and 135.144 do hereby proclaim a STATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTER EMERGENCY continues to exist throughout the entire state of Iowa and do hereby ORDER and DIRECT the following:
Mary E. Longanecker
Mary E. Longanecker, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at her home with her family by her side, having fought a long and courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer.
According to her wishes Mary’s body was donated to University of Iowa Deeded Body Program for medical research. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at Olson~Powell Memorial Chapel. A Celebration of Mary’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., that same day at the Memorial Chapel with Pastor Joann Lemme officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in Forest Home Cemetery. Gifts of love and friendship may be given to Breast Cancer Research Foundation. On-line condolences may be directed to www.olsonpowell.com.
Mary was born in Clarksville, IA, baptized as an infant at St. John’s Lutheran Church and received catechism and communion in Clarksville. She was the eleventh child of Charles Jacobs and the tenth child of Tena (Fischer) Jacobs. She was blessed with many relatives and especially her nieces and nephews. She attended school in Clarksville. In 1960, Mary married Gary Poock who preceded her in death on March 4, 1969, and this union had two children: Lance (Joe) Poock of Poincians, FL and Lori (Alan) Poock Goerdt of Vancouver, WA. In 1970, Mary married Edwin Longanecker in Fairfield, IA, and together they had one son, Edwin III (Heather) Longanecker of Austin, TX. From this union were two grandchildren, Jack and Katie.
During her life, Mary was active in her community. She graduated from Southeastern Community College, cum laude, as a certified laboratory technician and provided those services at Henry County Hospital for many years. She was a legal secretary for Gartin and Elgar Law Firms, an executive assistant for Heatilator Industries in Mt. Pleasant and served as a hospice volunteer.
Mary’s favored pastimes included playing bridge, bowling, tennis, golf, water and snow skiing, and was a serious antique collector, having served at the state level as an officer of Questers International. When younger, she was a boater and camped often with family and friends. She was a strong advocate for her children and mentor for many and will be remembered for her beauty, her gentleness and kindness to others, and for a prevailing positive spirit.
During her second marriage, Mary and her husband were active in the community, participated in Mt. Pleasant’s downtown revitalization, owned and operated Main Street Shoe Company, several apartment complexes, owner and director of Mapleleaf Healthcare Center and Mapleleaf Apartments, and Iris City Cleaners.
Surviving Mary is her husband, Ed, of 49 years, her children and grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, first husband, and many siblings.
Car/Cow Accident
On June 9th, 2020, at approximately 01:00 a.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a motor vehicle collision with a cow in the 1500-grid of US Highway 218. An investigation determined that Jorge Ayala-Aguilar, operator of a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, struck a cow that entered the roadway as he traveled Northbound. The collision resulted in injuries to the driver, the cow dying, and the vehicle was also a total loss. The driver complained of back pain and was transported to Henry County Health Center via EMS.
***A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.***