Eight employees at West Liberty Foods in Mount Pleasant have tested positive for COVID-19.
West Liberty says everyone who may be at an elevated risk of contracting the illness has been notified.
Friday morning, just after 9:30, Mount Pleasant Police attempted to initiate a traffic stop in the 100 block of North Cherry. The stop involved a motorcycle operated by David Hudnall of Mount Pleasant. Hudnall took off at a high rate of speed leading police on a short pursuit to 907 East Monroe Street. At that point Hudnall took off on foot. Officers ended up tasing (taze-ing) him because he wouldn’t comply with orders to stop. Hudnall was arrested and charged with interference with official acts, eluding, driving under suspension, possession of drug equipment, failure to obey a stop sign and he didn’t have any insurance. Hudnall was also out on bond from a previous arrest by Mount Pleasant Police for motorcycle theft.
On May 21, 2020, at approximately 11:19PM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single vehicle crash located in the 1900 Grid of Racine Avenue south of Mount Union, Iowa. After an investigation, it was found that Michael Wayne Kilburn (18 years of age) of Mount Union, was driving a silver, 2007, Ford 500 southbound on Racine Avenue. Michael fell asleep behind the wheel when he was driving by the Trinity Cemetery located on the east side of the roadway. After Michael fell asleep, his vehicle traveled across the northbound lane of traffic and entered the east side ditch. After entering the east side ditch, the vehicle struck the driveway to the cemetery. After striking the driveway, the vehicle went airborne and landed on a vinyl fence surrounding the cemetery. The vehicle then came to rest in the cemetery after striking two gravestones.
Michael was transported to the Great River Medical Center in Burlington, Iowa by Henry County Paramedics after sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
Michael was given citations for failing to maintain control of a motor vehicle and failing to provide proof of financial liability in an accident.
Assisting with this traffic crash was the New London Fire Department and First Responders, the Mount Union Fire Department, the New London Police Department, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and Henry County Paramedics.
Estimated damages to the cemetery are unknown at the present time. The vehicle was a total loss.
The Avenue of Flags, Henry County Veterans Memorial Committee will raise the flags on the Henry County Court House lawn Saturday, May 23 at 8 am. This year the flags will remain flying for four days. On Tuesday, May 26, weather permitting, the flags will be retired at 4 pm. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to volunteer in the raising and lowering of the flags.
The Avenue of Flags, Henry County Veterans Memorial Committee made the decision to cancel the traditional Memorial Day service that is usually held at the Mount Pleasant High School. The committee felt social distancing would not be possible given the size of the usual attendance.
The committee wishes to thank the MPCHS band and the elementary students for their participation every year and they have confidence that next year’s observance will be held at usual. A special thank you to Dr. DeWayne Frazier of Iowa Wesleyan University, who was to be the featured speaker this year. Dr. Frazier has agreed to be the speaker next year.
Weather permitting there will be a brief service that will be held outside at the memorial marker on the Henry County courthouse lawn to recognize those 15 names that have been added to the memorial since last Veterans Day. This brings the total to 1,422 names. The service will be held at 11 am and the committee requests that only the families of those being recognized attend. Please respect everyone’s social distancing guidelines and keep all family groups at least 6 feet apart. Following a few remarks, the names will be read and the families will be recognized. At the end of the service a lone rifle will fire three volleys and taps will be sounded.
A phased-in process to reopen the campus of Iowa Wesleyan will take into consideration any standing Henry County restrictions per the Governor’s proclamations, CDC and local health officials’ recommendations, COVID-19 data for Henry County, and federal guidelines. The first phase is expected to begin on or around June 1.
“Like many higher education institutions, we are planning a cautious and phased opening of our campus. Specific criteria will trigger each phase, and we will always be prepared to return to an earlier stage or close the campus in the event circumstances deem it necessary,” said IW President Chris Plunkett. “A phased reopening will allow IW to gradually acclimate to modified behaviors and new health protocols before finalizing our intended plans for when students arrive on campus in August.”
The first three phases will provide a gradual return to campus for the employees. Public access to the campus is expected to begin in phase three with pre-scheduled public events being considered on a case-by-case basis and following the group size limitations then in place. Event attendees will be required to wear masks outside of the event venue. Full public access to the campus will be considered in phase four.
On May 11, Iowa Wesleyan University announced its plan to resume in-person, campus-based learning and living this fall.
“As we continue to develop multiple contingency plans for the fall semester, our top priority is the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and community members,” said Plunkett. We will work closely with our public health officials as we determine what this living and learning model will look like.”
It has been decided that the Henry County buildings, including the Court House, will remain locked to the public until June 8th, with all offices doing business by appointment at this time, if necessary. The Treasurer is issuing drivers licenses only by appointment with no testing at this time. Motor Vehicle issuance and taxes are still being handled on line, via the drop box at the back door of the building, by phone and mail. All Early Voting is at the Emergency Management Building thru June 1 then at the regular polls on election day, June 2. This decision will be revisited the week before the 8th or if the Governor issues something new.
