Property Tax Penalty Extended

Property owners impacted by COVID-19 are allowed additional time to pay property taxes.  The Property Tax penalty has been extended from April 1 to April 17.  Property owners unable to pay by March 31 now have until April 16 to avoid penalty.

The Henry County Treasurer’s office is closed to the public but staff are still present to process payments.  Taxes can be mailed, dropped in the locked drop box near the Courthouse South entrance or paid online at www.iowatreasurers.org.  Please contact the treasurers office at 319-385-0763 or email treasurer@henrycountyiowa.us with any concerns or questions.

COVID-19 Information Guide

Information courtesy of Congressman Dave Loebsack

Unemployment/Paid Leave

Iowa Workforce Development
www.IowaWorkforceDevelopment.gov

Agriculture
US Department of Agriculture
https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus
USDA Rural Development
https://rd.usda.gov/coronavirus

Small Business
Iowa Economic Development
https://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/businessrecovery
Small Business Committee
Small Business Owners Guide to the CARES Act

Payments to Individuals
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus
Ways and Means Committee
Ways and Means Committee FAQ

SNAP/Hunger Assistance
USDA Food Nutrition Service
https://www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/pandemic/covid-19
House Agriculture Committee
Coronavirus and Anti-Hunger Programs

Healthcare

Energy and Commerce & Ways and Means Committees
FAQs: Health Care Provisions in H.R. 748, the CARES Act

Education/Student Loans
US Department of Education
https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus

Veterans Affairs Public Health
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/n-coronavirus/

Housing
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
https://www.hud.gov/coronavirus

Spring Clean Up Postponed

Due to the growing issue of Covid-19 the City of Mount Pleasant is postponing Spring Clean Up until further notice. We will update you on the specific dates once we are informed.

For more information call 319-385-1480.

COVID-19 Related Death in Washington County

Monday just before noon the Iowa Governor’s office announced that two Iowans with COVID-19 have died.  One of those is an elderly individual in Washington County. As of Sunday afternoon the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Henry County Public Health have identified a third case of COVID-19 in the county. They are self-isolating at home.

As of Monday at noon a case has now been confirmed in Van Buren County and five more in Washington County bringing that total to 18.

Des Moines County has one confirmed case.  Lee, Jefferson, and Louisa Counties still no confirmed cases of the virus.

“We continue to remind residents to take preventive measures to slow the spread of this virus,” said Henry County Public Health Director Shelley Van Dorin. “It’s important for everyone to stay home as much as possible and to practice social distancing – this means to stay away from groups of people, and to keep a 6-foot distance from other individuals.”

Symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, fever (100.4 or greater) and shortness of breath. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should call your health care provider before going into the office. The provider may have special instructions for you and will determine if you should be tested.

All residents should:

  • Stay home when even mildly ill (the kind of illness that normally wouldn’t prevent you from your everyday activities)
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow/upper arm.
  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

 

For up-to-date information from Iowa Department of Public Health related to COVID-19, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus. For recent fact sheets, resources, and local organization updates, visit www.HealthyHenryCounty.org/PublicHealth.

COVID-19 Resources

Iowa Department of Public Health-idph.iowa.gov

Henry County Public Health-healthyhenrycounty.org/publichealth

Henry County Health Center, Great River Medical Center and Fort Madison Community Hosptial 24 hour call center- 800-371-3313

Iowa Concern-extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/

The Iowa Veterans Hospital call center-319-338-0581 press 5

Iowa Economic Developement-iowaeconomicdevelopment.com

Southeastern Community College-scciowa.educ/landing/cornonavirus-response-updates

iw.edu/covid-19

Henry County Treasurers office-treasurer@henrycountyiowa.us

Mount Pleasant Utilities-319-385-2121. For billing press option 2

Tribute to Country Music Artist Joe Diffie

Country Music Artist Joe Diffie passed away Sunday from complications of COVID-19 at the age of 61.  KILJ had the priviledge of interviewing the Pickup Man prior to his appearance on the KILJ stage during the 2019 Old Threshers Reunion.  During the interview I asked him what his favorite Joe Diffie song is.  He said “Ships that Don’t Come In.” He said the song was meant for those in the military but felt the lyrics could apply to many life situations……
I could tell he’d had a tough life
By the way he sat and stared
And me, I’d come to push and shove
So I pulled up a chair
We talked of roads untraveled
We talked of love untrue
Of strings that come unraveled
We were kings and kindred fools
And just when I’d hit bottom
That old man raised his glass
And said at least we had our chances
There’s those who never have
So here’s to all the soldiers
Who have ever died in vain
The insane locked up in themselves
The homeless down on Main
To those who stand on empty shores
And spit against the wind
And those who wait forever
For ships that don’t come in
He said it’s only life’s illusions
That bring us to this bar
To pick up these old crutches
And compare each others scars
‘Cause the things we’re calling heartache
Hell, they’re hardly worth our time
We bitch about a dollar
When there’s those without a dime
And as he ordered one last round
He said I guess we can’t complain
God made life a gamble
And we’re still in the game
So here’s to all the soldiers
Who have ever died in vain
The insane locked up in themselves
The homeless down on Main
To those who stand on empty shores
And spit against the wind
And those who wait forever
For ships that don’t come in
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Dave Gibson / Paul Nelson
Ships That Don’t Come In lyrics © The Bicycle Music Company

Additional Case of COVID-19 Confirmed in Henry County

 

 The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Henry County Public Health have identified 1 additional case of COVID-19 in the county. They are self-isolating at home.

“We continue to remind residents to take preventive measures to slow the spread of this virus,” said Henry County Public Health Director Shelley Van Dorin. “It’s important for everyone to stay home as much as possible and to practice social distancing – this means to stay away from groups of people, and to keep a 6-foot distance from other individuals.”

Symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, fever (100.4 or greater) and shortness of breath. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should call your health care provider before going into the office. The provider may have special instructions for you and will determine if you should be tested.

All residents should:

  • Stay home when even mildly ill (the kind of illness that normally wouldn’t prevent you from your everyday activities)
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow/upper arm.
  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

 

For up-to-date information from Iowa Department of Public Health related to COVID-19, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus. For recent fact sheets, resources, and local organization updates, visit www.HealthyHenryCounty.org/PublicHealth.

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MP Elementary Schools Staying in Touch!

Sunday afternoon at 2 pm the Harlan Elementary staff  will take to the school’s neighborhood streets to wave and spread the power of positivity! And then Monday, March 30, you can wave to Mt. Pleasant Lincoln School Teachers and Staff! From 4:00 to 4:30, Lincoln staff will be standing on the sidewalk around the school.They invite all Lincoln families to drive by and wave to staff from their cars. Please drive clockwise around the building.
On Tuesday, March 31, from 4:30-5:00, Van Allen Elementary School staff in Mt. Pleasant will be standing on the sidewalk around the school. All Van Allen families are invited to drive by and wave to staff from their cars.

Of course, everyone will be practicing social distancing!