Washington, Iowa mayor, Jaron Rosien, turned himself in to Washington County Law Enforcement authorities on Tuesday. He is charged with Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree, a Class C Felony. January 11 a man filed a report with the Washington Police Department stating he was the victim of unwanted and inappropriate touching by Rosein on the night of January 7th at a bar owned by Rosien. The case was immediately turned over to the Iowa DCI. The investigation was conducted by agents with the Major Crime Unit of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation; assisted by the Office of the Washington County Attorney and the Office of the Iowa Attorney General.
Show Choir Competition Season Begins
Mount Pleasant High School Show Choir, InMotion, will head for Davenport North for the Big Dance Invitational on Saturday, January 28. InMotion will perform at 12:15 pm. MP will be among 11 show choirs performing Saturday. The names of three of the judges may sound familiar….Bob and Jill Anderson and Allen Chapman. Mr. Chapman directed show choir at Ft. Madison High School and Holy Trinity Catholic School. Bob Anderson was a vocal director at MPCHS and instrumental in establishing the modern area of show choir at Mount Pleasant. Check this website for results.
February 4 Mount Pleasant will host the 29th Annual InMotion Invitational at the High School beginning at 8 am with the Middle School choirs. Those awards will be at 12:25 pm. The High School performances begin at 1 pm with. Following the final afternoon performance at 5:45 pm, the Mount Pleasant Middle School show choir, Chain Reaction will perform at 6:15 pm and the daytime awards will be announced at 6:40 pm. The evening finals begin at 7:45 pm. The day will wrap up with the InMotion performance at 10:45 and then the final awards at 11:15 pm.
Admission is $10. Concessions will be available on site. 18 show choirs are expected to participate.
Water Shut-Off
The Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities will have a water shut-off from Webster to Langdon on Thursday January 26, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 3:00 p.m. The Utilities will be replacing a fire hydrant on S. Adams Pl.
The Utilities regrets any inconvenience. For questions or additional details, please call 319-385-2121.
Kurt Drager
Kurt Andrew Drager passed away peacefully at home on January 23, 2023 in Farmington, Iowa at the age of 71. Originally from Lakewood, Colorado, a 1969 graduate of Lakewood, Colorado High School, Kurt was from a proud family of Colorado pioneers. An avid rugby player for over 40 years, He played the position of a Prop for the Los Angeles Rugby Club before returning to Colorado to play for the Denver Barbarians and Colorado Senior Old Boys (“CSOBs”). He once said, “I always knew I’d grow up to be a SOB”. Kurt was also heavily involved for many years with the Annual Rocky Mountain Rugby Challenge, America’s Premier High School Youth Rugby Tournaments, High School Rugby Teams from many States came to Colorado to participate in these Tournaments.
Kurt was on the board of the Pioneer Historical Society, Inc., the Farmington Museum. He spent many hours volunteering in the Museum as well as volunteering to at the many garage sales the Museum had to raise funds to maintain the Museum.
Kurt had a beautiful voice; he sang many songs to his children when they were young. He also sang Karaoke and would sing in the car or whenever an oldies song came on the radio in the car.
Kurt’s humor, wit and sarcasm never eluded him. He was always that guy at the party, that as fast as lightning could reply with a witty remark in conversation. He loved to laugh and to laugh with the people he loved most. He was a kind, caring gentle soul.
Kurt was an avid reader and history buff; he loved the Civil War and WWII history era, books and movies. He was someone to contend with in a game of Trivial Pursuit or Jeopardy. Many evenings were spent watching Jeopardy with his daughters and later with Heidi staring at him in awe as he rambled off every single answer. Kurt was also an excellent cook, cherished his cookbooks and prepared most of the evening meals, which were always amazingly delicious.
Later in life, Kurt met Heidi, they bicycled many miles on the 100s of miles of bike trails and hiked all over the mountains of Colorado. Traveled to the Copper Canyon in Mexico, a wonderful trip to Iceland, toured 3 Islands in Hawaii, and travelled extensively throughout the United States visiting many sites as well as civil war memorials. He retired to the small town of Farmington, Iowa, renovating an old train depot for their home. Here he enjoyed his quiet small-town life, gardening, working in the yard and watching the wildlife. He loved it there, speaking often of the calmness and serenity of Iowa but his love for Colorado never waned.
Kurt is preceded in death by his parents: Kenneth and Gwen Drager, and brother: Clay Drager. He leaves behind his love, soulmate, and friend: Heidi Schutt; brother: Quentin Drager; daughters: Jennifer Drager, Kirsten Drager, and Kenna Drager (Jay Medina); as well as four grandchildren and three great grandchildren all of Colorado. As friends and family mourn Kurt’s passing, his legacy of humor and humility will live on through those who loved him most.
Kurt’s body has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation. Per his wishes, there will not be a service or memorial.
Memorials may be given to Every Step Hospice Foundation or the Farmington, Iowa EMT’s and can be mailed to the family at: Heidi Schutt, 520 State Street, Farmington, Iowa 52626.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com. Schmitz Funeral Home of Farmington is assisting the family with arrangements.
Daily Jail Count
In the interest of keeping Henry County residents informed, the Henry County Sheriff’s office has requested KILJ post the daily jail count. During the jail referendum campaign it was publicized that the jail would be able to house additional inmates from surrounding counties and this would generate revenue for Henry County.
Date: 01-24-2023______
30_ Henry County Inmates
43 _ Out of County Contract Inmates
73_ TOTAL
Dorothy Beauchamp
Dorothy E. Beauchamp, 105, of Winfield, passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 27, 2023, from 11:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m. at the Snyder and Hollenbaugh Funeral and Cremation Services of Winfield. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Beauchamp Cemetery. Following the committal services, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Winfield. Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church of Winfield, Autism Association or American Diabetes Association in memory of Dorothy. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.
Dorothy Evelyn Kepper was born on January 15, 1918, in Winfield, Iowa the daughter of Samuel W. and Lois (Cannon) Kepper. She was a graduate of Winfield High School. On November 25, 1936, Dorothy was united in marriage to Russell Beauchamp at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. She worked at the Winfield School as a cook, was a State Inspector and also worked at Casey’s. Dorothy was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Winfield, Pinochle Card Club and enjoyed picnics, taking care of her chickens and garden, but most of all, she dearly loved to spend time with her family.
Dorothy will be deeply missed by her children, Sam (Karen) Beauchamp of Winfield, Hal (Jolene) Beauchamp of Mt. Pleasant and Mark (Terri) Beauchamp of Winfield; twelve grandchildren and many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Russell; children, Jim Beauchamp, Mick Beauchamp and Jackie Beauchamp in infancy; grandson, Michael Beauchamp; great granddaughter, Samantha Freeman; brothers, George Kepper, John Kepper and Orin “Bub” Kepper and sister, Wilma Oberman.
Dorothy Hinkle Sams
Dorothy Hinkle Sams, 96, of Mediapolis, died Monday, January 23, 2023 at Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House, West Burlington. She was born November 8, 1926 in Stockport to Chester and Grace L. Hammans Douglas. She attended Stockport schools.
She married Peter Hinkle, Jr in Iowa City; he preceded her in death. On August 16, 1973, she married Dwain Sams in Fairfield. He died September 27, 2017. When she and Peter were first married, they ran the restaurant in the Brazelton Hotel. Dorothy later worked at the Glove Factory, Sylvania, and retired after 22 years as an expeditor at JI Case Company.
She enjoyed baking and cooking; her grandchildren said her homemade noodles and mashed potatoes were the best! She loved red flowers; wearing hats; horseracing, especially the Kentucky Derby; considered the hummingbirds to be her pets; but she mostly loved her family.
Survivors include her daughter Dianna (Steve) Klaus of Danville and son Peter Hinkle III (Cathy) of Lockridge; five grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; and eight brothers and sisters.
The funeral service for Mrs. Sams will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, January 26, 2023 at Elliott Chapel, New London. Visitation will begin at 9:00 with the family receiving friends from 10:00 until the time of the service. Burial will be at Kossuth Cemetery, Mediapolis, at 2:00 PM Thursday. A memorial has been established to feed the birds at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Two Now dead. Three shot at downtown Des Moines charter school
Three people were wounded in a shooting this afternoon (Monday) at charter school in downtown Des Moines. According to Radio Iowa two are now dead and the third person is listed in serious condition after the shooting at “Starts Right Here.” Sergeant Parizek says a group of suspects in the shooting were taken into custody in a traffic stop about two miles away from the shooting scene. The charter program that helps at-risk metro Des Moines youth was founded by local rapper Will Holmes and is affiliated with Des Moines Public Schools. Governor Kim Reynolds and Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert are both on the organization’s board.
Gov. Reynolds released the following statement in response to the shooting at Starts Right Here:
“I am shocked and saddened to hear about the shooting at Starts Right Here. I’ve seen first-hand how hard Will Keeps and his staff works to help at-risk kids through this alternative education program. My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families. Kevin and I are praying for their safe recovery.”