Author: Theresa Rose

October 15 the Mt. Pleasant High School Panther Marching Band received their 35th consecutive top Division I rating at the state Marching band festival  in Muscatine. Director Jim Depriest said the band has received a number one every year he has been at Mount Pleasat.  So it was fitting his last was a number one.  But as is typical with Mr. D He gave all the credit to the kids October 17 at the marching band’s final performance of the year during All Bands Night at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.  It was also the final marching band performance under the direction of long-time director Jim DePriest.

October 18 two construction workers were struck and killed on the Great River Bridge at Burlington. The workers were walking behind their stationary pickup truck and trailer, setting construction barrels for a work zone on the Great River Bridge of U.S Route 34 westbound as it crosses the Mississippi River. A vehicle traveling westbound struck a barrel and continued on, striking the two construction workers causing fatal injuries. The workers are identified as Pearson J. Franklin, 20-year-old of New London, IA and Andrew Whitcomb, 35-year-old of Burnside, IL.

October 28 Iowa-based turkey processor West Liberty Foods announced it will close its Mount Pleasant facility affecting 350 employees.The location has produced millions of pounds of pre-sliced deli meats since its opening in 2003. The facility is not meeting the needs of the company, due to a reduction in demand for the product, according to a news release sent Friday. Layoffs will start Dec. 31, and the facility will close by May 7, 2023.

November 1 Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance Executive Vice President Kristi Perry submitted a letter to the Chamber Board of Director’s as her official resignation from the position she held for the past 7 years. Her last day was November 30. The search for her replacement continued thru December.

The 2022 Midterm Elections were notably one of the biggest headlines of the quarter. Locally, Republicans Adrian Dickey and Jeff Shipley will return to Des Moines in January.  Dickey has previously served in the Senate.  He will return to represent Senate District 44.  He came out ahead of his challenger, Rich Taylor who also brought experience as an Iowa Senator to the race. Dickey received 66.49% of the vote. That’s 15,311 votes from a district that encompasses Van Buren, Jefferson, and Keokuk Counties and portions of Mahaska and Henry Counties. 7,695 voters cast their ballots for Rich Taylor. That’s 33.42% of the vote.

Democrat Mike Heaton ran in his first campaign but came up short against Republican Jeff Shipley.  Shipley previously served in the Iowa House of Representatives but not representing this exact district, now identified as House District 87. This district, as a result of re-districting covers Van Buren, Jefferson and a portion of Henry County. Shipley garnered 6,437 votes, that’s 55.46%. Heaton received 5,151 votes, 44.38%.

Incumbent Mindy Fitzgibbon lost her bid to keep her job as Henry County Recorder to newcomer Lynnae Buffington. Buffington received 4,183 votes and Fitzgibbon received 2,534 votes.

Henry County saw almost 50% voter turnout.  There are 14,113 register voters. 7, 025 cast votes in these midterm elections.  Of that number 2,845 people voted absentee or early.

By the fourth quarter a trial date had been set for one of the Iowa teens accused of killing a Fairfield teacher. A pretrial conference for Jeremy Goodale’s jury trial is scheduled for May 15th in Scott County. Goodale, and his co-defendant Willard Miller are charged with the murder of Nohema Graber. Miller’s trial will be held in March 2023 in Council Bluffs.

Thru out the 4^th quarter the City of Mount Pleasant and the Mt. Pleasant Community School District discussed and then worked out the details for a school resource officer. Mount Pleasant officer Brad Gillis will begin his duties in the Mount Pleasant schools when second semester begins.

December 3 an officer involved shooting in Mount Pleasant not only made local headlines but also hit news reports across the state.  Local law enforcement responded to a domestic call  that ended with a Henry County Sheriff’s deputy shooting a woman in the arm.  Her injuries were non-life threatening but she now faces charges.  The deputy was found to be justified in his decision to fire his weapon.

December 7 on person was killed and another seriously injured in a two vehicle crash near New London.  Norman Hirschy of Mt. Pleasant died when the pickup he was driving hit a pickup driven by Sheila Wilkerson of New London head-on.  Wilkerson was airlifted to University Hospitals in Iowa City.  This was the second fatal crash in a week and a half near New London.  Two people were killed in that accident on November 26.

The end of the year brought the end of Ana Lair’s 20 years of service as Henry County Treasurer. Lair chose not to seek re-election after holding the position since she was first elected in 2003.  She began her career in the Treasurer’s office in 1974 as a clerk, taking time to stay at home with her children and returning in 1998.

Unfortunately, one of the top news stories in December was the high number of flu cases of several varieties that caused issues for employers and schools not to mention family holiday gatherings.  Add a winter snow storm right before Christmas with blizzard like conditions that also played havoc with holiday plans.

The day before the Christmas holiday weekend KILJ Radio announced the recipients of the first ever KILJ Humanitarian Award. That Friday during the weekly Generation Gap program station owner Paul Dennison and manager Kadie Johannson presented the inaugural award to Linda Enearl and Dan Spray of Mount Pleasant. Each receives a special engraved award and $1,000 they may donate to a favorite organization. From now on each year at this time KILJ will recognize the efforts of someone who quietly goes about making this community a better place to live

The Mount Pleasant City Council met in regular session Wednesday night.  The Council did not approve an amendment to the home occupation sign ordinance to allow for increased signage size.  There was a request from a resident to increase the size allowed and both the Council Ordinance Committee and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended a change to 4 square feet.

Mayor Steve Brimhall was authorized to sign insurance renewal contracts for the city general liability insurance coverage and the airport operator’s liability insurance.

An encroachment permit for the City Hope Foundation was approved.  A building on Lucas Street was gifted to the Foundation and the Foundation would like to replace an old sign that is currently located in the city alley right of way. The alley is not open and is not used.

The Council set January 25 Council meeting at 5:30 pm as the time for public hearing and contract award for the final phase of improvements at the waste water treatment plant. Public hearings and contract awards will also be held during that same meeting for the Aldrin Street and West Henry Street reconstruction projects.

The Iowa Department of Transportation announced that Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission had been awarded a $480,000 Public Transit Infrastructure Grant. The grant will improve the newly-acquired SEIBUS Mount Pleasant facility at 1405 N. Broadway in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.The project is for a major renovation of an existing facility in Mt. Pleasant. The property consists of two buildings: an 8,600 sq. ft. steel warehouse and 3,200 sq. ft. steel front office/storage facility.

Mount Pleasant Utilities Manager Jack Hedgecock introduced his successor. August 25 the transition to Nate Lucas began.  Hedgecock continued to work with the new general manager for a period of time before retiring from the position in the 4^th quarter.

A familiar face returned to the Mount Pleasant School Board to fill vacancy on the board.  Melinda Huisinga was appointed to finish out the term of Willy Amos as the Director for District Two.  Amos had to give up the seat when he moved to another residence in the school district.

Fair Queens were crowned in July….the 2022 Lee County Fair Queen was Hailey Tweedy and the Henry County Fair Queen was Chevy Mills.

The 2022 Old Threshers Miss Sweet 16 is Josie Gilmore. Josie is the daughter of Julie and Jeff Gilmore of Mount Pleasant. First Runner-Up is Natalie McCormick, the daughter of Lea and Colin McCormick. Second Runner-Up is Addison Bentler, the daughter of Don and Tonya Bentler and Miss Volunteer is Megan Borders.

Mother Nature cooperated and played a part in a recording setting year for attendance at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in Mount Pleasant.  The after the Reunion ended CEO and Administrator Terry McWilliams said that preliminary numbers indicated a little over 37,000 people bought tickets to the annual event. That’s a new attendance record for the last 10 years. McWilliams said Saturday set a record for one day tickets sales, Sunday was in the top three or four, Friday’s attendance was up and Thursday was about the same as past years.  Russell Dickerson’s concert on Sunday night brought in the biggest crowd to the grandstand. But McWilliams was not disappointed with the attendance to the concerts on the other three nights.

August 30 The first of five Mount Pleasant Community Visioning projects was dedicated in Saunders Park.  The Saunders Park Plaza features a history of Mount Pleasant recognizing founder Presley Saunders.  And a plaque recognizing the significant financial contribution to the project in memory of Scott and Amy Lowe. Members of the Lowe family, friends and community members were there for the celebration that included food and music organized by the Chamber and volunteers. Mayor Steve Brimhall spoke and after shared that this project is only the start and there is more to come as many partners work to improve the look of the town.

Iowa Wesleyan University reported a 4% over all increase in enrollment from last year.  This includes the new, online and transfer undergraduate students.  And while the first year freshmen numbers were down the retention rate for sophomores and juniors is the second highest it’s been in fifteen years.

Mt. Pleasant resident and business owner Ted Wiley became Grand Master of Masons in Iowa. The Grand Master is the supreme executive authority of Iowa Masonry. First initiated in 2000, Wiley has served the Mount Pleasant Lodge as Worshipful Master. His service to Iowa Masonry includes serving as Junior Grand Deacon and Junior Grand Warden. He has been a member of many Masonic committees and is equally generous with his service to the Mount Pleasant community. He is active on many community boards, foundations and committees. Wiley is the President of Jean C. Wiley and Sons Inc. Building Contractors.

The news was not good for two area health care facilities in the third quarter. Blessing  Health in Keokuk informed employees that the facility will not remain open past Oct. 1 in any capacity. The decision was made based on consistent low demand for inpatient and emergency room care. Blessing leaders said the level of inpatient and emergency care demand does not support the investment required to operate a hospital of 49-beds and an emergency room around the clock, seven days a week. And then….

In an effort to recover from over $40 million dollars in operating losses, Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington closed its’ skilled care unit. Bed capacity is also being limited in the acute care, cardiovascular health and intensive care units.  Hospital officials said the measures were made to make up for staff shortages as the hospital seeks to scale back the use of travel staff, which costs much more. About half of those losses were because of the use of traveling staff.

Members from each of the Henry County Departments and family members filled the Supervisors office for the swearing-in of the recently elected county officials.  Two of the four are new.  Kellie Sloan has worked in the Treasurer’s office but is now the new Henry County Treasurer. Lynnae Buffington is the new Henry County Recorder.   Marc Lindeen was re-elected to another term on the Henry County Board of Supervisors.  And Darin Stater was re-elected at County Attorney.  The officials were given the oath of office by District Court Judge Wyatt Peterson of Winfield.