Author: Theresa Rose

Henry County Health Center Foundation is pleased to announce its 2022 Grant Award Recipients: ISU Extension, Parkview Home, Iowa Wesleyan University, Mount Pleasant Community Childcare Center and Mount Pleasant Community School District. The HCHC Foundation awarded grants to each of these organizations for various projects supporting health related initiatives.

ISU Extension was awarded $2,500 for the Family Connection program.  Parkview Home Care Center in Wayland received a grant for $1,000 for the purchase of medical grade chairs for their dining room.  Iowa Wesleyan University was given a grant for $2,000 for enhanced nursing student recruitment.  Mount Pleasant Community Childcare Center was awarded $2,500 to help build a before and after school program.  And Mount Pleasant Community School District was handed a check for $2,000 for the purchase of new heart rate monitors for their students.

In total, the HCHC Foundation awarded $10,000 in grants this year.

The HCHC Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the enhancement of the health and well-being of Henry County individuals and families.  Foundation Director Mark Hempen says, “We are very excited to support the projects of these organizations that will make a difference in the health of our county residents.  These grants are just one example of how HCHC Foundation fulfills our mission for a healthier Henry County.”

The next round of grants will open in July of 2023.  For more details contact Mark Hempen at HCHC Foundation by calling 319/385-6541, or email MHempen@greatriverhealth.org.

The Henry County Conservation Board will hold their December 2022 Board meeting on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at 5:30 pm in the
conservation board meeting room at the office in Oakland Mills. Items on the agenda will include: Nature Center Improvements, Foot
Bridge Renovation Update, Nature Center Open House, Director Update, and Naturalist Reports. Please contact the conservation department if you have any questions, 319-986-5067.

AGENDA

December 13, 2022

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

Approve Appointment to Board of Health

9:00 Jake Hotchkiss, Engineer Weekly Update

Motion for Bridge Replacement Funds on Iowa Ave

Over Fish Creek

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

WINFIELD – MT. UNION COMMUNITY SCHOOL

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

LIBRARY, W-MU 6:00 p.m. ~ December 14, 2022

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Public Comment
4. Consent Agenda

D1.  Minutes, Bills, Financial Reports

D2.  Personnel Hirings/Resignations

1. Reports

E1.  Building Reports

E2.  Superintendent Report

1. General Business

F1.  Consider HVAC Bids

F2.  Policy Review – Nelson:  Wellness Policy 507.9; 710.1 School Nutrition Policy, 710.2 Free

or Reduced Cost Meals Eligibility, 710.3 Vending Machines, and 710.4 Meal Charges

F3.  Consider FY22 Certified Annual Report

F4.  Consider Teacher Quality Pay Increase

F5.  Consider Boys/Girls Wrestling & Soccer Sharing Agreements with Columbus CSD

F6.  Consider Shuttle Driver and Coach Driver Pay

F7.  Consider Louisa County Fair Participation agreement

F8.  Consider K-8 Math Curriculum  Purchase

F9.  Consider New Student Information System

F10.  Consider SIAC Goals

1. Adjournment

Mount Pleasant, IA – December 8, 2022 — Iowa Wesleyan University held its annual December Graduation Ceremony in the University Chapel earlier today. The University celebrated the graduation of 31 undergraduate and nine graduate students, including seven Master of Arts in Management Leadership and two Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.

During this ceremony, Iowa Wesleyan President Christine Plunkett recognized the first two graduates of our new partnership with Southeastern Community College, the Southeast Iowa Higher Education Alliance. These graduates mark an important step in broadening the educational opportunities for students in our region.

The graduation speaker was Dr. Jeff Martinek, 2022 Chadwick Teacher of the Year. Dr. Martinek is a Professor of English and has been at IW since 2007. In his address to the graduates, Dr. Martinek challenged the students by stating, “So, my advice to you on this commencement day is to not commence – at least not fully, that is if commencing means closing the books, closing your minds, and settling for dubious consolations you will be offered for your lost youth… If all that is what commencing means, then I again implore you: don’t do it.”

Iowa Wesleyan University: As Southeast Iowa’s regional comprehensive University, Iowa Wesleyan University is a transformational learning community whose passion is to educate, empower and inspire students to lead meaningful lives and careers.

The individual involved in the December 3, 2022 Officer Involved Shooting has been identified as Samantha Shumaker, (33).  Officers of the Mt Pleasant Police Department and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to reports of a domestic abuse incident where a male reported being held at gunpoint by Shumaker.  During the incident, Shumaker was observed brandishing a handgun in the direction of the male and in the direction of law enforcement.  Shumaker refused the officers orders to put the weapon down.  Shumaker received a gunshot wound to her arm and was immediately provided on-scene first aid.  Shumaker was transported to the Henry County Medical Center via ambulance and later transferred to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

The name of the Deputy involved in the December 3, 2022 Officer Involved Shooting is Deputy Carlos Lopez, of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Lopez has 2 years and 8 months of law enforcement experience. Deputy Lopez has cooperated and has been interviewed by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).  He will remain on Critical Incident Leave pending the outcome of the investigation.  Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be forwarded to the Henry County Attorney’s Office for review.

Original report

On December 3, 2022, at approximately 10:04 PM, Officers of the Mt Pleasant Police Department and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a domestic disturbance at 710 Main Street, where the male caller said he was being held at gunpoint.  Upon arrival, Officers encountered a man calling for help from the bathroom window.  He was able to exit the bathroom window.  While attempting to make contact with the subject, the subject brandished a weapon and an officer discharged their weapon.  The Officers were not injured during the encounter.  The subject sustained a gunshot wound to the right arm as a result of the officer involved shooting.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was notified and requested to investigate the incident.  Per protocol, the Officer has been placed on Critical Incident Leave, pending the investigation.  The name of the subject is being withheld, pending the continued investigation.  The name of the officer is being withheld, pending an interview with DCI.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.