Author: Yorke Prough

Henry County Emergency Management held a simulated drill on Tuesday morning which aimed at creating cohesion and communication between agencies while fixing the issue at hand. With atleast 8 counties represented through fire departments, EMS, emergency management, and the Henry County Sheriff, this simulation saw many heads join together for one common issue.

After a meeting at the Emergency Management building in Mount Pleasant to lay out the plan, everybody got to work. The simulated scenario was a gas explosion at a gas pipe near Yarmouth. Situated on the Henry County/Des Moines County line, this was a large scale exercise. Measures were taken for safety, such as establishing a perimeter far away from the gas, wrangling cattle, and releasing messages to be sent out to every phone within a certain radius.

This proved to be great training for all those involved. The importance of an exercise like this was shown as it allows responders to better understand what to do in an event of a major emergency.

A reminder that a large full-scale exercise will take place next Wednesday, March 27^th, in New London. “Operation Prom” is an immersive event which will bring the realities of prom season to life for the students involved. Highschoolers will interact with police, firefighters, medical personnel, life flight crews, and even funeral home representatives.

This is designed to create awareness and responsible decision-making for students.

Some of the material may be graphic in nature.

Today at 10:30 AM the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will release 1,000 Rainbow Trout Fish at East Lake Park’s Lake, near the Hayward Shelter House.

Children under 16 may fish for and possess trout if they fish with an adult who already has a valid fishing license and trout fee. However, their combined daily limit is five trout.

Children under 16 may purchase their own trout fee, which allows them to keep their own five trout limit.

Iowa Fishing licenses $22.00

Trout Stamp $12.00

Licenses may be purchased at Wal-Mart, on the Iowa DNR website, or in person at any other Iowa DNR license vendors.

A Fort Madison woman and Missouri man were arrested in Burlington after a traffic stop revealed a large quantity of drugs, cash, and a handgun.

Just after 5pm on March 18, 2024 BPD officers stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation in the 500-block of South 9th Street. During the traffic stop, a BPD K-9 team performed an “open-air sniff” of the vehicle. The K-9 alerted on the rear driver’s side door. During a search of the vehicle, officers located almost three quarters pound of suspected methamphetamine, over $7000 of U.S. currency, and a loaded 9mm handgun.

During the investigation, officers discovered both, the female driver and the male passenger, were owners of the bags the methamphetamine was located within. Besides the methamphetamine located in the bag belonging to the female driver, officers located 25 pills identified to be Alprazolam. Additionally, the handgun was located on top of the bag belonging to the male passenger, on the front passenger’s floorboard, where the male passenger had been sitting.

The female driver was identified as Jessica Mae Dettmers, 36, of Fort Madison, Iowa. The male passenger was identified as Blake Joshua Briggs, 23, of Wayland, Missouri.

Both Dettmers and Briggs were charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver and Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp – Methamphetamine.

Additionally, Briggs was charged with Persons Ineligible to Possess a Firearm. Dettmers was also charged with Unlawful Possession of Prescription Medication and Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp – Prescription Medication.

Wapello Fire and Rescue have been busy fighting fires and medical emergencies in the last week.

At 3:38 PM on March 13^th, Wapello Fire and Rescue was called to the Wapello yard waste site for a report of fire out of control. Crews arrived on scene and extinguished some burning yard waste.

At approximately 7:18 PM on March 14^th, crews were called to 14164 County Road G-62 for a report of a garage fire. Arriving on scene, they determined that the fire had been extinguished by the homeowner. Crews conducted overhaul operations and investigation for fire extension. The cause of the fire was determined to be from improper handling of shop towels. Damage was estimated at less than $5000. There were no injuries.

Just before 3 in the morning on Monday the 18^th, Wapello Fire and Rescue was called 5364 Highway 99 in rural Oakville to assist Oakville Fire Department with a structure fire. Upon arrival, Oakville Fire Department was on scene of a single family home. Heavy smoke and flames were observed coming through the roof and from inside the home. Crews attacked the fire and ventilated the structure. Firefighters remained on scene for several hours conducting salvage and overhaul operations before the fire was eventually extinguished. The home sustained heavy damage from fire, smoke and water. Damage estimates are not available at this time but the home is inhabitable.

The American Red Cross was requested to assist the occupants. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Two occupants were home at the time of the fire and were able to escape the structure however one occupant of the home was transported to the hospital by Wapello Ambulance. Two cats were located inside the home and rescued by firefighters. There were no injuries to any firefighters. Firefighting efforts were complicated by high winds and freezing temperatures. Agencies responding to the fire included Oakville Fire and Rescue, Wapello Fire and Rescue, Wapello Community Ambulance, Morning Sun Fire Department, Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, Eastern Iowa Light and Power and Servpro.

Last Tuesday, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Deputies stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation at US Highway 34 and Gear Ave. During the traffic stop deputies smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Deputies asked a passenger in the vehicle to step out and speak with them. The passenger was identified as Jabak Yacub Willis, age 23, of Burlington, IA. Willis was observed to have an object resembling a firearm tucked into his front waistband. He was then detained and a 9mm handgun was located on his person.

Deputies ran a check of the firearm, and it came back stolen out of Burlington, IA. Deputies also found that Willis has a previous conviction for domestic abuse assault preventing him from carrying a firearm. Willis also has a previous drug conviction and admitted to using marijuana earlier that day. Willis was placed under arrest for possession of firearm by domestic abuse offender (D Felony) and person ineligible to carry dangerous weapons. He was transported to the Des Moines County Correctional Center