Author: Yorke Prough

The New London Community School District released a letter to parents regarding a new event for high school students.

On March, 27, 2024, New London High School is hosting “Operation Prom,” for all 9th-12th grade students. This will be an immersive event that brings the realities of prom season to life. Students will have the opportunity to see the realities of what takes place at an accident scene.

Students will be part of a simulated accident and emergency response, providing a hands-on experience of the potential consequences of risky behaviors. As well as students and law enforcement, medical personnel, firefighters, life flight crews, and funeral home representatives will be on-site to interact with students.

The training will focus on smart decision-making, safety, and understanding the consequences of choices made during celebratory events.

Operation Prom is designed to create awareness and foster responsible decision-making among our teens during prom season. A way for parents to get involved is by supporting your teen’s participation and discussing the importance of responsible choices.

If you have any questions, need more information, or you would like to opt your student out of the learning opportunity please feel free to contact Mr. Kracht or Mrs. Wagner at 319-367-0500.

Some of the material may be graphic in nature since it will be a simulated accident scene.

On February 21^st, 2024, at approximately 11:14 PM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance at 1801-43 Green Valley Drive, Mount Pleasant. An investigation into the incident determined Emanuel Nunez-Villarreal, 19, of Mount Pleasant and Tessany Jackson, 18, of Mount Pleasant, got into a physical altercation causing personal injury to one another. During the investigation, Law Enforcement was able to determine Tessany was eight weeks pregnant.

Emanuel was arrested and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault of Pregnant Person w/Intent to Inflict Serious Injury. Tessany was arrested and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault – Injury or Mental Illness.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrests of three people over the weekend.

On Friday at approximately 10:50 PM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office observed a vehicle travel 65 M.P.H. in a 55 M.P.H. posted speed zone within the 2200-grid of Racine Avenue, in rural Mount Union, Iowa. A traffic stop was initiated on the vehicle, identifying the driver as Barbara Damerval, 62, of Winfield, Iowa.

Barbara was arrested and charged with Operating While Under the Influence. She was also given a written warning for speed.

Two nights later, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a car which was being operated by Ryan Lilly, 24, of Keokuk, Iowa.

Ryan was arrested and charged for Driving While License Denied or Revoked.

On March 3^rd, 2024 at approximately 12:29PM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a possible vehicle crash in the 3100 block of Benton Avenue.  An investigation into this report determined Clayton Gerdin, 23, of Solon, had been driving northbound on Benton Avenue in a UTV when he lost control of the vehicle.  Gerdin was subsequently arrested and charged with Operating While Intoxicated, 2^nd Offense, an aggravated misdemeanor, and Failure to Maintain Control, a scheduled violation.

On March 2nd at approximately 10:14 p.m. Burlington Police Officers responded to a report of shots fired at S 8th and Division St. Evidence of a shooting was located and no injuries were reported. This investigation is ongoing.

If you have information about this incident, please call 319-601-7001 or Crimestoppers at 319-753-6835. If you call Crimestoppers and your information leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward

Sunday afternoon saw a large fire in Wapello that required multiple fire departments to fight. Just after 3:30pm, Wapello Fire and Rescue was called for multiple reports of a fire in the field next to the South End Park that was quickly spreading and heading towards a barn.

A City of Wapello employee advised the crews that the fire had reached the barn. At the time, mutual aid was requested from the Morning Sun Fire Department. Arriving on scene at 3:37pm, crews observed a dire approximately one-quarter mile in length that was rapidly spreading due to extremely high winds from the south. If this wasn’t bad enough, the smoke caused zero visibility conditions for the firefighters.

The fire spread across 123^rd Avenue, but firefighters were able to extinguish it before it spread any further. Crews extinguished the remaining fire and doused the area around the barn with additional water as a precautionary measure before returning to base. Amazingly, the barn was able to be saved.

Thirteen Wapello firefighters responded to this incident and were assisted by eight Morning Sun firefighters. Also assisting on scene was the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office. Crews remained on scene until 5:27 PM. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it originated in the City of Wapello yard waste collection site.

As a reminder to those using the yard waste site, please follow the rules posted on the signage. Do not deposit anything other than yard waste meeting the criteria on the sign. Do not deposit waste that has been burned such as waste from a recreational fire pit. Do not set fire to any debris and please don’t smoke while using the site.

Conditions are extremely dry and unless we receive significant rainfall, the windy and unseasonably warm temperatures will continue to create conditions that are favorable for wildfires. Please do what you can to minimize this risk. While most people refrain from burning debris during these conditions, few people probably think about discarded cigarettes, hot vehicle exhaust, a chain dragging on a trailer or even a spark from your barbecue grill starting a fire.