The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a submerged vehicle in the Des Moines River after an individual called on the 26th of February. The caller mentioned that they were fishing near Rock Bluff Park when they saw the vehicle in the middle of the river.
The next day, the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, Ottumwa Fire Department, and Deran’s Towing and Recovery formulated a plan to retrieve the vehicle from the water. After several attempts the vehicle was eventually removed and the body of a deceased male was located inside. The identity of the body is not being released at this time and has been transported to Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.
The death is under investigation by the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office.
The Lee County Narcotics Task Force reports the arrest of a Keokuk woman on felony and misdemeanor drug charges.
Mieki Denise Cooper, age 49, of Keokuk is charged with: Conspiracy to deliver less than 5 grams of methamphetamine; a class C felony, Possession with intent to deliver less than 5 grams of methamphetamine; a class C felony, Possession with the intent to deliver marijuana; a class D felony, Maintaining a drug house; an aggravated misdemeanor, and Possession of drug paraphernalia; a simple misdemeanor.
The charges came after a search warrant that was executed at a residence in Keokuk, where the defendant, Mieki Cooper, was found to be in possession of illegal narcotics.
The Lee County Narcotics Task Force were assisted by the Keokuk Police Department, the Fort Madison Police Department, and the Lee County Attorney’s Office.
The defendant in this case is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Lee County Narcotics Task Force is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Justice and the funds administered by the Iowa Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy.
Governor Kim Reynolds, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon invite Iowans to nominate individuals or families for the 2024 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award.
Iowa farmers and landowners who implement proven practices to improve water quality and incorporate farming practices that conserve and protect our natural resources are eligible for the award. Awardees should also actively serve as leaders within the Iowa agriculture community. Since the creation of the award in 2012, 777 farm families have been recognized.
“Farming and environmental stewardship have always gone hand-in-hand,” said Governor Reynolds. “The farm families who are recognized with an Environmental Leader Award balance their role to feed and fuel the world with their responsibility to preserve our state’s natural resources, leaving a remarkable legacy for generations to come.”
“Iowa continues to set records for conservation adoption and that would not be possible without the devoted farm families and landowners implementing proven water quality and soil conservation practices on their land,” said Secretary Naig. “We would encourage Iowans to nominate deserving individuals or families from their community and we look forward to recognizing these conservation leaders at the 2024 Iowa State Fair.”
The recipients of the award will be honored during a ceremony on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at the Iowa State Fair. Governor Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, Secretary Naig and Director Lyon will present each awardee with an Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award sign and certificate.
The nomination form can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website. An appointed committee representing conservation and agricultural groups will review the nominations and select the winners. Nominations will be accepted through May 6th, 2024.
By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, February 27th, 2024 at 2:33 pm CDT
The Mount Pleasant City Council will meet in Regular Session on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at City Hall, 307 E. Monroe Street, second-floor meeting room at 5:30 p.m.
AGENDA
Roll Call.
Consent Agenda: To the Public — All items with an asterisk (* ) are routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion and a roll call of the Councilmembers. There will be no separate discussion of items unless the Mayor, a Councilmember or citizen so request, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and will be considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda.
Receive & file communications. Bob Welander, Board President – Old Threshers
Joy Lapp — Historic Preservation Commission
Ryan and Wei Yeager — Potentially Dangerous Animal Designation Appeal letter 4. Approve agenda.
*5. Approve minutes of previous meetings.
*6. Approve payment of bills.
*7. Receive report of Officers.
Old Business-
3rd reading/adopt Ordinance amending Chapter 69 (parking regulations) of the City Code of Ordinances.
2nd reading of Ordinance amending Chapter 25 Municipal Fees and Charges, Section 25-18 Cemetery Rates and Charges, of the City Code of Ordinances.
5:30 p.m. Public Hearing Public Hearing on proposed plans and specs for the East Pearl Street Reconstruction Project.
Resolution approving the award of a construction contract for Pearl Street Improvements 2024.
New Business-
1 st reading of Ordinance amending Chapter 25 Municipal Fees and Charges,
Section 25-3 (b) Equipment Charges Per Hour of the City Code of Ordinances.
Resolution scheduling Public Hearing on City of Mount Pleasant 2024/2025 Maximum Property Tax Dollars.
Public Forum.
Adjourn to meet in regular session on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.
On February 24th, at approximately 8:01 in the morning, the Mt Pleasant PD was advised of a female on the ground near a vehicle at the water tower on E Winfield Ave in Mt Pleasant IA.
It was determined that the female was deceased at the scene. It is believed it was a medical situation. The investigation is still ongoing.
The Mt Pleasant PD was assisted by the Henry County Sheriffs Office, The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office, Henry County Ambulance, and Breuer’s Towing.
The name is not being released at this time to make sure all family are notified first.
Dr. Merrill A. Peterson, 73, of Indian Trail, North Carolina, formerly of Mount Pleasant, died Thursday, February 22, 2024, at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Merrill was born December 21, 1950, in Mount Pleasant, IA, the son of Warren and Berniece (Bozarth) Peterson. He graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1969. He continued his education at the University of Iowa where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science & Master’s Degree, he then went on to earn his PhD at Iowa State University. On December 23, 1971, Merrill married his high school sweetheart Carol Kitch in Mount Pleasant, IA. The couple had three children and spent 38 wonderful years together before Carol’s death in 2009. Merrill was an environmental engineer for HNTB and Parsons Corp. He served as a project manager and southern region (United States & South America) Senior Vice President of operations. His work took him all across the country spending time in Tampa, FL, Indianapolis, IN, and Charlotte, NC. Merrill married Gertraud Krieger, on November 2, 2013, in Indianapolis, IN. Merrill enjoyed cooking and was a talented wood worker – crafting cabinets, furniture and butcher block tabletops. For years friends and family looked forward to a Christmas package full of homemade cookies and candies.
Merrill is survived by his wife Gertraud of Indian Trail, NC; three children Megan Peterson of Indian Trail, NC, Erin Peterson of Indianapolis, IN, Aric (Amanda) Peterson of West Melbourne, FL; three granddaughters Annabelle, Alivia, Abigail of West Melbourne, FL; two sisters Janis Smith of Encinitas, CA, Carol (Randy) Ruggles of Mount Pleasant, IA; brother Don (Karen) Peterson of Madison, WI; sister-in-law Mary (Jerry) Zerm of South Lake, TX; brother-in-law Ralph (Valerie) Kitch of Cedar Rapids, IA, sister-in-law Linda Brock of St. Petersburg, FL; two step children Shannon Mulrooney of Seattle, WA, Ryan Mulrooney of Scottsdale, AZ, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Carol, infant brother Lynn Peterson, Uncle Everett Peterson, niece Sharon Smith, four brothers-in-law Duane Kitch, Bill Tinsman, Reid Brock and Ted Oliver, dog Gibson and grand-dog Tetley.
Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 9, 2024, at Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory. Burial will follow in the Forest Home Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed on Powell Funeral Homes Facebook page and at our website. Visitation be held prior to the service beginning at 9:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the American Heart Association, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory is caring for Merrill and his family. www.powellfuneralhomes.com
Lynn J. Cochran, age 84, of Mount Pleasant, passed away February 23, 2024, at his home.
Lynn was born in West Chester, Iowa, on January 2, 1940, son of Vaun Wesley and Pearl Ida (Robertson) Cochran. He graduated from grade school and high school in Mount Pleasant, participating in many sports activities. A member of the Boy Scouts and the Army National Guard, Lynn received appointments to the US Air Force Academy and the US Military Academy. He attended the Air Force Academy and Northeast Missouri State Teachers College. He began his career as a survey party chief on federal highway construction projects in California, Arizona, and Nevada. After training to program computers at IBM in San Francisco, Lynn was employed at the Valley Area Transportation Study in Tempe, Arizona, as a Systems Analyst planning the freeway system for the Phoenix metropolitan area. Subsequently, Lynn was employed at General Electric Company in Bethesda, Maryland, as a Transportation Planning Consultant, advising the Transportation Departments of several states on the use of the urban freeway planning software and procedures. Mr. Cochran returned to Phoenix, as a Systems Analyst with the Arizona Departments of Administration, overseeing the software development for several state departments. Lynn was appointed Data Processing Manager at the Arizona State Retirement System in 1972. In 1978, he was promoted to Assistant Director, assuming responsibilities for the data processing, general accounting, and records management operations. Lynn retired in 1992, and returned to Mount Pleasant, at which time he married Sandra K. (Nelson) Dolph, a classmate throughout grade school and high school. He served on the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Committee, Mount Pleasant Airport Advisory Committee, and Henry County Solid Waste Management Commission.
Lynn is survived by two sons Ross Robertson of Mesa, Arizona, Randy Cochran of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; two stepdaughters Tamara Kirgan of Maquoketa, Kathryn Christiansen of Tucson, Arizona; stepson Allen (Karen) Dolph of Marietta, Georgia; sisters-in-law Rosalie Martin (Cochran) Thompson of Fairfield; Barbara (Stotts) Cochran of Glenwood and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Sondra, sisters Ellen (Luther) French, Phyllis (John) Roach, Avon (Don) Burgess and brothers Roger Wesley Cochran and Malcolm Lowell Cochran.
Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 11, 2024, at Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory. Burial will follow in the Forest Home Cemetery. Visitation will be held 2:00-5:00 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory. Memorial funds have been established for American Heart Association and Henry County Health Center Foundation.
