Author: Yorke Prough

At yesterday’s Mt. Pleasant City Council meeting, the council accepted Public Works Director, Rick Mullin’s, retirement. Rick has been the public works director for 13 years and has worked for the city for 26. Drew Schumacher was promoted from assistant public works director to the position Rick held. Mullin’s retirement is effective November 29^th, 2024.

Also at the meeting, a proclamation was accepted for October to be recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Henry County Supervisor’s have a similar item on their agenda today.

The council approved an agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation accepting a grant to construct the Airport Taxiway/Aprons for Hanger. Additionally, a second agreement was approved for a grant for the airport hangar structural improvement project.

An update was given on Eugene way, which is close to finished. There are 6 total lots, but the concrete plant will occupy one of those, leaving 5 lefts at 5 acres. Regarding the project around Main St, asphalt will be coming this fall and they are making good progress so far.

“Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center (SEIRMC) and Henry County Health Center (HCHC) will no longer accept Medicare Advantage plans offered by Aetna, effective October 10, 2024, and Wellpoint (formerly Amerigroup), effective December 31, 2024, for clinic or hospital services. In addition, the new Medicare Advantage plan being offered by Molina for 2025 will not be accepted. All patients, regardless of insurance, will receive emergency care in SEIRMC and HCHC Emergency Departments.

This decision was made after the contract terms Great River Health presented to these carriers were not accepted.  The contract terms were reasonable and accepted by other insurance carriers.  Negotiations to extend the terms of the Aetna contract to the end of the year were unsuccessful.

Patients with these plans have been notified of this upcoming change by Great River Health. Staff are working with patients to navigate receiving continued care and finding an in-network provider.

Patients wishing to receive healthcare services at SEIRMC or HCHC that are covered by their insurance must enroll in an accepted plan during Medicare Open Enrollment which runs from October 15-December 7, 2024, with a plan effective date of January 1, 2025. Great River Health will continue to accept current Medicare Advantage plans offered by Humana, United Healthcare, and Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield.”

Just before 9pm on Sunday, officers of the West Burlington Police Department were on routine patrol when they observed a black Chevrolet pickup truck turning north onto West Burlington Ave. from Agency St. Officers knew the registered owner did not have a valid driver’s license, and conducted a traffic stop at West Burlington Ave. and East Pennington St.

The vehicle initially pulled over in the parking lot of Heartland Packaging, 506 West Burlington Ave, but once officers opened their door to approach the vehicle, the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. Officers initiated their audible siren. The vehicle fled northbound on West Burlington Ave., running the stop sign at West Burlington Ave. and Mt. Pleasant St. continuing north.

When Officers approached Plank Rd., they could not see where the vehicle was going. They observed the vehicle’s brake lights westbound on Plank Rd. and realized the vehicle had turned its lights off. The vehicle continued to flee to Hwy 61. Officers of the Burlington Police Department deployed stop sticks at Roosevelt Ave. and Sunnyside Ave. This caused all but one tire to deflate.

The vehicle eventually stopped near Mt. Pleasant St. and Cottage Grove Ave. The driver was identified as Dalton Mckeown of Burlington, IA. The passenger was identified as Breanna Villarreal of Burlington, IA.

K9 Maverick was deployed and subsequently alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from the vehicle. Villarreal was found to be in possession of Marijuana and other controlled substances.

Dalton Mckeown is charged with Eluding (D Felony), Driving While Barred (Aggravated Misdemeanor), and other traffic offenses. Breanna Villareal was charged with an outstanding warrant for Child Endangerment as well as Possession of Marijuana and Possession of a Controlled Substance-Other (Serious Misdemeanors).

Officers of the West Burlington Police Department were assisted by the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office and Burlington Police Department.

The General Election is just 42 days away now, where a new United States President will be elected, as well as multiple roles at the local level. The link provided (https://henrycounty.iowa.gov/election/) is information from the Henry County Auditor’s office, regarding the upcoming election. You can find all candidates at both the national and local level, as well as a sample ballot.

Here are a few dates to keep in mind for the upcoming election.

August 27, 2024 – October 21, 2024

       Absentee Ballot Request will be accepted

October 16, 2024 – November 4, 2024

       Early Voting on the second floor of the Henry Co. Courthouse 8am – 4:30pm

October 21, 2024

       Voter Pre-Registration Deadline for anyone not registered in Henry County

October 16, 2024 – October 21, 2024

       Absentee Ballots will be mailed

November 2, 2024

       Open for early voting at the courthouse 9 am – 5pm.

November 5, 2024

       Election Day Polls open from 7am – 8pm

Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center (SEIRMC) and Henry County Health Center (HCHC) will no longer accept Medicare Advantage plans offered by Aetna, effective October 10, 2024, and Wellpoint (formerly Amerigroup), effective December 31, 2024, for clinic or hospital services. In addition, the new Medicare Advantage plan being offered by Molina for 2025 will not be accepted. All patients, regardless of insurance, will receive emergency care in SEIRMC and HCHC Emergency Departments.

This decision was made after the contract terms Great River Health presented to these carriers were not accepted.  The contract terms were reasonable and accepted by other insurance carriers.  Negotiations to extend the terms of the Aetna contract to the end of the year were unsuccessful.

Patients with these plans have been notified of this upcoming change by Great River Health. Staff are working with patients to navigate receiving continued care and finding an in-network provider.

Patients wishing to receive healthcare services at SEIRMC or HCHC that are covered by their insurance must enroll in an accepted plan during Medicare Open Enrollment which runs from October 15-December 7, 2024, with a plan effective date of January 1, 2025. Great River Health will continue to accept current Medicare Advantage plans offered by Humana, United Healthcare, and Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

Great River Health offers free, confidential, one-on-one counseling to help make informed decisions about Medicare and other health coverage options through the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP). You can request an appointment with a volunteer SHIIP counselor at HCHC by calling 319-385-6774 or in Fort Madison, Keokuk, or West Burlington at 319-768-3342 or requesting an appointment online at https://outlook.office365.com/book/SHIIPBookings@grhs.net/

These schedules fill up quickly so other options for changing your plan during Annual Open Enrollment include contacting the insurance provider or a local health insurance agent. Clients can also contact the SHIIP office in Des Moines at 1-800-351-4664 or www.shiip.iowa.gov

Patients with questions can call Great River Health Patient Financial Services at 319.768.3625, option 2.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“Combines are rolling in many areas of the state as fields are ready,” said Secretary Naig. “Though rain this past weekend may have slowed progress for some, harvest will continue ramping up throughout Iowa. The warmer and drier outlook into early October should provide an excellent window of opportunity for many farmers.”

Crop Report
Iowa continued to experience hot and dry conditions this week. These conditions allowed Iowa farmers 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 22, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting corn and soybeans.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 9 percent very short, 41 percent short, 49 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 8 percent very short, 37 percent short, 54 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn in the dent stage or beyond reached 93 percent this week. Corn mature reached 61 percent, 5 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the average. Corn harvested for grain reached 5 percent, 5 days behind last year but equal to the average. Corn condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 88 percent, 3 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean dropping leaves reached 59 percent, also 3 days behind last year and 2 days ahead of the average. Soybean harvested reached 9 percent this week, equal to last year but 1 day ahead of the average. Soybean condition was 78 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition continued to fall and rated 48 percent good to excellent this week.

The Mt. Pleasant Fire Department responded to a pair of fires on either side of the weekend. The first one took place on Friday around 8:25am in the 200 Block of E South St. Firefighters responded to a trailer which had a significant amount of fire. Additionally, there was smoke damage to the trailer. New London Fire Department assisted in this call.

On the 22^nd at approximately 7:10pm, the fire department responded to the 2800 Block of Kentucky Avenue for a building on fire. It was determined that the structure, which was used for storage, was a total loss. New London Fire Department assisted with additional manpower, and a tanker was used to fight this fire. There were no injuries in either incidents.