Author: Yorke Prough

The Henry County Courthouse will be closing at 12 noon on July 26, 2024 due to RAGBRAI.

Henry County has lots of options to get and donate fresh produce. In Mount Pleasant, leave or receive food from Community Action Food Pantry, the public library, and The Fellowship Cup. The Fellowship Cup prefers donations from 8am-12pm. New London has the H J Nugen Public Library and Tiger Food Pantry. Salem Community Center also accepts donations. Wayland and Crawfordsville have the WACO Community Food Pantry and Wayland City Hall. Anyone looking to donate in Winfield can give them to the Winfield City Hall or the Winfield Food Pantry.

Some key reminders for donating. Call ahead for hours and only wash the produce if you have time to dry it. When picking up produce, only take what you need and wash it before eating.

Even though there are several places for free produce, another great way to give more people access to fruit and vegetables is to plant your own share.

For more information about healthy living and public health, visit healthyhenrycounty.org or Healthy Henry County on Facebook.

The Mount Pleasant Public Library is now offering Mobile Wi-Fi Hot Spots for check out! This is a device that allows any Wi-Fi capable device to connect to the internet. Their service is through US Cellular, so anywhere that their service has coverage, you will be able to get internet from their devices.

Currently, the library has 2 hotspots to kickstart the program.

There is a policy in place for the usage of these devices that must be read, and an agreement that must be signed before you are able to check one out. Stop in, or call, to reserve your hot spot today! 319-385-1490.

Prices for regular unleaded gasoline neither fell nor rose from last week til now, as prices averaged $3.28 across Iowa according to AAA. This price does reflect a 9-cent decrease from this time last year, and is 23 cents away from matching the national average.

Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 3 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.52, one year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.63 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel price is 31 cents lower than the national average of $3.83.

Natural gas prices rose 9 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.15/MMbtu.

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.

On April 4^th, 2024, the Burlington Fire Department was dispatched to 1015 N Central Avenue regarding a house fire. Arriving on scene, firefighters observed smoke coming from the residence, owned by Heather Dawson. The Burlington Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division was called to assist the Fire Marshal as the fire appeared suspicious.

An investigation revealed that Heather Dawson attempted to file an insurance claim for the residence. They also found out that her husband, Derek Dawson, had spoken to others about starting the fire and his truck was seen leaving the area prior to the fire being noticed.

As the result of an ongoing investigation, Heather and Derek Dawson have been arrested in Peoria, Illinois.

Heather Dawson has been charged with insurance fraud. Derek Dawson has been charged with insurance fraud and 2nd degree arson.

Burlington Fire Department was assisted by Burlington Police Departments Criminal Investigation Division and the Peoria Police Department.

 

For months, residents of Mount Pleasant have known that the town would be the final overnight stop for the 51^st RAGBRAI. Now, only one day separates the excitement. RAGBRAI riders will pass through Wayland and Trenton tomorrow, before coasting into Mount Pleasant on West Courtland Street, before heading South on North White, East on West Franklin, South on North Broadway, East on West Madison, and South on North Main. The official campground, McMillan park, will be reached by heading East on East  Monroe and South on South Walnut.

Setup begins today and the beverage garden will open by noon tomorrow! Portable Playlist DJ will start the fun from 12-6pm, Blake Jack and the South 35 from 6-7:30m and the Spazmatics will perform from 8-11pm! All roads in the downtown area will be closed except for Washington Street.

Stay tuned to KILJ Radio, the official media sponsor, for traffic updates, special interviews, and lots of fun.

Total Exhibitors – 77

Total Entries – 286

Class 1 – Breads – Tami Weber won first.

Class 2 – Breads – No Yeast: Jane Dallmeyer won first and Margaret Brinning won second place.

Class 3 – Cakes-no frosting: Jane Dallmeyer won first place and Margaret Brinning won second place.

Class 6 –Pie: Rachel Carstensen won first place and received the $25 prize from Freeman Foods award.

Class 7 – Cookies: $25 Cookie prize from JWs Foods went to Barb Anderegg.  Margaret Binning won first place and Holly Beinhaut won second place.

Class 8 – Candy: Sue Janecek won first place and Shirley Bohr won second place.

Class 10 – Jam:  Darcy Kroemer won first place and Rachel Cartsensen won second place.

Class 11 – Preserves and Butters: Allen Brush won first place.

Class 13 – Canned Vegetables:  Bunny Peiffer won first place and Allen Brush won second place.

Class 14 – Pickles and Catsup:  Pat Sprouse won first place.

Class 16 – Photography Black and White – Taryn Collins won first and Darcy Kroemer won second place.

Class 17 – Photography:  Color: Sharon Scarff won first and second place and Art and Photography $25 Award from Hills Bank.

Class 18 – Computer Art: Sharon Scarff won first place.

Class 19 – Painting and Sketching: Matt Kaye won first place and Ann Williams won second place.

Class 23 – Christmas in July:  Sandy Beachamp won first place and Donna Palmer won second place.

Class 24 – Creative Arts: Dixie Conrad won first and second place.

Class 24B – Needlework – Beverly Rutten won first place and Brenna Goode won second place.

Class 25 – Repurposed or Reimagined: Cindy Dalton won first place and Creative Arts $25 prize from Emporium, and Dixie Conrad won second place.

Class 26 – Metal or Glass: Keiffer Sexton received first and second place.

Class 26 – Leather: Michael Kast won first place.

Class 27 – Table Place Setting – Jo Duwa won first place.

Class 28 – Woodworking – Made and Finished: Merle Pacha won first place.

Class 29 – Wood Article – Painted:  Cindy Dalton won first place.

Class 32 – Wood Miniatures –Ty & Emily Rinner won first place.

Class 35 – Garden Art – Dixie Conrad won first place.

Kids Class – Anna Piette won first place and Cameron Fireze won second place.

Class 37 – Quilts – Hand Quilted: Alicia Pacha won first place and Judy Sieren won second place.

Class 38 – Quilts – Machine Quilted:  Julie See won the $25 award from Willow Creek Quilting, Jan Miller won first place.

Class 39 – Quilts – Intricate Pieced: Laura Schmitz won first place and $25 award from Stitch ‘N Sew.

Class 40 – Quilts – Multiple Method: Sue Norman won first and second place.

Class 41 – Baby Quilt:  Bonnie Nisley won first place and Jane Dallmeyer won second place.

Class 42 – Lap or Small Quilt: Sandi Beachamp won first place and Donna Palmer won second place.

Class 43 – Wallhangings:  Candy Greiner won first place and Peg Kuhns won second place.

Class 44 – Table Runner, Topper, Placemats:  Peg Kuhns won first place and Deb Seward won second place.

Class 47 – Creative Wearables: Brenna Goode won first place.

Class 48- Knitting:  Bunny Peiffer won first place and Erin Kaye won second place.

Class 49 – Crocheting: Rachel Hiller won first and second place.

Class 51 – Pillow – Donna Palmer won first place.

Class 53 – Cut Flowers: Audrey Reed won first and second place.

Class 54 – Cut Flower Arrangement: Donna Palmer won first place and Laura Schmitz won second place.

Class 55 – Bulb Flower:  Dawn Anderegg won first place and Bunny Peiffer won second place.

Class 56 – Container Plant Indoor:  Audrey Reed won first place and Dawn Anderegg won second place.

Class 57 – Container Plant Outdoor: Jan Miller got first place and Dawn Anderegg won second place.

Class 58 – Vase Bouquet:  Katie Reuman won first place and Donna Palmer won second place.

Class 59 – Dried or Created Flowers:  Audrey Reed received first place and second place.

Marianne Reha-Van Roekel received the Flower and Plant $25 award from Hills Bank.

Class 60 – Garden Vegetables:  Allen Brush won first and Overall Garden Exhibit Award of a $25 award from Hills Bank, and Mackenzie Stogdill won second place.

Class 53 – Garden Display:  Pat Sprouse won first place and Allen Brush won second place.

Class 54 – Largest Vegetable – Pat Sprouse won first place and Allen Brush won second place..

Judge’s Choice Award – $25 award from Hills Bank went to Brenna Goode quilt.