Author: Yorke Prough

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, IA, K9 Kalo has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Kalo’s vest was sponsored by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and NIJ certified. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 5,794 vests to K9s in all 50 states at a value of $6.9 million, made possible by both private and corporate donations.

The program is open to U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.

The Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra (SEISO) will perform their first Masterworks Series concert set on October 13th at 6:30 PM at the MTPCSD (formerly IW) Chapel Auditorium in Mt. Pleasant.

They are beginning our 74th season: Welcome to the Symphony with a bang by opening the concert with Iowa composer Linda Robbins Coleman’s In Good King Charles’s Golden Days Overture, followed by Claude Debussy’s La Mer and An Afternoon of a Faun before ending with the masterwork of all masterworks: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5.

Music Director, Robert McConnell says, “I am amazed at how much excitement performing Beethoven’s 5th Symphony generates. Some of our musicians have performed this work over 30 times and for others it’s a first.  It is gripping each and every time it is performed.”

For tickets and information, head to their website at www.seiso.us

Tickets may also be purchased at the door. or may be purchased at the door.  Single-concert tickets are $20.  Children/student tickets (aged 0-22) are free.  There is no reserved seating.

Make the most of your concert experience by attending the ‘Prelude.’  Music Director Robert McConnell will be on hand 45 minutes prior to each performance to talk about the programmed music in depth.  ‘Prelude’ is supported in part by the Charles W. Rand Memorial Lecture Fund in Burlington and is offered free of charge to all audience members.

If you have questions, please contact the SEISO Office at seiso@seiso.us.  More information is available on the SEISO web site at www.seiso.us.

An officer will once again roam the halls of the New London Community School District after a 28E agreement was signed at Thursday’s Henry County Supervisors meeting. A deputy from the Sheriff’s Office will soon be installed as the school resource officer, with the school district reimbursing the deputies package when on location.

Supervisor Lindeen, and acting chairman due to Greg Moeller’s absence, told the Henry County Sheriff that he does not want to get comfortable with this in the future. He believes that, due to the limited budget, it would be very difficult to approve an SRO in other school’s in the district in the future. McNamee fired back, reminding that the deputy is reimbursed by the school entirely, and that he or she will serve the citizens of the county. The 28E agreement was approved unanimously.

Conservation Director, Caleb Waters, shared his frustrations over the dump station with the 2-man board. His main concerns come from the time it has taken, 2 years, and the $30,000 or so that they have spent on this project. At the conservation board meeting on Wednesday, it was brought to Water’s attention that the department can hire Bruce Wilson with RUSS (Regional Utility Service Systems) to come up with a plan for $100 an hour. He also mentioned that the majority of the campground will be closed on October 21^st as they begin to winterize the cabins. This allows more time to be spent on mowing and cleanup of the outlying parks.

The public comments section saw multiple voices from residents within the county. One woman directed a question to supervisor White. At a past meeting, White had asked for clarification from the assistant county attorney, Steve Giebelhausen, over which parts of the Henry County Watchmen proposed ordinance would be non-defensible. White did meet with Giebelhausen and while they disagreed on some parts, the supervisor mentioned that he is not a lawyer himself.

Another citizen asked the board if they are still researching wind turbines, in which supervisor Lindeen responded that he is going on a roadtrip soon, presumably to a wind farm. Supervisor White has spoken with Emergency Management director, Walt Jackson, who has agreed to ask colleagues from counties with wind turbines for more information.

The Planning and Zoning Director and the County Engineer also gave reports at Thursday’s meeting. The Henry County Board of Supervisors will meet again next Thursday, October 17^th in regular session.

Motor Fuels

• As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.98 across Iowa according to AAA.
  • Prices fell 1 cent from last week’s price and are down 41 cents from a year ago.
  • The national average on Wednesday was $3.21, up 1 cent from last week’s price.
• Retail diesel prices in Iowa rose 6 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.38.
  • One year ago, diesel prices averaged $4.27 in Iowa.
  • The current Iowa diesel price is 22 cents lower than the national average of $3.60.
• Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.
• The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $2.08 for U87-E10, $2.39 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $2.42 for ULSD#2, $2.71 for ULSD#1, and $1.87 per gallon for E-70 prices.

Heating Fuels

• Natural gas prices fell 30 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.66/MMbtu.
• Propane prices averaged $1.57 per gallon in Iowa.
• Home heating oil prices had a statewide average of $2.91 per gallon.

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

There was a tractor-trailer rollover at 12:30 am on October 9^th that the Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to. They were identified via 911 emergency call.

Logan Louderman 19, of Brighton, Iowa was traveling eastbound in the 1100-Grid of Highway 78 when his tractor-trailer hit the Crooked Creek bridge guardrail and left the roadway. The tractor-trailer came to rest on the passenger side, approximately 70 yards from where it left the roadway, parallel to the bridge. Alarmingly, the driver, who was the only occupant, was trapped inside.

Wayland Fire Department and Henry County Sheriff Deputies used mechanical means to extract the driver from the vehicle. The driver was transported to Iowa Hospitals for treatment of potential injuries. The tractor appeared to be totaled.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Wayland Fire Department, Henry County EMS, Washington County EMS, Iowa Air-Care and Breuer Towing and Recovery.

This accident is still under investigation.

Gov. Kim Reynolds today signed a proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer, and manure.

The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through November 8, 2024. The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.

This proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.