Residence Deemed a “Total Loss” Following Devastating Fire in Burlington

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 at 9:53 am CDT

On May 25th, 2024, at 10:28 PM, the Burlington Fire Department was dispatched for black smoke and flames coming from the residence located at 415 Peasley St. Burlington. They arrived 4 minutes later to find heavy fire showing from the rear of the two-story residence.

415 Peasley St. is owned by Dennis Wilson Revocable Trust and was vacant at the time of the incident. The residence is insured and considered a total loss.

Burlington Fire Department was assisted by West Burlington Fire Department, Danville Fire Department, Alliant Energy and Gas, and the Burlington Police Department. There were no reported civilian or firefighter injuries, and the last unit cleared the scene at 1:27am.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Burlington Fire Department and Burlington Police Department.

Henry county Supervisors Meeting Agenda 05/30

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 at 8:50 am CDT

Henry County Supervisors

100 E Washington St  Ste 202

Mt Pleasant IA  52641

Fax:  319-385-3601

 

Chad White, Member            Marc Lindeen, Vice-Chairman        Greg Moeller, Chairman    

           319-385-0759                                 319-385-0760                                  319-385-0761________                        

AGENDA

 

May 30, 2024

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

9:00 Jake Hotchkiss Engineer Weekly Update

Motion to Set Date to Open Fuel Bids

9:30 Sarah Berndt, CDS Monthly Update

Approve Fellowship Cup Agreement

10:00 3rd Final Reading Consideration and Adoption of EMS Resolution

10:30 Henry County Budget Amendment FY24

Hub International – Adam Kerns County Coverage Updates

11:00 Public Hearing & First Reading of Ordinance

11:15 Lynn Whaley Update

Readopting Existing County Code

Oher County Business as time allows

 Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

 

Mt. Pleasant Records Just Under 15 Inches of Rain So Far This Season

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 at 8:46 am CDT

There is a slight chance of rain throughout today and a 45% chance on Friday, and while this may upset some people who think we’ve had enough, weather.gov would disagree. The average precipitation in inches at this point of the year is 13.88. Currently, Mt. Pleasant is at 14.93, with the majority of that coming between April 1st and May 1st. The lowest rainfall total at this point was way back in 1956 at just over 4 inches, with the most in 1973 at almost double the 2024 amount, 28.30.

911 Address Marker, Vital for First Responders, Price Increase July 1 – Get Yours Now

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 at 8:43 am CDT

If you need a new 911 address marker, get yours before July 1 when prices for them increase. These signs display a vital piece of information for first responders and can save precious minutes in emergency response times.

To request a replacement or new sign, property owners can call the Henry County Planning and Zoning office at (319) 385-2146.

Dinner and a Show at Old Threshers During Preserve Iowa Summit – Open to Everyone!

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 at 6:40 am CDT

The Preserve Iowa Summit is coming up fast, which promises of Iowa history lovers from all over coming to Mount Pleasant to learn more about the town on June 6th-8th. As part of the summit, which interested parties can still register for until June 1st at https://culture.iowaeda.com/events/230 there is an evening that is open to anyone.

Aptly named “An Evening at Old Threshers” mark your calendar for Friday, June 7th, at 6:00pm for a Methodist meatloaf dinner, homemade fruit pies, drinks, and music by Annie Savage and her band. The Theater Museum will be open as will the carousel and trolley rides. Children under 12 get in for free and an adult ticket is $20. Contact Lea Bradley at 319 931 0671 to get your ticket today!

Cheryl Cooley

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 at 5:57 am CDT

Cheryl Ann (Howell) Cooley, 71, of Morning Sun, passed away on Friday, May 24, 2024 at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois. Graveside Services will be 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 in Elmwood Cemetery.  A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Morning Sun Fire Department.  A memorial has been established for the Iowa Donor Network in Cheryl’s name.     Sympathy notes may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.  Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Morning Sun is caring for Cheryl’s arrangements and her family.

 

Cheryl Ann Howell was born on June 20, 1952 in Washington, Iowa, the daughter of Ralph and Henrietta (Wilson) Howell.  Cheryl was a 1970 graduate of Columbus Community High School and attended Kirkwood Community College.  On February 10, 1979, Cheryl was united in marriage to Drew Cooley in Morning Sun.  Cheryl worked over 25 years as a dietary supervisor for the Wapello Nursing Home.  Following her retirement from the nursing home, Cheryl began working at the Morning Sun Hope Have site home, retiring from there in 2020.  Cheryl enjoyed her grandkids and camping at Cedar River Campground.

 

Cheryl will be deeply missed by her children, Mark (Brook) Cooley, Lisa (Jeff) Van Amerongen and Rich (Amanda) Cooley, all of Morning Sun; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Erin) Meek, Tyler Cooley, Abbie (Bryce) Cooley, Mason Cooley, Garrett Cooley, Mallory Van Amerongen, Mackenzie Van Amerongen and Presley Cooley; siblings, Willard Howell of Wapello, Linda Clemmer of Winfield, Joe (Carol) Howell of Columbus Junction and Janet Dickerson of Winfield; sister-in-law, Jill Cooley of Des Moines and several nieces and nephews.

 

Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Drew on August 22, 2012; brother-in-law, Dick Clemmer; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Howard and Jan Cooley and sister-in-law, Joyce Howell.

James Zielinksi

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 at 5:56 am CDT

James “Jim” Zielinski, 74, of Mount Pleasant, died Saturday, May 25, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Jim was born March 22, 1950, in Canton, Illinois, the son of Walter D. and Helen J. (Bailey) Zielinski. He graduated from Burgan High School in 1968, and continued his education at St. Mary’s University and Illinois Community College where he earned his degree in nursing. On March 22, 1986, Jim was united in marriage to Beth Hothan in Peoria, Illinois. The couple have lived in the Mount Pleasant community for 24 years where Jim worked as a nurse in the Henry County and Jefferson County hospitals.

Jim enjoyed watching Cardinal baseball, grilling, cooking, and Legos.  He was a fishing guide and appreciated the outdoors, especially cruising around in his MINI Cooper. Jim was a member of a men’s golf league and enjoyed days on the golf course. He also had a love for the Christmas season and playing Santa. The eyes of little children lit up as they sat on his lap and told Santa what they wanted for Christmas. Jim was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus.

Jim is survived by his wife Beth; children and grandchildren Patrick Zielinski of Bettendorf, daughter Riley (Peirce) Lorenz and their daughter Elsie Mae of Winston Salem, North Carolina, Melissa (Jeff) Rybolt and their children Thomas and Sydney, of Colorado, Bryan (Krista) Beam and their children Shaylyn and Jacob of Colorado, Julia (Tom) May and their children Henry and Sylvia of Wisconsin; two siblings Janet (Bill) Roth of Morton, Illinois, and Mark (Marsha) Zielinski of Peoria, Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson George May, and cousin Pat Bailey.

Memorial Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 31, 2024, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church with Fr. Jake Greiner as Celebrant. Visitation will be held 1:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 30, at Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory, where the family will be present to greet friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. A memorial fund has been established for Tunnels to Towers. The Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory is caring for Jim and his family. www.powellfuneralhomes.com

Click It or Ticket This Memorial Day!

By Yorke Prough · Friday, May 24th, 2024 at 12:08 pm CDT

Click it or Ticket this Memorial Day holiday. That’s right, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is urging drivers to buckle up this weekend.

The states in region 7, which includes Iowa, saw an overall increase in seat belt use over the last year, but this appears to be the exception. The national seat belt use rate in 2023 was 91.9%. The other 8.1% of drivers and passengers must remember that seat belts save lives. During this high visibility event, participating law enforcement agencies will take a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.

One of the focuses of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. NHTSA data shows a higher number of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities happen at night. Also, men are overrepresented in unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities with 54% of men (8,098 people) and 41% of women (3,201 people) dying without a seat belt in 2022.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization, please visit NHTSA.gov/ClickIt.