On May 20^th, 2024, at approximately 4:10 AM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office was advised of a single vehicle accident within the 1500-grid of Highway 34. An investigation into the accident determined a 2024 Nissan Centra, drive by Dustin Loper, 44, of Crawfordville, Florida, was traveling eastbound on Highway 34 when the vehicle left the roadway.

The vehicle contacted the gravel portion of the roadway causing the vehicle to lose control across both travel lanes of the highway and enter the southeast ditch. The driver of the vehicle was uninjured and damage to the vehicle was unapparent.

After further investigation, Dustin Loper was arrested and charged with Operating While Under the Influence and received a citation for Failure to Maintain Control.

The Mt. Pleasant Chamber Alliance held a forum yesterday evening for the 4 candidates for the Henry County Supervisors. Dan Cook, Steve Detrick, David Muhs, and Chad White took turns answering questions sent in from the public. Despite the storms’ best efforts, with the power even going out for a considerable amount of time, the candidates rolled on with the forum.

A question was posed about tourism in our county, and how the county can grow that area, and Steve Detrick answered. He said that the communities in our county should get together and that there are underutilized parks that we should enhance and promote. The county consists of many communities, not just Mount Pleasant.

David Muhs answered a question regarding house File 718, which will see major budget cuts impact our county for the remainder of this decade. His idea is to be efficient and talk to our state legislators.

When asked what skills or traits he would contribute to the board, Dan Cook brought up the importance of working together as a team. He believes it is best to combine thoughts with the other supervisors and to have a stern set of values.

The hot topic of wind energy was always going to be put into a question, and Chad White was asked if he supports wind energy in Henry County. With an emphatic “no” he addressed the room by asking people to do their own research, calling wind a “cash grab.”

Afterwards, the four candidates stuck around to speak with citizens about important issues in the county. The airport in Mount Pleasant and the Amtrak are two underutilized resources in our county according to one constituent who spoke with some of the candidates afterwards.

If you would like to hear more from these candidates, head to KILJ.com and go to the special programming tab, where you can find a recorded forum.

Here is the link to the Chamber Forum: https://fb.watch/sdGHd7nopw/

The Washington County Riverboat Foundation recently announced 24 different organizations as the recipients of their spring 2024 grant. The Mount Pleasant Fire Department is one that will benefit, being awarded $8000 which will be used for radio upgrades.

Also awarded a grant was Washington County Emergency Management, with just under $450,000 going towards replacing the outdoor warning sirens in the county. PAWS and More received the largest grant, at just over 2,400,000 dollars. They will be able to construct a brand-new facility in Washington.

The Washington County Riverboat Foundation is the nonprofit license holder for the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort, which provides the entirety of its funding. For the Spring 2024 grant cycle, WCRF awarded 24 grants totaling $3,614,233.

May is typically the month many students and teachers look forward to, as it means the end of school. Speaking with the superintendent of the Mt. Pleasant Community School District, John Henriksen, he mentioned how graduation on Sunday went well, and wished the graduating class luck.

While they are embarking on a new adventure, some current students will need to take classes over the summer. Summer school will begin the week of June 3^rd and will be three weeks of Monday through Thursday, 8:30am-11:30am. Due to the changing of elementary buildings to grade-alike, students enrolled in summer school that attend elementary schools will meet at the Middle School for summer classes.

Harlan Elementary was named as the recipient of a special grant, which will see $5000 go towards their library. They are one of 200 schools across 40 states throughout the country to benefit from the Laura Bush foundation this year. Many libraries will use this funding to update and diversify their collection.

Speaking of elementary schools, the grade-alike buildings are just about here, and the superintendent is sending out a letter later this week regarding the bus shuttles.

There is a public hearing this Thursday at the central office conference room beginning at 5:15pm. This meeting will see the school board discuss the plans for 1515 E Monroe.

The Noon Optimist club introduction has been pushed back one week, with the first meeting now scheduled for May 30^th at 12:00. They will meet at the US Bank meeting room in the lower level, with elevator access.

Anyone is invited to attend, and you can learn more about the Optimist mission, along with the work they have already completed and their vision for the future. An RSVP is preferred to henrycountyoptimists@gmail.com or 641 799 9631. A light lunch will be provided along with drinks.

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.

“In pockets around the state, some farmers were able to resume or even finish planting as fields dried out from warmer and windier conditions,” said Secretary Naig. “However, showers and thunderstorms prevented many from making much progress. An active weather pattern, along with stronger thunderstorms, is expected to continue this week and may bring more frustrating planting delays.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report
Scattered showers across Iowa allowed farmers 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 19, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers were planting corn and soybeans as well as cutting hay. Some replanting has occurred due to drowned out areas in fields.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 14 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus.

Seventy-eight percent of Iowa’s expected corn crop has been planted, 8 days behind last year and 4 days behind the 5-year average. Forty-seven percent of the corn crop has emerged, 2 days behind of last year but equal to normal. Sixty-one percent of Iowa’s expected soybean crop has been planted, a week behind last year and 2 days behind the normal. Nearly one-quarter of the soybean crop has emerged, 3 days behind last year but equal to the average. Ninety-one percent of the expected oat crop has emerged, 5 days ahead of normal. Seventeen percent of the oat crop has headed, 6 days ahead of last year and almost 2 weeks ahead of the average. Oat condition remained 76 percent good to excellent.

Ten percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed. Hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition improved to 72 percent good to excellent. Reports of cleaning out bins and hauling grain to town.

Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

While rainfall was widespread across the state through the reporting period, a less active storm track produced drier than average conditions over most of Iowa. Unseasonable warmth continued as well with positive departures of nearly six degrees in small pockets of east-central and northern Iowa; the statewide average temperature was 64.7 degrees, 3.2 degrees above normal.

Spotty showers and a few thunderstorms popped up over northern Iowa later Sunday (12th) afternoon with daytime highs in the 80s and gusty southwesterly winds. A larger complex of showers associated with a low pressure center spinning over northern Missouri filled in overnight into Monday (13th) morning. Two areas of rainfall persisted in southwest and eastern Iowa before redevelopment occurred over southern Iowa into the afternoon hours. Much of northern Iowa was clear with Canadian wildfire smoke drifting in on northerly winds; temperatures were in the low 70s under sunshine and up to 15 degrees cooler south where clouds and rain persisted. Heavier, slow-moving thundershowers were also reported in central Iowa with two Indianola (Warren County) stations collecting 3.20 inches. Showers eventually dissipated as the disturbance propagated east, though overcast skies remained on the backside of the system. Tuesday (14th) morning lows varied from the mid 40s northwest to low 60s southeast with widespread event rain totals of at least 0.50 inch across Iowa’s southern one-third. Nearly 60 stations in south-central and southwestern Iowa measured an inch or more; New Market (Taylor County) observed 2.02 inches while 3.02 inches fell in Russell (Lucas County) with an overall statewide average of 0.46 inch. Winds shifted to the east during the day with mostly clear skies in western and northern Iowa; temperatures held in the mid to upper 60s in eastern Iowa where cloud cover remained.

Early Wednesday (15th) temperatures dropped into the upper 40s northeast while 50s were reported farther west with areas of fog. A southerly shifting wind and overall sunny skies lent to pleasant conditions as temperatures rose into the low to mid 70s. Clouds increased in western Iowa as showers and thunderstorms developed along a cold front into the evening. Rainfall was reported across Iowa’s northwestern half as a drier atmosphere helped dissipate showers in eastern Iowa. Totals reported at 7:00 am on Thursday (16th) were generally under 0.20-0.30 inch though embedded pockets of heavier totals were also observed; a 0.78-inch measurement was taken at Emmetsburg (Palo Alto County) with 1.45 inches in Blencoe (Harrison County). Westerly winds held through the day with afternoon highs in the 70s under mostly sunny skies. Clearing skies remained overnight as winds became light, allowing for scattered pockets of fog to form. Friday (17th) was unseasonably warm with strong southerly winds boosting highs into the mid to upper 80s northwest with low to mid 80s farther east. Overnight temperatures, in the 60s, were 10-15 degrees above normal as spotty clouds transited across central Iowa. Saturday (18th) was the warmest day of the week with widespread mid to upper 80s along with a few 90-degree readings; the statewide average high was 85 degrees, 12 degrees above normal. Spotty thundershowers formed along a weak cold front that was pushing through eastern Iowa into the evening hours; winds swung around to the north behind the boundary. Sunday (19th) morning lows ranged from the low 50s north to low 60s south.

Weekly rain totals ranged from 0.02 inch in Monticello (Jones County) to 3.25 inches in Promise City (Wayne County). The statewide weekly average rainfall was 0.65 inch; the normal is 1.10 inches. Several stations reported the week’s high temperature of 90 degrees on the 18th, on average 17 degrees above average. Decorah (Winneshiek County) reported the week’s low temperature of 34 degrees on the 15th, 14 degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the 60s as of Sunday.