DAVENPORT, Iowa – Victor Alberto Elias Rodriguez, age 40, of Mount Pleasant, was
sentenced Wednesday, June 1, 2022, to 342 months in prison for Production of Child
Pornography. Elias Rodriguez was also ordered to serve ten years of supervised release following
his imprisonment and was assessed a $100 Special Assessment immediately payable to the Crime
Victims Fund.
According to court documents, officers initiated an investigation into Elias Rodriguez
after receiving information regarding his possible sexual abuse of a minor female. The
investigation revealed that Elias Rodriguez had been sexually assaulting the minor victim from
the age of five, up to this incident when the victim was seventeen years old. In addition, Elias
Rodriguez took a video of the sexual assault with his cell phone. On January 21, 2022, Elias
Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the one-count Indictment.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the
announcement. This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District
of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which
was started in 2006 as a nation-wide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and
prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual
exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are
encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821

Henry County Engineers Office announces a bridge replacement project starting the week of June 6th on 220th Street (H-38), east of Nebraska Avenue. The road will be closed for approximately four (4) months, weather permitting. There will be a marked detour route. Questions can be answered at 319 385-0762.

It looks like there will be a change of venue for the trial of one of the teens charged with murdering a Fairfield teacher .  Willard Miller’s request to have his trial moved out of Jefferson County has been granted.  Miller is charged with First Degree Murder in the death of Nohema Graber, a 66-year-old Spanish teacher from Fairfield. Where the trial will be moved to has not been decided.

The Mount Pleasant Board of Education POLICY COMMITTEE AND SITE COMMITTEE will meet at 3:30pm on Thursday, June 2, at the Central Office, 1010 E. Washington Street, to review/discuss:

1. Review Tentative Changes to 2022-2023 Student Handbooks
2. Second Reading Board Policy 604.5 Special Education, Instruction, Graduation of Special Education Students
3. Legislative Update: Open Enrollment
4. Buildings and Grounds Project Update

 The meeting is open to the public and patrons are welcome

Mount Pleasant Community School District

School Board FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING

The Mount Pleasant Board of Education FINANCE COMMITTEE will meet at 4:30pm on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, to review/discuss:

1. Property/Casualty/Worker’s Comp. Insurance Renewal Information
2. Computer/Tablet Lease Agreement Update
3. Milk and Bread Bid Update
4. Legislative Update: Open Enrollment

The meeting is open to the public and patrons are welcome. The meeting will be held at the Central Office, 1010 East Washington  Street, Suite 102.

The Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana located on Old Threshers grounds in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, dedicated to tent shows, the nationally known Toby and Susie Show, and opera houses of the Midwest, will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of its groundbreaking and the Grand Reopening June 10^th, 2022.

The official ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 4:30 pm Friday, June 10^th, followed by a tour of the completely remodeled museum. The public is cordially invited to attend the Friday ceremony.

The over 900-thousand square foot, two-story museum, is the only one of its kind, showcasing the history of traveling tent theatres and the opera houses that brought fun, enjoyment, and culture to thousands of Americans across the Midwest and beyond from the mid-19^th century through the mid-20^th century. The museum has the largest collection of opera house curtains in the country along with rare Actress Glass, scripts, photos, and show posters, including two newly restored original Alphonse Mucha Art Nouveau posters. The museum also houses a research library and the 200 seat James V. Davis Performance Center.

The 50-year-old museum received a complete remodel this past winter and is ready to continue its mission to preserve our midwestern theatrical heritage. The museum is full of memories, fun.

Following the reopening, the museum will be hosting the Annual Theatre History Convention on Saturday and Sunday, June 11^th & 12^th.

To learn more about the Theatre Museum, visit the museum’s website at thetheatremuseum.com or call 319-386-9432. The museum is open Thursday-Saturday Memorial Day through Labor Day and by appointment throughout the year. Group tours are available.