Access Energy Cooperative awards twelve $1500 scholarships each year, four in each of its three districts. The parents or guardians of the applicant must be a member of Access Energy Cooperative. Winners are chosen based on their academics, achievements, community involvement, and a submitted application with a few electric industry-related questions.  Congratulations to the following area high school students who received the scholarships: Addison Clark, Myah Starr and Rylie Copeman of Mt. Pleasant; Morgan Meyer of Wayland, Bailey Headley and Breanna Walton of Birmingham; Clae Cass and Dain Burkhart of Fairfield; Bailey Headley and Breanna Walton of Birmingham; Addison Dravis of Burlington; Audrey Sturdivant of Farmington; and Kamryn Walkenhauer and Zoe Long of Danville.

In memory of an applicant chosen as a 2026 scholarship winner, a $500 donation was made to the Emmelia Miller Memorial.

Access Energy Cooperative is a rural distribution electric cooperative, providing power to over 9000 homes, farms, businesses, and industries in 10 southeast Iowa counties.

In District 1:

Bailey Headley, daughter of Craig and Devon Headley, will be pursuing a career in education at Indian Hills Community College.

Breanna Walton, daughter of Justin and Tina Walton, plans to pursue a career as an Account Specialist

Clae Cass, son of Kirby and Hayley Cass, plans to attend Southeastern Community College to study business.

Dain Burkhart, son of Kelly and Amy Burkhart, will be attending the University to major in Electrical Engineering.

In District 2:

Addison Clark, daughter of John and Bree Clark, plans to major in Biology and Psychology at Simpson College followed by medical school to become a pediatric oncologist.

Morgan Meyer, daughter of Tim and Michelle Meyer, will be attending the University of Iowa on the pre-med track, majoring in Biology with a minor in Psychology and later applying to medical school to pursue a career as a family physician or a PA.

Myah Starr, daughter of Tony and Jennifer Starr, will be pursuing a career in radiation sciences at the University of Iowa.

Rylie Copeman, daughter of Jaime Yoder, will be attending the University of South Florida to pursue a career in nursing.

In District 3:

Addison Dravis, daughter of Randy and Sarah Dravis, plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree in pre-law at Western Illinois University followed by law school at the University of Iowa.

Audrey Sturdivant, daughter of Darren and Jaimie Sturdivant, will be attending Iowa State University to study at the College of Health and Human Sciences majoring in Elementary education, while working towards endorsements in mathematics and reading.

Kamryn Wolkenhauer, son of Jim Drain, plans to attend Georgia Institute of Technology to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

Zoe Long, daughter of Luann Martin, will be attending Southeastern Community College to study secondary education to become a special education teacher.

Mt. Pleasant received over an inch of rain as recorded by the Raindrop App in the past 24 hours.  Rain totals vary by area in the KILJ listening area, but most were close to an inch of rain or just over. Heavy rainfall in Mt. Pleasant on Friday night caused some streets to flood.   The intersection of N. Main Street and W. Franklin North of Mt. Pleasant was impassable around 6pm last night, and there was flooding on Lincoln Street north of the railroad tracks. The National Weather Service issued multiple tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings and watches for portions of Henry County and the surrounding area with heavy rain and gusting winds making travel difficult.  Southeast Iowa was in a tornado and/or severe thunderstorms warnings and watches starting at 12:40pm on Friday afternoon with the last of the storms moving out of the area in the late evening.

Manufacturing continues to grow in Southeast Iowa. Afinitas, formerly known as HawkeyePedershaab, has been part of the Mediapolis community for nearly 80 years. Jason Banwart, Director of technical Sales and Local Site Leader, was proud to share the details of the expansion.

“So at Afinitas, we produce the equipment that makes concrete precast products, such as pipe, manholes, box culverts. So as you’re driving along the road with all the construction going on right now, and you see like the concrete pipe and the box culverts sitting beside the road, we make the machinery and the molds and the tooling to produce those products. It’s a really technical type of solution that we provide, and it takes highly skilled people across all of our departments to pull that off.”

Afinitas has announced plans to expand and modernize its facility in Mediapolis, representing a roughly 12-million-dollar investment in advanced manufacturing.

The project will add about 30,000 square feet of new space and upgrade existing operations with modern technology and automation.

“Mediapolis has been really a core part of Afinitas for nearly 80 years. It’s our largest site, has a very skilled workforce, and it already supports a really wide range of what we produce. And so as our customer demand grows, it just made sense to expand right here. We have the people, we have the experience and the infrastructure to support our long-term growth and goals.”

While company officials say a firm number of new jobs has not yet been finalized, the expansion is expected to create opportunities across engineering, manufacturing, and administrative roles—while also helping retain and attract skilled workers to the region.

The company also expects the project to have a ripple effect on the local economy, with plans to use local contractors and suppliers during construction.

“This expansion is really, it’s going to result in a better and a safer and a more efficient workplace. And it’s going to provide new opportunities for training and career growth and long-term stability. So we’re excited about what it’s going to do for the city of Mediapolis, for our team members, and for the Southeast Iowa region.”

Taylor Collins, Executive Director of Economic Development for the Greater Burlington Partnership and House Representative shared the impact this expansion will have on Southeast Iowa.

“Well, the partnership was proud to partner with the Afinitas to help get this expansion of the finish line. You know, Afinitas has long been a staple employer for Des Moines County, and today’s announcement really further reinforces that. This is going to be a $12 million expansion that we were able to get done with the help of luckily the City of Mediapolis and the Iowa Economic Development Authority. But this investment is especially important for the Mediapolis families that rely on Afinitas and really is going to be a benefit for generations to come. It’s not Every day, you see a town of 1,700 people see an investment of this size, $12 million, 30,000 additional square feet added to the facility, at least 15 new jobs. I think that’s going to be on the low end. And so just really great news for Des Moines County, Minneapolis today.”

Construction is expected to begin in late summer of 2026 and wrap up by the end of 2027.

The lineup for this year’s Henry County Fair continues to grow with the announcement of a high-energy tribute concert set for Friday night.

The HYPE! will take the stage Friday, July 17th, at 7:30 p.m., bringing a night of classic 1980s rock favorites to fairgoers.

The HYPE! is known for delivering performances that recreate the sound and spectacle of some of the biggest rock bands of the decade, including hits made famous by Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison, Bon Jovi, and Aerosmith.

The show features more than two hours of music, combining five tribute-style performances into one concert filled with high-energy stage production and fan-favorite songs from the glam rock era.

The concert is scheduled for Friday, July 17th, at 7:30 p.m. during the Henry County Fair. Additional details about admission and seating are expected to be announced at a later date.

The New London Community School District is asking families to partner with them in building strong character among students during an upcoming community service event.

All New London students in grades 6 through 12 will take part in the district’s annual Clean-Up Day on Wednesday, April 22nd. School officials say the event is designed to be more than just a day of helping around town. They say it’s an opportunity for students to learn responsibility, teamwork, and appreciation by serving others in their community.

District leaders say activities like Clean-Up Day help students develop patience, learn to support one another, and understand the value of stepping up when help is needed. They note that even small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference and help build confidence and pride.

School officials also pointed to the response from students following a past tornado that impacted the community, when many students volunteered to assist wherever help was needed. They say that same spirit of service and community connection is what Clean-Up Day aims to promote.

Parents are encouraged to make sure their children attend school and are prepared to participate in the event. District officials say family support helps reinforce the importance of service and responsibility, and plays a key role in helping students grow into caring and capable members of the community.

The Henry County Historic Preservation Commission met Wednesday, April 15th at the Henry County Heritage Center to review ongoing projects and prepare for upcoming community events.

Members approved the meeting agenda and prior minutes, followed by the treasurer’s report. The Henry County Board of Supervisors has also approved the addition of Nancy Amos and Cathy McCoy as new commissioners.

Guest Paul Katsion, representing the Optimists Club, outlined plans for the opening of the 1976 time capsule located on the courthouse lawn. The Preservation Commission has been asked to assist with inventorying the contents of the 50-year-old capsule and help decide which items will be returned for preservation over the next 50 years. The time capsule will be opened as part of the community’s 250th anniversary celebration this Fourth of July in Mount Pleasant, with the official opening scheduled for July 3rd on the courthouse lawn.

Commission members also reviewed progress on a new historic sites guidebook. Print Group USA has provided mapping and formatting options for the publication. Data collection has been completed, and most image files have already been secured. The guidebook is expected to be finished before the end of the year.

The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for May 20th at the Henry County Heritage Center.