Friday, Representative Joe Mitchell of Mount Pleasant announced his re-election bid for a third term in the Iowa House.  Mitchell currently represents House District 84.  Under the newly confirmed redistricting maps, he will run for House District 87 in 2022. Iowa House District 87 includes all of Van Buren County as well as southern portions of Jefferson and Henry County. The city of Mount Pleasant is located in this district. Mitchell’s current district contains all of Henry County as well as portions of Washington, Jefferson and Lee Counties. Mitchell owns and operates his own real estate development company.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is encouraging ice anglers and snowmobilers to use caution when going out on the ice after a snowmobile and an ATV broke through the ice on West Okoboji Lake and East Okoboji Lake Thursday night. The individuals were rescued by nearby anglers, and then were treated and released from the local hospital.

Greg Harson, district supervisor for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau, said he’s received a number of calls Friday from people planning to come to the Iowa Great Lakes and his message is that the ice quality isn’t as good as it has been in the past and to use caution if they plan to operate a snowmobile or atv on the lakes.

“There are a number of areas to avoid, like the points, ice heaves, the bridges and locations where geese are keeping the water open. The pressure ridges are opening and are hard to see. If we get skim ice then covered with snow, that can create a dangerous situation,” he said. “Geese are keeping a large area open on Spirit Lake out from the pump house, so be really careful if going out on Big Spirit this weekend.”

Harson stressed that there is always risk associated with going on any ice and that no ice is 100 percent safe. He said better quality ice is available away from the areas to avoid and encouraged everyone to check the ice thickness frequently and to bring a throwable floatation cushion, 50 feet of rope and a set of ice picks. 

“The new snow is going to make identifying these hazards more challenging, and it’s also going to insulate the ice from the cold temperatures and slow its growth. We all look forward to this time of year to enjoy these lakes, but need to think twice and if it doesn’t look right or feel right, do not go out,” he said.

On January 12, at approximately 8:03 PM the Henry County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a motor vehicle accident that took place in the 3100 Grid US Highway 218.  After an investigation, it was found that Johnathen Strawn of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was driving a white 1994 GMC Sierra pulling a trailer.  The vehicle lost control entering the median and sustained approximately $3,000 in damage.  The load on the trailer was lost striking the guard rail causing approximately $3,000 in damages.  No injuries were reported and Johnathen received a citation for failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle, no registration on the trailer, and no insurance.

DAVENPORT, IA – On January 12, 2022, a Burlington man was sentenced to prison for
his involvement in a drug conspiracy dating back to 2001. Alphonso Edmond, Jr., age 43, was
sentenced to 180 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal prison system. United States
Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa Richard D. Westphal made the announcement.
Edmond was among eight individuals from Burlington who were charged federally in
November 2019, after the execution of numerous federal search warrants in Burlington, and
elsewhere. Edmond was found to have been involved in a conspiracy to distribute ice
methamphetamine and cocaine base (a.k.a. crack cocaine). Edmond was also found to have
carried a firearm related to his drug trafficking activities.
Others charged as a part of this case include Kendrick Ramon Page, who was found guilty
by a jury and was sentenced to 340 months of imprisonment; Breon Raquon Armstrong, who was
found guilty by a jury and was sentenced to 210 months of imprisonment; Tristan Kareem Davis,
who was found guilty by jury and is awaiting sentencing; Lavelle Harris, who pleaded guilty and
was sentenced to 262 months of imprisonment; Lamar Harris, who pleaded guilty and was
sentenced to 210 months of imprisonment; Frederrick Dewayne Reed, who pleaded guilty and
was sentenced to 160 months imprisonment; and Michael Rees, who pleaded guilty and was
sentenced to 151 months of imprisonment. Other individuals associated with this drug trafficking
organization have also been federally charged in the Southern District of Iowa, the Central District
of Illinois, and the Northern District of Texas.
These charges stem from an investigation conducted by numerous federal, state, and local
law enforcement agencies, including: the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce; Burlington Police
Department; Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office; Federal Bureau of Investigation; West Central
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Illinois Taskforce; Quincy, Illinois, Police Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; Iowa
Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Henry County Sheriff’s Office; Mt. Pleasant Police
Department; West Burlington Police Department; Keokuk Police Department; Ft. Madison Police
Department; Lee County Sheriff’s Office; Iowa City Police Department; Johnson County
Sheriff’s Office; North Liberty Police Department; Coralville Police Department; Muscatine
County Sheriff’s Office; Louisa County Sheriff’s Office; Washington County Sheriff’s Office;
Bettendorf Police Department; Illinois State Police; Monmouth, Illinois, Police Department;
Macomb, Illinois, Police Department; Galesburg, Illinois, Police Department; Adams County,
Illinois, Sheriff’s Office; and Fulton County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Office.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District
of Iowa.