AGENDA
December 30, 2021
Approve Agenda
Approve Minutes
Approve Claims
9:00 Sarah Berndt, CDS Monthly Update
9:30 Lynn Whaley- WEMIGA, Renewal of contract with Henry County
Other County Business as time allows
Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates
Daily Jail Count
Henry County Jail
In the interest of keeping Henry County residents informed, the Henry County Sheriff’s office has requested KILJ post the daily jail count. During the jail referendum campaign it was publicized that the jail would be able to house additional inmates from surrounding counties and this would generate revenue for Henry County.
Date: ____12-30-2021_____
JAIL COUNT
23_ Henry County Inmates
34_ Out of County Contract Inmates
57 TOTAL
KILJ Sports Year in Review: Quarter Four presented by Two Rivers Bank
October
College Football: Esquivel Named NAIA National Player of the Week
Iowa Wesleyan freshman quarterback Gavin Esquivel was named the NAIA’s National Offensive Player of the Week, the institution has announced.
Esquivel is the first Tiger to earn national honors since Sierrah Garcia did in softball in 2012.
In Wesleyan’s homecoming win in October, Esquivel broke the school record for touchdown passes in a game with eight, a record that was held by Dustin Dewald.
College Wrestling: Oklahoma State, Iowa to Meet at Bout at the Ballpark
Wrestling will meet baseball in a one-of-a-kind event at Globe Life Field as the No. 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys face the top-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes in one of the most storied rivalries in college wrestling on February 12, 2022.
The matchup was announced in October.
Bout at the Ballpark will feature dual-match action between OSU and Iowa as well as the senior national teams from the United States and Iran. Competition will begin simultaneously as bouts will alternate throughout the event on two different mats. It will be the first time a senior-level international meet and an NCAA meet will operate in this format.
College Basketball: Mount Pleasant’s Ashton Named Assistant at Minnesota-Duluth
The University of Minnesota Duluth men’s basketball team hired former Mount Pleasant standout Jordan Ashton as an assistant coach in October.
Ashton’s playing experience playing experience includes stops at Northwest Missouri State (2012-2014), Kirkwood Community College (2014-2015), Iowa State (2015-2016), and Northern Iowa (2016-2017). Ashton was awarded first team All-American during his time at Kirkwood Community College.
Most recently the top lieutenant for Alex Huisman at Iowa Wesleyan, Ashton helped guide the Tigers to 71.1 points per game.
November
Prep Football: Audubon Outlasts WACO in Heartbreaker
Braden Wessel’s fourth quarter punt return sent the Audubon Wheelers to the UNI Dome, defeating WACO 34-30 in a heartbreaking 8-Player Quarterfinal November in Wayland.
The Warriors, leading 30-28, saw Wessel scamper 70-yards, weaving in and out of tacklers to give the Wheelers a lead they would not release.
Simeon Reichenbach rushed 28 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns, while Jon Rice added 37 and two scores of his own — despite the loss.
The loss ended WACO’s season at 10-1, falling one game of an appearance at the UNI Dome.
Prep Volleyball: Just Did It — Notre Dame Repeats as Queens of 1A Volleyball
1A volleyball for the foreseeable future runs through Notre Dame, the Super Conference and southeast Iowa.
For the second consecutive year, the Notre Dame Nikes captured a state championship in November, cementing their status as the most dominant program in the sport at their level.
For what it’s worth — and head coach Mike Davis would agree — it wasn’t as easy as it was last year for the Nikes.
They were missing the tournament MVP from a year ago in Katy Stephens.
Her absence thrust rising superstar Gabby Deery into the limelight and not only did she excel, she exceeded.
Deery provided her capstone performance November’s title game drilling home a match-high 18 kills, propelling the Nikes to a 3-1 win over Springville.
Deery finished the three-day tournament with an absurd 67 kills.
For her efforts she was named 2021’s 1A Tournament MVP.
Prep Football: Edeker Honored in 8P-6 as Coach of the Year
Following their 10-1 season that saw them finish one game shy of the UNI Dome, WACO head coach Chad Edeker was named 8-Player District 6 Coach of the Year, which was announced in late November.
Edeker guided the Warriors to an undefeated district season before stumbling in the state quarterfinals to No. 6 Audubon.
Joining Edeker with accolades along the first team from WACO was running back Simeon Reichenbach and offensive linemen Tim Willits and Taylor Sutton.
Defensively, Tyler Sutton, Drew Diers and Jon Rice were all first team choices.
Winfield-Mount Union sophomore quarterback — and Iowa recruit — Cam Buffington was named first-team all-district after leading the Wolves offense in every major statistical category.
Abram Edwards, his top target, was also a first-team honoree.
The pollsters voted New London’s Boden Pickle as a first-team choice, as well.
New London’s Josh Glendening was the only other local selection among the first team — Glendening was listed as a defensive lineman.
Second team All-District honorees included:
- Isaac Oswald, WACO
- Caleb Giese, W-MU
- Bowen Glaha, New London
- Joel Lacy, New London
- Noah Sparrow, W-MU
- Cole Milks, W-MU
- Dominic Lopez, New London
Prep Cross County: Two Danville-NL Runners Named All-State
Two Danville-New London were selected as All-State honorees by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches, following their terrific senior campaigns.
Both Ty Carr and Alexander Julian were honored as All-State choices.
Carr clocked a season best time of 16:35 even, while Julian’s top time was 17:03.6
Both men were All-State state selections last year by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches, as well.
December
College Football: Five Tigers Earn All-Conference Honors
Five Iowa Wesleyan Tiger football players have earned North Star Athletic Association All-Conference honors, the league announced in December.
Quarterback Gavin Esquivel, wide receiver Jaden Harris and defensive backs Kaden Henley and Major Niccum were all honored as Honorable Mention All-Conference selections.
Esquivel finished fourth in the league with 203 yards per game while setting the school record for most passing touchdowns in a single game when Iowa Wesleyan defeated Crown College earlier this year.
Henley morphed into a ballhawk in the second half of the year, leading M.D. Daniels’ defense with six interceptions and seven pass breakups.
Niccum was a chess piece as for Daniels’, as well, displaying incredible defensive versatility. Niccum led the team in tackles with 87 while adding two interception and four pass breakups.
Jaheem Hampton was awarded this year’s Champions of Character award for Iowa Wesleyan.
Hampton was a leader on and off the field over this season and his entire career, finishing this season with 33 solo tackles.
Prep Wrestling: ND’s Frazier Wins 150th, Cliff Keen Championship
Mount Pleasant native and Notre Dame prep wrestler Blaine Frazier had a monumental December earning championship at the historic Cliff Keen Independence Invitational.
Frazier exacted a little revenge when he faced Green County’s McKinley Robbins, the same opponent who he lost to for the 2021 Iowa State Championship.
Frazier was able to end Robbins’ 41 match win streak with a 3-2 win.
The win also was the 150th of Frazier’s career.
Prep Wrestling: New London’s Lopez Commits to SIU-E
New London’s three-time defending state champion Marcel Lopez has made his college decision official in December.
Lopez will continue his wrestling career as a member of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.
The Cougars are in their infancy stages of Division I wrestling and are associate members of the Mid-American Conference.
They have not had an individual national champion since 1993.
Lopez was named the Dan Gable Mr. Wrestler last year after defeating Lisbon’s Brandon Paez in the state finals.
He has a chance to become just the 30th four-time state champion in Iowa High School wrestling history.
Marvin Day (final arrangements)
Marvin Day, 78, of Mount Pleasant, died Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at his home in Tuscan, Arizona.
Marvin was born December 10, 1943, in Concordia, Kansas, the son of Franklin and Wilma (Goering) Day. He graduated from Concordia High School in 1961. Marvin was united in marriage to Wanda Ortery on July 27, 1974, in Kirkwood, Illinois. The couple lived in Nashville, Tennessee, New London and have lived in the Mount Pleasant community since 1984. Marvin was a Pizza Hut franchisee, as well as owned and operated the Sirloin Stockade in Mount Pleasant.
Marvin served on the Henry County Hospital Board for over 30 years, Two Rivers Bank Board, a member of the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce where he served on many committees and a former member of the Jaycees. He received an Honorary Doctorate from Iowa Wesleyan College. Marvin volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, coached little league baseball, and served on the youth softball board. He enjoyed Old Threshers and was instrumental in establishing the Carousel. He relished the time he was able to farm with his good friend Steve Heise, and going home to Kansas to farm his family farm with Todd Cyr. Marvin was a very caring, loving, gentle, and kind person. He was always willing to lend a hand to those in need and never knew a stranger. Marvin was a devoted family man and husband. More than anything, he loved spending time with his family, especially his grandkids.
Marvin is survived by his wife Wanda; five children, Jon (Michaele) Day of Altamont, KS, Amy Day of Mount Pleasant, Angi (Daniel) Butcher of Mount Pleasant, Dr. Kristopher (Lacey) Day of Issaquah, WA, Krystal (Matt) Platt of Mount Pleasant; 22 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Marilyn Collins and a nephew Rick Collins.
Funeral Service will be held 2:00 pm Sunday, January 2, 2022, at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be held 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Saturday, January 1, 2022, at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will greet friends from noon until 2:00 pm. The service will be livestreamed at Powell Funeral Homes Facebook page and at our website www.powellfuneralhomes.com. A memorial fund has been established for Henry County Health Center Foundation.
Henry County Compensation Board Meeting
The Compensation Board will be meeting January 19, 2022 at 5:30 pm. Anyone wishing to attend the meeting will be able to view it in the Conference Room on the 2nd Floor of the Courthouse. Chairman Bob Swindell will be there with the other members. This is to determine wage increases for elected officials for Fiscal Year 22/23.
County and City Registration Reminder for UTV’s and ATV’s
Henry County residents who operate a snowmobiles, all-terrain or off-road vehicles have until Friday, December 31st to renew their registration without penalty.
Owners may renew current off road vehicle registrations without a penalty for $17.75 until the end of the year, and a late fee of $5 will begin January 1st. Off-highway vehicle registrations are issued by the recorder’s office in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and are valid for one year. Due to the New Year’s holiday, the courthouse will be closed Friday, December 31st. For more information or questions regarding registration, Call the Recorder’s office at 319-385-0765.
If residents are interested in the Henry County Ordinance to ride all-terrain or off-road vehicles on the designated county roads they will need to purchase a county permit as well. The cost for the county permit after Jan 1st will be $50 and is good for 1 year (Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022).
Mount Pleasant Police Department also reminds owners of UTVs and Golf carts registered in Mount Pleasant that those registrations expire December 31. You will need to have them registered for 2022. Just stop in the Police Department business office to get them registered. You will need to bring your current DNR registration and $25.00 cash or check. For questions call 319-385-1450.
Year In Review 2021 3rd Quarter
The third quarter of 2021 kicked off with one of the year’s most highly anticipated events…the opening of the Mount Pleasant Childcare Center. The community supported project meant the addition of desperately need childcare availability for the town. Doors opened July 6 serving 50 children to start with.
In July County Fair goers were happy to be able to attend in person this year after events were cancelled and the livestock shows held on-line the year before.
Congratulations to 17 year old Maddie Wellman! She was crowned as this year’s Lee County Fair Queen. This year’s First Runner Up was Sidney Jones and Second Runner Up is Brianna Gruntmeir. Brianna is also Miss Congeniality. The Junior Fair Queen at the Lee County Fair is Allison Gruntmeir. First Runner Up is Kayla Winnke and Second Runner Up is Madison Hassman.
Winfield-Mount Union senior Madie Anderson was named Henry County Fair Queen!
First Runner-Up and Miss Congeniality was Alexandra Farley. The 2021 Junior Queen was Ashlynn Beauchamp and First Runner-up was Jacie Campbell.
The Fair Princess was Bella Tedrow and the First Runner-up was Addyson Newton.
In July the Iowa Board of Corrections approved the Department’s selection of three new wardens. Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility’s Deputy Warden, Marcy Stroud, became that facility’s new warden. Chris Tripp was approved as the Warden of the Iowa State Penitentiary and Shawn Howard as the Warden of the Newton Correctional Facility. Stroud has worked with the Department of Corrections since she started her career as a Correctional Officer in 1989 since then holding many positions within the department including Activities Specialist, Counselor, Treatment Director, and Forensic Hospital Director as well as Deputy Warden.
At the end of July local and state law enforcement agencies closed the case regarding the fatal house fire in Mount Pleasant that occurred early in May. Mount Pleasant Police officially confirmed that Keith and Khay Baccam died in the May 3 blaze. The bodies of the couple were found inside their home at 1004 Redbud Lane. However, at the request of the family authorities did not release any further information, other than to say there was never a threat to the community. Mount Pleasant Fire Department responded at about 3:30 am to the scene. Because two bodies were discovered and because the fire appeared suspicious the State Fire Marshall’s investigator and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation were called in.
At the end of July the Mount Pleasant School Board officially approved a contract for Chad Venghaus as the district’s new Director of Buildings and Grounds. Chad previously worked for the City of Winfield Public Works Department. He would go on to work for two months with long time director Mark Porth who would officially resign this fall.
The Sweet 16 program is always a highlight of the annual Old Threshers Reunion. 2021 was made extra special with the addition of the Sweet 17’s. These young ladies signed on in 2020 as 16 year olds but as with so many other events that year’s Reunion was cancelled. The girls were invited to participate in this year’s reunion and that meant there was a Sweet 16 and a Sweet 17. The 2021 Old Threshers Miss Sweet 16 was Kalayana Durr of New London. First Runner-Up was Everlee Harvey. Second Runner -Up was Tristian Shull and Miss Volunteer was Sydney McElhinney. Ava Fisher of Altoona, Iowa was crowned Miss Sweet 17. The First Runner-Up was Kaitlyn Lee of New London. Second Runner-Up was Abby Blint. Miss Volunteer honors went to Emma Harvey of Argyle.
This fall, Iowa Wesleyan University continued to see significant enrollment growth, posting its highest overall enrollment in over a decade and the largest number of new students in 86 years.
The University’s fall census boasted a total undergraduate enrollment of 669, a 13% increase over last fall. This enrollment growth is also a 20% increase over the past three years and a 41% increase over the past five years.
The overall enrollment of 835, a 15% increase over last fall, reflects growth in the University’s graduate and online programs and the undergraduate program. This growth is a 58% increase over the past five years.
This growth in students has also pushed campus housing to its capacity. As the University expects to continue to experience enrollment growth for the future, campus housing and facilities have been a focus of discussions throughout their strategic planning process that is currently underway.
The new partnership with Southeastern Community College (the Southeast Iowa Higher Education Alliance) also provided an immediate enrollment impact, with fifteen students transferring through the Alliance this fall. The regional awareness has also increased the number of new Iowa students by 42% from last fall.
This fall, nearly 100 international students are on campus representing 34 countries.
September 14 both New London and Winfield Mt. Union School Districts held bond referendum. The proposition put before the New London voters passed by 68%. Voters were asked to approve general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $5,375,000. The funds are to be used to turn the Clark Elementary gym/multipurpose room into classrooms and then to construct a gym addition to the High School building.
The WMU proposition did not succeed. A total of 371 votes were cast…210 no votes and 161 yes votes. WMU district residents were asked to approve $3,255,000 to provide funds for a combination performing arts/athletic competition facility as well as additions to the Industrial Tech building and the High School.