The winter season is upon us and the colder weather and shorter days may cause individuals to feel more isolated, lonely, and less motivated. According to the American Psychological Association, more than 12 million Americans over age 65 live alone. During the winter months, many individuals may also choose to skip the cold and stay home more often than usual, leading to a decreased opportunity for social interaction. This increased isolation mixed with feelings of stress and anxiety that may accompany wintertime and the upcoming holidays can have a real impact on a person’s overall wellbeing. Henry County Health Center’s Senior Life Solutions program is here to help older adults in the community.

Chasity Lange, Program Director for Senior Life Solutions, said, “For many, this time of year can bring up a lot of emotions. It can be a reminder of lost loved ones, the nostalgia for family traditions, and can make coping with life changes feel more challenging. We want to be a source of light for the older adults in our community and will do everything we can to help keep individuals supported and connected.”

Senior Life Solutions is an intensive outpatient group therapy program designed to meet the unique needs of older adults typically ages 65 and older struggling with depression and anxiety often related to aging.  They focus on helping seniors in the community navigate difficult life transitions and regain their quality of life not just during the holiday season, but year-round.

For many, the holiday blues will bring temporary feelings of depression or anxiety during the holiday season; however, for some those feelings will linger.  Individuals who are already struggling with their emotional health should take steps of extra self-care during this time.

Below is a list of suggestions that may help counteract the holiday blues:

• Get enough sleep or rest
• Spend time speaking with supportive people on the phone
• Don’t drink alcohol if you are feeling down
• Get outside and take walks
• Stay within budget
• Set reasonable expectations
• Do something you enjoy whether it be walking the dog, or sewing a new scarf
• Enjoy all the wonderful food but don’t binge
• Celebrate a loved one’s life by sharing positive memories
• Forgive yourself, we all make mistakes

For some, the holidays can bring on temporary depression, and for others, it may be chronic. If you or someone you know is struggling with symptoms of the winter blues or a difficult life transition, contact Henry County Health Center’s Senior Life Solutions at 319-385-6552.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly from April through November.

“The first snowflakes of the season flew late last week, and soybean harvest is now 97 percent complete,” said Secretary Naig. “With less than 10 percent of corn left in the fields, the weather outlooks indicate cooler than average temperatures and below-normal precipitation chances.”

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

Variable precipitation slowed harvest activities in parts of Iowa, allowing farmers 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending November 14, 2021, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting, baling corn stalks, applying fertilizer and anhydrous, and fall tillage.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 6 percent very short, 25 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Precipitation this week helped improve soil moisture levels slightly.

Ninety-one percent of Iowa’s corn for grain has been harvested, 4 days ahead of the five-year average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 17 percent. Farmers in south central Iowa have over 20 percent of their corn for grain yet to harvest.

Iowa’s soybean crop harvest is virtually complete at 97 percent.

No issues with livestock were reported. Some cattle have been put out on corn stalks.

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

Multiple weather systems brought measurable rain along with the first snowfall of the season across portions of Iowa during the reporting period. Most of Iowa’s reporting stations observed above normal precipitation with northwest and southeast Iowa reporting near-normal conditions. Iowa also experienced warmer than average temperatures, even with a late week cold snap. The statewide average temperature was 42.7 degrees, 5.5 degrees above normal.

Warm southerly winds and sunshine helped boost daytime highs into the mid to upper 60s across Iowa on Sunday (7th) afternoon; a few stations reported low 70s with a statewide average high of 66 degrees, 16 degrees above normal. Winds began to shift to a northerly direction over the morning hours of Monday (8th) as a weak cold front pushed west to east through the state. Wind speeds gradually increased with highs ranging from the upper 50s behind the front in the northwest to mid 60s southeast. Clouds moved in over southern Iowa before midnight and remained into early Tuesday (9th). Morning lows stayed in the mid 40s to low 50s where clouds reduced surface heat loss while temperatures dipped into the upper 30s and low 40s where skies were clear. Daytime conditions were pleasant with a few scattered clouds passing through with highs in the mid to upper 50s north and some low 60s reported in southern Iowa. A few light showers moved across northwestern Iowa in the early afternoon, though totals were light. Westerly winds built in overnight into Wednesday (10th) as a strong low pressure system approached from the west. Winds shifted back to a southerly direction as showers and thunderstorms spun through southwestern Iowa after noon. The system produced a broad shield of moderate rainfall with a broad swath over the state’s middle third reporting heavy rainfall. Showers remained across northeastern Iowa as totals came in at 7:00 am on Thursday (11th); 70 stations measured an inch or more with most stations receiving at least 0.50 inch. A gauge near Chariton (Lucas County) observed 2.00 inches while Allerton (Wayne County) reported 2.98 inches with the statewide average at 0.86 inch.

Cold air and strong westerly winds filtered in behind the disturbance with sustained wind speeds in the 20 to 40 mph range. Light rain and some snow fell as the day wore on. Several stations reported a trace of snow with more than 25 stations observing at least 0.10 inch; Forest City (Winnebago County) measured 1.00 inch of snow as overall precipitation totals were under 0.10 inch with Rockwell City (Calhoun County) reporting 0.20 inch of rainfall. Strong winds persisted overnight into Friday (12th) with overcast skies and morning temperatures in the low 30s. Sustained westerly winds peaked in the 30 mph range with Sioux City Gateway Airport (Woodbury County) observing a 56 mph wind gust. Light rain and snow remained as several fast-moving upper-level disturbances propagated over Iowa. Temperatures hovered near freezing in northern Iowa while warming slightly farther south. Northwesterly winds died down overnight with cloud cover blanketing the state on Saturday (13th) morning. A complex of light rain moved into Iowa through the afternoon hours as a low pressure center pushed through Minnesota. Temperatures warmed into the late night hours with upper 30s to mid 40s reported at a majority of Iowa’s stations. A second wave of light rain with some snowflakes crossed Iowa overnight into Sunday (14th) morning with minor totals reported across the state.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.10 inch at Rock Valley (Sioux County) to 2.98 inches in Allerton. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.93 inch while the normal is 0.46 inch. Shenandoah (Page County) reported the week’s high temperature of 72 degrees on the 7th, 18 degrees above normal. Forest City reported the week’s low temperature of 20 degrees on the 13th, five degrees below normal.

The Winfield Fire Department with mutual aide from neighboring departments were able to contain a house fire to two bedrooms.  The department was called out Friday at about 5:15 pm to the 300 block of Ash Avenue.  The homeowner returned to find the house filled with smoke coming from one bedroom.  The fire then spread to the second bedroom.  Everyone was out of the house and no injuries were reported. Winfield Fire Chief Josh Sparrow said it looks like a ceiling fan junction box is to blame.  He thinks there was a electrical problem with the box up in the attic and high windows coming thru the attic could have caused the sparks to flame up.

The Mount Pleasant City Council Ordinance and Public Improvement Committee meetings scheduled for November 16 have been cancelled.  The meetings will be rescheduled.

Mount Pleasant Community High School

2014 South Grand Avenue

Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641

The Mount Pleasant Board of Education SITE COMMITTEE will meet at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, to review/discuss:

1. District Facilities Master Planning Conversation – Carl A. Nelson Construction Co.

The meeting is open to the public and patrons are welcome.

AGENDA

November 16, 2021

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

9:00 Jake Hotchkiss, Engineer Weekly Update

9:20 Motion to Suspend Taxes for 21/22

9:30 Mike Norris, SEIRPC-ARPA Funds & Housing

10:00 2^nd Tier Canvass County City/School Election

10:15 Discussion of Federal COVID Vaccine Mandate

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates