Leo Larry Smith

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, April 28th, 2025 at 10:36 am CDT

Leo Larry Smith, 82, of Mount Pleasant, passed away on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.

Larry was born on June 24, 1942, in New London, the son of Leo Bert and Lerla Opal (Feldman) Smith.  He graduated from New London High School. On April 20, 1963 he was united in marriage to Mary Frances Riepe and together they raised 6 children.  She preceded him in death on September 7, 2021.  Larry was very involved in his community as he served on the New London Co-op Board, Farm Bureau Board, was a 4-H Leader and in 2017 he received the Henry County Cattleman of the Year Award.  Larry was a longtime farmer in Henry County and worked for Ideal Concrete for 20 years before he retired.  He was a member of the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.  

 

Larry is survived by his 6 children:  Christina (Doug) Hoenig of Ames, Brian (Cindy) Smith of Mount Pleasant, Carla Jones of Mount Pleasant, Sarah (Mike) Jirak of New London, Natalie VanSickle of Marion, and Adam (Brooke) Smith of Mount Pleasant, as well as his grandchildren, Aaron (Holly) & Andreas Hoenig, Justin Smith, Cody (Amy) Smith,  Austin Smith, Kaitlin (Randy) Wade & Marcus Jones, Elizabeth (David) Huppenbauer, and Courtney & Delaney Smith.  He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Abel Hoenig, Noel Hoenig, Silas Hoenig, Taylor Wade, Junior Wade, and Harper Huppenbauer and Jordy Huppenbauer and his sister, Yvonne Rich of Mount Pleasant.

 

Larry is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Mary Frances, four sisters, Barbara Smith, Rosemary Graham, Wuanita Rich and Ivaleen Goudie. and sons-in-law, John Jones & David VanSickle. 

 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant, with Reverend Father Dominic Nguyen celebrating the mass.   Burial will follow in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Mount Pleasant.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant.  A memorial has been established in his memory.   

 

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com

Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is caring for his arrangements.

James Leon Kurtz

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, April 28th, 2025 at 10:36 am CDT

James Leon Kurtz, 85, of Mount Pleasant, formerly of Fairfield, died Thursday, April 23, 2025, at Genesis Mercy One Hospital in Davenport.

Jim was born October 30, 1939, in Germanville, Iowa, the son of Leon J. and Mary (Quinn) Kurtz. He attended country school in Germanville and later when his family moved to Fairfield, he attended schools there. Jim worked as a paper boy in Fairfield, Burns Grocery Store, and Perry Sinclair. He then studied to be an electrician and got his first job working for Speer Electric at age 23. Jim later worked for Zehr Electric, and eventually started his own business as Kurtz Electric. Much of his work was done in the Fairfield and Mount Pleasant area.

Jim loved the outdoors and enjoyed boating, fishing with bank lines and walking on many hiking trails with his wife and dogs. After retiring, Jim enjoyed going on day trips to county parks, where he would walk the trails and have picnic lunches. Throughout his life Jim always had the love of many faithful dogs by his side & he passed on this compassion for pets to his loved ones! His family was thankful to be able to share with him many adventures in nature & everyone enjoyed his sense of humor! Jim’s family camped at McCoon Access for 15 years, then later had a permanent camping spot & boat dock at Ketchum Bridge Access for 30 years & had many lifelong friends at both places.

Those who are left behind to cherish his memory are Karen, his wife & companion of 45 yrs, his daughters Kimberly Jennings of Marengo, Tami Kurtz of Fairfield, and stepdaughter Traci Gardner of St. Cloud, Florida; grandchildren Amanda Amzalag, Falon Gardner, Cairys Gardner; two great grandsons Elijah and Isaiah; sister Jeri (Frank) Powers of Ft. Madison; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five siblings Patricia Randall, Dolores Herrod, Greg Kurtz, Daniel Kurtz, and Jeanette Kurtz.

According to his wishes his body has been cremated and there will be no services. Burial will take place at the Oakland Mills Cemetery. A general memorial fund has been established. The Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory is caring for Jim and his family. www.powellfuneralhomes.com

2nd Public Hearing on Alternative Wind Energy – Henry County Supervisors

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, April 28th, 2025 at 9:54 am CDT

Henry County Supervisors

100 E Washington St Ste 202

Mt Pleasant IA  52641

Fax: 319-385-3601

 

  Chad White, Vice-Chair               Marc Lindeen, Chairman               Steven Detrick, Member    

           319-385-0759                                 319-385-0760                                     319-385-0761________

 

AGENDA

  Board of Supervisors

Tuesday

April 29, 2025

9:00 A.M.

  1. 2nd Public Hearing Alternative Wind Energy

House Happenings with Heather Hora

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, April 28th, 2025 at 9:42 am CDT
Highlights From This Past Week’s Legislative Session:

  • End of Session
    • Monday, April 28th, is the beginning of the last scheduled week of session, as Friday will be the 110th day. However, if we don’t pass our budget bills, to fund the state government, by Friday, May 2nd, then we cannot officially close out session, so we will continue to work until we do. I will keep you updated on the progress that we are making!
  • Debate
    • One of our priorities we entered session with was to ensure Iowa laws are protecting our youth and setting them up for success in life, particularly those that are born into tough situations
    • This week we passed a number of bills off the House floor in that effort. Here they are:
      • House File 1003 prioritizes providing stability for a child in the foster care system.
        • It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to have staff that is focused entirely on finding relatives for children placed in foster care. This staff would be dedicated to identifying those relatives and providing notice that the child has been removed from parental custody.
        • It also allows the court to determine if placement with a foster parent that has had the child in their care for longer than 9 months may be in the best interest of the child over a relative or fictive kin.
      • Senate File 474 makes significant changes to the services provided to Iowa youth, particularly those with serious emotional disturbances and substance use disorders. It is a bill from the Department of Health and Human Services to help kids who are struggling get the mental health care and support they need.
      • Senate File 150 changes how a person can be charged for knowingly purchasing and possessing child pornography. Under this bill, multiple images of the same child can result in multiple charges. This bill aims to protect children and ensure justice is appropriately served.
  • House Approves Measure to Legalize/Facilitate Farm to Table Meat Sales
    • On Monday, April 21, 2025, the House passed House File 1006 by a 90-aye to 1-nay vote.  HF 1006 creates a new type of food processing entity that is licensed and inspected by the Department of Inspection, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) agents that can store officially processed packaged meat or poultry raised by the licensee and offered for sale at a premise or farm on a wholesale or retail basis.  The bill legalizes the on-farm storage of processed inspected packages and allows the sale on wholesale or retail basis for such packages by the producers.  The annual license/inspection fee level to be assessed upon the businesses/farms with on-farm storage of processed inspected packages who provide wither wholesale or retail sales for such meat packages by the producers is $75.  The measure further strikes and replicates existing provisions applying to ‘small food processing premises’ that specify annual license/inspection fees of:
      • $150 if gross sales of processed and marketed meat is less than $200,000;
      • $300 is gross sales for is at least $200,000 but less than $2-million; and
      • $500 for operations with gross annual sales exceeding $2-million.
    •  This legislation has been referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee for its consideration.  This bill would builds on prior legislation that provided for tiered license/inspection fees for small food processors custom inspected poultry slaughter at state inspected lockers that have been enacted in recent sessions.
  • Grain Indemnity Fund Assessment to Cease on September 1
    • On Thursday, April 17, 2025, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) issued a press release that announced that the Grain Indemnity Fund Board voted to cease the assessment on grain sold to Iowa-licensed grain dealers as well as the participation fees for Iowa licensed grain dealers and warehouse operators as part of the Iowa Grain Depositors and Sellers Indemnity Fund (Grain Indemnity Fund) effective September 1, 2025.  The assessment was reinstated on September 1, 2023, after the Fund fell below the statutory threshold of $3 million due to grain facility failures in 2021 and 2022.  Under existing law, the assessment must remain in effect for at least a full year and must also remain active until the Board votes to suspend the collection of fees or the Fund reaches a balance of $8 million.
    • That second-year of collections started on September 1, 2024, and will continue through August 31, 2025.  The balance of the Grain Indemnity Fund, as of April 16, is $10,173,347.80.  This total exceeds the $8 million dollar threshold and does not include the final two quarters of collections, which will cover cash sales of grain made in March, April, and May, and June, July, and August.  Created by the Iowa Legislature in 1986 during the Farm Crisis to provide financial protection to farmers, the Grain Indemnity Fund covers farmers with grain on deposit in Iowa-licensed warehouses and grain sold on a cash basis to state-licensed grain dealers.  In the case of a failure of a state-licensed grain warehouse or grain dealer, the Fund will pay farmers 90 percent of a loss on  grain up to a maximum of $300,000 per claimant.
    • The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Grain Warehouse Bureau regulates and examines the financial solvency of grain dealers and grain warehouse operators to protect Iowa farmers. The Grain Warehouse Bureau is responsible for administering the Iowa Grain Depositors and Sellers Indemnity Fund. Members of the Iowa Grain Depositors and Sellers Indemnity Fund are appointed by the Governor and are subject to confirmation by the Iowa Senate. More information can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website.
  • Health Care Workforce Bill Sent to the Governor
    • This week the House sent House File 516 to the Governor with bipartisan support. This bill concentrates on the medical training at our state public hospital and medical school. This bill aims to focus our taxpayer funded institution on intentional efforts to grow the health care workforce of all of Iowa. The data shows that if you do your medical school training and your residency training in one state, you are far more likely to stay and practice in this state. Unfortunately, the University of Iowa’s retention of physician workforce in Iowa is not providing results for the entire state, and this bill aims to make improvements while continuing the exceptional medical training received at UIHC.
    • Prioritizing Iowans, Rural Rotation – codifies requirements that were placed into session law in 2019 in House File 532. Additionally, it adds fellowships to the requirement that UIHC prioritize Iowans.
      • Requires medical residencies at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic to give priority to applicants that have an Iowa connection (resident of Iowa, went to undergrad in Iowa, or medical school in Iowa).
      • Requires primary care residencies (family medicine, OB, psych, and internal medicine) at UIHC to provide the opportunity to participate in a rural rotation to expose those medical residents to rural areas of Iowa.
    • UIHC Medical Residencies – requires the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics to offer an interview for the medical residencies of some of the most-needed specialties in Iowa to those with an Iowa connection. Additionally, this bill requires UIHC to offer DMU and UI medical students the option to participate in an audition clinical in the specialty of the residency for which they are applying.
    • In-State Training – requires the University of Iowa medical school and dental school to have at least 80% of their students be residents of Iowa. This bill also requires an annual report by UI regarding the same schools and UIHC medical residencies demographic information.
  • Governor Signs Several House Judiciary Bills
    • The 2025 legislative session is getting closer to the end. A majority of the committee work is done, and bills are advancing through the House and Senate. The House Judiciary Committee has sent a significant number of bills to the Governor for her approval. Below is a short summary of some bills signed by Governor Reynolds:
      • House File 314- Adoption Waiver
        House File 314 allows a juvenile court to waive the requirement for a preplacement investigation and report in certain adoption cases. This waiver can occur if the adoption petitioner has been the legal guardian of the child for at least 36 consecutive months and has fulfilled their responsibilities as a guardian during that time. Currently, waivers are only permitted if the petitioner is a relative of the child within the fourth degree of consanguinity
      • House File 363- Disposition of Remains
        This bill is about who can make decisions regarding the final arrangements for a person’s remains after they pass away. It states that if someone is not allowed to be a decision-maker according to a person’s wishes, they cannot take control of those arrangements. Essentially, it ensures that only the right people can make decisions about how a person is laid to rest.
      • House File 367 CINA Family Interaction
        House File 367 modifies the rules regarding family interactions during ongoing child in need of assistance (CINA) proceedings. Currently, family interactions must continue unless a court, or the Department of Health and Human Services determines they are detrimental to the child. The bill changes this requirement, stating that interactions should continue unless a court finds substantial evidence that they pose an imminent risk to the child’s life or health.
      • House File 647- Place of Trial
        House File 647 outlines the venue for trials in criminal cases when the county of the offense is unclear. It specifies that trials should be held in the county of the victim’s residence if they can be identified. If there is no victim or the victim’s residence cannot be determined, the trial will take place in the county where the accused resides. For non-natural person victims, the trial can occur in any county where the victim has a physical presence. In cases with multiple victims, the trial may be held in any county where a victim resides, prioritizing natural persons
      • House File 924- Possession of Firearms
        House File 924 lowers the minimum age for acquiring and carrying firearms from 21 to 18 years old. The bill includes changes to related laws.
  • House Ways and Means Committee Supports Tax Credit for Gun Safety Devices
    • This week the House Ways and Means Committee passed House File 132. The bill creates an individual income tax credit for the purchase of firearm safety devices. “Firearm safety device” is defined as a device designed to prevent a firearm from being operated without first deactivating the device or a qualified gun safe.
    • Under House File 132, the credit is equal to the sales price of the firearm safety device, not to exceed $500. Any credit in excess of the taxpayer’s liability is not refundable but may be credited to the tax liability for the following year.
    • House Republicans support our second amendment rights—but also support safe and responsible storage of those firearms. House File 132 will make taking those proper precautions more affordable and is now ready for full consideration by the House.
On Monday, I shared birthday treats with my colleagues to celebrate my Easter Sunday birthday, as we wrap up another successful session focused on putting Iowans first. A special thanks to the Riverside Casino for making them all!
Contact Me

  • I am so thankful to be your District 92 Representative and I am always looking to hear from you all! Please reach out to me at heather.hora@legis.iowa.gov

Have a great week!

Deputies Respond to Sounds of Screams Reported From Semi Trailer in Brighton

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, April 28th, 2025 at 8:17 am CDT

Authorities responded to a report of suspicious activity Sunday evening after a caller reported hearing what sounded like a woman’s voice shouting from a livestock trailer traveling through Brighton.

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the incident was reported at approximately 8:04 p.m. The caller provided the license plate number of the trailer, and said the noise appeared to be coming from inside the trailer as it passed by.

Because the trailer and caller crossed county lines, information was forwarded to Keokuk County authorities. Deputies in neighboring Jefferson County later located the semi-truck and conducted a traffic stop to investigate.

After inspecting the trailer, deputies determined that the noise was not coming from a person, but rather from pigs being transported inside. Officials confirmed there were no issues.

No further action was taken.

Players Workshop Announces Open Auditions for Summer Young Actors Production

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, April 28th, 2025 at 7:52 am CDT

Players Workshop is gearing up for its 2025 Young Actors Production and will hold open auditions for Bedtime Stories (As Told By Our Dad) (Who Messed Them Up) by Ed Monk. The comedic play features roles for 4 boys, 6 girls, and 12 or more additional actors of any gender.

Auditions will take place at the Workshop, located in Burlington. Students in grades 3-5 are invited to audition on Sunday, May 11, at 6:00 p.m., while auditions for students in grades 6-8 will be held on Monday, May 12, at 6:00 p.m. If a young actor is unable to attend on their designated day, they are welcome to audition on the alternate date.

For more information, contact director Carol Hinkle at 319-850-1394 or email pwyoungactors@gmail.com. Additional details are also available on the Players Workshop Facebook page and at www.playersworkshoptheater.com.

VBCSD Summer Food Program Offers Free Weekly Meals for Children

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, April 28th, 2025 at 7:51 am CDT

The Van Buren Community School District is once again offering free summer meals for local children through the 2025 VBC Summer Meal Pick-Up Program.

Starting June 2 and running through June 23, families can pick up weekly meal packages every Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Each package will include seven breakfasts and seven lunches per child, covering an entire week of meals.

The program is open to all children ages 2 to 18, and meals must be picked up by a parent or guardian. Distribution will occur weekly on Mondays at the designated pick-up location, ensuring children have access to nutritious meals even while school is out for summer break.

Families interested in participating must sign up by end of day today (April 28). Organizers ask that contact information be included during registration to help with any necessary follow-up or special arrangements.

For more information or to sign up, contact Gayle Hervey at 319-293-3334 ext. 4026 or via email at Gayle.Hervey@vbcwarriors.org.

Sports, April 28th

By Slaten Swords · Monday, April 28th, 2025 at 6:18 am CDT

High School Track

Winfield-Mt. Union, WACO, Columbus, and Van Buren County will participate in the Sigourney Co-Ed meet tomorrow, April 29th. 

New London will host the Co-Ed Chris Selby Invitational tomorrow with Danville, West Burlington/Notre Dame, Mediapolis, and Wapello making the trip.

Mt. Pleasant and Central Lee will compete in the Keokuk Relays tomorrow.

The 115th Drake Relays concluded over the weekend and here’s how our local teams performed in the 4×100 meter relays.

For the girls’ race, Mt. Pleasant was the first of our local teams to finish as the team of Kynlee White, Ellie Freeman, Taylor Williamson, and Kiyah Sanders crossed the finish line in 49th place with a time of 50.77 seconds. Burlington took 88th and Keokuk finished in 94th place, while Washington was disqualified. 

On the boys’ side, New London’s squad of Cale Westerbeck, Gavin Strawhacker, Brigham Porter, and London Franklin sprinted to a 25th place time of 43.48 seconds. Keokuk finished in 30th place followed by Burlington in 39th place. Columbus had their team grab 42nd place with a time of 43.84 seconds. Fairfield and Washington finished stride-for-stride with the Trojans taking 62nd place and the Demons in 63rd place. Mediapolis collected 87th place. 

High School Tennis

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will celebrate their senior night tonight against Fort Madison, while the boys’ team will travel to face off against the Bloodhounds. 

The Fairfield girls’ team will get a rematch with Burlington, their closest win of the season tonight in a road showdown. The boys’ team will play at home.

High School Golf

Winfield-Mt. Union will tangle with Hillcrest Academy today at home.

Holy Trinity Catholic will host New London today.

WACO will take on Louisa-Muscatine today on the road.

The SEC girls’ teams will make the trip to Burlington today, while the SEC boys’ teams will meet up at Washington.

Burlington Notre Dame will travel to compete in a triangular today at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course. 

Wapello will take on Columbus today at home.

Danville will make the trip to Central Lee today to play at the Green Acres Country Club.

Mediapolis will face off against Burlington Notre Dame tomorrow, April 29th, on the road. 

High School Soccer

The Burlington Notre Dame girls’ team fell to Wahlert Catholic at the Assumption Invitational over the weekend 3-0. The Nikes will host Columbus tonight with the girls’ teams playing first at 5 pm followed by the boys game.

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team made the trip to Muscatine over the weekend and split their triangular, losing 2-1 to the hosts and handling Central DeWitt 3-0. Akbar Wilson scored two goals, Dylan White recorded three assists, and Xachary LeBlanc made 13 saves between the two contests. 

Fairfield will tangle with Mt. Pleasant tonight with the boys on the road and the girls at home.

The Mediapolis boys’ team will travel to WACO tonight at 5 pm.

The Mediapolis girls’ team will face off against Fort Madison on the road tomorrow, April 29th, at 5 pm.

The Danville boys’ team will travel to Fairfield tomorrow at 5 pm.

The Central Lee girls’ team will make the trip to Albia tomorrow with gametime at 5 pm.

The Wapello boys’ team will play Hillcrest Academy on the road at 6:30 pm tomorrow and the girls’ team will take on Monmouth-Roseville at home at 5 pm.

Southeastern Community College                                                     

The baseball team swept Southwestern Community College over the weekend both in thrilling and dominating fashions. Game one saw the Blackhawks score four runs in the top of the 7th to take a 5 to 3 lead just for the Spartans to knot the game in the bottom half of the inning. Nevertheless, SCC would win the game in the 8th inning, 6-5, as Owen Thomson slammed the door, striking out two in his 5th win of the season.

Games two and three were an exhibition of offense as the Blackhawks won game two 11-1 as Michael Farina and Jackson Petsche each notched two RBIs, while SCC clobbered the Spartans in game three 15-4. Farina homered twice in the game tallying nine RBIs for the weekend, while Sheppard Graf also went deep in the contest and brought home four runs.

The baseball team will travel to Northeast Community College today. 

The softball team starts their Region 11 tournament as the #3-seed on Wednesday, April 30th, in a best-of-three series against Iowa Western with the winner advancing to the championship game.

This Day in Sports History

1930 – The first night game in the history of Organized Baseball took place in Independence, Kansas.

1965 – Lindsey Nelson broadcasts a baseball game at Houston Astrodome from a hanging gondola.

2018 – Shaquem Griffin is the first one-handed person to be drafted into the NFL; selected by Seattle Seahawks.