Mount Pleasant, Iowa — The Mount Pleasant City Council convened for its regular meeting this week, where one of the key items on the agenda was a proclamation recognizing April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Rachel Long, a representative from the Domestic Violence Intervention Program and the Rape Victim Advocacy Program (DVIP/RVAP), addressed the council to share information about their services and mission. Long, who lives near Burlington and serves multiple counties including Henry, Des Moines, and Lee County, passionately told the council about the support offered to survivors of sexual violence, from crisis calls to hospital response and court proceedings.

During her presentation, Long asked Mayor Brimhall to read the official proclamation declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The City Council unanimously approved the proclamation, reaffirming their support for ongoing violence prevention and survivor assistance efforts. The Mayor signed the proclamation following the motion’s passage.

Long also invited the public to a special “Shop for Survivors” event taking place April 16 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Washington, Iowa, aimed at raising awareness and providing support for survivors in the region. Council members thanked Long for her work and the resources brought to the local community.

At the April board meeting, Public Health Administrator Katie Reuter led the discussion, with program updates provided by Public Health Nurse Mandi Morin.

Morin also reported that the department is now a Presumptive Medicaid Provider, allowing staff to offer immediate, temporary coverage to individuals likely eligible for Medicaid, such as pregnant women and foster children. She shared examples of recent client support through Medicaid and WIC navigation, as well as assistance for an elderly resident preparing for a medical procedure.

Mandi and her Director Katie Reuter are also participating in the Public Health Residency Program, a grant-funded professional development initiative that includes mentorship and culminates in a quality improvement project.

The Board also reviewed several updated department policies, including those related to emergency response, inclement weather, and needle stick procedures. A new flex-time policy was proposed to allow hourly staff to adjust their schedules during the workweek, with HR support and a board vote pending.

Staffing changes were also announced. Nurse Amy Martin has resigned to launch a diabetes education program in Jefferson County. Morgan Francie has accepted the open nurse position and will begin in June. Francie comes from the University of Iowa and brings experience in wound care and burn treatment. The next Health Board Meeting will be held May 7^th at 12:30pm.

Secretary Naig to Present the Keitzer Family with the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award

DES MOINES, Iowa (April 9, 2025) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will present the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award to the Dan and Jan Keitzer family of Des Moines County on Friday, April 11. The presentation will take place at 11 a.m. at their family farm near Mediapolis.

When World War II broke out, the Keitzer family’s farm near West Burlington was needed by the federal government to construct an ammunition plant. In 1941, they relocated and put down new roots at their current farm near Mediapolis. In the more than eight decades since, generations of the Keitzer family, including Dan upon his graduation from college in 1983, have farmed and cared for their land and livestock. Today’s farming operation includes Dan and his wife Jan, their son Keaton and his wife Keely, their daughter Kendra and her husband Travis Meisgeier, as well as Dan’s cousin Bryan Keitzer and uncle Robert Keitzer. The farm includes corn and soybean production, seed corn production for Beck’s Hybrids, custom feeding of pigs for JBS, and a custom planting and harvesting enterprise.

“Rural Iowa continues to be a wonderful place to call home because we have great farm families like the Keitzers who contribute to their communities and support their neighbors in so many ways,” said Secretary Naig. “The Keitzers are good stewards of their land and excellent caretakers of their livestock. They are well respected leaders within their community and in Iowa agriculture. They step up, time and again, to serve and to lead. I am pleased to present them with the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.”

The family has long believed in the importance of conservation to enhance soil health and to improve water quality. They utilize management practices such as no till, reduced tillage, and vertical tillage to minimize soil disturbances that can lead to erosion. They have grid sampled their fields since 1992, which allows them to deploy technology that ensures each acre has the precise nutrients needed to be as productive as possible. They have also constructed waterways and terraces, both of which are structural practices that protect the soil and water.

The Keitzers pride themselves on taking good care of their livestock. Keaton has assumed a leadership role in the swine operation and is PQA (Pork Quality Assurance) certified. Their pigs enjoy modern comforts such as automatic feeders and waterers, drop curtains for adequate ventilation, and a back-up generator that ensures seamless operations in the case of a power outage.

The Keitzers are strong supporters of and contributors to their community. Dan and Jan are members of the Mediapolis Methodist Church, where Dan has served as Treasurer since 1991. Dan serves on the Board of the Southeast Iowa Research Farm. He has also been a member of the County Extension Committee, 4-H and Youth Committee and Treasurer of the Des Moines County Fair. He is actively involved in the local Lions Club, where he has given of his time and talents to serve as a leader for many building projects within the community and fairgrounds. The Keitzers are longtime members of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Soybeans Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, and Iowa Corn Growers Association, where Dan currently serves on the Board of Directors as well as Chairman of the Usage and Production Committee. He has previously served in many leadership roles for the Des Moines County Pork Producers. The Keitzers frequently welcome international trade delegations, ensuring that visitors to our state can see an Iowa farm and meet a farm family.

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award is made possible through a partnership with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers (CSIF), The Big Show on WHO Radio and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Now in its 21st year, this award recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in caring for the environment and their livestock while also being good neighbors. It is named in memory of Gary Wergin, a long-time WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award.

Burlington Police are investigating an armed robbery that took place late Monday night at the Steamboat Landing Apartments, located at 300 Angular Street.

According to a press release issued by the Burlington Police Department, officers responded to the scene at approximately 9:10 p.m. on April 7 following a report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, officers found an adult male victim who had been assaulted during the incident. Authorities confirmed that several items had been taken from the residence.

The victim was transported by ambulance to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police are urging anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Burlington Police Department at (319) 671-7001 or Crime Stoppers at (319) 753-6835. Tipsters who provide information that leads to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.

Authorities emphasized that no arrests have been made at this time and that the investigation is ongoing. The department also reminded the public that criminal charges are accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

The Iowa State Patrol is alerting residents to a nationwide phishing scam targeting cell phone users through fraudulent text messages claiming to collect toll road fees.

These scam messages often appear as official notifications and may include text such as “unpaid toll charges” or provide links urging recipients to settle outstanding fees. In Iowa, however, this is a clear red flag.

Important Reminder: Iowa does not have toll bridges or toll roads. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) does not send text messages requesting payment for any type of transportation-related fee.

The Iowa State Patrol emphasizes the following steps to protect yourself:

• Do not click on any links in suspicious messages.
• Do not provide personal or credit card information.
• Delete the message and report it using your phone’s “report junk” or “report spam” option.
• Alternatively, forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) to report it.

For more details and tips on avoiding phishing scams, visit the Iowa DOT’s official consumer alert page: https://www.news.iowadot.gov/…/iowa-dot-warns-consumers…

Stay safe and spread the word — knowledge is key to stopping scams in their tracks.