A West Burlington woman’s craving for something sweet led to a $10,000 Iowa Lottery win.
Carol Gerst stopped at Casey’s to redeem a free candy bar and had planned to buy a scratch ticket at another store. But she decided to keep things simple.
“I’m not going to two gas stations. I’ll just go to Casey’s,” she said.
Gerst and her son, Caleb, went to the Casey’s at 501 E. Mount Pleasant St. in West Burlington, where she picked up a Reese’s Sticks bar and a Ruby Red Crossword scratch ticket.
She scratched the ticket while running errands and quickly realized she had won something. To confirm, she scanned it with the Iowa Lottery mobile app.
“It says $10,000,” she said. “And I’m saying, ‘No, I think there’s a mistake!’”
It turns out she had forgotten to scratch one letter—an “H”—which made all the difference. That single letter pushed her winnings up to the $10,000 prize, which she claimed Tuesday at the Iowa Lottery’s regional office in Cedar Rapids.
Gerst, 76, works at a facility that cares for residents with special needs. She plans to use her winnings for a home repair, to surprise friends with a little extra cash, and to treat herself.
“At my age, we are having fun with any bonus, anything extra. This is fun money for me!” she said.
Ruby Red Crossword is a $30 scratch game featuring 16 top prizes of $300,000 and 47 prizes of $10,000, with overall odds of 1 in 2.29.
For more details on the game and remaining prizes, visit ialottery.com.
Dan Nguyen, 61, of Mt. Pleasant, died Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at his residence in Mt. Pleasant.
Dan Van Nguyen was born November 25, 1963 in Nhu Trang, Vietnam. He was the son of James Alfred Harris and Mai Thi Nguyen. Dan was united in marriage to Ly Thi Nguyen.
Dan was a longtime employee at the former Alaniz Company, now Innovaire.
In his spare time, one of Dan’s favorite activities was karaoke.
Dan is survived by his wife, Ly of Mt. Pleasant; a daughter, Thao Nguyen and a son Hieu Nguyen, both of Seattle, WA; his father, James Harris of Seattle and his mother, Mai Thi Nguyen of Vietnam.
Private family services will be held.
Cremation rites have been entrusted to the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main Street, Mount Pleasant, IA.
DES MOINES, Iowa – An Ottumwa man was sentenced today to 125 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, in early 2024, Nolan Ryan Rork, 19, was on probation with the State of Iowa. In April 2024, Rork removed his electronic ankle monitor. In June 2024, law enforcement located Rork. While fleeing, Rork threw his backpack, which had two loaded firearms and more than 60 grams of methamphetamine.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Rork will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office and the Ottumwa Police Department.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Mount Pleasant City Council Adjourned Session Date: Wednesday, March 26th, 2025 Time: 5:00 PM Location: City Hall, 307 East Monroe St., 2nd Floor Meeting Room
Agenda
Roll Call
Approve Agenda
New Business a. 5:00 PM – Public Hearing: City of Mount Pleasant 2025-2026 Maximum Property Tax Dollars b. Approval: 2025-2026 Maximum Property Tax Dollars
Public Forum
Adjournment – Next Regular Session: Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 5:30 PM
Mount Pleasant, IA- Mt. Pleasant High School has had a strong tradition of women throwers for the track and field team and that tradition added another name to its history as Ava English signed her National Letter of Intent to throw at St. Ambrose University.
English was able to witness some of that dominance her freshman year when Jadan Brumbaugh was in the process of taking home both the shot put and discus state championships, while English put up a respectable season best of 33 feet and 9 inches.
For English, it has been an honor getting to throw for the Panthers,
“I feel very, very lucky. I look at everyone else and I’m like I have a very, very talented coaching staff and other athletes that came out of this program that are just amazing, like Jayden and she’s definitely one of my people I look up to 100%.”
The nascent of her college decision goes back to her sophomore season, but not in the shot-put ring. Offseason shoulder surgery set the stage for her career choice and her best season of throwing.
“I kind of just had my heart set on St. Ambrose,” said Ava English. “I had shoulder surgery in 2022 and so I went to my physical therapist. I was like, ‘this is what I want to do.’ Where do you recommend? She’s like St. Ambrose. So, I decided. ‘OK. St. Ambrose or nothing.’ St. Ambrose or SCC. So, I went, and toured and I was like, this is it. This is. This is going to be my home.”
Despite the adversity, English led the team with a season best throw of 37 feet and 3 inches and a trip to Des Moines for the Class 3A State Championship for the shot put. English would claim 16th place with a throw of 34 feet and 11.75 inches.
English missed out on state last year with a season best throw of 35 feet and 7 inches as the sport of track and field can often be a frustrating outlet of competition with more setbacks and plateaus than personal bests.
In fact, English was contemplating whether track and field had a place in her future plans, but that thought was short lived,
“It definitely developed last year was kind of iffy. I didn’t know if I wanted that to be my whole life, but now I’m dead set on that. It’s definitely my main thing.”
Now, in her senior campaign, the goal is simple,
“Just keep improving. Trust the process, chop wood, carry water, [Shawn] Striegel [her throwing coach] would like that one. Make it to state. Just do my best. Have fun.”
In the indoor season, English hit a mark of 34 feet and 6.75 inches, as she prepares for Mt. Pleasant’s first outdoor meet on April 1st at West Burlington High School for the Falcon Relays.
St. Ambrose had Annah Miller finish in 11th place in the shot put with a heave of 45 feet and 0.5 inches at the 2024 NAIA National Championship meet.
Mount Pleasant, IA- One of the three senior captains that helped snapped a 23-game losing streak and nearly got the Panthers to finish the year with an over 0.500 record, Payton Walker has signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at St. Ambrose University.
He discussed what went into his decision to play for the Bees,
“Honestly, after talking to their coaches and going there, it really wasn’t that hard. They were close. They have a nice culture there and they have the major I was looking for. So those things kind of lined up and made a really easy decision for me.”
Walker first saw Varsity action in his sophomore campaign and instantly made his mark for the Panthers. Patrolling the middle of the field on defense, he finished second on the team in total tackles with 34.5, while adding 7.5 tackles for a loss, a fumble recovery, and an interception.
As a fullback on offense, he would open lanes and occasionally get the call to carry the ball, resulting in 87 yards and three touchdowns on four yards per carry for the season. Walker would end up taking home District Punter of the Year honors after stepping in for Owen Vansickel and averaging 34.3 yards per punt.
The promise shown in his sophomore season exploded onto the gridiron as Walker turned into a star his junior year. The jack-of-all-trades started the year exclusively in the backfield, whether that was running or blocking and occasionally catching a pass.
That was until starting quarter Cooper Coleman was knocked out of a road game at Tipton in the third game of the season, ushering a need for a new signal caller and who else to step in but Walker.
The running quarterback led the team on the ground in yards and carries with 609 yards, while scoring eight of the team’s nine rushing touchdowns; additionally, he completed 31 passes for 582 yards and added four passing touchdowns.
Moreover, he was also the leader on defense. The middle linebacker totaled 71 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss and still held the role of the team’s punter, averaging 31 yards per punt. This culminated in him earning 2nd Team All-District running back.
However, he was still looking for his first victory in the Maroon and Gold.
Week one of his senior season provided the perfect opportunity in a road matchup against non-district rival Fairfield. Offensively, Walker only had to focus on blocking and running the ball, while defensively he was still the sheriff of the squad.
For the first time in nearly three years, Mt. Pleasant ended the game with the victory as Walker scored both touchdowns in a 13-12 win over the Trojans. Two weeks later at Bob Evans Field, he came through on defense, registering 8.5 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and a sack for a safety in a win over Tipton.
Walker had trouble describing what it meant to get Mt. Pleasant back in the win column,
“I don’t know how to explain it honestly because we were 1-8, 0-9, 0-9 and after we got that first win it was just kind of like a sense of relief and then building on it and going 4-5 and I just want to keep seeing more and more win totals and it’s just a lot of gratification there and feel amazing.”
Overall, in the eight games he played his senior season he found the endzone in seven of the contests as he led the team in carries, despite splitting his share with Ramzy Davis.
Walker again led the team in tackles with 75 on the season, including 11.5 tackles for loss and an interception and fumble recovery. His impact on defense earned him 1st Team All-District linebacker.
For his Panther career, Walker compiled 180.5 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions on defense. The side of the field he will continue to play for the Bees,
“I’m probably just going to stick with a linebacker. mean, punting is fun and all, but I think I’m more of a next level linebacker. I don’t think the leg is quite there”
On offense he totaled 1,100 rushing yards on four yards a carry and found paydirt 18 times and he’s not quite ready to close the chapter on that side of the ball,
“Definitely for sure. It’s definitely fun to run the ball. I mean, who knows if the opportunity presents itself.”
Walker will study Sports Management as he would like to become an Athletic Director. Though he looks toward his collegiate career, he will never forget the past four years at Mt. Pleasant High School,
“Oh, it’s just been amazing. Probably the best four years of my life right here playing football here. My best memories are with the guys out there on that field. So, I kind of realized that as soon as I was having fun out there, I just wanted to keep doing it for as long as I can.”
The Bees finished the season with a 3-8 overall record with a 1-5 mark in conference. They are searching for their first winning season since going 5-3 back in the 2020-2021 season. St. Ambrose will kickoff the season on the road against Briar Cliff on August 30th at 6 pm.
By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, March 25th, 2025 at 1:32 pm CDT
The Mount Pleasant City Council will meet in Regular Session on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at City Hall, 307 E. Monroe Street, second-floor meeting room at 5:30 p.m.
AGENDA
Roll Call.
Consent Agenda:
To the Public — All items with an asterisk (*) are routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion and a roll call of the Councilmembers.
There will be no separate discussion of items unless the Mayor, a Councilmember, or a citizen requests it. If requested, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda.
Receive & file communications.
Approve agenda. 5. Approve minutes of previous meetings. 6. Approve payment of bills. 7. Receive report of Officers.
Old Business
a) 5:30 p.m. Public Hearing to approve plans, specifications, and form of contract for the Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport Taxilane and Hangar Construction project.
b) Resolution approving plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimate of costs for the Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport Taxilane and Hangar Construction project.
c) 3rd reading and adoption of an ordinance amending Chapter 12, Section 12-6 (stop intersections and load limits) of the City Code of Ordinance.
d) Resolution rescinding Resolution 2025:18 waiving the right to review the preliminary and final plats on Auditor’s Parcel 2025-4 subdivision. e) Renewal of a Class F Retail Alcohol License with Outdoor Service for Mt. Pleasant Golf & Country Club at 2275 Hickory Avenue.
New Business
a) Authorize City Administrator to sign a Subscription Service Agreement with QTpod petroleum on demand to provide services for the Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport fuel credit card system.
b) Set date for a Public Hearing on the proposed FYE26 Budget.
c) Resolution approving the promotion of Anthony A. Carrasco to Criminal Investigator.
d) Resolution authorizing Nickolaus Kruger as a firefighter with the Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department.
Public Forum
Adjournment
Next regular session: Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.
