The Henry County Board of Supervisors held their monthly department head meeting Thursday, addressing updates from various county departments and ongoing projects.

Tax Resolution for City of New London Property
Supervisors addressed an unusual tax situation involving a small parcel purchased by the City of New London to facilitate a sidewalk connection for a new subdivision. The property had been acquired via tax certificate sale after previous owners failed to pay taxes. Legal guidance confirmed the city is responsible for back taxes, but the county may abate them if unpaid. Supervisors approved a resolution to abate the taxes on this parcel, noting the city had no interest in retaining it beyond the sidewalk easement.

Conservation and Parks Updates
Caleb Waters, Conservation Director, reported a quiet weekend at Oakland Mills due to full reservations for the Old Threshers event, with campers spending much of the day at event grounds. Upcoming events include the “Oakland Mills Fun Day” at South Shore on September 20, featuring food trucks, bounce houses, and a horseshoe competition. Waters also noted the Skunk River Napin event, offering public demonstrations of Native American history and artifacts.

Public Health
Katie Reuter, representing Public Health, shared updates on maternal and child health programs and back-to-school vaccination events, which saw 37 children receive 92 vaccines. Public health officials continue to navigate the statewide behavioral health system rollout, emphasizing public access through LifeLong Iowa and local navigators. General assistance efforts included 13 calls, with one individual receiving rental support.

Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s Office reports showed a steady jail population in the upper 50s and slower emergency service call volume compared to previous years. The department welcomed a new jailer, leaving one remaining vacancy. Several community events, including Crooked Creek Day and the Trenton Classic Car Show, were managed without incident.

Traffic safety initiatives were highlighted, including a checkpoint in West Point in partnership with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, where 888 vehicles were checked and multiple violations addressed. The Sheriff’s Office also collaborated with the Henry County Opioid Prevention Alliance to provide community education during an event this week.

Secondary Roads
Jake Hotchkisss, from Secondary Roads, reported ongoing projects including culvert replacements and road maintenance. Budget expenditures for road maintenance were roughly $6.5 million, matching construction costs from the previous year. Preparations are underway for the 25th Street Bridge project this fall, with completion anticipated around November.

Veterans Affairs
The Veterans Affairs office reported handling 243 phone calls and 92 office visits in August. Staff attended state and regional meetings, emphasizing ongoing efforts to ensure every veteran in the county receives services. Plans for future training and informational sessions are underway.

The meeting concluded with supervisors thanking department heads for their work and coordination across ongoing county projects.

Melinda Huisinga has begun collecting signatures to run for the Mt. Pleasant Community School District Director District 1 position for a four-year term; she is currently serving on the MPCSD board.  Prior to moving back to her hometown of Mt. Pleasant, Melinda served 12 years on the school board in Carlisle, Iowa, where both of her children attended.

She decided to re-run for election in order to continue the unfinished business currently being addressed by the board, such as the search for a new district superintendent, development and use of Central Campus, location of the district offices, formation of a new facilities Master Plan ad hoc committee, and right-sizing of the district’s facilities based on enrollment and the findings of that committee along with input from the community.  “First and foremost of importance is providing a productive and innovative learning environment for our students along with a supportive work environment for our teachers and staff.”

As a graduate of Upper Iowa University with a BS in Business Administration, Melinda served as Vice President of Human Resources for an insurance company in Des Moines.  Upon retirement, she and her husband, the late Alan Huisinga, relocated to Mt. Pleasant where both have served as Executive Director of the Old Threshers Foundation and have been very involved in the Mt. Pleasant Festival of Lights.  Melinda also currently serves on the Midwest Old Threshers board and as an officer of P.E.O. Chapter OX and Chapter DD of the National T.T.T. Society.

Director District 1 encompasses the area of the school district inside the city limits of Mt. Pleasant; however, all residents of the district vote for the entire slate of candidates.  School board elections will be held on Tuesday, November 4^th.

The Annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2025. During this time, participants can join, switch, or drop plans for 2026. Since Medicare plans and prices change each year, it’s important to review your coverage to ensure your prescriptions and health needs remain covered.

To help, Great River Health offers free, confidential counseling through the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP). SHIIP is a statewide service that provides unbiased information to help Medicare participants understand their benefits and compare plans. Trained volunteers can answer questions, explain changes, and guide you through the enrollment process.

Appointments can be scheduled starting September 2 at Fort Madison, Keokuk, or West Burlington by calling 319-768-3342, or online at bit.ly/4mwlXVy

Washington County 4-H’er Lason Montz was recognized at the Iowa State Fair for his tractor restoration project, earning an award from the International Harvester Collector’s Club (IH) Chapter 5.

Montz accepted his honor for restoring a 1953 Farmall Super M, presented by IH Chapter 5 board members Paul Schaefer and Brian Holdeman. The IH award program, now in its eighth year, celebrates 4-H members across Iowa who take on projects connected to the International Harvester brand.

This year’s winners represented counties across the state, with projects ranging from tractor restorations to creative repurposing of antique equipment and even quilting. Along with recognition, winners received a one-year membership to IH Collector’s Club Chapter 5 and a monetary award.

“We greatly appreciate their support of young people who restore and keep the tradition of International Harvester alive,” said Gail Castillo, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H exhibits building superintendent.

Montz was one of ten 4-H members honored in 2025, showcasing both the skill and creativity of Iowa’s youth in preserving agricultural heritage.

Burlington police have arrested a Lomax, Illinois, man in connection with two separate sexual assault cases in the city.

Hosea Antonio Winters III, 32, has been charged with multiple offenses, including two counts of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, a Class C felony. The charges stem from incidents that occurred more than two years apart.

The first case dates back to May 30, 2023, when an adult woman was assaulted at around 2:14 a.m. in the 1700 block of Dill Street.

The second case took place on August 8, 2025, when police say Winters forced his way into a home in the 700 block of Arch Street and sexually assaulted an elderly woman around 11 p.m. Winters faces additional charges of First-Degree Burglary, a Class B felony, and Obstruction of Emergency Communication, a misdemeanor, related to the incident.

Authorities say DNA evidence linked the two assaults. The investigation was carried out by the Burlington Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, with assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the state’s Criminalistics Laboratory.

Police emphasized that the case remains under investigation and are encouraging anyone with information to contact the Burlington Police Department at (319) 753-8366.