At about 11:15am this morning a widespread power outage was reported throughout Mt. Pleasant and surrounding communities.  Mt. Pleasant Utilities is working constantly this Saturday to combat the power outages and they encourage everybody to be prepared for several power outages throughout the ice storms as the ice weighs down the power lines and causes tree limbs to snap on lines.  It is causing several power outages through Henry County.  Know that Mt. Pleasant Utilities is working through the weather to combat against the power outages as they source through the issues.  If you have questions or concerns, please call MPU at 319-385-2121.

Keep Iowa Beautiful is a statewide nonprofit.  They are committed to enhancing the image and appearance of the countryside and Iowa communities with the goal of improving economic health and cultural vitality for those communities.  Keep Iowa Beautiful has announced scholarships for 2025.   Three $1,000 scholarships are awarded to Iowa high school seniors who plan to enroll in an Iowa college or university.

These annual scholarships honor important figures in Keep Iowa Beautiful history who have made significant contributions to Iowa communities.

For more information and to apply online, visit keepiowabeautiful.org/grants. Applications are due Jan. 31.

• The Byers Scholarship — High school seniors who plan to enroll and study environmental science, community development, landscape architecture or architecture (historical emphasis) or community planning and sustainability are eligible to apply. In memory of Bob Byer’s dedication to young people and environmental concerns, KIB and the Byers family established the Byers Environmental Scholarship Fund in 2009.
• The Schnepf Scholarship — High school seniors who have a record of community service and a desire to continue to support and contribute to the enhancement of the place they live and work are eligible to apply. College programs could include community & regional planning and volunteer management. This scholarship honors Gerry Schnepf, founding Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful. His career spanned 50 years of making Iowa a better place to live, work and raise a family.
• The Fultz Scholarship — High school seniors who plan to enroll and study communications, public relations and/or marketing are eligible to apply. This scholarship honors William J. Fultz, a founding KIB board member and artist who started an advertising agency that became the largest agriculture advertising agency in the world.

The New London Community School District School Board will meet in regular session next week, on Monday, December 16^th at 6pm in the North Campus, Board Room.  A copy of the meeting agenda can be found on the New London School District website.  This meeting is open to the public.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise this morning until sunset on Sunday, December 15^th in honor and remembrance of former Congressman Jim Leach.  Leach passed away on Wednesday, December 11^th at the age of 82.  He served Iowa in Congress for 30 years (1977-2007).  Flags will be at half-staff at the State Capitol Building, all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Roads in Iowa are slick today.  Law Enforcement officials remind motorists to keep Iowa’s Iowa’s “Move Over or Slow Down” law in mind.

It pertains to anybody: emergency vehicles, tow truck operators, garbage trucks, even stranded motorists that have hazard lights flashing on the side of the road.

In the state of Iowa, the “Move Over or Slow Down” law requires drivers to get out of the way of vehicles slowly moving, parked, or stranded on the side of the road.

The move over law states that f you do not have the ability to move over, you must slow down and proceed with caution.

The Hometown Care Energy Fund provides up to $500 to eligible homes to help with heating and cooling costs during winter months. Alliant Energy operates the program and makes sure donated funds stay local. Funds are distributed within the county from which the donation is received. Alliant Energy designated $2 million to start the donations for the heating season. The company invites its own employees and stakeholders, and all customers to contribute if they can. Donations can be made one-time or with a monthly contribution on their bill.

The donations are typically given to households that qualify for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), individuals over 60 years old who are on a fixed income without alternative funds, and those who are disabled and unable to be economically self-sufficient.

Learn more about the Hometown Care Energy Fund at alliantenergy.com/hometown/care