Fly Van Buren soared to new heights on the morning of Saturday, June 8 at the Keosauqua, Iowa Municipal Airport. Around 20 planes and one helicopter made their way to the Villages of Van Buren for this annual event.

The Keosauqua Lions Club served up an all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast, selling over 220 breakfasts to hungry attendees.

Meanwhile, Dar Chapman showcased his impressive collection of radio control airplanes in the hangar, captivating aviation enthusiasts of all ages.

“We were fortunate the rain went around us, blessing us a beautiful morning for this event. While the weather may have deterred a few pilots, we enjoyed a lovely morning outside. There’s nothing quite like savoring a delicious Lions Club breakfast while watching planes arrive and depart—it’s surprisingly relaxing! The Bell UH-1H ‘Huey’ helicopter was a delightful surprise and a hit with the crowd, adding to the excitement of the day!” said Emily Starnes, Executive Director for the Villages of Van Buren.

The event wrapped up with the annual door prize drawings for two airplane rides. Congratulations to the lucky winners, Mandi Maras and Jeremy Johnston.

Thank you to everyone who came out to make this year’s Fly Van Buren a soaring success. Be sure to mark your calendars for next year’s 25^th annual Fly Van Buren on June 7, 2025. We can’t wait to see you there!

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office has responded to multiple crashes recently, and they all involve deer.

On June 8^th, 2024, at 2:42am, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to The Pilot for a vehicle collision.  An investigation determined that a vehicle driven by Adalid Morales Castillo, 22, of Ottumwa, Iowa was driving northbound on Highway 218 north of Mt. Pleasant when a deer struck the vehicle.  The vehicle was able to be driven back to The Pilot but sustained disabling damage due to the collision.  Estimated cost to repair the vehicle was $4,000.

On June 9^th, 2024, at 9:14pm, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 2700 block of Highway 34 near New London for a vehicle collision.  An investigation determined that a sedan driven by Laura Westfall, 38, of Mt. Pleasant was driving westbound on Highway 34 near Racine Avenue when a deer struck the vehicle.  The vehicle sustained disabling damage due to the collision.  Estimated cost to repair the vehicle was $3,500.

On June 10^th, 2024, at 5:47am, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 2800 block of Highway 218 near the 37-mile marker for a vehicle collision.  An investigation determined that a pickup truck driven by Kathi Rea, 52, of Lockridge was driving westbound on Highway 218 near the 37-mile marker when a deer struck the vehicle.  The vehicle sustained severe damage due to the collision.  Estimated cost to repair the vehicle was $3,500.

No human injuries were reported in any of these accidents. It is a good reminder to always watch out for deer, especially in the nighttime hours.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a single vehicle accident with unknown injuries around 1:20am on June 11^th.  Upon arrival at Highway 218 NB & 320^th St Crawfordsville, IA, deputies soon found a vehicle submerged to the door. The operator, Brenna Burlingame of Washington, was pulled from the drowning vehicle by a passerby.

It was determined that Burlingame left the roadway, through a field, and entered a pond, where the vehicle became fully submerged and is counted as total loss. Burlingame was charged with OWI 1^st Offense and Failure to Maintain Control.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“Summer heat is arriving just in time to give crops a good boost,” said Secretary Naig. “Weather outlooks into the second half of June, when farmers are completing important field applications and baling hay, indicate warmer temperatures and better chances of showers and thunderstorms.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Warm and drier weather throughout the State allowed Iowa farmers 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 9, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Planting and replanting of corn and soybeans and spraying were limited due to wet field conditions.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 0 percent very short, 5 percent short, 78 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus.

Corn planting is nearly complete with 89 percent emerged, 9 days behind last year and 2 days behind the 5-year average. Corn condition rated at 73 percent good to excellent. Ninety-two percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, equal to the 5-year average. Seventy-five percent of the soybean crop has emerged, 9 days behind last year and 1 day behind the average. Soybean condition rated 73 percent good to excellent. Emergence of the oat crop is nearly complete with 59 percent headed, 8 days ahead of the average. Oat condition rated to 81 percent good to excellent.

Seventy percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, 1 week behind last year. Hay condition rated 81 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 76 percent good to excellent.

An Illinois man was charged with an OWI after he drove through a center barrier on the Highway. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office reports that Christopher Sargent of Burnside, Illinois, lost control of his vehicle in the 2700 block of Highway 61 southbound on Saturday at 7:29pm. He then drove through the median and the center barrier causing approximately $5000 in property damage and disabling damage to the truck.

Sargent stated that he did not know what happened or how he got to where he was. He was then charged with an open container, an OWI, failure to maintain control, and failure to maintain registration plates.