RapidSOS, Smartphone App, Saves Lives!

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 at 3:59 pm CDT

Gone are the days of running to the nearest landline in an emergency. With the advancements made in technology, anyone can dial 911 on their smartphone and connect with an operator in almost no time. Sometimes, quick is not quick enough. Now, individuals can create an emergency health profile, providing first responders with the critical information they need to help care for you in a medical emergency.

LeeCom consolidated dispatch recently shared information on an app that can be downloaded by anyone.

RapidSOS, an app for smartphones, is an emergency response data platform which securely links life-saving data from connected devices or profiles to 911 and first responders in an emergency.

The app even has a silent panic alarm button, which can be pressed in a situation in which someone must stay quiet. There is an example given of a gas station employee who triggered the silent alarm during a robbery in progress. A safety agent then verified the claims and shared a photo of the intruder, through security camera footage, with the closest 911 center.

Having access to this platform, however, does not mean 911 telecommunicators will simply rely on the data given by the application. 911 Telecommunicators will still ask important questions prior to responders arriving on scene.

Learn more about RapidSOS and sign up with your health profile at emergencyprofile.org

Henry County Supervisors Meeting Agenda 10/10

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 at 1:09 pm CDT

Henry County Supervisors

100 E Washington St Ste 202

Mt Pleasant IA 52641

Fax: 319-385-3601

Chad White, Member Marc Lindeen, Vice-Chairman Greg Moeller, Chairman

319-385-0759 319-385-0760 319-385-0761________

AGENDA

October 10, 2024

1.Approve Agenda

2.Approve Minutes

3.Approve Claims

4.Jake Hotchkiss Engineer Weekly Update

Approve, Resolution for Stop Sign

5.Caleb Waters Conservation Monthly Update

6.Joe Buffington P & Z, Monthly Update

7. Rich McNamee Sheriff, NLCSD 28E Agreement

8.Public Comments

Public audience comments are typically open to anything the

public wants to tell the board – Although there are rules about

confidential information, avoiding disparaging an employee, etc.

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

Mt. Pleasant City Council Meeting Agenda 10/09

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 at 1:06 pm CDT

The Mount Pleasant City Council will meet in Regular Session on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at City Hall, 307 E. Monroe Street, second-floor meeting room at 5:30 p.m.

AGENDA

  1. Roll Call.
  2. 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 citizen so request, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and will be considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda.
  3. Receive & file communications.
  • The City has received the FYE 2024 audit e Title VI Annual Report
  1. Approve agenda.

*5. Approve minutes of previous meetings.

*6. Approve payment of bills.

*7. Receive report of Officers including Resolution No: 2024-86 approving September transfers.

  1. Old Business-
  2. New Business-
    1. Approve Change Order #1 for the Eugene Way Project.
    2. Resolution authorizing the acceptance of Eugene Way Street Improvements-2024 IDOT Project.
    3. Approve Change Order #1 for the McCoy and Monroe Street Project.
    4. Resolution authorizing the acceptance of McCoy and Monroe Street Project.
    5. Resolution approving the promotion of Christopher Brown to the position of Assistant Director of Public Works.
    6. 1 st reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 12, Article Il ( Stopping, Standing and Parking) of the City Code of Ordinances.
  3. Public Forum.

l l . Adjourn to meet in regular session on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.

David Augustine Sr.

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 at 12:57 pm CDT

David Allen Augustine, Sr. 70, of Donnellson, Iowa, formerly of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, October 6, 2024, at his daughter’s home in Donnellson.

He was born on January 15, 1954, in Wausau, Wisconsin, the son of Victor A. and Eleanor M. (Boruch) Augustine.

He is survived by his mother: Eleanor; daughter: Karen Johnson of Donnellson, Iowa; son: David Augustine, Jr. of Austin, Texas; eight grandchildren; five great grandchildren; brothers: Donald Augustine, Kenneth Augustine and sisters: Susan Mohelntzky, Karen Davis.

He was preceded in death by his father: Victor; brother: Charles Augustine and sister: Lorraine Lepisko.

David served in the United States Air Force for over twenty years before his retirement.

A private graveside service will be held at the Keokuk National Cemetery in Keokuk, Iowa.

Burial will be at the Keokuk National Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in his memory and can be mailed to the family at: Schmitz Funeral Home, P.O. Box 56, Donnellson, Iowa 52625.

Schmitz Funeral Home of Donnellson is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.

Soybean Harvest Ahead of 5 Year Average – Weekly Crop Report

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 at 11:59 am CDT

Iowa experienced another week of dry and windy conditions which allowed farmers 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 6, 2024. Corn and soybean harvest continued to be the primary field activities for the week. Combine and other equipment fires were reported as weather conditions increased the risk of such fires.

Corn mature reached 90 percent, 6 days behind last year but 5 days ahead of the five-year average. Corn harvested for grain reached 22 percent, 2 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of normal. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 18 percent. Corn condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves reached 93 percent, 1 day ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans harvested reached 58 percent this week, 4 days ahead of last year and 1 week ahead of the average. Iowa farmers were able to harvest 31 percent of the State’s soybean crop during the week ending October 6, 2024. Soybean condition rated 76 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition continued to fall and rated just 38 percent good to excellent this week, a decrease of 6 percentage points.  Livestock water resources continue to be a concern.

The weekly report is available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov, as well as www.kilj.com.

Temporary Road Closure for Oasis Avenue

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 at 8:09 am CDT

According to the Henry County Engineer’s Office, starting Tuesday, October 8th Oasis Avenue between 200th Street to 220th Street will be closed during the day for the rest of this week for a road stabilization project. The road will be open every night.

Mt. Pleasant Fire Department Open House for Fire Prevention Week

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 at 8:07 am CDT

This week is fire prevention week, which has been a national observance since 1925, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country. During Fire Prevention Week, children, adults, and teachers learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!” Firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires.

Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage. This horrific conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

The Mount Pleasant Fire Department and Marshall from PAW Patrol, a popular kid’s show, visited Lincoln Elementary early this week. The firefighters encouraged the students to develop a fire safety plan with their families.

The Mt. Pleasant Fire and Rescue Department is hosting an open house at the fire station, 204 South Jackson Street from 6:00pm – 8:00pm.  Check out the fire station and the trucks, spray a fire hose, try on bunker gear, see Marshall, and have some cookies!

Sports, October 8th

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Football

Mt. Pleasant will stay at home to take on Keokuk on Friday, October 11th, at 7:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 7:15 pm. 

Columbus will face off against Van Buren County on Friday at 7 pm. 

Central Lee will square off against Mid-Prairie on the road on Friday at 7:30 pm. 

Mediapolis will compete against Davis County on Friday at 7:30 pm on the road. 

WACO will hit the road to take on English Valleys on Friday at 7 pm. 

Danville will be tested on the road against #4 Lisbon at 7 pm on Friday.  

New London will compete against Moravia on the road on Friday at 7 pm. 

West Burlington/Notre Dame will host Albia on Friday at 7:30 pm. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will host Mormon Trail on Friday at 7 pm.

Wapello will travel to Pekin on Friday at 7 pm.

Fairfield will take on South Tama on Friday at 7 pm at home. 

High School Volleyball

#12 West Burlington will square off against New London tonight at 7:30 pm on the road. 

Mediapolis will travel to Burlington Notre Dame tonight at 7 pm. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to Highland tonight at 7:30 pm.

Van Buren County will celebrate their senior night tonight at 7:30 pm against #3 Holy Trinity Catholic. 

Central Lee will take on Danville tonight at home to celebrate their senior night at 7:30 pm. 

Wapello will square off against Hillcrest Academy tonight at 7:30 pm on the road. 

Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield will be gearing up for the first round of the Southeast Conference tournament at Keokuk tonight at 5 pm. 

WACO will face off against Lone Tree tonight at 7:30 pm on the road. 

Columbus will take on Highland on Thursday, October 10th, at 7:30 pm at home.

High School Cross Country

Hillcrest Academy hosted their invitational last night and Pella, split up into two teams, swept both the gold and silver as a team in the boys’ and girls’ races. Looking at the girls’ varsity race, Fairfield finished in 6th place as a team followed by Mt. Pleasant in 7th place. The Trojans were led by Caroline Van Pelt’s 30th place finish with a time of 22 minutes and 41 seconds, while Quintrie Lee was the top Panther with a 15th place time of 21 minutes and 33 seconds.

For individual runners, WACO’s Josie Dykstra took 18th place with a time of 21 minutes and 47 seconds, while Kenna Small of Wapello grabbed 31st place with a time of 22 minutes and 46 seconds.

Shifting towards the boys’ varsity race, Jude Dykstra of WACO was the top finisher outside of Pella as the Warrior finished with a 6th place time of 17 minutes and 14 seconds. Mt. Pleasant’s Locken Henderson was not far behind as he crossed the finish line with a time of 17 minutes and 49 seconds, good enough for 8th place. Wapello’s Will Parsons anchored the team with a 61st place time of 21 minutes and 54 seconds. 

In terms of team results, Fairfield, led by Gabe Tejada’s 21st place finish, collected 132 points for 5th place and Mt. Pleasant grabbed 8th place with 183 points. 

Mediapolis and Columbus will be co-hosting the Mike Jay Invitational with Danville, Van Buren County, WACO, Central Lee, Winfield-Mt. Union, New London, Holy Trinity Catholic, Mt. Pleasant, West Burlington/Notre Dame, and Wapello all competing on Thursday, October 10th.

High School Cross Country Rankings

The Iowa Track Coaches Association (IATC) released their latest edition of the individual rankings with four runners being ranked within the top 15 in their respective classes.

Starting with the Class 3A boys’ rankings, Washington’s Tyler Alderton dropped three spots to be ranked #22 in the state. The Demons had one meet last week, their own invitational, and Tyler Alderton grabbed the gold by six-tenths of a second with a time of 16 minutes and 43 seconds. 

In Class 2A, Will Schmidgall of Mediapolis jumped up one spot in the rankings to #12 after an idle week for the Bulldogs.

The boys’ Class 1A remains ultra competitive with three runners ranked in the top 15 and four runners ranked overall. Van Buren County’s Lincoln Bainbridge continues to lead the charge as he shifted one spot back to #7 after a bye week.

Jackson Shacklet of Danville climbed back into the top 10 to #9 after a time of 16 minutes and 24 seconds earned him 6th place at a tough Williamsburg meet last Tuesday.

Rounding out the top 15 is Ty Muniz of Columbus. The Wildcat took 6th place last Saturday with a time of 16 minutes and 47 seconds. Lastly, WACO’s Jude Dykstra tumbled back five spots to #19 after collecting a bronze at the Washington Invitational and a 2nd place finish at the Winfield-Mt. Union Invitational with two times above the 17-minute threshold. 

Southeastern Community College

The volleyball team will compete against Western Iowa Tech Community College tomorrow, October 9th, at 6 pm on the road. 

College Football

#11 Iowa State will travel to West Virginia on Saturday, October 12th, at 7 pm. KILJ 98.5 FM and AM 1130 will have the call.

Iowa will host Washington on Saturday at 11 am. KILJ 105.5 FM will have the broadcast.

This Day in Sports History

1975 – The San Antonio Spurs, then members of the ABA, defeat the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, 109-107, in the first basketball game ever played in the Louisiana Superdome.

1995 – Miami Dolphin Dan Marino breaks Fran Tarkenton’s NFL career completions record.

2018 – Boston Red Sox Brock Holt becomes the first MLB player to hit for the cycle in a postseason game during Boston’s 16-1 Game 3 rout of the New York Yankees in the AL Division Series at Yankee Stadium.