“Changes are coming to a small corner of Main Street Mount Pleasant, thanks to a Backing Small Business Enhancement Grant through American Express and Main Street America.

On Tuesday, June 25, American Express and Main Street America announced the grant recipients for the Backing Small Businesses Grant Program.

Aurora Salon LLC , based at 206 South Adams Street, Mount Pleasant, Iowa was among the winners.

“I am so grateful to be able to use these funds to do much-needed exterior updates on my business. It will really brighten up the corner across the street from the court house exit. I am most excited about the addition of the accessible ramp. I have been working as a cosmetologist in Mt. Pleasant for nearly 20 years and the ramp will allow me to keep serving all of my guests for years to come” says owner Martha Watson. “And of course a huge thank you to Jeremy at Northern Lights Window Tinting for all of his hard work on this project!”

Aurora Salon along with Nothern Lights Window Tinting, also located at 206 South Adams Street, invite the community to stop by and see the finished project during the annual Witch Way to Main on October 24th.

American Express and Main Street America announced the 500 small business owners who have been awarded $10,000 through the Backing Small Businesses grant program. The program’s 2024 grant recipients represent U.S. small businesses across all 50 states, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico. Later this year, grantees will have the opportunity to apply for an additional $30,000 enhancement grant that will be awarded to 25 small businesses.

Since launching in 2021, Backing Small Businesses has provided over $9 million in grants to 1,180 small business owners nationwide. American Express and Main Street America initially created the grant program to help economically vulnerable small business owners recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and grow their businesses.

This program is part of American Express’ “Backing Small” initiative to provide financial support and resources to small business owners experiencing economic hardships. Other Backing Small grant programs include Backing Historic Small Restaurants and Backing International Small Restaurants. Backing Small is an extension of American Express’ longstanding commitment to support small independent businesses globally, including through its Shop Small movement and Small Business Saturday campaign, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.”

Iowa experienced cooler temperatures and dry conditions across most of the State. These conditions allowed Iowa farmers 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 8, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included cutting hay and chopping corn silage.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 29 percent short, 67 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 24 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Corn in the dough stage or beyond reached 96 percent this week. Seventy-four percent of the corn crop reached the dent stage or beyond, 6 days behind last year and 2 days behind the five-year average. Corn maturity reached 20 percent, 4 days behind last year and 1 day behind the average. Corn condition was rated 77 percent good to excellent. Soybeans setting pods reached 97 percent. Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 42 percent, 4 days behind last year and 1 day behind the five-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves reached 9 percent, 4 days behind last year and 3 days behind the five-year average. Soybean condition was 78 percent good to excellent.

The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 93 percent, 8 days behind last year but 1 week ahead of the five-year average. Pasture condition rated 63 percent good to excellent.

The Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report, “Areas of northern Iowa received some scattered showers last week, but otherwise conditions were favorable for field and farm work,” said Secretary Naig. “Warm and dry conditions are expected for the week ahead, with better chances of rain forecasted for the second half of September.”

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

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer, and manure.

The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through October 9, 2024. The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.

This proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

A Mediapolis man has been arrested falling a sexual assault on Sunday morning according to the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office.

On September 8th, 2024, deputies responded to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center for a reported sexual assault. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with an adult female who advised she was sexually assaulted earlier that same morning in Mediapolis, IA.

Based on the victim’s statement, a search warrant was executed at 127 Maple Dr. in Mediapolis, IA. Items located at this residence confirmed that the victim was present at this address. The suspect, identified as Thomas Scot Armstrong (45 years old), was at home upon deputies’ arrival during the execution of the search warrant. Armstrong refused to speak to deputies about the alleged incident.

Armstrong was placed under arrest for Sex Abuse in the 3rd Degree, a Class C Felony in the State of Iowa. Armstrong faces up to 10 years in prison for the offense. Armstrong was transported by deputies to the Des Moines County Correctional Center and was given No Bond for this offense, which means Armstrong must see a judge prior to being released or issued a bond to secure his release.