This list is provided by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.

Gov. Kim Reynolds today issued a disaster proclamation to ease restrictions on the transportation of materials and repair crews passing through Iowa enroute to Hurricane Helene response.  The proclamation temporarily suspends certain regulatory provisions of Iowa Code that pertain to hours of service, weight limits, and registration requirements for electrical repair crews and drivers as part of the disaster response.

The proclamation is effective immediately and expires on October 31, 2024.

The Henry County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday morning for a work session. The only item discussed was the Alternate Energy Overlay District. Supervisor White voiced his frustration with the discussion over this topic not being tabled last week when he was out of town. He also asked multiple questions regarding the history of the alternate energy overlay district, such as the date that wind energy was first discussed in the county.

After watching a video of the Planning and Zoning Commission’s public hearing from September 17^th, he believes that the board was “steered” by the director, Joe Buffington. This further prompted his question on why the board of supervisor’s meetings are not recorded for public use. White continued in his reservations of wind turbines, stating that we do not know the long-term effects of wind farm of this capacity. He believes the board owes it to the public not to rush this through.

One of White’s proposed changes focuses on setback measurements. “I believe that any setback measurements should be from the closest portion of a wind energy structure or equipment, regardless of what it is, to the property line of adjacent property owners.” White continues, “this would take into account the turbine blade offset from its foundation for example. This measurement would be a minimum of 3,960 ft. (3/4 mile)” During the meeting, he elaborated on this. If someone has a pond on the edge of their property, they may like to relax there. Since it is not technically a structure, the current ordinance means a turbine could be towering above. A full list of Supervisor White’s ordinance suggestions can be read here.

For the remainder of the meeting, board chair Greg Moeller read sections of the ordinance, often stopping to discuss further. The supervisors discussed multiple portions, such as the setback length, how far the turbines need to be buried after decommissioning, and signal interference to name a few.

More discussion will be had in the coming weeks. The supervisors will set a date for another work session at this Thursday’s regular meeting. Marc Lindeen, longtime supervisor, believes that they accomplished a lot at the meeting on Tuesday, and that they continue to move forward on this issue.

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, the Domestic Violence Intervention Program and Rape Victim Advocacy Program (DVIP & RVAP) is hosting a series of events and initiatives aimed at raising awareness and providing support for victims and survivors of domestic violence.

DVIP & RVAP operates a 24/7 shelter for individuals and families fleeing intimate partner violence. Every Domestic Violence Awareness Month, they request help from the community in stocking the shelter at their Shop For Safety campaign.

DVIP & RVAP is partnering with several grocery stores in Johnson County on this event. Volunteers, board members, and staff will be onsite at each location to solicit donations for the organization’s most needed items. The goods collected at this event will provide about nine months’ worth of hygiene items, household cleaning supplies, and food for the individuals the agency serves within  each year.

Participating locations include Burlington Hy-Vee, Mount Pleasant Hy-Vee, Keokuk Hy-Vee, Washington Hy-Vee, Fort Madison Fairway.

Shop for Shelter will take place on October 10th, 2024 from 4-6 PM.

If you miss Shop for Shelter but would still like to donate goods to the cause, contact 319-359-9353 to set up a drop-off appointment.

DVIP & RVAP is also hosting other Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities, including:

Library Book Displays: Starting October 1st, public libraries across DVIP & RVAP’s eight-county service region will feature curated book displays throughout the month, highlighting books and resources that focus on domestic violence, survivor stories, and related issues. Free bookmarks offering resources and information for those in need will also be available.

Participating libraries include Tipton Public Library, West Branch Public Library, Burlington Public Library, Yohe Memorial Library (West Burlington SCC), Mount Pleasant Public Library, Iowa City Public Library, North Liberty Library, Coralville Public Library, Keokuk Public Library, Fort Madison Public Library, Keosauqua Public Library, Washington Public Library, Kalona Public Library, Williamsburg Public Library, Solon Public Library, and Marengo Public Library.

Wear Purple Day: Join DVIP & RVAP on October 17th in wearing purple to support victim-survivors. Purple is the national color used to represent those who have experienced/are experiencing domestic violence. Share photos of your purple wear on social media, tag DVIP & RVAP, and use the hashtag #PurpleForAPurpose.

“Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a great time for the community to show support for survivors,” said Alta Medea, Director of Community Engagement for DVIP. “We invite everyone to participate in these events, educate themselves about the issues victim-survivors are facing, and show their support for individuals affected by domestic violence.”

For more information about these events, visit our website at dvipiowa.org.