The Family Tent at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant is known for its eclectic mix of entertainment. Groups of all music and entertainment genres have appeared there – family music groups, bands, jazz combos, soloists and choirs. This year will feature a new music entertainment group. On Sunday, September 1 at 3PM, the “Fighting Scots” Bagpipe Band of Monmouth College (Monmouth, IL) will make its MOT debut in the Family Tent for a hour long concert. The concert will feature traditional Irish and Scottish Bagpipe music, along with demonstrations of bagpipes workings, drumming techniques and the unique backgrounds of each of the musicians. Led by Mt. Pleasant Community High School (’15) and Monmouth (‘19) graduate Aaron Kimzey, the performance will be one you will surely want to make a part of your Midwest Old Threshers experience this year.
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.
“With the Farm Progress Show kicking off in central Iowa, much of the state will receive a blast of heat followed by cooler weather as we head into September,” said Secretary Naig. “This stretch of unseasonably dry conditions is providing a nice window for farmers to bale hay, chop silage and begin to seed cover crops.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.
Crop Report
The State experienced mostly dry weather this week. These conditions allowed Iowa farmers 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 25, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Primary field activities continued to be cutting and baling hay and preparing for the fall harvest.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 23 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 20 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.
Corn in the dough stage or beyond reached 90 percent this week, 6 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of the five-year average. Forty-five percent of the corn crop reached the dent stage or beyond, 3 days behind last year. Corn mature reached 4 percent. Corn condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Soybeans setting pods reached 90 percent, 9 days behind last year and 3 days behind the five-year average. Soybeans coloring reached 5 percent, 4 days behind last year and 2 days behind the average. Soybean condition was 77 percent good to excellent.
The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 79 percent, 6 days behind last year but 6 days ahead of the five-year average. Hay condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 65 percent good to excellent. As temperatures rose at the end of the week, stress became a concern for livestock.
Mark Hotchkiss, 70 of Wayland, went to be with his Savior on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, WY.
His memorial service will be held Saturday, August 31, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Bethel Church in Wayland with Pastor Ben Linville officiating. The service will be available via Livestream at the Beatty Peterseim Website, Facebook and YouTube pages. A visitation will be held Friday, August 30, 2024, from 4 – 8 PM, at the Independent Bible Church in Wayland. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established for the Independent Bible Church. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Mark was born May 25, 1954, in Washington, Iowa, the son of James and Ruth (Schantz) Hotchkiss. He graduated from Washington High School. On November 25, 1978, he married Connie Wagler at the Wellman Mennonite Church in Wellman, Iowa. He was a farmer all his life, planting crops and raising hogs for many years. Mark was a member of the Independent Bible Church in Wayland, where he served as a deacon. He served on the WACO School Board and was president for several years. Mark enjoyed outdoor activities, including fishing, hunting, mushroom hunting, and gardening, especially his potatoes and popcorn. Many of his days were spent walking in the timber, looking at the trees. He loved being with his family and cherished time spent with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife Connie of Wayland, three children: Annessa (Dan) Zickefoose of Haubstadt, Indiana, Adam Hotchkiss of Washington, and Haley Kline of Washington; five grandchildren: Aleigha, Jeremiah, Gavin, Henry and Cash; and two siblings: James (Sandi) Hotchkiss of Washington, and Lori (Eric) Graber of Crawfordsville.
Preceding Mark in death were his parents and his father-in-law Allen Wagler.
Rose M. McMahon, 94, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Thursday, August 22, 2024 at Addington Place in Fairfield.
A rosary will be prayed at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, September 15th at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield with visitation for family and friends from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 16, 2024 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield with Revs. Ross Epping, Stephen Page and Nick Adam as Celebrants. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield. Memorials may be made to The Lord’s Cupboard or St. Mary Catholic Church.
Rose Matilda Leahy was born April 23, 1930, in Akron, Ohio. She passed away, peacefully, at home on August 22, 2024. She graduated from St. Mary of the Springs College in 1951, which was close to Ohio State University, where she ultimately met Jack McMahon. She and Jack married on September 13th, 1952 at St. Sebastian’s Church in Akron, Ohio. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2012, surrounded by friends and family.
In 2019 Rose was named Volunteer of Iowa with the award presented by Governor Terry Branstad. Rose and Jack raised five kids in Ralston, Nebraska, Indianola, Iowa and Fairfield, Iowa. She and Jack spent parts of 26 winters in South Padre Island, Texas. Rose always cared for everyone around her and was active with the Jefferson County Home and The Lord’s Cupboard in Fairfield, Iowa. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield, Iowa, P.E.O. and the Fairfield Golf and Country Club where she loved to play golf and bridge.
Rose was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ethel Leahy; her sisters, Joanne McCarthy and Kate Hamlin; her brothers, Billy Leahy and Mike Leahy; and her husband, Jack.
She is survived by her sister, Patsy Monroe and sister-in-law, Donna Leahy; her daughter, Peg Bitsas and her children, Michael Bitsas and Quinn Bitsas; her son, Pat (Barb) and their children, Dan McMahon, Tim McMahon and Molly Hollowell; her son, Mike (Kat) and their children, Grant McMahon, Zach Zaborny and Tyler Zaborny; her son, Tom (Clarisa) and their children, Megan McMahon and Mathew McMahon; her son, Tim (Jane) and their children, Connor McMahon, Kyle McMahon and Abby Hanson. She is also survived by her 17 great grandchildren; Lila McMahon, Daisy McMahon, Colin McMahon, John McMahon, Grace Hollowell, Rory Hollowell, Grace McMahon, Madison McMahon, Finley McMahon, Maeve McMahon, Winston McMahon, Riley McMahon, Ella McMahon, Jack McMahon, Sam McMahon, Waylon Hanson and Palmer Hanson.
Henry County Engineers Office announces road closure on Nebraska Avenue, over Big Creek for bridge replacement beginning Thursday, August 29, 2024, for approximately four (4) months, weather permitting. The work is between 220th Street and 235th Street. Questions can be answered at 319 385-0762.
Glen E. McCollum, 75, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, passed away at 11:52 a.m., Thursday, August 22, 2024 at New London Specialty Care in New London, Iowa. He was born February 19, 1949 in Burlington, Iowa, the son of Lloyd and Alice (Casteel) McCollum. He was raised and educated in Media, Illinois, graduating from Media High School in 1967. He later attended Truman State College where he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in School Administration.
He married Linda Avery on June 14, 1969, in Smithshire and she survives.
Those left to cherish his memory are; wife, Linda McCollum of Mount Pleasant; daughters, Shelly (Mark) Masterson and Jennifer (Aron) Barnes; one special granddaughter, Audre Barnes; and one brother, Wayne (Lynn) McCollum.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Glen taught Jr. High history, math, and coached basketball, football and track for many years. Later he became an elementary school principal for several schools over several years.
He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his granddaughter. They enjoyed attending horse shows together. He was on the Roseville Fire Department where he served as treasurer. He was an avid Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Cardinal fan. He was a long-time member of the Smithshire Methodist Church and a member of the local Jaycee’s.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 31, 2024 at the funeral home. A time of visitation will be held for one hour prior to the services. Interment will be in the Ellison Cemetery, Smithshire, Illinois. Memorial contributions may be made to the Smithshire Fire Department and left in the care of the funeral home. Moore Memorial Home, Roseville, is handling the arrangements. For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit our website at www.moorememorial.com.
By Yorke Prough · Monday, August 26th, 2024 at 7:54 am CDT
The Mt. Pleasant Community School Board will meet in special session on Monday, August 26th, at 6:00pm in the High School Media Center. Below is the agenda.
Meeting Agenda
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Work Session Items
a. Teacher and Administrator Proficiency Scale and Professional Learning Plan Information
b. Learning Dashboard Overview
c. Review Central Office Floor Plan Design
d. Central Campus Near-Term Goals Update
e. SVPA Master Planning Process and Proposal
5. New Business
a. Consideration to Approve Jessica Boyer as School Board Secretary and Treasurer (Motion)
The American Red Cross continues to experience a national blood emergency as remnants of Hurricane Debby and other severe weather events across the country have further complicated efforts to rebuild the nation’s blood supply. Those in unaffected areas are urged to make an appointment to give now.
Weather in recent weeks has added to the summer shortfall in donations by forcing the cancellation of nearly 60 blood drives throughout the country, many of which were caused by Debby, causing approximately 1,500 lifesaving blood products to go uncollected.
Annually, severe weather − such as blizzards, tornadoes, floods and hurricanes − impacts about 90,000 blood donations made to the Red Cross. Because blood has a short shelf life and can only come from volunteer blood donors, any disruptions in the ability to collect lifesaving blood can have serious consequences for hospitals and patients.
First-time donors and those who give regularly are critical to blood supply recovery. To make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). In thanks, all who come to give through Aug. 31 will get a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. See RedCrossBlood.org/Help for details.
Those who come to give Sept. 1-15 will receive an exclusive Red Cross raglan T-shirt, while supplies last.
