The deadline to become a candidate for the election of an Interim Henry County Attorney is fast approaching. Anyone wishing to run in the special election must submit their paperwork by Friday, March 6.

This paperwork consists of an Affidavit of Candidacy Form, and a Nomination Petition Form with 50 signatures from registered voters living in Henry County. These forms, available from the website of the Iowa Secretary of State, may also be acquired at the Henry County Auditor’s office, in the County Courthouse in Mt. Pleasant.

As it stands, only two candidates have registered: Abbie Liechty- a current assistant attorney and former general private practice attorney at Bell, Ort & Liechty Law Offices- and Becky Wilson- a lawyer for 10 years and a paralegal for 7. Anyone seeking to join the race will have to move fast.

AMES, Iowa – As winter lingers, many gardeners are looking for ways to get their hands dirty. Starting seeds indoors gives gardeners greater control over growing conditions, resulting in healthier, more resilient transplants.

“It’s fun to get a head start on the upcoming garden season by starting seedlings indoors,” said Aaron Steil, consumer horticulture specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

To be successful, gardeners must provide the right conditions for seedlings to thrive and develop into stocky, resilient plants.

Time it right

Resist the urge to sow too early. Steil warns that seedlings started too soon often become lanky and transplant poorly. Check the seed packet for the recommended indoor growing period, then count backward from your frost‑free date to determine when to start.

In much of Iowa, planting of frost‑tender annuals and vegetables happens from late April to early May. Cool‑season crops that tolerate light frost can be planted a bit earlier, in early to mid-April, so they can be started indoors sooner. “It’s important to plan before you plant,” Steil noted.

Choose the right growing medium and containers

Start with a lightweight, porous and disease‑free seed‑starting mix. Steil recommends commercially prepared soilless germination mixes designed for seedlings. Sow seeds in flats, cell packs, peat pellets, soil blocks or repurposed containers. “What you use is up to you, as long as it is clean and has drainage holes,” he said.

Sow like a pro

Use new seeds packaged for the current season, as older seeds, especially those more than 2 or 3 years old, often germinate poorly. Seeds can be sown in rows in a flat or tray and carefully transplanted to individual containers when they develop true leaves. “This approach is good for small seeds or those with inconsistent germination rates,” said Steil. Alternatively, seeds can be sown directly into individual containers, sowing several seeds per pot and thinning them later. This approach is well-suited for larger seeds.

Check the seed packet for sowing depth. Many are planted 1/4 inch deep and can be placed on the soil surface and lightly covered to ensure they are at the right depth. Small, fine seeds or those that require light to germinate are planted at a depth of 1/8 inch or less. “For these seeds, place the seeds on the surface and gently press them into the germination medium to ensure good seed to soil contact,” advised Steil.

Provide the best growing conditions

After sowing, water from below by submerging the container until the medium is fully wet, then let it drain. This prevents the seeds from washing or dislodging.

“Warm soil temperatures promote better, faster germination,” Steil explained. “After emerging, the seedlings grow best in cooler temperatures around 65 F. This promotes stout, transplant‑ready plants.”

To maintain high humidity, cover the container with a clear dome or other covering, and water lightly only if the soil surface dries out. Remove the cover as soon as seeds germinate, and ensure good ventilation and air circulation to prevent damping‑off diseases.

After germination, provide 12–16 hours of bright light each day to prevent stretching or leaning. Even with a sunny window, seedlings often grow best under supplemental light. Keep them 6–12 inches above the plants and raise the grow lights as seedlings grow.

Care and prepare seedlings

When seedlings graduate from a germination tray to individual pots, transplant them into a well‑drained potting mix. Fertilize regularly with a 1/4‑strength water‑soluble all‑purpose fertilizer. This will help to produce stockier transplants, provided enough light is available. Keep the growing medium moist but not soggy, checking daily and watering thoroughly when the surface is dry to the touch.

About two weeks before planting day, harden seedlings by gradually introducing them to outdoor conditions. “Start by putting them outside on cloudy days or in a shaded location, then after a few days, move them into more light and exposure,” said Steil. This important step helps seedlings transition from the ideal conditions indoors to the bright sunlight, cool temperatures and windy conditions found outside.

For more information on starting seeds indoors, visit ISU Extension and Outreach Yard and Garden and related resources, including:

• How to Successfully Start Seed Indoors
• Guide to Starting Seed Indoors
• Germination Requirements for Annuals and Vegetables
• Growing Indoor Plants Under Supplemental Lights
• Yard and Garden: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 

Shareable photo: seed starting

Local officials and community leaders in Henry County will have an opportunity to strengthen their understanding of land use and development later this spring, as Iowa State University Extension and Outreach brings its Introduction to Planning and Zoning workshop to Mount Pleasant.

The workshop is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, at the ISU Extension and Outreach Henry County office in Mount Pleasant. It is part of a statewide series designed to help local decision makers better understand planning, zoning, and development issues that shape their communities.

The interactive session is geared toward planning and zoning commissioners, boards of adjustment members, city council members, county supervisors, and staff involved in land use processes. Participants will learn about their roles and responsibilities, legal considerations, public hearing procedures, and the elements of comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances.

According to ISU Extension, the workshop uses real-world case studies to help officials navigate common issues such as variances, nonconforming uses, spot zoning, and conflicts of interest. The goal is to provide practical tools that help leaders make informed decisions that influence housing, business development, farmland use, and public spaces.

The training lasts approximately two and a half to three hours and includes materials and resources participants can use in their local roles.

Registration is required, for more information visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/ , you can also find the link in this news article, by visiting KILJ.com and clicking the news tab

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has detected two cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in flocks in Keokuk and Van Buren counties.

These flocks are categorized as multi-species backyard flocks. A spokesperson with IDALS said the Keokuk County flock had about 85 birds and the Van Buren County flock had about 45 birds.

These are the third and fourth HPAI outbreaks in Iowa in 2026. The previous two outbreaks were both in Kossuth County, one in a flock of chickens and game bird pheasants and the other at a mixed species game bird hatchery.

Iowa has not seen an outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu in a commercial bird flock since the beginning of December 2025, when it was detected in a Hamilton County commercial turkey flock of nearly 18,000 birds.

According to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS, the ongoing outbreak of the virus has impacted more than 195 million birds since the outbreak began in February 2022.

IDALS, in a news release about the recent detections, urged producers to continue practicing heightened biosecurity measures like reducing exposure to wild animals and limiting the number of people visiting a facility, to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Producers should also seek veterinarian care if they notice sudden bird deaths, lethargy, swollen heads, decreased or thin-shelled egg production or any other symptoms of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to rate the public health risk of HPAI as low as there is no known person-to-person spread.

Marshalltown police say they’ve made an arrest in connection to a deadly shooting over the weekend.

Allen Hart, 29, of Mount Pleasant, is charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of reckless use of a firearm.

This comes after a shooting Sunday morning in the 100 block of North 11th Avenue in Marshalltown.

A criminal complaint says Hart shot several rounds into a home toward several victims.

One victim died and their identity has not been shared publicly.

Three others were taken to the hospital for injuries and have since been released.

Police said there is no indication that this was a random act.

February 27^th at approximately 7:48 pm Des Moines County Sheriff’s Deputies stopped a vehicle at Osborn St. and Corse St. for expired registration. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Kendall Lee Watkins, age 29, of New London, IA. During the traffic stop a Deputy K-9 unit conducted an open-air sniff around the vehicle resulting in a positive alert to the odor of narcotics.

Deputies conducted a search of the vehicle where a loaded 9mm pistol was located after Watkins became agitated attempting to interfere with deputies. Watkins was placed under arrest for interference with official acts and felon in possession of a firearm.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.