Construction continues to move forward on a major expansion project at the Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport, with officials reporting significant progress over the past two weeks.

According to Air Advantage, crews have poured more than 650 yards of concrete as work advances on new hangar space at the airport.

The expansion, led by the City of Mount Pleasant, includes construction of eight new T-hangars designed for smaller aircraft, along with one large corporate hangar to help meet growing demand.

Currently, the airport can house 26 planes, but officials say there is a waiting list of more than 20 additional aircraft, highlighting the need for expanded facilities.

The project represents a significant economic development investment for the region. The city was awarded 2.6 million dollars in grant funding from the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. The city also contributed 550 thousand dollars, bringing the total project cost to approximately 3.15 million dollars.

The project is expected to support local aviation needs and encourage economic growth in the Mount Pleasant area for years to come.

Southeast

Lake Darling Management District

• Contact Person: Vance Polton – 319-694-2430

For more information on these lakes and ponds, call the Lake Darling Fisheries at 319-694-2430. Last updated on 03/04/2026

Big Hollow Lake (Des Moines)

• Water Temperature (°F): 62.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Black Crappie – Good: Crappie fishing has been good along the edges of the trees in 8 to 10 feet of water. Try small jigs and minnows vertically jigged or slow trolled. A few anglers picked up a few scattered crappies in shallower water along the north side over the weekend.
• Largemouth Bass – Fair: On sunny warm (70+) days, anglers were picking up bass along the north side along the more open shoreline where the sun could get in to warm the water.

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Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi R) (Louisa)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

The Iowa River just left “minor” flood stage. It looks to be headed back up that way when the water coming down from up river gets here.

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Lake Belva Deer (Keokuk)

• Water Temperature (°F): 58.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

Water temperature is 58-60 degrees. Water clarity remains decent; water is flowing out the overflow pipe.

• Black Crappie – Good: Anglers continue to catch crappies out in 10 to 12 feet of water in the flooded trees. A few anglers are starting to pick up a few in the shallower water along the north side in the timber; but those seem to be only there on the warmest days.
• Largemouth Bass – Fair: A few more boats are chasing bass on sunny warm days. Anglers are catching some decent bass up to the 4 pounds. Try working the lures slow and shallow along sun heated rocks.

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Lake Darling (Washington)

• Water Temperature (°F): 62.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

Water level in the lake is about 10 inches above the normal full pool level. Water clarity remains decent at about 3 feet despite the recent heavy rains.

• Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies are coming up into 3 to 4 feet of water along the rocks to feed on warm days. They are heading back out deeper when it clouds back over and cools down. They are not spawning yet.
• Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try working crankbaits with a slow release along the rock shorelines and tree falls/brush piles on warmer days with just a little chop on the water. Look for bass to head back out to the deeper rock piles in 8 to 10 feet of water on cooler days.

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Lake Geode (Henry)

• Water Temperature (°F): 62.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

Water clarity remains fairly good despite the rain.

• Black Crappie – Fair: Most crappies remain out over the habitat in 8-10 feet of water. Try vertically jigging red or blue tube jigs or minnows under slip bobbers.
• Largemouth Bass – Fair: Depends on the day. Warm and sunny: hit the tops of the long mounds across from the beach or along the rock shoreline in the sun with crankbaits. Cool and cloudy: work the steeper shorelines where they can stay closer to deeper water.

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Lake of the Hills (Scott)

• Water Temperature (°F): 60.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

Water clarity remains decent despite recent rains. Several inches of water is going over the spillway and a little “extra” water in the lake.

• Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching bass over top of the same brush piles as they are catching trout.
• Rainbow Trout – Good: Anglers continue to catch trout out of the brush piles using small spinners or jigs.

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Lost Grove Lake (Scott)

• Water Temperature (°F): 55.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

Water temperature was 55 degrees at about mid-day yesterday (4/15). A good amount of water is going out the overflow pipe. Lake level is 6 inches or so above normal levels.

• Largemouth Bass – Fair: Key into the sun on warm days; hit the shoreline along the north side, especially when a south breeze is blowing. Bass are working those shoreline. When it’s cloudy and cool, concentrate your efforts a little deeper out around the habitat not to far from those same shorelines.

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Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock) (Washington)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

The Skunk River is currently about 2 feet from running bank full. It is flowing fairly fast and is muddy from all the heavy rains.

Macbride Management District

• Contact Person: D. J. Vogeler or Chris Mack – 319-624-3615

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow) (Cedar)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Channel Catfish – Fair
• Sauger – Fair
• Walleye – Fair

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Coralville Reservoir (Johnson)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Black Crappie – Fair
• Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing along the rock shorelines.
• Channel Catfish – Slow
• Green Sunfish – Fair: Try fishing along the rock shorelines.
• Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing along the rock shorelines with flooded brush.
• White Crappie – Fair

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Ely Pond (Linn)

• Ramp Condition: Not applicable

• Largemouth Bass – Fair
• Rainbow Trout – Slow

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Goose Pond (Johnson)

• Ramp Condition: Not applicable

• Largemouth Bass – Good

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Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.) (Iowa)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Black Crappie – Good: Try fishing around the brush piles along shore.
• Largemouth Bass – Good

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Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction) (Johnson)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Sauger – Slow
• Walleye – Fair
• Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair

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Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake) (Iowa)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Channel Catfish – Slow
• Walleye – Slow
• White Bass – Slow
• Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Slow

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Lake Macbride (Johnson)

• Water Temperature (°F): 50.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Largemouth Bass – Good: Try fishing along rock shorelines and brush piles.
• Muskellunge – Fair
• Spotted bass – Fair
• Walleye – Fair
• White Crappie – Good

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Liberty Centre Pond (Johnson)

• Ramp Condition: Not applicable

• Rainbow Trout – Slow

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Noelridge Park Pond (Linn)

• Ramp Condition: Not applicable

• Rainbow Trout – Slow

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North Ridge Park Pond (Johnson)

• Ramp Condition: Not applicable

• Rainbow Trout – Slow

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Pleasant Creek Lake (Linn)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Black Crappie – Fair
• Largemouth Bass – Fair
• Muskellunge – Fair
• Walleye – Good

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Sand Lake (Marshall)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Largemouth Bass – Fair

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Wapsipinicon River (Troy Mills to Oxford Junction) (Jones)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Sauger – Slow
• Smallmouth Bass – Slow
• Walleye – Fair

Rathbun Management District

• Contact Person: Rathbun Fish Hatchery personnel – 641-647-2406

Water temperature is in the 50s at most district lakes. Last updated on 04/16/2026

Hawthorn Lake (Mahaska)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

Target channel catfish early spring.

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Lake Miami (Monroe)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Largemouth Bass – Status Unsure: Target largemouth along the face of the dam and around the fishing jetties.

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Lake Sugema (Van Buren)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Channel Catfish – Slow: Try cut bait or dead minnows.
• Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers report catching largemouth bass. Target the rip-rapped shorelines using plastics or spinnerbaits.

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Lake Wapello (Davis)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Bluegill – Slow: Bluegills will move shallow ss the water temperature warms; use small jigs.
• Largemouth Bass – Fair: Target the brush piles with plastics or along the shoreline with spinnerbaits.

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Ottumwa Park Pond South (Trout Pond) (Wapello)

• Ramp Condition: Not applicable

Anglers report that mornings and evenings are the best bite. Use gold rooster tails or other in-line spinners. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.

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Rathbun Reservoir (Appanoose)

• Water Temperature (°F): 46.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

Lake level is 906.70 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Boat ramps are open and docks are installed; campgrounds are still closed. Lake Rathbun contains zebra mussels; clean, drain and dry your boat before going to another water body.

Walleye – Status Unsure: Walleyes are post-spawn.

Mount Pleasant Police are investigating a reported domestic assault that occurred Wednesday evening.

Officers were called around 5:45 p.m. on April 15th to take a report of an incident that had taken place earlier at a residence on North Porter Street. According to police, the victim had gone to the property, which he owns, to perform yard work.

While inside the home, the victim was reportedly confronted by Lyn Orwig-Skaggs who had been released from the Henry County Jail earlier that same day. Police say the victim was unaware she was at the residence.

Authorities report the situation escalated when Orwig-Skaggs began yelling, and the altercation became physical. The victim told officers Orwig-Skaggs grabbed his right arm, leaving visible scratches and redness around the elbow. Police say Orwig-Skaggs admitted to making contact with the victim during the incident.

According to the report, the two individuals had been in a long-term relationship and were married at the time. Officers also confirmed there is an active no-contact order in place between the two, issued in March of this year.

Police say the suspect has a prior conviction for domestic abuse assault in Henry County.

Mount Pleasant Police report a series of incidents over multiple days that led to the arrest of one individual on several charges.

According to police, the incidents began late April 13th, when Andrew Corleone Ficklin allegedly called 911 around 10:20 p.m. asking about promoting shows at the West Side Tavern. Officials say the business had no knowledge of him or any scheduled events. A short time later, he reportedly called 911 again, this time complaining of back pain.

Police say the situation continued the following day. On the morning of April 14th, Ficklin was reported loitering in the lobby of the AmericInn, where he allegedly ate a breakfast valued at 15 dollars without paying. Staff told officers he claimed to know a representative of the Wyndham brand, but was unable to secure a room. He later left the building, leaving behind a bag.

Later that afternoon, authorities say Ficklin was at Mount Pleasant City Hall, where he was reportedly bothering staff about hosting promotional events. He allegedly distributed flyers claiming he had rented the Belle Center for a clothing launch and was selling 100-dollar tickets through a QR code. The owner of the Belle Center told police no such rental agreement existed and that Ficklin was not authorized to be there.

Police say Ficklin continued to contact 911 multiple times, including another call the evening of April 14th regarding a location change for the alleged event. He was warned at that time about misuse of emergency services.

On April 15th, officers responded to additional calls, including a request for a ride to the hospital. Later that morning, hospital staff reported Ficklin had been discharged but refused to leave. He was eventually trespassed from both the hospital and the AmericInn.

Despite that warning, police say Ficklin returned to the AmericInn around 11:30 a.m., where he allegedly argued with staff. Officers later located him at the Super 8 motel, where he was taken into custody.

Ficklin now faces multiple charges, including trespass, misuse of emergency communications, fifth-degree theft, and deceptive practices.

Henry County Public Health has announced a new leader.

Dixie Moberg, a registered nurse, has been named the agency’s new Public Health Director. She will officially begin her role on May 4th.

Moberg will oversee a wide range of programs and services aimed at improving community health. Those include immunizations, lead testing, car seat safety checks, and newborn home visits. The department also coordinates the Healthy Henry County Communities wellness coalition and offers education on a variety of public health topics.

During the transition, residents with questions are encouraged to contact the Henry County Public Health office at 319-385-0779.

More information about available services can be found online at HealthyHenryCounty.org/PublicHealth.

The search for Iowa’s best breaded pork tenderloin of the year, held by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA), has begun.

The IPPA is kicking off the 2026 Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest, and nominations are officially open now through June 1st.

This annual competition shines a spotlight on the restaurants serving up one of Iowa’s most iconic sandwiches, and both tenderloin fans and restaurants can participate. Each person can submit one nomination, and if your pick rises to the top, you’ll be entered for a chance to win $100.

After nominations close, IPPA will select the top 40 restaurants across the state, including the top five from each of its eight districts. From there, undercover judges will visit each location to evaluate entries based on pork quality, flavor, appearance, and overall experience.

The top five will be announced in October during National Pork Month, with the winner earning $500, a plaque, and statewide recognition. The runner-up will receive $250 and a plaque. The 2025 winner was Hometown Heroes in Grinnell.

Submit nominations here: https://www.iowapork.org/community/contests/breaded-tenderloin-contest/best-tenderloin-in-ia