The Winfield- Mt. Union Crooked Creek FFA Chapter is celebrating National FFA Week with a full slate of activities and sharing information about why FFA makes such an impact in their lives.

Members of the Winfield-Mount Union Ag and Crooked Creek FFA Chapter are taking part in themed dress-up days:

• Monday – Pajama Day
• Tuesday – Blue & Gold Day
• Wednesday – Jersey Day
• Thursday – Hat Day
• Friday – Flannel Day

The celebration highlights the impact of agricultural education and leadership development through FFA. Members build public speaking skills, explore more than 250 career paths in agriculture, compete in judging events, earn scholarship opportunities, serve the community, and advocate for agriculture. Students interested in joining are encouraged to speak with a current Crooked Creek FFA member to learn more.

The week of celebration also comes on the heels of sub-district competition, where Crooked Creek FFA members posted impressive results.

In the Discovery Test, Jake Cummings placed 14th and earned a Silver rating, while Layton Carroll finished 17th, also earning Silver.

In the Greenhand Test, Baylie Heacock brought home 2nd Place with a Gold rating.

Abigail Loyd competed in Individual Ag Sales and placed 6th, earning Bronze honors.

Katie Miller earned 4th Place and a Gold rating in the Job Interview contest.

And in Creed Speaking, Tate Beard captured 2nd Place with a Gold rating and will advance to District competition on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Cedar Rapids Prairie.

Happy National FFA Week to Winfield-Mount Union and the Crooked Creek FFA Chapter.

On Monday, February 23, 2026, Representative Blaine Watkins (R-Donnellson) of House District 100 successfully floor managed his first piece of legislation through the Iowa House.

House File 2521 amends code to require an animal shelter volunteer or employee to accept a dog or cat in order for it not to be considered abandonment. If an animal is dropped off outside a shelter without any contact with someone from the shelter, that animal is considered abandoned, and county attorneys could prosecute the individual who abandoned the animal.

“This bill ensures that when someone surrenders a cat or dog an employee or volunteer must accept the animal,” Watkins said. “This provides a clear safeguard against animal abandonment.”

HF 2521 passed bipartisanly through the Iowa House with a vote of 89-0.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is alerting area residents to an increase in fraudulent activity known as check washing.

In a notice released this week, the Sheriff’s Office says check washing is a form of fraud in which criminals steal legitimate checks, chemically “wash” them to remove the original ink, and then rewrite the check to themselves or another party in order to redirect funds.

Authorities say criminals often target checks left in residential mailboxes. Once stolen, the checks are altered and fraudulently deposited or cashed, leaving victims with significant financial losses.

Residents are urged to watch for red flags that may indicate a check has been tampered with. These include faded or discolored areas on the check, inconsistent handwriting, or altered watermarks.

To help prevent becoming a victim, the Sheriff’s Office recommends using fraud-resistant checks with built-in security features such as watermarks, monitoring bank accounts regularly for discrepancies, and considering electronic payments as a safer alternative when possible.

Officials also advise depositing outgoing mail in secure blue postal collection boxes rather than leaving it in residential mailboxes, and not leaving mail in your mailbox overnight. If you plan to be away from home, have your mail held at the post office or picked up by a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor.

In addition, residents are reminded not to discard credit card records or bills in household trash. Sensitive documents should be shredded or destroyed before disposal. Enrolling in online banking and closely monitoring accounts for unauthorized transactions can also help detect fraud early.

If you suspect you have been a victim of check washing, report it immediately to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and contact your local police department or sheriff’s office.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office reports a Niota, Illinois man was arrested early Sunday morning after allegedly driving the wrong way on Highway 34.

According to Sheriff Rich McNamee, deputies were dispatched at approximately 2:10 a.m. on February 22, 2026 after receiving reports of an SUV traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Highway 34. Henry County Dispatch received multiple 911 calls throughout the incident, with callers providing updated location information on the vehicle.

Deputies located the SUV still traveling in the incorrect lanes and conducted a traffic stop near mile marker 239. Authorities say the vehicle was brought to a safe stop without further incident.

Following an investigation, deputies determined Chad Hohenthaner, 54, of Niota, Illinois, was operating the vehicle on the wrong side of the two-way highway. Hohenthaner was arrested and transported to the Henry County Jail.

He has been charged with Operating While Intoxicated, First Offense, a serious misdemeanor, along with Open Container and Driving on the Wrong Side of a Two-Way Highway, both scheduled violations.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.