Henry County Public Health is pleased to announce that Katie Reuter, NP-C, CDE has accepted the position of Public Health Director and will start June 6^th. Reuter states, “I’m incredibly humbled and honored to serve our Henry County community! My aim is to look at our community holistically; the mental, physical, spiritual and environmental, when assessing its needs. I’m excited to help develop programs and provide services to empower our friends and neighbors to find ways to improve their own health and to make our community a safe and welcoming place to live.”

The position became available when current director Shelley Van Dorin, RN, BSN announced that she will be retiring on July 3^rd. Lois E Roth, Chair of the Board of Health, reports, “Shelley Van Dorin has been an amazing Director of Henry County Public Health. Public Health was outstanding during the COVID pandemic and that was through Shelley’s leadership. I’m excited for Katie to become our Director and for Shelley to enjoy her well-earned retirement. Shelley will be missed by myself, the Board members, past Board members, staff, and the community she has cared for so well.”

If you have any questions during the transition, please call the office at 319-385-0779. Henry County Public Health is a county department that provides many programs and services including immunizations, lead testing, car seat checks, newborn home visits, and much more. Public Health staff also coordinates the Healthy Henry County Communities wellness coalition and provides community education on a variety of health topics. Learn more at HealthyHenryCounty.org/PublicHealth.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Department is again holding a free Conceal Carry Class on June 25th, 2024 at 5 pm through 7 pm at the Lee County Sheriff’s Department at 2530 255th St. Montrose. This will be a classroom presentation without any firearms or live fire practical’s. This training meets the Iowa requirements to apply for a permit to carry weapons.

Seating is limited and pre-registration will be required. In order to request to be registered for this training, or any other questions, please contact Detective Chad Donaldson at chaddonaldson@leecounty.org.

Although Iowa no longer requires a permit to carry weapons as of July 1st of 2021, there are several benefits to having a permit to carry weapons that include reciprocity of other states.

The Mount Pleasant Planning and Zoning Commission met in regular session yesterday evening in what was their first meeting since December 12^th. The large talking point was about flexible business spaces at the Belle Center. In March, the Board of Adjustment denied the request of the Board of the Belle Center to occupy the building for multiple uses, such as a business incubator and co-working space. Last night, however, the P&Z Commission made the recommendation to the city council concerning the ordinance to allow flexible business space in that building.

This will be done by adding those terms “business incubator” and “co-working space” into the R3 Multiple Family Dwelling District. Brent Schleisman, the City Administrator, mentioned that this will help expand offerings to the community.

Also passed yesterday evening was the recommendation to the City Council concerning the Mt. Pleasant Community School District site plan for their bus barn/central receiving/building and grounds facility. This will be constructed at 1515 E Monroe St if all goes according to plan. Essentially, this brings all of the support services to one site, according to Superintendent Henriksen, which affords greater efficiency.

Donations still needed for Stop the Bleed Classroom Kits

Sheriff McNamee and SRO Deputy Lopez recently delivered 42 Stop the Bleed classroom kits to the Mount Pleasant Community School District Middle School and 50 Stop the Bleed classroom kits to the Winfield Mt Union School District.

They have now delivered approximately 200 kits to Henry County classrooms, but they are not done! Their goal is to have every Henry County school equipped with these kits by the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

To donate, drop-off a check made out to the Mt Pleasant Community School Foundation at Two Rivers Bank or the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. Indicate on the memo line that the donation is for “School Safety Project”. For more information, contact Deputy Carlos Lopez at the Henry County Sheriff’s Office 319-385-2712

Today is National Fentanyl Awareness Day. In 2021, West Burlington Officers responded to the location of the Americinn in the city of West Burlington regarding a drug investigation. Upon speaking with a female staying at the Americinn, officers located 23 grams of Fentanyl on her person along with other illegal narcotics. The female was charged and ultimately convicted of numerous illegal narcotic crimes along with sales of narcotics. 2 milligrams of Fentanyl is a lethal amount. The amount seized during this investigation was 23,000 milligrams.

Last year over 70,000 Americans fatally overdosed on illegally made fentanyl. Fentanyl is found in fake pills and Main Street drugs. The dangers of this drug is a potent opioid and can be fatal when ingested. Officers face the dangers of this drug by a simple exposure while investigating narcotics on duty.

This is an urgent public health crisis that puts all of us, and our loved ones, at risk. Let’s all play a role in preventing further tragedies.