Do you have a great business idea?  Have you always wanted to own a business in downtown Mount pleasant?  Is your current business planning to expand services or add a new product line?  Do you have a piece of equipment you wish you could purchase for your business?

Main street Mount Pleasant is looking for interested entrepreneurs who could use dollars to expand and grow their business idea within the Mount Pleasant Main Street district.  The Open 4 Business contest, launched in 2015, is an opportunity for businesses located within a state-designated Main Street district, to compete for a chance to win up to $28,000 in grant funds to assist with a business development or expansion project that will help them grow their business.

Businesses must complete an online application and submit a short video outlining their business idea and how it will benefit the local economic climate in their community. A 25% cash match is required. Businesses must have been in operation for at least 1 year to apply. The grant funds are administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa program.

All applications and videos must be turned into the Main Street Mount Pleasant office by April 24,2024.  The Economic Vitality Committee will review the applications and contact the applicant to schedule a time to meet. Each designated Main Street community may submit one local business applicant that could represent Mount Pleasant at the state competition to be held in Cedar Rapids on August 5, 2024.

For complete details about this program, please contact Lisa Oetken at lisa@mpiowa.org or 319-385-1629, or Robin Bostrom, Business Specialist, Iowa Downtown Resource Center/Main Street Iowa at 515.348.6176 or robin.bostrom@iowaEDA.com.

The Henry County Supervisors met on Tuesday morning for the 3^rd Reading of the Resolution to Establish a Temporary Moratorium on the Rezoning of Land to the Alternative Energy Overlay District. This resolution was approved by all three board members, and it went into effect immediately. This moratorium will expire on March 2^nd, 2025 at 11:59pm. However, it can be extended or terminated early.

With the room completely full and citizens standing in the hallway as well, many were happy to hear the results of the vote. A citizen thanked the supervisors for their “wise consideration” and multiple people clapped for the moratorium.

Multiple public hearings will be held on this issue in the future as the resolution states that they want to find the most appropriate uses of land for the county.

April is Financial Literacy Month, and State Treasurer Roby Smith is encouraging all Iowans to strengthen their financial education skills.

“There’s always something to learn to enhance our financial well-being. This year, my office has been working hard to find resources that are educational and engaging for Iowans from ages 3 to 103,” Smith said. “From book lists to lesson plans to financial calculators to games, there’s something for everyone.”

As part of the month’s celebration, Smith is encouraging parents, guardians and educators to check out the Financial Education and Empowerment resources on his website, iowatreasurer.org

The New London Community School District has released a letter to parents and guardians regarding an upcoming active threat drill.

“Dear Parents and Guardians,

We wanted to remind you about our upcoming second active threat drill for the 23-34 school year, scheduled for April 2, 2024. Deputy Lopez, our School Resource Officer, will be leading the drill to help us all be more prepared in case of any emergency. The drill on April 2, 2024 will be for the MS/HS only. Clark Elementary will conduct their second drill on April 28, 2024.

Our objective is to conduct multiple drills throughout the school year to ensure the safety of our school community. Similar to a fire drill, this exercise is designed for a different kind of situation. The goal is to familiarize everyone with the necessary steps to take in the event of an active threat, ensuring that we are all on the same page and well-prepared.

Deputy Lopez, along with our dedicated school staff, will guide the students through a practice run, simulating what actions to take in the event of an active threat in or around the school premises. This drill aims to equip everyone with the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively.

To support the success of this drill, we kindly ask for your assistance. You can talk to your children about the upcoming drill, assuring them that it is a practice session aimed at ensuring everyone’s safety. Encourage them to ask any questions or share concerns they may have. Your communication with your children helps reinforce the importance of being prepared.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we work together to maintain the safety of our school district. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mr. Wahls, Mr. Kracht, or Mr. Palmatier.”

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today 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.

“Whether it’s the birth of a new calf or the emergence of the first seedlings popping through the soil, spring always brings a feeling of renewal, anticipation and optimism,” said Secretary Naig. “As Iowa farmers look ahead to this growing season and make planting preparations, we are encouraged by the more active weather patterns. While our historic streak of 195 weeks of D1 drought continues and we still have significant moisture deficits to make up, longer term outlooks appear to be favorable for more consistent rainfall.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report
Much of the State experienced cooler than normal temperatures and much needed rain/snow showers which left Iowa farmers with 1.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending March 31, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Although minimal fieldwork occurred over the last week, some producers were able to apply anhydrous, manure, and dry fertilizer.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 22 percent very short, 37 percent short, 37 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 35 percent very short, 41 percent short, 22 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.

Oats seeding has already reached 21 percent complete, 11 days ahead of both last year and the 5-year average. Much of the seeding took place prior to the week ending March 31. Some seeding took place several weeks ago and is starting to emerge.

No reports of cattle turned out onto pasture yet as many pastures are just beginning to green up with little new growth. Calving was in full swing.

Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

An active storm track brought unseasonably wet conditions to Iowa’s northwestern two-thirds, leading to widespread improvement in drought conditions. Temperatures during the first reporting period of 2024 varied from cooler conditions in the northwest to marginal warmth in the southeast; the statewide average temperature was 40.2 degrees, 2.3 degrees below normal.

Several waves of showers and a few thunderstorms continued across Iowa through Sunday (24th) afternoon and evening with east-southeasterly winds. Daytime highs ranged from the mid-30s north to low 50s south, where periodic peaks of sun were observed. A southerly shift in the wind occurred overnight as the large-scale, low-pressure center pushed into western Iowa. Muddy rain was reported on Monday (25th) morning as a large dust plume from New Mexico was lofted into the atmosphere and transported northeast via the mid-level steering flow. A dry slot with minimal cloud cover formed in the early afternoon allowing highs to rise into the low 60s across central and southern Iowa. Showers and thunderstorms reformed in southeastern Iowa and then across a broader area in western Iowa through the remainder of the day. The low-pressure center finally exited Iowa early on Tuesday (26th) with some snowflakes flying as colder air wrapped in behind the system. Event rain totals were well above average for most locations with over 140 stations collecting at least an inch in Iowa’s northwestern half; more than one-third of the stations in west-central to northwest Iowa measured 2.00 to 3.00 inches with 3.05 inches in Jefferson (Greene County). Strong northwesterly winds developed in the afternoon with mid 20s northwest to mid-30s southeast under overcast skies. Clouds gradually cleared west to east before sunrise on Wednesday (27th) with morning lows in the teens under clear skies and in the mid-20s farther east where stratus clouds were present. Unseasonable cool afternoon temperatures held in the 30s with westerly winds.

Partly cloudy skies persisted into Thursday (28th) morning as light winds became variable with temperatures across western Iowa in the 20s to low 30s southeast. Winds shifted to the east through the daylight hours with temperatures reaching into the upper 60s in the southwest counties while conditions were up to 25 degrees cooler to the northeast. Spotty and light showers developed in eastern Iowa with several stations picking up a trace of rainfall; Muscatine (Muscatine County) measured 0.12 inch. Morning temperatures on Friday (29th) were in the 30s as persistent easterly winds gained strength. A warm front lifted north into the state as winds shifted to the south in advance of a low-pressure system approaching Iowa. Highs reached into the mid-70s south of the front while conditions held in the upper 50s in northern Iowa. Isolated strong to severe storms fired in eastern Iowa after sunset. Stations that received rain generally reported under 0.20 inch though locations under heavier storms observed totals ranging from 0.56 inch in Dubuque (Dubuque County) to 0.79 inch in Hopkinton (Delaware County). Saturday (30th) was somewhat of a chilly day with clear skies, gusty northerly winds and temperatures in the low 40s northwest to low 60s southeast. Overcast conditions developed into Sunday (31st) morning with low temperatures dropping into the upper 30s across northern Iowa.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.03 inch in Moulton (Davis County) to 3.11 inches in Eagle Grove (Wright County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 1.20 inches, almost double the normal of 0.64 inch. Shenandoah (Page County) reported the week’s high temperature of 76 degrees on the 29th, 18 degrees above average. Primghar (O’Brien County) and Sibley (Osceola County) reported the week’s low temperature of nine degrees on the 27th, on average 19 degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures ranged from the low 40s north to upper 40s south as of Sunday.