The Henry County Engineers Office has announced a construction project on Franklin Avenue (W-55) from the Skunk River bridge at Oakland Mills south to Jackson Street in Salem. This project on the nearly 6 mile stretch of road will begin on April 22nd. This phase of construction will consist of culvert replacements and dirt work including shoulder widening. Please use the posted detour, as sections of the road will be closed to traffic. The road closures will change throughout the construction. All questions can be answered at 319 385 0762.
Prep Girls’ Soccer Rankings: Fort Madison Climbs to #13 in Class 2A
Prep Girls’ Soccer- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released the third rankings of the girls’ soccer season and the top 15 for all three Classes experienced a shakeup.
Class 1A saw Assumption keep their undefeated record and the #1 spot. However, Bishop Heelan’s 3-0 record hiccupped to a 4-2 mark after losing to Southeast Polk and Glenwood at a tournament over the weekend. That slid the Crusaders back to the #5 slot. Gilbert and Des Moines Christian round out the top three, respectively. Further down the list, Van Meter stumbled with losses to Des Moines Christian, 3-0, and Sioux City North, 3-1. The Bulldogs went from 7th to 10th because of it. Lastly, Treynor is the new entry to the top 15 after #11 Sioux Center dropped two games in-a-row this past week to LeMars and Spirit Lake, forcing them out of the top 15.
Dallas Center-Grimes, Waverly-Shell Rock, and Pella are still the top three teams in Class 2A, respectively, but Central DeWitt is proving their worth jumping nine spots in the rankings to now be #6. The Sabers have won three consecutive games including a 2-0 win over #7 North Scott. Spencer fell four spots in the rankings to #12 after losses to tough Class 1A competition, Bishop Heelan and Treynor. #13 Fort Madison is a team to fear from the Southeast, touting a 4-0 record. The Bloodhounds average 8 goals a game and have yet to allow a goal. They will be challenged tonight by a preseason top 15 choice Burlington.
Lastly, Valley is no longer the #1 team in Class 3A after losing 1-0 on Tuesday to the new #1 team Waukee Northwest, who is 6-0 on the season. Waukee staggered from #3 to #8 after a couple of losses. Southeast Polk went from unranked to #7 due to their wins against former #3 Waukee and Class 1A’s #5 Bishop Heelan. The Rams will battle Waukee Northwest tomorrow, April 12th. #10 Mason City and #12 Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln were both dropped from the top 15. Iowa City West took the open slot at #14 as Urbandale rounds out the top 15.
Henry County Supervisors Meeting Agenda 04/11
**The Courthouse will Close at 3:00 pm 4/16/24 for Courthouse Training**
Henry County Supervisors
100 E Washington St Ste 202
Mt Pleasant IA 52641
Fax: 319-385-3601
Chad White, Member Marc Lindeen, Vice-Chairman Greg Moeller, Chairman
319-385-0759 319-385-0760 319-385-0761________
AGENDA
April 16, 2024
Approve Agenda
Approve Minutes
9:00 Jake Hotchkiss Engineer Weekly Update
10:00 Public Hearing to Adopt Henry County Budget FY2025
Resolution Certify Henry County Budget for FY2025
Resolution Henry County Appropriations for FY2025
Motion for Henry County Employees & Assessors Office Wages for FY2025
Resolution Setting PEO Wages 1/1/25 thru 6/30/26
Other County Business as time allows
Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates
The Courthouse will Close at 3:00 pm 4/16/24 for
Courthouse Training
Fire Truck Push in Ceremony and Change of Command
It was all hands-on deck for the fire truck push in ceremony, which took place minutes after the city council meeting adjourned. Drew Schumacher, former Fire Chief for the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department, started the change of command ceremony by providing history on fire service, and made mention of the stellar public servants of Mt. Pleasant. Schumacher gave advice to Chief Blint, stating that a Chief needs to think about others first and lead with “we” and not “I”.
Shumacher also recited the firemen’s prayer, with the last line reading “and if according to Your Will I have to lose my life, please bless with Your protecting hand my children and my wife.” This helps to sum up the great service these men and women on the fire department continually do. The Mt. Pleasant Fire Department is looking for volunteers, and if you think you would be a good fit, stop by the station at 204 S Jackson St.
After the blessing of the truck, it was ready to be pushed into the station. The engine was turned on, but only “for the noise” and the truck soon sat in it’s new home.
*Blint has been in the role for less than 2 weeks, but has plenty of experience with over 20 years on the department.
Photos courtesy of Dave Schneider
Gas Prices Gain What They Lost Last Week – Weekly Fuel Report
Taking a look at our weekly fuel report, remember last week when prices dropped 6 cents? Well, prices rose 6 cents this week, now averaging $3.33 across Iowa for unleaded gasoline according to triple A. This is 29 cents less the national average of $3.62.
Retail diesel prices in Iowa rose 2 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.79. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.90 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel price is 27 cents lower than the national average of $4.06.
Natural gas prices rose 4 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently prices at $1.88/MMbtu.
Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.
Sports, April 11th
High School Track and Field
The Mt. Pleasant boys’ and girls’ teams will be hosting an invitational tonight with Central Lee, Mediapolis, and West Burlington bringing both teams, while the New London, Danville, WACO, and Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ teams also attend.
The Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will host a meet tonight with WACO, Van Buren County, and Danville also participating.
The Van Buren County boys’ team will hit the road to participate in a meet on Monday, April 15th, at Central Lee.
The New London girls’ team will travel to Mt. Pleasant on Tuesday, April 16th, for a meet.
High School Soccer
The WACO boys’ team will host Wapello tonight.
Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union will take on Mediapolis on the road with the girls’ playing first at 5 pm tonight.
The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will face off against Keokuk tonight on the road. The boys’ team will travel to Danville tomorrow, April 12th, to take on the Bears at 6:30 pm.
The Central Lee boys’ team will host Danville tonight, while the girls’ team will travel to West Branch tomorrow.
High School Tennis
Mt. Pleasant will take on Burlington today with the boys’ at home and the girls on the road.
High School Golf
Winfield-Mt. Union will take on Highland today on the road.
The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will host the SEC today for an invitational, while the girls’ team will travel to Keokuk for their meet.
The New London boys’ team will attend a meet at Tipton today.
The WACO boys’ and girls’ teams will host a triangular tomorrow, April 12th, with Mediapolis and BGM competing.
Central Lee will face off against Van Buren County tonight at home.
Southeastern Community College
In a tight contest yesterday, SCC baseball fell at home to Kirkwood Community College 8-5. The Blackhawks pushed across four runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to tie the game at five. Nevertheless, the comeback would fall short as the Eagles scored three runs in the top of the 9th to win the conference showdown. Cal Sullivan was the leader for the Eagles with a home run and four RBIs on three hits. The Blackhawks will look to bounce back today against Carl Sandburg College at home.
The SCC softball team will travel to Kirkwood Community College today for a doubleheader.
University of Iowa
The Carver-Hawkeye Arena was packed last night to bid farewell to the seniors of the Iowa women’s basketball team and honor their runner-up finish for the second year in-a-row as they finished with a school record 34 wins this past season.
Additionally, Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz announced that Caitlin Clark’s number #22 would be the third number retired in program history. Clark finished her career as the all-time leading scorer and the consensus National Player of the Year. She totaled 3,951 points and 1,144 assists in her career.
This Day in Sports History
1921 – KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania broadcasts the first radio sporting event, a boxing match between lightweights Johnny Ray and Johnny Dundee.
1966 – 30th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Jack Nicklaus becomes the first back-to-back Masters champion winning an 18-hole Monday playoff against Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer.
1989 – First playoff goal scored by a goalie, Ron Hextall of the visiting Philadelphia Flyers shoots into the Washington Capitals empty net while his team is short handed in a 8-5 win.
Mt. Pleasant High School Prom Just a Few Weeks Away
Spring has well and truly arrived, and along with the gorgeous weather, end of school year activities are taking place. One thing that many students look forward to every year is Prom, and Mount Pleasant High School has released some information about the activities surrounding the day.
Prom will take place on Saturday, May 4th and will “kick-off” with promenade in the high-school gym at 4:30pm. Students will line up with their date for pictures as they walk through a room full of happy parents. The dance will take place at the high school gym from 8:30pm-11:30pm. Afterwards, students can head to the Iris City Bowling Center on the west side of town for a safe and responsible after-prom experience from 12:00am-3:00am.
Mt. Pleasant and Fort Madison Small Business Week Nomination Reminder
Small business week takes place at the end of April and through the first few days of May, and Mount Pleasant is full of great ones. The Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for your favorite outstanding small business.
To qualify for Small Business of the Year in Mount Pleasant, businesses must meet the following criteria:
-Must be a Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce Member
-Must be a for-profit entity
-Must have a primary location in Henry County
-Must have less than 50 employees
-Must have been in business for a minimum of two years
You can head to their Facebook page to fill out a form, or stop in at their office on the square, but you don’t have much time left! Applications are due by end of business tomorrow.
The Fort Madison Area Chamber of Commerce is also seeking nominations for small business and micro business of the year. Eligible business must have made an impact on the community or economy over the past year, has a place of business in Fort Madison, and is independently owned and operated.
To nominate a business, please contact the chamber at chamber@fortmadison.com or 319-372-5471. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, April 19th.