Danville State Savings Bank President Joel Prottsman announced this week that Chad Hudson will be joining the bank as Senior Vice President/Credit and Risk Officer for the organization.

The former President of Wayland State Bank, Hudson will begin his duties with Danville in mid-March splitting his office hours between the Danville and New London offices.

“I’m really excited to be joining an organization with strong community ties,” said Hudson. “Danville Bank has always been known for supporting the community and its people. I can’t wait to join the team and a bank truly committed to taking care of its customers and region.”

Hudson is a veteran of the banking industry beginning his career in his hometown of Lewistown, Missouri, at the United State Bank, then becoming the Senior Loan Officer at the Bank of Monticello in Canton, MO. In 2006, Hudson became Senior Vice President at Connection Bank in Ft. Madison before moving to the Wayland Bank in 2011. He holds an MBA from Quincy University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Finance from Truman State University.

“Chad is going to be a great addition for everyone who has a relationship or is looking for a relationship with Danville State Savings Bank,” said Prottsman.  “He understands the importance of every aspect with community banking as well as being a great people person.”

Hudson also sits on the Henry County Health Center and Southeast Iowa Regional Planning boards and is Chairman-Elect of the Community Bankers of Iowa Board. He and his wife, Shawna – a teacher in the Burlington Community School District – have two children, Brendan and Reese.

For those who are partaking on the tour of the wind farm in Decatur, Illinois, on Monday, please park in the municipal parking lot or street parking. The courthouse parking lot should remain relatively clear. Further information on the wind tour is posted below.

***In light of the wind energy discussion that has swept through Henry County, RWE Clean Energy has offered a sponsored trip to a wind turbine farm. This will take place on Monday, March 4^th, and the group will depart at 8:00am for Decatur, Illinois. To sign up, head to https://henrycounty.iowa.gov/ and follow the link provided. This tour should wrap up and see participants back in Mount Pleasant at 6:30pm.

This is a first come, first served tour, with RWE promising 50 slots.

The Burlington Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a residential structure fire on Wednesday evening. Firefighters arrived at 5:24 pm to find heavy smoke coming from inside 810 Maple Street. As crews entered the single-family residence, they were met with heavy flames.

810 Maple is owned by David Davis, who leases the residence to Iva Cale. She was assisted by the American Redcross.

A juvenile babysitter and two nine-year-olds were inside at the time of the incident. The juvenile saw smoke and flames emerging from the backside of the stove. A working smoke detector also alerted the juvenile. The three people made it out safely, as well as two dogs and two cats.

The property was not insured at the time of the incident and is considered a total loss.

The Burlington Fire Department was assisted by West Burlington Fire Department, Mediapolis Fire Department, Alliant Energy and Gas, and the American Redcross.

The fire has been ruled undetermined and is not considered suspicious.  There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported and all units cleared the scene at 7:54 pm.

The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office received information from a concerned parent that a man was sending inappropriate messages to her fifteen-year-old daughter through Facebook messenger in September. The man, identified as Noah Clark, age 31, of 400 E. Main Street, Letts, was arrested on October 18^th after nearly a month-long investigation. Clark was then released the same day on a $2000 cash bond. Clark admitted to knowing the victim was a minor and stated that there could be 2 or 3 additional minor victims he was in communication with.

Further investigation into these statements resulted in supplemental search warrants being conducted. The search warrant results led to additional charges against Noah Clark involving a separate victim. On February 5, 2024, Clark was arrested on one count of aggravated misdemeanor possession of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in a prohibited sexual act and one count of class D felony enticement of a minor. Clark was released on February 5, 2024, on a $5000 cash bond.

However, Noah Clark’s victims were not located within the county. Instead, they appear to be members of a regional rabbit show circuit that Clark was also a member of.

Noah Clark has since pled guilty to the initial charge from October 2023.