Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued an extension of a proclamation to ease restrictions for transportation of and access to fuel used for heat. The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through 11:59 p.m. on February 8, 2024.  

The proclamation suspends the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code pertaining to hours of service for crews and drivers delivering propane, diesel, natural gas, and other fuels used for residential, agricultural, and commercial heating purposes. 

Long time Fire Chief Drew Schumacher submitted a letter of resignation to the City of Mount Pleasant. During the City Council meeting on January 24^th, the council reluctantly approved his resignation.

Chief Schumacher stood in front of a crowded City Hall and read a letter to the council and the public. In it, he offered his sincerest thanks to past and present firemen, mentioning how it is a brotherhood. For Schumacher, this was a childhood dream, and he then presented a photo of his kindergarten class in front of the old city hall.

Chief Schumacher’s final words were “Mount Pleasant Iowa, what a great place to live.” It is because of men like Chief Schumacher that make this city so great. Serving on the department for 31 years, he was promoted to the position of Fire Chief in 2018.  His final day as Fire Chief is March 31^st, 2024.

Two young men in Mount Pleasant have been selected for the prestigious Boys State conference in June. Congratulations to Elijah Rynders and Jonah Zimmer for being selected. This 6-day conference, which takes place at Camp Dodge, is open to incoming High School Seniors who are selected by their local American Legion Post.

According to the website, students engage in civic leadership experience in the operation of a democratic form of government. Students learn more in one week than in an entire semester of high school civics.

Scholarship opportunities are available, as well as the possibility to earn college credit.

Students are selected based off a large criterion, which boils down to possessing qualities of leadership, scholastic achievement, good citizenship, and willingness to participate.

During Boys State, students can meet elected officials, tour the State Capitol, play in sports tournaments, job shadow the Highway Patrol, join Mock Trial and Judge Appointments, and complete the National Guard Leadership Reaction Course. They simulate a government for 6 days, with students partaking in elections, bipartisan work in the house and senate, and even passing laws.

Congratulations to Jonah Zimmer and Elijah Rynders for being selected to the 2024 Iowa Boys State.

The Mount Pleasant City Council met yesterday evening to vote on the new trash-pickup system in the city. Though there were a few last-minute questions from citizens, these were promptly answered, and the vote took place without fuss. The council voted to approve the new trash pickup system with three tiers in a contract with Lance Refuse and WEMIGA Waste.

Each “tier” provides an option for individual households to pursue. The 1^st option is a 95-gallon container picked up once a week for $19.75. Option 2 and 3 are both a 65-gallon container. The difference is that option 2 is $16.75 a month and the container is picked up once a week, while the 3^rd option is picked up once a month for $10.

According to the city’s lawyer, they do not need to go through three additional readings due to adding the 3^rd tier, because this is seen as a benefit to the people who asked for change.

The Chief of Police spoke up when a resident, with a private dumpster, asked about what they are to do if unauthorized people dump their trash in a private dumpster. Chief Murray told them to call the police, as that is a crime. Mayor Brimhall gave an additional option of buying a padlock and putting it on your dumpster.

Mayor Steve Brimhall mentioned how an exact date cannot be given for when this system will begin, due in large part to the recent snowstorm, however he did say it will be in March. Containers will be delivered to residences in late February.

Previous Coverage:

Garbage Collection Update: 3rd Option Now Available for Residents

Mt. Pleasant Citizens Express Frustration at MP City Council Meeting…

New MP Trash Hauling System: Q & A

Mt. Pleasant Garbage Pickup: Old System Made Obsolete in Favor of New System

January 21^st-28^th is National Passenger Safety week. While it is easy to think about yourself, it might slip your mind to ensure your passengers are safe when in your vehicle. U.S. roadway deaths are rising at an alarming rate while people still drive recklessly. The National passenger Safety Campaign aims to promote safe driving practices and speak up when unsafe methods are used.

According to nationalpassengersafety.org, in 2020, 16 percent of traffic fatalities were passengers. 6,275 vehicle passengers were killed in crashes that year alone. Staggeringly, 56% of the deaths of teenage passengers occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager.

In 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) added the campaign to their national calendar. National Passenger Safety Week is now an ongoing event, the last week in January of every year.

Passengers can make a difference, because “one courageous voice can change one deadly choice.”