Man Charged With Assault and Obstructing 911 Call in Mount Pleasant

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, March 9th, 2026 at 2:04 pm CDT

A Mount Pleasant man is facing charges after police say he assaulted a woman and later prevented her from calling for help.

According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department, officers took a report at approximately 11:28 a.m. on March 8 from a victim who described an incident that allegedly occurred the previous evening.

The victim told police that between 9 and 10 p.m. on March 7, Joshua Richard Lobdell allegedly exposed himself while heavily intoxicated and forced her head downward while demanding a sexual act. The victim told investigators she refused and told Lobdell that what he was doing was a crime.

Police say Lobdell later left the residence.

During the investigation, the victim also reported that Lobdell had older nude photographs of her from a time when she worked as a webcam model and she did not want him to have them. Officers said Lobdell later became erratic while discussing the photos while under the influence of alcohol.

Police say Lobdell took the victim’s phone because he suspected she was attempting to call 911 and then threw the phone into a bedroom, causing it to break apart.

Officers later located Lobdell and questioned him about the incident before placing him under arrest.

Lobdell was transported to the Henry County Jail, where he was charged with assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and obstruction of emergency communications.

The case remains under investigation.

Henry County Supervisors Agenda, March 10th, 2026

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, March 9th, 2026 at 10:04 am CDT

Henry County Supervisors

100 E Washington St Ste 202

Mt Pleasant, IA  52641

Fax: 319-385-3601

Chad White, Chairman                 Marc Lindeen, Member              Steven Detrick, Vice-Chair

   319-385-0759                                 319-385-0760                                    319-385-0761________

 

AGENDA

Board of Supervisors

March 10, 2026, due to ISAC conference

1:00 PM

1. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Roll Call of Members and Secretary

3. Approval of Consent Agenda

Note: These listed items are routine and will be acted on by one motion without separate discussion unless a Board member requests an item be removed for separate consideration.

  • Approval of Recent Board Minutes
  • Approval of Claims

4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

  • Discussion and formulation of a county policy concerning fees related to requests for information searches.
  • Numerous candidate interviews have taken place for IT Technician position.

5. COMMITTEE UPDATES

  •   Some Henry County Office holders and Department heads will be attending ISAC

Spring Conference in Des Moines 03/11-13/2026

6. NEW BUSINESS

  •      Henry County Engineer, Jake Hotchkiss – Weekly Update

7. OTHER BUSINESS

  • Area leadership class will be meeting with BOS at 3:30 PM this date for Q&A after touring State Prison and County Jail.

8. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Note: The Board welcomes public comments on items not listed on the agenda. You are asked to state your name and address for the record and limit your comment to 3 minutes per person to allow opportunity for others to speak.

9. Adjourn

Woman Hospitalized After Early Morning Incident on Douds Bridge

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, March 9th, 2026 at 9:42 am CDT

This morning at approximately 8 AM the Van Buren County Dispatch Center received numerous 911 reports of a female pedestrian disrupting traffic on the Des Moines River bridge in Douds.

The female was reported to be partially clothed, and possible suicidal.

When responding units arrived, they learned that the female had thrown herself in front of a commercial motor vehicle causing the driver to stop. Once the vehicle was stopped the female climbed on top of the vehicle and was refusing to come down.

The female was eventually coaxed down by first responders and was taken by ambulance to the Van Buren County Hospital for a psychological evaluation.

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Douds Fire Department, Douds First Responders, and the Van Buren County Ambulance.

Clinton Galen Hoskins

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, March 9th, 2026 at 9:17 am CDT

Clinton Galen Hoskins, 79, passed away Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, due to an abdominal aneurysm. Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2026, at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. Following the visitation, all are welcome to attend Clinton’s graveside service and burial at Hillcrest Cemetery in Brighton.

Clinton was born January 22, 1947, to Robert Galen and Violet (Garrett) Hoskins in Washington, Iowa. He attended Pleasant Plain School through 8th grade. He graduated from Fairfield High School with the class of 1965, and following graduation attended college one year in North Dakota with his studies in horticulture.

Clinton lived and worked his entire adult life in Cedar Rapids, minus his first couple years in the Quad Cities when he was employed at International Harvester. Home in Cedar Rapids, Clinton worked as a produce manager for A&P and MeToo grocery chains. After leaving work in produce management, Clinton became self-employed and truly loved being a personal caregiver for the elderly and those in need. He made long lasting friendships with those he cared for and genuinely considered them his family too.

Clinton was a gentle, sentimental, and kindhearted person, caregiving came naturally to him. He enjoyed the quiet, simpler things in life. His passions centered around caring for others, cooking/baking, gardening, and perusing antiques online. Clinton was happiest in the kitchen preparing home cooked meals for his friends and hosting dinner parties- especially at holiday time, should friends and those he cared for have no family close by. He inherited his love of cooking and baking from his mother and was also the keeper of the family recipe box. Family took great delight each holiday season, knowing Uncle Clint was coming and bringing the homemade cinnamon rolls and date pudding with pecan sauce and fresh whipped cream!! He so enjoyed sharing/teaching his nieces the recipes too and took great pride in passing down these family traditions. Before his health declined, Clinton also loved gardening and landscaping his backyard/patio into a beautiful garden oasis to just relax in, enjoy nature, and again share with family & friends.

Left to share his memory are his brother and sister-in-law, Marvin and Rita Hoskins of Richland, two nieces, Tracy (Pat) Hammes of Batavia and Stacy (Jim) Thompson of Grundy Center; three nephews, Rob (Amy) Hoskins of Richland, Brent (Mindy) Hoskins of Fairfield, and Cody Hoskins of Fairfield, his best friend, Ed Schneiter of Cedar Rapids, as well as five grand-nieces, six grand-nephews, and four great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Galen and Violet Hoskins.

Jefferson County Woman Missing, Search Continues

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, March 9th, 2026 at 8:20 am CDT

Authorities in Jefferson County are continuing their search for a missing Vedic City woman who was last seen Friday night.

Seventy five year old Mary Anne Falk was last seen just before 10 p.m. on March 6 leaving her residence on foot in the 1700 block of Jupiter Avenue in Vedic City. Her direction of travel is unknown.

Falk is described as approximately five feet two inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds. She was last seen wearing yellow pants, a white T shirt, and purple and pink shoes.

Jefferson County Sheriff Bart Richmond said Monday morning that search efforts are ongoing as authorities continue organizing additional search areas outside of locations that have already been checked.

On Sunday afternoon, an aircraft from the Iowa State Patrol conducted a flyover of the Vedic City area using thermal imaging technology as part of the search effort. As of late Sunday afternoon, Falk had not yet been located.

Officials had earlier asked anyone involved in search efforts or in the surrounding area to remain in their vehicles while the aircraft conducted its sweep.

Anyone with information about Mary Anne Falk’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 641-472-3576.

Authorities say they will continue to provide updates as the search progresses.

Sports, March 9th

By Slaten Swords · Monday, March 9th, 2026 at 6:47 am CDT

Girls’ State Basketball

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union finished up the 2025-26 season over the weekend with three new champions being crowned.

The Class 4A championship featured a Cinderella story in #5 Carlisle upsetting #2 Dallas Center-Grimes, 38-36, in their first ever appearance in a state championship game. Macy Comito, the Iowa State commit, led the floor with 17 points, as she was voted captain of the all-tournament team.

In Class 2A, #2 Rock Valley splashed a state tournament record 14 three pointers to take down the defending champions #1 Hinton, 67-57. Haevyn Ranschau set her own state tournament record by hitting nine threes for 29 points, as she was named captain of the all-tournament team.

Lastly, #2 Newell-Fonda collected their program’s fifth state championship and fourth in the last eight years after defeating #1 Bishop Garrigan, 64-56, in the Class 1A title game. Ellie and Quinn Sievers each netted 16 points in the winning effort, as Ellie was named captain of the all-tournament team. 

Girls’ High School Basketball

A handful of local athletes will be participating in the Larry Niemeyer Senior Girls All-Star basketball tournament scheduled for Saturday, March 14th.

In Class 2A, Danville’s Alaina Gourley will play on the Gray Team with their game at 1 pm.

Over in Class 3A, Adalyn Long of Washington will join a trio from the Southeast Iowa Super Conference in Kenna Sandoval of Central Lee and Grace Holsteen and Ellah Wagenbach of Mediapolis on the White Team. They will play at 10:30 am. 

Lastly, Kendra Boatman of Keokuk and Burlington’s Mylee Stiefel will join sides for the Gray Team in a combination of Class 3A/4A/5A talent. They will square off at 9:15 am.

Boys’ Postseason Basketball

For the Class 1A State Tournament, #4 Burlington Notre Dame will face off against #5 Bellevue tomorrow, March 10th, with tip-off at 3:45 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 3:30 pm. 

Other Class 1A matchups include: #1 St. Edmond facing off against #8 Woodbine, #2 MMCRU taking on #7 Boyden-Hull, and #6 Marquette Catholic looking to upset #3 Bishop Garrigan.

The Class 3A quarterfinals will tip-off the state tournament today with #1 Ballard facing off against #8 Gilbert at 10:30 am. 

High School Track and Field

The Indoor Track and Field season will start today with boys’ teams from all around the state heading to the UNI-Dome for the A.D. Dickinson Relays. The girls will compete tomorrow, March 10th.

Southeastern Community College

The men’s basketball team lost the Region 11 championship to Indian Hills Community College over the weekend, 66-52. Jaleel Donley netted 20 points in the losing effort. The Blackhawks went 17-13 for the season.

The baseball team finished the weekend with a 1-2 record after defeating Crowder College 8-3 and losing two one-run contests to Crowder College, 5-4, and Northeastern Oklahoma AM College, 11-10. The Blackhawks will host Anoka-Ramsey Community College today for a doubleheader. 

The softball team will travel to St. Louis Community College on Monday, March 16th, for a doubleheader.

College Basketball

The #9 Iowa women’s team earned their sixth trip to the Big Ten Championship over the last eight seasons after taking down Michigan, 59-42, in the semifinals; however, the Hawkeyes were denied by the #1-seed UCLA in the title game, losing by a lopsided 96-45 final. Ava Heiden finished the pair of games with a combined 31 points. The Hawkeyes and Cyclones will now wait for the Selection Sunday Show on March 15th at 7 pm to realize their postseason fate.

The Iowa men’s team pushed #9 Nebraska to the limits, forcing the Cornhuskers into overtime, but ultimately fell 84-75. The Hawkeyes were led by Cooper Koch and Kael Combs, as they each nabbed 18 points. Iowa will take on either Maryland or Oregon at 11 am on Wednesday, March 11th, to begin their path in the Big Ten Tournament. 

The #6 Iowa State men’s team needed a dominant second half to bury Arizona State, 86-65, over the weekend. The Cyclones outscored the Sun Devils 49 to 24 in the second half after trailing by four at the halftime break. Five Cyclones finished the day in double figures. Iowa State earned a bye in the Big 12 tournament and will play on Wednesday at 11:30 am. 

This Day in Sports History

1904 – Brandon’s Lester Patrick becomes 1st hockey defenseman to score a goal.

1979 – MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn orders baseball to give equal access to female reporters.

1993 – Pittsburgh Penguins begin an NHL record 17 game winning streak.

Mount Pleasant Man Charged With Murder

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, March 9th, 2026 at 6:24 am CDT

A woman is dead following a shooting late Saturday night in Burlington, and a Mount Pleasant man has been arrested and charged with murder.

Burlington Police say officers were called just before 11:20 p.m. to Chavy’s Bar and Grill on Agency Street for a report of a shooting.

When officers arrived, they found a woman suffering from what appeared to be a single gunshot wound. She was transported to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington but later died from her injuries.

Authorities say the victim’s name is being withheld until family members have been notified.

Police have charged 22-year-old Kaysean A. Rice of Mount Pleasant with second-degree murder, reckless use of a firearm, and intimidation with a dangerous weapon.

Investigators say Rice was later located by Mount Pleasant Police on East Washington Street in Mount Pleasant and taken into custody. Police say he also had an active warrant for violation of a no-contact order.

Rice was transported to the Des Moines County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.

Burlington Police say the shooting appears to be an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Burlington Police Department or Des Moines County Crime Stoppers.

Southeast Iowa Man Killed in Accident Saturday Morning

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, March 9th, 2026 at 6:23 am CDT

A southeast Iowa man is dead following a single-vehicle crash early Saturday morning.

The Iowa State Patrol says the crash happened shortly after midnight in the northbound lane of Highway 34 near mile marker 44 in Henry County.

Authorities say a Chevy Malibu driven by 26-year-old Jaden Eugene Williams of Eddyville left the roadway for unknown reasons. The vehicle struck an embankment and was launched into a bridge.

Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was transported to Olson-Yoder Funeral Home.

Officials did not indicate whether Williams was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

The Iowa State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Mount Pleasant Police Department and EMS, and the Henry County Medical Examiner.