“Triage Those Cuts” – County Attorney Issues Urgent Warning to Supervisors Ahead of Potential Budget Cuts

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, January 4th, 2024 at 11:26 am CDT

House File 718 has caused quite the stir Henry County. Across different departments, drastic budget cuts will be required to reach a general basis levy of $3.50, which is currently $4.83 in our county. Many programs will need to be cut out completely just to make a small dent in the budget, while Henry County Supervisor Greg Moeller believes personnel is where the bulk of cuts will come from.

The County Attorney’s Office met with the supervisors on Thursday, January 4th, to discuss these potential cuts to their budget. After a motion passed at a recent meeting completely voiding raises in the county, the attorney’s office proposed a new budget that is around a 4% decrease. Cutting nearly $20,000 from their budget will see popular services such as the drug test kits be abolished. These kits allow first time drug users the opportunity to prove that they can “get clean” and avoid potential greater punishment.

It was revealed that a 3.89% cut is nowhere near enough, and it seems 12% is more appropriate. A supervisor mentioned that the board is not picking on a single department. Darin Stater, County Attorney, told the board that he “slashed” his budget 18 years ago, and that personnel is what he needs to run the office properly.

Supervisor Moeller responded, “I don’t see how your personnel will all make it through the next four years.” After this comment, Stater made it clear that he believes not every department should experience the same cuts, saying “I suggest [the] cuts shouldn’t start with public safety.”

Uncertainty seems to be in the air regarding House File 718, which will see the county needing to decrease their budget 1.3 million dollars by 2027.

There is a Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce Public Official’s Reception this evening, which promises to provide potential answers to the questions that everyone is asking.

Light Up the Darkness: An Update to a New Year’s Eve Event That Saw Nearly 100 Students

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, January 4th, 2024 at 11:23 am CDT

Nearly 100 middle and high school students participated in Youthify’s New Years Eve “Light Up the Darkness” event.  24 adult leaders

This event saw the return of the annual black-light dodge-ball tournament, a variety of games, and a concert for the students, and 24 adult volunteers, to enjoy. Christian recording artist, PEABOD, traded Seattle, Washington, for Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, on New Year’s Eve to perform.

Students celebrating during the event

While many enjoy the games and the music, there is one clear mission that all the adult leaders want to get across. According to Parnell Davis, regional director for Heartland Youth for Christ, the “kids need hope.” The only hope that can be found in the world, Parnell says, is Jesus Christ.

Youth(ify) hosts quarterly events to connect children to Jesus and develop authentic relationships. Volunteers from many church congregations in Southeast Iowa come together to “bridge the divide” for the students. Many may see this as their best event yet. According to Parnell, half of the room of kids asked for prayer. Some students were struggling with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Remarkably, over 10 students made a decision to follow Jesus during this event.

*Youth(ify) is a ministry of Youth for Christ uniting like-minded churches and organizations to facilitate quarterly events for kids grades 6th-12th grade with the purpose of developing authentic, Christ-sharing relationships and getting kids involved within the local church.

**Youth(ify) wants to extend another big thank you to their sponsors Sanity Coffee House Quality Equipment AG SOS DJ Prayz Him and Prayz Him Ent.

Free Christmas Tree Pickup in Mount Pleasant

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, January 4th, 2024 at 8:24 am CDT
The City of Mount Pleasant has announced that Free Christmas Tree pickup will be the week of January 8th, weather permitting. It will be done in conjunction with your normal garbage pick-up. If you do not use the City’s garbage collection service, you may need to contact City Hall at 319-385-1470 to find out the trash day for your street.
Trees need to be placed next to the curb and must not have plastic coverings, decorations, or tinsel on them.

Above Freezing Temperatures Might Limit Snow Storm

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, January 4th, 2024 at 8:20 am CDT

Remember the talk of a potential storm hitting Southeast Iowa next week? The National Weather Service continues to watch for it, with the latest information providing a sense of comfort. Early indications suggest the greatest impacts from this system will affect southeastern Iowa, with between 50-70% chances of *minor* winter travel impact.

Strong winds are likely to occur, which would cause blowing snow. The good news is that the temperature near the ground may be near to above freezing at times, which would limit the snow amounts. Monday through Tuesday continues to be the most likely timeframe.

Car Accident in Mt. Pleasant Wednesday Afternoon

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, January 4th, 2024 at 6:56 am CDT

If you saw multiple Henry County Sheriff Vehicles race across Mt. Pleasant just before 3:30pm yesterday, you might be wondering why. According to a dispatch report, there was a motor vehicle accident at the 2300 Block of Clayton Avenue. The Mt. Pleasant Fire and Rescue and Henry County Health Center also responded. Reports suggest a car flipped over and there may have been significant injury to an occupant.

Sports, January 4th

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, January 4th, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Basketball

Mt. Pleasant will host Fairfield tomorrow, January 5th, with the girls leading off the night at 6 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will have the call with the pregame show at 5:45 pm. 

New London will travel to face off against Burlington Notre Dame tomorrow with the girls’ game scheduled at 6 pm. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will take on Lone Tree tomorrow at home with the girls’ team leading off the night at 6 pm. 

WACO will compete against Pekin tomorrow at home with the girls’ game going at 6 pm. 

Holy Trinity Catholic will take on Central Lee tomorrow in a road matchup. 

Van Buren County will compete against Columbus tonight at home with the girls playing at 6 pm.

Mediapolis will travel to take on Van Buren County tomorrow with the girls’ game scheduled for 6 pm.

Danville will face off against West Burlington tomorrow with the girls leading off the night at 6 pm in a road matchup. 

High School Wrestling

The WACO boys’ team will compete in a meet at Washington today

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union, Mt. Pleasant, and WACO girls’ teams will compete at a tournament tomorrow, January 5th, at Highland. 

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ teams will participate in a competition today at Sigourney.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will wrestle on January 6th at Highland in a tournament. 

New London will compete in a quad at Cascade today.

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant will take on Washington today.

College Basketball

The #4 Iowa women’s team will travel to take on Rutgers tomorrow, January 5th, at 5 pm. 

The Iowa State women’s team was able to ride out a cold start to defeat Kansas last night 69-61. Hannah Belanger led the Cyclones in points with 19 on the night as Addy Brown collected her seventh double-double with 14 points and 13 boards. The Cyclones will face off against BYU on Saturday, January 6th, at 5 pm in a road matchup. 

The Iowa State men’s team will travel to Oklahoma on Saturday at 5 pm. 

The Iowa men’s team will compete against Rutgers at home on Saturday at 11 am. 

This Day in Sports History

1887 – Thomas Stevens is the first man to bicycle around the world. It took him 986 days as he traveled 13,500 miles.

1975 – NHL Boston Bruins Dave Forbes becomes the first athlete indicted for criminal assault for excessive violence during play; stick butt-end to the face of Minnesota North Star Henry Boucha, which caused permanent vision damage. Court case ends in hung jury, and a civil settlement is eventually reached. 

2000 – A day after accepting the head coaching position for the New York Jets, Bill Belichick resigns and moves to the New England Patriots.

Mark Breder

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, January 4th, 2024 at 6:11 am CDT

Mark Breder, 88, of rural Mediapolis, passed away on Monday, January 1, 2024 at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 8, 2024 at St. Mary’s Church, Dodgeville.  Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 8, 2024 at the church.    Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Dodgeville.  A memorial fund has been established at the funeral home in Mark’s name. Sympathy notes may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.

Mark Henry Breder was born on August 23, 1935 at home in Dodgeville, the son of Clell and Teresa (Wiegard) Breder.  Mark attended Sperry school where he drove school bus while in high school and graduate from there in 1953.   Mark went on to proudly serve his country in the United States Army.   On February 28, 1975, he was united in marriage to Sandra “Sandy” Johnson in Las Vegas.  In his younger days Mark enjoyed skiing in various countries throughout Europe.  He was a lifelong farmer in the Sperry/Dodgeville area.  Mark was a member of the Moose, American Legion, Eagles and Cattleman’s Association.   He enjoyed attending many cattle sales, going on tractor rides, Polka music, Westerns, attending the Iowa State Fair and square and country line dancing.

Mark will be deeply missed by his children, Christopher Scott (Dawn) Pulford of rural Burlington and Wendy Jo White of rural West Burlington; grandchildren, Brandon (Brittany) White, Daphne (Matthew) Vancil and Vaughn Pulford; great-grandchildren, Cooper Henry White and Theodore Lee Vancil; brother, Andy (Lynn) Brader and their children, Dean and Regan and sister, Jane Woodworth and her children, Susan, Nancy and Eric.

Mark was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Sandra on October 22, 2020 and one brother, Thomas.

Prep Basketball: Mt. Pleasant Sweeps Non-Conference Matchup Against New London

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024 at 1:29 pm CDT

New London, IA- Only two days into the new year and high school basketball is back on the hardwood as Mt. Pleasant made the trip over to New London for a non-conference showdown. The result: a Panthers sweep of the Tigers with the girls winning 47-32 and the boys breezing past New London 87-42.

The girls’ game started off how you would expect after a prolonged break with the score after a quarter leaning Mt. Pleasant’s way 9 to 5. After a quick start to the second quarter for the Panthers, Olivia Hester hit a couple of threes cutting the lead down to one 13 to 12.

However, Kynlee White and Hailey Parrott put New London in a straitjacket and had Mt. Pleasant moving in transition with tough defense as the Panthers scored the last ten points of the first half to take a 23 to 13 lead at half. Head coach Curt Watson is hoping to continue this trap defense into the second half of the season,

“We’ve been working on it in practice and stuff, and we just felt like tonight was the night to try and do it…”

The tenacious defense of Mt. Pleasant resulted in 21 steals as Parrott led the team with seven steals on the night followed by White with five.

Nevertheless, Mt. Pleasant really picked up the pace on offense in the second half as the Panthers scored 15 fourth quarter points to seal the 47-32 win. Abby Carthey led the team with 19 points on the night, but most of the team got involved in the scoring. An aspect of the game Watson wanted to focus on,

“I thought we did a much better job of being an offensive threat. It was kind of one of our goals going into the second part of the year. Everybody’s got to be an offensive threat…and that’s what we got to have game in/game out for them and I thought overall we did a really good job of that tonight.”

The Panthers improved to 2-9 on the season, while the Tigers fell to 1-9.

Mt. Pleasant points: Abby Carthey 19, Kynlee White 10, Hailey Parrott 9, Paityn Ensminger 4, Juliana Burns 3, Alexa Fuller 2

New London points: Olivia Hester 11, Mylee Miller 8 and five blocks, Morgan Jones 7, Sophie Malott 3, Megan Lee 2, Shay Wilka 1

In the boys’ game, Mt. Pleasant could not miss and for New London there was a lid on the rim for game especially in the first quarter.

The Panthers bounded out to a 20 to 2 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 47 to 18 lead at halftime thanks to a 20-point showing from Payton Hagans in the first two quarters.

“We came out and set the tone early and that’s important when you’re on the road,” said head coach Eric Rawson. “It was nice to open up the 2024 half of the season with a lot of action.”

That action included seven players scoring at least four points and four players finishing in double digits with Hagans concluding the night with 25 points and three steals.

Brendan Richey found his groove in the second half as nailed three triples to finish with a team-high 13 points. Memphis Watson collected three offensive rebounds and two steals to go along with his four points.

The Panthers have now won their past five contests and sit at 6-3 on the season, while New London falls to 2-7.

Mt. Pleasant will face off against conference foe Fairfield on Friday, January 5th, with the girls leading off the night at 6 pm at home. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 5:45 pm. Head coach Eric Rawson put it simply when discussing the upcoming matchup with the Trojans,

“I expect it to be a dog fight and we’ll be ready.”

New London will hit the road to take on Burlington Notre Dame on Friday with the girls scheduled to play at 6 pm with the boys to follow.

Mt. Pleasant points: Payton Hagans 25, Christian Stacy 17, Nate Stroud and Avin Truong 10, Ian Reid 8, Payson Coleman 7, Noah Lange 6, Kellen Kohorst 4

New London points: Brendan Richey 13, Brigham Porter 10, London Franklin 8, Memphis Watson and Carter Benjamin 4