The Henry County Historic Preservation Commission met Wednesday, November 19, at the Henry County Heritage Trust Museum, with Commissioners Joel Garretson, Caroline Lehman, Jeff McPheron, Judy Rawson, and Pat White in attendance. The agenda and October minutes were approved, with a minor amendment added to the previous month’s minutes.

The Commission reported progress on four new brown historic marker signs, which are currently in the process of being installed. The signs will mark the Winfield C.B. & Q. Railroad Depot, the Henry County Institute of Science in Trenton, the Tri-T Country Club at Oakland Mills, and the abandoned town of Finis.

Commissioners have also reviewed and submitted comments on a draft of the upcoming History of Railroads book being developed by BNSF historical consultants. In addition, the group received a recent photo from Lynn Conrad showing updates to the Oakland Mills K-Line Flagstop building, including a new roof and other improvements.

Work continues on organizing the county’s historic guidebook. Commissioners reviewed a proposed layout and will begin searching for additional photographs of historic sites throughout the county to enhance the publication.

Several commissioners’ terms will expire at the end of the year, prompting an active search for new members. Those interested in serving on the Henry County Historic Preservation Commission are encouraged to contact the Henry County Auditor’s Office for details.

The Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for January 21, 2026.

The Henry County Engineer’s Office has announced that Iowa Bridge and Culvert of Washington, Iowa, has been awarded the bridge replacement project on 235th Street/Business 34, just west of Mt. Pleasant.

Construction activity will begin Monday, December 1, 2025, at 8:00 a.m., with the contractor starting dirt work off the roadway. During this initial phase, the road will remain open to traffic.

However, beginning December 8th, the contractor plans to close the bridge to start the removal process. The project is expected to continue through next November.

Information on the detour routes to be announced soon.

Anyone with questions may contact the Henry County Engineer’s Office at 319-385-0762.

Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks is calling on House leadership to take up legislation that would ban Members of Congress — and their spouses — from buying or selling individual stocks while in office. 

Miller-Meeks, who represents Iowa’s First District, is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Restore Trust in Congress Act. The measure would prohibit lawmakers and their immediate families from owning or trading individual stocks, instead steering them toward options like blind trusts, index funds, or diversified mutual funds. 

In a letter sent to the House Committee on Administration, Miller-Meeks urged Chairman Bryan Steil and Ranking Member Joe Morelle to advance a comprehensive reform package. She says the public deserves confidence that lawmakers are acting in the nation’s best interest — not their own financial gain. 

“Iowans expect, and deserve, a Congress that works for them, not for personal profit,” Miller-Meeks said. “Members of Congress should not be trading individual stocks while writing laws and receiving nonpublic briefings. It’s time to end this practice, restore trust, and make sure the decisions we make are driven solely by the people we serve.” 

She also emphasized that bipartisan proposals are already on the table and believes the Committee can unify them into a single, enforceable reform. According to Miller-Meeks, Americans overwhelmingly support a stock-trading ban, and passing one would be a significant step toward rebuilding public trust. 

Miller-Meeks noted that neither she nor her husband own any individual stocks. 

Motor Fuels 

• As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.76 across Iowa according to AAA.  

• Prices remained unchanged from last week’s price and are up 3 cents from a year ago.  

• The national average on Wednesday was $3.09, up 1 cent from last week’s price. 

• Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 7 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.69.  

• One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.29 in Iowa.  

• The current Iowa diesel price is 9 cents lower than the national average of $3.78. 

• The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $1.80 for U87-E10, $2.08 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $2.72 for ULSD#2, $2.97 for ULSD#1, and $1.93 per gallon for E-70 prices. 

Heating Fuels 

• Natural gas prices were up 5 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $4.55 MMbtu. 

• Propane prices averaged $1.52 per gallon in Iowa. 

• Home heating oil prices had a statewide average of $3.33 per gallon. 

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov. 

The Holy Trinity Catholic Schools Educational Foundation has announced the creation of a new endowed scholarship aimed at supporting future educators. The Holy Trinity Catholic Schools Educational Field Scholarship will be awarded annually to a graduating Holy Trinity senior who plans to pursue a degree in education. 

The $100,000 endowed scholarship was gifted by an anonymous benefactor. Recipients will be selected based on financial need, academic ability, and promise for success in the education field. Award amounts will vary depending on the interest earned and the number of recipients chosen each year. The Foundation anticipates that this year’s award will be approximately $4,500. 

Thomas Gendron, Director of Development for the Holy Trinity Catholic Schools Educational Foundation, said the new scholarship fills an important need. 

Foundation leaders say the new scholarship aligns perfectly with their mission. Providing financial support to Holy Trinity students remains the cornerstone of the Foundation’s work and a major focus of its fundraising efforts. 

Individuals interested in establishing a scholarship, planning a future gift, or learning more about planned giving may contact Thomas Gendron at (319) 470-3194 or tom.gendron@holytrinityschools.org 

Staples, the office supply store located at 3200 E. Agency Street, Suite 140, will officially close its doors on January 2. Store Manager Micah Jackson of Burlington confirmed the closure on Wednesday. 

Jackson says staff have already begun marking down inventory, including office chairs, demo items, and products brought out from back storage. In addition to closeout pricing, customers can expect coupon deals to be added into the mix. Beginning next week, shoppers visiting the store will receive coupon flyers as part of the final sale push. 

He encourages customers to stop by and take advantage of the discounts while they last. 

According to Jackson, the decision to close the Burlington location was not tied to store performance. Instead, the store’s lease was put up for bid. 

There is speculation that a Five Below specialty discount retailer may move into the space, but neither the corporation nor local officials have confirmed those plans. 

Staples first opened in the area in 1997 at its former location on 104 W. Agency Road in West Burlington. 

Henry County Public Health, in partnership with River Hills Community Health Center, is offering free HIV and STI screenings on Friday, November 21, 2025. 

The event, part of the Testing That Travels outreach and prevention services, will run from 2 to 4 p.m. at Henry County Public Health, located at 106 North Jackson Street, Suite 103, in Mount Pleasant. 

These screenings are confidential and available at no cost to the public. Organizers say the goal is to make testing more accessible and to encourage routine sexual health checkups as part of overall wellness. 

For more information, contact Henry County Public Health or River Hills Community Health Center.