The Mt. Pleasant Police Department Office was recently notified of a phone scam going around.
In this scam, somebody portrays themselves as affiliated with the Mount Pleasant Police Department. They then ask for monetary donations to buy equipment for the department.
The Mount Pleasant Police Department does not call the public to ask for donations. If you receive this call, hang up immediately and consider it a scam.
Never give out any personal information over the phone.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.
“Widespread rain fell across Iowa over several days last week and a cold blast brought the first measurable snow to northern Iowa,” said Secretary Naig. “The weather forecast looks drier over the next week with temperatures slowly climbing to near seasonal, offering farmers an excellent window to harvest or complete other field work.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.
Crop Report
Moderate rainfall during the week slowed harvest in some areas as Iowa’s farmers had an average of 4.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 29, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included harvesting row crops, completing fall tillage, applying fall fertilizer, baling stalks, and hauling manure.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 12 percent very short, 35 percent short, 51 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 25 percent very short, 42 percent short, 31 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus.
Corn harvested for grain reached 77 percent statewide, 1 day ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of the 5-year average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain remained steady at 17 percent. Soybeans harvested reached 93 percent, on pace with last year but 8 days ahead of the average.
Pasture condition improved slightly to 20 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were reported as generally good but getting water to pastured cattle continued to be an issue for some producers.
Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Several weather disturbances brought widespread rains and the first measurable snow across northwest Iowa late in the reporting period; much of Iowa received above-average precipitation. Unseasonable warmth persisted until a Canadian airmass ushered in winter-like temperatures over the weekend; the statewide average was 53.0 degrees, 6.7 degrees above normal.
Sunny skies and southerly winds helped boost Sunday (22nd) afternoon temperatures into the mid-60s west while stations in eastern Iowa remained in the upper 50s. Showers pushed into western Iowa through the evening with additional thundershowers forming across northern Iowa into Monday (23rd) morning. Many north-central stations reported amounts between 0.25-0.75 inch with widespread totals over the state’s northern half in the 0.10-0.25-inch range. Clouds cleared through the late morning as daytime highs rose into the upper 70s with low 80s observed in central Iowa; the statewide average high was 76 degrees, 17 degrees above normal. Isolated strong storms fired in northwestern Iowa just before midnight, leaving behind 1.00-inch hail and 0.34 inch of rain in Spencer (Clay County). Showers streamed into southern and eastern Iowa through Tuesday (24th) ahead of a low-pressure center moving towards the state. Skies were partly to mostly cloudy with afternoon temperatures in the 70s with a strong southerly wind. Pockets of rainfall persisted in eastern Iowa overnight into Wednesday (25th) as lows ranged from the mid-50s north to low 60s south. Widespread totals of around 0.10 inch were reported with several north-central and southeast stations registering totals in the 0.50-1.00-inch range; Burt (Kossuth County) hit 0.60 inch with 1.32 inches near Keokuk (Lee County). Afternoon conditions remained overcast with highs in the low to mid-60s. Showers across northern Missouri pushed into Iowa’s southeast half through the evening hours and continued overnight into Thursday (26th) with lows mirroring daytime highs.
Showers and some thunderstorms held on over eastern Iowa into the late evening with additional cells forming as the low-pressure center and cold front propagated east. Strong northwesterly winds developed behind the front with quite the spread of morning temperatures; mid to upper 60s were registered southeast to low 30s northwest. Rain totals for the previous 48 hours reported at 7:00 am on Friday (27th) highlighted more than 120 stations observing at least 1.00 inch with heavier totals in eastern Iowa; an observer in Cedar Rapids (Linn County) reported 2.02 inches with a 2.45-inch total in Monticello (Jones County) and a statewide average of 0.83 inch. Gusty northwesterly winds held on through the day with clouds clearing western Iowa late in the day. High temperatures were 10-20 degrees below normal with mid-30s west to mid-40s east. Overcast skies continued into Saturday (28th) morning as moderate snow showers pushed into northwestern Iowa before daybreak. Light snow and flurries continued over portions of northern Iowa through much of the day; measurable snow was observed at 34 stations and varied from trace amounts to 4.0 inches at Cherokee (Cherokee County), Sioux City (Woodbury County) and Spencer. Afternoon conditions were cloudy and cold with upper 20s in northern Iowa and several low 40 degree-readings in the southeast; the statewide average high was 37 degrees, 18 degrees below normal. Overnight lows into Sunday (29th) did not drop appreciably as northerly winds remained.
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.04 inch at Pacific Junction (Mills County) to 2.64 inches in Monticello. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 1.00 inch, more than double the normal of 0.48 inch. Several stations reported the week’s high temperature of 83 degrees on the 24th, on average 23 degrees above normal. Several northwestern stations reported the week’s low temperature of 22 degrees on the 28th and 29th, on average nine degrees below normal.
Bertha Irene Hecox King, 90, of New London, formerly West Burlington, died Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at New London Specialty Care. She was born January 22, 1933 in Rockton, Illinois to Leon C. and Mary Seitz Hecox. She was a 1951 graduate of Burlington High School and was a member of New London United Methodist Church. In 1981 she married Bruce King at the “We’ve Only Just Begun Wedding Chapel” in Las Vegas, Nevada.
She was a secretary with the G2 Army at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.; was employed at the United Mine Workers; secretary for International Resistance; and “Make Today Count” which was inspired by Wanda Kelley. She enjoyed fishing, bingo, Riverside Casino, playing cards, and especially gardening, as she once owned and operated a greenhouse in West Burlington.
She is survived by her husband, Bruce B. King of New London; stepson Dennis King of Houston, Texas; stepdaughter Mary Eddings of Dennison, Texas; step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren; sister Myrna (Dale) Speidel of Vinton; sisters-in-law Leola Hecox, Norma Hecox, Sharon Hecox, and Phyllis Bolander; and many dear nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter Debbie; sisters Mary (Ralph) Chaney and Nellie (Howard) Davis; and brothers Donald “Jake” (Gloria), Dale, Robert, Francis “Butch” and Lorin “Sam”.
According to her wishes, she has been cremated and graveside funeral services will be held at a later date at Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to “Make A Wish Foundation”. Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Bertha’s family would like to thank the staff at both New London Specialty Care and EveryStep Hospice for their wonderful care and compassion shown to her over the past weeks and months. Your kindness and support will never be forgotten.
Terry L. Hite, age 77, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, lost her struggle with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) on Sunday, October 29th, 2023. She was with her husband at home as she met the Lord. From Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Terry will be dearly missed by her husband, Larry; her daughters, Cathy (Kevin) Glaha and Michele (John Hartman) Hendricks; their daughter Amy (David) Barney; her grandchildren Maxwell, Allison, Taylor, Chi-anna, Patience, Jaxon, Justice, True, Trust and Courage; her siblings Michael Fisher, Edie (Brian) Coughlin, Steven (Joan) Fisher, Mary (Dan) Butcher, and Donald (Dale) Fisher. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Olive; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gerald and Loretta Hite; and sisters-in-law Carol Fisher and Marilyn Hite. 
Terry always kept an immaculate home, all the while providing in-home daycare to almost a hundred children during her years as a childcare professional. She also worked several years at Metromail in Mt. Pleasant. Terry loved Thursday night league bowling with the ladies. She was a dog lover who spoiled her beagle MJ, named after Michael Jordan, and a Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier, Marley, who kept her company over the last 13 years. She also loved to travel to visit family. She spent lots of time in Washington, Massachusetts, Texas, Nebraska, Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, West Virginia, Maine, North Carolina, and Alabama. Summer was always her favorite time of year. Terry loved reading books and magazines, [souvenir] shopping, doing puzzles, watching grandchildren play sports, going to the beach or pool, and exploring vineyards in Virginia. Before FTD, she had an excellent memory, and always sent anniversary and birthday cards to all grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. She was very loved and will be greatly missed.
Graveside services and interment at Forest Home Cemetery in Mount Pleasant, Iowa for family and friends will be Friday, November 3rd, 2023, at 1pm. With Pastor Steve English officiating. A Celebration of Life for Terry will follow the graveside services at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Memorials gifted to First Baptist Church.
Terry’s family wishes to thank her caregivers, Dianne Chrisinger, and Every Step Hospice to include Kathleen Welcher Fry and Christina Gersema for their compassionate care.
We are comforted knowing that Terry Hite is at peace.
The Olson-Powell Chapel and Crematory is caring for Terry and her family. www.powellfuneralhomes.com
Henry County Engineers Office announces Marsh Avenue road closure beginning Wednesday, November 1st.
The road will be closed between 110th Street and 120th Street for a bridge repair project.
The project is estimated to take 2 weeks, weather permitting. Questions can be answered at 319 385-0762.
Henry County Engineers Office announces Lexington Avenue road closure beginning Thursday, November 2nd.
The road will be closed west of 330th Street, south of Salem Road (J-20) for a box culvert extension project.
The project is estimated to take 2 weeks, weather permitting. Questions can be answered at 319 385-0762.
