The Henry County Supervisors met on Thursday, October 26^th. Sarah Berndt with the CDS provided a monthly update.

They have received 2 general assistance requests this month, one for rental assistance and one for direct cremation, which is a service that is offered to Henry County residents. 19 different contacts have reached out, yet 16 were deemed ineligible immediately. Many of these requests are to cover past due utilities, which is not a service they are able to provide.

Also brought up in the meeting was the Elevate Mobile Crisis Response Service which is offered 24/7 365 days a year. This team offers on-site and in person assistance to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. This is a free service and funded by the Mental Health Agency of Southeast Iowa Region. They service 8 counties in Southeast Iowa, and you can reach them at 988.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 28th, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Office of Drug Control Policy encourages Iowans to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unused and unneeded medications.

Local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies are teaming up to collect leftover prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as part of this special one-day event held each spring and fall. The spring collection netted over 3,800 pounds of old medicine from Iowans. To date, Iowans have safely disposed of over 98 tons of unused medications at these events.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while educating the public about the potential for the dangerous misuse of opioid pain relievers and other drugs. “All of us can help reduce the risk of drug diversion and misuse, overdose, and even environmental contamination by properly disposing of unneeded medication,” said Susie Sher, Bureau Chief of the Office of Drug Control Policy.

Saturday’s National Prescription Drug Take Back events will operate from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at designated sites across Iowa. As part of the national Prescription Drug Take Back program, the DEA also allows the collection of vaping devices and e-cigarettes from individuals, if batteries are first removed from the devices. For more information or to find a site near you, visit https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.

Iowans can take excess medications to one of Iowa’s Prescription Drug Take Back locations, including nearly 400 permanent pharmacy and law enforcement center sites available on a year-round basis. For Iowa Take Back details, including education information and collection sites, visit: https://odcp.iowa.gov/programs/prescription-drug-take-backs.

Iowans needing help for drug using behaviors or mental health can go to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Service’s YourLifeIowa.org.

A multiple vehicle accident shut down an intersection in Louisa County on Wednesday evening.

Around 9pm on October 25^th, a collision occurred between many vehicles at the intersection of Highway 61 and Highway 78 in Wapello. The intersection was closed while crews worked on necessary care at the scene. Preliminary reports suggest there were 4-6 vehicles involved in this accident.

Two subjects were trapped at the time of the call to the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office.

No further information is being released at this time.

There has been a series of fraudulent activities in Des Moines County.

Local businesses have let the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office know of a potential scam that is impacting the community. These businesses have been contacted with a request for paid advertisement on behalf of the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Department.

The Sheriff’s Department is not behind this, and they do not request advertising from the community over the phone. This needs to be considered fraudulent, and this matter is currently under investigation.

As always, if you are contacted by law enforcement and are skeptical for any reason, hang up and dial the agencies number.

The Keokuk Caring Corner is a new facility at the Keokuk High School to support the well-being and meet the essential needs of the students. The space is designed to provide a range of resources to ensure that every student feels supported and equipped to thrive during their time at KHS, 2285 Middle Road.

The area features a washer and dryer for students to use to have access to clean clothes, available toiletries and hygiene products for personal care, weekend nutritious meal support so that no student will go hungry while not at school, and a selection of clothing.

The Keokuk Caring Corner at KHS is a testament to the school’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

“We believe that by addressing the basic needs of our students, we can create a foundation for academic success, personal growth, and a sense of belonging,” Nathan Harrison, KHS principal, said. “Let’s make the Keokuk Caring Corner a symbol of compassion, support, and unity within our school community.”

AJ Fuhrman with The Crossing donated personal hygiene items and connected KHS with a donor for the washer/dryer combo for the project. The KHS administration, teachers and staff hope to ensure that every student has the resources they need to thrive and have an ongoing commitment to the well-being of the students.

The Keokuk Caring Corner will be open for use by KHS students starting Monday, Oct. 30.