The Fort Madison Police Department is requesting any information from the public regarding a robbery that took place over the weekend.

On Saturday October 7^th, 2023 at 9:08 PM, Fort Madison officers and a K-9 unit responded to a robbery report at Dollar General, 429 Avenue H.  A lone male subject entered the store displaying a knife to the clerk and instructed her to open the register. He proceeded to remove cash from the drawer and fled on foot. No one was injured in the incident.

The initial response did not yield an arrest or immediately identify the suspect. He was described as a male, of medium height, smaller build wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, black tennis shoes, and a blue facemask. Surveillance videos from the store and other sources are being analyzed by detectives. Further details are being withheld pending investigation.

The Fort Madison Police Department asks area residents and businesses to check their security camera video about the time of the robbery for any similar sightings.  Information can be submitted to:

Police Dept. Office M-F 7:00 AM 4:30 PM  (319)372-2525

LeeComm Dispatch  24/7                               (319)372-1310

At 1:40AM Sunday, October 8th, 2023, the Burlington Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 2225 Cherry Street. Burlington Firefighters arrived at 1:46am to light smoke in the area. Further investigation found a receptacle fire located on the second floor of the residence.

2225 Cherry is owned by Kimberly Cipoletto. The property was insured at the time of the incident and damage to the structure is estimated at $5,000.

The occupants were alerted by the smell of smoke. There were no smoke alarms in the residence. Smoke alarms and a CO alarm were installed prior to BFD clearing the scene.

The fire is classified as accidental and not considered suspicious.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported, and firefighters cleared the scene at 2:55AM. 12 Burlington firefighters responded to the incident and were assisted by the West Burlington Fire Department.

On Saturday, October 7 at approximately 10:20PM the Washington Police Department was notified of a motor vehicle accident and gunshots being fired near the intersection of East Madison Street and South 9th Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers located an abandoned vehicle with extensive front-end damage near the intersection and several spent shell casings nearby.

Witnesses provided information that the lone male shooter with a hooded sweatshirt had exited the vehicle and fired shots in the direction of a second vehicle and left the area on foot.

Officers were contacted by an individual early Sunday morning reporting they had been involved in the incident and had gunshot damage to their vehicle. There were no injuries reported.

The vehicles were impounded and with assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation officers recovered additional evidence from both vehicles.

This is an active ongoing investigation, and no further information is being released currently.

Washington Chief of Police Jim Lester said, “This appears to be a targeted incident and we do not believe there is any ongoing risk to the public.”

Chief Lester urges anyone with information to contact the Police Department at 319-653-2107 and that anyone with video cameras on South Second Avenue and East Madison Street review video from this time and to contact the Police Department.

The Washington Police Department was assisted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Conservation, Washington County Communications, Washington County Attorney’s Office, Washington Fire Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is reminding eligible Iowans who would like to receive their ballot via mail to request their absentee ballots before the October 23 deadline. Written applications for mailed absentee ballots must be received by a voter’s local County Auditor’s Office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23.

All registered voters are eligible to make written requests for absentee ballots. In order to receive an absentee ballot, registered voters must provide the following information on the request form:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Iowa residential address
• Voter Verification Number (ID number)
  • Iowa Driver’s License or Non-Operator ID Number OR
  • Four-digit Voter PIN found on voter’s Iowa Voter ID Card. Any voter can request an Iowa Voter ID Card by contacting their County Auditor’s Office.
• Name or date of the election for which a voter is requesting the absentee ballot
• Signature and date the form was completed

All voters are also encouraged to provide a phone number and email address in the event their County Auditor needs to confirm any information on the request form.

“City and school elected officials play a critical role in our day-to-day lives, so it’s vitally important for Iowans to make their voices heard in November’s elections,” said Secretary Pate. “The best way to make your voice heard is to vote, and to be successful in voting, Iowans should solidify their voting plans early. Whether voting at the polls on Election Day or casting a ballot early by absentee ballot in person or through the mail, Iowans can be assured their voice is heard.”

Absentee ballot request forms are available for download directly from the Iowa Secretary of State website, VoterReady.Iowa.gov. Requests to receive a ballot by mail must be received by the County Auditor’s office by Monday, October 23, no later than 5:00 p.m. In-person absentee voting at the County Auditor’s office is available through November 6, the day before the election.

The Mt. Pleasant High School Panther Marching Band traveled south to Kahoka, Missouri, on Saturday. Competing at the annual Parade of Champions, the band ensured they would go home as such.

It was a clean sweep in Class 3A for Mt. Pleasant, as they had a stellar performance in the cool evening air. Awarded with the Best Percussion and Best Drum Majors, the band could have gone home happy with two. Instead, they won Best Color Guard once again, something they have picked up at every competition they’ve battled at this season.

The Mt. Pleasant High School Marching Band will travel to Davenport on October 14^th, as they will compete at the Iowa High School Music Association’s State Marching Band Festival. You can see them at 11:30am at Brady Street Stadium.