Effective October 6^th at 8 am the alley and parking spaces will be closed between the North side of Dairy Queen’s parking lot to the 100 block of East Monroe. The alley and parking spaces will be opened back up for traffic on October 10^th, 2023, at 8 am. This will not affect the drive-thru at First Interstate Bank as they plan to work around these drive-thru hours.

Please see highlighted area below for the area that is affected. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Ryan at 319-931-8516.

A third round of funding for the Child Care Business Incentive Grant Program is rolling out, according to Governor Reynolds. This will encourage employers to offer childcare as a benefit to their employees.

$5 million will be made available thanks to this round of the program. Applicants can apply for up to $250,000. Funds may be used to support arrangements between employers and childcare facilities to reserve childcare slots.

The Child Care Business Incentive Grant Program will be offered by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“Incentivizing childcare initiatives through collaboration with local businesses can help Iowans pursue opportunities that are best for their families,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Tackling this challenge requires everyone in our communities to be part of the solution and this third round of funding underscores our commitment to making childcare more accessible throughout the state.”

A Request for Proposals will be released October 4, 2023 at  https://bidopportunities.iowa.gov/. Proposals are due November 2.

Those interested in learning more about this opportunity can join the Bidders’ Conference October 10, 2023 at Noon by visiting https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1606104580. Pre-registration is not required.

The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 15 cents, averaging $3.52 across Iowa according to AAA.

Crude Oil Summary

• The price of global crude oil fell this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $6.49 per barrel over last week, currently priced at $86.14.
• Brent crude oil fell $7.96 and is currently priced at $87.80.
• One year ago, WTI crude sold for $86.52 and Brent crude was at $93.74.

Motor Fuels

• As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.52 across Iowa according to AAA.
  • Prices fell 15 cents from last week’s price and are up 13 cents from a year ago.
  • The national average on Wednesday was $3.79, down 4 cents from last week’s price.
• Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 1 cent this week with a statewide average of $4.30.
  • One year ago, diesel prices averaged $4.65 in Iowa.
  • The current Iowa diesel price is 26 cents less than the national average of $4.56.
• Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.
• The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $2.45 for U87-E10, $2.82 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $3.62 for ULSD#2, $3.86 for ULSD#1, and $2.50 per gallon for E-70 prices.

Heating Fuels

• Propane prices were up 3 cents with a statewide average of $1.53 per gallon.
• Home heating oil prices rose 2 cents, with a statewide average of $3.88 per gallon.
• Natural gas prices rose 9 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $3.02/MMbtu

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

For the past several months the Southeast Iowa Narcotic Task Force has been investigating a drug trafficking organization distributing Crack Cocaine and Heroin in and around the Burlington, Iowa area.

On October 3, 2023, a traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle that Laquese Murphy was driving. Detectives executed a search warrant on the vehicle and found a significant amount of Crack Cocaine and Heroin.

Laquese Murphy was arrested for Possession with Intent to Deliver Crack Cocaine , (Class C Felony), Possession of Heroin with Intent to Delivery (Class B Felony) and two counts of Fail to Affix Drug Tax Stamp (Class D Felony). A passenger in the vehicle, Corsha Williams, was also charged with Possession of Controlled Substance – Marijuana (Serious Misdemeanor).

The Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Lee County Narcotics Task Force.

This investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.

It was an exciting morning in Mt. Pleasant on Wednesday, as a special announcement regarding the Historical Harlan-Lincoln House brought many rounds of applause. The Harlan-Lincoln House is now a stand-alone Iowa non-profit corporation, Harlan-Lincoln House, Inc. It is an IRS 501[c](3) designated charity. Maintenance and operations will now become the responsibility of its Board of Directors, which consists of six members, 5 of which are from Mt. Pleasant.

This announcement comes after Iowa Wesleyan University transferred ownership of the house. Opportunities for financial support will once again be in “Friends of the Harlan-Lincoln House.”

The mission of the nonprofit is to “preserve and promote the House and it’s contents, to share with the public this heritage site for its relevance to the James Harlan and Abraham Lincoln families, and to explain the significant impact of these prominent American families who offered vital leadership for the life of Iowa Wesleyan University, community of Mount Pleasant, state of Iowa, and our nation.”

149 years of resources help tell the stories of two famous families over the span of four generations. The House used to be owned by Iowa Wesleyan University and was donated in 1907 by Mrs. Lincoln. Now, history is preserved and the legacy lives on.

The walls tell stories of the United States from the Civil War and expansion West, to the Gilded Age. This is a vital piece of our heritage and culture and plays a significant role in remembering the past.

Lynn Ellsworth, one of the directors, spoke about the important change. She mentioned many people who have already shown interest in volunteering for this next chapter of history for the House. Over 20 potential volunteers will help as tour guides, giving guided tours throughout the Harlan-Lincoln House, as well as providing general upkeep. These aren’t just volunteers. They are community members who are committed to this town that they love, and are determined to never let their passion die.

A public re-opening event is planned for October 21 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

They look forward to open hours for tours in the near future. Make sure that you follow Harlan-Lincoln House on their Facebook page and their brand-new website harlan23.wixsite.com/hlhm for upcoming information.

There was a pursuit that ripped through two counties on Monday, October 2^nd. The Iowa State Patrol initiated a chase involving a stolen vehicle travelling eastbound on US Highway 34 from the Jefferson County Line. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office were made aware of this and began preparing for the vehicle to cross the county line into Henry County.

Stop Sticks were deployed by Henry County Deputies near 170^th Street and Iowa Avenue, which ultimately brought the driver to a halt. As a result of Stop Sticks, which cause air to slowly leak out of the tire, bringing the vehicle to a gradual stop, no injuries were reported to the driver, officers, or the public.

Ashley M. Sanders, 29, of Chicago, Illinois, was placed under arrest and transported to the Henry County Jail without further incident.

As a result of the investigation Ashley was charged with Eluding – Speed 25 Over Limit (Aggravated Misdemeanor), Theft 2^nd Degree (Class D Felony), Interference With Official Acts – Bodily Injury (Serious Misdemeanor), among several other nonscheduled traffic citations by the Iowa State Patrol.