With the upcoming Mt. Pleasant Community School Board election on Tuesday, November 7^th, all seats will be available. This is due to the redistricting which now includes 2 seats in district 1 and two in district 2, and 3 at large seats.

Sarah Donnolly has announced her campaign for the School Board, and as a mother of three kids in elementary school in our community, she “understands the importance of education and the value of teachers and staff.” She and her husband own a local small business, and they are “deeply invested” in the community.

There are a few critical issues facing the district that she believes she can tackle. “I’m running for school board to ensure we have a high level of accountability and transparency from administration.”

She is committed to fostering a “thriving environment” for every child in the district and plans to discuss her ability to make an impact over the coming months.

On August 25^th at approximately 9:56am, Burlington Police Officers were alerted of a man standing on the ledge over the railing on the Great River Bridge. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the man and learned that he was in crisis. While waiting for a mobile crisis response team to be dispatched and for the crisis response team to arrive, the officers began speaking with the man to de-escalate the situation. They were able to build a rapport with the man, eventually convincing him to step away from the ledge and join the officers.

When the mobile crisis team arrived, the officers worked with them to develop a plan that would help the man. This included an evaluation by a licensed mental health provided, who determined the man was “no longer suicidal” but found that he was having issues with housing. The mobile crisis team was able to obtain temporary housing for the man and then took him to that location.

Then, at 5:53pm on the same day, officers were once again dispatched to the Great River Bridge. They were sent to check on a man sitting on the ramp to the bridge, and upon arrival, identified the man as the same man who had been standing on the ledge of the bridge earlier in the day. The officers determined that the man’s intention was not to injure himself or to jump off the bridge, and then he complied with officers when they asked him to not be on the bridge. He then was accompanied by the officers to a safer location.

The Burlington Police Department was assisted by the Burlington Fire Department and Elevate CCBHC Mobile Crisis Team.

The Mt. Pleasant Community School Board hosted a public forum on Monday, August 28^th to discuss the future of the Iowa Wesleyan property purchase for the benefit of the board. Rachel Lindeen of the Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce moderated, and many citizens voiced their concerns, support, and some even presented their own ideas to the board. Residents, reporters, camera crews, and security filled the room in what turned out to be a long, but civil, time of questions, answers, and statements.

The practice fields and central campus were both purchased on August 14^th for a combined total of 1.25 million dollars. This central campus includes the Howe Student Activity Center and Ruble Arena, Student Union, Old Main, Pioneer Hall, P.E.O Memorial Building, and the University Chapel. At the onset of the meeting, superintendent of the Mt. Pleasant Community School District John Henriksen, provided a history and background of this agreement. The board met with the USDA, the Regional Task Force, MP City and Business Leadership, and the Chamber released surveys where 50% of respondents preferred some sort of educational institute on the former Iowa Wesleyan campus. “A number specifically mentioned MPCSD.”

The school board laid out a variety of needs that could help improve the current, and future, of the school district. They believe that a practice field is needed, as well as an area for the fine arts to practice and perform, potentially in an auditorium if possible. One of the main issues facing the school district is a lack of gym space. The district also currently does not have a district office that they can call home, as they rent the space they are inhabiting. After meeting with different groups, the board decided that the IW properties mentioned above would be a great addition to the school district and they tick all the boxes.

A facility estimate conducted in October of 2021 revealed that the current elementary school buildings are growing old. The HVAC, plumbing, roofing, lighting, and power systems have an estimated life span of 5-10 years, and the AC units installed in the elementary schools are entering year 6.

The public was then allowed to ask questions, with certain conditions such as a maximum of two questions per person, and the next hour was full of lively conversation.

One of the points of discussion that seemed to be brought up on numerous occasions was the future of the current crop of elementary school buildings. Specifically, what is the plan if the central elementary school is approved. The board answered that the “buildings would be sold, demolished, repurposed, or gifted.” Of course, there are other options as well, but these were the possibilities brought up. Another citizen, who was an educator in the school district for many years, believes that these buildings should be repurposed into a variety of ideas, namely a daycare or preschool. He also entertained the idea of a tech school in the community, that would allow certain students to pursue a different future than a traditional college. Wisdom Quest could also find a new home if these buildings were to be repurposed.

The lingering idea that Salem would be shut down was put to an end at the meeting, with a school board member suggesting that they have not had that discussion at this point in time. This same member reiterated that the central campus is just a vision at this moment, and the public cannot assume that Salem will be closed if this passes. A concerned community member mentioned that Salem is currently ranked very high in the state for education, and warned of the dangers that bringing all students into one building would bring. Another citizen asked about the student to teacher ratio and if that would increase. This ratio would stay around 13 students to every one teacher according to the school board.

For those concerned of the Howe Student Activity Center boasting of two floors, the board mentioned that an elevator would be installed as per law. It is also important to note that the district was not given the option to buy single entities, which helped relieve some of the fear from those who believe certain buildings included in this deal will be a bigger problem than solution.

The Mt. Pleasant Community School Board ended the public forum by reminding those in attendance that these board meetings are open for anyone to attend. Their contact information is on the district website, and they also brought up the upcoming school board election on Tuesday, November 7^th where all seats will be up for election due to the redistricting, and encouraged all to use their voice and vote.

KILJ previous coverage on this issue:

June 27^th, 2023 https://kilj.com/preliminary-discussion-over-central-elementary-school-in-mount-pleasant/

July 25^th, 2023 https://kilj.com/special-session-discusses-iw-property-and-revenue-purpose-statement/

August 14^th, 2023https://kilj.com/update-on-iowa-wesleyan-university-properties/

August 15^th, 2023 https://kilj.com/iwu-purchase-agreements-approved-at-mpcsd-board-meeting/

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today 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.

“While seasonal conditions have returned after last week’s sweltering heatwave, several daily records were broken across the state as a result of the hot temperatures and high humidity,” said Secretary Naig. “Those seeking to bale hay, chop silage, plant cover crops or complete other farm work may find opportunities with the hot and dry conditions that are expected to continue into September, but our crops and pastures could certainly use some badly needed rain.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report
Hot and humid weather with well below normal precipitation throughout Iowa gave farmers 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 27, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included cutting and baling hay as well as harvesting oats. Persistent dry weather has put continued stress on crops, especially soybeans with multiple reports of disease entering fields.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 23 percent very short, 45 percent short, 31 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 28 percent very short, 45 percent short, 26 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn in or beyond the dough stage reached 96 percent this week, 8 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the 5-year average. Sixty-two percent of the corn crop was dented or beyond, 5 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of normal. Six percent of the State’s corn crop has reached maturity. Corn condition declined 6 percentage points to 54 percent good to excellent. Soybeans setting pods reached 97 percent, 1 week ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of the average. Soybeans turning color was 15 percent this week, 2 days ahead of normal. Reports of soybeans dropping their leaves were received this week. Soybean condition dropped 6 percentage points to 53 percent good to excellent. Oats harvested for grain is nearly complete.

The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 90 percent complete, 18 days ahead of last year and 17 days ahead of the average. Pasture condition rated 23 percent good to excellent. The hot and humid weather severely stressed livestock across the State this week, with several reports of death loss.

Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Iowans experienced the warmest reporting period of the growing season as an expansive heat dome set up over the Midwest. Stations across the state observed triple-digit air temperatures and dewpoints in the upper 70s and low 80s, creating oppressive heat index values; the statewide average temperature was 80.0 degrees, 10.1 degrees above normal. Unseasonably dry conditions persisted under the stable weather pattern with stations in west-central and eastern Iowa not receiving measurable rain totals.

Northwesterly winds persisted through Sunday (20th) afternoon as puffy stratocumulus clouds passed through much of southern Iowa. Daytime conditions varied from low 80s northwest to low to mid 90s in central and southern Iowa. Overnight lows dropped into the mid-60s to mid-70s north to south as dense fog formed before sunrise on Monday (21st). Winds gradually shifted to southerly with upper 80s and low 90s observed statewide under partly cloudy skies. Excessive Heat Warnings were issued across central Minnesota to the Gulf Coast from Tuesday (22nd) through Thursday (24th) with Iowa temperatures pushing into the mid to upper 90s as a strong and stable high-pressure center dominated the large-scale circulation. A northward shift in the jet stream also allowed ample low-level moisture to push north under the heat dome. Wednesday (23rd) was the warmest day of the heatwave with numerous daily record high and warm low temperatures broken at stations across Iowa. Morning lows started off in the 70s with pockets of dense fog; the statewide average low was 73 degrees, 14 degrees warmer than the 30-year average. Daytime conditions rapidly warmed as Iowa’s average high temperature hit 98 degrees, 17 degrees above normal. Heat index values at several stations topped 120 degrees as skies remained hazy with generally light winds.

Showers and thunderstorms pushed across northern Iowa after midnight on Friday (25th) with morning conditions noticeably less humid statewide. Additional scattered thunderstorms fired in central and southeastern Iowa into the late afternoon hours before dissipating into the evening as a cold front swept south. High temperatures varied from the mid-80s over northern Iowa, while 90s were registered across the southern counties. A secondary disturbance produced thunderstorms in southern Iowa overnight into Saturday (26th) with heavier totals reported at a handful of stations; Shenandoah (Page County) measured 0.72 inch while 1.09 inches was observed at Randolph (Fremont County). Widespread, though generally meager totals were reported at northern and south-central locations from the two disturbances; rain gauges generally collected amounts below two-tenths of an inch. Stronger northerly winds built in behind the front with comfortable highs in the mid-70s to low 80s and appreciable lower dewpoints. Partly cloudy skies remained overnight with Sunday (27th) morning lows dropping into the 50s.

Weekly rain totals ranged from no accumulation at many stations to 1.78 inches in Lake Park (Dickinson County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.18 inch; the normal is 0.91 inch. Decorah (Winneshiek County) and Waterloo Municipal Airport (Black Hawk County) reported the week’s high temperature of 105 degrees on the 23rd, on average 23 degrees above normal. Waterloo began reporting observations in 1895 and the high on the 23rd broke the previous daily record of 99 degrees set in 1948. Estherville (Emmet County) reported the week’s low temperature of 49 degrees on the 27th, six degrees below normal.