Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, working with Iowa’s 100 Soil and Water Conservation Districts and other partners, once again shattered a record for conservation and water quality practice adoption within Iowa during the last fiscal year.

“There has never been more awareness, resources, partners, people and actual conservation work getting done in the State of Iowa than we have today. Despite the supply chain disruptions, inflation, and drought, we continue to see record engagement in our state’s conservation activity,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “While we are far from satisfied with our results and we have much more work to do, we are making progress and the acceleration of this important water quality work will only continue to build as more farmers, landowners, partners, practices, people and resources are added in the years and decades ahead.”

Notably, these record totals of cost-share investments and practices do not take into account all other conservation and water quality funding that is paid for by the farmer and landowner, other government entities, and other public and private partners. They do not factor in other programs at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship which also advance conservation and water quality efforts, including our wetlands program.

Through Water Quality Initiative (WQI), farmers who are planting cover crops for the first time are eligible for $25 per acre. Those who have already experienced the benefits of using cover crops and are continuing the practice can receive $15 per acre. Farmers transitioning acres to no-till or strip-till for the first time are eligible for $10 per acre. A payment of $3 per acre is available to first-time users of a nitrogen inhibitor when applying fall anhydrous ammonia fertilizer. WQI cost-share funding is available for up to 160 acres per farmer or landowner for each practice.

Iowa Financial Incentives Program (IFIP) program funding is available as a continuous year-round signup and offers cost-share opportunities for a wide variety of conservation offerings. These include management practices such as cover crops as well as permanent structural practices such as terraces and grade stabilization structures.

Farmers and landowners can visit their local Soil and Water Conservation District office located in the USDA Service Center in their county to learn more about program eligibility and to sign-up to participate.

Golf Course Road and DMC Hwy 99 intersection will be closed beginning Monday, September 11^th for culvert installation and re-paving. The Des Moines County Road Department anticipates this to remain closed for three weeks, weather permitting. Currently, DMC Hwy 99 is still closed north of the Golf Course Road intersection and 90^th Avenue intersection is open for local traffic only.

Tres Tacos Mas Taqueria in Mt. Pleasant has announced the closure of business on Friday afternoon. They will be shutting their doors and not opening back up. According to their Facebook page, this is due to “price increases” amongst other circumstances. They wish to thank the community for all the support they have received during their time in operation.

On September 7th, 2023, the Mt Pleasant Police Department arrested Kyle Willey, age 27, of Mt Pleasant IA for Enticement of a minor under 16 for sexual purposes, a Class D felony.

Willey had been in contact with a 15 year old female and asked them to participate in several specific sex acts. Willey had made plans with the victim to meet.

Willey was enroute to meet the victim and was stopped prior to meeting them. He was transported to the Henry County Jail.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Youth Deer Hunting season will begin on September 16^th and go through October 1^st in Iowa this year. The youth will have the first opportunity to hunt deer, however there are some regulations that must be met.

Any prospective hunter must partake in a hunting safety course in order to hunt. They must also have a hunting license and report their deer at iowadnr.gov.

While it can be dangerous to hunt anytime, the Department of Natural Resources allows hunters to be out while the sun is overhead. There is a 30 minute window before and after the sun rises and sets which allows hunters to have a few extra minutes. The quota for Henry County is 1050.

https://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/Hunting/huntingregs.pdf

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office is currently holding three separate fundraisers to help expand the K9 program.

You can buy a stuffed animal that resembles their K9 Axel for just $20 (cash or check) by stopping in at the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 800 S Grand Avenue in Mt. Pleasant. They are open 8am-4pm Monday through Friday.

There is also an opportunity to have some fun on Friday, September 22^nd as the HCSO is hosting a golf outing at the Mt. Pleasant Golf and Country Club. Tee off is at 8:30am and they already have plenty of volunteers. They are expecting a day full of fun, and they are excited as the proceeds help fund the K9 program.

There will also be a drawing for a rifle during the golf tournament, where all raffle ticket sales go towards the K9 program. Raffle tickets are $10 each, or you can buy 3 for $25 cash or check only. If you have any friends in the HCSO, you can buy tickets from them. Otherwise, stop at their office Monday-Friday to purchase.

You do need to be 21 years of age or old to claim, but you do not have to be present at the golf tournament.