Margaret Gregory

Margaret Kathryn Bentzinger Gregory, aged 100, of Donnellson, Iowa died on March 30, 2023, at Addington Place Assisted Living of Ft. Madison, Iowa in the care of Southeast Iowa Regional Home Health Hospice.  Her life began in the room where she, her siblings and her mother were born.

Her body was entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.

Her ashes were buried in Donnell Cemetery, Donnellson, Iowa.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 2, 2023, at the Donnellson United Methodist Church in Donnellson, Iowa with Pastor Nancy St. Clair officiating.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her memory for the Donnellson United Methodist Church and can be mailed to the family at: Schmitz Funeral Home, P.O. Box 56, Donnellson, Iowa.

Schmitz Funeral Home of Donnellson is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.

Norma Helphrey

Norma Lea Wollam Helphrey, 85, of Mt. Pleasant and formerly of Mt. Union died August 22, 2023 at Henry County Health Center, Mt. Pleasant.

Norma was born August 23, 1937 in Linby, Iowa, the daughter of Russell Earl and Vera Grace Knox Wollam.  She graduated from Mt. Union Consolidated Schools and attended Burlington Business School in a secretarial course.  On July 20, 1958 she married Don Lauer Helphrey at the Mt. Union United Methodist Church.  He died August 24, 2021.

During her life, Norma worked for the Iowa-Illinois Telephone Company as a secretary in the Engineering Department at the main office in New London; she was secretary for the Mt. Union United Methodist Church; and was Administrative Assistant to the President of Iowa Wesleyan College for 16 ½ years.  She was a member of Chapter U of T.T.T. in Mt. Union since November of 1960 and the VFW Auxiliary.  She had volunteered at Midwest Old Threshers through the Mt. Union Booster Club since 1964.  Norma enjoyed dancing, attending local sporting events – especially basketball and softball – and spending precious time with her family.

Norma is survived by her children, Steve Helphrey of Appleton, WI, Joni Helphrey Lewis of Windsor, WI, and Terry (Lisa) Helphrey of LaVista, NE; grandchildren Brittany, Dante, Ashley, Anna and Reid; brother Robert “Bud” Wollam (Betty) of Burlington, and sister Sharon Helmerson (Jim) of New London; nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM, September 9, 2023 at Elliott Chapel, New London with inurnment of her cremains next to her beloved husband Don at Trinity Cemetery, rural Mt. Union immediately following.  The family will then host a luncheon at the Mt. Union United Methodist Church.  Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM on September 9 at the Chapel with the family greeting friends from 10:00 until time of the service.  A memorial has been established to the National T.T.T. Project Fund.

Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com

Mt. Pleasant Utilities Pole Treatment and Inspection

The Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities would like to inform the public that beginning on Wednesday, August 30th, Osmose will begin pole treatment and inspection. For the next three weeks, a marked vehicle and side by side UTV will be working on the west side of town. For questions or additional information, please call 319 385 2121 (24 hour line).

Henry County Supervisors Meeting Agenda August 29th, 2023

Henry County Supervisors

100 E Washington St  Ste 202

Mt Pleasant IA  52641

Fax:  319-385-3601

 

Chad White, Chairman            Marc Lindeen, Vice-Chairman        Greg Moeller, Member    

           319-385-0759                                 319-385-0760                                  319-385-0761________                       

 

 

AGENDA

 

August 29, 2023

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

9:00 Jake Hotchkiss, Engineer Weekly Update

9:30 1st Reading of an Ordinance to Rezone

a Part of SE of SE Section 7 Center Township

From A-1 Agricultural To I-1 Industrial

Following Joe Buffington, P & Z Monthly Update

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

Sports, August 28th

High School Football

Mt. Pleasant will be traveling to face off against West Burlington on Friday, September 1st, who is 1-0 after taking down Wapello last Friday. Head Coach John Bowlin will be looking to expand the playbook this week. 

In other Class 3A District 4 matchups, Washington will host Burlington. Keokuk will take on Pella at home and Fairfield will travel to face off against Fort Madison. 

Mediapolis will travel to take on Sigourney Keota at 7 pm.

Central Lee will compete against Cardinal at home. 

Danville will have their first home game this week against Highland at 7 pm.

Winfield-Mt. Union and New London combine for a district matchup on Friday at 7 pm. 

WACO defeated Fremont-Mills 26-20 over the weekend with Clayton Miller tossing for 160 yards and scoring three total touchdowns in the win. The Warriors take on the 2-0 Iowa Valley Tigers this Friday at home.

High School Volleyball

Mt. Pleasant competed in the Grinnell Tournament over the weekend coming away with a 2-3 record out of their five matchups. The Panthers wins came against East Marshall and Iowa Valley, both matches won two sets to one. Dallas Center-Grimes and Clear Creek Amana shutout Mt. Pleasant. The Panthers came up just short against Washington losing two sets to one with the Demons picking up a 15-12 win in set three. Mt. Pleasant will take on Keokuk tomorrow, August 29th, on the road. 

New London will host Holy Trinity Catholic on August 31st to start their season. 

Winfield-Mt. Union played in a stacked West Branch Tournament and ended the day 1-3, falling in the consolation semifinal to Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont two sets to zero. Their lone win came against Prince of Peace in a sweep, 21-6 and 21-12. Audrie Gipple finished the tournament with 17 kills and three blocks, both team highs. Jessi Renken delivered 19 assists with Tessa Huston serving up four aces and 28 digs. The Wolves will compete in the English Valleys Tournament on Saturday, September 2nd.

Holy Trinity Catholic participated in the Skip Anderson Tournament hosted by Bondurant-Farrar over the weekend finishing with a 3-3 record. The Crusaders swept Ames and Fort Madison, while defeating Bondurant-Farrar two sets to one. They were swept in their three losses to Indianola, Wapsie Valley, and North Tama. The Crusaders will be playing in a tournament tomorrow hosted by Wapello. 

WACO will host Hillcrest Academy on August 31st. 

Van Buren County will face off against Central Lee on August 31st. 

Central Lee finished 1-3 at their own tournament over the weekend with their lone win coming against Burlington despite dropping the first set 21-16, the Hawks won the next two 21-15 and 15-11. Taylor Jones led the way with 7 kills with Ellie Lake tallying 12 assists in the win. The Hawks will be competing tomorrow at Wapello in a tournament. 

Cross Country

Mt. Pleasant will travel to Pella on Saturday, September 2nd, to compete in a meet at Central College.

Winfield-Mt. Union and WACO will travel to Hillcrest Academy tomorrow to run. 

Danville’s first meet will be Thursday, August 31st, in Ottumwa.

This Day in Sports History

1884 – MLB pitcher Mickey Welsh sets a record for the most consecutive batters struck out to begin a game, striking out the first 9 men he faces. A record that stood for 86 years. 

1990 – The Chicago Cubs’ Ryne Sandberg is the first 2nd baseman to hit 30 HRs, consecutively.

2022 – A 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card sells for $12.6 million at auction, becoming the world’s most expensive piece of sporting memorabilia.

Public Forum for MPCSD Purchase of IW Property Only Hours Away

The Mount Pleasant Community School District Board of Directors will meet in session tonight to discuss the purchase of the central properties of Iowa Wesleyan, which include Howe Student Activity Center and Ruble Arena, the Student Union, Old Main, Pioneer Hall, University Chapel, and the P.E.O Memorial Building.

Voices throughout the community have echoed regarding the purchase and seem to be heading in opposite directions. Some members of the community believe that the purchase of these properties is a great chance to relocate all elementary students to the same area, and better focus our resources. The other side of the coin think that this project is too expensive, and there are concerns about children not being able to walk to school if their parents specifically moved to a location closer to a certain elementary building. Of course, there are other arguments for both sides out there, but these seem to be some of the main points of discussion.

The public now has another opportunity to weigh in on these talks, voice their concerns, and find the answers they are looking for. This public forum will be held in the Mount Pleasant Community High School Media Center at 6pm on Monday, August 28th, and is scheduled to last for 2 hours. This is an informational meeting regarding the IW property purchase, and there will be a chance for questions and answers.

 

Becker Law Office Office Photos | BCGSearch.com

Burlington Man Arrested Due to Bicycle Bustup

A Burlington man was arrested after he assaulted a man during an argument over ownership of a bicycle.

Just after 9pm on August 24, 2023 Burlington Police Officers were sent to the 500 block of South 10th Street to investigate the report of an assault. Officers located Kevin Coffel and after observing multiple injuries, requested an ambulance to transport Coffel to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.

Detectives spoke with Coffel at the hospital, and he said he had been in an argument with a man later identified as Dondi Hamilton. Coffel told detectives that Hamilton had accused Coffel of stealing a bicycle and Hamilton began assaulting him, so Coffel tried to run from Hamilton. Coffel said Hamilton chased him into the street and began assaulting him with an unknown object.

Detectives later located Hamilton near the alley in the 500 block of South 10th Street. Hamilton told detectives he and Coffel were arguing over a bicycle and he admitted he struck Coffel in the face during the argument.

Dondi Samone Hamilton, 41, was arrested and charged with Willful Injury (Class C felony).

Lee County Granted FEMA Public Assistance Program Funding for Spring Flooding

The weather hasn’t necessarily been kind to certain parts of Iowa this year, as we all saw with a heat wave last week, tornadoes, and drought. Earlier in the year, spring flooding impacted different communities throughout the state and contributed to damage in these towns. Governor Kim Reynolds has now received confirmation from the President of the United States that her request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for seven counties that were devastated by spring flooding has been granted. Lee county is named in the list, along with Allamakee, Clayton, Des Moines, Dubuque, Jackson, and Scott.

Under the declaration, FEMA Public Assistance Program funding is available to eligible public entities and nonprofit organizations in the designated counties that were impacted by the April 24-May 13, 2023, Mississippi River flooding. This funding may be used for any emergency work, such as the removal of debris and emergency protective measures, or the repair/replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.

The governor also received notification that the Presidential Disaster Declaration includes funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state. With this funding, Iowa will be able to minimize the impact of future disasters by taking steps to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards.