At the Mt. Pleasant City Council meeting on Wednesday, July 26^th, a public hearing was held on the appeal of Dangerous or Vicious Animal determination.

A dog went through the inside door and screen door of a house after it was left open by accident. The dog proceeded to attack and bite a mail carrier. The owner of the dog spoke at the meeting, saying that the dog has gone 13 years without an incident and that he is not a dangerous animal, and then requested that title to be taken down. The resident took all the blame for not shutting the door, and it must have been that they were at a new residence that scared the dog. The man did take him to the vet immediately and was told that the dog was healthy.

The Council ultimately voted on removing the dog from the city limits to avoid future problems, voting unanimously. The resident now must relocate the dog “as soon as possible” and inform the police when the dog is no longer in the city.

The Westland Mall in West Burlington will no longer host Marshalls. The large department store will be moving to a new building at 3320 E Agency Road. Situated right by Planet Fitness and across the Hobby Lobby, store-goers can expect the current location to be closed down by August 20^th. However, they need not fret as the grand opening of the new location is set for August 24^th, 2023!

Jeremy Hess, director of economic development for the Greater Burlington Partnership confirmed the move himself.

The Burlington Police Department is asking the help of the community to try and locate a missing 14-year-old girl named Caydence Roberts.

Roberts is described as a white female approximately 5’00” tall 120 pounds with blonde hair and brown eyes. Caydence was last seen wearing a red Chicago Bulls hat, a light-colored tank top and shorts.  If she is located, please call DesCom at 319-671-7001 or the Burlington Police Department at 319-753-8366.

“Burlington Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 1600 block Osborn in the early morning hours of July 27^th. West Burlington Fire Department was called in on auto aid. It appears that Danville Fire and Mepo Fire were also brought in to assist, as well as off-duty Burlington Firefighters. Superior Ambulance was brought in for rehab. This is a developing situation and KILJ will provide updates as they come.”

There is now an update for the early morning structure fire.

At 3:37 AM Thursday, July 27th, 2023, the Burlington Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 1305 Corse St. in Burlington, IA. Burlington firefighters arrived at 3:43 AM to find a fully engulfed detached garage fire. The two vehicles adjacent to the garage also sustained damage from the fire.

The garage is owned by Donald and Donna Charles and is considered a total loss. The property and its contents are insured.

Eleven initial Burlington firefighters responded to the call. A box alarm was struck, which resulted in calling in 10 off-duty Burlington Firefighters. West Burlington Fire Department responded with automatic aid. Alliant Gas and Energy and the Burlington Police Department assisted on the scene.

The fire has been ruled undetermined and not considered suspicious.

No injuries were reported, and firefighters cleared the scene at 5:20 AM.

There was an apparent structure fire on July 26^th in the evening. While details at this time are limited, we do know that this occurred at 402 N Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, and that there were many agencies involved including Mt. Pleasant Fire, Mt. Pleasant Police Department, Mt. Pleasant Utilities, and EMS was brought on scene as well. The police blocked off access to the intersection around 9:15. KILJ will provide updates to this situation as more details are made available.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) Board approved 35 project applications totaling more than $1.6 million during its quarterly board meeting on July 20. Seven of the projects are for ethanol infrastructure, one is for a biodiesel terminal, and 27 are for biodiesel infrastructure.

The RFIP helps fuel retailers provide higher blends of lower cost Iowa grown biofuels to consumers by incentivizing the installation, replacement and conversion of ethanol and biodiesel dispensing and storage infrastructure. Incentives to upgrade biodiesel terminal and storage facilities are also available. While the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship manages the program, a board appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate determines grant allocations on a quarterly basis.

“When consumers can access higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel for their vehicle, they save money,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “As more retailers upgrade their infrastructure, Iowa drivers will continually find more options to help them save money through the use of cleaner burning and more affordable homegrown biofuels.”

Counties with locations receiving one or more of the project grants include the following: Van Buren, Crawford, Ida, Washington, Benton, Jackson, Muscatine, Taylor, Linn, Story, Jasper, Calhoun, Carroll, Iowa, Polk, Woodbury, Johnson, Pottawattamie, Marion, Winneshiek, Black Hawk, Dubuque and Madison. The complete list of locations can be found here.

The Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board will consider additional RFIP grant applications during its next quarterly meeting in October. The RFIP grant application is available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website.

Over the history of the program, the state has invested approximately $75 million while private industry has invested over $225 million. To learn more about the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, visit the program’s webpage on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website.

The public’s assistance is being sought in the apprehension of a fugitive from justice.

Wayne Lee Wickenkamp, 36 years old, with a last known residence in Brighton, Iowa, is wanted out of District Court in Jefferson County, Iowa on felony sex abuse charges. Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts are urged to contact the Jefferson County, Iowa dispatch center at (641) 472 4146. Caution is advised.

The public is urged to contact law enforcement if seen, but not to make contact themselves.

As we near the end of July, the heat index continues to climb. With temperatures reaching into the high 90s over the next few days and heat index values between 100 and 105, you can’t escape the heat. However, you can take proper care of your body to ensure that the heat doesn’t defeat you.

More than 700 people die each year in the United States due to heat-related issues. This is preventable. People at greatest risk for heat-related illness should be monitored, and the CDC has tips for you.

Ask yourself: “Am I drinking enough water?” This is very important when spending time in the heat, as drinking water helps to lower your body temperature and replenish your fluids that you lose through sweat. Another important question is “Do I have access to the air conditioning?” According to the CDC, cool air conditioning is the best way to combat the heat.

Make sure to take plenty of breaks when outside. Get in the shade, drink ice-cold water, and let your body rest. Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing is the key for spending extended time outside. Darker clothing absorbs heat, so stick to lighter colors. Ensure that you never leave a child or a pet in a car, as it can become even hotter inside a vehicle.

People at greatest risk for heat related illness are those over 65, children younger than two, and people with chronic diseases or mental illness.

If you do come across a heat-casualty, don’t panic. Follow these steps to take best care of them: Remove the person from the environment by taking them to an air-conditioned or cool place. Elevate their legs at a level higher than their heart. Ensure that they are drinking cool water or sports drinks and have them take a cold shower or bath. If that is not an option, soak towels in ice-cold water and place it on their skin. Also make sure their clothing is not restrictive. If their condition does not improve, consider taking them to the emergency room or calling 911 depending on the severity of the illness.

For easy reading and more tips, visit these websites to ensure you are prepared when it comes to heat-related illness.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-exhaustion/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373253

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16425-heat-illness