Shooting in Burlington – Officers On Scene

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, July 26th, 2023 at 6:06 am CDT

The Burlington Police Department had officers on scene of a shooting that occurred on July 25th in the evening. This was near the intersection of 8th and Elm. KILJ will continue to provide updates to this developing story.

Violation of No-Contact Order

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, July 26th, 2023 at 6:01 am CDT

At approximately 6:00pm on July 21st, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the 2600-grid of Perkins Road. The vehicle was observed to have no registration plates, and the driver was identified and known not to possess a valid driver’s license. The driver and passenger also have an active No-Contact Order.

The vehicle then accelerated away from the Sheriff’s Office vehicles, and was followed to the back of a property in the 2500-grid of Perkins Road. The passenger then was taken into custody.

As a result, Samantha Sammons, 33, of Salem, was arrested for Violation of a No-Contact Order, a simple misdemeanor; two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, simple misdemeanor; and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense, D Felony.

This incident is still under investigation.

*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty*

Pamela Scott

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, July 26th, 2023 at 5:46 am CDT

Pamela Sue Scott, 67, of Salem, passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington surrounded by her loving family.

Pamela’s family will host a celebration of her life on Saturday, July 29, 2023, beginning at 2 p.m. at her home in Salem.  Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com

Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, is caring for her arrangements.

 

Henry County Board of Supervisors Public Hearing for Rezoning

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 at 11:13 am CDT

The Henry County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, July 25th to discuss the rezoning of a part of Southeast section 7 center township from agricultural to industrial. There was a public hearing held, and Joe Buffington provided his insight as part of the Planning and Zoning commission.

The rezoning would allow a cement plant to be built in this area. There was plenty of debate between the two sides of residents, with one side arguing that there is not enough industrial infrastructure in the town of Mount Pleasant and that this is progress for the town. The other side believes that this should not even be considered, given that there are residents and homeowners in this same area.

Mitchell Taylor, an attorney representing an “undisclosed resident” believes that the original site plan failed to follow the rules of the county ordinance, as it did not provide dimensions and was different than the site plan proposed at a later date. Darin Stater, the county attorney, agreed with Joe Buffington that the site plan was correctly presented and believes that the board of supervisors could legally move forward.

As the supervisors deliberated, they discussed the potential of going “back to scratch” which entails the original site plan being republished and fixed. While there were three options brought forth, the supervisors ultimately chose to go back to scratch. It is now up to the owner to provide an improved site plan for this to move forward.

It is important to note that this is the first rezoning since moving to an electronic application, and so much of the difficulty stems from that.

Railroad Crossings in Mt. Pleasant Expected Completion Date

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 at 6:54 am CDT

While driving around Mt. Pleasant, you may find yourself having to take a detour over certain crossings at the railroad tracks. Broadway, Cherry, and White are all open and you can drive through those crossings as usual. Meanwhile, Adams, Lincoln, and Main are all closed off. We expect this work to be completed Wednesday or Thursday per Public Works.

Special Session Discusses IW Property and Revenue Purpose Statement

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 at 6:13 am CDT

There was a special Mount Pleasant Community School Board meeting on July 24th to discuss two important matters.

The first one, which many are aware of, is the decision to purchase property from Iowa Wesleyan and use it for the school district. There are three main properties that were discussed, and it seems at this moment as if two of them are available. The practice field just south of Maple Leaf and the Central Campus, including the parking lot, have had bids from the MPCSD. 1.25 million dollars is the purchase price for the two bids. The Central Campus includes Howe Student Activity Center and Ruble Arena, the Student Union, Old Main, Pioneer Hall, University Chapel, and the P.E.O Memorial Building.

An expert estimated that the gym, walking track, and offices alone would cost upwards of 15 million dollars. The board sees their long-term goal an believes this opportunity is “too good to pass up.”

Discussion was had over the Willis Wrestling Facility, however, a better offer from a different entity was accepted. Members of the school board deliberated on this subject, with one stating that they have no issue with adding a backup offer for the wrestling facility. A different member then chimed in saying “I don’t see it as a deal breaker” as they think the board should be more focused on the other two properties. The board decided to move forward with the practice field and central campus.

The other pressing issue was the discussion over the renewal of the Revenue Purpose Statement. The RPS governs how the one-cent sales tax can be spent by a school district. This is a statewide sales tax that is currently due to expire in 2049. The current MPCSD RPS expires in 2031, and there will now be a vote on September 12th, 2023, to renew this statement until 2049.

This is not an increase in taxes, rather it just allows the school district to spend this fund, typically around $2,000,000 a year, how they decide is best. The Revenue Purpose Statement will stay in effect until 2031 regardless of the outcome of the vote in the fall.

KILJ will continue to provide updates to this developing story and will keep Southeast Iowa informed.

Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report July 17th-23rd

By Yorke Prough · Monday, July 24th, 2023 at 3:51 pm CDT
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.

“Despite dry conditions, the below average temperatures over the past week provided moisture-stressed crops some relief,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Though the entire state remains abnormally dry or in some level of drought, and the hottest stretch of July is forecasted this week, initial August outlooks are showing some chances for cooler and wetter conditions.”

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

Crop Report

Another dry, but relatively cool week left Iowa farmers with 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 23, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included cutting hay and harvesting oats. Some reports were received of farmers applying insecticides and fungicides. Persistent dry weather has raised concerns regarding crop conditions.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 13 percent very short, 42 percent short, 43 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 17 percent very short, 46 percent short, 36 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn silking hit 79 percent this week, 6 days ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of normal. Nineteen percent of the corn crop has reached the dough stage, 5 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the 5-year average. Some reports were received of corn starting to dent. Corn condition rated 63 percent good to excellent. Eighty-one percent of soybeans were blooming, 1 week ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the average. Soybeans setting pods reached 35 percent, 2 days ahead of last year and 1 day ahead of the 5-year average. Soybean condition remained steady at 58 percent good to excellent. Ninety-three percent of oats were turning color, 11 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of normal. Oats harvested for grain reached 36 percent, 1 day ahead of last year and 1 day ahead the five-year average. Oat condition remained 51 percent good to excellent.

The State’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 86 percent complete, 6 days ahead of both last year and the average. The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 20 percent complete, 12 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the 5-year average. Hay condition dropped to 37 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition fell to 24 percent good to excellent. Pasture and hay growth remain slow and below average, resulting in supplemental feeding of livestock.

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

Unseasonably cool conditions continued over Iowa through the reporting period with negative temperature departures in the four to six-degree range across the state; the statewide average temperature was 69.3 degrees, 5.5 degrees below normal. The southwest corner of Iowa experienced three days of widespread and near-normal rainfall with much of north-central and east-central Iowa reporting departures of an inch or more below average. Weekend storms also brought measurable totals to the northeast corner.

Canadian wildfire smoke persisted through Sunday (16th) evening as westerly winds helped shift the flow. Afternoon highs held in the upper 70s with low 80s across much of southern Iowa. Showers and scattered thunderstorms fired over the southwestern half of the state during the early morning hours on Monday (17th) and Tuesday (18th). The first wave of thunderstorms brought several reports of hail through southern Iowa with Malvern (Mills County) reporting up to 1.50-inch hailstones; one-inch hail was observed from Lorimor (Union County) to Oskaloosa (Mahaska County). There were also multiple narrow swaths of rainfall totals above 0.30 inch over southwestern Iowa with 0.32 inch in Council Bluffs (Pottawattamie County) to 0.85 inch in Missouri Valley (Harrison County). The second round of showers clipped the southwest corner with lighter rainfall totals at a handful of stations ranging from 0.06 inch in Lamoni (Decatur County) to 0.16 inch at Hastings (Mills County). Additional showers formed over the afternoon and evening hours on Wednesday (19th) with totals at several stations under 0.10 inch.

Thursday (20th) was the ideal day of the week with daytime highs in the upper 70s and low 80s under brilliant sapphire skies. Partly cloudy conditions were reported in central Iowa, though the sun broke out as the evening wore on. Winds were no stronger than a baby’s breath into Friday (21st) morning with lows in the upper 50s to mid-60s. Afternoon conditions were near seasonal with mid-level clouds transiting the sky. Daytime temperatures were a repeat of the previous day with puffy cumulus dotting the sky. Stars were visible for much of Iowa into Saturday (22nd) morning though foggy conditions developed in northwestern Iowa. Westerly winds and low to mid-80s were observed throughout the day as mostly sunny skies reigned. The week ended with isolated thunderstorms crossing the Minnesota border into northern Iowa through the evening hours, dissipating just southwest of Jack Creek in Emmet County; additional thunderstorms developed in eastern Iowa overnight into Sunday (23rd) with a pocket of heavier rainfall in Cedar County, though amounts quickly decreased towards the Weber neighborhood in western Coralville (Johnson County). Several counties in northeast Iowa also saw widespread totals in the 0.10- to 0.50-inch range.

Weekly rain totals ranged from no accumulation across a large northwest-to-southeast swath of Iowa to 1.50 inches in Adair (Adair County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.18 inch; the normal is 0.99 inch. Sioux City Airport (Woodbury County) reported the week’s high temperature of 89 degrees on the 22nd, four degrees above normal. Fayette (Fayette County) and Vinton (Benton County) reported the week’s low temperature of 48 degrees on the 18th, on average 12 degrees below normal.