On May 29, the Mount Pleasant Memorial Day Observance will be held at the Mount Pleasant High School Gymnasium at 10:30 am. The observance will begin with the presentation of the colors by members of the VFW, American Legion Posts and Auxiliaries. Avenue of Flags Chair and Honor Guard Commander, Dean King will serve as Master of Ceremonies.  The Rev. Trey Hegar, pastor at the Mount Pleasant First Presbyterian Church and a veteran of the United States Marines, will deliver the Invocation and the Benediction. The MPCHS Band under the direction of Jim DePriest will play patriotic music prior to the beginning of the program. The band will also perform the National Anthem.  General Logan’s orders, directing the establishment of Memorial Day as we know it today, will be read.  A special music selection will be performed by Summer Schroeder.  She will be accompanied by members of the MPCHS Jazz Band.  The featured speaker will be Iowa Senator Jeff Reichman.  He is Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee for the State of Iowa. Sen. Reichman is also a Marine Corps Veteran. Twelve names will be engraved on the Veterans Memorial marker on the Henry County Court House lawn bringing the total to 1,505. Those individuals and their families will be recognized. Following the Benediction the Honor Guard will fire a 3 volley salute followed by Taps played by members of the High School Band.

These are the names being added:

Alan D. Huisinga

Henry E. Tompkins

Michael D. Noel

Delbert Duane Prottsman

Stanley E. Hill

Ronald  K. Fye

Robert D. Batey

Raymond L. Daniel

J. Michael Kitch

Dennis John Fitzpatrick

Warren Kendig Rogers Jr.

Steven Rae Vogeler

Iowa residents can try fishing without buying a license on June 2, 3 and 4, as part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) free fishing weekend. All other regulations remain in place.

Free fishing weekend is a great time to share the fun of fishing with a kid, your family or a friend. Outdoor fun awaits at hundreds of Iowa lakes, thousands of miles of rivers or a neighborhood pond.

“A summer of family fun is just a short drive and a fishing pole away,” said Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa DNR’s Fisheries Bureau. “The water is waiting. Get your lines in the water and put your worries behind you.”

Find a list of stocked lakes and ponds that are easily accessible in parks and along trails on the Iowa DNR’s interactive Iowa Community Fisheries Atlas at www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/Fish-Local.

Fun, hands-on fishing events will be offered across Iowa to help families new to fishing get started. Check the general fishing calendar on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/fishing for a list of free fishing events.

Keep the fun going all summer long by buying a fishing license. It’s easy to buy a fishing license with the DNR Go Outdoors Iowa online licensing system at https://license.gooutdoorsiowa.com/Licensing/CustomerLookup.aspx. You can download the public Go Outdoors IA mobile app for iPhone and Android devices to buy and store your fishing license, so you will always have access to your license no matter where you are. Yearly, seven-day, or 24-hour fishing licenses are available.

Enticing a fish to bite your hook is fun for all ages. Get tips for taking kids fishing and catching crappie and bluegills on the DNR website at

www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/Ready-to-Fish.

The calls have been coming in to field offices and conservation officers for the past few weeks and will only increase as the first few weeks of June marks the peak of the deer fawning season.

Callers report finding an “abandoned” fawn in an unusual place, like a flowerbed or small patch of cover. Rest assured this is normal deer behavior.

“The doe searches out an isolated location where she feels safe and on occasion those places are not what we may think of as ideal. She chose that location because it made sense to her,” said Jim Coffey, forest wildlife research biologist with the Iowa DNR. “The worst thing someone can do is to ‘rescue’ the fawn. Mom is likely nearby and watching you. Leave it be or if you did handle the fawn, return it to where you found it and walk away.”

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will not be rehabbing or co-mingling fawns with other deer to avoid the potential of spreading chronic wasting disease – or other disease – to new areas.

The spindly legged newborn fawn is designed with a few survival tools built in –its spots are cryptic camouflage that emulates the sunlight spots on the leaf litter on the forest floor and its lack of movement the first two weeks helps to reduce scent patterns. This combination is its best chance at survival until it is able to follow the doe.

After the fawns are born, the doe will return to fairly normal behavior – sleeping, feeding – but returning to nurse and care for the fawn.

The fawning season also coincides with an increase in deer vehicle collisions.

“There is a lot of movement this time of year that is part of the social structure of deer. The doe is on the move looking for the safe isolated place to have the fawns.  In addition last year’s fawns – teenagers now – are starting to venture out to find new space. These yearlings have to make their own decisions for the first time, encounter other adult deer and build new social structures,” Coffey said. “This movement behavior can occur during all times of the day. Once it settles out, the active time will return to dawn and dusk.”

Drivers are reminded to drive defensively, avoid distractions, and slow down and not to veer for deer. If they hit a deer, drivers can get a salvage tag by calling either the local conservation officer or local law enforcement. There is no fee for a salvage tag it does require that the entire deer is taken.

AGENDA

May 30, 2023

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

9:00 Jake Hotchkiss, Engineer Weekly Update

9:30 Joe Buffington, Planning & Zoning Monthly Update

9:45 Adam Kerns with Workman’s Comp Renewal

10:00 Amend Henry County Budget FY23

Approve Resolution

10:15 Legislators to Discuss HF 718

10:45 Resolution for Tax Abatement

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

During the Thursday meeting the Henry County Board of Supervisors returned to a previous conversation regarding a request for a zone change. Chad Ebeling is requesting the change for about 8 acres to the west of Mount Pleasant where he would like to build a concrete plant. He would like the zoning changed from Agriculture to Industrial. The supervisors have said this would involve changing the county’s land use map to allow a type of spot zoning. The map is part of the county’s comprehensive plan. Neighbors are concerned it will de-value their properties. Ebeling claims it won’t. The county Planning and Zoning Commission has already considered the matter but during the Thursday meeting Supervisor Marc Lindeen requested the issue go back to P&Z and this time wants the commission to look at the all the county land surrounding Mount Pleasant within 2 miles of the city limits with an emphasis on the southwest quadrant where the plant is proposed to be built. And consider the impact on the entire area. The supervisors all said they understand the need to encourage business but they also understand the residential property owners built in the area because they thought it would continue as agricultural zoning not industrial. Ebeling has promised he will be very mindful and considerate of his neighbors concerns.  Supervisor Greg Moeller also shared concerns about being sued over future spot zoning.  The Board voted to send the issue back to P&Z. The soonest it could come before the Supervisors would be June 6.