Des Moines County, Iowa — A Burlington man is facing multiple charges following a reported assault involving a machete on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

According to the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a report of an assault at approximately 11:55 a.m. The victim reported that while at 12187 Des Moines County Highway 99, he was attacked by Darren Lee Miller, 48, of Burlington. The victim stated that Miller swung a machete and struck him in the forehead, causing a laceration. As the victim attempted to leave the scene, Miller allegedly struck the windshield of the victim’s vehicle, shattering it.

Deputies later obtained and executed a search warrant for the residence at approximately 2:42 p.m. During the search, law enforcement located the machete believed to have been used in the assault. Miller was found at the property and taken into custody without incident.

Miller was transported to the Des Moines County Correctional Center. He faces charges of Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury, Assault While Displaying a Dangerous Weapon, and Criminal Mischief 4th Degree.

Authorities emphasize that a criminal charge is merely an accusation, and Miller is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident.

Mount Pleasant, IA — The Henry County Sheriff’s Office has announced the release of its brand-new mobile app, designed to enhance communication between the department and the residents it serves. The app is now available for download and aims to provide a convenient way for the public to stay informed and engaged with local law enforcement efforts.

The Sheriff’s Department encourages community members to take advantage of the app’s features, which include receiving real-time alerts, accessing important contact numbers, submitting anonymous tips, and staying up to date with news and events from the Sheriff’s Office.

The app offers direct links for emergency services, including 911, as well as non-emergency assistance at 319-385-2712. Users can also text tips confidentially to 319-931-3667.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office reminds residents that while the app provides valuable information, the department’s Facebook page and the app itself are not monitored 24/7. In case of an emergency, individuals should always dial 911.

Residents are encouraged to download the new app today from their preferred App store and help strengthen the partnership between law enforcement and the community.

users can access features such as:
● Sheriff’s Welcome
● Submit A Tip
● Opioid & Addiction Resources
● Jail Information
● Inmate Search
● Sex Offenders
● Contact Us

“Over 80 percent of people in the United States own and use smartphones as their primary means of communication,” OCV Partner and CRO Kevin Cummings said. “Mobile apps offer agencies a better way to alert, inform and prepare the public. Apps allow public safety agencies the ability to reach and serve their citizens where they are: their smartphones.”

Big Hollow Lake
Water temperature is in the low 80s. Curly-leaf beds are starting to show signs of dying back. Black Crappie – Good: Take advantage of the curly-leaf pondweed beds while you can before they are gone for the rest of the summer.  Try a minnow under a slip bobber along the outer edge of the beds. Bluegill – Fair: Most spawning beds are empty.  Look for bluegills in the curly-leaf beds and out in the brush in 5-6 feet of water.

Deep Lakes
Water temperature is in the mid-70s. Water clarity at 12 feet. Lake Chester and the other Deep Lakes ponds stays cooler than most other area waters because of the water clarity and that most of its water comes up through the sand from the river. Bluegill – Good: Use a worm and bobber rig just over the tops of the pondweed beds; bluegills can come up out of the weeds to get it and still feel safe from the bass. Largemouth Bass – Good: A dark colored crankbait ran along the outer edge of the pondweed beds works well, if you can keep the fish from seeing you.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)
River level has come up about 6 inches since yesterday. Forecast to reach its peak about next Tuesday at about three feet higher than the current level. Channel Catfish – Fair: Switch back to minnows and nightcrawlers for bait, as well as a frog or two. The influx of rainwater will bring these foods into the river.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is 81-82 degrees. Water clarity remains good at over 4 feet, but a green cast to the water is starting to develop. Black Crappie – Good: Standard summer pattern has developed. Try slow trolling a jig and minnow or small crankbait down 10 to 12 feet. Trolling speed of just over 1 mph works best. Bluegill – Good: Try vertically jigging a small jig tipped with waxworms or use a worm over the tops of the mounds at the upper end of the lake.

Lake Darling
Water temperature is 81 degrees. Water clarity decreased to 24 inches with heavy rain. Bottom of the thermocline is between 9 and 10 feet; not enough oxygen for fish below that depth. Black Crappie – Fair: Look for crappies in the brush piles by the high bank on the southside by the dam. Bluegill – Good: Most bluegill have moved out to the rock piles with the heat. Very little activity on the spawning beds during the last few days. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Best bite is the early morning hours and the last hours of daylight in the evening. Work the deeper brush piles in the middle of the day.

Lake Geode
Water temperature is  in the low 80s. Water clarity remains good at about 4 feet. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappies around the artificial habitat in 8 to 10 feet of water suspended a couple of feet above the bottom. Bluegill – Good: Still seeing some males attending the nests.  Most have moved  to 6-8 feet of water along the rock drop-offs and artificial habitat. Largemouth Bass – Good: Look for bass on rock piles and other habitat in 6-8 feet of water. Crankbaits ran just over top of these structures should get their attention.

Lake of the Hills
Water temperature is in the low 7’s. No minnows allowed. Bluegill – Excellent: Try worms under bobbers and small jigs around the shallow water habitat. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use nightcrawlers or stink bait on the rocky shorelines

Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature is in the upper 70s. Water remains fairly clear at about 5 feet. The curly-leaf is starting its annual summer dieback with the heat. Bluegill – Good: Still a few males on the spawning beds; most have retreated to 8-10 feet of water in the flooded trees. Largemouth Bass – Good: Best bite is early morning or the last couple of hours of daylight in the evening. Work spinnerbaits or crankbaits along the outer edges of the curly-leaf beds orr topwater baits over the top of the beds.

Railroad Lake
Water temperature is in the low 70’s. Water Clarity is good at about 4 feet. No minnows allowed. Black Crappie – Slow: Try jigs around the deeper trees and other artificial structure in deeper water. Bluegill – Excellent: Use a worm and bobber or small jigs around the shallower fish habitat and trees. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Lots of bass are hitting on a variety of artificial baits and nightcrawlers  around the shallow water habitat, as well as out around the trees in the middle.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
The North Skunk is holding steady above Sigourney, but the South Skunk by Oskaloosa is sending down a couple extra feet of water. Starting to see the effects of the rise. Channel Catfish – Good: Look for grass frogs in the wet grass to add to your supply of bait. Catfish love leopard frogs for breakfast.

Yenruogis Pond
Water is extremely clear; you can see 11 feet down on a cloudy day. Water temperature is 74 degrees. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are still on the spawning beds.  Use flyrods and poppers or ultralight rods and tiny jigs in this clear water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try topwater baits on the less noisy side.  You can see the bass coming from a distance.

For more information on the above lakes and rivers call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.

During a recent Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting, Pastor Trey Hager of First Presbyterian Church shared an ambitious plan to address the critical shortage of care options for individuals with special needs and seniors in the community. Hager outlined his proposal, which centers on converting the Christamore House into a facility that could offer expanded services, including childcare, therapy, and meals for seniors, as well as building mixed-market housing on adjacent county-owned land.

Hager, who is also the father of a 13-year-old son with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and other significant disabilities, emphasized the staggering costs families face. “The national median cost of non-medical home care for daily tasks and supervision is $33 an hour,” Hager said. “That equals nearly $295,000 annually for 24/7 care, far exceeding what Social Security and Medicaid reimburse.” He noted that four group homes have closed in Henry County, forcing 15 residents to seek care elsewhere.

In response, Hager has purchased the Christamore House and is working on renovations that would enable the facility to provide therapy services, secure spaces for special needs children, and house a commercial kitchen for meal programs. The project also envisions creating a congregate meal site and community gathering place for seniors.

A key component of the plan is a request for the county to consider donating about seven acres of adjacent land. This property would be used to build mixed-market housing — including group homes for individuals with disabilities and senior housing. Hager explained that the housing would be owned and managed by a private nonprofit foundation that could ensure long-term stability and appropriate use. The housing plan could include up to 14 dwellings, depending on zoning and development plans.

“The goal is to create housing and care solutions that are beyond what individual families, or even the government, can manage on their own,” Hager said. “This foundation model allows us to pool resources, secure grants, and provide not only housing but also quality-of-life supports.”

Supervisors discussed the legal and procedural steps required, including the potential need for a public hearing on the land donation or sale. Officials acknowledged that more information and community input will be needed before moving forward.

If successful, Hager’s timeline would see renovations at the Christamore House completed this fall, coinciding with the new school year, while the housing development would follow based on approvals, funding, and construction schedules.

“This is about creating lasting solutions for some of our most vulnerable neighbors,” Hager concluded. “It’s a way we can all come together as a community.”

The Board of Supervisors will continue to evaluate the proposal and explore next steps in the coming weeks.

The Henry County Board of Supervisors continued its work on several key ordinances at this week’s meeting, advancing the second reading of the Alternative Energy Overlay District and holding a public hearing on updates to the county’s standard penalty ordinance.

Board members began by revisiting the Alternative Energy Overlay District, with Supervisor discussion focused on minor adjustments to the document.

Changes included updated language regarding application procedures, clarification on landfill prohibitions, and adjustments to administrative language. The board noted these were minor verbiage corrections, ensuring accuracy and consistency throughout the ordinance.

Following discussion, the board voted to approve the second reading of the Alternative Energy Overlay District. While the motion passed, one supervisor reiterated concerns about aspects of the ordinance, including provisions related to bonding, escrow requirements, and disaster recovery. “If there’s a natural disaster, this reads that people up to 50 miles away could access funds from Henry County’s escrow — that’s my concern,” the Chairman Lindeen noted before the vote.

The board then opened a public hearing regarding proposed amendments to the county’s standard penalty ordinance. The primary change under consideration was the addition of language to allow recovery of reasonable costs incurred by fire departments and other responding agencies in cases of violations of the county’s open burning ordinance.

Discussion centered on clarifying what “reasonable costs” would entail, with several board members and attendees suggesting that the ordinance should better define or reference standard reimbursement rates, such as those established by FEMA. “This is just putting people on notice that costs could go beyond the standard penalty,” said County Attorney Joe Buffington. He emphasized that any recovery of costs would be determined on a case-by-case basis, often through the courts.

Public comments reflected a mix of concerns about clarity, fairness, and enforcement. Some attendees suggested the language as written might confuse penalties with cost recovery for response services, while others urged the county to focus on education and voluntary compliance rather than punitive measures. There was also discussion about balancing the need for penalties with the realities of rural life and common burn practices.

The board took no formal action during the public hearing, instead collecting input for further consideration. A motion was approved to close the hearing.

The Board of Supervisors plans to revisit both the open burning ordinance and the penalty provisions at a future meeting, incorporating the feedback received.

Des Moines County, IA — The Des Moines County 4-H Teen Council is inviting fairgoers to enjoy a fun and lighthearted competition as they present the 3rd Annual Oldtimers Showdown at the Des Moines County Fair. The event is scheduled for Friday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the livestock arena.

The Oldtimers Showdown brings together former 4-H and FFA exhibitors, alumni, and parents of past participants, giving them a chance to step back into the show ring and demonstrate their showmanship skills. To qualify as an “Oldtimer,” nominees must be 25 years or older and either alumni of Des Moines County or parents of former exhibitors.

Nominations are open now. For a $10 fee, community members can nominate an Oldtimer by contacting Mary Steffensmeier at steffene@iastate.edu or calling 319-671-7165. The nomination deadline is Tuesday, July 23 at 5:00 p.m. Teen Council members will contact nominees to see if they accept the challenge.

Nominees who choose to decline can do so by paying a $20 fee — or $25 if they decline on the day of the event. Those who accept will learn which species they’ll be showing when they arrive at the arena on show day. If they prefer a different animal, a $5 redraw fee applies.

Proceeds from the showdown will support the Des Moines County 4-H Teen Council’s efforts to provide leadership opportunities, service projects, and fun activities for local youth.

Organizers encourage the public to participate by nominating an Oldtimer or cheering on the competitors during the event. The evening promises friendly competition, lots of laughter, and a nostalgic return to the show ring for many participants.

Mount Pleasant, IA — Main Street Mount Pleasant is inviting residents, business owners, visitors, and anyone with a connection to the community to help shape the future of downtown by participating in a short online survey.

The organization is eager to hear from those who live, work, shop, or spend time in the downtown district. The feedback gathered will help guide decisions on future improvements, events, and business development initiatives aimed at enhancing the heart of Mount Pleasant.

The survey is designed to be quick and easy to complete, and every voice counts. Community members are encouraged to take a few moments to provide their input by visiting: https://bit.ly/MSMPdowntownsurvey.

Main Street Mount Pleasant emphasizes that the input received will directly influence plans for downtown enhancements, including beautification projects, public spaces, events, and economic development efforts.

For more information or to get involved with downtown initiatives, visit Main Street Mount Pleasant’s Facebook page.