The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to two different house fires on 06/13/23.

The first fire, reported at 8:41 PM, was in the 2500 grid of Perkins Road, near Lowell.  The house and garage were engulfed in fire.  No injuries were reported at this residential fire.  New London Fire, Mt. Pleasant Fire, Salem Fire, and Danville Fire all responded and fought the fire.  The house and garage were severely damaged from the fire.  This incident remains under investigation.

The second fire, reported at 11:29 PM, was in the 2300 grid of 220^th Street, northeast of Mt. Pleasant.  The home was fully engulfed in fire to a residence.  As the fire was being contained it was discovered that one occupant was unaccounted for.  After the fire was extinguished a person was found inside the burned residence.  The identity of the person is being withheld until the investigation is completed and all family is notified.  This fire was fought by Mt. Pleasant Fire, Winfield Fire, Mt. Union Fire, and New London Fire.  This home was a total loss.

Both fires are being investigated by Henry County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa State Fire Marshall’s Office.

On June 8th, 2023, at approximately 3:38PM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a single vehicle (ATV) crash with injury that occurred at the intersection of Oakland Mills Road and Hickory Avenue.

During investigation the ATV was found to have left the roadway, entered the ditch, and rolled over. The driver was identified as Bradely Wesely, 67, of Mount Pleasant.  Injuries were found and the driver was transported from the scene.

This investigation is still under investigation. Initial citations were issued to the driver for failure to maintain control and ATV operation–careless, reckless, or negligent. Other charges may result at a later date/time.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was assisted with this incident by the Iowa State Patrol, Henry County EMS, Mount Pleasant Fire Dept, and community members.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an incident involving communication/relationship between an adult and juvenile minor.

Upon investigation, this communication was found to be of a sexual nature. The offender was identified as Jeremy Lee, 24, of Mount Pleasant.

Resulting from this incident/investigation, Jeremy Lee was arrested. Being charged with enticing a minor – sexual purpose (D felony) and telephone dissemination of obscene material to minor (Aggravated misdemeanor).

On June 12^th at 8:15pm, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office as well as the Mount Pleasant Fire and Rescue, were dispatched to 272^nd st/ Iowa Ave for a reported vehicle fire. Upon arrival, they found a GMC pickup truck engulfed in flames. The driver, Will Robertson of Mount Pleasant, stated that he was able to “place the car in park and jump out.” The pickup truck is totaled, and the fire crews were able to extinguish the fire. There were no reported injuries.

Midwest Old Threshers is still a few months away, but the city of Mount Pleasant will get a little taste of the increased amount people on June 24^th. Sinclair Tractor Company is celebrating their 25^th anniversary at McMillan Park and the Old Threshers grounds. This is a private event, and it is expected there could be between 10 and 15,000 potential visitors in one day. This event is scheduled from 8am-7pm, a full day of activities. McMillan Park will be used starting June 20^th-June 26^th for set up and tear down.

Of course, with the influx of visitors, there will be many more cars on the road, so drive carefully and watch out for visitors. Also, many restaurants and fast-food chains will most likely see an increase in foot and car traffic during that day as a result of all the visitors. KILJ will continue to update the public as the event draws near.

On June 10^th, a construction worker in Burlington was pinned against a utility pole after being hit by a vehicle.

Just around 12:00, a juvenile driver lost control of his vehicle heading westbound on Columbia from the Circle K at 421 Main St. while reaching for a donut that he dropped in the backseat. As a result, the car jumped the car, went over the sidewalk, and struck the construction worker.

The construction worker was subsequently transported to the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The Juvenile was cited with failure to maintain his vehicle.