SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake

Water temperature is 73 degrees. Duckweed is thick on top of the curly-leaf pondweed beds, but not bad elsewhere. Black Crappie – Good: Try a small jig or a slip bobber and minnow in 7 to 8  feet of water along the outer edges of the curly-leaf pondweed beds on the northside of the lake. Bluegill – Fair: Most spawning beds are still vacant. Look for bluegills in a pocket in the curly-leaf pondweed beds or out in the trees down about 6 feet. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass in the brush or outer edges of the weed beds; use soft plastics rigged weedless.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is 74 degrees. Water clarity is 7 feet.  Black Crappie – Good: Try slow drifting and vertically jigging over the habitat and in about 12-16 feet of water. Trolling speed of about 1 mph works best. Bluegill – Fair: A few male bluegills are on the spawning beds; many remain out in 10-12 feet of water.

Lake Darling
Water temperature is in the mid-70s. Water clarity is good (50-60 inches). The water still has a a green cast. Black Crappie – Good: Anglers are catching crappies off of the brush and rock piles in deeper water by the dam. Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegills are returning to the spawning beds.  Many more are staying out around the rock piles in 6-8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass fishing has picked up with the return of the females from deeper water.  Best bite is early morning before it gets too hot.

Lake Geode
Water temperature is73 degrees. Water clarity is 5 1/2 feet. Water willows are making a comeback. Black Crappie – Good: Try vertically jigging in the habitat in 8 to 9 feet of water.  . Bluegill – Good: Many spawning beds were reoccupied earlier this week. Use worm and a small bobber to avoid spooking the fish. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are looking for young bluegills and crappies to feed on. Find bass in tree falls and rock piles along the old haul road;  shallow diving crankbaits should draw their attention.

Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature is 72.  Curly-leaf is still in good health. Algae on top of it is getting fairly thick.  Bluegill – Good: Anglers are catching bluegill along the outer edges of the flooded brush in 6-8 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Best bite is the first 2 or 3 hours of daylight or just as the sun starts to set.  If you catch a calm no wind period, switch to topwater for the big splash.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)The river is stable at about half bank full. More than adequate water levels for boats. Channel Catfish – Good: Use cut baits and stink baits.  Mulberries are starting to ripen; catfish really like to eat mulberries.

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.

Donnellson, Iowa – The Lee County Narcotics Task Force has announced the arrest of a Farmington man on felony drug charges stemming from an ongoing investigation.

Kent Michael Elder, 42, of Farmington, was taken into custody following a traffic stop conducted by the Donnellson Police Department. During the stop, authorities discovered Elder had an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the Lee County Narcotics Task Force for delivery of less than 5 grams of methamphetamine, a Class C felony under Iowa law.

Elder was arrested without incident. According to the Task Force, the charge follows investigative efforts into local drug distribution activities.

The Donnellson Police Department assisted in the arrest. The Lee County Narcotics Task Force emphasized that Elder is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Task Force receives partial funding through the U.S. Department of Justice and resources administered by the Iowa Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy.

After more than a year of repeated denials, Henry County Sheriff Rich McNamee was finally granted the ability to hire outside legal counsel during this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting. The decision comes amid a contentious legal battle involving the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy’s (ILEA) decertification process and a pending series of depositions related to former deputy Arturo Perez.

McNamee, visibly frustrated but resolute, returned to the board with a renewed request—this time armed with subpoenas issued to four of his staff members. “That’s 10 percent of my workforce being sent to Des Moines for depositions,” he told the board, underscoring both the disruption and the legal exposure facing his department. He emphasized that these individuals are being called to testify about their direct knowledge of the situation surrounding Perez and the decertification process.

A Longstanding Concern Over Legal Conflicts

The sheriff’s concern has consistently centered on a potential conflict of interest with the county attorney, who he says cannot fairly represent both the county and his office in the same matter. “He’s representing the county—not me,” McNamee asserted, suggesting that the overlapping roles present a legal and ethical dilemma. The sheriff has previously expressed concern over what he describes as personal ties between the county attorney’s office and Perez, now a central figure in the ILEA investigation.

Though the county attorney has maintained that the office is focused on protecting county liability, McNamee argued that this does not equate to personal representation for himself or his subpoenaed staff. “I’m trying to protect Henry County with my own funds—and I’ve already spent about $70,000 out of my own salary doing just that,” he said.

Debate Over Precedent and Procedure

Supervisors wrestled with concerns that granting outside counsel could set a precedent for future cases, raising questions about how far the county’s responsibility extends in providing legal defense for individual employees. Others, however, agreed that the unique circumstances and potential for conflicting interests justified the sheriff’s request.

Final Approval and Budget Impact

Ultimately, the supervisors voted to allow the sheriff to proceed with outside legal counsel, authorizing the use of existing funds within his departmental budget to cover the associated costs. This resolution marks a turning point in a saga that has raised fundamental questions about legal representation, interdepartmental trust, and fiscal responsibility within county government.

With depositions scheduled for June 19 and 20 and a formal hearing in July, McNamee said this move was necessary not only for protecting staff but for maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the investigation process.

“This isn’t just about me,” the sheriff concluded. “It’s about doing things the right way—for my staff, for the county, and for the people we serve.”

Mount Pleasant, Iowa — Around 10 a.m. Thursday morning, emergency crews responded to a reported gas line strike near 810 East Monroe Street. Construction crews working in the area are believed to have accidentally hit the line, prompting a swift response from local authorities.

The Mount Pleasant Police Department, along with the Mount Pleasant Fire Department and Mount Pleasant Utilities, arrived on scene to secure the area and assess the potential danger. Police officers blocked off surrounding streets to eliminate traffic flow and ensure public safety, while construction personnel were moved away from the immediate area.

Mount Pleasant Utilities is currently evaluating the situation to determine the extent of the damage and the exact cause of the gas leak. As of now, no injuries have been reported, and officials have not confirmed whether any significant damage has occurred.

Authorities urge residents in the area of East Madison and Cherry street to remain cautious and avoid the vicinity until further notice. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB), in collaboration with the Central Iowa Traffic Safety Task Force (CITSTF) and law enforcement agencies across the state, will be conducting a focused enforcement effort from June 17 to 19 to promote awareness and compliance with Iowa’s Move Over Law.

The law, in effect since 2002, requires drivers to either change lanes or significantly slow down when approaching a vehicle stopped on the shoulder with flashing lights. This applies to emergency responders, tow trucks, commercial vehicles, and even private vehicles with hazard lights activated.

Violating the Move Over Law can result in a $210.25 fine and license suspension, particularly in incidents involving property damage or injury.

Drivers are reminded: if you see flashing blue, red, or amber lights on the roadside—move over or slow down. It’s not just the law, it’s a life-saving act.

For more information or media inquiries, contact the Iowa Department of Transportation.