Students of Character

By Theresa Rose · Friday, January 27th, 2023 at 12:46 pm CDT

Mount Pleasant High School is proud to announce the December/January 2022/23 Students of Character, Isabella Gonzalez, Drake Landau, & Wyatt Nicholson. These students have demonstrated Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. Students are nominated by the MPCHS faculty each month. If you see these students at school or in the community, please tell them to keep up the good work! We are Panther Proud of you all!

#GoPanthers #PantherProud

Additional nominees:

Charice Auwerda

Ethan Sexauer

Jakin Bunnell

Jayden Ullrich

Grace Van De Berg

Ximena Ortiz Munoz

Henry County Supervisors Meeting Agenda (revised)

By Theresa Rose · Friday, January 27th, 2023 at 12:43 pm CDT

AGENDA

January 31, 2023

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

9:00 Jake Hotchkiss, Engineer Weekly Update

9:30 Public Hearing 1st Reading Ordinance, Repeal Title Chapter 7, General Relief Program

9:45 Joe Buffington, Van Bibber Subdivision, Section 9, Tippecanoe Township

10:00 Rich McNamee, Sheriff Present FY24 Budget

Restructure Job Classification

Resolution for Drug Task Force

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

 

Collins Capital Connection

By Theresa Rose · Friday, January 27th, 2023 at 9:53 am CDT
 

To the People of House District 95

 

My third week at the capitol is officially under my belt as the subcommittee and committee process continues to move bills towards the Governor’s desk. This week I ran my first bills out of committee, the final process before the bill is considered before the full House of Representatives.

 

Providing Choice to Parents AND Keeping Public Schools Strong

On Monday, the House passed the Governor’s school choice proposal and on Tuesday, the Governor signed the bill into law. As mentioned in previous newsletters, under this proposal, the state will contribute $7,598 to an educational savings account for parents who need an educational option outside of their local public schools. As I previously mentioned, $1,205 per student attending a private school in the district of residence would be allocated to the local public school. One piece of this bill that is getting lost in the debate though is the new spending flexibility for public schools. Under this new law, public schools will be able to take the money previously allocated specifically for programs like Teacher Leadership and use them instead to raise teacher salaries. In my district alone, that amounts to about $1.92 Million that could be used to boost teacher salaries. I along with some other rural legislators were also able to amend the Governor’s proposal to extend operational sharing for school districts through 2034. This is a critical function for rural school districts, and our area superintendents were pleased to hear of the extension when I touched base with many of them last week as the conversations with regard to education in Iowa continue.

 

Rural Emergency Hospital Legislation Advances 

This week, the House Health and Human Services Committee unanimously passed House File 13, a bill to license Rural Emergency Hospitals in Iowa. This is a priority bill of the Iowa House Republicans to ensure access to emergency care in rural areas. Federal law created this designation in 2020, and has allowed this new hospital designation to begin January 1, 2023. In order for the state to allow a hospital to convert to a Rural Emergency Hospital, the state must license these facilities as a health care facility that maintains a 24-hour emergency room, but does not include acute inpatient care. Rural Emergency Hospitals receive different reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid than other hospitals, based on the federal law. This includes quarterly payments from the Centers of Medicaid & Medicaid Services and an additional five percent increase to reimbursement for health care services. As many of you know, the Keokuk Area Hospital recently closed in Lee County. This bill would allow for that hospital to reopen as a Rural Emergency Hospital, and this bill waives the requirement for a certificate of need for that hospital.

 

AG Bird Joins Fight Against Illegal Immigration

Attorney General Brenna Bird took office in early January and is hard at work protecting Iowans. On January 24th, AG Bird joined a multistate lawsuit against the Biden Administration and the Department of Homeland Security in opposition to a “parole” program that allows hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens to cross the United States border each year. DHS announced that 360,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela would be allowed to enter the United States and apply for lawful status after they have been in the country for two years. This program creates a new visa, without authorization from Congress. In normal instances, Congressional action would be required since DHS power is limited to urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit on a case-by-case basis. Granting broad entry and potential citizenship to almost all these people is a violation of DHS powers. Texas is leading this lawsuit with the assistance of 19 other states.

 

Highway 61 Entrance / Driveways

Last week I had some outreach with regard to the width of highway entrances / driveways along the new Highway 61 north of Burlington. After hearing about the issue I made sure to reach out to the DOT to understand their policy to make sure farmers have the room they need to turn equipment off or on the roadway. The DOT clarified that their standards are a 20-foot individual access point (entrance / driveway width) and 24-foot joint access point (entrance / driveway width). If there’s a entrance / driveway that are not up to those standards, please continue to let me know!

 

Legislative Forums

My next set of legislative forums with Senator Lofgren will be Saturday, February 4th. The first one being at 9:00AM at Wilton City Hall, and the second one being at 11:00AM at Wapello City Hall. I would love to see you there!

Sincerely,

Rep. Taylor Collins
taylor.collins@legis.iowa.gov

 

 

During the Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, we listened and asked questions of Director John Benson, Director of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management about the needs of Iowa Levee systems on the both the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

 

 

This week I chaired the subcommittee and ran out of committee HF41 to further the discussion on student transportation for sending and receiving school districts. I was joined by Representative Johnson (Left).
Subscribe to Collins Capitol Connection

 

 

 

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Two Car Collision

By Theresa Rose · Friday, January 27th, 2023 at 6:21 am CDT

Thursday just before 6 pm the Mount Pleasant Police were dispatched to investigate a two car collision in the 600 block of West Courtland Street. Jill McDowell of Wayland was westbound on Courtland when her vehicle was struck by a car driven by Clare Schnicker of Mount Pleasant.  Schnicker was backing out of a driveway when the collision occurred.  No injuries were reported.

Sports, January 27th

By Slaten Swords · Friday, January 27th, 2023 at 6:04 am CDT

High School Basketball

The Holy Trinity Catholic girls’ team defeated Wapello last night 82-39 as the Crusaders put up 52 points in the second and third quarters. The boys’ basketball team also came out victorious over Wapello last night 54-48. Holy Trinity Catholic will host Van Buren County tonight for their senior night with the girls’ going at 6 pm and the boys’ playing at 7:30 pm.

New London will be hosting West Burlington tonight with the girls scheduled to play at 6 pm.

The Danville Bears will be hosting Central Lee tonight with the girls going at 6 pm.

WACO will host Hillcrest Academy tonight with the girls’ going at 6 pm followed by the boys.

Mt. Pleasant will face off against conference rival, Keokuk, tonight with the boys’ at home and the girls on the road. KILJ will be on the call for the girls’ team with the pregame show at 7:15 pm.

Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to face off with Columbus tonight with the girls’ going at 6 pm followed by the boys.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released their updated rankings yesterday. Johnston fell from their top spot in Class 5A after losing their first game of the season, Pleasant Valley is now ranked #1. Winfield-Mt. Union moved up the rankings to 9th with Burlington Notre Dame in 11th in Class 1A. Mediapolis is ranked 15th in Class 2A.

High School Wrestling

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team fell to Burlington last night 74-6. Bowen Davis picked up the lone win of the night for the Panthers by fall. In extra matches, Jaxsen Stuecker and Gavin Kerr picked up wins for Mt. Pleasant. The Panthers will be participating in the Southern Iowa Classic Tournament tomorrow morning.

The Regional Duals for boys’ wrestling has been set with Burlington Notre Dame going against Knoxville in the first round with the winner matching up against Williamsburg for Class 2A on January 31st.

The regional qualifying matches for girls’ wrestling will be taking place tonight and tomorrow.

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant will host Burlington tonight.

Iowa Wesleyan Athletics

The women’s basketball team will be back in action tonight at 5 pm against Bacone College at the Bacone Classic.

The #23 ranked men’s team is on an 18-game winning streak and getting into conference play at the Bacone Classic tonight at 7 pm..

The men’s wrestling team’s next competition will be January 31st against William Penn University.

The women’s wrestling team’s  next scheduled competition is today at the 2023 Spire Classic.

The Tigers next indoor meet will be the Grinnell Invitational tomorrow, January 28th.

Head Baseball Coach, Blake Beaber, joined us on Tiger Nation yesterday and with the season getting ready to start on February 10th, Coach explained his expectations for the team.

This Day in Sports History

1966 – Wisconsin State Circuit Court Judge Elmer W Roller rules that either the Braves stay in Milwaukee or NL must promise Wisconsin an expansion team for 1966.

1969 – Chuck Noll is named head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1973 – UCLA’s basketball team wins 61st consecutive game (NCAA record).

Burlington Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug Trafficking

By Theresa Rose · Friday, January 27th, 2023 at 5:49 am CDT

DAVENPORT, IA – A Burlington man was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in federal prison for drug trafficking.
Shawn Henry Lewis, age 37, possessed over 380 grams of cocaine and 2,200 grams ofmarijuana with intent to distribute them. Lewis has multiple prior felony convictions related to drug trafficking offenses. Following his prison term, Lewis will have to serve seven years of
supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce, Burlington Police Department, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

IHSAA Investigating Fairfield’s Monday Night Boys’ Basketball Game Against Iowa City High for Alleged Official Misconduct

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, January 26th, 2023 at 3:07 pm CDT

Fairfield, IA- With the drama that surrounded Fairfield’s Monday night boys’ basketball contest versus Iowa City High School, here is a dry summary of the event and where the investigation is currently at. The basketball game Monday night was forfeited by Iowa City High after the benches cleared following an altercation between a member of each team near the end of the game. At this point, a spectator and City High Head Coach, Brennan Swayzer, had been ejected from the game. Swayzer was ejected for getting two technical fouls in the game. After the altercation, both teams were sent to the locker room for five minutes to calm down and at the conclusion of the five minutes, City High decided to forfeit the game. The team received a police escort to the bus and out of town.

On Tuesday, Iowa City High School District would then release a statement to their staff, students, and parents stating that during the game an official directed a “racially charged” statement towards Swayzer and due to the “unsafe environment within the gym” decided to forfeit the game. They also stated that they were pleased to see the situation de-escalated the way that it was. City High did report the comment to the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), who is investigating the situation.

On Wednesday, Fairfield Community School District released a statement that said they support a safe environment and “commended its student body, athletes, coaches, and staff for demonstrating their community values of inclusion, safety, and respect during the game and subsequent events following the game.” Fairfield stated that they are more than willing to hand over any information needed for the IHSAA investigation.

The final party involved is the Iowa City Athletic Official Association (ICAOA) who provided the referees for the game. In their statement, the officials are “categorically” denying any statement of the kind were made toward the coaches by one of their officials and that “they are shocked and hurt by the accusation.” The ICAOA stated they will fully support the investigation but they are “concerned” how the City High school district did not speak to the officials or the association before releasing their statement. The investigation is currently ongoing.

From the Mount Pleasant City Council Meeting

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, January 26th, 2023 at 3:04 pm CDT

The Mount Pleasant City Council met in regular session Wednesday night.  The council held public hearings on two street reconstruction projects and went with Jones Contracting, the low bidder on both.  The Jones bid for the Aldrin Drive reconstruction came in at $164,777. The bid for re-doing West Henry Street from Jefferson to Marion was $816,777.

The Council voted to accept a bid of $1,741,100.00 from Woodruff Construction to construct a UV disinfection system at the City’s Waste Water Treatment plant.  This project is mandated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to remove certain nutrients before the effluent is discharged into the Skunk River. The City has been working for many years to make sure the system meets DNR standards. Mayor Steve Brimhall said this should be the last big requirement from the DNR.

The City Council approved hiring a 15th officer for the police department. Kyle Vaughn is from Mt. Pleasant.  He has a background with the military police and will attend the police academy before joining the department full time. His beginning salary was approved by the council at $51,646.