The Mt. Pleasant Police Department has published the Permitted Firework Schedule for the City of Mt. Pleasant. Today and tomorrow, firework hours are 9am – 10pm. Monday through Friday (6/23/25-6/27/25) next week, hours are 9am – 10pm, on Saturday and Sunday, next weekend and on July 4th, fireworks are permitted until 11pm.
The 72nd West Point Sweet Corn Festival is scheduled for August 7-10 this year in West Point and Princess applications are out! The 2025 Sweet Corn Festival Princess will be crowned on August 7th at the Pilot Grove Stage. Application and further information are found at the Sweet Corn Festival website: http://www.westpointsweetcornfestival.com/ or use the link below.
https://forms.gle/iVEPC6dgXxnCb6aw6
Local law enforcement agencies are warning citizens about a new scam that appears to be coming from the Iowa Department of Transportation Text. The text messages falsely state that you owe a traffic fine and threaten you with penalties unless you click a suspicious payment link. Do not click on the link. The Iowa DOT will never solicit citizens to pay a toll fee or traffic violation through a text message. And if you will note, the phone number where the text message originates from, is outside of the United States.
The Highland and WACO Community School Districts are preparing to transition from current shared Superintendent Ken Crawford to Spencer Lueders. Lueders has most recently served as the 4th-6th grade intermediate principal at Central Dewitt Community School District.
The transition will officially take place on July 1, as Crawford retires. Lueders has emphasized the importance of making the transition as smooth as possible.
Monica Ann Simmons Blanck, 89, of New London, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Park Place Elder Living in Mt. Pleasant, under hospice care, surrounded by her loving family.
Monica was born on July 16, 1935, in North English, Iowa, to Frank and Margaret LaRue Rhoades Simmons. On December 29, 1956, she married the love of her life, Gary L. Blanck, at the New London United Methodist Church.
She was a proud 1953 graduate of New London High School and the Burlington Hospital School of Nursing. As a lifelong registered nurse, Monica worked at the MHI in Mt. Pleasant, then for 25 years worked as an office nurse for Drs. H. M. Readinger and William Vaughan in New London, retiring in 2000. Monica was also deeply committed to her community having served on the board of the Dover Historical Society. She had a keen interest in restoration, spending much of her life remodeling homes with her husband with more than twenty of those throughout New London. She and Gary loved to travel and one of her favorite traditions was traveling to Coin-Op shows in Chicago. When Gary was on the fire department, Monica took classes to become part of the women’s auxiliary.
Monica is survived by her husband of New London; daughters Tammy Watts (Mark Pugh) of Danville and Julie (Kory) Lindell of New London; grandchildren Spencer (Jena) Watts, Layne (Travis) Luttenegger, and Baylee (Spencer) Lindell Schneier; five great-grandchildren, Lilly, William, and Henry Luttenegger, and Kainen and Kooper Watts; and two nephews, William (Izzy) Simmons and Ed (Winnie) Simmons.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother William; son-in-law Steve Watts; nephew Andrew Simmons; and great-niece Valerie Simmons.
The family will greet friends from 9:00 – 11:00 am, Thursday, June 26, 2025 at Elliott Chapel, New London, with a Celebration of her life beginning at 11:00. Private family inurnment at Burge Cemetery will be at a later date. Memorials have been established for Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice and Park Place Elder Living. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Fax: 319-385-3601
Chad White, Vice-Chair Marc Lindeen, Chairman Steven Detrick, Member
319-385-0759 319-385-0760 319-385-0761________
WORK SESSION
Board of Supervisors
June 23, 2025
10:00 a.m.
Open Burning Ordinance
AGENDA
Board of Supervisors
June 23, 2025
11:00 a.m.
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.
