MOUNT PLEASANT — A blank gray wall on the side of the Henry County Extension Office is being transformed into a vibrant celebration of youth, agriculture, and community, thanks to the brushstrokes of local artist Annie Guldberg — also known as Oil Painter Annie.

Guldberg, a full-time Mount Pleasant artist, has spent the past year honing her mural skills and reaching out to area organizations with one goal in mind: to bring more large-scale public art to Southeast Iowa.

Her persistence paid off when the Henry County Extension Office responded to her outreach with an offer — and a wall.

“This actually started last fall,” Guldberg explained during an interview on site. “They even had a second option — a barn east of town — but we realized it wouldn’t be visible enough. So we went with this wall, and it’s just a perfect location.”

The theme? 4-H, naturally — but with a modern twist. Working closely with the local 4-H Teen Council, Guldberg helped translate a brainstorm of ideas into a mural design that captures the diverse range of programs and experiences 4-H offers.

“It’s not just livestock or projects at the fair,” Guldberg said. “The Teen Council wanted to show the full picture — leadership, community service, STEM, agriculture, and everything in between.”

The imagery was carefully organized in a thoughtful color order, creating a cohesive visual experience for anyone passing by the Henry County Extension Office.

The mural, still in progress, is already turning heads and drawing curiosity from those passing by. With a few more sunny days, the final product will soon stand as a lasting tribute to the impact of 4-H and the creativity of a local artist driven to brighten the walls of her hometown.

Stay tuned for an unveiling once the work is complete — and a new landmark takes its place in Henry County.

Henry County Sheriff Rich McNamee appeared before the Board of Supervisors this week to renew a request for outside legal counsel ahead of an upcoming Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) hearing—calling the situation unique and unlike anything he’s encountered in his career.

“Two weeks ago, I was here asking for outside counsel,” McNamee reminded the board. “This is a unique situation. Yes, I’m being called as a witness—Current Chief Deputy Bell and retired Chief Deputy, Chad Doak, as well. But this is an Iowa Law Enforcement Academy hearing. It’s the first one I’ve heard of in my career.”

McNamee explained that the process began with a deposition in April that lasted roughly two and a half hours. At that time, he said he hadn’t realized he would not have legal representation during the proceeding, prompting his request for formal counsel moving forward.

County Attorney Darin Stater is expected to be present at the upcoming July hearing.

Chairman Marc Lindeen noted the matter warranted broader discussion and said he would direct the issue to be added to next week’s agenda. Supervisor Chad White also expressed that Supervisor Steve Detrick, who was not present, should weigh in as well.

McNamee confirmed he would return for that meeting, hoping for a decision on whether the board will authorize his request for legal representation during the ILEA process.

During this week’s regular Board of Supervisors meeting, department heads provided a series of updates covering roads, finance, court schedules, and veterans services.

Secondary Roads Update

Engineer Jake Hotchkiss reported on recent activity by the Henry County Road Department. Following recent rainfall, crews have focused on blading roads and addressing overgrowth.

“Our operators have been working on spraying noxious weeds for the second round. We’ve seen an uptick in growth,” Hotchkiss noted. Two mowers are currently assigned to gravel road routes, and the dirt patcher has been out prepping Racine Avenue for a slur-wedge and seal coat project scheduled later this summer.

Hickory Avenue’s culvert replacement was completed last week and seeded on Monday. The department has also been addressing erosion control.

Another highlight was the successful completion of the double-seal coat on Old Highway 34. “That was finished as of yesterday afternoon,” Hotchkiss confirmed. A sand seal will follow, but the road will be open for the upcoming tractor parade. Maps of parade routes were distributed, and Hotchkiss emphasized that normal traffic is expected unless otherwise requested.

Treasurer’s Office

Treasurer Kellie Sloan highlighted the ongoing driver’s license surcharge program, which brings in additional revenue from out-of-county customers. “In May, we had 51 such customers, totaling $510 in added revenue,” Sloan said. Since its implementation in January, the office has collected over $3,400 that would have otherwise gone uncollected.

Sloan also noted that Mount Pleasant is using a 2024 resolution allowing parking ticket fines to place holds on vehicle registrations. Four holds have been placed so far.

Interest collected in May totaled $42,625. The delinquent property tax list was published this week, and online registration for the June 17 tax sale will close at midnight on the 12th. Currently, 54 bidders are registered, down from the usual 250. Sloan speculated the lower figure may be due to only $195,000 in unpaid taxes remaining.

Courts & County Attorney’s Office

A Deputy County Attorney offered an overview of June’s court activity. Judge John Wright will rotate in for eight weeks. Upcoming court dates include June 9, 16, 23, and 30. Arraignments will be on the 4th and 18th. Initial appearances are held each morning at 9 a.m.

Court proceedings are open to the public, including pre-trials for traffic and simple misdemeanors on Thursdays and Fridays.

Additionally, the Attorney Stater will attend depositions on June 19–20 in Des Moines related to a state certification hearing for former deputy Arturo Perez. The County Attorney’s Office clarified they are attending to ensure civil procedure is followed. None of the involved county employees are parties in the case.

Veterans Affairs

Roger Pittsenbarger reported that claims processing times have grown due to increased caseloads transferred from California to the Des Moines VA office. “Claims are taking up to six months now,” he stated.

He attended a regional meeting and Veterans Appreciation Day at the Capitol on May 14, where Governor Reynolds declared May as Veterans Month in Iowa. Roger also highlighted regular monthly breakfasts the third week of each month at the VFW; Praising the growing attendance and guest presentations.

He noted that the 224th Brigade Engineer Battalion deployed on May 29 from Old Threshers in Mount Pleasant. The send-off drew a large turnout, including crowds lining the overpass on Highway 218. According to Pittsenbarger, 1,917 Iowa troops have been activated—a deployment scale not seen in over a decade.

The next Henry County Board of Supervisor Meeting will be Thursday June 12^th at 9am.

Washington, Iowa – On June 4, 2025, at approximately 2:39 PM, the Washington Police Department responded to a report of criminal mischief at the Washington Courthouse.

According to the caller, an individual who had been inside the courthouse earlier in the day caused damage to both the men’s and women’s restrooms.

Officer 109 responded to the scene, and a report was filed regarding the incident.

The investigation is ongoing. No further details have been released at this time.

Anyone with information regarding the incident should contact local law enforcement.

Time is running out to get your hands on delicious, farm-fresh Georgia peaches through the 2025 Heartland Youth For Christ (HYFC) Peach Sale Fundraiser! With only five days left to place your order, don’t miss your chance to support local youth programs while stocking up on one of summer’s sweetest treats.

Only Georgia peaches are available this year—Colorado peaches will not be offered.

All proceeds from the sale help fund HYFC’s outreach efforts for teens across Southeast Iowa. Your purchase directly supports mentorship, events, and faith-based programming for local youth.

Place your pre-order today at: https://heartland-yfc.square.site
Orders must be submitted by Tuesday, June 10th.

Mount Pleasant, IA — As excitement builds for the 2025 Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, organizers are reaching out to local residents for help in welcoming the thousands of guests expected during this milestone year. The In-Home Stay Program, which pairs Reunion visitors with homeowners in the Mt. Pleasant area, is in need of additional guest-friendly homes, particularly those with minimal steps or single-level layouts.

“With the current list of homes filling up, we’re seeing more and more visitors reaching out in search of places to stay,” said Grant Davidson, Public Relations & Marketing Coordinator for Midwest Old Threshers. “This program not only offers guests a welcoming place to stay—it also builds meaningful connections between our visitors and the Mt. Pleasant community.”

The 2025 Reunion will take place August 28 through September 1, as Midwest Old Threshers is Celebrating 75 Years of tradition, history, and family fun. A record attendance is anticipated for the five-day event.

Residents with homes that are easy to navigate, such as those without stairs or with accessible entrances, are especially encouraged to consider participating.

To learn more or to join the program, please contact Lori Shoultz at (309) 791-7689.

By opening their homes, community members play a vital role in making this historic celebration a warm and memorable experience for all.