Avian Flu in Louisa County

By Theresa Rose · Monday, November 7th, 2022 at 5:12 pm CDT

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and USDA APHIS Confirm Cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a Non-Commercial Backyard Flock in Louisa County and a Commercial Layer Flock in Wright County

DES MOINES, Iowa (November 7, 2022) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed positive cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Louisa County, Iowa and in Wright County, Iowa.

The virus was found in a non-commercial backyard flock in Louisa County and a commercial layer flock in Wright County.

“Migration is expected to continue for several more weeks and whether you have backyard birds or a commercial poultry farm, bolstering your biosecurity continues to be the best way to protect your flock from this disease,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Our coordinated response team, comprised of state and federal professionals working with the affected producers, will continue to move swiftly to limit the spread of this virus.”

Commercial and backyard flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. Sick birds or unusual deaths among birds should be immediately reported to state or federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available at iowaagriculture.gov/biosecurity. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present a public health concern. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products. An internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses.

About HPAI

HPAI is highly contagious viral disease affecting bird populations. HPAI can travel in wild birds without those birds appearing sick, but is often fatal to domestic bird populations, including chickens and turkeys. The virus can spread through droppings or the nasal discharge of an infected bird, which can contaminate dust and soil.

Signs of HPAI include:

  • Sudden increase in bird deaths without any clinical signs
  • Lethargy and lack of energy and appetite
  • Decrease in egg production
  • Soft- or thin-shelled or misshapen eggs
  • Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks
  • Purple/blue discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Coughing, sneezing, and/or nasal discharge (runny nose)
  • Stumbling or falling down
  • Diarrhea

 

For additional information on HPAI, please visit https://iowaagriculture.gov/animal-industry-bureau/avian-influenza

Henry County Supervisors Meeting Agenda

By Theresa Rose · Monday, November 7th, 2022 at 3:31 pm CDT

AGENDA

 November 8, 2022

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

Appointment to the Civil Service Commission

9:00 Jake Hotchkiss, Engineer Weekly Update

Motion to approve Right-of-Way Contract for Project on Old Hwy 34

10:00 Meeting with DHS in Regard to Remodel

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

Sports, November 7th

By Slaten Swords · Monday, November 7th, 2022 at 6:06 am CDT

High School Football

The WACO Warriors will play Newell-Fonda this Wednesday, November 9th, at 1 pm with KILJ on the call with pregame at 12:45. Remsen St. Mary’s will play Lenox after the WACO game to decide who will play in the State Championship game.

The only team left in Mt. Pleasant’s district is North Scott as they will play Xavier at 7 pm on Thursday, November 10th.

The Mt. Pleasant football team held their annual football banquet last night where they honored all the players, coaches, family members, and other personnel involved in helping the Freshman, JV, and Varsity teams. Coach Striegel also announced awards to some of the players on the Varsity team starting with the First-Team All-District Team: Jacob Richtman, Zerek Venghaus, and Carter Amos. Bowen Davis and Wyatt Woodsmall made Second-Team All-District and Payton Walker was named District Punter of the Year.

For team awards, as voted upon by the players, Wyatt Woodsmall was Offensive MVP. Zerek Venghaus earned Defensive MVP and Harmon Ensminger emerged as Lineman of the Year.

For coaches awards, Bowen Davis earned Most Improved as he led the team in tackles with 52. Zerek Venghaus was awarded the Panther Award, as this award is given to the player who most embodies what it means to be a Panther. Venghaus rushed for 340 yards and 5 touchdowns on the season. Lastly, Jacob Richtman was given the Sportsmanship Award as he finished the season with 1,736 passing yards and 14 touchdowns. Coach Striegel talked about the season and what the senior class meant to the program.

Elementary Basketball Tournament

Mount Pleasant Christmas Holidays 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for 3rd – 8th grade boys and girls will be held on Dec 17th, 2022. For more registration details contact Coach Ronnie Ashton at 319-931-2896.

Iowa Wesleyan Athletics

The men’s and women’s cross country teams competed Friday at the 2022 Continental Athletic Conference Championship with the men capturing 5th place and the women earning 4th place. Two Tigers ran fast enough to compete at Nationals on November 18th, Logan Lucas, who ran a time of 27 minutes 52 seconds, and Lily Garnsey, who finished in 7th place with a time of 21 minutes

High School Football

The WACO Warriors will play Newell-Fonda this Wednesday, November 9th, at 1 pm with KILJ on the call with pregame at 12:45. Remsen St. Mary’s will play Fremont-Mills after the WACO game to decide who will play in the State Championship game.

The only team left in Mt. Pleasant’s district is North Scott as they will play Xavier at 7 pm on Thursday, November 10th.

The Mt. Pleasant football team held their annual football banquet last night where they honored all the players, coaches, family members, and other personnel involved in helping the Freshman, JV, and Varsity teams. Coach Striegel also announced awards to some of the players on the Varsity team starting with the First-Team All-District Team: Jacob Richtman, Zerek Venghaus, and Carter Amos. Bowen Davis and Wyatt Woodsmall made Second-Team All-District and Payton Walker was named District Punter of the Year.

For team awards, as voted upon by the players, Wyatt Woodsmall was Offensive MVP. Zerek Venghaus earned Defensive MVP and Harmon Ensminger emerged as Lineman of the Year.

For coaches awards, Bowen Davis earned Most Improved as he led the team in tackles with 52. Zerek Venghaus was awarded the Panther Award, as this award is given to the player who most embodies what it means to be a Panther. Venghaus rushed for 340 yards and 5 touchdowns on the season. Lastly, Jacob Richtman was given the Sportsmanship Award as he finished the season with 1,736 passing yards and 14 touchdowns. Coach Striegel talked about the season and what the senior class meant to the program.

Elementary Basketball Tournament

Mount Pleasant Christmas Holidays 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for 3rd – 8th grade boys and girls will be held on Dec 17th, 2022. For more registration details contact Coach Ronnie Ashton at 319-931-2896.

Iowa Wesleyan Athletics

The men’s and women’s cross country teams competed Friday at the 2022 Continental Athletic Conference Championship with the men capturing 5th place and the women earning 4th place. Two Tigers ran fast enough to compete at Nationals on November 18th, Logan Lucas, who ran a time of 27 minutes 52 seconds, and Lily Garnsey, who finished in 7th place with a time of 21 minutes 58 seconds.

The Tiger football team finished the season with a 4-6 record after losing to Waldorf 7-3 Saturday afternoon. The lone points of the game came on a 24-yard field goal from Lucas Mosqueda. Jeremiah Pauling led the Tiger defense in tackles with 11 and added an interception. Major Niccum tallied two sacks, and Jakim Brock had an interception, as well. The Tiger defense allowed only 213 yards on the day.

The men’s basketball team will play Culver-Stockton College at home tomorrow, November 8th, at 7:30 pm.

The women’s basketball team’s next game will be November 9th at home against Mount Mercy University at 5:30 pm. They are currently 2-1 on the season.

This Day in Sports History

1943 – Detroit Lions 0, NY Giants 0; last scoreless tie in NFL.

1989 – Baltimore Orioles Gregg Olson is 1st relief pitcher to win AL Rookie of Year.

1991 – Magic Johnson announces he has the HIV virus & retires from LA Lakers.

 

 

November 7th, 2022 – November 13th, 2022

By Allison Jacobs · Sunday, November 6th, 2022 at 8:37 pm CDT
11/08/22
Lea Anderson
11/09/22
Jason & Megan Denning
11/09/22
Marcus Mullin
11/09/22
Marilyn Freeman - 60
11/09/22
Becky & Jerry Keeley
11/10/22
Dean & Doris Aicher (50th)
11/11/22
Ron Denning
11/12/22
Steve & Mary Murphy Anniversary
11/13/22
Linda Kimzey

Sports, November 6th

By Slaten Swords · Sunday, November 6th, 2022 at 11:52 am CDT

High School Football

The WACO Warriors crushed Montezuma 52-7 Thursday night at home. The Warrior defense allowed just 4 rushing yards on the game and Reese Oswald had a 26-yard pick-six. Coach Edeker commented on his team’s excellent defensive performance after the game. Isaac Oswald tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Lounden Huisenga, but most of the damage was done on the ground by Simeon Reichenbach who totaled 264 yards and four touchdowns, Huisenga added a rushing touchdown as well. They will play Newell-Fonda next Wednesday, November 9th, at 1 pm with KILJ on the call with pregame at 12:45.

The other winners for 8-man football were Remsen St. Mary’s as they defeated G-T/R-A 63-14. Lenox eliminated Fremont-Mills 32-8 and Newell-Fonda outlasted Gladbrook-Reinbeck 46-36.

In Mt. Pleasant’s district, North Scott defeated Waverly-Shell Rock 20-10 to move on in the playoffs, while Iowa City Liberty fell to Carlisle at home 56-28.

Elementary Basketball Tournament

Mount Pleasant Christmas Holidays 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for 3rd – 8th grade boys and girls will be held on Dec 17th, 2022. For more registration details contact Coach Ronnie Ashton at 319-931-2896.

Iowa Wesleyan Athletics

The men’s and women’s cross country teams competed yesterday at the 2022 Continental Athletic Conference Championship with the men capturing 5th place and the women earning 4th place. For the men, Logan Lucas led the Tigers finishing in 6th place with a time of 27 minutes 52 seconds. Lucas ran well enough to earn the opportunity to run at Nationals and earned Second-Team All-Conference. Florida College captured the team title with Jaiven Hale from Haskell Indian Nations University being named Runner of the Year.

 On the women’s side, the Tigers were paced by Lily Garnsey, who finished in 7th place with a time of 21 minutes 58 seconds, and Faith Younce, who ran a time of 22 minutes 7 seconds which placed her in 9th. Garnsey ran fast enough to qualify for Nationals and earned Second-Team All-Conference honors along with Faith Younce. Haskell Indian Nations University captured first overall with Tiajhae Nez from the same school earning Runner of the Year.

The Tiger football team finished the season with a 4-6 record after losing to Waldorf 7-3 Saturday afternoon. The Tigers took a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter after a 24-yard field goal from Lucas Mosqueda. But, Waldorf scored a touchdown in the third quarter to take the lead and the eventual final score. The Tiger defense allowed only 213 yards on the day.

The men’s basketball team will play Culver-Stockton College at home Tuesday, November 8th, at 7:30 pm.

The women’s basketball team’s next game will be November 9th at home against Mount Mercy University at 5:30 pm. They are currently 2-1 on the season

This Day in Sports History

1869 – 1st US college football game, players used their hands or feet, Rutgers 6 Princeton 4.

1883 – NYAC organizes 1st American cross-country championship race.

1929 – Providence Steam Roller become first NFL team to host a game at night under floodlights; lose 16-0 against the Chicago Cardinals at the Cycledrome, Providence, RI.

 

Doris Sallen

By Theresa Rose · Friday, November 4th, 2022 at 5:00 pm CDT

Doris Sallen, 79, of Farmington, passed away at 2:26 p.m. Thursday, November 3, 2022, at the West Point Care Center.

She was born on April 2, 1943, the daughter of John and Dorothy (Krogmeier) Merschman in West Point, Iowa. On November 26, 1966, she married Dan Sallen at St. James the Less Catholic Church in St. Paul, Iowa.

She is survived by her husband: Danny; seven siblings: Frank (Kelly) Merschman of North Palm Beach, Florida, Paul (Sue) Merschman of Scottsdale, Arizona, Mary Jane (John) Koehler of Montrose, Iowa, Harold (Linda) Merschman of Daphne, Alabama, Ruth Lancaster of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Rosemary (Tom) Deutsch of New Hampton, Iowa and Carol Sorenson of Oceanside, California; three sister-in-laws: Shirley Merschman of Lindstrom, Minnesota, Charlene Sallen of Fort Madison, Iowa and MaryAnn (Richard) Moeller of Houghton, Iowa. Also surviving are several cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; twin brother: Don Merschman; in-laws: Albert and Bertha Sallen and Greg Sallen.

Doris was a 1961 graduate of St. James Catholic School in St. Paul. She and Danny spent their married life in the rural West Point and rural Farmington areas. In her younger years, Doris helped her parents care for her brothers and sisters, run errands and help with household chores. In married life, Doris helped her husband farming and with the trucking business. Doris was a faithful member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Farmington. She enjoyed embroidering pillowcases and dish towels, playing with her cats, hearing about her many nieces and nephews and keeping track of her other Merschman and Krogmeier family members.

Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point, Iowa, where the family will meet with friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A parish rosary will be  recited at 6:30 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at St. Mary’s  of the Assumption Catholic Church in West Point, Iowa, with Father Dan Dorau as celebrant.

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in West Point, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in her memory for St. Boniface Catholic Church, West Point Care Center or Lee County Hospice.

Betty D. McLaughlin

By Theresa Rose · Friday, November 4th, 2022 at 3:01 pm CDT

Betty D. McLaughlin, 94, of Mediapolis, died Thursday, November 3, 2022, at her home.

 

Born August 21, 1928, in Burlington, Iowa, she was the daughter of Cletus and Margaret (Ruff) Beckman. She married John McLaughlin on June 3, 1950. He died on February 1, 1989.

 

Betty was a homemaker. She was of the Christian faith. She loved helping and spending time with her grandchildren. She was dedicated to learning God’s Word daily.

 

She is survived by her children; Rick (Sandra) McLaughlin of Mediapolis, Dave McLaughlin of Mount Pleasant, Brent (Nancy) McLaughlin of Mediapolis, Annette (Vince) Mahan of Greenville, Texas, Luann (Fred) Nelson and Denise (Doug) Roelfs both of Mediapolis; 15 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Donald (Mary Lee) Beckman and Clifford Beckman; sister-in-law Betty Beckman all of Burlington and numerous nieces and nephews.

 

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers and two sisters.

 

The memorial funeral service for Mrs. McLaughlin will be 3:00 p.m. Friday, November 11th at Lunning Chapel. The Rev. Father Gary Beckman will officiate. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until the time of services. A private family inurnment will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Dodgeville.

According to her wishes, cremation has been accorded and entrusted to Lunning Chapel.

Memorials have been established for the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House or to the Operation Grace World Missions Fund PO Box 19508, Houston TX 77224-9508.

Drug and Weapons Charges

By Theresa Rose · Friday, November 4th, 2022 at 1:26 pm CDT

On 11/3/22 at 12:56 hours the Mt Pleasant Police Department investigated a drug complaint in the 200 block of W Franklin St (dirt lot behind McKibben Hall) in Mt Pleasant involving 4 individuals in a vehicle. A  search of the vehicle resulted in marijuana and a pistol being located. The pistol was later found to be stolen from Mt Pleasant earlier this fall. As a result of the investigation, all four subjects were charged with Possession of Marijuana. They were identified as Jaylin Randa, age 20 of Coralville, Iowa and Iowa Wesleyan University students Jaxon Lay age 19, Cordelris Neely age 18, Alvis Johnson age 19. Alvis Johnson was also charged with Trafficking Stolen Weapons. Johnson and Lay were arrested and transported to the Henry County Jail and the others were issued summons to court.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.