DAVENPORT, Iowa — On Friday, October 7, 2022, Jason Robert Wesely, age 39 of Salem, Iowa, pled guilty in federal court to Possession of Child Pornography. Wesely is scheduled to be sentenced on February 28, 2023. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. According to court documents, on or about June 4, 2020, Wesely knowingly possessed visual depictions of child pornography. Wesely knew that the visual depictions were of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, the depictions included minors who had not attained 12 years of age, and the visual depictions had been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce by any means including by computer and cellular phone. Wesely used his phone and a DVD to commit the
crime. IP addresses connected to a social media account used in the crime were tracked to Wesely’s residence in Salem, as well as his workplace at the National Guard in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the
announcement. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the United States Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which
was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexual abused are
encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

Henry County Engineers Office announces Old Highway 34 road closure beginning November 9th. The road will be closed between Henry-Jefferson Ave east to Benton Ave for Box Culvert extension project. The project is estimated to take 3 weeks, weather permitting. Questions can be answered at 319 385-0762.

Plans are once again under way for resuming the long standing Swedish Smörgåsbord.  The local event has taken place at the Parish Hall in Swedesburg, IA on the first Thursday in December each year. That date this year will be December 1, 2022.

Smörgåsbord has been an annual event since 1938 except for a couple years during World War II when rationing limited access to necessary ingredients to prepare the feast and of course the most recent two years due to COVID. The menu consists of traditional Scandinavian dishes such as, Fruktsoppa (Fruit Soup), Bruna Bönor (Brown Beans), Svenska Köttbuller (Swedish Meatballs), Potatiskorv (Potato Sausage), and deserts Rigrynsgröt (Rice Pudding), Ostkaka (a special custard like cake), Äppelkaka (Apple Cake), Lingonberries (shipped here from Sweden), and many other dishes too numerous to list.  All are recipes that have been handed down through generations.  The event’s purpose is charitable.  Every year all profits from the event is given to mission work, either in this community, or to national and internationally related missions. Countless hours of volunteer work have gone into preparing this banquet in the past and in keeping it on the calendar for over eighty years. Tickets will, as in the past, go on sale at 9:00 a.m. at the Swedesburg Parish Hall on Monday, November 7, 2022.  A limited number of tickets will be sold for each seating.  Those seatings are 5:00, 6:00, and 7:00, and the cost is $20.00 each.

Unselfish volunteers are needed each year to ensure the event’s success. “Working Groups” have been the key to this success. The working group consists of individuals setting up tables and other “heavy” jobs to prepare the hall, scheduling music and singers for some traditional Swedish entertainment, decorating, ticket sales and the ever-popular Bit O Sweden where visitors can purchase Rye bread, Lingonberries or other baked goods to take home with them and enjoy another day. Last and equally important is the kitchen, dining room and serving area preparations.  Anyone interested in assisting any of these working groups, obtaining tickets, or for additional information contact the Swedesburg Evangelical Lutheran Church office at 319-254-2216 or office@swedesburglutheran.org .

The Swedish American Museum, located just a block east of the Parish Hall, will be open to further the Swedish experiences for visitors. Tickets for the event are also available at the Museum. Stop in or call 319-5-254-2317 to reserve tickets or for more information.

JOHNSTON – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate gathered his ‘Election Security A Team’ for a news conference Thursday to reassure voters of the many steps taken to provide a secure election. Leaders of state and federal agencies were on hand at the Iowa National Guard’s Joint Forces Headquarters to provide information on what they’re doing to ensure a safe, smooth, and accurate voting process on November 8. The State of Iowa has received national awards for its election cybersecurity efforts and was recently named one of the top three states in the nation for election administration.

“I can’t emphasize this enough: The integrity of the vote and the safety of voters are my top priorities,” Secretary Pate said. “Pre- and post-election audits, paper ballots, and Voter ID are just a few of the many protections in place. Iowans, we’ve got your back, so go out there, make your voice heard, and be a voter.”

Secretary Pate also reassured Iowans they will be able to cast their votes safely and if anyone tries to impede that process in any way, election officials have local law enforcement on speed dial.

“Intelligence and law enforcement communities at all levels of government have been tasked with ensuring our elections are safe and secure,” Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens said. “Iowans respect and actively exercise their right to vote and do so with civility and integrity. We take our responsibility to protect this right seriously and will be aggressive in deterring any criminal effort to compromise our system of government.”

The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will assist in monitoring Election Day activity.

“The State Emergency Operations Center is where we coordinate Iowa’s response to disasters and emergencies,” said John Benson, director of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “We believe utilizing this facility to monitor election activity and share information on Election Day will give us the ability to quickly respond, if necessary, to threats to the integrity of the election process.”

The State of Iowa is also working with the federal government to ensure elections are protected at every level.

“Iowans should feel very confident when they go to the ballot box, that their vote will be counted as cast,” said Phil Kirk, regional director from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “They should have every confidence in the integrity of Iowa’s elections. And they should have confidence in the state and local election officials and their partners in the federal government who’ve been working in solidarity to ensure the security and resilience of our elections.”

Secretary Pate also works with fellow state agencies to ensure top level cybersecurity protections.

“In support of this year’s election, the Department of Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) will be monitoring cyberthreats jointly with the Iowa National Guard. The State of Iowa Security Operations Center will provide 24-hour-a-day cyberthreat monitoring and heightened support during this year’s elections,” said Shane Dwyer, Chief Information Security Officer, the Office of the Chief Information Officer.

The Iowa National Guard’s Joint Task Force Cyber has also been a valuable ally in the effort to protect Iowa’s elections.

“To assure the integrity of the State of Iowa’s electoral process, the Iowa National Guard has been directed to provide electoral security assistance to the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office for the midterm election cycle. We are proud to once again serve our state and community by defending our election cyberspace domain,” said Captain Brett Leighton, Iowa National Guard Joint Task Force Cyber, Team Lead.

Secretary Pate and other speakers also urged Iowans to be leery of election misinformation and disinformation. Instead, turn to trusted sources for election information, which are the Secretary of State and county election officials.

“And I’d like to make a request to every voter who goes to the polls on Election Day: Be nice to the poll workers and treat them with respect. They stepped up to provide a civic duty and are putting in long hours. It’s an important job and they’re doing it because they care about our elections,” Secretary Pate said.

Polls will be open across Iowa from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Tuesday for the November 8 general election. Voters should visit VoterReady.Iowa.gov or their county auditor’s website to find their polling place and other election-related information.

The Mt Pleasant Police Department is conducting its annual toy drive this year.  They are looking for names of families who may need some assistance this year. Families may be called in anonymously. Names and ages of kids and phone numbers and address are needed. They are still collecting new toys up until 12/19/22 and the distribution will be on 12/22/22. Please remember this is a toy drive and adults over the age of 18 are not kids. There will be a drop box at the Mt Pleasant Police Department. This is for local residents only. The Department will be working with the Fellowship Cup and Community Action to make sure all families receive what they need. Toys for Tots will be assisting the drive as well. There are several other businesses and groups in the city that help also. If you have signed up with one of the other organizations you will not be eligible for this drive. If you were on the Police Department list last year, you are unable to be on the list this year.

Please contact the Mt Pleasant Police at 385-1450 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm.

Time flies by – are you prepared to fly? Six months from today may seem like a long time, but time has a habit of going by faster than we expect. In six months, on May 3, 2023, U.S. travelers must have a REAL ID or another TSA approved ID, such as a passport or military ID, to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. 

If you have a star on the upper-righthand corner of your Iowa driver’s license or ID card, that’s the REAL ID symbol that you’ll need to board a plane or enter a federal building beginning May 3, 2023.

Darcy Doty, Iowa Motor Vehicle Division Customer Services Bureau director states, “While not everyone will need to update their card, we’re encouraging those who may need a REAL ID to visit us prior to May 3, 2023, to ensure they’re prepared for any upcoming travel plans.” Currently, more than 1.6 million Iowans have a REAL ID, which is 63 percent of all our customers.

The REAL ID gold star designation is not available through online renewal, you must visit any Iowa driver’s license or ID issuance location in person to update your card. If your license or ID is up for renewal you can receive a REAL ID designation for no additional cost. If you wish to update to a REAL ID outside of your renewal period, it will cost $10, or the standard cost of a replacement card.

If you want to update to a REAL ID, federal law requires you to verify your identity by providing the same documentation you provided when you got your first license or ID. Before you come in for your appointment, make sure you bring hard-copy documents that provide the following information:

• Proof of your identity (Example: passport or birth certificate)
• Proof of Social Security number (Example: Social Security card, W2, 1099 form)
• Two documents that prove Iowa residency (Example: utility bill or bank statement)

If your current name is different from the name listed on your proof of identity, you’ll also need a document showing proof of name change, for example, a marriage certificate. Please bring the original, official document as we can’t accept copies. Our staff will scan your documents and return them to you.

You can use our helpful online tool to build a list of documents you need to bring with you.

Not everyone is required to get a REAL ID. If you don’t plan to use your state-issued card to fly or enter a federal building you don’t need to worry about getting one. You may also use another acceptable form of ID in place of a REAL ID. In addition, having a REAL ID does not change your ability to use your Iowa driver’s license or ID for uses such as driving, renting a vehicle, writing a check, purchasing alcohol or tobacco, or entering a casino.

In the interest of keeping Henry County residents informed, the Henry County Sheriff’s office has requested KILJ post the daily jail count. During the jail referendum campaign it was publicized that the jail would be able to house additional inmates from surrounding counties and this would generate revenue for Henry County.

Date:   11-3-2022______

   24   Henry County Inmates

   49    Out of County Contract Inmates

  73   TOTAL