WEST LIBERTY, IOWA (October 28, 2022)–West Liberty, Iowa-based West Liberty Foods announced the
difficult decision to close their Mount Pleasant, Iowa facility, effective May 7, 2023. The plant closing will
affect approximately 350 team members.
“Respect and care for people is a core value of our company, and shutting down a plant is a tough thing to
do,” said Brandon Achen, President and CEO of West Liberty Foods. “Although we are taking steps to lessen
the impact on our team members, we will be eliminating the jobs of some exceptional people through no
fault of their own. I want each of them to know that we value their contributions and deeply regret the need
for this action.”
West Liberty Foods’ Mount Pleasant facility opened in 2003 with its patented Clean Room Food Processing
Systems–the first food manufacturing facility in the nation with this technology. Since opening, the facility has
produced hundreds of millions of pounds of sliced deli meats for a variety of customers in foodservice and
retail segments. The company has seen a recent shift in the types of products and capabilities needed to
support their customers. This shift has resulted in a drastic reduction in pre-sliced deli meats, leaving this
particular facility and its equipment unmatched to the company’s future needs and direction.
The company plans to move and consolidate existing operations from the Mount Pleasant facility to
remaining facilities in Iowa, Illinois, and Utah.
The shutdown will occur in two phases. The first round of reductions will occur on December 31, 2022, with
all operations ceasing at the Mount Pleasant plant on May 7, 2023. Team members were notified of the
decision in one-on-one and group meetings.
“We are committed to providing our team members with support as we work through the process of closing
the plant,” said Tara Lindsay, Chief Talent & Culture Officer. “In order to lessen the impact of the plant closing
to our team members, we will provide them with offers to work at one of our other plants, relocation and
transportation services, stay bonuses, severance pay, reemployment services, and assistance with filing
unemployment claims.”
“We are sincerely grateful to the City of Mount Pleasant for its cooperation and support over the past 20
years,” Achen said. “Our core business remains strong and we will continue to adapt to meet the needs of our
customers.”
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Henry County Jail

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:   10-31-2022______

 

  25_    Henry County Inmates

 

  42     Out of County Contract Inmates              

 

  67     TOTAL

 

NOTICE OF ELECTION

TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF HENRY COUNTY

In compliance with Provision 49.53 of the Code of Iowa, I, Shelly Barber, Commissioner of Elections of Henry County, State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim that on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, a General Election will be held for the purpose of electing candidates for the various offices.

Qualified electors may vote by presenting themselves along with identification on November 8, 2022, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the polling place for the Precinct of their residence as listed below:

 

Precinct 1 – Polling Place Wayland City Hall, 218 W Main St, Wayland – Trenton Township, Marion Township, Jefferson Township to include the incorporated cities of Wayland, Olds and the portion of Coppock within Henry County: that part of Wayne Township residents living west of James Avenue to 140^th Street and south of 140^th Street east to Highway 218 and south to the township line.

 

Precinct 2 – Polling Place Winfield City Hall, 115 N Locust St, Winfield – Canaan and Scott Townships to include the incorporated city of Winfield: that part of Wayne Township residents living east of James Avenue to 140^th Street and south of 140^th Street east of Highway 218 and south to the township line.

 

Precinct 3 – Polling Place Emergency Management Building, 900 W Washington St, Mt Pleasant  Tippecanoe Township, Salem Township to include the incorporated cities of Salem and Hillsboro, Center Townships (excluding the portions of Center Township within Mt. Pleasant’s corporate boundaries) to include the cities of Rome and Westwood

 

Precinct 4 – Polling Place Veterans Hall 1, 300 W Monroe St, Mt Pleasant – Mount Pleasant Ward 1 as defined by city ordinance.

Precinct 5 – Polling Place Veterans Hall 2, 300 W Monroe St, Mt Pleasant – Mount Pleasant Ward 2 as defined by city ordinance.

 

Precinct 6 – Polling Place Veterans Hall 3, 300 W Monroe St, Mt Pleasant – Mount Pleasant Ward 3 as defined by city ordinance.

Precinct 7 – Polling Place Veterans Hall 4, 300 W Monroe St, Mt Pleasant – Mount Pleasant Ward 4 as defined by city ordinance.

 

Precinct 8 – Polling Place New London Christian Church, 2770 New London Rd, New London – Jackson and Baltimore Townships.

 

Precinct 9 – Polling Place New London Community Center, 103 W Washington St, New London  New London Townships to include the incorporated city of New London.

 

Township Trustees and Clerks names appearing on the ballots are as follows:

 

Baltimore Township Clerk: Joseph Johnson

Baltimore Township Trustee: Write In

 

Canaan Township Clerk: Katie Byczek

Canaan Township Trustee: Write In

 

Center Township Clerk: Debbie Smith

Center Township Trustee: Stephen R. Gray

 

Jackson Township Clerk: Write In

Jackson Township Trustee: Write In

 

Jefferson Township Clerk: Dwain Alvine

Jefferson Township Trustee: Paul VonTersch

 

Marion Township Clerk: Write In

Marion Township Trustee: Write In

Marion Township Trustee To Fill 2yr Vacancy: Ryan Coop

 

New London Township Clerk: Write In

New London Township Trustee: John Fitzpatrick

 

Salem Township Clerk: Dan L. Wesely

Salem Township Trustee: Jon Mills

Salem Township Trustee To Fill 2yr Vacancy: Jerad Syfert

 

Scott Township Clerk: Patti A. Gerling

Scott Township Trustee: Brian Haymond

 

Tippecanoe Township Clerk: Gary E. Oldt

Tippecanoe Township Trustee: Mike Kerr

 

Trenton Township Clerk: Terri Bain

Trenton Township Trustee: Write In

 

Wayne Township Clerk: Brad Benson

Wayne Township Trustee: Allen G. Rodgers

 

Any voter who is physically unable to enter a polling place has the right to vote in the voter’s vehicle.  For further information, please contact the County Auditor’s Office at 319-385-0756 or e-mail sbarber@henrycountyiowa.us.  A sample ballot below is part of this Notice.

A public test of the voting equipment will be held at the Henry County Auditor’s Office on Wednesday November 2, 2022, at 9:30 a.m.

 

On October 27^th,  just after 3 pm, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received several reports of a motor vehicle collision in the 2100-grid of Highway 78.  Initial reports stated a dump truck and pick-up truck were involved.  An investigation into the collision determined only a single vehicle was involved.  A  dump truck, hauling asphalt, was traveling east bound on Highway 78 when the vehicle left the roadway and entered the south ditch.  The dump truck was being driven by Jon Deshalter, 56 of Floris, when it entered the ditch and collided with a high line power pole.  The vehicle then rolled onto the passenger side spilling the contents of the box into the ditch.  The driver was removed from the vehicle and transported to the Henry County Health Center for treatment.

On October 28, at approximately 4:45 AM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a single vehicle accident on Highway 34 near Westwood. After an investigation, it was found that Faith Conner of New London, Iowa, was traveling eastbound on Highway 34 when the right rear tire of her vehicle blew. After the tire blew, she lost control of the vehicle and struck a portion of a cable guardrail along the shoulder of the roadway. No injuries were reported.