The Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities would like to inform customers and general public that on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, Westrum Leak Detection Service will begin doing the annual leak detection. This will occur over a three-day period, day and night. They will be in a van with the MPMU logo and also on an unmarked moped. For questions or additional details, please call 319-385-2121 (24 hrs.).

Wheels will be spinning at New London’s Dover Museum Sunday August 21^st at 1:30 p.m. when Lois DiPrima and her twin sister arrive in period attire to demonstrate the art of using a spinning wheel.  Nearly all pioneer homes contained a spinning wheel as this was how wool from the family’s sheep became yarn for weaving blankets, knitting socks, sweaters, caps, etc. essentials in the home.

Dover Museum’s spinning wheel, called a ‘walking wheel’ came to rural New London in 1836 with the John Lee family from Ohio, to Illinois and then here.  Lee built his house, the first 2-story log home in Henry County, for his family of 12 children.  This spinning wheel must have received a lot of use!  It stayed in the Lee family for five generations and was shipped to us from California along with a chair.

There is no charge for the program but donations are welcome.  The museum is handicap accessible and refreshments will be served.

STEVE HEABERLIN’S ‘OMG SMOKED BEEF RIBS’ EARNS CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN AT THE 58^th ANNUAL IOWA FARM BUREAU COOKOUT CONTEST AT STATE FAIR

Winners in special categories included youth first place, Kelsey Kruse of Lee County and the team winners, Team Parker of Boone County.  Kruse received a gas grill valued at $1,000 and $300, courtesy of the Iowa Propane Gas Association. The team winners, the Parker Family of Boone, received $300.  Scott Degeneffe and his assistants won the praises of the judges for their flair behind the grill and engagement with fairgoers and received the $200 showmanship prize.

After the wood fired flames extinguished along the Iowa State Fair’s Grand Concourse, Steve Heaberlin of Warren County was crowned the 2022 Iowa Farm Bureau ‘Cookout Champion’ of the 58^th annual cookout contest at the Iowa State Fair.  Heaberlin’s coffee-rubbed smoked beef ribs were voted as the championship-winning dish among dozens of qualifiers from around the state at the Farm Bureau Day tradition.

Heaberlin’s meaty fall-off-the-bone ribs were favored by the judges over a wide array of entries from some of the state’s best backyard chefs during the decades long Iowa State Fair tradition.  In addition to being crowned the overall Farm Bureau Cookout Champion, Heaberlin also won first place in the beef division.

Competitors in the Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest earned entry by smoking, grilling or barbecuing their way to victory in a county Farm Bureau contest in one of eight categories: Beef, Combo/Specialty, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, Turkey, Team or Youth.  Heaberlin qualified winning the beef division during the Warren County Farm Bureau Cookout Contest, one of more than a dozen local cookout contests held earlier this summer.

The delicately sliced slices of Heaberlin’s beef ribs beat out entries like dry rubbed prime rib, stuffed pork loin, baby back pork ribs, smoked chicken and turkey dishes.  Other exotic entries like elk burgers, lamb fajitas, pheasant kabobs, smoked pork belly tacos and various bacon wrapped dishes caught the judges’ eyes and impressed fairgoers eager for samples and recipe cards from the participants.

“The Farm Bureau Cookout Contest has become a staple of the state fair and is a great way to showcase the diversity of Iowa livestock production and Iowa’s best backyard cooks,” said Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) President Brent Johnson.  “The dedication and passion from today’s contestants reflect the virtues of Iowa farmers committed to responsible livestock care, and the cookout contest is a great tradition celebrating Iowans’ affinity for meat and the farmers who raise it.”

Heaberlin’s championship winning beef ribs topped several other beef entries in route to being selected as the contest’s overall winner.  He received $300, the champion’s crown and a trophy as the 2022 Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest Champion. Heaberlin also won $300 for winning the beef division.

Other first place winners, county contest represented and their categories were: Michelle Bruce, Benton County, lamb; Joe Renze, Hardin County, pork; Sean Van Cannon, Boone County, poultry; Robert Pepin Adair County, turkey and Scott Degeneffe, Boone County, combo/specialty.  All category winners received a $300 prize.

Second place finishers, county contest represented and their categories were: Gary Klahn, Clinton County, beef; Shannon Glaser, Adair County, lamb; Rex Crosser, Hardin County, pork; Theresa Glaser, Adair County, poultry; Judy Hanson, Adair County, turkey and Kim Pepin, Adair County, combo/specialty.  All second-place division winners received $150.

Prize sponsors for the Farm Bureau Cookout Contest include: Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Bureau Financial Services, GROWMARK, Inc., Iowa Propane Gas Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the Iowa Turkey Federation, Iowa Poultry Association, and the Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board.

Visit www.iowafarmbureau.com for Heaberlin’s championship-winning ‘OMG Beef Ribs’ recipe and marinade and view other recipes from the 2022 Cookout Contest.

On August 10th, 2022, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a domestic disturbance incident having occurred on Salem Road in rural Salem, Iowa area.  Henry County Deputies responded, and an investigation ensued. A physical altercation was found to have occurred resulting injury to the victim. Resulting from this incident a charge of Domestic Abuse assault w/ injury were filed against Justin Traman, 33, of Salem.

On August 15^th, 2022, at approximately 10:06AM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a disturbance occurring in the 300 Block of South Main Street in Salem.  An investigation into the report resulted in the arrest of Samantha Sammons, 33, of Salem.  Sammons was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Interference with Official Acts, both simple misdemeanors.

On August 15th, 2022, at approximately 8:24AM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a collision at the intersection of Highway 78 and Highway 218.  An investigation determined that Mary Zoeckler, 81, of Morning Sun, was driving her 2014 Honda CRV when she rear ended a 2019 Jeep Compass driven by Julie Reynolds, 42, of Mt. Union.  Reynolds was legally stopped at the stop sign waiting for traffic to pass when the collision occurred.  After the initial collision, Zoeckler’s vehicle continued off the roadway where it struck a utility pole.  Damage to the Zoeckler vehicle was estimated at $6000.  Damage to the Reynolds vehicle was estimated at $4500.   No injuries were reported.  Zoeckler was issued a citation for Failure to Maintain Control.

AGENDA

August 18, 2022

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

Approve Claims

9:00 Resolution & MOU for Use of $12,500 of

ARPA Funds for No Wait Inside

10:00 Adam Kern, Hub International Henry County Insurance.

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is conducting farmland leasing meetings across many different locations in Southeast Iowa during July and August 2022. Meetings are coordinated by county ISU Extension and Outreach offices.

The discussion will focus on various methods to determine a fair 2023 cash rental rate and the importance of good tenant/landlord communications. In addition, a brief economic outlook will be presented along with a look at farmland prices and trends in cash rents. How and when to terminate a farmland lease, where do cover crops fit in, current costs of production, etc. will also be discussed. According to the Cash Rental Rates for Iowa – 2022 Survey released in mid-May, the average 2022 cash rent statewide is $256 per tillable acre, a slight increase from $232 in 2021. Average cash rents have been slightly increasing the past 4 years.

The Henry County meeting will be held on August 24, 2022 at the Henry County Extension Office, located at 127 N. Main Street in Mt. Pleasant, beginning at 9 a.m. with doors open at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will last approximately 2 ½ hours and will be facilitated by Charles Brown, Farm Management Specialist, with ISU Extension and Outreach.

Pre-registration is required at least two days before the meeting and a $20 per individual fee is payable at the door. Participants will receive a 100-page booklet and meeting handouts designed to assist landowners, tenants and other agri-business professionals with issues related to farmland ownership, management and leasing arrangements.

Contact the Henry County Extension office at (319) 385-8126 with your questions or to pre-register on or before August 22, 2022.

For a list of meetings statewide, check the ISU Extension calendar for a meeting near you at Meetings | Ag Decision Maker (iastate.edu).