DES MOINES — Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to fly at half-staff immediately through interment of Her Majesty the Queen. As of the timing of this release, the date of internment has not been officially announced, though it’s possible flags will remain at half-staff through next weekend in honor and remembrance of the death of Queen Elizabeth. She died on September 8, 2022 at her castle in Balmoral, Scotland.

“Today we recognize the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II,” said Gov. Reynolds. “She was a remarkable and steadfast woman who fought side by side with the United States through some of the Free World’s most trying times. I’ll always admire her fortitude, love of freedom, and tenacity that has inspired other women in leadership.  Kevin and I join with Iowans in sharing our condolences to the Royal Family.”

The governor’s order is issued in conjunction with President Biden’s proclamation to lower all United States flags to half-staff for the same length of time.  Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties, and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flags at half-staff for the same length of time.

Mount Pleasant School Board SITE AND POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING

Central Office

1010 East Washington Street – Suite 102

Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641

The Mount Pleasant Board of Education SITE AND POLICY COMMITTEES will meet at 4:00PM on Thursday, September 8, 2022 to review/discuss:

Site Committee Agenda Items:

1. Review FY23 Penny Sales Tax Revenue Estimates
2. HVAC Upgrades Review – Scope of Project
3. Activity Bus Cargo Compartment Repair

Policy Committee Agenda Items

4. Review FY23 Proposed Fundraisers
5. Open School Board Policy Series 100, Educational Philosophy
6. Overnight Trip Request – FFA National Convention, Oct. 26-29
7. IASB Special Delegate Assembly – Tuesday, September 13 @ 6pm

The meeting is open to the public and patrons are welcome

People Can Call, Text 988 to Receive Free Mental Health Support

The 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline short code is now widely available for dialing through landlines, cellphones and voice-over-internet devices in the United States. This new three-digit number makes it easier for people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress to connect with trained mental health counselors in real-time.

In 2020, Congress designated the 988 dialing code to be operated through the existing Lifeline and set a goal date of July 16, 2022, for it to be available nationwide. UScellular activated 988 dialing in 2020 and added texting functionality in 2022.

The importance of having the 988 number available during September’s National Suicide Prevention Month cannot be overstated. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the U.S. had one death by suicide about every 11 minutes in 2020. For people ages 10 to 34 years, suicide is a leading cause of death. From April 2020 to 2021, more than 100,000 individuals died from drug overdoses.

“Suicide is a serious public health crisis that impacts people of all ages, so ensuring this service was available for our customers was a priority,” said Narothum Saxena, vice president of technology strategy and architecture at UScellular and executive sponsor of the company’s associate resource group focused on mental health awareness. “By making it easier and faster to access help at critical times, our hope is that those in need take advantage of the mental health support available, and more lives can be saved.”

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, now called the 988 Crisis and Suicide Lifeline, is a national network of over 200 local, independent crisis centers equipped to help people in mental health-related distress or experiencing a suicidal crisis, via call, chat or text. The Lifeline provides free and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week across the U.S. Lifeline calls are routed to the nearest crisis center, and there is no cost for dialing the number.

SAMHSA, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs worked to make 988 a reality, which is more than just an easy-to-remember number. It’s a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress – whether that is thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis or any other kind of emotional distress. People also can dial or text 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

Iowa Wesleyan University reports a 4% over all increase in enrollment from last year.  This includes the new, online and transfer undergraduate students.  And while the first year freshmen numbers are down the retention rate for sophomores and juniors is the second highest it’s been in fifteen years.  VP for Enrollment, Marketing and Communications attributes this to the focus over the last couple years on student support.

August 29 – September 4, 2022

DES MOINES, Iowa (Sept. 6, 2022) — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November.

“The weather could not have been better for Farm Progress Show attendees last week as exhibitors highlighted and demonstrated the latest innovations across the ag sector,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Now that we are past the Labor Day holiday and the days of summer dwindle, farmers are keeping a close eye on outlooks in preparation for harvest. With the potential for warm and dry conditions through fall, we need to remain vigilant for potential fire hazards as combines start to roll.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report

Continuing mostly dry conditions across most of the State resulted in 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 4, 2022, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included harvesting corn for silage, cutting hay, seeding cover crops, and preparing equipment for harvest.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 16 percent very short, 30 percent short, 53 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 19 percent very short, 31 percent short, 49 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Moisture levels in the Northwest, West Central, Southwest, South Central and Southeast Districts of Iowa continued to be a concern with over 50 percent of both topsoil and subsoil considered short to very short.

Corn in or beyond dough stage was 96 percent. Seventy-one percent of Iowa’s corn crop reached the dent stage or beyond, 3 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of average. Ten percent of the State’s corn crop was mature, 2 days behind both last year and the 5-year average. Corn condition remained 66 percent good to excellent. Ninety-seven percent of soybeans were setting pods. Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 20 percent, 5 days behind last year and 4 days behind the 5-year average. Soybeans began dropping leaves at 2 percent, 1 week behind last year and almost a week behind the average. Soybean condition rated 66 percent good to excellent. Oats harvested for grain neared completion at 96 percent.

Seventy-six percent of the State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay was complete, 5 days behind average. Pasture condition rated 32 percent good to excellent. Producers were supplementing short pastures with hay and grain.

Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

The day count for meteorological summer ran out over the reporting period as cooler temperatures filtered into the state towards the weekend. Weekly temperatures were still unseasonably warm with positive departures of up to four degrees; the statewide average temperature was 71.4 degrees, 1.4 degrees above normal. Rainfall was also below average statewide with departures approaching 0.80 inch. Only a handful of stations in eastern Iowa measured above-average totals.

Showers and thunderstorms continued to push out of eastern Iowa through Sunday (28th) afternoon as clouds cleared across western Iowa. Lower 80s were reported in eastern Iowa, where the sun was shielded behind cumulus clouds, while upper 80s were found farther west. A secondary cold front moved through Iowa overnight, producing spotty thunderstorms in western and central Iowa just before sunrise. Rain totals reported at 7:00 am on Monday (29th) were highest in northeastern and east-central Iowa, with more and 0.50 inch measured at 20 stations; Calamus (Clinton County) reported 1.13 inches while Cresco (Winneshiek County) observed 1.40 inch. A narrow line of severe-warned thunderstorms continued through central and southern Iowa through the late morning hours before crossing the Iowa-Illinois border before noon. Accumulating rains were isolated to Iowa’s southeastern one-quarter with Chariton (Lucas County) picking up 0.22 inch and a 0.64 inch-total found in Muscatine (Muscatine County). Winds shifted to the northwest behind the front with seasonal high temperatures in the low 80s under clear skies. Starry skies persisted into Tuesday (30th) morning as calm conditions allowed temperatures to drop in the upper 40s and low 50s in western Iowa; upper 50s and low 60s blanketed eastern Iowa as the sun rose. Daytime highs were very pleasant, reaching into the mid 70s east to low 80s west under a nice northerly breeze and cloudless skies. Winds shifted to an easterly direction as darkness overtook Iowa into Wednesday (31st) with morning lows in the 50s statewide. Afternoon temperatures were warmer than the previous days as southerly winds helped boost readings into the upper 80s and low 90s south and west with mid to upper 80s northeast. A few spotty thundershowers held together over the South Dakota border into the evening hours before dissipating.

Partly cloudy skies developed into early Thursday (1st) as a disturbance approached western Iowa. Afternoon conditions varied from upper 80s and low 90s northwest to upper 70s to mid 80s south, where clouds tamped down on daytime heating as showers developed. This cluster of rainfall expanded into central Iowa through the evening hours as a few thundershowers also fired. Rainfall dissipated in northeast Iowa through the later morning hours on Friday (2nd) as clearing skies greeted most of Iowa’s reporting stations. Morning lows remained in 60s with generally light rainfall totals observed along a narrow swath; a handful of stations reported over 0.30 inch with Garwin (Tama County) registering 0.33 inch and Norwalk (Warren County) dumping out 1.02 inches. Southerly winds built back in through the day as a cold front dropped southeast, pushing temperatures in the low 90s over much of Iowa. Temperatures behind the front remained in the lower 80s. A few isolated, near-stationary thunderstorms popped in southern Iowa through the evening hours along with more scattered cells along the frontal boundary into nighttime. Cooler air flowed in behind the cold front as winds shifted to the north; 50s were observed in western Iowa with mid 60s still hanging on in the east. Saturday (3rd) was a seasonal day in Iowa with daytime temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s under brilliant sunshine. Chilly overnight lows greeted sunrise on Sunday (4th) with upper 40s and low 50s statewide.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no accumulation at several northwestern Iowa stations to 1.80 inches at the National Weather Service office in Davenport (Scott County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.25 inch while the normal is 0.90 inch. Donnellson (Lee County) and Osceola (Clarke County) reported the week’s high temperature of 95 degrees on the 29th and 2nd, respectively, on average 12 degrees above normal. Airports in Spencer (Clay County) and Sioux City (Woodbury County) reported the week’s low temperature of 47 degrees on the 4th, on average eight degrees below normal.

AGENDA

September 8, 2022

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

Approve Claims

9:00 SEIRPC Regarding ARPA Report

9:30 Lynn Whaley, Wemiga Waste Update

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is encouraging Iowans to ensure they are registered to vote at their current residence. September is National Voter Registration Month, and with the November 8 general election approaching this is an ideal time for eligible Iowans to register for the first time or update their registration to ensure their information current. Tuesday, September 20 is National Voter Registration Day.

“The best way to make your voice heard is by registering to vote and participating in elections. It gives you power,” Secretary Pate said. “I urge all eligible but unregistered Iowans to take just three minutes this month and register to vote. If you’re already registered, make sure the information we have on file is up to date.”

It has never been easier to register to vote in Iowa. There are a variety of options available, including online, through the mail, at many government agency offices, and at the polls before your cast your ballot. Ensuring you are registered at your current residence allows for a much quicker check-in process on election day.

2022 marks the 20^th year since the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) established September as National Voter Registration Month. Established in 2002, it is a non-partisan means of encouraging voter participation and increasing awareness about state requirements and deadlines for voting.

To register to vote in Iowa, you must be at least 17 years old. The deadline to pre-register before November’s general election is Monday, October 24. Approximately 90 percent of eligible Iowans are registered to vote, and Iowa is consistently one of the top 10 states in the nation for voter registration and participation.

To check your voter registration status, register to vote or update your information, visit VoterReady.Iowa.gov.