Mother Nature cooperated and played a part in what looks like a recording setting year for attendance at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in Mount Pleasant.  CEO and Administrator Terry McWilliams said Tuesday that preliminary numbers indicate a little over 37,000 people bought tickets to the annual event. That’s a new attendance record for the last 10 years. McWilliams said Saturday set a record for one day tickets sales, Sunday was in the top three or four, Friday’s attendance was up and Thursday was about the same as past years.  Russell Dickerson’s concert on Sunday night brought in the biggest crowd to the grandstand. But McWilliams was not disappointed with the attendance to the concerts on the other three nights.

On September 3, at approximately 5:45 PM the Henry County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a motor vehicle collision that occurred at U.S. Highway 218 and School Avenue near Olds.  After an investigation, it was found that Mauro Rivera of Saint Louis, Missouri, was operating a pickup truck and Shawn Still of Parnell, Iowa, driving a small passenger vehicle. While Shawn was traveling southbound on US Highway 218, Mauro entered US Highway 218 from School Avenue failing to yield the right of way causing a collision.  Mauro received two citations, Fail to Yield Upon Entering Through Highway and No Valid Driver’s License.  No injuries were reported and the total estimated damage was $23,000.

On September 03, 2022, at approximately 11:04 P.M., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a call for a domestic disturbance at the 200 Block of West Main Street, in Rome.

Upon arrival at the scene, Henry County Deputies spoke with all the parties involved and resulting from the investigation, Darrell Lee Abbott, 50, of Lockridge, Iowa, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault – (Simple Misdemeanor) and Trespass – 1^st Offense (Non-Scheduled Violation).

The Des Moines County Sheriff’s office has arrested Richard Leroy Parker Jr. on charges of Enticing a Minor Under the Age of 16 and Dissemination and Exhibition of Obscene Material to a Minor.  The investigation began August 29 into a person communicating with a social media profile for a 13 year old. September 1 Parker came to Des Moines County to meet with the minor he had been communicating with. He was arrested by Des Moines County Sheriff’s Department Detectives. Parker is already a registered sex offender.

The 2022 Old Threshers Miss Sweet 16 is Josie Gilmore. Josie is the daughter of Julie and Jeff Gilmore of Mount Pleasant. First Runner-Up is Natalie McCormick, the daughter of Lea and Colin McCormick. Second Runner-Up is Addison Bentler, the daughter of Don and Tonya Bentler and Miss Volunteer is Megan Borders. Her parents are Mike and Sara Borders. Coordinator Danielle Davidson the scoring for all 12 of the contestants was very close.  In fact, there were some ties.  Davidson said the tie breaker is volunteerism.  The girls are judged on in interviews with judges, a presentation and scoring by a different panel of secret judges who watch how the contestants interact with the Reunion visitors out on the grounds.  Miss Volunteer is the young lady who receives the highest score from the secret judges and is judged most knowledgeable about Old Threshers

The Iowa State Patrol reports that one teen was killed and another injured in a single vehicle crash that occurred Saturday night. At about 10:45 pm the vehicle was southbound just south of 3283 Mississippi River Road in Lee County.  The driver, who has been identified as Noah Courtney of Keokuk, failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle entered the ditch where it came to rest. According to the State Patrol neither victim was wearing a seat belt.  A fifteen year old, from Keokuk, Lucas Nye, died in the crash.  Nye was injured.