Mt. Pleasant News

BY BROOKS TAYLORMt. Pleasant NewsTypically, parties in contract negotiations are poles apart in their first proposals.That was true of the City of Mt. Pleasant and the Public Professional and Maintenance Employees, the union, which represents city police officers. Meeting in the initial negotiation session Monday, the union asked for an 11-percent salary increase for city police officers beginning July 1, ...

BY KARYN SPORYMt. Pleasant NewsThe Mt. Pleasant High School is going to be purchasing some new technology, at least a few pieces.During the school board meeting Monday night, the board approved the high school?s tech try out proposal, which included purchasing 10 Macbook Pro computers, five HP Specter X360 computers and five Lenovo Yoga 900 computers.High School Principal Todd Liechty said the high school?s ...

Now that the turkey and stuffing has finally settled in our stomachs, it?s time to start thinking Christmas. Crews have been working to get Mt. Pleasant?s Central Park ready to dazzle those shopping in downtown Mt. Pleasant by hanging red ornaments in the trees and erecting a Christmas tree in place of the city?s fountain. Above, the Midwest Old Threshers steam engine sparkles in the early morning light.

The Henry County Pioneer Cemetery Commission will meet Monday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m., in the conference room of the Henry County Courthouse.Those interested in the Pioneer Cemeteries of Henry County are welcome to attend.

Open the doors and they will come?even if it is a rainy Thanksgiving evening.And come they did as stores getting a jump on Black Friday events by offering the same deals on Thursday night reported strong traffic.?We were real happy with sales last night,? Chad Sloat, manager of the Mt. Pleasant Walmart store, reported this morning. ?Even though more and more sales are going to .com (Internet), we were as busy ...

BY BRYCE KELLYMt. Pleasant NewsNew and experienced drivers alike are not immune to driving mishaps in the winter. And regardless of how big or small a vehicle is, drivers of all kinds are urged to think safety before convenience when winter weather is afoot.?The first few snows of the season always catch people off guard,? says Mt. Pleasant Police Chief Ron Archer, who says vehicle operators should get in the ...

Henry County?s Choices, also known as the county Drop-In Center, hosted its Thanksgiving meal Monday. Around 25 people attended and feasted on turkey with all the trimmings. Some of those helping cook and serve the meal included, from left, Lori Morman, Choices director, Veunna Baccam, Lynda Johnson, Jeff Johnson and Carrie McDowell.

The Mt. Pleasant Community School District School Board will be hosting a community forum on Monday, Nov. 30, to discuss the upcoming superintendent search.According to the recent school board meeting, the forum will be an opportunity for community members to give their input on what characteristics and traits they would like to see in the next leader of the district.The forum will be held in the high school ...

BY BROOKS TAYLORMt. Pleasant NewsAlthough construction will not begin until the spring or summer of 2017, the Ash Avenue bridge replacement project is progressing, Henry County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss told the county supervisors during the board?s regular meeting Tuesday morning.?The project is on schedule,? Hotchkiss reported. ?The consultant?s plans are in and things are moving forward.?A bid letting for ...

BY BROOKS TAYLORMt. Pleasant NewsMt. Pleasant is about to enter uncharted territory.City council members, during Wednesday?s regular meeting, approved a resolution entering into a partnership with Southeast Iowa Housing Inc., an arm of the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission, for construction of a single-family spec house to be constructed on a city-owned lot at 710 E. Henry St.The city purchased the ...

Get ready to work off Thursday?s Thanksgiving meal with power shopping on Friday. Make sure to look inside today?s edition as well as today?s Shopper for thousands of dollars worth of savings with our Black Friday deals. This year?s inserts include deals from local merchants for Black Friday as well as Small Business Saturday.

BY KARYN SPORYMt. Pleasant NewsThe district is financially healthy now, but Ed Chabal, director of business and finance at Mt. Pleasant Community School District, sees bumpy roads ahead.Chabal told the board during its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday that as state aid and student enrollment continue to decrease, the district will need to become proactive to make sure problems don?t snowball.?As you can ...