Mt. Pleasant News

By BROOKS TAYLOR Mt. Pleasant NewsReligious liberty was the focus of a seminar Thursday night that attracted some political heavyweights and over 600 area residents to the Iowa Wesleyan College Chapel.Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The FAMiLY LEADER, organized the forum ? one of four the organization will be having in Iowa during the upcoming months.Political candidates speaking generally represented...

It may not be Steel Magnolias, but the magnolia trees are blooming, trees are budding and the grass is nearly green ? all signs that spring is here. Nearly two inches of rain this week and more expected in the days ahead also will reduce the threat of grass fires. It is a good time to be in Iowa.

By KARYN SPORY Mt. Pleasant News WINFIELD ? The Winfield-Mt. Union School Board has approved the property tax levy for fiscal year 2015-16.Carmen Benson, W-MU business manager, said the board unanimously approved a property tax levy of $13.25 per $1,000 taxable valuation during its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 8. That is, if the allowable growth stays at zero percent.Winfield-Mt. Union?s ...

By KARYN SPORY Mt. Pleasant News NEW LONDON ? There aren?t enough beds in the Henry County Jail and it?s costing taxpayers big.That?s the message Henry County Sheriff Rich McNamee brought to the New London City Council during its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 7.Anyone arrested in Henry County, with the exception of federal inmates, are held in the Henry County Jail. That includes anyone ...

Iris Street will be closed tomorrow (Fri.) morning at 7 p.m., according to Warner Engineering Associates, Inc., the engineering firm for the project.The street will be closed to work on storm sewer installation along the west side of Iris Street. Iris will be closed from 150 feet north of Washington Street to the south side of Monroe Street.The Monroe and Iris streets intersection will remain open and not be ...

By BRYCE KELLY Mt. Pleasant NewsCommunity health needs assessments and rankings are in, and results show Henry County?s strengths as well as areas that need improvement. The assessments and rankings, which were provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, were dissected during the last Healthy Henry County Communities (HHCC) meeting on Tuesday.Among the areas of concern that the survey ...

Salem City Council members have been discussing the future of this house on the 200 block of North Main Street for over a year. No one has lived at the residence for some time and the structure was damaged by a fire several years ago. The city attorney has been attempting to locate heirs of the listed owner of the house before progressing further.

By BROOKS TAYLOR Mt. Pleasant NewsHistory was made Wednesday night by the Mt. Pleasant City Council as the governing body appointed the first female firefighter to the force.Amanda K. Beik was appointed a fire department reserve, along with Michael J. Forbess. Council members said after the appointment that Beik will be the first female on the force.Most of the council?s action fell under the ?routine? label ...

Mt. Pleasant elementary students who participated in the scholastic chess open championships March 28 in Coralville included, clockwise from lower left, Aiden Adams, Sean Farley, Will Wixom, Abigail West, Hanna O?Donnell, Abigail Perry and Sandra Davis.

Sandra Davis brought home a trophy, and Abigail West, Hanna O?Donnell, Sean Farley and Abigail Perry each garnered a medal as seven Mt. Pleasant elementary school students attended the Scholastic Chess Open Championships March 28 in Coralville.Students participating included Davis, Harlan Elementary, third grade; West, Harlan Elementary, fifth grade; O?Donnell, Harlan Elementary, fifth grade; Farley, Van Allen ...

By KARYN SPORY Mt. Pleasant News WAYLAND ? The City of Wayland has agreed to pay up to $350 for the boring expense to hook up a home to Wayland gas.Ron and Deb Reid approached the city council during its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 1, to request a natural gas hookup and see if the city would incur some of the additional costs for the installation.The Reids reside at 306 S. Brooks St., in ...

By BROOKS TAYLOR Mt. Pleasant NewsSo, what did you do on your spring break?Marcus Hanson, Jared Olson and Jake Fisk, all 14-year-olds from Cambridge, Minn., will have an experience to share when asked.The three students are spending their spring break helping out Hanson?s grandparents, Don and Sandee Fields, with some heavy lifting and packaging at the Mt. Pleasant office of Kids Against Hunger.?I come here ...