Mt. Pleasant News

Neither Bryce Kelly nor I would describe ourselves as fans of scary movies. But, that didn?t stop us from seeking some chills and thrills at the movie theater a couple of weekends ago.We lugged our oversized sodas into the theater and wiggled ourselves into a cozy cocoon, ready to be scared, startled and thrilled as we watched the gothic romance horror, ?Crimson Peak.?Okay, I?ll be honest, it wasn?t really the ...

For those that are friends with me on Facebook, it?s well known to you by now that October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month.Everyday this month, I have been sharing at least one fact or stat about the birth defect to help my fellow Facebook users better understand the condition that I live with every day. And in keeping with this year?s Spina Bifida Awareness Month theme of ?Living Beyond Limits?, I thought I ...

DEAR ABBY: I am a college sophomore and have been dating my boyfriend, "Evan," for nearly a year. I am planning to take a semester abroad at the beginning of my junior year.Recently, Evan confessed that if I leave, our relationship would have to end. He asserts that being away from me for more than three months would be too painful and scary, not knowing if I was all right. (He has some anxiety issues, for which ...

Something inside me wonders if Terry Branstad wants to continue serving as governor.That ?something? surfaced after some controversial moves from Branstad this past spring and summer. With the exception of closing half of the state?s mental-health institutes (which was devastating to mental health care), I am not here to judge whether the decisions were right or wrong, but a large portion of the electorate is ...

At 23 years of age, and in seemingly good health, I don?t have much of a bucket list. Besides traveling to another country, there isn?t much I had ever thought about doing before I die?until perhaps this past weekend.As a journalist, it?s in my nature to be curious about the world and about why people do the things they do. And while my natural curiosity hasn?t killed me yet (knock on wood), it?s very possible ...

?Lola has something for you,? Mom said during one of our daily chats. ?Actually, she told me last school year that she had something for you.?She had forgotten. Mom is known for two things, being a blubber-butt and her forgetfulness, not that she?d remember that.I wondered and wondered what Lola could have for me. Lola was the remaining half of Bud and Lola. They had owned the local ice cream shop when I was ...

On the banks of Big Creek, on the west side of Mt. Pleasant, on Business 34, is a brand new shop with a whole bunch of real pretty old tractors parked out front.They?re all Massey Harris tractors. The sign on the front of the shop reads, ?Massey Harris Better Built Farm Equipment? - It?s a replica of a Massey Harris dealership sign from back in the 50s.My car pulled into the driveway all by itself. There I ...

I am lucky.This week, I said my final goodbyes to a very dear friend. Ever since Brian Roth?s passing, Mt. Pleasant is no longer the same place it was to me when he was still living in it.I can?t go to many places around town anymore without being taken back to a memory that had Brian in it. Whether it?s the local Pizza Hut that Brian and I met every Monday afternoon for lunch; Papa George?s, where Brian and I ...

To the editor:Shame on Mt. Pleasant School District for charging admission to the cross country meet again this year.Of all the towns my four children have ran cross country in for Fairfield over the years, Mt. Pleasant is the only school that has charged an admission to get in (other than the State meet).I wouldn?t be surprised if the participating schools choose to run at other meets than Mt. Pleasant in the ...

It was not a good week (until Saturday) to be a Hawkeye a couple of weeks ago.That was the week in which Tyler Sash and Roy Marble (who was my all-time favorite Hawkeye) died. Some of the sting was taken away with the football game win over Iowa State on Saturday.While Marble?s death was expected, Sash?s was not. Marble had entered Hospice recently after battling brain cancer for just over a year.The cause of ...

Since writing about Ole Sharpie, I have been inundated with stories about Mt. Pleasant?s most infamous dog. Seems as though anyone who has spent much time in Mt. Pleasant has seen the vagabond dog that cheats traditional living.I was told that his real name is Cheeto. Mt. Pleasant?s Community Service Officer, AKA Animal Control Officer, AKA Dog Catcher, was determined to capture Cheeto. He really didn?t want to, ...

Although I have been an empty nester for several years (not necessarily by choice), I didn?t give it much thought until recently.As I watched Iowa Wesleyan University students and parents unload SUVs, cars, pickups, horse trailers, etc., it struck me. Some of these parents were becoming empty nesters.I am certain these parents had mixed feelings as they watched their son/daughter walk into the dorm, formally ...