Mt. Pleasant News

By Gretchen Teske, Mt. Pleasant News NEW LONDON ? The New London City Council has decided to proceed with grading the lots for the subdivision on Pine St. Moving forward with this project was a hot topic of debate at last month's meeting, as some council members felt not enough was being done to move the project forward.Because of the size and expense of the project, it must be publicly led according to state ...

By Grace King, Mt. Pleasant News The Mt. Pleasant city council is preparing for Old Threshers, approving a 14-day Class B Beer permit for the sale of Iowa Craft Beers at McMillan Park during the Reunion Aug. 30 to Sept. 3.This is a first-time request, city administrator Brent Schleisman said during the city council meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 8. Iowa Craft Beers will be sold.The council has approved other ...

Brian Morris grilled vegetables in Central Park Tuesday during Market on Main for the Community Wellness Workshop on Aug. 7. This is the second year Morris has demonstrated how to grill vegetables, feeding 30 people last year during the wellness workshop. With the market happening at the same time, Morris purchased some zucchini and cherry tomatoes from Mogo Farms' booth to add to the colorful vegetables. One of ...

By Grace King, Mt. Pleasant News Henry County Healthy Communities' first meeting of the 2018-2019 fiscal year was spent recapping the programs they have invested in and their vision for the year ahead.The year marked the first year of the HRSA grant, a $1 million grant over three years. After a slow start as HHCC board members learned more about the grant and what they could use the funds for, the HRSA Action ...

By Andy Hallman, Ledger news editor A high speed chase that began near Fairfield on Thursday ended in Mt. Pleasant with the arrest of the driver.Adrian Scott, of Altoona, was arrested Thursday, August 2, after leading officers on a high speed chase. According to police reports, the incident began at about 5:30 p.m., when Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy Mark Miller noticed two cars speeding while traveling ...

By Grace King, Mt. Pleasant News Iowa Wesleyan University is bursting at the seams this year with a 30-year high in retention rates leading to 110 percent occupancy on campus this fall.With around 200 incoming freshmen and a 70 percent retention of students from freshman to sophomore year, Iowa Wesleyan University (IW) administration is finding creative ways to house their 560 students.The high occupancy ...

By John Butters, Mt. Pleasant News When you ask Tom Rhoades how he got into the carnival business, he gives a quick, terse answer.?One thing led to another,? he said.Friendly with the gift of gab, he'll bend your ear with stories of the famous and near-famous. ?I guess some of it gets kind of deep,? he admits. ?I could write a book, though.?Powerfully built with massive forearms and a grip that could crush a ...

By John Butters, Mt. Pleasant News Taking the Lord's message into public places is one of the ambitions of ?Praise in the Park?, an ecumenical gathering conducted Sunday in Mt. Pleasant's Central Park.Lori Werner, the chief organizer of the event for the past 10 years, said the annual gathering is more important now than ever. ?Now, when we have a divided world, it's important that we gather together to thank ...

The Mt. Pleasant Police Department was dispatched to a single vehicle rollover collision on Highway 218 on Saturday, Aug. 4 at approximately 12:02 a.m.Matthew Schilling, of Washburn, was driving southbound on Highway 218 when he fell asleep at the wheel, drifting onto the inside shoulder. Schilling's vehicle struck the guardrail just before the railroad bridge overpass at milemarker 42. The collision caused the ...

Editors note: The story has been updated from it's original format. OTTUMWA ? One person is dead and at least two others injured in separate shootings Friday in Ottumwa, including a shootout between suspects and law enforcement officers.At 1:42 p.m. Friday, the Ottumwa Police Department received a call reporting shots fired at 831 S. Lillian St. in Ottumwa. The caller advised that one person had been shot. ...

By Grace King, Mt. Pleasant News A year has come and gone since Henry County residents voted an emphatic ?yes? to approve a $9.1 million bond referendum to finance a new county law enforcement center.In honor of that, Henry County Sheriff Rich McNamee and members of the Citizens Organized for Public Safety (COPS) hosted an open house at the courthouse Thursday, Aug. 2, giving Henry County residents the ...

By Grace King, Mt. Pleasant News Henry County departments are preparing for the worst while hoping for the best with CPR and active shooter training and investment in Stop the Bleed kits.Department heads gave routine updates during a Board of Supervisors meeting on Thursday, Aug. 2, discussing ways to keep their departments and county safer.Walt Jackson, Henry County Emergency Management coordinator, recently ...