Your friend on the front page: Mark Hempen

Every week, the Mt. Pleasant News will feature a Henry County resident in a profile snapshot. The questions will appear in bold.

This week's ‘Friend on the Front Page' is Mark Hempen, whom you may know as the foundation director at Henry County Health Center.

Are you originally from Mt. Pleasant/Henry County? If not, what brought you here? I grew up in Hamilton, Ill. I moved to my wife's hometown of New London shortly after we got married and we have lived there longer than I ever lived in Illinois, so New London is now home.

What is your favorite part of living here? Great people. Everyone is so generous. I also like the schools around here - they provide outstanding educational opportunities. The community schools do a great job of helping prepare students for their futures. SCC and Iowa Wesleyan help prepare students for the working world. And there are good jobs in this area where residents can earn a decent living.

What is your favorite local hangout? That's an impossible question. Little Mexico, Papa Georges, Walt's Taproom, Costas, Pad Thai, Airport Road Vineyard and Winery and so many more … how can anybody pick just one?

What is your favorite autumn activity? The Red Flag Horseless Carriage Tour the last weekend in September. It's a great opportunity for people from all across the U.S. to see some of this area's best known or hidden treasures. They see museums, parks, small businesses and local industries, all while touring in cars that are around 100 years old.

What is one thing you've not tried that you would like to? I would like to make a movie or write a book.

What do you think is Mt. Pleasant/Henry County's trademark? I think that there are many things that are unique to our area. But when you add together the variety of local unique things like Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, West Point Sweet Corn Festival, Fort Madison's Tri-State Rodeo, Iowa Wesleyan University, Lake Geode and Lake Darling state parks, Burlington Bees Baseball, Festival of Lights, area wineries, biking and walking trails, sports complexes and so many other places and activities … that's when you truly start seeing a bigger snapshot of why it's nice to live here. You don't find a collection of attractions like that just anywhere across the map That's what makes here special.

What's one dish or drink that reminds you of Mt. Pleasant? It would have to be either the Elk Burgers or Giant Turkey Drumsticks that are available at Midwest Old Threshers.

Tell us something interesting about you? I used to sell water beds for a living.