Obituaries

The final of a four-part legislative breakfasts, hosted by the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance, will be held on Saturday, April 28.Local elected officials, Rep. Dave Heaton (R-Mt. Pleasant) and Sen. Rich Taylor (D-Mt. Pleasant) will be on hand to discuss education, specifically K-12 budgets and policy changes. After comments concerning education, the floor will open the discussion to any other matters guests ...

Awarding of construction contracts for the Henry County Law Enforcement Center was tabled Tuesday by Henry County Supervisors after they were served with a lawsuit by Prochaska and Associates, Inc., of Omaha, Neb., for an alleged breach of contract.Prochaska is suing the Board of Supervisors, the Law Enforcement Center contractor John Hansen (individually), and Midwest Construction Consultants for violating the ...

Right before entering the hallway to the Mt. Pleasant Middle School gymnasium, there's a sign posted to the door, ?Life's most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?? It's a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that passers-by can ponder in the stillness before opening the door, where their senses are electrified by music, laughter and just a feeling of joy as students work their way ...

By Gretchen Teske, Mt. Pleasant News Under the earth on the southwest end of Mt. Pleasant is the home of Bert and Laura Miller. The Miller's home was built into the hillside intentionally as it was designed to be compatible with passive solar energy, a form of green energy which allows for the sun to fuel the home.On Sunday, April 22, the Miller's opened their home to the public as part of Iowa Wesleyan's ...

By Grace King, Mt. Pleasant News WINFIELD ? It was last year when Winfield Public Works Director Chad Venghaus began noticing a change in the ash trees around town.With leaves sprouting smaller and yellow in color, entire branch systems dying, sprouts popping out in places on the tree where they shouldn't be and ?D-shaped? exit holes on the bark, it was time to address the problem ? the emerald ash borer (EAB) ...

By Gretchen Teske, Mt. Pleasant News One by one, students push a plastic cup through a trough of rice, getting their only meal for the day. Some students sit on the floor with a plate of rice and beans, while others sit at tables eating lasagna, breadsticks and salads. On Friday, students experienced a poverty simulation designed to show them what meal time is like for the lower, middle and upper class families ...

By Karyn Spory, Mt. Pleasant News WAYLAND ? WACO High School will be receiving new carpeting after the school board unanimously approved the installation in two areas within the school.During a school board meeting on Monday, April 16, board members approved purchasing and installing new carpet throughout the high school. The bid from Bruty's Carpet Corner of $12,197.71 was unanimously approved. Board members ...

By Gretchen Teske, Mt. Pleasant News Joe Mitchell may have only graduated high school three years ago, but thinks he's ready to take over the seat left vacant in the 84th district of the House of Representatives as Rep. David Heaton (R-Mt. Pleasant) announced he will not be running this year.Mitchell is only 20 years old but thinks his experience in the capitol over the last four years sets him apart.?I have ...

By Karyn Spory, Mt. Pleasant News For those wanting to build a house in Mt. Pleasant, far before they begin selecting countertops and flooring, one stop they'll need to make is to the office of Jack Swarm, building and zoning administrator for the City of Mt. Pleasant.Swarm said his job is twofold ? making sure homes are compliant with the city's ordinances and that new developments are built in the correct ...

Des Moines County police have yet to release the name of a woman who was found dead laying next to a vehicle fully engulfed in flames on Tuesday, April 17.According to a news release from the Des Moines Sheriff's Office, deputies and the Mediapolis Fire Department were dispatched to 9516 Stony Hollow Rd, in rural West Burlington, for a car on fire in a field with a female subject presumed deceased laying next to ...