Obituaries

There are few sights as aesthetically pleasing as a nighttime visit to the Edd King Fountain in Mt. Pleasant?s Central Park. This photo was taken on a recent, clear night, enhanced by a full moon.

By Karyn Spory, Mt. Pleasant News Lori LaFrenz can tell you the first year of any new endeavor is going to have a learning curve.Last year, she piloted a summer intensive reading program for younger elementary school students. Although there are still some kinks to work out, the Lincoln Elementary School Principal says this summer things are running a little smoother.The program, which is funded through a ...

Dustin Jordan of West Burlington visited the East Lake Driving range for some practice with his irons. Jordan had the range all to himself as the hot conditions kept a lot of people indoors.

By Brooks Taylor, Mt. Pleasant News WAYLAND ? With the 2017 Indpendence Day in the books, the Wayland City Council discussed the impact of the city?s fireworks ordinance during the council?s July 5 regular meeting.City Clerk Bev Conrad said the city received minimal complaints on the discharging of fireworks in the community prior to and through the July 4 holiday.Consequently, the council opted to make no ...

By Brooks Taylor, Mt. Pleasant News Some people think long and hard about retirement.Not Curt Sparrow. The thought of retiring first entered Sparrow?s mind when he turned 62 years of age last October. The thought became reality June 30 when he turned in his apron.Thus far, Sparrow hasn?t had time to think about his career-ending decision. ?I have seven grandchildren and in the last two weeks, there were 17 ...

By Brooks Taylor, Mt. Pleasant News U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, wasn?t overly optimistic about the passage of a health care bill June 30 when he left Washington, D.C. for the Congressional Independence Day recess.Six days later, Grassley?s sentiments have not changed.?I am very pessimistic,? Grassley said when asked about the chances of a health care bill surviving the Senate. ?I am sure Schumer (U.S. ...

By Brooks Taylor, Mt. Pleasant News A trip from Mt. Pleasant to the Oakland Mills Nature Center will become a trek beginning Monday, July 10.That?s because the bridge on county road W55 (Franklin Avenue), spanning the Skunk River will be closing for repair. Henry County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss said the abutments on both the north and south sides of the bridge need repair along with other items.?The contractor ...

By Xiomara Levsen, The JOURNAL The public hearing for the sale of Ainsworth Elementary is delayed due to board policy.According to the Highland School Board?s policy 803.2 found on the school district?s website, which cites Iowa Code 297.15-25 in the case of a sale or lease of school district property not being used for an educational program unless exempted advertisements for bids shall be taken. If the bids ...

A new Iowa law went into effect July 1 requiring motorists to slow down, safely change lanes if possible and operate with caution around waste and recycling trucks with safety lights flashing.Similar to cautions already in place for motorists passing a stopped public safety vehicle, drivers could be ticketed by law enforcement for violating the new law.Iowa is the 14th state to enact the ?Slow Down to Get ...

By Brooks Taylor, Mt. Pleasant News Marty Mabeus didn?t sleep through the night Wednesday.She was awakened at about 11 p.m., by strong winds ? from three directions. The straight-line winds blew the roof from a hog house and also damaged the doors on a machine shed.Everything else, including the house and a ?hoop? building, on the farmstead at 1513 300th St., just south of Salem, came away unscathed.?It was ...