On December 7, 2021, at approximately 6:26AM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding a single vehicle crash in the 2900 Grid of Benton Avenue near Salem. After an investigation, it was found that Chase Lenz of Mount Pleasant, was driving southbound on Benton Avenue when he lost control of his vehicle while traversing a curve on the gravel road. Chase sustained minor injuries and was transported to the Henry County Health Center by a family member. Chase was subsequently given a citation for failing to maintain control of a motor vehicle. The vehicle was a total loss. Paramedics from the Henry County Health Center assisted with this incident.
SEISO Free Hollydaze Concert featuring Scrooge
The Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra invites you to join them at their free family Hollydaze afternoon concert on Saturday, December 11
at 3 pm at Iowa Wesleyan University. The program features a regional adult chorus and a children’s chorus with the orchestra and will
be highlighted by a performance of Charles Dickens’ Scrooge with an area theater artist, Greg Wiley, reading Dickens’ story. Also featured is Voices Electric from Mount Mercy University performing Christmas tunes of the Carpenters, and a regional adult chorus with the orchestra.
Additional music includes Polar Express, Mannheim Steamroller and numerous Christmas carols. The concert takes place at Iowa Wesleyan University Chapel Auditorium at 3 PM on Saturday, December 11th. Admission is free for everyone. Concert goers will have an opportunity to
provide additional support for the orchestra during a freewill offering. The Hollydaze concert is underwritten by Lillian and Stan Curtis of Mt. Pleasant. Further information can be found at www.seiso.us or emailing seiso@iw.edu.
WMU School Board Meeting Agenda
WINFIELD – MT. UNION COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Regular Board Meeting
Tentative Agenda ~ Library W-MU 6:00 p.m. ~ December 8, 2021
- Call to Order
- Roll Call
- Public Comment
- Consent Agenda
D1. Minutes, Bills, Financial Reports
D2. Personnel Hirings/Resignations
- Reports
E1. Elementary/Curriculum
E2. Secondary
E3. Superintendent
- General Business
F1. Consider Timing System Purchase
F2. Consider FY21 Annual Report
- Adjournment
Conservation Board Meeting Agenda
The Henry County Conservation Board will hold their December 2021 Board meeting on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 5:30 pm in the conservation board meeting room at the office in Oakland Mills.
Items on the agenda will include: Foot Bridge Renovation Update, Trees Forever Grant, and Director and Naturalist Reports.
Please contact the conservation department if you have any questions, 319-986-5067.
November Students of Character
Mount Pleasant High School is proud to announce the 2021 NOVEMBER Students of Character, DULCE MUNOZ, KAMRYN HART, and ETHAN GRABER. All three of these students have demonstrated Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. Students are nominated by the MPCHS faculty each month. If you see these students at school or in the community, please tell them to keep up the good work! We are Panther Proud of you all!
Additional nominees:
Dalton Church
Thanh Phung
Jacky Pham
Andy Keagle
Chase VanBibber
Dane Cook
Ava Lowery
Landen Wigington
Izabelle Mathews
Andrew Rauenbuehler
Abby Blint
Katie Smith
Kate Schimmelpfennig
Payton Boughner
Lyhsa Bunnell
Congratulations to you all!
Luella Menke
Luella Menke, 92, of Sartell, Minnesota, formerly of West Point and Carroll, Iowa, passed away Friday, December 3, 2021, at 11:30 p.m. in Sartell, Minnesota.
She was born on February 21, 1929, the fourth child of William and Christina (Pomberg) Steffensmeier. On May 3, 1952, she married Cecil Menke at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in West Point, Iowa.
Survivors include her husband: Cecil; four children: Bernard Menke of Sartell, Minnesota, Kris Menke of Sartell, Minnesota, Greg (Mardelle) Menke of Urbandale, Iowa and Marlene (Eric) Grindland of Sartell, Minnesota; three grandchildren: Joel Menke, Trevor (Taylor) Grindland, and Kia (fiancé Tanner Bechtold) Grindland. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers: Leroy and Adrian; three sisters: Mary Kruse-Chatham, Rita Sporkman, and Jane Menke.
Luella and Cecil, along with their four children moved to Carroll, Iowa in May of 1966 and started a hardware store. They sold the hardware business in 1985.
Luella was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll, Iowa and St. Francis Catholic Church in Sartell, Minnesota. She loved knitting, crocheting, playing cards and baking cookies.
The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 10, 2021, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in West Point, Iowa.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 10, 2021, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point with Father Dennis Hoffman as celebrant.
Burial will be held at Calvary Cemetery, West Point, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her memory to Holy Trinity Catholic Schools in West Point.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com. Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements.
Kenneth W. Reschly,
Kenneth W. Reschly, 76, of Mount Pleasant, died Sunday, December 5, 2021, at his home.
Ken was born March 28, 1945, in Mount Pleasant, the son of Floyd and Hazel (Richard) Reschly. He graduated from Iowa Mennonite High School in 1963. Ken was united in marriage to Joyce Steffensmeier on June 13, 1964, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, where they continued to be faithful members. He was the foreman for the construction of the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, where he spent countless hours volunteering his expertise. The couple had made their home in the Olds area prior to moving to Mount Pleasant in January, 2019. Ken was devoted to his family. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and watching them participate in their activities. He also enjoyed spending time with countless friends he made over the years. He was a professional, hard-working and dedicated man to Reschly Construction, which he started in 1966. He had an eye for detail. He was known for building beautiful, quality homes. Ken looked forward to wintering in Arizona with Joyce, golfing, and attending NASCAR races over a 40 year period.
Ken is survived by his wife Joyce; son Mike (Cindy) Reschly of Olds; daughter Caren (Darin) Roth of Batavia; four grandchildren Taylor (Travis) Shelman, Sam Roth, Cate Roth, Claire Roth; two sisters, Ruth Ann Miller of Texas and Barbara King of Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Ed and Richard.
Memorial Mass will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 10, 2021, at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Father Nick Adam and Father Paul Connolly con-celebrants. Burial will be at a later date in the St. Alphonsus Catholic Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed at Powell Funeral Homes Facebook page and at www.powellfuneralhomes.com. Visitation will be held 1:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 9, 2021, at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, where family will greet friends from 5:00-7:00. A general memorial fund has been established.
County Foundation Awards $132,000
The Enhance Henry County Community Foundation has awarded $132,000 to 28 County organizations. An estimated 25,000 people will benefit from the 17th round of grants to be made by the Enhance Henry County Community Foundation.
The 28 grants were announced at a special celebration and media advisory event held at the Union Block Building in Mt. Pleasant on December 7th beginning at 11 am. The event was open to the public, all grant recipients, public officials from throughout the county and community leaders.
This was the 17th time that the Enhance Henry County Community Foundation has engaged in grantmaking. The foundation applied for and received funds from the County Endowment Fund legislation.
“Our foundation received a total of $145,443.22. Twenty five percent of this was restricted to permanent endowment and 75 percent was required to be released through local competitive grantmaking. In addition, we took $27,903.45 from our endowment earnings and granted them as well.” said Robert Meyer, Foundation President.
“We received grant applications totaling $426,110.70. We only wish that we had more resources at the foundation because we know there are many needs and worthy projects throughout the county.”
The Enhance Henry County Community Foundation was organized by representatives from throughout Henry County. “Our mission involves helping the communities and non-profit organizations of the county,” said Robert Meyer. “We want to partner with communities and non-profit organizations to help them with programs and projects that might otherwise not be available to the individuals, families and visitors to our county.”
As an affiliate foundation, the Enhance Henry County Community Foundation can assist donors who wish to make outright and testamentary gifts of support to our foundation or other charitable organizations in the county. “It’s even possible for local charitable organizations to establish their own funds and benefit from special tax credits and the professional expertise and investment management we help provide,” said Robert Meyer.
Further information about Enhance Henry County Community Foundation is available by contacting, Lora Roth at 319-385-8728.
For more information contact:
Enhance Henry County Community Foundation
Lora Roth
Foundation Administrator
319-385-8728