Raymond A. Kaufman, 89, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at Park Place Elder Living Center in Mt. Pleasant.
Funeral arrangements are pending at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant.
From the Mount Pleasant City Council Meeting
The Mount Pleasant City Council held a discussion Wednesday night on how to phase in the use of city parks. At the end of the regular meeting City Administrator Brent Schleisman asked for input on allowing rental of park facilities that include ball diamonds, shelter houses and the swimming pool. Council members agreed that the city cannot allow the diamonds to be used for three large ball tournaments in June. There would be too many people for social distancing to take place. But it was decided other facilities could still be rented out starting June 1. CDC guidelines will be provided to anyone who reserves a city park facility. It still has not been determined when the Family Aquatic Center will open. Schleisman reported that some of the people hired for summer jobs at the pool have had to go elsewhere for summer employment due to the uncertainty of the pool opening. Schleisman said he knows of 18 cities that have decided not to open public pools.
At the meeting Wednesday night the council received a request to rezone 3.6 acres at 1302 E. Monroe to allow construction of multifamily housing. The request came from a developer, J & J Mitchell Real Estate and Joe Mitchell. It will be sent to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a recommendation. Later in the meeting the Council went ahead and passed a resolution showing support for the plan in order for the developer to receive state tax credits. The City of Mount Pleasant will establish its’ contribution by providing tax abatement and sanitary sewer service for the development.
The city administrator reported receiving inquiries about the sale of a city owned lot at 908 N. Main. The council approved advertising the sale for a month and set a public hearing for June 24th at 5:30 pm. Sealed bids will be accepted until June 22. Following the public hearing a purchase contract will be awarded. The City previously bought the lot where a dilapidated house stood and tore down the house.
June 10 at 5:30 pm was the date and time set by the council for a public hearing on phase six of the Jefferson Street Rec Trail project. Project bid letting will be held in Ames at the Iowa Department of Transportation June 16th.
DHS Launches COVID Recovery Iowa
May 27, 2020
(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) is pleased to announce the State of Iowa has received nearly $1 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to offer free counseling to any Iowan who has been affected, in any way, by the COVID-19 public health emergency. The program, called COVID Recovery Iowa, is available starting today. Counseling will take place via virtual sessions, chat or phone call. People of all ages may join groups online to find support and learn new strategies to cope with the effects of the pandemic in a variety of creative ways.
“We are so grateful to our federal partners for providing Iowa with this critical funding,” said Director Kelly Garcia. “It’s not uncommon to experience feelings of stress or anxiety during uncertain times. This funding will help us support Iowans across the state who are trying to find their new normal.”
Iowans can access services through the following options:
- Call 800-447-1985 to connect with a counselor specializing in rural issues and agriculture 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Call the Iowa Warm Line, 844-775-9276, to connect with a peer counselor or request to get in touch with a COVID Recovery Iowa counselor.
- Visit www.COVIDrecoveryiowa.org and complete a contact form and a counselor will get back to you.
DHS has contracted with five providers throughout the state to provide counseling, virtual activities, referrals and help finding resources. COVID Recovery Iowa will announce additional programs in the coming weeks to help Iowans build coping skills and resilience.
Richard Dunnahoo
Richard E. Dunnahoo, 74, of Mt. Pleasant, died Monday, May 25, 2020 at Sunnybrook Living care Center in Fairfield.
A family celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for final expenses. The Kimzey Funeral Home, Mt. Pleasant, is caring for Richard’s family. On line condolences may be left at www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.
Richard Earl Dunnahoo was born July 21, 1945 in Garwood, Missouri. He was the son of Charles and Helen May (Hall) Dunnahoo. He moved with his family to West Liberty, IA as a young child. He married Mary Smith, and the couple later divorced.
Richard had previously worked for Hon Industries in Muscatine, IA. Several years ago, Richard joined the workforce at the former Metromail Group (now Innovaire). He worked in the company warehouse until his retirement.
Richard was known to his friends as “Kool-Aid”, a nickname that was originally his CB radio handle. He enjoyed playing the lottery and a good drink with friends. Even more so, he loved to “buy a round” for his friends. Richard liked to fish, and especially enjoyed a good fish fry. Known as a “flirt” to his friends, he was known to always have a joke ready to tell.
Those thankful for sharing in Richard’s life include a son, Jimmy Dunnahoo of North Carolina; 4 brothers – Charles “Bud” Dunnahoo of Columbus Junction, Larry Dunnahoo of Muscatine, Donald Dunnahoo of Rocky Mountain, North Carolina and Robert Dunnahoo of Des Moines; a sister, Shirley Callan of Cozad, Nebraska; 1 grandchild – James Lee Dunnahoo and 1 great grandchild – Chloe Dunnahoo. “Kool-Aid” is also survived by his adopted Mt. Pleasant family – Tim & Ruby Hummell, Mike Hummell, Noah & Wendy Hummell and Noel & Christina Hummell and all of the Hummell’s children – Brittney, Ashley, Dylan, Kaven, Quenton, Aurora, Jaedyn, Zaybyn, Sterling, Auston, Dalila and Drake.
His parents, a daughter in infancy, Janet, his former wife Mary and a brother Ron precede Richard in death.
Henry County Board of Supervisors Meeting Agenda
AGENDA
May 28, 2020
Approve Agenda
Approve Minutes
Approve Claims
9:00 Jake Hotchkiss, Engineer Weekly Update
Award contract for Henry-Lee street bridge replacement
9:15 Sarah Berndt, CDS Monthly Update
FY 21 Iowa Department of Public Health
County Substance Abuse Prevention Grant
9:30 Public Hearing
County Budget Amendment FY20
Other County Business as time allows
Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates
May be viewed on Facebook at henry county board of supervisors
Jacob “Jake” Alan Pezley
Jacob “Jake” Alan Pezley, 57, of Argyle, Iowa, passed away doing what he loved, roaming the land and was found Saturday, May 23, 2020, near his home in rural Argyle, Iowa,
He was born on October 20, 1962, in Keokuk, Iowa, the son of Laverne “Toad” and Mary Catherine (Doyle) Pezley. He graduated from Central Lee High School in Donnellson. On April 19, 1997, Jacob was united in marriage to Machelle Boatman in Argyle, Iowa.
Survivors include his wife: Machelle; three daughters: Joselyn (Tom) Garr of Andalusia, Illinois, Alexis Pezley (Jesse) of Argyle, Iowa and Carlee Pezely of Argyle, Iowa; one son: Jacob Cash Pezley of Argyle, Iowa and one step-son: Tyler (Magan) Hall of Quincy, Illinois; one granddaughter: Emery Garr; his mother: Mary Catherine Pezley of Argyle, Iowa; father-in-law: Walter Asie Boatman of Wayland, Missouri; brothers and sisters: Jim (Jayne) Pezley of Argyle, Iowa, Jan (Joe) Tweedy of Montrose, Iowa, John (Debbie) Pezley of Keokuk, Iowa; Jean (Allen) Wells of Argyle, Iowa, Jerry Pezley of Pella, Iowa, Jill (Kent) Gray of Argyle, Iowa, Julie (Michael) Petty of Argyle, Iowa; brothers-in-law: Jim Kettering, Lance (Kristy) Boatman and Stacey (Sam) Boatman. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father: Laverne “Toad” Pezley, mother-in-law: Nelda Boatman and sister: JoAnn Kettering
Jake owned “One Eyed Jakes” from 1990 to 2000. He most recently worked at Roquette. Jake never met a stranger nor judged a friend. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Family meant everything to him. He was a fly by the seat of your pants kind of guy, which created many interesting and funny adventures and stories for his family. Jake enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing cards.
A private family service will be held Friday, May 29, 2020, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Donnellson, Iowa, with Father Joseph Phung and Heather Fuger officiating.
Burial will be at String Prairie Cemetery, rural Argyle, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in his memory for his twin’s college fund and can be mailed to the family at: Schmitz Funeral Home, P.O. Box 56, Donnellson, Iowa. 52656.
Schmitz Funeral Home of Donnellson is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.schmitzlfuneralhomes.com.
Accident Leads to Arrest
Tuesday, just before 8:30 pm, the Iowa State Patrol arrested a Mount Pleasant woman after she rolled her vehicle on a county road. Jennifer Coberly was driving west on 235th Street, just off of W55 when she lost control of her vehicle. The car went onto the shoulder at which time she over-corrected sending the vehicle across the eastbound lane and into the ditch where it rolled, coming to rest on its’ top in a field drive. Coberly was injured. She was also charged with OWI 3rd offense, having an open container in the vehicle and failure to maintain control.
Program to Assist Pork Producers
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Launches Disposal Assistance Program for Pork Producers Affected by COVID-19
DES MOINES, Iowa (May 26, 2020) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is launching a disposal assistance program to help pork producers who are unable to harvest pigs due to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions.
“COVID-19 has caused unprecedented, ongoing disruptions to the food supply chain,” said Secretary Naig. “Pork producers are going to extraordinary lengths to donate pork to food banks and identify other markets for their animals but, in many cases, it’s not enough to make up for the backlog happening on farms. Producers are being forced to make very difficult decisions and this is one way the state is working to support them during these extremely challenging times.”
COVID-19-related worker shortages are causing meat processing facilities to drastically reduce production. Iowa State University estimates that, as of mid-May, approximately 600,000 pigs in Iowa were unable to be harvested.
Producers are working with the Resource Coordination Center, operated by the Department, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Pork Industry Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, to explore every option to harvest livestock. This includes changing the animals’ diets to slow the rate of growth, contacting other meat lockers, and making donations to the Pass the Pork program.
When producers are unable to harvest their livestock, they may be forced to humanely euthanize their animals to prevent welfare issues. The Iowa Disposal Assistance Program will provide financial resources to help cover the cost of disposing of animals in an environmentally-sound way.
“I want to thank Gov. Reynolds for allocating funding for this program to provide support for our livestock producers as they deal with this unprecedented market disruption,” said Naig.
The Department is offering producers $40 per approved animal to help cover some of the disposal costs for market-ready hogs (weighing at least 225 pounds). Producers must provide documentation, including proof of proper disposal, and an affidavit from their herd veterinarian confirming impending welfare issues, to receive funding.
The disposal assistance funding will be made available to Iowa producers in at least three rounds. Each approved applicant will receive funding for at least 1,000 animals and up to 30,000 animals per round, depending on the number of applicants.
To qualify for the first round of funding, producers must submit their applications to the Iowa Department of Agriculture between May 26-29. The first round of applicants will be notified of approval on June 1. The first round of approved applicants must properly dispose of their animals by June 5. Disposal claims must be received by the Iowa Department of Agriculture by June 8.
The Department will begin accepting applications for the second and third rounds of disposal assistance on June 1 and June 9, respectively. The Department is also exploring options to assist producers who have conducted euthanasia and disposal between May 1-26, 2020.
To apply for the disposal assistance program, visit iowaagriculture.gov/idap. Questions about the program can be directed to (515) 281-5321 or IDAP@iowaagriculture.gov.