Iowa Youth Encouraged to Apply for Iowa Youth Congress, Advisory Council

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, April 25th, 2024 at 8:11 am CDT

Attention Iowa youth, your voices are needed! Apply to join the Iowa Youth Congress (IYC) or State of Iowa Youth Advisory Council (SIYAC), they are now accepting applications through June 1, 2024!

Iowa Youth Congress (IYC) is a youth advocacy program under the Iowa Department of Health & Human Services. The year-long program seeks up to 100 Iowa high school students of all backgrounds and provides them the opportunity to gain hands-on education in the subject areas of state government, democracy, advocacy, and civic engagement.

Members in IYC gain the knowledge, abilities, and direction to advocate and enact change in their communities and at the state level for issues affecting youth. Throughout their term, members also gain skills including public speaking, problem-solving, and political debate in a multicultural leadership setting.

For more information or to find an application head to https://hhs.iowa.gov/about/advisory-groups/state-iowa-youth-advisory-council

Brief RAGBRAI Update at Wednesday’s City Council Meeting

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, April 25th, 2024 at 8:09 am CDT

RAGBRAI was a large point of discussion during the Mt. Pleasant City Council meeting Wednesday evening. Rachel Lindeen with the Mt. Pleasant Chamber teamed up with Lisa Oetken, Main Street Mt. Pleasant, to deliver an update on the exciting overnight stop on Friday, July 26th, for an estimated 20,000 people.

A variety of requests were heard, such as permission for using city parks, a sound ordinance, and funding, amongst others. The City agreed to support the upcoming overnight.

It was also mentioned that the RAGBRAI committee is working with the county emergency management coordinator to decide on an emergency place in case of poor weather. Street closures will be announced in the coming months, as the in-town route is still a work in progress.

Sports, April 25th

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, April 25th, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Track and Field

The Central Lee girls’ team will compete today at Wapello. 

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ and girls’ teams will participate in a meet today at Pella.

The WACO boys’ and girls’ teams will host the Ekstrand Relays tonight with Danville, Mediapolis, Winfield-Mt. Union, New London, and the Central Lee boys’ team all attending. 

The Van Buren County girls’ and boys’ teams will travel to Cardinal tomorrow, April 26th, for a meet. 

Drake Relays

High school competition for the 114th running of the Drake Relays begins today and runs through Saturday, April 27th. Here’s a look at our local athletes competing today. 

Solomon Zaugg of Mediapolis will compete in the 3200 meter run and the trio of Avin Truong of Mt. Pleasant, Winfield-Mt. Union’s Cam Buffington, and Keshawn Wyldon of Burlington will battle it out in the long jump. Lastly, Kylee Hill of Burlington will toss the shot put.

High School Soccer

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will travel to Hillcrest Academy tomorrow, April 26th, while the girls’ team will face off against Pella Christian on Saturday, April 27th, at 10 am on the road. 

Mediapolis will face off against Central Lee tonight at home with the girls playing first at 5 pm.

The WACO boys’ team will travel to Wapello tomorrow. 

Mt. Pleasant will compete against Washington tonight with the girls’ team traveling to Washington and the boys’ team hosting the Demons.

The Danville boys’ team will host Wapello tonight.

High School Tennis

Mt. Pleasant will take on Fairfield tonight with the boys on the road and the girls at home.

High School Golf

Winfield-Mt. Union will host Lone Tree today. 

WACO will travel to Wapello for a meet today.

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will participate in the Mohawk Classic today while the girls’ team will host their invitational tomorrow, April 26th.

Central Lee will host WACO tomorrow. 

Mediapolis will hit the road to take on Holy Trinity Catholic tomorrow. 

College Signing

Rellana Van Duren is the newest Panther to sign-on to dance at the collegiate level as she will take her talents to Iowa Central Community College. The senior visited just one school while shopping her college choices and immediately fell in love with that first choice,

“I first went to the ISDTA combine and a lot of colleges there. I definitely was looking at like a lot of options that pretty much every college for dance team in Iowa was there. And Iowa Central really stuck out to me because they just so kind and like they were very enthusiastic, they really like acted like they cared about dance. And I had no idea what Iowa Central was previously before going to that combine, but after that I was like, I gotta go and do a visit there. And I went, the campus was absolutely beautiful and I didn’t do any other college visits after that. I went back and watched a practice like a month or two ago and it was really lovely. And so, I just decided that I was going to go there.”

Van Duren will join another successful program as the Iowa Central Dance Team captured their 11th consecutive state championship in pom last December. She will be studying Psychology. 

Southeast Iowa Playbook

New London was our school of focus for last night’s episode with a feature on two seniors of the Girls’ Golf program, Taylor Phillips and Sophie Malott. Phillips discussed how she attempts to keep a cool head on the course. Malott talked about the feeling of being a part of the Tiger legacy.

New episodes will be on Wednesdays at 6 pm during the school year on KILJ 105.5 FM and kilj.com. You can follow this link to listen to last night’s episode: Southeast Iowa Playbook

Southeastern Community College

SCC baseball is on a three-game skid after losing both games of their doubleheader against Kirkwood Community College yesterday 5-2 and 5-4. The Blackhawks will host Iowa Central Community College on Saturday, April 27th, for a doubleheader.

The SCC softball team had their doubleheader against Carl Sandburg Community College canceled yesterday. The Blackhawks will travel to Southwestern Community College on Saturday for a doubleheader.

This Day in Sports History

1950 – Chuck Cooper becomes the first African American to be drafted into the NBA (for Boston Celtics).

1974 – The NFL moves the goalposts and adopts a sudden-death playoff.

1978 – Phillie Phanatic makes first appearance.

Severe Storms Threaten Weekend Plans

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, April 25th, 2024 at 6:11 am CDT

Another round of spring storms is due this weekend, with sever storms possible Friday through Sunday. Multiple hazards including large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes, are all possible. Heavy rain is also possible with storms, increasing the risk for flash flooding.

Currently, the National Weather Service reports Mt. Pleasant and surrounding towns are at a slight risk for severe weather on Friday evening. That risk continues into Saturday with the night likely to see the highest coverage of thunderstorms when heavy rainfall is probable and severe. Rainfall totals through the weekend may exceed three inches for some locations.

Preparation is the key word, as the unpredictability of storms and the damage they cause is high. Ensure you have emergency supplies and know your safe places. Always keep an evacuation route in mind the day of, as you may only have a few seconds to take action once a warning is issued.

Rellana Van Duren to Join Iowa Central’s Dance Team

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at 4:32 pm CDT

Mount Pleasant, IA- The Mount Pleasant High School Dance Team has put together an impressive program, which has yielded some young talent for the collegiate world. Rellana Van Duren is the newest Panther to sign-on to dance at the collegiate level as she will take her talents to Iowa Central.

The senior visited just one school while shopping her college choices and immediately fell in love with that first choice,

“I first went to the ISDTA combine and a lot of colleges there. I definitely was looking at like a lot of options that pretty much every college for dance team in Iowa was there. And Iowa Central really stuck out to me because they just so kind and like they were very enthusiastic, they really like acted like they cared about dance. And I had no idea what Iowa Central was previously before going to that combine, but after that I was like, I gotta go and do a visit there. And I went, the campus was absolutely beautiful and I didn’t do any other college visits after that. I went back and watched a practice like a month or two ago and it was really lovely. And so, I just decided that I was going to go there.”

Van Duren talked about how her aspirations to dance at the collegiate level was prevalent, but not something she even considered before high school,

“Yeah, I’ve always wanted to dance at that level, like, ever since I started dance team at the high school. I didn’t even know that you could dance in college up until then, but yeah.”

Van Duren credited the Mount Pleasant Dance Team and the multiple coaches that helped along the way to her growth on the stage. The program’s success helped facilitate one of her favorite memories of dancing for the Panthers,

“My favorite memory is just honestly going to state. State is like an amazing experience going there and seeing all of the colleges and getting really inspired by just seeing how amazing some of the dances are. And it’s just really inspiring.”

The Panthers improved from their 8th place performance in Pom and 7th place performance in Jazz in 2023 to 6th in Pom and Jazz in 2024. Van Duren will join another successful program as the Iowa Central Dance Team captured their 11th consecutive state championship in pom last December.

Additionally, the Triton Dancers finished as the runner-up in the Junior College Pom Division back on April 13th. After her two years at Iowa Central, Van Duren will make the decision on whether she will continue her dance career,

“I haven’t decided yet. I want to see how those two years treat me, and maybe I’ll be done with dance. Who knows, but I definitely want to try out, maybe later on.”

Van Duren will be studying Psychology as she looks into a possible career in Psychiatry.

Bike Rodeo to be Held for Local Students Thanks to MPCSD, HCHC, Amongst Others

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at 11:32 am CDT

Mount Pleasant Community School District is partnering with Henry County Health Center and the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital to educate young riders and host a community bike rodeo. Henry County Sheriff’s Office and Mount Pleasant Police Department will also be important in this event.

On Friday, May 10, staff from the U of I Stead Family Children’s Hospital will come to Mount Pleasant and present an assembly to Kindergarten through 2nd grade students at each elementary school in our district.

Then on Saturday, May 11 a community bike rodeo will be held from 10am-12pm at Maple Leaf Athletic Complex. Kids can ride/bring their bikes to the rodeo. There will be a local bike shop available to do some general bike maintenance, kids will get their helmets properly fitted by a member of the UI RAGBRAI team, kids attending will have the opportunity to win a free bike, and there will be two courses set up for kids to practice safe riding.

This is an exciting event for our kids and our community as we prepare for the arrival of RAGBRAI this summer.

Craig “Doug” Farr

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at 9:28 am CDT

Craig “Doug” Farr, 55, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Monday, April 22, 2024, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospital in West Burlington.

Doug was born on June 17, 1968 in Mt. Pleasant, the son of William H. “Bill” and Linda (Simmons) Farr.  He worked at ContiTech USA, Inc. of Mt. Pleasant.  Doug was an avid outdoorsman.  He enjoyed fishing, disc golf, and hunting and in his younger years he enjoyed trapping.

He is survived by his children, Cody Farr of Keokuk and Taylor Farr of New Mexico, three grandchildren, one great grandchild, his mother Linda Farr,  his brother, Brian (Carol) Farr and his sisters, Lynette “Charley” (Will Lyon) Farr, Tara (Steve) Hillyer and Marla Farr all of Mt. Pleasant.  

Doug was preceded in death by his grandparents, his father and a great niece.

Doug’s family will receive friends from 2 to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2024, at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant. According to his wishes cremation has been entrusted to the care of Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant. A memorial has been established in his memory.  

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com

Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, is caring for his arrangements.

“You Can’t Have a Rainbow Without a Little Rain” Burge Cemetery Board of Directors Meeting Following Destructive Tornado

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at 9:27 am CDT
As the popular saying goes, you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain. Southeast Iowa experienced more than just a little rain last Tuesday, when a tornado ripped through Burge Cemetery in New London on April 16th. Leaving nothing but destruction it it’s path. hundreds of headstones were damaged, nearly every tree was shed, and the historic shed, built all the way back in 1921, was completely destroyed.
Jesse Howard, president of Burge Cemetery, has released a statement regarding an upcoming meeting where details and updates will be shared. Below is a copy of the statement, with meeting details provided.
“The Burge Cemetery Board of Directors will be holding a special meeting on Monday, April 29th at 5 pm. The meeting will take place at Elliott Chapel in New London.
We will share details and updates regarding the significant progress we have made in the cleanup process following the devastating tornado that struck our cemetery. We will also provide an update on the plan moving forward.
Additionally, we will discuss the allocation of funds raised through our dedicated fundraising efforts. In 3 days we’ve raised almost half of our goal!!! THANK YOU all for your amazing support!
The funds we raise will be utilized to support the restoration process and ensure that our beloved cemetery regains its former glory.
Your presence and participation in this meeting are highly encouraged as we value your assistance and involvement in this challenging restoration process. Let’s come together as a community to restore and preserve the rich history and beauty of Burge Cemetery.
We look forward to seeing you all at Elliott’s Chapel on Monday, April 29th at 5 pm.”
Sincerely,
Jesse Howard
President, Burge Cemetery
While the storm did significant damage in multiple areas of Southeast Iowa, brighter days are ahead thanks to our wonderful community. Remember, you can’t have rainbow without a little rain.