Sports, Thursday, October 8th

By Nathan Bloechl · Thursday, October 8th, 2020 at 11:47 am CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

SEISC, SEC Volleyball Schedule:

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference volleyball schedule resumes for one if it’s final nights as teams prepare for post-season action.

In one of the top match-ups of the night, No. 8 (1A) New London will travel to battle West Burlington (17-3) who is coming off an upset over No. 3 (1A) Holy Trinity.

New London has also recently fallen to West Burlington. The Falcons swept New London 2-0 last weekend at the New London Tournament.

The Tigers have been playing better volleyball of late, however, they’ve won four of their last five games to pull to 5-1 in conference action, just a half game back of West Burlington, who has won five straight.

No. 3 (1A) Holy Trinity will look to find their rhythm again tonight when they take on Cardinal in Eldon.

The Crusaders have lost two straight for the second time this season and are completely out of the regular season conference title race at 3-2 in the South Division.

Cardinal enters tonight’s match with a record of 8-10, though the Comets are just 1-5 in conference play.

Other area games in the Super Conference tonight include:

  • Louisa-Muscatine vs. Winfield-Mount Union
  • Danville vs. Central Lee
  • Lone Tree vs. Columbus
  • Van Buren County vs. Keokuk
  • Notre Dame vs. No. 14 (1A) WACO
  • Mediapolis vs. Wapello

All Super Conference bouts will begin at 7:30 p.m.

In the Southeast Conference, Mount Pleasant will look to close their season out on a high note when they take on a very tough Knoxville team on the road this evening.

Knoxville enters play with a record of 17-3, while Mount Pleasant is 8-12.

The Panthers are 3-2 in their last five and dropped the lone matchup against Knoxville last year, 3-0.

Knoxville are winners of four straight and sit alone atop the South Central Conference standings.

Tonight’s game will begin at 7:00 p.m. at Knoxville High School.

IATC Announces New Team Polls:

The IATC has announced their latest team polls and the Danville-New London boys’, for the third straight week, are tabbed as the top program in Class 2A.

Following the Bears are Tipton, Denver, Davis County, and Mid-Prairie — the same top-five as weeks’ past.

In Class 2A Girls’ Danville-New London stayed inside the top-15, where this week they check in at #13.

Mid-Prairie, Williamsburg, Jesup, Roland-Story and Woodbury Central-Kingsley-Pierson are the top-five this week.

In Boys’ 1A, Columbus Community is considered a “Team to Watch”. Joining them in that group are East Marshall, Hudson, IKM-Manning and Siouxland Christian.

Beyond the Game Continues at New Time Slot:

Beyond the Game, the only live, local sports talk show continues on tonight on KILJ-FM and we are moving to drive-time prime-time in the month of October, with the program starting at 4:00 p.m. this evening.

On tonight’s show we will preview the final week of the Iowa High School Football season and take a look at where our area programs will play in the first round of the playoffs next week.

We’ll also talk shop with Mount Pleasant head football coach Shawn Striegel, who hopes to have his full disposal of players at his hands after 13 of 28 upperclassmen sat out last week at Fort Madison due to coronavirus concerns.

Also, we’ll touch on Iowa State — who is coming off a huge win over Oklahoma — and their matchup against Texas Tech this Saturday.

Joining us later in the program will be Iowa Wesleyan Director of Athletics Derek Zander, he’ll discuss the Tigers’ transition back to NAIA.

Again tonight’s program will start at 4:00 p.m.

MLB Division Series Rolls On:

The Major League Baseball playoffs rolled on yesterday with some compelling match-ups:

  • Atlanta 2, Miami 0 (Braves lead series 2-0)
  • Oakland 9, Houston 7 (Astros lead series 2-1)
  • Tampa Bay 8, New York Yankees 4 (Rays lead series 2-1)
  • Los Angeles Dodgers 6, San Diego 5 (Dodgers lead series 2-0)

 

Donna Lea Smith

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, October 8th, 2020 at 10:14 am CDT

Donna Lea Smith, 93, of Mt. Pleasant, formerly of Burlington and Louisa County communities, died Monday, October 5, 2020 at the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant.

The funeral service for Mrs. Smith will be 1:00 PM on Monday, October 12 at the Kimzey Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant. The Reverend Michael Johnson, Pastor, Mt. Pleasant Church of the Open Bible, will officiate. Burial will be in the Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington. The family will receive friends from 12 Noon to 1 PM on Monday.  Attendees are asked to wear masks and socially distance themselves as they are able. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the funeral home Facebook page (KImzey Funeral Home) for those unable to attend in person.

Memorials may be directed to the Iowa Commission for the Blind.

Online condolences may be left at www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com

Mrs. Smith, the former Donna Lea Hemphill, was born February 19, 1927 in Newport, Louisa Co., Iowa. She was the daughter of Horace Harvey and Gladys Barbella (Dustman) Hemphill. She attended grade school in Newport School and graduated from Wapello High School in 1945. Donna married John Brass on February 19, 1949 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Burlington. They later divorced. She married Harry Boughton and later divorced. She then married Troy Smith in Ft. Madison in 1979. The couple later divorced.

While raising her children, Donna took in laundry and babysat other children. As her children got older, she worked outside of the home. She worked at Midwest Biscuit and AntennaCraft, both in West Burlington and the Teapot Restaurant in Mediapolis. For a number of years, Donna was a Cosmetician at the former Osco Drug in downtown Burlington. Donna later moved to Florida where she was employed at the Good Samaritan Health Care Center in her community. She returned to Iowa and made her home in Burlington before moving to live with her daughter in Mt. Pleasant.

While she lived in Burlington, she was a member of the Golden Oldies and served as the Secretary for the Autumn Heights Resident Council. In her spare time, Donna was very gifted in her talent in embroidery and in the 1970’s specialized in Swedish Embroidery.

Those thankful for sharing in Donna’s life include her daughter Charlene Nichols of Mt. Pleasant; a brother and his wife, Dennis and Sandy Hemphill of Charlestown, RI; a sister-in-law, Louise Hemphill of West Burlington; a grandson, Adam Siegel and several step grandchildren, step great-grandchildren and their families.

Donna’s parents, former husbands, 2 sons – Dan Brass and Darrell Brass, a brother, Jerry Hemphill, a sister, Marjorie Brown Griffin, a brother in infancy, a son-in-law, Gerald Nichols and a grandson, Mark Brass, precede her in death.

Chamber to Recognize New High School CTE Program

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 9:12 pm CDT

Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance to

Recognize Mount Pleasant High School CTE Program

 

MOUNT PLEASANT – Earlier this year, Governor Kim Reynolds announced 14 recipients of the Future Ready Iowa Employer Innovation Fund, a matching grant that helps employers provide postsecondary training and education opportunities for their employees. The Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance was honored to receive a grant to purchase a new CNC Machine for the Career and Technical Education Department at Mount Pleasant High School.

On Thursday, October 8 at 3:30 pm at the High School, the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance will unveil the new CNC machine and will also present the CTE Department with a $2,000 check to further career exploration in trade industries at Mount Pleasant High School. Some of the CTE programs offered include culinary, photography and graphic design, business and finance, information technology, manufacturing, construction, building trades, and automotive.

“Entering a trade offers personal fulfillment, high salary potential, and job stability” said Kristi Ray, Executive Vice President of the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance. “We need students to study those trades now more than ever before”.

After presenting the check to the CTE instructors, the community will have the opportunity to see the new Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine that arrived at the school over the summer. This $20,000 project was funded with $10,000 from the state grant, $5,000 from the school district and the remaining $5,000 was generous contributions from Cornerstone Building Products, Hearth & Home Technologies, Jabil, Lomont Molding, and Steffensmeier Welding.

The Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance exists to improve the quality of life for Henry County residents through economic growth. The Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance includes the Mount Pleasant Area Development Commission, the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Mount Pleasant and Henry County Tourism.

Tony Bentler

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 8:51 pm CDT

Anthony “Tony” Bentler, 89 of Mt. Pleasant died Wednesday, October 7, 2020, at Great River Medical Center in West Burlington.  Funeral Services are pending at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel in Mt. Pleasant.

 

Zach Peiffer

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 8:42 pm CDT

Mt. Pleasant – Zachariah “Zach” Benjamin Peiffer, 20, died Wednesday, October 7, 2020, at Arbor Court in Mt. Pleasant.

Born March 20, 2000, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Zach was the son of Benjamin and Teresa (Greenland) Peiffer. He was a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School. Zach was a member of Faith Christian Outreach Church.

Zach loved to watch sports, especially racing and Hawkeye football and basketball.  He was a great Minnesota Viking fan. He enjoyed being with other kids.

Surviving are his father, Ben of MT. Pleasant; a brother, Marcus (Brittany) Myers of Palm Coast, FL; a sister Elizabeth “Liz” Peiffer of Mt Pleasant; and five nieces and nephews, Chloe, Vaughn, Dewy, Charlie, and Angie Myers. Zach was preceded in death by his mother, Teresa.

Visitation will be Friday, October 9, 2020, at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel from 5:30 -7:30 PM with family present.  Funeral services will be Saturday, October 10, 2020, 11:00 AM at Faith Christian Outreach Center with Pastor Gary Van Nyhuis officiating.  A memorial fund has been established to help with funeral expenses.  The Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel is caring for Zach and his family.  www.powellfuneralhomes.com

Donna Lea Smith

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 8:31 pm CDT

Donna Lea Smith, 93, of Mt. Pleasant, formerly of Burlington and Louisa County communities, died Monday, October 5, 2020 at the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant.

Services are 1:00 PM Monday, October 12 at the Kimzey Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant, with burial in the Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington. Visitation is 12 Noon to 1 PM on Monday.  Attendees are asked to wear masks and socially distance themselves as they are able. Service will be livestreamed on the funeral home Facebook page.

Memorials may be directed to the Iowa Commission for the Blind.

Online condolences may be left at www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com

Fred Vantiger

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 8:28 pm CDT

Fred Joseph Vantiger, 78, passed away in the arms of his wife on Sunday Evening, October 4, 2020, on the farm near Yarmouth that he was so proud of.

He entered this life, the third child of Ben and Angela Fedler Vantiger on January, 24 1942, in Lee County at Sacred Heart Hospital in Fort Madison. Ben moved the family to the Mt. Union area in 1945 with the help of Uncle Joe, where the land was more fertile and room to grow. Since he was old enough to handle a team of horses or steer an F-20, Fred found his passion in farming. He began farming along with his brothers, raising crops, livestock and hauling grain for hire.

Fred graduated from Yarmouth High School in 1960 and married his high school sweetheart, Anita Wilkerson, on November 5, 1960, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Dodgeville, Iowa. They took a honeymoon trip to Florida in their ’56 Oldsmobile spending only $160. They returned to the farm to begin a family and remained there for nearly 60 years. He became a respected and outstanding farmer in the Yarmouth area. His rows were straight, the corn was tall and the farm was pristinely mowed. He continued farming until his death with the help of his son Mike.

He used his knowledge of cars and mechanics during the farm crisis and started selling cars on the farm to supplement income. “Fast Freddie” obtained a car dealer’s license in 1980. He later moved the business to Danville in 1984 and started Country Cars II. For several years he held an Ag Day at the shop to celebrate agriculture and support scholarships for local students pursuing agricultural studies in college. He loved going to farm and car auctions with Anita, and he could predict the value of whatever was being sold from the data base in his mind.

He was always supporting the Yarmouth Community in which he lived. In the late 1970’s he started a Recreation Center in the Old Yarmouth General Store for the community to gather. He was co-owner of the Yarmouth Cafe with other local farmers for a time in an attempt to keep it going. He was a member of the Mt. Union Coop and Des Moines County Farm Bureau.

Aside from cheerleading in high school with Anita and his best friend, Charles “Butch” Tonkinson, he developed a passion for singing. He began singing in Barbershop, the church choir, family weddings; and he and Anita became a fixture singing and entertaining at the Golden Slipper Saloon in the North Village at Old Threshers for over 50 years. His daughter Julie and granddaughters now carry on the tradition. Early on he drove the camp ground trains with his father- in-law “Toad” Wilkerson and enjoyed camping. He enjoyed helping his son Dean exhibit gas engines and parading the Wilkerson Family Ford Tractor. Fred and Anita were recognized as Outstanding Old Thresher volunteers in 2006.

Fred enjoyed traveling out west with Anita on many adventures to Arizona and Wyoming to visit friends and “adopted” family. In 1997 Fred had a spiritual calling to participate in the Mormon Trail Reenactment. He returned home to pick up Anita, and they rode into Salt Lake City, Utah.

What Fred enjoyed most was when family crowded his home for holiday gatherings and special events.

He is survived by those he dearly loved and completed his life: His wife Anita;

Children: Dean (Juanita Phipps) Vantiger, Mike (Sandy) Vantiger, Julie (John) Hicks;

Grandchildren: Lisa (Jon) Wolf, Cody (Katlyn) Vantiger, Jonna, Joslyn, and Jacey Hicks, Alayna and Lyndi Vantiger; great-grandchildren; Owen, Noah and Luka.

Brother James (Georgianna) Vantiger and sister Wilma (Larry) Anderson and sister-in-law Frieda Vantiger.

His great-grandson Theo Wolf, brother Robert Vantiger, and parents preceded him in death.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Vantiger will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 10th at St. Mary Catholic Church, Dodgeville.   The Very Rev. Father Marty Goetz will be celebrant.  Due to current social distancing guidelines, seating will be limited at the church. Interment will be in Trinity Cemetery, rural Mt. Union.  Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, October 9th at Lunning Chapel where family will receive friends, and from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church.  A celebration of life is being planned for November 14, 2020.

Memorials in Fred’s honor will be accepted for a special project in the North Village at Old Threshers, The Danville FFA program and St. Mary’s Church, Dodgeville.

Ron Henle

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 3:31 pm CDT

Ronald William Henle, 70, of Mt. Pleasant, IA passed away on Saturday, October 3 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA.  As were Ron’s wishes, his body has been cremated.  A time to celebrate Ron’s life will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at the Mt. Pleasant Golf and Country Club (2275 Hickory Ave., Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641)  Memorial contributions in Ron’s honor may be directed to the family and mailed c/o Cranston Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 189, Fairfield, IA 52556.  Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.