Due to the current situation regarding the numbers of students in quarantine and with greater than 5
students positive the WACO School District has made the difficult decision to pause all activities for two weeks. This means that practices will resume on 1/1/21. Games are currently being rescheduled. This is effective today
12/17 through 12/31/20. This also means that the building will be closed from 12/19/20 through 12/31/20 to all activities both school and community-related. The rationale for this decision was to slow the spread of COVID-19 both locally and within households. This will allow for students and the building to be ready for in-person learning to resume
on 1/5/21 and also for all sports to resume on 1/1/21. During this pause within the building, there will be enhanced district cleaning. There will still be in-person classes on 12/18 to finish the semester.
The District Administration understands that this decision may not be popular; however, it is hoped this response will
allow the district to continue in-person learning, and allow for activities to resume on 1/1/21.
Martha Wilke
Martha Wilke, 87, of Burlington, formerly of Wapello, passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at Oakview Nursing & Rehabilitation of Burlington. According to Martha’s wishes the body has been cremated. There will be no services or visitation. Sympathy notes may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com. Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Wapello is caring for Martha’s arrangements.
Martha is survived by her son Bruce Wilke of Burlington, brother-in-law Bud Hemphill and niece Deb Mellinger both of Mediapolis.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Wilke, parents Clay and Irene Clubb, brothers Lyle and Richard Clubb, and sister Gloria Hemphill.
COVID Vaccine Clinic for Henry County Healthcare Workers Still Planned
Henry County Public Health Director Shelley Van Dorin was prepared to share her department’s plan for administering the vaccine to county healthcare providers with the Board of Supervisors this morning but the federal government thru the Iowa Department of Public Health a curve Wednesday with the announcement that the State of Iowa, as well as all other states, will not receive the volume of vaccine initially anticipated. It appears Iowa’s allocation may be reduced by as much as 30% and that of course affects Henry County’s allotment. Van Dorin told the board she’s hasn’t received any further information about this and that it is an extremely fluid situation. However, her department plans on holding the first of three clinics to give the vaccine on December 22. The other two are on hold until she has more definite information. Van Dorin said Henry County was slated to receive 600 doses. If in fact the number is reduced by 30% that means there will now be 420 doses. 100 of those are for HCHC healthcare workers.
Ken Gray
Ken Gray, 90, of New London, died Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at his home.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, December 21 at the New London Christian Church. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church. According to his wishes, he will be cremated following the service with inurnment at a later date in Fulton Cemetery, Cairo, Iowa. A memorial has been established to Great River Hospice. Elliott Chapel, New London is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com
Janet Sue Martin
Janet Sue Martin, 70 , of New London, died Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at Great River Hospice House, West Burlington after a short, hard fought battle with abdominal sarcomatoid malignant neoplasma.
She was born January 24, 1950 in Mt. Pleasant, the daughter of William and Dorothy Louise Burkey Logan. On October 18, 1968 she married William “Billy” Martin in Mt. Pleasant. She was a 1968 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School and a graduate of Southeastern Community College and did her clinicals at the Mental Health Institute in Mt. Pleasant. She worked as a Medical Laboratory Technician for 25 years at the hospital in Mt. Pleasant, Burlington, and Washington. She took time off when her daughters were born to be a mom and homemaker, and then returned to the laboratory. She did some work in remodeling and interior design, and liked to go antiquing and collecting. Fishing and camping, watching wildlife, and enjoying the livestock, farm animals and her dogs were favorite pasttimes. As a child, she and her sister Judy, liked going to Grandma and Grandpa Burkey’s farm. She also enjoyed her flower garden and loved to mow. She especially adored her grandchildren and chose to retire early so she and Billy could attend their events.
Janet is survived by her husband, Billy of New London; daughters, Belinda Martin (Ron) DeWitt and Teresa (Chad) Johnson, both of Solon; four grandchildren, Eli (Kelsey Smith) DeWitt and Chandler DeWitt, and Hunter (fiancé Rylee Blood) Johnson and Keegan Johnson; and a sister, Judy Bowman of Le Mars, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather Ed Boyd, and sister Nancy Logan.
According to her wishes, Janet has been cremated and a private family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Elliott Chapel, New London is assisting the family. A memorial has been established. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com
Mildred A. “Jinx” Hill
Mildred A. “Jinx” Hill, 92, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant.
Private Graveside Services will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2020, at the White Oak Cemetery rural Mt. Pleasant. Burial will follow in the White Oak Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday from 2 until 7 p.m. at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant. The family will not be present. Memorials may be directed to the White Oak Cemetery and or to the Fellowship Cup of Mt. Pleasant in her memory.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com
Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant is caring for her arrangements.
Sports, Thursday, December 17th
By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Mount Pleasant’s Lutovsky Official Inks with Nebraska:
Mount Pleasant senior OL made his college commitment official yesterday, putting pen to paper with the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Lutovsky, a 6’6, 310 pound OG, was listed as three-star recruit by recruiting services such as Rivals and 24/7 Sports.
He’s ranked as the No. 13 guard in the country.
A First Team All-State choice this year, Lutovsky also held offers for Nebraska, Georgia, Iowa State and Missouri.
Lutovsky joins a class at Nebraska that features fellow Iowans Seth Malcom of Fremont-Mills and the nation’s top tight end in Lewis Central’s Thomas Fidone.
The class is ranked No. 24 overall for 2021.
Super Conference Boys’ Slate Loaded Tonight:
It will be a fun and competitive Super Conference slate tonight with three area teams getting games in tonight.
Danville (RV) will host Highland, as the Bears hope to continue their undefeated start to the 2020-21 season.
The Bears are coming off a win earlier this week against Holy Trinity. Tonight’s game at Danville High School will tip at 7:30 p.m.
Also in the Super Conference, Notre Dame will travel to Mediapolis.
Both teams are still trying to find their footing this year, the Nikes are just 1-2 while Mediapolis is 0-4.
Other games tonight include:
- Wilton at Columbus
- Wapello at Wilton (Girls)
Panther Wrestling Team to Host Varsity Double Dual:
The Mount Pleasant Panther wrestling team will host a varsity double dual tonight when they welcome in both Fort Madison and Mid-Prairie.
You can stream tonight’s matches here.
Junior Varsity will wrestle tonight, as well.
Wrestling will get underway at 6:00 p.m.
Other area wrestling tonight will see:
- Fairfield, Keokuk, Ottumwa at Washington
Iowa-Michigan Football Cancelled:
The University of Iowa football team will not have a game this week.
Their Saturday night contest against Michigan has been canceled due to COVID problems within the Wolverine program.
The game was part of a new initiative by the Big Ten titled “Champions Week.”
Iowa was slated to host Michigan, Saturday night.
It’s the second game canceled this week for the Big Ten, joining Indiana-Purdue.
Iowa’s Nixon Named B1G DPOY:
Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon has been named the Nagurski-Woodsson Defensive Player of the Year and the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year, the conference has announced.
Nixon, a 6’3″, 305-pound junior from Kenosha, Wisconsin finished this year with 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and one touchdown, along with 45 total tackles.
Two other Hawkeye defensive lineman were All-Conference choice as well: Chauncey Golston was an All-Big Ten Conference First Team Defense selection from the coaches and media.
Zach VanValkenburg was picked to the second team by both the coaches and media, as well.
Iowa will close their 2020 season with a regular season record of 6-2.