Suspects Arrested in Skimmer Investigation

By Theresa Rose · Friday, June 4th, 2021 at 11:35 pm CDT

On 5/25/21, the Mt Pleasant Police became aware of credit card skimmers placed at a local gas station. Three skimmers were seized and the local banks were made aware. Local banks have been great in providing illegal transactions on the cloned cards to law enforcement. As a result of the investigation, a search warrant was executed at 705 S Sheridan St in Ottumwa IA. During the search, a credit card reader, notes with card numbers, and three illegally purchased gift cards were located. As a result of the investigation, Erlian A Gonzalez age 35 and Juan M Almenares Morales age 56, both of Ottumwa and formerly Miami Florida were arrested and charged with Ongoing Criminal Conduct, a Class B-felony, and Illegal use of a Scanning Device, a Class D felony. They were both transported to the Henry County Jail where they are being held pending arraignment. More charges are pending and the investigation is still ongoing. The Mt Pleasant Police Department was assisted by the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office and Ottumwa Police Department. We would also like to thank Wayland State Bank, Pilot Grove Savings Bank, Aldis, and Hy-Vee, and Wal Mart for all of their assistance in helping apprehend the suspects.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Prep Baseball (Thursday)

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, June 4th, 2021 at 2:24 pm CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

KILJ — It was a long night of baseball in the southeast Iowa region:

Mount Pleasant 4, Keokuk 3

Keokuk 7, Mount Pleasant 6

The Mount Pleasant baseball team split a traditional doubleheader against Keokuk last night, taking game one 4-3, while falling in game two 7-6.

Jack Johnson was the winning pitcher in the first tilt, throwing six innings of three run ball while striking out nine.

Keokuk scratched their first run across in the 6th inning against Johnson who was stellar in his second start of the season.

Carter Amos had three hits in three trips to pace the Panthers offensively.

Cooper Keldgord struck out the side in the 7th inning to earn his first varsity save.

In game two, Will Edeker drove in the game-tying run in the 7th inning but it was Keokuk with the last laugh, as the Chiefs scored the game-winning run on a walk-off base on balls as they picked up a 7-6 win.

Keokuk’s Josh Will was walked by Keldgord with the bases loaded forcing in the winning run.

Edeker led Mount Pleasant’s offense with three hits while Jake Ensminger had two hits and scored two runs.

The split moved Mount Pleasant to 1-2.

Keokuk picked up their first win over Mount Pleasant since 2017, a streak that spanned 11 games.

They’re now 1-3.

Notre Dame 11, Danville 3 

Josh Smith was stellar on the bump, as Notre Dame picked up an 11-3 win over Danville yesterday in Burlington.

Brady Oleson led the Nikes offensively with a three-pack of hits. Carson Chiprez and Owen Gulick aided the onslaught with two hits of their own.

Notre Dame improved to 3-1.

Danville slipped to 1-1.

Keota 10, Winfield-Mount Union 3

Keota struck for seven runs in the 3rd inning, as the Eagles rolled to a 10-3 win over Winfield-Mount Union last night.

Patrick Clarahan had two hits, two runs batted in and a pair of stolen bases to lead the the eagles.

Luke Hammen worked four innings to earn the win on the hill for Keota.

Winfield slumped to 0-6.

Mediapolis 6, Hillcrest Academy 2 

Mediapolis scored four times in the 1st inning jumping out a four-run lead as they put it in cruise control yesterday in a 6-2 win over Hillcrest Academy.

The Bulldogs scored two insurance runs in the 4th as their pitching and defense shined against the Ravens.

The win moved Mediapolis to 2-4.

Wapello 16, Columbus 1

Van Buren County 8, Central Lee 7 

Prep Softball (Thursday)

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, June 4th, 2021 at 2:20 pm CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

KILJ — It was a busy night of prep softball in the region.

Here’s a look at area scoreboard:

Keokuk 12, Mount Pleasant 4

Keokuk 14, Mount Pleasant 2 

Mount Pleasant was swept yesterday by Keokuk at Joyce Park in a Southeast Conference doubleheader.

In game one, Madison Helling threw the first two innings allowing 10 runs on seven hits, while striking out three.

Grace Kelley had two hits, including her first round-tripper, and a double despite the 12-4 Chief win.

In game two, Keokuk struck early and often tagging Ella McNamee for 13 runs over two innings en route to a 14-2 win.

Savana Walls scored a run and walked twice.

Mount Pleasant slipped to 0-7 after the pair of losses.

They’ll be at home tonight against Davis County.

Holy Trinity 5, New London 3 

Mary Hellige through a complete game as Holy Trinity earned a 5-3 win over New London last night in a South Division matchup in the Super Conference.

Hellige helped her own cause with a pair of hits, while Kelli Meierotto also had two hits.

Kayla Box drove in two.

Holy Trinity moved to 3-2, New London stumbled to 1-6.

Mediapolis 18, Hillcrest Academy 8 

Jenna Parrott had four hits and three runs batted in as Mediapolis steamrolled to an 18-8 win over Hillcrest Academy.

Hallie Mohr was the winning pitcher for the Bullettes, striking out two over six innings.

The win was Mediapolis’ first of the season, they’re now 1-4.

Boys’ Soccer: Notre Dame Advances to State Finals

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, June 4th, 2021 at 2:19 pm CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Des Moines — Sam Brueck scored two goals while Cole Ward assisted on two and scored one of his own as the Notre Dame boys’ soccer team earned a 4-2 win over Regina in a Class 1A State Soccer semifinal last night.

Caden Murphy made seven saves as the Nikes won their 22nd match of the season.

The win moves Notre Dame into the Class 1A State Finals where they’ll tango with second-seeded Western Christian.

The Wolfpack knocked off West Liberty 2-1 last night.

The 1A State Championship will be played tomorrow (Saturday) at 12:00 p.m. in Des Moines.

Men’s College Basketball: Iowa State to Meet with Creighton

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, June 4th, 2021 at 2:18 pm CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Ames — The Iowa State men’s basketball team will travel to Omaha this winter to meet up with Creighton in the 2021 Big East-Big 12 Battle, the leagues have announced.

The clubs will play on Saturday, December 4th.

The matchup will feature new Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger facing off against one of his mentors and former ISU head coach Greg McDermott, who is in his 11th season coaching at Creighton.

It will be the Cyclones and Bluejays 32nd meeting with Iowa State owning a 16-15 lead in the all-time series.

Sports, Friday, June 4th

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, June 4th, 2021 at 11:36 am CDT

Prep Baseball (Thursday):

Mount Pleasant 4, Keokuk 3

Keokuk 7, Mount Pleasant 6

The Mount Pleasant baseball team split a traditional doubleheader against Keokuk last night, taking game one 4-3, while falling in game two 7-6.

Jack Johnson was the winning pitcher in the first tilt, throwing six innings of three run ball while striking out nine.

Keokuk scratched their first run across in the 6th inning against Johnson who was stellar in his second start of the season.

Carter Amos had three hits in three trips to pace the Panthers offensively.

Cooper Keldgord struck out the side in the 7th inning to earn his first varsity save.

In game two, Will Edeker drove in the game-tying run in the 7th inning but it was Keokuk with the last laugh, as the Chiefs scored the game-winning run on a walk-off base on balls as they picked up a 7-6 win.

Keokuk’s Josh Will was walked by Keldgord with the bases loaded forcing in the winning run.

Edeker led Mount Pleasant’s offense with three hits while Jake Ensminger had two hits and scored two runs.

The split moved Mount Pleasant to 1-2.

Keokuk picked up their first win over Mount Pleasant since 2017, a streak that spanned 11 games.

They’re now 1-3.

Notre Dame 11, Danville 3 

Josh Smith was stellar on the bump, as Notre Dame picked up an 11-3 win over Danville yesterday in Burlington.

Brady Oleson led the Nikes offensively with a three-pack of hits. Carson Chiprez and Owen Gulick aided the onslaught with two hits of their own.

Notre Dame improved to 3-1.

Danville slipped to 1-1.

Keota 10, Winfield-Mount Union 3

Keota struck for seven runs in the 3rd inning, as the Eagles rolled to a 10-3 win over Winfield-Mount Union last night.

Patrick Clarahan had two hits, two runs batted in and a pair of stolen bases to lead the the eagles.

Luke Hammen worked four innings to earn the win on the hill for Keota.

Winfield slumped to 0-6.

Mediapolis 6, Hillcrest Academy 2 

Mediapolis scored four times in the 1st inning jumping out a four-run lead as they put it in cruise control yesterday in a 6-2 win over Hillcrest Academy.

The Bulldogs scored two insurance runs in the 4th as their pitching and defense shined against the Ravens.

The win moved Mediapolis to 2-4.

Wapello 16, Columbus 1

Van Buren County 8, Central Lee 7 

Prep Softball (Thursday):

Keokuk 12, Mount Pleasant 4

Keokuk 14, Mount Pleasant 2 

Mount Pleasant was swept yesterday by Keokuk at Joyce Park in a Southeast Conference doubleheader.

In game one, Madison Helling threw the first two innings allowing 10 runs on seven hits, while striking out three.

Grace Kelley had two hits, including her first round-tripper, and a double despite the 12-4 Chief win.

In game two, Keokuk struck early and often tagging Ella McNamee for 13 runs over two innings en route to a 14-2 win.

Savana Walls scored a run and walked twice.

Mount Pleasant slipped to 0-7 after the pair of losses.

They’ll be at home tonight against Davis County.

Holy Trinity 5, New London 3 

Mary Hellige through a complete game as Holy Trinity earned a 5-3 win over New London last night in a South Division matchup in the Super Conference.

Hellige helped her own cause with a pair of hits, while Kelli Meierotto also had two hits.

Kayla Box drove in two.

Holy Trinity moved to 3-2, New London stumbled to 1-6.

Mediapolis 18, Hillcrest Academy 8 

Jenna Parrott had four hits and three runs batted in as Mediapolis steamrolled to an 18-8 win over Hillcrest Academy.

Hallie Mohr was the winning pitcher for the Bullettes, striking out two over six innings.

The win was Mediapolis’ first of the season, they’re now 1-4.

Boys’ Soccer: Notre Dame Advances to State Finals:

Sam Brueck scored two goals while Cole Ward assisted on two and scored one of his own as the Notre Dame boys’ soccer team earned a 4-2 win over Regina in a Class 1A State Soccer semifinal last night.

Caden Murphy made seven saves as the Nikes won their 22nd match of the season.

The win moves Notre Dame into the Class 1A State Finals where they’ll tango with second-seeded Western Christian.

The Wolfpack knocked off West Liberty 2-1 last night.

The 1A State Championship will be played tomorrow (Saturday) at 12:00 p.m. in Des Moines.

Men’s College Basketball: Iowa State to Meet with Creighton:

The Iowa State men’s basketball team will travel to Omaha this winter to meet up with Creighton in the 2021 Big East-Big 12 Battle, the leagues have announced.

The clubs will play on Saturday, December 4th.

The matchup will feature new Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger facing off against one of his mentors and former ISU head coach Greg McDermott, who is in his 11th season coaching at Creighton.

It will be the Cyclones and Bluejays 32nd meeting with Iowa State owning a 16-15 lead in the all-time series.

 

Pursuit Ends in Crash. Two County Squad Cars Also Damaged

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, June 3rd, 2021 at 8:35 pm CDT

On June 2ndat approximately 2:58AM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office located a vehicle that had previously eluded another area law enforcement agency.  A traffic stop was attempted on the vehicle in the 1100-Grid of US Highway 218 near Olds, Iowa.  The vehicle again began to elude law enforcement and a pursuit ensued.

As this occurred the vehicle committed several additional traffic infractions and/or criminal violations. The vehicle later lost control and became involved in a motor vehicle crash with property damage.  Two squad units, from Henry County Sheriff’s Office, were also involved in a crash during this incident.

The driver, Keoone Walls (22) and an occupant, Labron Baltimore (26) both of Minneapolis, MN., fled on foot after the incident and were later located, identified, and arrested.

Damage to property and vehicle was estimated to be greater than $10,000.  From this incident and investigation; Keoone Walls was charged with Felony Eluding – OWI, Criminal Mischief, Interference w/ Official Acts, Hemp Inhalation, Open Container, No Driver License, Speeding, Failure to Maintain Control, Driving on Wrong Side of a Two-way Highway, Improper Use of Lanes, No Insurance – Accident . Labron Baltimore was charged with Interference w/ Official Acts, Open Container, and Hemp Inhalation.

Assisting with this incident was the Mount Pleasant Police Department, Henry County Paramedics, and the Mount Pleasant Fire Department.

Two Vehicle Collision

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, June 3rd, 2021 at 5:33 pm CDT

On Wednesday, June 2, at approximately 5:42pm, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a motor vehicle crash, involving two vehicles, with injuries, at the intersection of Highway 78 North and Highway 218 South bound near Olds.

Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and observed a vehicle facing south bound on the shoulder of Highway 218 and a second vehicle facing north across the center of Highway 78.  Both vehicles had significant damage.

It was later determined that the drivers were Rachel Thomas, 18, Fairfield and Wilma Savage, 81, Danville. Savage drove into cross traffic and was struck on the passenger side of her vehicle.

Both vehicles were totaled.  Savage was cited for Failing to Yield Right of Way.