Back to Scratch: Supervisors Table Ordinance Amidst New Bill in Iowa Senate

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, February 15th, 2024 at 10:58 am CDT

The Henry County Supervisors met on Thursday morning for the first Reading of the Ordinance to Amend Title 6, Chapter 2, Article 11-2 through 11-6 Alternative Energy Overlay District. In reference to the potential wind farm project, this ordinance would by no means approve the potential wind farm. Instead, it is just an update to the language regarding wind and solar energy.

However, the supervisors chose not to go through with the first reading and instead table it for the time being. It will go back to the Planning and Zoning Commission. This came after a recommendation from the assistant County Attorney. Due to Senate Study Bill 3169, which is not in effect at this time, this new bill would allow the State to set the guidelines, trumping county law. Currently, there is no companion bill in the Iowa House of Representatives.

The supervisors also discussed the townhalls, mentioning how those are for public input. There is another townhall this evening at 6:30pm at the Swedesburg Parish Hall for the potential wind farm project. RWE Representatives will be in attendance to answer questions.

Two School Board Members Join Superintendent for Day on the Hill Conversation

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, February 15th, 2024 at 8:40 am CDT

On Tuesday, February 13th,  Mike Hampton, Derek Mullin (MP School Board), and John Henriksen (Superintendent), went to the capitol for the Day on the Hill event. There, they met with legislators to discuss the Mount Pleasant School District and educational concerns.

They met with two senators, Adrian Dickey and Mark Lofgren, and two representatives, Jeff Shipley and Taylor Collins.

These lengthy conversations were to provide a first person perspective of issues being discussed in current legislation that would greatly impact our area’s educational community, staff, and students.

Gas Prices Rise All Around: Weekly Fuel Report

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, February 15th, 2024 at 8:39 am CDT

Our weekly fuel report reveals bad news across the board for Iowans. Regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.94 across Iowa, which is an 11 cent rise from last week. The national average also rose 11 cents, to $3.26.

Meanwhile, diesel prices skyrocketed, up to $3.80 a gallon, which is a whopping 26 cents higher than just 7 days ago. It’s not all bad, as the current Iowa price is 28 cents lower than the national average, and prices in Iowa were 34 cents higher at this time last year.

Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.

Propane prices averaged $1.59 per gallon statewide.

Home heating oil prices averaged $3.22 per gallon statewide.

Natural gas prices fell 36 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $1.61/MMbtu.

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.

Fires Burn in Southeast Iowa Yesterday, Not in the Heart but in the Field!

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, February 15th, 2024 at 8:38 am CDT

There were multiple fires on Valentines Day that required firefighters to put out. In the 600 Block of North Lincoln, a structure fire broke out and firefighters were put on alert at 2:35pm. Responding to this were the Mount Pleasant Fire Department and Rescue and New London Fire was called on mutual aid.

In the 2800 Block of Quaker Avenue, New London Fire responded to a field fire, with Henry County Sheriff’s Office initially responding.

Then, just 9 minutes later, a field fire broke out in the 2700 Block of Franklin Avenue in Mount Pleasant. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Mt. Pleasant Fire and Rescue and Salem Fire Department and Rescue all responded.

There was no time to rest for firefighters. Just before 5pm, a field fire broke out in the 1100 block of 208th Street in Mount Pleasant. Responding were Mount Pleasant Fire and Henry County Sheriff’s Office.

If you are attempting a controlled burn, be extra careful, especially with the wind conditions.

Sports, February 15th

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, February 15th, 2024 at 6:29 am CDT

Girls’ Regional Basketball

In Class 1A Region 7, Danville will take on Lynnville-Sully in a road regional semifinal matchup tomorrow, February 16th, at 7 pm. KILJ AM 1130, 98.5 FM, and kilj.com will be on the call.

In Class 1A Region 8, #15 Holy Trinity Catholic will travel to Montezuma tomorrow at 7 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call. 

For Class 2A Region 6, Columbus will hit the road to take on North Mahaska tomorrow at 7 pm.

In Class 3A Region 1, Mediapolis snuck past Tipton 39-36 in a highly defensive matchup to advance to the Regional Championship. Hanna Wagenbach tallied 12 points as Haley Steffener collected six of the team’s 14 steals. The Bulldogs will face off against Mt. Vernon on Saturday, February 17th, at 7 pm in Mt. Vernon.

In Class 4A Region 1, Mt. Pleasant stayed competitive with Oskaloosa through most of the first quarter with a couple of threes from seniors Juliana Burns and Hailey Parrott cutting Oskaloosa’s lead to 13 to 10. Unfortunately, the offense would manage only nine points for the rest of the game as the Panthers fell 61-19. Hailey Parrott led the scoring with 5 points. Mt. Pleasant finished the season with a 4-17 record. 

Boys’ District Basketball

Starting in Class 1A Substate 5 District 9, Danville will travel to take on Winfield-Mt. Union tonight at 7 pm. KILJ AM 1130, 98.5 FM, and kilj.com will be on the call.

In the bottom half of the bracket, Burlington Notre Dame will host WACO tonight at 7 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 6:45 pm.

In Substate 5 District 10, Holy Trinity Catholic will face off against Moravia tonight at 7 pm at home. 

Class 2A, Substate 4 District 7, Central Lee will compete against #6 West Burlington tonight at 7 pm.

In the bottom half of the bracket, Mediapolis will travel to West Branch tonight at 7 pm.

For Class 3A Substate 5, Mt. Pleasant will hit the road to take on Keokuk. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 6:45 pm. Washington will face off against Clear Creek-Amana and Fort Madison faces off against Williamsburg. 

In Class 3A Substate 4, Fairfield will take on Marion on the road.

In Class 4A Substate 3, Burlington snatched the sixth seed and will travel to Davenport, West for their first-round matchup. 

The first round for classes 3A and 4A will begin on Monday, February 19th, at 7 pm.

High School Wrestling

The state tournament continues today. KILJ will be focusing on 29 wrestlers at the tournament. After day one, WACO’s Gage Samo and Louden Huisenga are still in the championship bracket for Class 1A. 

In Class 2A, Burlington Notre Dame has six in the championship bracket with Fairfield’s Cael McCabe and Washington’s Aaron Boone winning their matchups to stay in the championship bracket. Russel Coil of Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union is still going strong in the championship bracket.

For Class 3A for the Southeast Conference, Nolan Riddle and Isaac Thacher of Fort Madison are in the championship bracket along with Burlington’s Braxton Hutchinson.

High School Bowling

The state tournament will begin on Monday, February 19th, as the Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will have Addie McGehearty, Bethany Drury, and Kya Goodrich competing as individuals. 

College Basketball

The #4 Iowa women’s team will host Michigan tonight at 7 pm. 

In an instant classic, the Iowa State women’s team chopped down the #7-ranked Kansas St. Wildcats 96-93 in double overtime. The home crowd in Ames got to witness a 13-point Wildcat comeback to force overtime then a buzzer-beater in overtime to send it to double overtime where free throws finally sealed the win for the Cyclones. Addy Brown and Audi Crooks each scored 20 points as Emily Ryan finished with a double-double, 12 points and 12 assists. The Cyclones finished 31 of 36 from the free throw line. Iowa State will travel to #5 Texas on Saturday, February 17th, at 3 pm. 

The #10 Iowa State men’s team will host Texas Tech on Saturday at 11 am.

The Iowa men’s team was outscored by 18 points in the second half as the Hawkeyes fell 78-66 at the hands of Maryland. Payton Sandfort led the scoring effort with 19 points. The Hawkeyes will take on #20 Wisconsin on Saturday at 1:15 pm at home.

This Day in Sports History

1973 – Friendsville Academy (Tenn) ends their 138-game basketball losing streak, an unofficial boys’ high school record.

1987 – 1982 Masters champion Craig Stadler is disqualified from the Andy Williams Open for kneeling on a towel to make a shot.

2000 – Martin Brodeur becomes the first (and only) goaltender in NHL history to get credit for a “game winning” goal as New Jersey wins 4-2 over the visiting Philadelphia Flyers.

Henry County Supervisors Meeting Agenda 02/15

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, February 15th, 2024 at 6:21 am CDT

AGENDA

 

February 15, 2024

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

Approve Claims

9:00 Caleb Waters, Conservation Monthly Update

9:15 Lynn Whaley, WEMIGA Waste Update

9:30 1st Reading Ordinance to Amend Title 6, Chapter 2, Article 11-2 through 11-6

Alternative Energy Overlay District

1st Reading Ordinance to Amend Title 6, Chapter 1, Article 7-2,

Adding Fees for Subdivision and Plates of Survey

6:30 Swedesburg Parish Hall for RWE

Wind Turbines

Other County Business as time allows

 Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

Wanda McAllister

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, February 15th, 2024 at 5:56 am CDT

Wanda Marie Corey McAllister, 77, of Mt. Union, died on Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City.  She was born on Good Friday, April 19, 1946 in Mt. Pleasant to Delbert Lewis and Irene V. Hoakison Corey.  On January 4, 1969, during a -9 degree snowstorm, she married Kenneth L.  McAllister at the Mt. Union United Methodist Church.

She was a 1964 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School and in 1968 earned her teacher’s certificate from University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.  She taught one year in Bloomington, Minnesota and two years at Harlan Elementary in Mt. Pleasant before leaving teaching to become a homemaker and farm wife.  Mrs. McAllister was a member of the Mt. Union United Methodist Church; United Methodist Women; taught Sunday School for many years; served as Sunday School superintendent; and helped organize Vacation Bible School. She was an amazing prayer warrior.  Wanda was a TTT member; 4-H leader and served on the extension council and as fair superintendent for fifteen years. She volunteered with MOPS, especially the food pantry; was a leader in obtaining a grant for All Hands Day Care; and was a recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Award.  Wanda was an avid reader; enjoyed writing; and her favorite thing was playing games at family gatherings. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and children.

She is survived by her husband; daughter Michelle (Shawn) Pezley of Cedar Falls; sons Mike (Teri) McAllister of Pleasant Hill and Matt (Donna) of Bourbonnais, Illinois; four grandchildren, Megan and John Pezley, and Cooper and Zoey McAllister; one brother Wendell (Vicki) Corey of Mason City; and many nieces and nephews.  Her parents preceded her in death.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Canaan Community Church (formerly United Methodist Church) in Mt. Union with Rev. Jim Shrimplin officiating.  Burial will follow at Trinity Cemetery, rural Mt. Union.  Visitation will begin at noon on Friday, February 16, at Elliott Chapel, New London, with the family greeting friends from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.  A memorial has been established for her church.  Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

Boys’ Prep Wrestling: The Dogs Combine for 3 Quarterfinalists after Day One in Class 3A

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, February 15th, 2024 at 12:03 am CDT

Des Moines, IA- Day one of the 2024 Boys’ wrestling state tournament is in the books with the quarterfinals set in the championship bracket and the first round of consolation bracket matchups ready to begin, here’s how our local wrestlers from Class 3A performed.

Burlington’s Braxton Hutchinson grabbed the two seed and made quick work of his second-round opponent, Michael Lewis, pinning him in under thirty seconds. Hutchinson will take on Carew Christensen in the 106-pound weight class championship bracket.

Fort Madison saw Nolan Riddle, 157-pound weight class, and Isaac Thacher, 190-pound weight class, advance to the quarterfinal after Riddle defeated Trace Robertson of Clear Creek-Amana and Wyatt Vlasek of Prairie by fall and Thacher rode a first-round bye to a pin of Isaiah Kellow of Indianola.

Riddle will face off against Grant Kress, the #1 seed, while Thacher will take on Danarii Mickel of Ames in the quarterfinal round.

In the 165-pound weight class, Joe Hartman was defeated in the first round. He will wrestle in the consolation bracket.

In the 285-pound weight class, Cory Arnett pinned Vinnie Keller of Clear Creek-Amana in the first round but lost to Dawson Rheingans of North Scott by a 6-2 decision. Andy Crowder will be waiting for Arnett in the consolation bracket.

KILJ will update as the tournament progresses.