Leland Max Diers

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, October 6th, 2025 at 10:22 am CDT

Leland Max Diers, 89, of Farfield and formerly of Lockridge passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Jefferson County Hospital surrounded by his loving family.

 

Lee was born on April 30, 1936, in Jefferson County, the son of Fred Henry and Effie (Marshall) Diers.  He grew up on the family farm in Lockridge and graduated from Lockridge High School with the class of 1955. It was there that Leland’s lifelong love for farming and the outdoors began.  After his graduation he was drafted into the United States Army in 1959. He served his country bravely and was honorably discharged in 1962.  Leland worked for Rauscher Seed House, Dexter Company and later for Chain and Cable.  Eventually, Leland dedicated himself to farming full time, cultivating row crops and raising livestock. Farming was not just a profession for Leland, but a true passion that brought him great joy throughout his life.  He was united in marriage to Sue Ann Fry on November 27, 1971, at the United Methodist Church in Fairfield.  Together they enjoyed 54 years of marriage filled with love and laughter.  He had the wonderful gift of being able to fix anything, loved to tinker and loved to play pranks and tease people.   Throughout his life he was always there to help his neighbors regardless of what he was doing. Leland was an Americana Seeds dealer for several years. He later began to work at Graber Services in Lockridge.  In April of 2015, he and Sue moved to Fairfield.  He was a member of the United Life Community Church of Fairfield. 

 

Those thankful for sharing in his life include his wife Sue, and his children, Tim (Angie) Diers and Ted (Kandi) Diers, and his beloved grandchildren, Edith, Gabby, Ruby and Adeline. 

 

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Royal Fredrick Diers, one in infancy and Eugene Diers.

 

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the United Life Community Church in Fairfield with Pastor George King officiating.  Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield. Friends may call on Tuesday from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant.  The family will not be present.  Following the service at the cemetery the family will receive friends at the church for a time of food and fellowship. A memorial has been established in his memory to the United Life Community Church.

 

 

 

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

 

The Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is honored to serve the family with love, comfort and dignity as we celebrate the life of Leland Diers.

Sports, October 6th

By Slaten Swords · Monday, October 6th, 2025 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Volleyball

Burlington Notre Dame handled business at the New London Tournament over the weekend, as the Nikes did not drop a set against the hosts, Louisa-Muscatine, or English Valleys twice in their four-game run. 

Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield will be gearing up for day one of the Southeast Conference Tournament slated to start tonight at Burlington.

#2 Holy Trinity Catholic will face off against Van Buren County at 7:30 pm at home tomorrow, October 7th.

Burlington Notre Dame will travel to Mediapolis tomorrow at 7:30 pm. 

New London will square off against West Burlington tomorrow at 7:30 pm at home for their senior night. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will host Highland tomorrow at 7 pm.

Wapello will tangle with Hillcrest Academy at home tomorrow at 6:30 pm.

Central Lee will take on Danville tomorrow at 7:30 pm on the road. 

WACO will host Lone Tree tomorrow at 7 pm.

Columbus will travel to Highland on Thursday, October 9th, at 7:30 pm. 

High School Cross Country

The Columbus boys’ team competed at the Dan Hutson/Steve Johnson Invitational over the weekend and finished in 27th place with 703 points. Ryan Villa led the squad with a time of 17 minutes and 49 seconds, which was good enough for 96th place. The Wildcats will have their senior night on Thursday, October 9th, when they hold the Mike Jay Invitational with New London, WACO, and Winfield-Mt. Union making the trip.

Wapello and Fairfield will run at the Hillcrest Academy Invitational tonight. 

Mediapolis will host their Invitational on Thursday with Notre Dame/West Burlington, Central Lee, Danville, Holy Trinity Catholic, Mt. Pleasant, and Wapello participating. 

High School Football

Mt. Pleasant will stay on the road to take on Keokuk on Friday, October 10th, at 7:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 7:15 pm.

Mediapolis will tangle with Mid-Prairie on Friday at 7 pm on the road. 

Van Buren County will welcome Wapello to town on Friday at 7 pm. 

WACO will host Springville on Friday at 7 pm. 

Fairfield will travel to Fort Madison on Friday at 7:30 pm. 

West Burlington/Notre Dame will look to regroup for their road showdown with West Liberty at 7 pm on Friday. 

Central Lee will compete against Wilton at 7 pm on Friday on the road. 

Danville will take on Pekin on Friday at home to celebrate their senior night at 7 pm. After two straight bye weeks, Bear head coach Cody Thompson is excited to get back to action against an undefeated Panther squad,

“You know, I really think having a big matchup, you know, that the first week back has been beneficial, you know because we’re not looking past everybody. You know, we’re looking right to what’s next. That part has been good to help drive our kids, and you know, like we used it as a good opportunity to teach them, you know, a little bit better on the film breakdown and how to do all those things themselves. And you know, again, we use a lot of time still to focus on ourselves and clean up our mistakes because that was kind of the biggest thing we were seeing throughout the year, is we’d be in good position and then we’d find a way to to get in our own way or, you know, go backward.”

Southeastern Community College

The volleyball team ended their tournament run at Rock Valley College with a 2-2 record after sweeping College of Lake County and losing to Harper College in four sets over the weekend. The Blackhawks will host Kirkwood Community College at 7 pm on Wednesday, October 8th. 

The men’s soccer team and Northeast Community College finished the game tied at one over the weekend. 

The women’s soccer team lost a 1-0 nailbiter against Northeast Community College over the weekend. Both soccer teams will travel to St. Louis Community College on Wednesday, October 8th. 

College Football

#22 Iowa State dug themselves into a 24-point hole in the first half and the Cyclones could not climb out, falling to Cincinnati 38-30. Rocco Becht did everything he could, throwing for 314 yards and scoring four total touchdowns. The Cyclones will stay on the road as they look to regroup against Colorado at 2:30 pm. KILJ 98.5 FM and AM 1130 will be on the call. 

Iowa will travel to Wisconsin on Saturday for kickoff at 6:05 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM will be on the call. 

This Day in Sports History

1920 – The first brothers to oppose each other in the World Series as Cleveland’s Wheeler Johnston pinch-hits while his brother, Jimmy, plays 3rd base for Brooklyn.

1926 – Babe Ruth becomes the first MLB player to hit three home runs in a World Series game as the New York Yankees beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 10-5, in Game four at Sportsman’s Park, St. Louis.

1945 – Tavern owner “Billy Goat” Sianis buys a seat for his goat for Game 4 of the Baseball World Series, but is escorted out and casts the infamous “Billy Goat” curse on the Chicago Cubs.

Danville City Council Meeting Tuesday, October 6, 2025 at 5:15 p.m

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, October 6th, 2025 at 5:04 am CDT

Tuesday, October 6, 2025

Order of business

Danville City Council, Danville City Hall

NOTE: The regular session may be conducted electronically

as allowed by Iowa Code 21.8

Citizen comments: Comments must be directed to the subject under consideration. The presiding officer shall rule on the relevance of the citizen comments. Citizens making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks may be barred by the presiding officer from further comment before the Council during the meeting.

1. Call to order at 5:15 p.m..

2. Action to go into closed session per Iowa Code 21.5 (1)(c) to discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental body in that litigation.

3. Action to come out of closed session.

4. Statement regarding the closed session. No action will be taken by council at this time.

1. Regular session call to order at 5:45 p.m..

2. Accept or amend the agenda.

3. Discussion on concerns from Loretta Robertson and Kara Venvertloh regarding 327 North Main Street property, action if needed.

4. Discussion with Jason Samples regarding Wagner Park, action if needed.

5. Setting of date/time for trick-or-treating.

6. Building Inspector/Fire Chief Report

A. Approval of building permits

7. Public Works Report

A. Action on written report.

B. Review of DOT annual letter

C. Discussion and action on invoice for Skid-Steer from Bobcat

8. Approval of consent agenda.

A. Council minutes of September 15, 2025.

B. Payment of bills.

C. Financial Report for July 2025

D. Approval of Waste Water Treatment Plant Billing.

D. City clerk to attend Fall IMFOA meeting in DesMoines October 15-17

9. Council correspondence and reports.

A. Discussion and action on correspondence with Brittni Rahmus regarding WWTP billing, action if needed.

B. Discussion and action on letter received by the Iowa Rural Water Association.

10. Open forum: A time set aside to receive comments from the public regarding city business. The Mayor and City Council welcome comments from the public on any subject pertaining to City business, including items on this agenda. You are asked to state your name and address for the record and to limit your remarks to five minutes in order that others may be given the opportunity to speak. The Order of Business is at the discretion of the Chair. No action will be taken.

10. Adjournment.

Next regular session of the Danville City Council will be on,

Monday, October 20, 2025 starting at 5:15 p.m..

Shirley Pauline Hermann-Dorothy

By Hayden Douglas · Monday, October 6th, 2025 at 4:59 am CDT

Shirley Pauline Hermann-Dorothy, 89, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Saturday, October 4, 2025 at Country Lane Manor in Keosauqua.

Friends may call after 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield with the family present to greet friends from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Funeral services celebrating her life will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 8th at Behner Funeral Home. Burial will be in Glasgow Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family and sent to 2097-185th St. Fairfield, Iowa 52556.

Shirley was born January 11, 1936 at the farm near Glasgow to LeRoy and Mary Ethel (Carter) Heisel. She graduated from Stockport High School in 1953, and then went to Burlington Beauty Academy. She married Toby Hermann in 1954. They later divorced.

Shirley worked at IRC in Burlington while pursuing her dream of becoming a country music radio personality. She started her career in Wichita, Kansas. She then moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, and finally to Amarillo, Texas, where she worked on Mel Tillis’ radio station. Her radio name was Jody Carter, in honor of her mother.

In the mid 1980’s, she left radio and began working at Dillard’s in Amarillo. She then moved to Jefferson City, Missouri and worked at Dillard’s for a career that spanned 19 years, receiving many recognitions as employee of the year, along with others.

Shirley moved back to Iowa in the early 2000’s. In 2011, she started dating an old school friend, Donnie Dorothy. They were married December 12, 2012 at 12:12 p.m.

Those left to honor her memory include her husband, Donnie; children, Toby (Laurie) Hermann of Iowa City, Tim (Lorrie) Hermann of Jefferson City, Missouri, Ted (Helene) Hermann of Winfield, Trudie (Ralph) Crum of Amarillo, Texas, and Tom (Michelle) Hermann of Iowa City; step-children, Dirk Dorothy of Fairfield, Peggy McDonald of Libertyville, and Brigit Kuchenbecker of Cedar Rapids; 11 grandchildren, 12 step-grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 21 step-great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, and 7 step-great-great grandchildren; sisters, Bettye Davis of Wichita, Kansas, and Beverly Mason of Burlington; sister-cousin, LuEtta (Dennis) Fulton of Keosauqua; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; uncle and aunt, Lou and Marjory Wilhelm, who raised her after the death of her mother; brother, Allen “Willy” Heisel; grandson, Jace Stafford; step-son, Dennis Dorothy; along with aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends.

Shirley reminds us all to make someone feel special today in your bank of memories. Online condolences may be made at www.behnerfh.com.

10/5/25-10/11/25 Fire Prevention Week!

By Patrick Fee · Saturday, October 4th, 2025 at 8:58 am CDT

Fire Prevention Week 2025 is Sunday, October 5 through Saturday, October 11th.   The week in October commemorates the Great Chicago Fire which began on October 8, 1871, and killed over 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed over 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres.

This year’s theme is “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home”. This campaign is sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association, and the goal is to educate the public on how to safely purchase, charge, and recycle lithium-ion batteries to prevent fires.  Other things to keep in mind: have a home fire escape plan, test and replace batteries with smoke detectors, and practice natural gas safety.  Area Fire Departments have the opportunity to focus on fire safety education.

4-H Open House Next Week

By Patrick Fee · Saturday, October 4th, 2025 at 6:36 am CDT

The ISU Extension office in Mt. Pleasant is holding an open house/kickoff event for 4-H Kids and families on October 7th and 8th.  These events are open to all Henry County families: new and returning, and give people the opportunity to see what 4-H is about.  Tuesday, October 7th, is Clover Kids Night for grades K-3 from 6-7pm and Wednesday, October 8th is Welcome Night for grades 4-12.  Explore what 4-H has to offer, meet your local clubs and leaders, get enrolled for the year, explore activity stations.  The Henry County ISU Extension office is located at 127 N. Main Street in Mt. Pleasant.

High Temps Contribute to Risk of Field/Machine Fires

By Patrick Fee · Saturday, October 4th, 2025 at 6:34 am CDT

The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather outlook for Southeast Iowa for today and tomorrow: Breezy conditions and unseasonably warm temperatures combined with dry cropland will lead to a risk for field fires that could spread quickly today. Winds could gust up to 25 to 30 MPH.  Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Fire danger is elevated again on Sunday.  There is a chance for thunderstorms Sunday night through Monday.

 

Henry County reported over a dozen field fires in October a year ago due to dry conditions.  The ISU Extension and Outreach Department reports that the primary factor related to field fires is the higher air temperature.

With dry conditions, the risk of machinery fires increases. The Iowa State University Extension Office advises farmers to keep machinery clean of caked-on oil, grease, and crop residue. Stay on top of maintenance by checking air filters, coolants, and oil levels. Keep fire extinguishers on hand.