Author: Hayden Douglas

Mount Pleasant, Iowa – Boom Night brought energy, excitement, and Panther pride to Maple Leaf Stadium Thursday evening as Mount Pleasant celebrated its 2025 Homecoming with a packed slate of events. From a hard-fought Powder Puff football game to a high-energy pep assembly and the crowning of this year’s Homecoming King and Queen, the night was filled with unforgettable moments.

The night began with the traditional junior vs. senior girls flag football game, where the juniors jumped out to an early lead. But the seniors roared back in the second half, locking down defensively and scoring quickly to claim a 21–6 victory.

After the game, the crowd moved to the Maple Leaf Athletic Complex parking lot for a spirited pep assembly featuring the Mount Pleasant Panther Marching Band, the football team, cheerleaders, and a lively crowd of students, families, faculty, and alumni.

The atmosphere was electric as Football captains hyped the Panther crowd for Friday nights showdown against the Washington Demons.

With the crowd fired up, it was time to reveal the 2025 Homecoming Court:

• Female Attendants: Olivia McCormick, Meadow Carter, Addison Clark, and Ashlynn Beauchamp
• Male Attendants: Kaeden Bare, Noah Lange, Max Sloat, and Jack Newman

Finally, the much-anticipated announcement crowned Ramzy Davis as Homecoming King and Alex Scott as Homecoming Queen, capping a night of cheers and celebration.

The 2025 Homecoming Queen, Alex Scott spoke to kilj after the royalty ceremony:

Friday’s forecast promises a perfect football atmosphere, with sunshine and a high near 82 during the day and temperatures dipping to around 54 by kickoff. Homecoming King Ramzy Davis will take the field tonight to help lead his team to victory:

The Panthers will look to ride the energy of Boom Night into their battle with Washington, aiming to make Homecoming 2025 one to remember.

KILJ’s Homecoming coverage is proudly sponsored by Lomont Molding, LLC.

September 26, 2025

Big Creek Lake – Anglers may notice orange and white buoys in the northwest arm of the lake. These markers indicate equipment for an ongoing fishery research project—please avoid disturbing them.

• Bluegill – Good: Drift 1/8-ounce (or lighter) jigs tipped with nightcrawler near the bottom in 5–8 feet of water.

• Walleye – Fair: Streams flowing into the upper end of the lake are producing action. Jig nightcrawlers near the notches in the silt dams, or work live-bait rigs and shad-imitating crankbaits/plastics along humps, points, and vegetation edges in 5–15 feet of water.

• Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Target the lower half of the lake with shad-imitating plastics, spoons tipped with cut bait, or topwater lures over active schools. Focus on wind-blown shorelines and coves, with early morning and evening providing the best bite.

Des Moines River (Stratford to Saylorville Lake) – Channel Catfish – Good: Dead gizzard shad or cut bait is the top choice.

Red Rock Reservoir –

• Black Crappie – Fair: Drift or troll small swimbaits, twister tails, or tube jigs. Check the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Lake Red Rock homepage for a map of new habitat structures added this summer to attract crappies.

• Channel Catfish – Good: Drift cut bait near and above the Mile Long Bridge on the upper end of the reservoir.

• White Bass – Good: Troll lipless crankbaits, spoons, or blade baits along wind-blown shorelines and points.

Saylorville Reservoir – White Bass – Good: Troll lipless crankbaits, spoons, or blade baits along wind-swept shorelines and sharp drop-offs, such as near the Sandpiper Beach area.

For more information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers, contact Andy Otting at 515-204-5885 or Seth Fopma at 641-891-3795.

Jefferson Lines to Expand Midwest Bus Service Starting September 28

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Beginning Sunday, September 28, Jefferson Lines will assume operation of key intercity bus routes across the Midwest, ensuring continued service for communities previously served by Burlington Trailways.

The transition will maintain essential connections throughout the region, including cities in Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois, while preserving many existing schedules and stop locations. Jefferson Lines says the move reflects its long-standing commitment to linking Midwest communities and providing passengers with a seamless travel experience.

Travelers can expect a range of modern conveniences aboard Jefferson Lines coaches, including complimentary Wi-Fi, a real-time Bus Tracker, and the ease of booking or rebooking through a Jefferson Lines customer account. A mobile app for both iOS and Android allows passengers to plan and manage trips on the go, while a dedicated Customer Care team provides support before and during travel.

With more than 100 years of experience delivering safe and reliable transportation, Jefferson Lines says it is ready to keep the Midwest connected. Tickets for the new and continuing routes are available now at www.jeffersonlines.com

Mount Pleasant, Iowa – The Henry County Board of Supervisors met on September 25, 2025, tackling a wide range of issues including road maintenance updates, courthouse security planning, a rural garbage contract, and funding changes for the county’s drug task force.

Rural Waste Contract Bids Opened

Supervisors then opened bids for Henry County’s rural garbage service contract. Two bids were received. The bids cover a three-year contract and included required bid bonds. After reviewing the submissions, supervisors voted to forward the bids to the county attorney for legal review before making a final decision next week.

Traffic Ordinance Could Keep Fines Local

Supervisors revisited a proposal to adopt portions of Iowa’s traffic code as a county ordinance. Sheriff Rich McNamee said such a move could generate roughly $80,000 in annual revenue by allowing Henry County to retain fines from traffic citations instead of forwarding most of the money to the state. Two neighboring counties, Lee and Wapello, have recently implemented similar ordinances. Supervisors agreed to follow up with the county attorney to draft a potential ordinance.

Drug Task Force Funding Adjustment

Sheriff McNamee also briefed supervisors on a request from the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force to redirect quarterly payments—roughly $9,650 per year—back into the task force’s operating budget instead of distributing the funds to member agencies. Rising costs for technology, undercover operations, and equipment prompted the request. Henry County joined the Burlington-based task force in 2019, which McNamee credited with numerous successful drug trafficking investigations. Supervisors voiced support for the funding adjustment.

Courthouse Security Proposal

Courthouse safety was another major topic. Sheriff McNamee proposed hiring a part-time deputy to provide security during peak court days—Mondays, Fridays, and alternating Wednesdays—when district court sessions draw larger crowds.

• Cost Estimate: About $18,200 annually for a deputy working 20 hours per week at $35 per hour, plus equipment costs.

• Funding Source: Court surcharges collected in Henry County generated $22,279 in the last fiscal year, more than enough to cover the position.
  Supervisors agreed the courthouse would benefit from a dedicated security presence and directed the sheriff to begin developing a job description and policies for the new role.

Next Steps

The Board will revisit the rural waste bids after legal review and continue discussions on the traffic ordinance and courthouse security implementation in the coming weeks.

Mount Pleasant High School’s 2025 Homecoming continued Thursday with a full slate of spirited activities, highlighted by Pink Panther Day, encouraging students and staff to wear pink in a show of school spirit and support.

The evening kicks off with the Booster Club Supper at 5:30 p.m., offering a chance for the community to gather before the main events. At 6 p.m., the traditional Boom Night celebration begins, featuring the always-popular Powder Puff football game. Admission will be $1, with no activity passes accepted.

A major highlight of the night will be the announcement and crowning of the Royalty Court, including Junior Royalty and the 2025 Homecoming King and Queen.

The celebration wraps up with a spirited volleyball match inside the high school gymnasium, bringing students, families, and alumni together to cheer on the Panthers.

Tune in Friday morning (Sept 26) for your 2025 Homecoming King & Queen Royalty interviews

Iowa drivers are seeing a slight break at the pump this week. According to AAA, the average price of regular unleaded gasoline in the state was $2.91 per gallon as of Wednesday, a drop of six cents from last week and 13 cents lower than the same time a year ago. By comparison, the national average climbed to $3.16 per gallon, up four cents from last week’s price.

Diesel prices in Iowa also eased slightly. The statewide average for retail diesel fell by one cent this week to $3.50 per gallon. A year ago, diesel in Iowa averaged $3.34. The state’s current diesel price remains 19 cents below the national average of $3.69 per gallon.

For wholesale buyers, Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices on Wednesday were reported at $1.86 for U87-E10, $2.09 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $2.36 for ULSD#2, $2.72 for ULSD#1, and $1.99 per gallon for E-70.

With both gasoline and diesel prices remaining lower than national averages, Iowa motorists continue to benefit from relatively stable fuel costs heading into the fall season.

Mount Pleasant, Iowa, [September 25, 2025] – Henry County Health Center’s Diabetes Education is hosting the following classes in the month of October. For more information on any of these classes or the Diabetes Education program, call 319-385-6518.

Thursday, October 9– Annual Review Course- Suite 25- 1-3 PM

Call HCHC Diabetes Education at 319-385-6518 by Tuesday, October 7, to RSVP.

Wednesday, October 15– CGM Support Group- Suite 25- 2-3 PM.

No RSVP needed.

Tuesday, October 28– Diabetes Group Class- Suite 25- 8:30 AM-2:30 PM

Referral is needed to attend the class.