Ronald Dee Coberley

By Kadie Johannson · Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 at 3:53 pm CDT

Ronald Dee Coberley, 83, of New London, died Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center following a short illness.  He was born October 27, 1942 to Aven and Kathryn Beck Coberley and grew up in Danville where he was actively involved in music and sports and was president of the Danville class of 1961.

A graduate of Drake University with a Bachelors and Masters Degrees in music education, Ron was hired by the New London School district in 1966 as band director, and served in that role more than 40 years.  Ron built one of the most recognized small school music programs and marching bands in Iowa, routinely garnering top ratings at state music contests.  For much of his career, more than half of the students enrolled at NLHS participated in band, and Ron directly educated over 1,000 different students in music over his forty years.  He provided opportunities for students to perform across the US on band trips.  Ron was instrumental in establishing New London school musicals with the vocal and drama departments, providing students with the opportunity to create their own version of popular musicals of the time.  In recognition of his dedication to the band program in New London, the auditorium was named in his honor.

After retirement, Ron assisted with the music programs in Mt. Pleasant and Burlington schools.  He was active in multiple community organizations and established a long-standing Summer Concerts in the Park series which included ice cream socials and was a popular community gathering activity.  Ron enjoyed playing in, and directing, the Burlington Municipal Bands in recent years.  He was a member of the New London United Methodist Church and Methodist Men and served as choir director and a Trustee.

Ron was a great father and grandfather supporting his children and grandchildren in all their activities and was an avid Iowa State Cyclones follower.  He enjoyed creative woodworking, but most of all loved providing music and music opportunities for schools and communities whenever given the chance.

Ron is survived by his wife Claudia (Young) who he married July 7, 1962 at the Danville Methodist Church; children Mark (Denise) Coberley of Ames and Pam (Jim) Mann of Houston; four grandchildren, Kylee (Justin) Welch, Mackenzie (Sean) Coberley-Sorensen, Braden (Kylie) Mann, and Beau Coberley; two great-grandchildren Grayson and Harper Welch, with a third on the way; sister Barb (Coberley) Byrd; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, March 14, 2026 at the Ronald D. Coberley Auditorium at New London High School with Pastor David Mixon officiating.  Inurnment will be held at Long Creek Cemetery, rural Danville, immediately following the service.  Visitation will begin at noon on Friday at Elliott Chapel where the family will receive friends from 4:00 -7:00 pm.  In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for New London Dollars for Scholars or Burlington Municipal Band.  Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

Mount Pleasant School Board Advances Budget Cut Plan

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, March 9th, 2026 at 10:59 pm CDT

The Mount Pleasant Community School District Board of Education has taken the first step toward addressing future budget shortfalls.
During Monday night’s board meeting at the Mount Pleasant High School Media Center, with dozens of school staff, parents, community members, and local officials in attendance, the board voted  4-2 to set a public hearing on the district’s tax levy and potential Fiscal Year 2027 budget reductions totaling about 1.74 million dollars.

District leaders say the proposed cuts are being considered due to declining enrollment, modest increases in state supplemental aid, and the expiration of federal COVID relief funding known as ESSER.

Board members Mark Overberg and Craig Hurd voted against the measure, while Angie Blint, Aaron Williamson, Mike Hampton, and Josh Maher voted in favor.

Phase One of the plan targets the 2026–27 school year and outlines about $936,000 in reductions, including roughly $713,000 in personnel cuts affecting both certified and non-certified staff. Because of Iowa Code and employee contract protections, specific staff reductions cannot be announced publicly until affected employees are formally notified and the required process is followed. Once staff members are notified, they will have the opportunity to address the school board before the board votes on each contract individually.

Other proposed changes include eliminating the VIBE program (contract with Burlington CSD online schooling program), ending summer school, reducing a contract with Four Oaks, and trimming services through the Great Prairie Area Education Agency. The proposal also includes reductions in support staff hours and overtime, shifting some non-instructional software costs to the district’s Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL), and lowering utility expenses tied to facility changes.

The dissenting votes came after board members reviewed financial projections and recommendations from the Piper Sandler consulting firm and Iowa School Finance Information Services, which analyzed the district’s current and projected budgets.

Hurd said he believes the proposed reductions rely too heavily on personnel and that areas like transportation and utilities should be examined further. Williamson, while voting in favor, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but said the board ultimately must act in the district’s long-term financial interest.

The board also voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on the possible closure of Salem Elementary School at the end of the 2026–27 school year, which represents Phase Two of the district’s two-year budget reduction plan.

Phase Two would involve about $813,000 in additional reductions, including $290,000 in system-wide cuts and an estimated $523,000 in savings tied to closing Salem Elementary.

School officials emphasize the vote does not close the school, but simply allows the district to gather public input.

The public hearing on the possible closure of Salem Elementary is scheduled for Monday, March 23 at 6:10 p.m.

Fredrick Lee “Fred” Jewett

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, March 2nd, 2026 at 5:52 am CDT

Fredrick Lee “Fred” Jewett, 78, of Mount Pleasant passed away on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the Henry County Health Center in Mount Pleasant.

Fred was born on October 3, 1947, in Mount Pleasant, the son of Franklin C. and Geraldine E. (Slusher) Jewett. In his younger years he played in a band called the Vagabonds. After meeting the love of his life, Pamela J. Edwards, they were united in marriage on February 14, 1970, in Mount Pleasant and had just celebrated 56 years of marriage.  Fred was a tool and die maker, working for different companies such as Heatilator Goodyear, Mount Pleasant Tool Works and Design Engineering of New London.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan.  While working for Shop Services he had the opportunity to work on the Michael Jackson train.

Those thankful for sharing in his life include his wife, Pam, of Mount Pleasant, his children, Shelly (Jim) Smith of Mount Pleasant, Chris (Missy) Jewett of New London and Steve (Debbie) Jewett of Mount Pleasant, his loving grandchildren, Alyssa (Gannon) McGuire, Jenna Smith  (Will Mueller), Mahala Jewett (Daniel Brechtel), Xen Jewett (Anna Graf), Tierany (Vanessa) Jewett, Taven Jewett, Ashton Jewett, Tristan Jewett, Ethan Jewett and Serenity Jewett,  his loving great grandchildren, Gracelynn McGuire and Wynonna Jewett, and his brother, Gary Jewett of Mount Pleasant, along with several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Janet.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant where the family will be present from 4 to 7 p.m. that evening.  A graveside service will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the Forest Home Cemetery in Mount Pleasant. A memorial has been established to be determined by the family at a later time.

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 Fred Jewett.

Two People Die in Fairfield Residential Fire Thursday Night

By Kadie Johannson · Friday, February 27th, 2026 at 10:47 am CDT

Two people are dead following a residential fire Thursday night in Fairfield.

According to the Fairfield Police Department, officers were dispatched at approximately 10:08 p.m. on February 26th to a 911 report of a house fire near the intersection of South B Street and Monroe Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers determined the residence was located in the 500 block of South B Street. The Fairfield Fire Department responded and began extinguishing the blaze. Fire personnel entered the home and located two occupants inside. Both individuals were removed from the residence but were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Iowa State Fire Marshal will conduct a full investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Authorities say no foul play is suspected at this time. The home is considered a total loss.

The investigation remains active, and no additional information has been released.

Abbie Liechty Officially Files Signatures for the Special Election for Henry County Attorney

By Kadie Johannson · Friday, February 27th, 2026 at 10:44 am CDT

Abbie Liechty, current Assistant County Attorney for Henry County, has officially filed nomination papers for the upcoming special election for County Attorney.

Liechty submitted her petitions to the Henry County Auditor’s Office this week, securing her place on the ballot. The special election was scheduled following a 2-to-1 vote by the Henry County Board of Supervisors on February 20th to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former County Attorney Darin Stater. Liechty exceeded the required 50 signatures from eligible county voters to formalize her candidacy.

In a statement to KILJ, Liechty said, “I am honored by the overwhelming support I’ve received from the citizens of Henry County in such a short amount of time. My focus has been, and will remain, on ensuring a seamless transition for the office and providing the steady, professional legal leadership our community deserves. Handing in these signatures is the first step in asking the voters to let me continue the work we’ve already started.”

Liechty is a lifelong Henry County resident. She graduated in the top 15 percent of her class from Gonzaga Law School, was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 2024, and currently handles criminal, juvenile, and civil matters in the County Attorney’s Office.

Liechty says her campaign centers on three main priorities. First, professional integrity — maintaining high ethical standards and a commitment to fairness while advising county officials, prosecuting criminal cases, and protecting victims’ rights.

Second, stability and continuity — ensuring that ongoing criminal prosecutions and civil matters move forward without interruption.

And third, community safety — strengthening partnerships with local law enforcement to promote a proactive, community-supported approach to public safety.

The special election for Henry County Attorney is set for March 31, 2026. All nine county polling locations will be open, with early and absentee voting also available.

KILJ is currently securing a date for a candidate forum for the Henry County Attorney Special Election so you can learn more about both Abbie Liechty and Becky Wilson, who has also submitted her papers to appear on the ballot.

Submitted by Abbie Liechty

Man Injured in Jefferson County House Fire; Home Declared Total Loss

By Kadie Johannson · Friday, February 27th, 2026 at 8:42 am CDT

A residential fire in Jefferson County Thursday afternoon has left one man injured and a home destroyed.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call was received at approximately 2:25 p.m. reporting a fire in the 1100 block of Brookville Road in the town of Abingdon. The caller indicated a male subject was still inside the residence.

A deputy arrived about ten minutes later and reported the home was fully engulfed in flames. Authorities say the man was able to escape the residence but sustained injuries.

The Packwood Fire Department and the Fairfield Fire Department responded to extinguish the blaze. The home is considered a total loss.

The injured man was transported by Jefferson County Ambulance to the Jefferson County Health Center and was later airlifted by MedForce to the University of Iowa Hospital for treatment.

No additional information has been released at this time.

Representative Collins Leads 5-Year Tuition Freeze Through the Iowa House

By Kadie Johannson · Thursday, February 26th, 2026 at 7:35 am CDT

On Tuesday, February 24, 2026 State Representative Taylor Collins guided House File 2242 through the Iowa House. The measure would freeze tuition and mandatory fees at the state’s three regent institutions for the next five years, aiming to address what he calls a college affordability crisis impacting Iowa students.

Collins says the state already appropriates more than 600 million dollars annually to the universities governed by the Iowa Board of Regents. He argues that despite that funding, administrative costs continue to grow.

According to Collins, the total regent enterprise budget — excluding the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics — now exceeds five billion dollars, which he says is more than half the size of Iowa’s overall state budget. He also noted that roughly one-third of regent expenditures currently go toward academic instruction.

Collins says the primary mission of the institutions is to educate students and prepare the workforce, adding that students deserve predictability when it comes to tuition costs.

House File 2242 passed the Iowa House with bipartisan support on an 86-to-5 vote. The bill now moves to the Iowa Senate for consideration.

Southeast Iowa Band’s “Musical Passport” Concert Takes Audience on Global Journey in Mount Pleasant Sunday, March 8

By Kadie Johannson · Thursday, February 26th, 2026 at 7:21 am CDT

The Southeast Iowa Band is inviting the public to take a musical journey around the world — no passport required.

The group’s spring concert, titled “Musical Passport,” will be held Sunday, March 8th at 3 p.m. inside Chapel Auditorium in Mount Pleasant. Admission is free, with support provided through free-will donations. The performance will last about 90 minutes, include an intermission, and conclude with a reception in the lobby.

Music Director Robert McConnell says the program is designed to appeal to all ages, especially families with students who may be considering joining band. During the concert, musicians will introduce their instruments by playing short musical excerpts, giving young audience members a chance to hear the unique sounds that come together to form the full ensemble.

The afternoon’s repertoire will span the globe — from South America to Armenia to Latin America — and even into outer space. The concert opens with John Williams’ iconic “Superman” theme. Other featured works include “Armenian Dances” by Alfred Reed, the familiar “Light Cavalry Overture,” and a high-energy Latin finale.

Horn player Amanda Stout will be featured as soloist on “Cape Horn,” a piece inspired by the dramatic waters off southern Chile where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet. Stout says the work is filled with powerful horn calls and driving energy, balanced by a lyrical middle section reminiscent of rolling ocean waves.

The 50-member ensemble includes band directors, music educators, professional musicians, and advanced student performers from across southeast Iowa. The group rehearses for five weeks before presenting fall and spring concerts, with a mission of challenging performers while promoting music education in the region.

Again, the Southeast Iowa Band’s “Musical Passport” concert is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, March 8th at Chapel Auditorium in Mount Pleasant. Admission is free.