Beyond overseeing the operation of the local hospital, Robb Gardner has left his mark on this community. He was recognized for this at the 80th Annual Banquet of the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce as the Citizen of the Year. Other awards presented Thursday evening….
Humanitarian Award-The Fellowship Cup
Ambassador of the Year-Melinda Huisinga
The Chamber’s pick for Volunteer of the Year-Lori White
2021 Chamber Board President Jennifer Moutrie passed the gavel to Meg Richtman.
Mount Pleasant, IA – March 31, 2022 – Jordan Ashton, a Mount Pleasant native, will take the
reins of the Tigers Men’s Basketball program, effective April 11th.
Ashton spent the 2021-22 academic year as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota
Duluth. During this season, the team earned the most wins in over 50 years in program history
and went undefeated with a perfect 13-0 record at home, the first time since the 1990-91 season.
The team received their highest national ranking, fifth, in school history and earned the title of
NSIC North Division Conference Champions. Ashton coached the NSIC North Division Player
of the Year and two First-Team NSIC All-Conference players.
Ashton knows how to win, both as a coach and a player. He spent two years coaching at the
University of South Dakota and Kirkwood Community College. While at South Dakota, Ashton
contributed to a team that would win seven more wins than the previous season and a third-place
finish in the Missouri Valley Conference. While at Kirkwood Community College, he assisted
the Eagles in winning the 2019 NJCAA National Championship, coaching the National Player of
the Year and five All-Region Players.
As an athlete, Coach Ashton competed under Head Coach Ben Jacobson at the University of
Northern Iowa. He led the team in minutes played, three-point percentage (44%), and was the
third-leading scorer. Ashton spent one year at Iowa State University competing under Head
Coach Steve Prohm, a year at Kirkwood Community College under Head Coach Bryan Petersen
when the team won a national championship, and two years at Northwest Missouri State
University under Head Coach Ben McCollum. Coach Ashton played high school basketball at
Mount Pleasant Community High School, where he assisted in leading the team to become 3A
State Champions in 2012. Ashton was named the Class 3A Player of the Year, 1st-Team
All-State, and State Tournament MVP.
Before the University of Minnesota Duluth, Ashton was the assistant coach/offensive coordinator
for the Iowa Wesleyan Men’s Basketball Team for the 2020-2021 season, the Tigers’ final season
as an NCAA Division III member. The Tigers made an appearance in the semifinals of the
SLIAC Conference Tournament and saw a First-Team All-Conference player in Jarryd
Fernandes. Coach Ashton assisted in recruiting many of the talented players that IW saw on the
court this past season.
“I am extremely excited, grateful, and honored to be returning to Iowa Wesleyan University as
head men’s basketball coach. Having the opportunity to return to a program, university, and
community that means so much to me is truly a blessing. I want to thank President Plunkett,
Derek Zander, and the great individuals who support this program. These are exciting times at
IW with a lot to look forward to, and I can’t wait to get started”.
Brenda Sue Boyer, 60, of Fort Madison, Iowa, passed away at 5:09 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington, Iowa.
Born August 11, 1961, in Fort Madison, Iowa, the daughter of Robert Glenn and Rosemary Louise (Kramer) Boyer. She married Michael “Frog” Moore. They later divorced.
Survivors include her special friend: Jim Kempker; two daughters: Rachel (Anthony) Huber of Kansas City, Missouri, Alta Snook of Fort Madison, Iowa; five grandchildren: Savanah, Jacob, Emmerie, Athena and Edward; three brothers: Richard (Lori) Boyer of Argyle, Iowa, Gregory Boyer of Farmington, Iowa, Eric (Amy) Boyer of Franklin, Iowa; sister: Debra (Kenneth) Martinson of Franklin, Iowa and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers: Douglas and Christopher Boyer; nephew Levi Martinson and sister-in-law: Rita Boyer.
Brenda graduated from Central Lee High School in 1979. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, sewing and her grandchildren.
Her body has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.
The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at Calvary Cemetery in West Point with Father Dennis Hoffman officiating.
A memorial has been established in her memory.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements.
Central Office at 1010 East Washington Street – Suite 102
The Mount Pleasant Board of Education POLICY COMMITTEE will meet at 4:10pm on Friday, April 1, 2022 to review/discuss:
Henry County Jail
In the interest of keeping Henry County residents informed, the Henry County Sheriff’s office has requested KILJ post the daily jail count. During the jail referendum campaign it was publicized that the jail would be able to house additional inmates from surrounding counties and this would generate revenue for Henry County.
Date: 03-31-2022______
28 Henry County Inmates
50 Out of County Contract Inmates
78 TOTAL
Christie Faith Dunbar Hanson, 69, of New London, died Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at Care Initiatives in Wapello.
She was born December 25, 1952 in Mt. Pleasant, the daughter of Clair and Mary Babcock Dunbar. She was a 1970 graduate of New London High School and attended Indian Hills Community College. Christie married Lloyd Jacobs and they divorced. She then married John Hanson and they also divorced. She was a homemaker who also worked at Metromail in Mt. Pleasant and several other places in food service. Christie loved Old Threshers and working at the Explorer Post. She enjoyed gardening and being outside, all animals especially goats, dogs and cats, and being with her family. She loved her boys and her grandchildren. She excelled at sarcasm and practical jokes.
Christie is survived by her ex-husband, John Hanson of New London; two sons, Kevin (Talisa) Jacobs and Tim (Angel) Jacobs, both of New London; nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and five brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 2 at Elliott Chapel, New London. Following the service, she will be cremated and inurnment will be held at Ferrel Cemetery, rural New London at a later date. Visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 prior to the service. Memorials have been established to the” On With Life Foundation”, 715 SW Ankeny Road, Ankeny, Iowa 50023 where Christie spent the latter half of 2006-2007 after suffering a debilitating aneurysm.
Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com
(from the Winfield Police Department Facebook page)
At 11:48PM on 3/29/22 Winfield Police responded when a man called saying he was stuck outside and needed a ride to a motel. When police arrived the man said he had just arrived in Winfield a few hours earlier to meet his girlfriend who he met on Facebook. He had taken a bus from Charlotte NC to Iowa City earlier in the evening and then Ubered from Iowa City to Winfield. He was unable to get another ride to a motel. After further interviewing the man and waking up the supposed juvenile girlfriend and her parents to get their statements, Zachary Girard, age 24 years of Charlotte2, NC was arrested for Indecent contact with a child and possession of Marijuana.
