Thomas Holtkamp

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 at 6:50 am CDT

Thomas Allen “Tom” Holtkamp 85, of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 12:36 p.m. Monday, December 18, 2023, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois.

 

He was a lifelong resident of the St. Paul area. He was born on September 30, 1938, the son of Ben and Louise (Krieger) Holtkamp. On July 28, 1962, he married Dianne Walljasper. They were married for sixty-two years and raised three sons: Leslie (Tina), Loren (Ann) and Wade (Kari) on their farm near St. Paul.

 

Tom enjoyed his career as a farmer and also enjoyed his pastimes of hunting, fishing, boating and RVing. He was a member of St. James the Less Catholic Church and served on St. James Parish Council and the God’s Acre Sale Committee. As a township trustee of Marion Township, he served on the St. Paul – West Point Fire and Rescue Department Board of Directors. Tom also was a veteran and a member of the West Point American Legion.

 

Tom had a unique ability of dowsing for water and had helped many people in the area by locating good well water for their families. His affirmation of success was his statement: “I never hit a bad well.”

 

Tom had a special devotion to St. Joseph, the Worker, who helped him in many ways. St. Joseph helped him find things, including his wallet in in a forty-five acre field.

 

Besides his wife and sons, Tom is survived by five grandchildren: Riley Holtkamp, Brianne Holtkamp Dunkelberger, Brent Holtkamp, Everly Holtkamp and Olive Holtkamp; great-grandchild: Blaine Dunkelberger; two sisters: Anita (Edward) Holtkamp Freesmeier Blindt and Geri (Donald) Holtkamp Conrad; sister-in-law: Carleen Walljasper Kurimski and numerous nieces and nephews.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister: Marian Holtkamp Linnenbrink; two brothers: Edward and Arthur Holtkamp; sisters-in-law: Clementine Rauenbuehler Holtkamp, Mary Linnenbrink Holtkamp, Darlene Weir Holtkamp; brothers-in-law: Albert Linnenbrink and John Kurimski.

 

Tom loved his family. He coached his sons’ baseball teams, built them a go-cart racing track and helped them enjoy snowmobiling and motorcycling. He will be deeply missed by his family.

 

A visitation will begin at 12:00 noon, Friday, December 22, 2023, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point, where the family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

 

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 23, 2023, at St. James Catholic Church in St. Paul with Father Dan Dorau as celebrant.

 

Burial will be at St. James Cemetery in St. Paul with full military rites presented by the West Point American Legion Holtz – Geers Post #668.

 

A memorial has been established in his memory for St. Paul – West Point Fire and Rescue.

 

Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.

Great River Health Partners with Aramark

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 at 6:41 am CDT

Great River Health has entered into a partnership with Aramark to provide nutrition services at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, West Burlington and Fort Madison, Henry County Health Center, and the Klein Center.  All nutrition services employees at the West Burlington and Fort Madison locations along with the Klein Center nutrition services employees will transition to Aramark employees. Henry County Health Center nutrition services employees will maintain their current employment status.

“We made the decision to outsource our nutrition services to maximize efficiency while offering the best services possible across all our campuses for our patients, guests, and employees.  This will also allow us to focus on our core business of providing high quality healthcare,” explained Tomi Hagan, Executive Vice President, Great River Health.

It should be made clear that Great River Health is not laying off any employees. Their nutrition service employees in Fort Madison and West Burlington will be transitioning to become Aramark employees, who they are partnering with.

This change will become effective February 23, 2024.

Shots Fired Incident in Burlington

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 at 6:40 am CDT

The Burlington Police Department began an investigation into a shots fired incident reported in the South Hill neighborhood.

Just after 10pm on Saturday, the 16th of December, DESCOM received a call about the sound of gunfire between the 500-block of South 8th and South 9th Streets. Officers converged on the area and located a witness who said the gunfire came from the rear of 411 South 8th Street. New information as released to officers when a witness told them that they had heard two male subjects arguing prior to the gunshots.

Officers contacted the occupants of 411 South 8th Street and questioned them about the incident. While speaking with the occupants, officers observed four shell casings on the ground very close to the residence.

One of the male occupants said he had fired a handgun into the air during an argument with another male. The occupants were cooperative with the officers and allowed officers to enter the residence to secure the handgun. Two handguns were located in a backpack within the residence, and they were placed into evidence along with the shell casings.

Subsequently, Andrew James Keever, 30, has been charged with Discharging A Firearm In City Limits, a simple misdemeanor, for the incident.

Vivek Coming to Southeast Iowa

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 at 6:39 am CDT

Southeast Iowa is not a popular destination this close to Christmas for most people, however, presidential candidates are flocking to the small towns to drum up support. Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis will be in Burlington and Washington respectively this week, with a third candidate coming to Mt. Pleasant, Fairfield, and Columbus Junction.

Vivek Ramaswamy will be in Fairfield on Thursday, December 21st, to host a town hall at the Pizza Ranch at 2:15pm. Afterwards, he will take a quick drive to Mt. Pleasant for a town hall. He must love Pizza Ranch, as he will be at the Mt. Pleasant location beginning at 3:45pm. Then, at 5pm, those in Columbus Junction can find the presidential candidate at the Columbus Junction Public Library.

Felon Wanted in Burlington

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 at 6:25 am CDT

After news came yesterday of two men wanted for multiple warrants in the Burlington area, another man has joined that wanted list. Brodi Sattler, 23, is wanted on warrants including Felon Escape from Custody. Again, if you know the whereabouts of Brodi Sattler, please call the Burlington Area Crime Stoppers at 319 753 6835. You will receive a cash reward if your tip leads to the arrest of Brodi Sattler.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Brought to Mt. Pleasant

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 at 6:06 am CDT
The Mount Pleasant Public Library is pleased to announce the addition of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to our suite of services, beginning December 2023. The addition of this service ensures the youngest of all library patrons, those birth-age 5 (children will automatically age out of the program the month prior to their 5th birthday, and will receive a book congratulating them on graduating on to kindergarten), are able to build a home library of high-quality books, develop a love of reading at an early age, and begin kindergarten ready to read with positive book experiences. Children must live in the Mt. Pleasant 52641 zip code, with a valid Mount Pleasant address, to be eligible for participation.
Interested parents and guardians can visit https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability to enter their zip code and complete the registration process for each eligible child. For more information, contact Kayleigh at the library (mpleasant.director@gmail.com), visit our website, or listen to KILJ for updates.
This program is made possible by The Mount Pleasant Public Library Foundation. Donations toward the continued sponsorship of this program can be made at the library, directly to The Mount Pleasant Public Library Foundation (307 E. Monroe St. Suite 101 Mount Pleasant, IA 52641).

City Hall Closed for Christmas

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, December 19th, 2023 at 11:08 am CDT

In observance of Christmas, City Hall will be closed on Monday, December 25, 2023. Garbage collection will be delayed a day during the week of December 25th.

Flags at Half Staff All Day Tuesday

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, December 19th, 2023 at 8:24 am CDT

Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all state flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff on from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 in honor and remembrance of Sandra Day O’Connor, who was the first woman to serve as a United States Supreme Court Justice. O’Connor died on December 1, 2023 at the age of 93. She served on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1981 to 2006.

 

The governor’s order is issued in conjunction with President Joe Biden’s proclamation to lower all United States flags to half-staff for the same length of time on her day of interment.

 

Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

 

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flags at half-staff for the same length of time.