College Basketball: Cyclones Add Transfer from St. Bonaventure

By Nathan Bloechl · Thursday, May 5th, 2022 at 1:43 pm CDT

Ames — Iowa State head men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger has announced the addition of St. Bonaventure transfer Jaren Holmes. Holmes is a 6-4 guard out of Romulus, Michigan.

Holmes started all 33 games for the Bonnies during the 2021-22 season. He was second on the team with 13.5 points as he helped lead the Bonnies to the NIT Semifinals.

Holmes will try to bridge the gap left behind by Tyrese Hunter, who was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Hunter, who announced his transfer in early April, is picking between Tennessee, Kansas, Louisville, Gonzaga, Texas and Purdue.

Spring Sports Schedule: Busy Thursday Night

By Nathan Bloechl · Thursday, May 5th, 2022 at 1:43 pm CDT

KILJ — It will be another busy Thursday night in the region, with several teams back in action.

Perhaps the biggest event tonight will be the the Southeast Conference track meet, which will be held at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.

Field events will begin at 4:30 p.m. with running events getting underway at 5:00 p.m.

The Panther soccer teams are back on the pitch tonight, albeit on the road, when they take on Fairfield.

The boys’ will start tonight at 5:00 p.m., with the girls to follow at 6:45 p.m.

Both fixtures are being played at Fairfield High School.

It’s also conference night in the Super Conference, when powers collide at WACO High School.

Action in Wayland will get underway at 4:00 p.m.

By Nathan Bloechl · Thursday, May 5th, 2022 at 11:34 am CDT

Prep Golf: Burlington Victorious at SEC Meet

The Burlington Greyhounds are Southeast Conference boys’ golf champions following their strong performance yesterday at the Fairfield Golf and Country Club.

Tomas Rascon led the Greyhounds with a 74 to finish second overall, while Nate Spear carded a 75 to finish in third.

Mount Pleasant placed fifth overall.

The Panthers had 383 strokes, 76 off first place Burlington who won with 307.

Nick Matheney and Reece Coffman led Mount Pleasant with 88’s respectively. Nate Dismang shot a 97.

Washington’s Roman Roth was meet medalist burning the course with a 71.

Fairfield finished in second in the team race with Washington placing third.

College Sports: Dubuque First D3 School to Offer NIL

University of Dubuque president Jeffrey Bullock says a Name-Image-Likeness program created by the athletic department is designed to provide athletes compliance and opportunity.

The Spartans have paired with a company called INFCLR (influencer) to become the first Division III school in the country to offer an N-I-L exchange.

Bullock says it will provide opportunities for athletes that are normally available for more high profile division one athletes.

The NIL era has become a Wild West of sorts, without much regulation from the NCAA.

Some college players have received seven figure NIL deals to leave their school and transfer to a different program.

College Basketball: Cyclones Add Transfer from St. Bonaventure

Iowa State head men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger has announced the addition of St. Bonaventure transfer Jaren Holmes. Holmes is a 6-4 guard out of Romulus, Michigan.

Holmes started all 33 games for the Bonnies during the 2021-22 season. He was second on the team with 13.5 points as he helped lead the Bonnies to the NIT Semifinals.

Holmes will try to bridge the gap left behind by Tyrese Hunter, who was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Hunter, who announced his transfer in early April, is picking between Tennessee, Kansas, Louisville, Gonzaga, Texas and Purdue.

Spring Sports Schedule: Busy Thursday Night

It will be another busy Thursday night in the region, with several teams back in action.

Perhaps the biggest event tonight will be the the Southeast Conference track meet, which will be held at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.

Field events will begin at 4:30 p.m. with running events getting underway at 5:00 p.m.

The Panther soccer teams are back on the pitch tonight, albeit on the road, when they take on Fairfield.

The boys’ will start tonight at 5:00 p.m., with the girls to follow at 6:45 p.m.

Both fixtures are being played at Fairfield High School.

It’s also conference night in the Super Conference, when powers collide at WACO High School.

Action in Wayland will get underway at 4:00 p.m.

Burlington House Fire Considered Suspicious

By Allison Jacobs · Thursday, May 5th, 2022 at 11:20 am CDT

Yesterday about 2 p.m. the Burlington Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 243 S. 7th Street in Burlington. The two-story wood frame home was showing smoke, and flames were located inside when police and firefighters arrived on the scene. The fire spread into the wall and up to the attic but was able to be contained and extinguished just before 4:30 pm. The property was vacant at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. The house is considered a total loss due to fire and water damage. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Burlington Police and Fire Departments and is considered suspicious. If anyone has any information regarding this fire, please call Crime Stoppers at 319-753-6835.

Iowa State Climatologist Current Crop Report

By Allison Jacobs · Thursday, May 5th, 2022 at 6:30 am CDT

The cool and wet weather has delayed planting in the state. The U-S-D-A crop report shows nine percent of corn has been planted. That is 11 days behind last year and nine days behind the five-year average. Four percent of soybeans are in the ground — which is nine days behind last year and five days behind average.  State climatologist Justin Glisan (Gliss-en), says there’s no short-term indication the cool, wet weather is going to end.

Planting last year moved ahead quickly in part because it was a lot drier, and the dry conditions got worse as the year moved on. Western Iowa has been the driest area of the state and the crop report showed farmers in the western one-third of Iowa had almost four days suitable for fieldwork and made more planting progress than any other area of the state.

Mount Pleasant Subdrain Tie-in Construction

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 at 5:23 pm CDT

Subdrain tie-in Construction began yesterday in Mount Pleasant on the Northwest corner of Adams St. and Madison St. and will then move to the Northwest corner of N. Main St. and Madison St. Construction crews will be working in the parking areas, so traffic should not be affected. We will share the schedule of work when we receive more information.

Leann R. Hunter

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 at 1:16 pm CDT

Leann R. Hunter, 53, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Leann’s family will host a celebration of her life on Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Mt. Pleasant Moose Lodge.   According to her wishes cremation has been entrusted to the care of Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant.

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

Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant is caring for her arrangements.

Prep Track: State Qualifying Assignments Released

By Nathan Bloechl · Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 at 12:56 pm CDT

KILJ — Team sites and assignments for the 2022 IHSAA and IGHSAU state qualifying meets for all four classes of track and field are now available.

All state qualifying meets are co-ed and set to begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 12.

Qualifiers will advance to the 2022 Iowa High School State Track & Field Championships, currently scheduled for May 19-21 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. There will be no more than 24 qualifiers for any event.

Area teams in Class 1A will travel to Sigourney.

Programs there include:

  • Danville
  • New London
  • WACO
  • Wapello
  • Winfield-Mount Union

In Class 2A, area teams will compete at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.

Featured there will be:

  • Central Lee
  • Mediapolis
  • Van Buren County

Mount Pleasant will be a host on that day, with the Panthers welcoming in Davenport Assumption, Clear Creek-Amana, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Washington and West Burlington-Notre Dame.