By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, April 15th, 2022 at 11:42 am CDT

Prep Track: Mount Pleasant Girls’ Win Denny White Relays Again

The Mount Pleasant girls’ track team scored 185 points, orchestrating yet another win of the Denny White Relays yesterday at a windy Evans Field.

Van Buren finished in second with Fort Madison rounding out the top three.

Mount Pleasant had a busy day in relays, with the Panthers claiming gold in five separate events.

Bailey Jalas, Tristian Shull, Jenna Gilmore and Mica Carter won the 4×200, which ignited the clean sweep in relays. Mount Pleasant picked up wins in the 4×400, sprint medley, distance medley and shuttle hurdle.

Kenna Lamm had a successful final Denny White appearance. Lamm, a senior running for father and head coach Scott Lamm, won the 200m (27.78) then claimed gold in the 100m hurdles in 16.73 seconds.

Terrific freshman Alexis Wagner continued her strong inaugural campaign with a win in the 800m, surging to the finish line in 2:46 even.

In field events, Jenna Gilmore went 15 feet, 3/4 inches to earn first. Panther sophomore Elsie Lange finished second.

As certain as the sun rising in the east, Jadan Brumbaugh won another gold. Brumbaugh, an Iowa State recruit, tossed the shotput 43 feet, 10 inches — nearly 11 feet better than that of second place Elise Oleson.

On the boys’ side, Mount Pleasant finished sixth.

It was a loaded 110m hurdles field, with Iowa City Liberty junior Eric Lucas blazing a 14.88 for first. A state medalist from a year ago, Clear Creek-Amana’s Harrison Rosenberg finished with the Panther duo of Bryce Wilson and Will Davidson going third and fourth.

The shuttle hurdle team of Wilson and Davidson, along with Avin Truong and Morgan Van Nyhuis placed third, behind the Clippers and Lightning, respectively.

In Class B, New London won seven events in total.

Josh Catala won the 200m in 23.26 seconds while Rylan Martin cruised to a win in the 800m.

Kade Benjamin continued his great season in field events, clearing 6 feet, 4 inches to win the high jump.

Van Buren sophomore Tyler Stoltz finished second.

New London senior Carter Allen, a state place-winner last year, finished second in the shot and won the discus.

New London placed fifth in total with 102 points

Iowa City Liberty won the event with Clear Creek-Amana placing second.

Girls’ Tennis: Mount Pleasant Beaten by Hounds

Savana Walls earned an 8-3 win in No. 1 singles, defeating Burlington’s Emily Woodsmall, but the Greyhounds then ripped off four straight wins, defeating Mount Pleasant yesterday.

Ellie Situmeang broke the stroke with a win for Mount Pleasant 8-5 in No. 6 singles.

In No. 1 doubles, Walls and Melanie Olivas teamed up with for a 9-7 win.

The team fell to 0-4.

They’ll scrap with Fort Madison tonight as apart of a makeup from April 7th.

The match will be played at East Lake Park.

Girls’ Soccer: Panthers Yield Three Unanswered to Burlington in Loss

Mount Pleasant started hot, jumping out to a 1-0 lead, but it was Burlington who closed with a flurry — scoring three straight goals — earning a 3-1 win yesterday at Bracewell Stadium.

Elly Manning had the lone tally for Mount Pleasant, with Charice Auwerda assisting.

Evelyn Escobar made two saves in the loss.

Mount Pleasant, now 3-2, will host Fairfield Monday night.

Boys Soccer: Burlington Blanks Panthers

Burlington scored twice in the first half and added four markers in the second, rolling to a 6-0 win over Mount Pleasant yesterday.

Brennen Winke had a hat trick for the Greyhounds while Brian Velazquez had a goal and an assist.

Mount Pleasant fell to 2-5.

Burlington improved to 4-0.

Boys’ Golf: Matheny Wins Home Meet, Panthers Second

Nick Matheny carded a two-over 38 as the Mount Pleasant boys’ golf team carded their best scores of the season, finishing second their home meet yesterday at Mount Pleasant Golf and Country Club.

Reece Kempker added a 42 with Nate Dismang carding a 48.

Washington won the meet.

The Demons had a team score of 177.

Roman Roth and Grant Sobaski each had 43’s while Teague Mayer shot a 44.

Fairfield finished in third, with Fort Madison and Keokuk rounding out the bottom two.

Fort Madison’s Tyler Wade ended in second place overall, with the Bloodhound shooting a three-over 39.

Prep Girls’ Basketball: Wachs Steps Down as W-MU Girls Basketball Coach

After 30 years of program stewardship, Winfield-Mount Union head coach Mitch Wachs is stepping down.

Wachs steps down after accumulating 412 wins in his illustrious career — 74th on the all-time wins list in Iowa girls’ basketball.

Wachs led the Wolves through their glory days in the mid-90s, where Winfield-Mount Union was essentially unbeatable.

The program hoisted two gold balls in 1995 and 1996 under Wachs, who orchestrated an 80-game win streak during that time as well.

In what turned out to be his final season, the Wolves finished 19-5 and return All-Conference talents Keetyn Townsley and Bradie Buffington among many others.

Wachs will remain on at Winfield-Mount Union as a math teacher and golf coach.

The program’s immediate plans for his replacement are unknown of this time.

 

Hazel L. Roath

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, April 14th, 2022 at 9:12 pm CDT

Hazel L. Roath, 97, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Monday, April 11, 2022, at Savannah Heights of Mt. Pleasant.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant

 

Dean A Wittmayer “Lost Cause”

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, April 14th, 2022 at 8:42 pm CDT

Dean A Wittmayer “Lost Cause”, 62, of Agency passed away at 1:30 AM Wednesday April 13, 2022 at University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City.  In accordance with his wishes his body has been cremated and a celebration of life will be held at 11:00AM Saturday April 23, 2022 at Chommey’s Bar and Grill in Eldon.  He was born May 23, 1959 to Rae Wittmayer in Gardner, MA.  He lived in Gardner and Washington Iowa most of his formattable years, before moving to Brighton, Mt. Sterling and eventually just outside of Agency. Dean received his education through Job Corp and was a member of AARP.

He enjoyed spending time with old friends, listening to Pink Floyd and drinking Black Velvet.  He rode motorcycles all of his adult life.  He will be missed by all.

Left to cherish his memory are, four stepsons, Joshua Kinaman of Ottumwa, Jesse Leverne of Boone, Christopher Ryan Leverne of Agency and Nicholas Leverne of Des Moines, a step-brother, Daniel Wittmayer, step-mother, Laurie Wittmayer O’Neill, a son, David Hudson, a daughter, Amy, 13 step-grandchildren, many other family members and Friends.

He was preceded in death by a brother, David who was killed by a train at the age of 9 in Washington.

From the Mount Pleasant City Council Meeting

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, April 14th, 2022 at 3:31 pm CDT

The Mount Pleasant City Council met in regular session Wednesday night.

Mount Pleasant residents who have the City pick up their trash will pay 50 cents more for the stickers to put on their bags of garbage.  Since 2010 the green stickers have been $1.50. Beginning July 1 the cost per sticker will go to $2.00. The City Council passed the final reading needed to approve the increase.

Jones Contracting was the low bidder on the Madison Street reconstruction project. And while the bid of $836,777 was 36% over the budget, the council still went ahead and authorized Mayor Steve Brimhall to sign the contract with Jones. City Administrator Brent Schleisman said all the bids were higher than expected but the city has the funds to do the project. He did also say the City received good bids for two other street projects.  Work on Madison Street will involve a complete tear out and rebuild from Jackson Street east to Adams Street.

In other news from the Council meeting held Wednesday night…the Council gave approval for a new roof on one of the buildings at the Public Works storage facility on East Henry Street. Wieler Builders of Bloomfield will do the job for $12,700.

Following a public hearing, the Council approved the first reading of a proposal to change off-street parking in residential areas.  Currently, you can’t have a paved area for parking in certain areas of the front and side yard of your property.  But since people have this anyway, it seemed more sensible to amend the ordinance to allow hard surfacing of certain areas other than the front yard.

Another first reading was approved at the Council meeting last night. This is for a proposed ordinance to allow an approved non-profit organization to trap, neuter and release feral cats in the community.

Alan Huisinga

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, April 14th, 2022 at 3:06 pm CDT

Alan Huisinga, age 74 of Mount Pleasant, passed away Wednesday, April 13. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Kimzey Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant.

SEISO PRESENTS THEIR FINAL MASTERWORKS SERIES CONCERT OF THE SEASON: GATHERING TOGETHER

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, April 14th, 2022 at 2:21 pm CDT

The Southeast Iowa Symphony presents its largest musical gathering of the season with its concerts on the weekend of April 23rd and 24th featuring singers from throughout the region and Marilyn Minford McCoid Young Artist winner Ethan Sexauer of Mt. Pleasant.

The feature orchestral work is original ballet score by the Russian Composer Igor Stravisnky entitled Petrushka.  This colorful ballet music is written to accompany the macabre story of puppets being brought to life and death at Russian equivalent of Mardi Gras.  This is the largest work SEISO has performed years with expanded woodwinds, brass, solo piano, 2 harps, and percussion in addition to the strings.

The concert opens with Mt. Pleasant resident Ethan Sexauer performing the 1st movement of the famed Mendelsohn Violin Concerto.  Ethan is a junior in Mt. Pleasant public schools.

The regional SEISO chorus will be featured on Brahms contemplative Song of Destiny and will be directed by Iowa Wesleyan University Choral Activities Director, Blair Buffington.

The chorus will also perform a work commissioned by and performed by the SEISO in 1992 as part of the Iowa Wesleyan Sesquicentennial celebration.   St. Paul, Minnesota composer Janika Vandervelde’s Polyhymnia is a positive, glorious, and uplifting work celebrating life and music.

Tickets to the Masterworks Series concerts in Burlington, Ottumwa and Mt. Pleasant may be purchased at the door or on our website www.seiso.us.  Adult tickets are $20. Children/student tickets (aged 0-22) are free.  There is no reserved seating.

Make the most of your concert experience by attending the ‘Prelude.’  Music Director Robert McConnell will be on hand 45 minutes before each performance to talk about the programmed music in depth.  ‘Prelude’ is supported through a grant from the Charles W. Rand Memorial Lecture Fund in Burlington and is offered free of charge to all audience members.

If you have questions, please contact the SEISO Office at seiso@iw.edu.  More information is available on the SEISO web site at www.seiso.us.

Daily Jail Count

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, April 14th, 2022 at 2:18 pm CDT

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:   ____4-14-2022_____

 

  27    Henry County Inmates

 

 50_    Out of County Contract Inmates              

 

 77  Total

Richard “Doc” Taglauer

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, April 14th, 2022 at 1:42 pm CDT

Richard “Doc” Taglauer, 86, of Wayland, died April 13, 2022, at his home in Wayland following a short battle with lung cancer.

Celebration of Life will be held 10:00 AM, Saturday, April 16, 2022, at Hope Lutheran Church Germanville with pastor Ryan Dexter officiating. Livestream of the service will be available at the Beatty Peterseim Facebook page. Burial will follow at the Hope Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon Friday, April 15, 2022, at the Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home in Wayland with family receiving friends from 4:00-7:00 PM. A memorial fund has been established for Everystep Hospice of Mt. Pleasant and Hope Lutheran Church.

Richard was born August 26, 1935, the son of Edmund and Mildred (Lynn) Taglauer. Graduated from Fairfield High School in 1953. He was united in marriage to Karen Kientz on May 24, 1958, at Hope Lutheran Church.

Richard was a faithful member of the Hope Lutheran Church and Wayland Lions Club. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a farmer, managed and operated a standard station and later purchased Wayland Carpentry Shop from Glen Reschly in 1980, retiring in 1994 due to MS.

Survivors include his wife Karen of Wayland, son David (Billie) Taglauer of rural Wayland, daughter Cheryl (Igor) Morozov of Wayland, daughter Janet Smith of Mt. Pleasant, sister Karen (Ted) Alderman of Iowa City, grandchildren Allison Smith, Caleb Smith, Tim Morozov, Alexandra Morozov, 5 great-grandchildren, and special dog Fluffy.

Proceeding Richard in death were his parents, one brother Ronald, son Timothy, and grandson Justin.