Linda Jean Norton

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 at 4:00 pm CDT

Linda Jean Norton, 79, of Mt. Pleasant, died Monday, December 22, 2025, in the emergency department at the Henry County Health Center, Mt. Pleasant. She was born July 14, 1946 in Mt. Pleasant to Ellis L. and Jean May Meyer Henessee. On September 22, 1967, she married Robert C. Norton in Monmouth, Illinois and they later divorced.

Linda attended Mt. Pleasant schools and the Faith Christian Outreach Center as well as the United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant. She worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Park Place and Pleasant Manor. She was a dedicated blood donor, giving many gallons over the years. Linda enjoyed going to the Rec Center, being with her family, and taking her great grandchildren to the Iowa State Fair, Old Threshers and parades. She was very social, loved eating out, going to the races, and will forever be known for her beautiful eyes and her pink lipstick.

Linda is survived by her son Robert M. (Becky) Norton and daughter Linda K. (Joe) Keever Sr. both of Mt. Pleasant; three grandchildren; two step grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; sisters Karen Vaughn of San Antonia, Texas, and Donna Dean of Danville, Iowa; one brother Dennis (Lorna) Henessee of Mt. Pleasant and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Larry; and brother Ronald in infancy.

Visitation will be from noon to 6pm on Monday, December 29, at Elliott Chapel, New London, where the family will receive friends from 4-6pm. Funeral services will be at 10am Tuesday, December 30, at Elliott Chapel with burial immediately following at Burge Cemetery, New London. Pastor Courtney Fischer will officiate. In honor of her blood donations through the years, a memorial has been established for the ImpactLife Blood Center, 5500 Lakeview Parkway, Davenport, Iowa, 52807.

Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com

 

Geraldine R. Rixe

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 at 3:38 pm CDT

Geraldine R. Rixe, 97 of Wayland, died peacefully on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Washington County Hospital, following a short illness. She has gifted her body to the Deeded Body Program at the University of Iowa.

A Celebration of her life will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Wayland Mennonite Church. The service will be livestreamed on the Beatty-Peterseim Facebook page and YouTube Channel. Family visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM before her service. Memorials may be designated to Crooked Creek Christian Camp or Mennonite Central Committee. Beatty-Peterseim Funeral Home as been entrusted with caring for Geraldine and her family.

Geraldine was born April 6, 1928, in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Ruth Viola Keiser. 3 years later, she moved to Wayland to live with her grandmother, who raised her. She was baptized at the Sugar Creek Mennonite Church. She joined the Wayland Mennonite Church in 1947 and remained an active member. She graduated from Wayland High School in 1946. She then furthered her education and graduated from Southeastern Community College in 1975 and Iowa Wesleyan College in 1983. She married Glen Richenberger, and they had four children, they later divorced. In 1977, she was united in marriage to Harold Rixe.

She worked many jobs in Wayland, including Zehr Funeral Home, Wayland Telephone Company, Hileman’s Bakery, and the City of Wayland. She also cleaned houses, sold Avon, and worked with the US Census in the 70s and 80s. Along the way, she held other jobs such as working at Lutheran Social Services Home for girls, Henry County Extension Office, Mobile Nursing Services, and Social Teaching Work. In her “spare time” she spent time volunteering at the Parkview Home, reading and visiting with residents, gardening, church activities, and singing in groups.

Geraldine was a woman of great faith and passion for music, especially singing. She was a member of the church choir and sang in a mixed quartet alongside Dwaine Hirshey. She sang with the Sweet Adelines in Mt. Pleasant and Iowa City and sang in England for competition. She was a member of the Washington Choral Society that sang at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

She will be greatly missed by her children, Cindy Richenberger, son Michael Richenberger, both of Wayland daughter-in-law, Mary Lou Richenberger of Wayland, and Tracy Richenberger of FL; six grandchildren, Scott Richenberger, Amy Richenberger, Laura (Micah) Scott, Steve (Katie) Richenberger, Stephanie Richenberger, and Annie Richenberger; nine great-grandchildren, Penelope Xavier, Brett, Drew, Jackson, Luke, Leah, Oliver, and Emmett.

She was preceded by her mother, Ruth Keiser Allen, husband Harold Rixe, sons Stan Richenberger and Duran Richenberger, daughter-in-law Linda Richenberger, and grandson Eric Richenberger.

Patricia Iola Doak

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 at 3:30 pm CDT

Patricia Iola Doak, 83, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, passed away on Monday, December 22, 2025, at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington.

She was born on July 29, 1942, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, the daughter of Harry and Alice (Norberg) Bryant. On December 27, 1964, she married Gary Doak in Mount Pleasant. They later divorced.

She is survived by her four children: daughter Deb (Tony) Canby; sons Bryan (Brenda) Doak, Chad (Shelley) Doak, and Raymond Doak; eight grandchildren: Patrick (Hannah) Edgington, Olivia (Jordan) West, Tanner, Payton, Raegyn and Rylee Doak, Samantha and Sydney Doak; great grandchildren: Kaden Edgington and Maize West, Brooklinn and Addisin Cooper; sister Harriet Lenarz; very loved special niece Trisha Lenarz-Garmoe.

She was preceded in death by her parents and granddaughter, Mallory Doak.

Pat graduated from Mount Pleasant High School and earned her nursing degree from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Davenport, Iowa. She was a dialysis nurse at Henry County Health Center, a psychiatric nurse at the Mental Health Institute in Mount Pleasant and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and a nurse at Park Place. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant, Questers, the Old SOTS, bridge club and the Red Hat Society. Pat enjoyed gardening and hosted garden parties at her home, traveling abroad with her sister, and spending time outdoors. She most cherished time spent with her family and friends, including a final family vacation in July to Breckenridge, Colorado.

Her body has been entrusted to the crematory of Olson-Yoder Funeral Home for cremation.

A celebration of Pat’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 26, 2025, at the First United Methodist Church, Mount Pleasant. Rev. Court Fischer will officiate. The family will greet friends following the service. A memorial fund has been established for Oakland Mills.

Olson-Yoder Funeral Home and Crematory of Mount Pleasant is caring for Pat and her family. www.olsonyoderfh.com

Patricia J. Anderson

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 at 3:24 pm CDT

Patricia J. Anderson, 82, of rural Stockport, passed away Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at Arbor Court in Mt. Pleasant.

A memorial gathering for family and friends will be 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Saturday, December 27, 2025 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. Memorials in her honor may be made to All God’s Creatures in Mt. Pleasant or Stockport Fire & EMS and sent to the family at 33547-115th St. Stockport, Iowa 52651.

Pat was born April 24, 1943 in Hillsboro, the daughter of J.M. “Mac” and Lola (Harlan) Dodds. She married Robert Anderson, June 3, 1962 at Hillsboro Christian Church.

Throughout her life, Pat worked at Blue Bird in Mt. Pleasant, owned her own beauty salon, and worked on the family farm. She enjoyed riding horses, taking care of her dogs, reading, and spending time outside.

Those left to honor her memory include her husband, Robert; sons, Jay (Sara) Anderson of Hillsboro and Dustin (Sandy) Anderson of Salem; grandchildren, Matthew Anderson, Brady Anderson, Bryce (Scoutt) Anderson, Dylan (Heather) Anderson, Ashley Watts, and Hailey (Blake) Hendricks; great-grandchildren, Carter and Evelyn; and siblings, Selma (Gary) Dinsmore of Houston, Texas and Mike (Kathy) Dodds of Columbia, Missouri; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and sister, Nancy Hawbaker.

Online condolences may be made to Pat’s family by viewing her obituary at www.behnerfh.com.

Henry County Supervisors Support Great River Housing Trust Fund and Learn More on Oakland Mills Bridge Preservation

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 at 12:31 pm CDT

The Henry County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at the Henry County Courthouse to conduct regular business, learn more about the organization Preserve Oakland Mills and their request to move forward with Kirkham Michael Engineering for design plans on the Oakland Mills Foot/Walking Bridge, and approve a resolution for Henry County to continue its support of the Great River Housing Trust Fund in the upcoming fiscal year.

County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss provided an update and discussed ongoing projects across the county.

He reported that crews continue work on the bridge replacement project on 235th Street west of Mount Pleasant. They have removed nearly all the bridge deck and will be adding a second crane to remove the existing steel beams. Crews are repurposing much of the broken old concrete from the demolition to create a rock trench for stability for the new bridge.

Hotchkiss also explained that the melt of snow and ice on gravel roads throughout the county has given road crews a chance to spot haul rock and blade where needed. He noted conditions on gravel, although sloppy in some areas during the day, are in good shape for the winter.

The Supervisors held a discussion about the dust control application fee and late fees. Dust control fees for summer of 2026 will remain at $25. However, the late fee will be adjusted to $50. The deadline for submitting your dust control application request to the county is April 15.

Henry County Conservation Director Caleb Waters provided some additional information to the Supervisors regarding the Oakland Mills Foot/Walking Bridge and the relationship between the conservation department, the county, and the Preserve Oakland Mills organization.

After discussion, the Supervisors are allowing the 501c3 non-profit organization Preserve Oakland Mills, which is separate from the county or conservation department and consists of a group of concerned citizens, to move forward with an inspection and engineering design for the bridge with Kirkham Michael Engineering as long as there is an addendum to the agreement clearly stating the county is not held responsible or liable in any way, financially or otherwise.

Sara Hecox, a representative of the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission gave an informative presentation on the Great River Housing Trust Fund. She explained what types of projects they support, the eligibility requirements for each project, and the positive impacts Henry County’s investment in the Great River Housing Trust Fund from prior years has made around Mount Pleasant and Henry County.

Established in 2011, the Great River HTF has helped secure $9,012,813 dollars for housing projects across Southeast Iowa that assist low- and moderate-income households. Those projects range from helping secure down payment loans for homeowners, providing funds for homeowners to rehabilitate their homes focusing primarily on exterior improvements, upper story conversion funds for developers, and development assistance for projects – for example, the Hershey Hall project that is currently ongoing.

The Supervisors approved Resolution #35-2025 to support the Great River Housing Trust Fund, investing $12,500 for the upcoming fiscal year 2027 thus benefiting low to moderate income households in the county and region.

During supervisors’ subcommittee updates, each supervisor shared reports from committees they serve on. The meeting concluded following additional discussion and public comments.

UPDATE: Missing Person Angie Marie Helmick FOUND Safe

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 at 12:25 pm CDT

As of the morning of Wednesday, December 24, 2025 Mount Pleasant Police Chief Lyle Murray has confirmed to KILJ that Angie Helmick was located and is safe; she no longer appears on the Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse.

Mount Pleasant Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing woman.

Angie Marie Helmick, 47, has not been heard from since December 20, 2025 and authorities are working to determine her whereabouts.

Helmick is described as a white female, standing five feet four inches tall, weighing approximately 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Police say anyone who believes they may have seen Angie or has information related to her disappearance should not attempt to approach or intervene. Instead, they ask that you take note of details such as the location, time, direction of travel, or any vehicle information, and report it to authorities.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Mount Pleasant Police Department at 319-385-1450, or the Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse at 515-725-6036.

Authorities encourage the public to come forward with any information that could help locate her.

Arrests Made in Narcotics Investigation in Keokuk

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 at 10:36 am CDT

Three people are in custody following the execution of a search warrant tied to a narcotics investigation in Keokuk.

On December 19th, 2025, the Lee County Narcotics Task Force served a search warrant at a residence in the 2100 block of Johnson Street Road. During the search, investigators located methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm.

As a result, three Keokuk residents were arrested and transported to the Lee County Jail.

John Dale Wyatt, 52, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and maintaining a drug house.

Mark Clinton Avery, 38, faces charges including possession of a controlled substance, second offense; delivery of a controlled substance under five grams; possession of drug paraphernalia; and possession of marijuana.

Jenean Joyce Brockett, 50, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and all individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The Lee County Narcotics Task Force was assisted by multiple agencies, including the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Keokuk and Fort Madison Police Departments, and the Lee County SRT Team. The task force receives partial funding through the U.S. Department of Justice.

Read the full press release.

Sports, December 23rd

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 at 6:37 am CDT

High School Basketball

With our local teams getting a short breather with Winter Break, we will take a look at our conference standings after the season’s early showdowns, starting with the Southeast Conference (SEC).

On the girls’ side, Keokuk is looking to regain their conference crown after losing multiple conference games last year for the first time since the 2020-21 season. The defense has been impressive for the Chiefs, limiting their SEC foes to a shooting percentage south of 31% in their three wins and currently sit as the only undefeated team in the conference. 

Washington, who is having their best start since 2013, Burlington, and Fort Madison are log-jammed in second place with a 2-1 record through conference play. The Demons are averaging 14 offensive rebounds per game, the Grayhounds’ big three are accounting for 86% of their scoring, and Fort Madison is aiming for their sixth consecutive season allowing less than 40 points per game.

Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield are still searching for their first SEC win. The Trojans are averaging just 29 points per game, while the Panthers are looking to get back to their 50-point scoring ways like they were able to accomplish against Burlington.

On the boys’ side, Keokuk is hoping for the conference sweep with the Chiefs boasting a 3-0 mark in the SEC. Jaxon Clark has put the team on his back as he is averaging 40 points and 18 rebounds in conference play. 

Washington, who is having their best start to a season since winning the SEC in 2021, and Burlington, who has been streaky, are both 2-1 in SEC play. The Demons rely on steals, while the Grayhounds need offensive rebounds; both have fallen to Keokuk this season.

Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield are both 1-2 in conference. The Trojans are hoping to bounce back from a loss to Keokuk where they allowed Clark to go off for 51 points. The Panthers have been in every conference game this season, but opposing runs have kept them out of the winner’s column. They will look forward to the return of Noah Lange and Ryan Helling.

Fort Madison is winless in conference thus far but two of those losses were by three points, where a fourth quarter collapse kept them on the wrong end of the final.

Mt. Pleasant will host Keokuk, while Washington will travel to Fort Madison on January 2nd, while Fairfield and Burlington will throw down on January 5th. 

High School Wrestling

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team has put together a strong start to the season with a couple of tournament champions and a dual victory over Mt. Pleasant. Bowen Thomson, a senior on the team, has helped the Wildcats, boasting a 9-1 record and a 1st place finish at the North Linn Invitational this past weekend. 

Thomson talked about what he hopes to accomplish before the season’s end,

“My main goals are: I want to get my 100 wins. I think I’m about 15 away. So I want to get my 100 wins. ah I would love to be conference champ. That is something I’ve fallen short of. I’ve got 2nd [place] two years in a row, which it kind of sucks, but something to build off of. So, I would love to be conference champ. And obviously I would love to make it to state.  I’ve never made state my whole high school career.  And that is just something that would be the icing on the cake. I’d love to make it. And then once I make it, I’d love to place. So that’s what I’m looking forward to.”

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant and West Burlington will get back to action with the Louisa-Muscatine Invite on Saturday, January 3rd. 

Southeastern Community College

The women’s basketball team will travel to Iowa Lakes Community College on Saturday, January 3rd, at 1 pm.

College Football

#23 Iowa will take on #14 Vanderbilt on December 31st at 11 am for the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida. 

College Basketball

The #10 Iowa State women’s team will get back to action on December 31st against Houston on the road at 1 pm.

The #14 Iowa women’s team will take on Penn State for their Big Ten Home Opener on Sunday, December 28th, at 3 pm.

The #25 Iowa men’s team will get a week off before hosting UMass Lowell on December 29th at 4 pm. 

The #3 Iowa State men’s team will face off against Houston Christian on December 29th at 7 pm at home. 

This Day in Sports History

1951 – National Football League Championship, LA Memorial Coliseum: the Los Angeles Rams beat the Cleveland Browns 24-17; first coast-to-coast televised NFL title game.

1972 – The “Immaculate Reception.” A deflected Terry Bradshaw pass rebounds off of Jack Tatum and into the outstretched hands of Franco Harris in the last moments of the game to give the Pittsburgh Steelers a 13-7 win over the Oakland Raiders.

1997 – Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson is the quickest to reach 500 wins (682 games).