College Track and Field: Beatty Joins All-American List

By Nathan Bloechl · Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 at 1:13 pm CDT

Pella — In just his third competition of the season, former Mount Pleasant high jumper Sam Beatty, now competing at Central,  completed his first All-American performance by finishing tied for eighth at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Beatty became the sixth member of Central’s men’s track and field program to earn All-American honors at the meet.

He was perfect on his first three heights, clearing 6 feet, 6.75 inches without a miss.

The outdoor season starts for Central in three weeks at three different meets: The Dutch Multi-Event (March 31-April 1), Washington Distance Carnival (April 1) and Wartburg Select (April 2).

Boys’ Prep Basketball: New London’s Porter Selected as Third Team All-State

By Nathan Bloechl · Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 at 1:11 pm CDT

New London — New London junior Blaise Porter has been selected as a third-team all-state choice, the Iowa Print Sports Writers has announced.

Porter, who holds Division I offers from Bryant and IUPUI, averaged 17.5 points and nearly six assists this season, helping guide the Tigers to the district semifinals.

Porter also joined New London’s 1,000 point scorers club, connecting on over 55% of his field goals and 44% of this threes.

Wapello senior forward Maddox Griffin was a second-team all-state honoree.

The Upper Iowa recruit averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds and just south of six assists in his monstrous senior season.

Ames senior Tamin Lipsey was named the 2022 Mr. Basketball. The Iowa State commit completed his senior season with a state finals triple-double.

The 6-foot-2 senior averaged 15.7 points per game for the Little Cyclones.

College Wrestling: Iowa Signs Brands to Extension

By Nathan Bloechl · Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 at 1:09 pm CDT

Iowa City — Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands has signed a contract extension through the 2029 season.

Brands is in his 16th season as Iowa’s head wrestling coach. His teams have won four NCAA and six Big Ten titles, and enter this week’s NCAA tournament as defending national champions.

Brands became the eighth head coach in program history in 2006. He is a five-time Big Ten Coach of the Year and three-time National Coach of the Year.

Iowa has led the nation in attendance every year since Brands’ first season in 2006-07.

Maria Smith

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 at 1:02 pm CDT

Maria L. Smith, 80, of Mt. Pleasant, died Sunday, March 13, 2022 at her residence.

Maria’s family will greet friends from 5-7 PM on Thursday, March 17 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant, IA. Cremation rites will be accorded following the visitation. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com

Mrs. Smith, the former Maria Luisa Cortez, was born January 21, 1942 in El Carmen Ranch, TX. She was the daughter of Luis and Josephine (Encinia) Cortez. On March 16, 1984 in Waukegan, IL, Maria was united in marriage to Donald Eugene Smith. Mr. Smith died Friday, April 22, 2016 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Maria worked for an envelope manufacturing company in Waukegan. Following her husband’s transfer to a new job in Mt. Pleasant, Maria worked briefly for McKay Envelope in Mt. Pleasant. She worked for Richard Garrels prior to accepting a position with the Goodyear Hose Manufacturing plant in Mt. Pleasant (later Veyance Technologies and Contitech).

Work was Maria’s passion and hobby. She loved going to work and was a very industrious worker in all her positions.

Those thankful for sharing in Maria’s life include her children – Frank (Diane) Diaz of Tomvall, TX, Roy (Dylan Burks) Diaz of Little Rock, AR, Josephine Diaz-Gates of Spring, TX and Luis (Cindy) Diaz of MT. Pleasant; two sisters – Maria Elida Galvan of Minneola, FL and Martina Siordie of Kenosha, WI and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Her parents, husband and a son-in-law, Scott Gates, precede Maria in death.

 

From the Mount Pleasant School Board Meeting…

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 at 12:59 pm CDT

The Mount Pleasant School Board met in regular session Monday night.  Following review of the proposed fiscal year 23 budget, the board set April 11 at 6:15 pm as the date and time for a public hearing.  The proposed new tax asking will decrease slightly from $13. 98 to $13.94 per $1000 of taxable valuation.

A traffic study is underway at the Mt. Pleasant High School location on Grand Avenue. Supt. Henriksen told the school board the firm conducting the study is pulling accident data and doing traffic counts.  The information will be used as part of the district’s facility master planning.  There is a meeting March 29. The Supt hopes results of the study will be available at that meeting.

At the end of the current school year the district is faced with hiring three key positions…..that of midde school principal, Director of Technology and Director of Curriculum and instruction.  So far there are 30 applications for the middle school job currently held by Nathan Lange.

The resignations of longtime teachers Tim and Jill Taylor were accepted by the board last night along with the resignation of Middle School family and consumer science teacher Dawn Bodenham.  Several para resignations were also accepted.

Daily Jail Count

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 at 12:56 pm CDT

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.

Henry County Jail

 

Date:   ____03-15-2022_____

 

JAIL COUNT

 

  25_    Henry County Inmates

 

  54_     Out of County Contract Inmates              

 

  79 _    TOTAL

Sports, March 15th

By Nathan Bloechl · Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 at 11:29 am CDT

College Track and Field: Beatty Joins All-American List

In just his third competition of the season, former Mount Pleasant high jumper Sam Beatty, now competing at Central,  completed his first All-American performance by finishing tied for eighth at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Beatty became the sixth member of Central’s men’s track and field program to earn All-American honors at the meet.

He was perfect on his first three heights, clearing 6 feet, 6.75 inches without a miss.

The outdoor season starts for Central in three weeks at three different meets: The Dutch Multi-Event (March 31-April 1), Washington Distance Carnival (April 1) and Wartburg Select (April 2).

Boys’ Prep Basketball: New London’s Porter Selected as Third Team All-State

New London junior Blaise Porter has been selected as a third-team all-state choice, the Iowa Print Sports Writers has announced.

Porter, who holds Division I offers from Bryant and IUPUI, averaged 17.5 points and nearly six assists this season, helping guide the Tigers to the district semifinals.

Porter also joined New London’s 1,000 point scorers club, connecting on over 55% of his field goals and 44% of this threes.

Wapello senior forward Maddox Griffin was a second-team all-state honoree.

The Upper Iowa recruit averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds and just south of six assists in his monstrous senior season.

Ames senior Tamin Lipsey was named the 2022 Mr. Basketball. The Iowa State commit completed his senior season with a state finals triple-double.

The 6-foot-2 senior averaged 15.7 points per game for the Little Cyclones.

College Wrestling: Iowa Signs Brands to Extension

Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands has signed a contract extension through the 2029 season.

Brands is in his 16th season as Iowa’s head wrestling coach. His teams have won four NCAA and six Big Ten titles, and enter this week’s NCAA tournament as defending national champions.

Brands became the eighth head coach in program history in 2006. He is a five-time Big Ten Coach of the Year and three-time National Coach of the Year.

Iowa has led the nation in attendance every year since Brands’ first season in 2006-07.

Men’s College Basketball: KILJ Bracket Challenge LIVE 

The KILJ Bracket Challenge, presented by Press Box Grille and Bar and Wiley’s Interior Furnishings and Design is live.

You can register your bracket here.

Entries are due by Thursday morning.

NFL Free Agency

NFL free agency started yesterday with a bang — most notably in Jacksonville, where the Jaguars gave former Arizona Cardinal wideout Christian Kirk 72 million dollars over four years.

Regionally, the Packers came to terms with Preston Smith and Devondre Campbell; the chiefs inked justin reid while the bears signed former bengal defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi

Brad E. Smithburg

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 at 11:22 am CDT

Brad E. Smithburg, 51, of Fairfield, died Monday, March 14, 2022 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Per his request, no services will be held.

Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com. The Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant, is caring for Brad and his family.

Brad Edward Smithburg was born December 31, 1970 in Mount Pleasant. He was the son of Ronald Eugene and Marilyn Jean (Leveling) Smithburg. He attended Salem Elementary School and graduated from Mt. Pleasant Community High School in 1989. He furthered his educations by obtaining an Associate of Arts degree in Applied Sciences from Southeastern Community College. On October 10, 1992 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, Brad was united in marriage to Michelle Renee Brown.

Brad began his career as a journeyman mold maker for Riverside Plastics and as a journeyman tool & die maker for Hawkeye Steel. For 9 years, he taught Machine Technology at Southeastern Community College. When that program ended, Brad accepted a position as a CNC Programmer for the Winegard Corp. of Burlington. For many years of his working career, Brad owned and operated his own tool and die manufacturing company – the White Oak Machine & Tool Co.

Brad was a well-known tinkerer. He enjoyed fixing motorbikes and 4-wheelers. He also enjoyed motorcycles – repairing and riding. When time permitted, Brad also liked to go out and fish.

Those thankful for sharing in Brad’s life include his wife, Michelle, of Fairfield; 3 children – Jacob Smithburg of North Liberty, and Brandon and Dylan Smithburg, both of Fairfield; his parents – Ronald & Marilyn Smithburg of Salem; his parents-in-law – Mike & Donna Brown of North Liberty; 2 siblings – Greg (Andi) Smithburg of Mt. Pleasant and Rondi Smithburg of Salem.

A sister, Andrea Smithburg, precedes Brad in death.