Boys’ Prep Basketball: Rivals Meet in District Finals

By Nathan Bloechl · Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022 at 3:05 pm CDT

KILJ — WACO will meet New London, while Danville will scrap with Winfield-Mount Union in tonight’s star-studded district final slate.

WACO-New London will be played at Mediapolis High School at 7 pm, while Danville-Winfield-Mount Union will be hosted by Central Lee at 7 pm.

Nathan Bloechl will have WACO-New London on 98.5 FM. The Tigers will aim to advance to the Substate Finals for the second consecutive season.

Last year they were ousted by Easton Valley and this year they seem poised to bust through their barriers.

Standing in their way however is a battle-tested and resilient WACO team who are coming off a 46-42 come from behind win over defending 1A state champion Montezuma.

WACO did beat New London once already this season — a 67-48 triumph for the Warriors — though the Tigers were without star forward Kade Benjamin that night.

John Kuhens and Kent Bennett will have the call Danville-Winfield-Mount Union, in a scrap of a pair of 21-2 teams on 105.5 FM

This will be the two schools’ first meeting since 2015.

Since a 54-40 loss to New London, Winfield-Mount Union has rattled off three straight spearheaded by the strong play of super sophomore Cam Buffington.

Buffington is scoring 19.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for the Wolves.

Danville turned into the cardiac kids last week, in their heart-stopping 42-41 win over Notre Dame, which included a game-winning tip-in by Caiden Gourley.

Drake Johnson however is the team’s go-to perimeter and midrange option, leading the squad with 14.3 points per game.

The winners of tonight’s games will play Saturday with state on the line.

DNR to recap hunting seasons, discuss possible rule changes at Feb. 23 public meeting

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022 at 12:53 pm CDT

BURLINGTON – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff provide updates on recently completed hunting seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested.

Locally, the Iowa DNR will be at Starr’s Cave Nature Center, 11627 Starr’s Cave Road, in Burlington, on Feb. 23. The meeting begins at 5 p.m.

“We want people to come out, listen to the hunting seasons reviews, ask questions and hear directly from our staff,” said Todd Bishop, chief of the Iowa DNR’s Wildlife Bureau. “Part of the meeting will be devoted to discussing potential rule changes and collecting feedback as we work through the rules process.”

The meetings are open to the public. Comments collected from these public meetings will be considered along with other related comments received by the Iowa DNR prior to proposing changes to hunting rules and regulations. Proposed rules will be presented to the Natural Resource Commission during a regular public meeting for consideration and additional public comment.

Any person attending the public meeting and has special requirements, such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments, should contact the Iowa DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.

Sports, February 22nd

By Nathan Bloechl · Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022 at 12:39 pm CDT

Boys Prep Basketball: Mount Pleasant Rallies for Thrilling Win

Down nine in the fourth, the Mount Pleasant boys’ basketball team rallied back for a double overtime, 60-55 win over Mount Vernon in a Class 3A, Substate 5 quarterfinal.

The win moves the Panthers to Thursday’s semifinal, where the Panthers will scrap with top-seeded Marion.

Payton Hagans led the Panthers with a game-high 26 points and seven rebounds.

He hit 6-of-12 threes, including the game-tying shot in regulation.

Hagans also came up with three huge defensive steals, truly playing the game of his sophomore season on the brightest and biggest of stages.

Dewon Trent added 15 points and six rebounds, while Owen Vansickel chipped in with nine.

Evan Brase and Joe Rhomberg led the Mustangs with 13 and 12 points respectively.

Mount Pleasant’s Thursday semifinal will be played at Marion High School, with tip scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

You can listen on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.

Boys’ Prep Basketball: Other Area Regional Scores

It was another busy night of prep hoops in the area, here’s the full regional scoreboard:

  • Marion 64, Keokuk 42
  • Fort Madison 70, Oskaloosa 60
  • Clear Creek-Amana 68, Fairfield 54
  • Washington 54, South Tama County 29
  • Burlington 68, Muscatine 37

The 3A tournament trail will continue on Thursday, while Burlington will play their semifinal Friday against Iowa City West.

Boys’ Prep Basketball: Rivals Meet in District Finals

WACO will meet New London, while Danville will scrap with Winfield-Mount Union in tonight’s star-studded district final slate.

WACO-New London will be played at Mediapolis High School, while Danville-Winfield-Mount Union will be hosted by Central Lee.

Both games can be heard on FM 105.5.

Nathan Bloechl will have WACO-New London, where the Tigers will aim to advance to the Substate Finals for the second consecutive season.

Last year they were ousted by Easton Valley and this year they seem poised to bust through their barriers.

Standing in their way however is a battle-test and resilient WACO team who are coming off a 46-42 come from behind win over defending 1A state champion Montezuma.

WACO did beat New London once already this season — a 67-48 triumph for the Warriors — though the Tigers were without star forward Kade Benjamin that night.

John Kuhens and Kent Bennett will have the call Danville-Winfield-Mount Union, in a scrap of a pair of 21-2 teams.

This will be the two schools’ first meeting since 2015.

Since a 54-40 loss to New London, Winfield-Mount Union has rattled off three straight spearheaded by the strong play of super sophomore Cam Buffington.

Buffington is scoring 19.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for the Wolves.

Danville turned into the cardiac kids last week, in their heart-stopping 42-41 win over Notre Dame, which included a game-winning tip-in by Caiden Gourley.

Drake Johnson however is the team’s go-to perimeter and midrange option, leading the squad with 14.3 points per game.

The winners of tonight’s games will play Saturday with state on the line.

MLB

The MLB Players Association officials left Monday’s bargaining session in Jupiter, Fla. “disappointed/underwhelmed by what they saw and didn’t see in owners’ proposals but it was good to have discussions

The two sides agreed to meet again today. Both sides are expected to remain in Jupiter throughout the week to try to work toward a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Major League Baseball announced Friday spring training games will start no earlier than March 5 due to the ongoing lockout. Teams were initially scheduled to begin their Grapefruit League schedule by the end of February.

Jane Marie Leichty

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022 at 11:55 am CDT

Jane Marie Leichty, 67 of rural Mt. Pleasant, died Sunday, February 20, 2022 at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice in West Burlington, Iowa.

Her body has been cremated and services will be scheduled at a later date. Beatty-Peterseim Funeral, Cremation Care and Monument Service is assisting with arrangements. Memorial contributions in the name of Jane Marie Leichty may be designated to Bethel Church Missions or Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice.

New Car Dealership Prepping to Open Soon in Mount Pleasant

By Theresa Rose · Monday, February 21st, 2022 at 11:04 pm CDT

Family owned Kruse Motors of Marshall, Minnesota is adding Mount Pleasant, Iowa to the family.  Keith McKinzie and his son Kyle are busy getting ready to open Krusen Motors at 2301 East Washington Street in the former Shottenkirk or Crown Motors location. In addition to new and used car sales, they will offer an up-dated service department. They are anticipated a soft opening sometime in the first half of March.

Mary Elizabeth Blanton

By Theresa Rose · Monday, February 21st, 2022 at 10:38 pm CDT

Mary Elizabeth Blanton, 85 of Montezuma, Iowa passed away on Friday, February 18, 2022, at the Montezuma Specialty Care Center.

Mary was born on June 2, 1936, in Robertson, Texas the daughter of Elmer and Ola Mae (Meadows) Becktold. She was united in marriage to William Charles Boettger in 1956. Mary was a hard working lady and she instilled that in her children. She was a bartender at different places. Mary would take old dolls and revive them so that they could be sent overseas to Vietnam during the war. She enjoyed attending the horse races.

Mary is survived by her children, Billy (Karen) Boettger of Florida, Ricky (Wendy) Boettger of Illinois, Donnie (Barb) Boettger of Indiana, Jimmy (Holly) Boettger of Illinois and Lisa Brimmer of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, 8 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 2 great great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one daughter, Pamela Jo Boettger and three brothers, Ray Becktold, Charles Becktold and Jack Becktold.

Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant. No services will be held and private family burial will be held at the Skyline Memorial Park in Monee, Illinois at a later date.

Prep Wrestling: Lopez, Frazier, Walrath All Win State Titles, Walrath Delivers Team Title to ND

By Nathan Bloechl · Monday, February 21st, 2022 at 2:52 pm CDT

Des Moines — Marcel Lopez became the 30th wrestler in Iowa High School history to win gold four times, as the SIU-Edwardsville recruit and New London Tiger completed an unblemished 55-0 senior season with a 5-3 decision over Riverside’s Jace Rose Saturday night.

Lopez has now won titles at 106, 113, 120 and 126.

He has not lost since his sophomore season and ends his decorated prep career 207-4.

He got the scoring started quickly in the finals, nabbing a takedown in seven seconds.

Lopez then rode out Rose in the first period and then nearly all of the second, helping guide his decision win.

The win also helped New London earn eighth place in the 1A team race with 60.5 points.

In Class 2A, Blaine Frazier saved the best for last.

In his third trip to the state finals, Frazier finally got over the hump defeating Greene County’s McKinley Robbins in a 5-3 decision. Robbins beat Frazier in last year’s finals.

The win was the capstone of a 53-0 year and a career that saw him win a total of 205 matches.

Frazier’s win helped add onto the tally, with Notre Dame leading the team race, but it wasn’t until C.J. Walrath’s 182-pound finals that Nikes would clinch their first team title.

Walrath’s late takedown and subsequent ride out of Iowa State recruit Fernando Villaescusa (Gilbert) gave the Nikes a 6.5 point lead which second place Osage could not catch.

Like Frazier, Walrath ended his season without a loss.

In the nightcap, WACO’s Jonah Clark dropped an 8-1 decision to Jared Thiry of Don Bosco, for a runner-up finish.

Clark ousted top-ranked and top-seeded West Hancock Matthew Francis in the semifinals, handing him his first loss of the season.

Daily Jail Count

By Theresa Rose · Monday, February 21st, 2022 at 2:39 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.

Date:   02/21/2022________

 

_21      Henry County Inmates

 

  55_     Out of County Contract Inmates              

 

  76_     TOTAL