December 15, 2025 – December 21, 2025

By Patrick Fee · Sunday, December 14th, 2025 at 7:29 am CDT
12/15/25
Robert Miller (76th)
12/15/25
Anneliese Salle
12/15/25
Tim Liechty
12/15/25
Dalton Provino
12/15/25
Natalie Duffie
12/16/25
Barb Snodgrass
12/16/25
Aiden Blint
12/16/25
Steve Kindig
12/16/25
Carolyn Prottsman
12/16/25
Jim Sefton Sr
12/17/25
Sally Johnson
12/17/25
Jim Kinney
12/17/25
Todd Mabeus
12/17/25
Douglas Marley
12/17/25
Jean Reschly
12/17/25
Jewel Schultz
12/17/25
Krystal Zeleny
12/17/25
Niki Howell
12/18/25
Mike Moothart
12/18/25
Brandt Duffie
12/18/25
Jeff Lyon
12/18/25
Craig Mulford
12/18/25
Marilyn Young
12/18/25
Brant Duffie
12/18/25
Adam Denning - 16
12/19/25
Violet Mills
12/19/25
Gary Burns
12/19/25
Donna Gardner
12/19/25
Robert Jensen
12/19/25
Karol Ross
12/20/25
Theresa Lemley (70th)
12/20/25
Zachary Mulford
12/20/25
Avery Elmore
12/20/25
David Roberson
12/21/25
Peggy Iles
12/21/25
Mason Fischer

Roger Dean Ford

By Slaten Swords · Saturday, December 13th, 2025 at 10:02 am CDT

Roger Dean Ford, 85, of Mount Pleasant passed away on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at his home.

 Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant where the family will be present from 4 to 7 p.m. that evening.  According to his wishes cremation has been entrusted to the care of Murphy Funeral Home and a family burial will be held at the Pleasant Point Cemetery at a later time. Memorials may be directed to Every Step Hospice in his memory.

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

The Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is honored to serve the family with love, comfort and dignity as we celebrate the life of Roger Ford.

 

Sports, December 13th

By Slaten Swords · Saturday, December 13th, 2025 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Basketball

Mt. Pleasant split their conference matchup with Fort Madison last night with the girls’ team falling 52-30 and the boys’ team holding on to win 58-45. Avery Fedler tabbed five points in the girls’ game, while the tandem of Isaiah Lange (18 points) and Aiden Humble (19 points) combined for 37 points in the boys’ team victory. The Panthers will travel to Benton on Monday, December 15th, with the night’s doubleheader starting at 5:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 5:15 pm.

In a tale of two games, the Danville girls’ team roared past Central Lee, winning 68-52, while the Hawks’ defense completely shut down the Danville offense in the boys’ game, limiting the Bears to just 12 points in the second half to win 56-35. 

Central Lee will head back home to take on New London on Tuesday, December 16th, with the girls playing first at 6 pm.

Danville will hit the road to compete against West Burlington on Tuesday with tip-off at 6 pm.

WACO split their matchup against Lone Tree last night with the girls’ team falling 55-50 and the boys’ team escaping with a narrow 56-53 victory after allowing the Lions to go on a 24 to 11 run in the 4th quarter. The Warriors will tangle with Hillcrest Academy at home on Tuesday at 6 pm.

The Wapello girls’ team rallied back to best Hillcrest Academy last night 40-39 behind 26 steals by Arrows. Jakayla Nelson led the way with 13 points and eight steals. The Wapello boys’ team ended up on the wrong side of a 71-52 final at the hands of the Ravens. Wapello will host Highland with the night starting at 6 pm on Tuesday.

Burlington Notre Dame collected a pair of emphatic wins over New London last night with the girls’ team clobbering the Tigers 51-8 and the boys’ team handling business in a 79-56 final. The Nikes have now scored 70-plus points in four of their first five games of the season. Megan Lee scored four points and gathered 16 rebounds for New London in the loss.

Burlington Notre Dame will face off against Mediapolis at home on Tuesday with game one at 6 pm.

Holy Trinity Catholic hosted West Burlington last night and the Crusader girls’ team surrendered a 17 to 2 run, eventually leading to a 50-40 loss at the hands of the Falcons. Lydia Armstrong poured in 19 points for the Falcons, while Adalyn Kruse pushed in a game-high 20 points in the loss.

The Holy Trinity Catholic boys’ team is starting to find their rhythm after putting away West Burlington last night 59-46. Layne Rung led the effort with 22 points, while Ayden Figuereo scored 17 points in the loss.

Holy Trinity Catholic’s contest against Winfield-Mt. Union originally scheduled for today has been postponed to January 12th. The Crusaders will hit the road to play Van Buren County on Tuesday with the girls’ tipping-off at 6 pm.

The #10 Mediapolis girls’ team clobbered Van Buren County last night 71-31. Josie Hutcheson finished the night with a 20 point/10 rebound double-double for the Bulldogs as the team snatched up 20 steals. 

The Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team was squashed 67-17 last night at the hands of Highland. The Wolves will compete on Tuesday at home against Columbus with the night starting at 6 pm.

Fairfield suffered a pair of lopsided losses against Washington last night with the girls’ team losing 53-29 and the boys’ team falling 57-39. Ethan Bisgard put up 14 points in the effort. The Trojans will face off against Keokuk on Friday, December 19th, at home with game one at 6 pm.

High School Bowling

Fairfield will duel Mt. Pleasant on Monday, December 15th, at home.

High School Wrestling

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team wrestled at the Zimmerman Invitational yesterday and collected 42 points for 14th place. Jada Moats captured 2nd place after finishing the night 3-1 in the 190-pound weight class. The Wildcats will head to Lisbon for a triangular on Tuesday, December 16th.

The Wapello girls’ team will compete in a tournament today at Marion High School.

The Mt. Pleasant and Mediapolis boys’ teams had their Duals meet canceled for today. 

Mt. Pleasant will travel to Fort Madison for a dual on Thursday, December 18th.

The Keokuk Girls’ Invite was postponed to January 3rd. 

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union and Burlington Notre Dame boys’ teams had their duals tournament canceled for today.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will host a triangular on Thursday with Van Buren County and Wapello making the trip. 

The Burlington Notre Dame boys’ team will compete in a triangular at home against WACO and Mediapolis on Thursday. 

The New London and Wapello boys’ teams will travel to the North Cedar Invitational today.

The boys’ HLV-TC Invitational was canceled for today. Van Buren County will participate in a triangular on Tuesday at Mediapolis.

The WACO boys’ team will head to Springville to wrestle today.

The WACO girls’ team will compete at the Vinton-Shellsburg Tournament today.

Southeastern Community College

The women’s basketball team will travel to Central Community College today.

The men’s basketball team started the Highland Tournament off with a narrow 61-59 triumph over Rock Valley College last night. Jaleel Donley tabbed 12 points in the win. The tournament will continue today.

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 host UNI tomorrow, December 14th, at 5 pm.

The #11 Iowa women’s team will look to get back in the win column today at 2 pm against Lindenwood at home.

The Iowa men’s team will look to right the ship against Western Michigan at home tomorrow at 2 pm.

The #4 Iowa State men’s team will host Eastern Illinois tomorrow at noon.

This Day in Sports History

1983 – 9,655 people see the highest-scoring NBA game: Detroit 186, Denver 184 (3 overtimes).

1997 – 63rd Heisman Trophy Award: Charles Woodson, Michigan (CB). Woodson is the first (and only) primarily defensive player to win the prestigious college football award.

2018 – Dirk Nowitzki takes the court for his record 21st NBA season with only one team–the Dallas Mavericks.

NWS: Advisories for Today

By Slaten Swords · Saturday, December 13th, 2025 at 5:46 am CDT

The National Weather Service has issued two advisories for the KILJ listening area – one for snow and one for extreme cold.  The winter weather advisory was in effect at 6am today through 3pm this afternoon.  Total snow accumulations are predicted to be between 2 and 4 inches. Isolated totals could exceed 4 inches near the Highway 34 corridor.  This snowfall is expected to cause slippery roads and may make travel difficult.

The cold weather advisory takes effect at 6pm this evening through noon on Sunday.  The NWS is predicting wind chills to bring the temperature to as low as 20-30 degrees below zero. The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills inside.

 

KILJ Radio is a National Weather Service station – we will keep you updated on the latest weather conditions.  Remember to access 511ia.org to get the latest highway conditions from the Iowa DOT.

 

Danville & New London City Councils to Meet Next Week

By Slaten Swords · Saturday, December 13th, 2025 at 5:44 am CDT

The Danville City Council will meet in regular session on Monday, December 15th at 5:15pm in Danville City Hall, 105 W. Shepherd Street.  Items on the agenda include department reports among other items.  This meeting is open to the public.

 

The New London City Council will meet in special session on Monday December 15th at 7pm at city office, 112 W. Main Street.  This meeting is open to the public.

 

 

Brenda George

By Slaten Swords · Saturday, December 13th, 2025 at 4:23 am CDT

Brenda George (nee Begalske), age 66, passed away on December 11, 2025, at St. Luke’s Hospice following a four year long battle with breast cancer, surrounded by loved ones.

Local survivors include a sister, Linda (Mark) Kimzey of Mount Pleasant and their children Rebekah Kimzey of Norwalk, IA and Aaron (McKenzie) Kimzey of Monmouth, IL.

Vigil Service 3:30 PM and Visitation: 4:00-6:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, 1844 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m., Thursday, December 18, 2025, St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1790 14th Street, Marion, IA. Burial: Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.

Memorials may be made to Unity Point Hospice.

Those unable to attend are invited to watch the service via livestream. Please find the livestream link on Brenda’s tribute wall and share your support and memories with her family at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.  Announcement courtesy of Mt. Pleasant’s Kimzey Funeral Home.

 

Floyd J. West

By Slaten Swords · Friday, December 12th, 2025 at 4:12 pm CDT

Floyd J. West, 90, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, surrounded by his loving family.

Visitation for family and friends will be 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. with a time for sharing at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 17th at St. Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield with Fr. Ross Epping as celebrant. Burial will be at Fell Cemetery in Libertyville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Four Oaks Foster Care, supporting foster care programs throughout Iowa — a cause close to Floyd’s heart. Donations may be mailed to Melanie Dill, 7797 Belo Dr., Unit 1, Peosta, Iowa 52068.

Floyd was born January 2, 1935, the son of Glen and Faye (Singleton) West. Floyd was a devoted husband to Elizabeth and a loving father to Kathy and Melanie.

Floyd was a hardworking man whose life was rooted in dedication to his family, friends, and community. He spent much of his career as a skilled carpenter and as the operations manager for West Excavating, where he was known for his attention to detail, steady work ethic, and reliability. Though he never sought recognition, Floyd lived a life that spoke through actions — marked by integrity, kindness, and unwavering faith. He left a meaningful impact on all who knew him.

He enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, and time spent with those he loved. A man of few words, he showed his love through consistency, generosity, and presence. Floyd was a member of the Elks, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and St. Mary Catholic Church, and he proudly served in the Iowa National Guard for 17 years.

Floyd and Elizabeth also devoted part of their retirement years to fostering children, opening their home and hearts to more than ten kids — a testament to their generosity and compassion.

Floyd is survived by his daughters, Kathy (Harold) Cubbage and Melanie (Mark) Dill; grandchildren, Jason Cubbage, Amy Scotton, Joshua Dill, Gabriel Dill, and Shelby Dill; great-grandchildren, KatieJo Scotton, Livia Dill, Maxwell Dill, and Madison Utterback; great-great-grandchild, Wayde Stutzman; and his special friend, Joyce Countryman.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth West; his parents, Glen and Faye West; and his brothers, Cloyce West and Homer West.

We find comfort in knowing that Dad’s legacy lives on in the lessons he taught us, the love he gave so freely, and the memories we will hold close forever.

Michael Ray “Mike” Baxter

By Slaten Swords · Friday, December 12th, 2025 at 2:44 pm CDT

Michael Ray “Mike” Baxter, 72, of Nixa, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at his home.

Mike was born on September 21, 1953, in Fort Madison, Iowa, the son of James and Lois (Bauer) Baxter.  Mike was united in marriage to Namora Schaefer on May 19, 1984, in Mount Pleasant.  Mike owned and operated Green-Co Pest Control Business for several years. In his spare time, he enjoyed swimming and boating and drinking beer with friends and family at the cabin. He attracted dogs and kids everywhere he went. Everyone loved Mike. 

Those thankful for sharing in his life include his wife of 41 years, Namora, his step-daughter, Sonja (Mike) Ruhland, and his two grandsons, Josiah (Billie) Ruhland and Max Ruhland, along with his brothers and sisters, Jimmie (Donna) Baxter, Joe Baxter, Dianne (Chuck) Sutter, Judy (Denny) Bozarth, Greg Baxter, Lynda (Ron) Crawford, Sherry Nelson, and Brian Baxter, along with many nieces and nephews.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Jerry Baxter, Raymond Baxter and Randy Baxter, his sister-in-law, Vivian Baxter and his brother-in-law, Mark Chrisinger.

Graveside Services will be held on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. at the Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington.  Friends may call after 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant where the family will be present that evening from 4 to 7 p.m. A memorial has been established in his memory.

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

 The Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is honored to serve the family with love, comfort and dignity as we celebrate the life of Mike Baxter.