| By Sonya Sellmeyer, Consumer Advocacy Officer for the Iowa Insurance Division
February is the month of romance, but love and companionship may also involve a scam. According to the FBI, romance or confidence scams were responsible for over 23,000 reported victims losing over $605 million in 2020, compared to 12,500 victims and $203 million in losses during 2015.
A romance scam is when a swindler uses a fake identity to gain a victim’s trust and affection. The introduction of the new romantic interest or friendship may occur online, via a dating app, social media, random text message, phone call, or email. Usually, the romantic interest never meets in person, though numerous plans for a gathering have been made and rescheduled with excuses. The fake identity could be that of a member of the military, someone wealthy overseas, an overseas construction worker, or one of many other fake personas. These professionals quickly gain a victim’s trust and express many commonalities with their victim. As the relationship evolves the scammer will continue to reel their victim in with promises and gifts of love. After trust is established, the romantic interest develops a story about a sick child, being stranded in a foreign country, legal fees, being held against their will, or other urgent situations where large amounts of money are needed quickly. The scammer may also ask for personal information to steal the victim’s identity or assets, or ask the victim to launder money by transferring or moving money illegally for someone else, also known as a money mule. The senior financial exploitation law recently enacted in Iowa allows brokerage institutions to temporarily freeze an account where they fear the owner may be the victim of a scam and authorizes the IID to investigate reports of suspected financial exploitation. Avoid being a victim by following these simple rules:
The Iowa Fraud Fighter program is a source of information to shield your savings from scammers. You can also increase your financial literacy with the Iowa Insurance Division (IID) Save4Later free educational website. Anyone can be a victim, knowing how to protect yourself is the first step in prevention. ### |
Prep Wrestling: Sectionals Just Days Away
(Photo Courtesy: Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
KILJ — We are just days away from the start of the Road to Wells Fargo, as tournament trail wrestling gets started this Saturday for Class 1A and 2A.
In Class 1A, area wrestlers will compete at English Valleys and Sigourney while Class 2A area programs will wrestle at Benton Community and Solon.
Class 1A, Sectional 13 (English Valleys)
- Highland
- Lisbon
- Lone Tree
- Louisa-Muscatine
- Iowa City Regina
- WACO
- Wapello
- English Valleys
Class 1A, Sectional 14 (Sigourney)
- Cardinal
- Mediapolis
- Moravia
- New London
- Pekin
- Sigourney-Keota
- Van Buren County
Class 2A, Sectional 15 (Benton)
- Columbus Community/Winfield-Mount Union
- Fairfield
- Mid-Prairie
- Mount Vernon
- Williamsburg
- Benton
Class 2A, Sectional 16 (Solon)
- Keokuk
- Mount Pleasant
- Notre Dame
- Solon
- Washington
- West Liberty
Class 3A will have off this weekend before districts next.
Nathan Bloechl and Griffin Humphreys will have coverage on FM 105.5 and kilj.com beginning at noon Saturday.
The state wrestling tournament is set to begin Thursday, February 17th.
Women’s College Wrestling: Wesleyan Rolls Past William Penn
Mount Pleasant — Forfeits for Alaina Sunlin and Mia Palumbo and a tech fall win for Joanna Vanderwood propelled Iowa Wesleyan No. 16 ranked women’s wrestling team to a 29-19 win over William Penn last night.
The Tigers are now 2-1 in duals and will travel to Des Moines this weekend for the Grand View University Open.
Wrestling in Des Moines will begin Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.
The Tigers have two more duals on their schedule before their much anticipated postseason; with action at Missouri Valley College on February 15th and a home date with Central Methodist on February 18th.
Girls’ Prep Basketball: Mount Pleasant Squares off Against Burlington
Mount Pleasant — The Mount Pleasant girls’ basketball team is back at home tonight when the Panthers host Burlington in a Southeast Conference matchup.
The Grayhounds enter 0-14 while Mount Pleasant is 8-10.
The Panthers have lost two straight since clawing back to .500 — though those losses have came against two ranked opponents in Keokuk and Mediapolis.
Conference Player of the Year Candidate Andrea Lopreato leads the team with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.
In her last two against Burlington, the superstar junior is averaging 27.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists.
Kenna Lamm is second on the team at 12.8 points per game, connecting on 33% of her three point shots.
Alexis Standard leads Burlington at 10.8 points per game.
Tonight’s game will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Mount Pleasant High School.
Due to contractual obligations with Hawkeye basketball, there will be no radio for tonight’s game.
Prep Basketball: Super Conference Schedule Ramps Up
KILJ — The Super Conference schedule is preparing it’s teams for postseason play with big games tonight and the Shootout Games this weekend.
Games tonight will be girl-boy doubleheaders with the girls’ starting at 6:00 p.m. and the boys’ at 7:30 p.m.
- Danville at Cardinal
- Winfield-Mount Union at Columbus
- Lone Tree at Hillcrest Academy
- Mediapolis at Louisa-Muscatine
- Notre Dame at New London
- Highland at Pekin
- West Burlington at Van Buren County
- Central Lee at WACO
We’ll unveil the Shootout Games tomorrow. The girls’ Shootout Games will be hosted by the North Division and will be played Friday.
The boys’ will be hosted by the South Division and be played Saturday.
College Football: Iowa Wesleyan Announces 2022 Recruiting Class
Mount Pleasant — The Iowa Wesleyan football team has announced it’s 2022 recruiting class, the second full class under head coach M.D. Daniels.
Headlining this year’s class is Division I-FCS transfer Malik Holbert, who played for Alcorn State University previously.
The 6’0, 230-pound linebacker was a two-time SWAC champion as a member of the Braves and comes to Iowa Wesleyan with two years of eligibility.
The Tigers also inked Missouri prep quarterback Caron Spann, who led his team to the Missouri High School State Championships.
The gunslinger threw for 2,213 yards last season with 36 touchdowns and just two interceptions —rushing for an additional 351 yards and four scores.
Spann committed to Wesleyan over St. Norbert (WI.) and Quincy University.
The Tigers finished last year 2-9.
Sports, February 3rd
Prep Wrestling: Sectionals Just Days Away
We are just days away from the start of the Road to Wells Fargo, as tournament trail wrestling gets started this Saturday for Class 1A and 2A.
In Class 1A, area wrestlers will compete at English Valleys and Sigourney while Class 2A area programs will wrestle at Benton Community and Solon.
Class 1A, Sectional 13 (English Valleys)
- Highland
- Lisbon
- Lone Tree
- Louisa-Muscatine
- Iowa City Regina
- WACO
- Wapello
- English Valleys
Class 1A, Sectional 14 (Sigourney)
- Cardinal
- Mediapolis
- Moravia
- New London
- Pekin
- Sigourney-Keota
- Van Buren County
Class 2A, Sectional 15 (Benton)
- Columbus Community/Winfield-Mount Union
- Fairfield
- Mid-Prairie
- Mount Vernon
- Williamsburg
- Benton
Class 2A, Sectional 16 (Solon)
- Keokuk
- Mount Pleasant
- Notre Dame
- Solon
- Washington
- West Liberty
Class 3A will have off this weekend before districts next.
Nathan Bloechl and Griffin Humphreys will have coverage on FM 105.5 and kilj.com beginning at noon Saturday.
The state wrestling tournament is set to begin Thursday, February 17th.
Women’s College Wrestling: Wesleyan Rolls Past William Penn
Forfeits for Alaina Sunlin and Mia Palumbo and a tech fall win for Joanna Vanderwood propelled Iowa Wesleyan No. 16 ranked women’s wrestling team to a 29-19 win over William Penn last night.
The Tigers are now 2-1 in duals and will travel to Des Moines this weekend for the Grand View University Open.
Wrestling in Des Moines will begin Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.
The Tigers have two more duals on their schedule before their much anticipated postseason; with action at Missouri Valley College on February 15th and a home date with Central Methodist on February 18th.
Girls’ Prep Basketball: Mount Pleasant Squares off Against Burlington
The Mount Pleasant girls’ basketball team is back at home tonight when the Panthers host Burlington in a Southeast Conference matchup.
The Grayhounds enter 0-14 while Mount Pleasant is 8-10.
The Panthers have lost two straight since clawing back to .500 — though those losses have came against two ranked opponents in Keokuk and Mediapolis.
Conference Player of the Year Candidate Andrea Lopreato leads the team with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.
In her last two against Burlington, the superstar junior is averaging 27.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists.
Kenna Lamm is second on the team at 12.8 points per game, connecting on 33% of her three point shots.
Alexis Standard leads Burlington at 10.8 points per game.
Tonight’s game will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Mount Pleasant High School.
Due to contractual obligations with Hawkeye basketball, there will be no radio for tonight’s game.
Prep Basketball: Super Conference Schedule Ramps Up
The Super Conference schedule is preparing it’s teams for postseason play with big games tonight and the Shootout Games this weekend.
Games tonight will be girl-boy doubleheaders with the girls’ starting at 6:00 p.m. and the boys’ at 7:30 p.m.
- Danville at Cardinal
- Winfield-Mount Union at Columbus
- Lone Tree at Hillcrest Academy
- Mediapolis at Louisa-Muscatine
- Notre Dame at New London
- Highland at Pekin
- West Burlington at Van Buren County
- Central Lee at WACO
We’ll unveil the Shootout Games tomorrow. The girls’ Shootout Games will be hosted by the North Division and will be played Friday.
The boys’ will be hosted by the South Division and be played Saturday.
College Football: Iowa Wesleyan Announces 2022 Recruiting Class
The Iowa Wesleyan football team has announced it’s 2022 recruiting class, the second full class under head coach M.D. Daniels.
Headlining this year’s class is Division I-FCS transfer Malik Holbert, who played for Alcorn State University previously.
The 6’0, 230-pound linebacker was a two-time SWAC champion as a member of the Braves and comes to Iowa Wesleyan with two years of eligibility.
The Tigers also inked Missouri prep quarterback Caron Spann, who led his team to the Missouri High School State Championships.
The gunslinger threw for 2,213 yards last season with 36 touchdowns and just two interceptions —rushing for an additional 351 yards and four scores.
Spann committed to Wesleyan over St. Norbert (WI.) and Quincy University.
The Tigers finished last year 2-9.
MP School Board Site Committee Meeting
Mt. Pleasant CSD – Central Office
1010 East Washington Street – Suite 102
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641
The Mount Pleasant Board of Education SITE COMMITTEE will meet at 4:00 PM on Thursday, February 3, 2022 to review/discuss:
- Master Planning Meeting with Carl A. Nelson Company and SVPA Architects
- Review Traffic Study Proposal
- HVAC Retro-Commissioning Proposals
- MS Parking Lot Update
- 2022-2023 School Calendar
The meeting is open to the public and patrons are welcome.