The Iowa Department of Transportation’s goal during the winter season is to return roads to reasonably near normal winter driving conditions as quickly as possible after a winter storm. The department operates around the clock to clear roads of snow and ice. Your responsibility is to ensure your vehicles are in good operating condition for winter driving. Take time to find out about the weather and road conditions. You can check the D.O.T.’s website 511ia.org for up to date information on the state’s roads. Use good driving skills to avoid losing control of your vehicle. And operate safely around snow removal equipment. Give crews room to do their job.
Sports, Saturday, January 1st
By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
College Football: Iowa-Kentucky Ready for Citrus Bowl
The Iowa Hawkeye football team will look to close their 2021 season with a bang today when they take on Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats in the Citrus Bowl from Orlando.
Iowa, 10-3, fell in the Big Ten Championship game to Michigan — where a win would have likely vaulted them to today’s Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Kentucky is 9-3 after finishing in 2nd place in the SEC East behind Georgia.
The Wildcats feature terrific quarterback Will Levis, a Penn State transfer, who threw 23 touchdowns this season.
Their ground game is spearheaded by Chris Rodriguez Jr. — he ran for over 1,200 yards and eight scores.
Iowa will be without their bellcow Tyler Goodson, who opted out of the game to further preparations for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Today’s game will kick at 12:00 p.m.
Coverage on FM 105.5 will begin at 10:00 a.m.
College Basketball: Wesleyan Closes First Half with Road Loss:
The Iowa Wesleyan men’s basketball team fell to the Mayville State University Comets 73-67 in their final game of the Hampton Inn Bruin Classic.
Down by 10 at half, Wesleyan cut the lead to four but Mayville State stayed hot at the foul line to secure the victory.
Former New London prep Alex Dentlinger led the Tigers with 14 points, bagging three rebounds and two blocks despite the loss.
Marvin Bateman had 11 off the bench, while Kaleb Cresswell chipped in with 10.
The Tigers will return home on January 4th to take on Lincoln Christian University in their next game. The game is set to start at 3 pm.
You can listen on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.
College Football: Bowl Game Scoreboard (Friday)
Wisconsin 20, Arizona State 13 (Late Thursday)
Wake Forest 38, Rutgers 10
Alabama 27, Cincinnati 6
Georgia 34, Michigan 11
Georgia will play Alabama in the CFB National Championship game, set for Monday, January 10th.
NBA Scoreboard (Friday)
Boston 123, Phoenix 108
Chicago 108, Indiana 106
Dallas 112, Sacramento 96
Miami 120, Houston 110
Toronto 116, Los Angeles Clippers 108
Atlanta 121, Cleveland 118
Oklahoma City 95, New York 80
Memphis 118, San Antonio 105
January 3, 2022 – January 9, 2022
01/03/22
Russell Hill
01/04/22
Marie Jacobsmeier
01/04/22
Junior and Anna Williams
01/05/22
Jennifer Boyer
01/05/22
Kirby Moon
01/06/22
Lugene Krieger (99)
01/06/22
Kent Bennett
01/06/22
Joe Ruby (60)
01/06/22
Greg Peck
01/07/22
Quayson Talton
01/07/22
Tucker Syfert
01/07/22
Marshall Mathers
01/08/22
Averee McMullin
MP Utilities Reports Phone Scam
Mount Pleasant Utilities customers, especially the elder, are being targeted in a newly reported phone scam. Customers who have received the automated call report getting a message that says you are late paying your bill and utility service will be cut in 45 minutes if you don’t send payment electronically. The message then directs you to give your bank information. Mount Pleasant Utilities manager Jack Hedgecock confirms these are scam calls. If, in fact, you are behind on your utility bill payments, you should have already received a formal notice posted on your door. Hedgecock also said there are no disconnections taking place over the holiday weekend. The Mount Pleasant Utility office is closed today but Hedgecock said dispatch is reporting a lot of calls from concerned residents. If you have any further questions about this scam or your bill please call the business office Monday, January 3. Also please note, you can’t rely on caller i.d. to pin point where the calls are coming from. Customers of other energy providers have received scam calls like this.
Snow Clearing Reminders
The Mount Pleasant Public Works Department is gearing up for the weekend winter storm. Here are some reminders for Mount Pleasant residents that will ensure the City can provide effective and safe traffic flow.
All residents are asked to limit or remove vehicles parked on side streets. These vehicles can be a hindrance to proper snow removal. City ordinance states vehicles parked on side streets and in public parking lots must be moved every 24 hours
City Ordinance requires residents to remove snow from sidewalks within 24 hours of the end of the storm to ensure safety of postal carriers and pedestrians.
City Ordinance also states that snow removed from driveways should not be deposited in the street.
A couple of other notes:
After a snow storm residents are asked to clear a path to a fire hydrant if there is one in front of your property. Also, be sure to clear sidewalks, steps and porches leading to mail boxes. If you are a rural resident try to clear the area in front of your mail box so the rural postal carrier can get as close as possible to your mail box.
Burlington House Fire
At 4:34 PM, Thursday, December 30th 2021, the Burlington Fire Department responded to a
reported house fire at 1413 Gnahn Street in Burlington, IA. The Battalion Chief arrived at 4:38
PM and reported smoke and fire showing from the first floor of the one and a half story single
family residence. A box alarm was struck which resulted in a call for off-duty Burlington
firefighters. West Burlington firefighters responded on automatic aid. Initial engine company
arrived one minute later. Firefighters gained access through a walk out basement door and
contained the fire to the first floor.
The single family one and half story wood frame house is owned and occupied by Angel
Magnuson and is insured. Damage is estimated at $25,000 to the structure and $20,000 to
contents. The residence had multiple working smoke detectors. No one was home at the time of
the incident. No injuries were reported.
The cause of fire remains under investigation by the Burlington Police and Fire Departments.
Twelve on-duty Burlington firefighters responded to the initial call with an additional five offduty Burlington firefighters being called in. Nine West Burlington firefighters as well as
Superior Ambulance assisted on scene. Burlington Police Department, Alliant Energy and Gas,
1800 Board up, and Red Cross also assisted at the scene. Firefighters cleared the scene at 7:35
PM.
Jail Count
Henry County Jail
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: ____12-31-2021_____
JAIL COUNT
27_ Henry County Inmates
39_ Out of County Contract Inmates
66 Total
Sports, Friday, December 31st
By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
College Wrestling: Lee Tabbed Big Ten Wrestler of the Week:
University of Iowa senior Spencer Lee was named Big Ten Conference Co-Wrestler of the Week, the league office announced earlier this week.
Lee returned to the Hawkeye lineup Dec. 20-21 at the Collegiate Wrestling Duals.
He opened the year with three wins, including two bonus-point wins and two top 11 victories. Lee outscored his opponents, 31-1, leading Iowa to the Red Division championship and extending the Hawkeyes’ dual winning streak to 24, the longest in the nation.
Lee has won 38 straight, outscoring those opponents, 463-42.
The weekly conference award is the first for Iowa this season and the fourth of Lee’s career. He shared the weekly award with Penn State’s Aaron Brooks.
Iowa returns to action Sunday at the 2022 Hawkeye Open.
The Hawkeyes open the Big Ten dual season Jan. 7 hosting Minnesota at 8 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Men’s College Basketball: Cyclones Add Midseason Transfer:
Iowa State men’s head basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger has announced the addition of Georgetown transfer Tre King.
King is a 6-7 forward out of Lexington, Kentucky, who spent the previous three seasons at Eastern Kentucky before transferring to Georgetown.
King, a senior, never played a game at Georgetown and has two years of eligibility remaining due to the COVID year.
King played in 28 games for Eastern Kentucky last season and averaged 14.9 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field to earn All-OVC first-team honors.
The well traveled forward has appeared in 92 games in collegiate career, with 77 starts under his wing.
Women’s College Basketball: Dinnebier Earns MVC Newcomer of the Week:
Drake University starting women’s basketball guard, Katie Dinnebier, earned Newcomer of the Week, as announced by the Missouri Valley Conference earlier this week.
Dinnebier, the lone freshman in the Bulldogs starting lineup, leads the team in assists this season with 45 and averages 4.10 per game. She is currently ranked in the top 200 in the country for assists this season.
The Bulldog starred as a prep at Waukee High School, earning a state championship in her final prep game.
Dinnebier finished with six points and three rebounds in Drake’s 78-70 loss to Indiana State last night.
College Football: Iowa Mum on Starting QB for Citrus Bowl:
Iowa has still not named a starting quarterback for Saturday’s Citrus Bowl against Kentucky.
Spencer Petras started the last two games but was relieved in the second half of both by Alex Padilla.
“I think we’ve made our mind up about what we’re going to do Saturday, but the reality is, we fell really good about both guys. We think both guys give us a chance to win the football game.”
That’s Hawkeye offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz who has confidence in both quarterbacks.
Petras threw nine touchdowns to six interceptions, while Padilla tossed two scores and for 626 yards in just over three starts.
Iowa’s matchup with Kentucky will begin New Year’s Day at 12:00 p.m.
You can listen on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.