Iowa Crops Continue Strong Start Despite Recent Rain Delays

Iowa farmers made steady progress in the fields during the first week of June, despite scattered showers and thunderstorms that brought much-needed moisture to parts of the state.

According to the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there were 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 7, slightly ahead of the 4.7 days recorded during the same week last year.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says late-week rainfall provided relief to drier areas, particularly across southern and eastern Iowa. However, he noted that farmers hoping to finish first-cutting hay and other field work this week may face additional interruptions as more rounds of showers and thunderstorms are forecast.

Corn planting across Iowa is now 98 percent complete, just one percentage point behind last year’s pace. Corn emergence reached 92 percent, slightly ahead of last year, and the crop remains in strong condition, with 84 percent rated good to excellent.

Soybean planting is 97 percent complete, matching last year’s pace. Eighty-six percent of the soybean crop has emerged, just behind last year, while 80 percent of the crop is rated good to excellent.

Oat crops continue to perform well, with emergence reaching 99 percent and 84 percent of the crop rated in good to excellent condition.

Moisture conditions improved following recent rainfall. Topsoil moisture is rated 76 percent adequate to surplus statewide, while subsoil moisture is rated 74 percent adequate to surplus.

Pastures are also benefiting from the moisture, with 74 percent rated good to excellent.

Forecasters are calling for temperatures to climb into the 90s this week, along with additional chances for thunderstorms, creating a mixed outlook for farmers balancing crop development and field work.

Burlington Man Arrested on Drug Charge Following Traffic Stop

A Burlington man faces a felony drug charge following a traffic stop Saturday night in Des Moines County.

According to the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, deputies stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation at the intersection of Summer and Dodge streets at approximately 9:29 p.m. on June 6.

Authorities say a sheriff’s K-9 unit conducted an open-air sniff around the vehicle and alerted to the odor of narcotics. During the investigation, deputies searched a passenger identified as 60-year-old Terry Eugene Wixom of Burlington.

Deputies reported finding a bag containing cocaine in Wixom’s pocket. He was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense.

Wixom was transported to the Des Moines County Correctional Center and held pending further court proceedings.

As in all criminal cases, the charge is merely an accusation, and Wixom is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sports, June 9th

High School Softball

In one of the few matchups that played out last night, Fairfield swept Washington in their doubleheader, winning 16-8 in game one and 5-4 in game two. Leah Helmick led the Trojans with four RBIs between the two games. 

Fairfield will travel to Centerville tonight at 7 pm. 

Washington will attempt to pick up their first conference victory on Thursday, June 11th, against Fort Madison at 7 pm. 

Holy Trinity Catholic crushed Pekin last night, 11-0. The Crusaders will face off against Wapello on the road tonight. 

West Burlington/Notre Dame will host Mediapolis tonight at 7 pm.

Central Lee will face off against New London on the road tonight at 7 pm. 

WACO will travel to Pekin tonight at 7 pm.

Van Buren County will take on Cardinal tomorrow, June 10th, at 7 pm at home.

Mt. Pleasant will hit the road to play Burlington on Thursday at 7:30 pm. 

Columbus will host Louisa-Muscatine at 7 pm on Thursday.

High School Baseball

Van Buren County snuck out with a narrow victory last night against Hillcrest Academy, 12-11. The Warriors will host Danville tonight at 6 pm.

Burlington Notre Dame will compete on the road against Wapello tonight at 7 pm.

Central Lee will fly over to New London tonight at 7 pm.

Winfield-Mt. Union will tangle with Sigourney tonight at 5:30 pm at home.

Fairfield will stay at home to play Williamsburg tonight at 7:30 pm.

West Burlington will take on Mediapolis at home tonight at 7 pm.

Mt. Pleasant will host Oskaloosa tonight at 7 pm.

Washington will square off against Fort Madison at 7 pm on the road on Thursday, June 11th. 

High School Soccer

The Southeast Conference (SEC) released their All-Conference teams and taking home SEC Player of the Year honors was Mt. Pleasant’s Dylan White and Fort Madison’s Hadley Wolfe.

White had a fantastic season for the Panthers, as the Central College commit led the conference in goals with 34, assists with 18, and points with 86. He led the Panthers in assists and points all four years of his career. 

Wolfe had an equally dominant season for the Bloodhounds, netting a conference leading 44 goals to go along with her 14 assists leading to her tabbing 102 points for the season. 

On the boys’ side, Mt. Pleasant placed five on the All-Conference list, including White, as the Panthers won their second consecutive SEC banner. Leading the defense was Abraham Cass, Ramzy Davis, and Jack Newman, while Xachary LeBlanc notched 117 saves for the year and allowed the least amount of goals against in the SEC. Panther head coach Rocco Russo placed the credit on his defense for the team’s success this season,

“Our defense has been kind of our lifeline all year. I mean, our offense is very explosive this season. We scored a lot of goals this year and our offense has been doing a great job, but that doesn’t happen without a real solid defense. And you know, Aiden Humble, Abraham Cass, Jackson Newman, Isaiah Denning, who just started playing defense two games ago for us, you know, those guys are lockdown defenders. And Zach in the goal, I’m telling you, I’ve been saying it for years, the kid is phenomenal.

Fairfield put Oliver Siemsen, Cormac Van Pelt, Lane Stever, and Chaz Wohnoutka on All-Conference, along with Washington’s Joseph Schreiber and Santiago Ramirez. Siemsen finished second in the conference in goals scored with 18 and points with 39, while Van Pelt notched 11 assists to be tied with Fort Madison’s Jack Ragar, who also ended up on the All-Conference list.

On the girls’ side, Mt. Pleasant’s Annette Reynolds was the lone All-Conference Selection. Washington’s Angeline Anderson, who finished second in the SEC in goals and points, Isobel Murphy, Allie Wulf, and Maya Bruty made the All-Conference team. The Trojans placed Lexie Mast and Emma Metcalf of the All-Conference list, as the two combined for 36 goals and 93 points.

High School Postseason Soccer

The 2026 girls’ state tournament will start with the Class 3A quarterfinals today with all semifinal matchups scheduled for Thursday, June 11th.

Local Summer Athletic Camps

Mt. Pleasant girls’ basketball is offering up a camp for any girls’ basketball players entering 3rd through 12th grades from June 23rd through the 25th located at the Mt. Pleasant High School Gym. The camp will focus on the fundamentals and introduce team concepts employed by the high school’s system.

If you would like to sign-up, then follow this link and fill out the form: https://kilj.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mp-girls-bball-camp.pdf  

Southeastern Community College

The Southeastern Blackhawks Youth MVP Baseball Camp has opened up for registration. The camp is open for youths ages 7 to 12, running June 15th through the 17th from 9 am to noon. The camp will take place at Wagner Athletic Complex on the West Burlington Campus and will cost $150 for the full three day camp. To fill out the waiver and release and for more information follow this link: SCC Baseball Camp 

Prospect League

The Burlington Bees will travel to play the Alton River Dragons tonight at 6:35 pm.

The Clinton LumberKings will hit the road for a rematch against the Quincy Doggy Paddlers tonight with first pitch at 6:30 pm.

This Day in Sports History

1914 – Honus Wagner became the second player in major league history to record 3,000 hits. 

1973 – Secretariat won the 105th Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths and ran the fastest 1 1/2 miles on dirt at 2:24. 

2008 – Ken Griffey Jr. (Cincinnati Reds) hit his 600th career home run. Only Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa had more home runs at the time.

Henry County Public Health Offers Free Car Seat Safety Checks

Henry County Public Health is reminding parents and caregivers that help is available to ensure children are traveling safely on the road.

The department recently announced that it has a Certified Passenger Safety Technician on staff who can inspect car seats to make sure they are installed correctly and verify that children are using the appropriate seat for their age, height, and weight.

According to safety experts, improperly installed car seats are a common problem, reducing their effectiveness in protecting children during a crash. A professional inspection can help identify installation issues and provide parents with peace of mind.

Henry County Public Health encourages families to take advantage of the free service by scheduling an appointment with Certified Passenger Safety Technician April.

To arrange a car seat check, call Henry County Public Health at 319-385-0779.

A properly installed car seat is one of the most important steps parents can take to keep young passengers safe every time they travel.

Safe Haven Surrender Marks 81st Infant Protected Under Iowa Law

A baby boy born on May 25 has been safely surrendered under Iowa’s Safe Haven Law and is now in the care and custody of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

State officials say the infant will be placed with a foster family while arrangements are made for a permanent placement. The surrender marks the 81st infant safely relinquished under Iowa’s Safe Haven Act since the law took effect more than 20 years ago.

The Safe Haven Law provides an option for parents facing a crisis who believe they are unable to care for an infant up to 90 days old. Under the law, a parent may safely surrender a child at designated locations, including hospitals, police departments, and fire stations, without facing prosecution for abandonment, provided the child has not been abused.

Once a child is surrendered, Iowa Health and Human Services assumes custody and works to place the infant in a licensed foster home while pursuing a permanent adoptive placement.

State officials say the law has helped protect dozens of newborns over the past two decades by providing a safe and legal alternative for parents in difficult circumstances.

Those interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents can find more information through Iowa’s foster and adoption program. Additional information about Iowa’s Safe Haven Law is available through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Henry County Supervisors to Certify Primary Election Results Today

The Henry County Board of Supervisors will meet this afternoon to complete the official canvass and certification of votes from last week’s primary election.

The special meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Henry County Courthouse in Mount Pleasant. During the meeting, supervisors will review and canvass the results of the June 2 primary election before officially certifying the vote totals.

The canvass process is a required step following every election. County officials review precinct returns, absentee ballots, and provisional ballots to ensure all votes have been accurately counted before results become official.

Following certification, the final election results will be forwarded to the State of Iowa as part of the statewide canvassing process.

The agenda also includes an opportunity for public comments before the board adjourns.

The meeting is open to the public.

Marcena M. Lyon (Pending)

Marcena M. Lyon, 87, of Mt. Pleasant, died Monday, June 8, 2026 at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main Street, Mt. Pleasant.

Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com

Baseball and Softball Cancelations For Monday, June 8th

Baseball:

Mt. Pleasant and Keokuk has been canceled for tonight. A makeup date has yet to be determined.

New London and Wapello had their game canceled due to weather. A make up date has yet to be determined.

Central Lee has canceled their contest with Winfield-Mt. Union due to wet field conditions. A make up date has yet to be determined.

Danville has postponed their contest with Louisa-Muscatine due to the weather. A make up date has yet to be determined.

Burlington Notre Dame versus Pekin has been canceled for tonight.

Softball

Mt. Pleasant and Keokuk has been canceled for tonight. A makeup date has yet to be determined.

New London and Wapello had their game canceled due to weather. A make up date has yet to be determined.

Mediapolis versus Highland has been canceled due to poor field conditions. A make up date has yet to be determined.

Danville has postponed their contest with Louisa-Muscatine due to the weather. A make up date has yet to be determined.

These Weather Related Announcements are brought to you by Main Street Pizza