Donald M. Riley

By Hayden Douglas · Sunday, May 4th, 2025 at 5:51 pm CDT

Donald M. Riley

Donald Milton Riley, 83, of Mt. Pleasant, died Monday, April 28, 2025 at New London Specialty Care in New London.

Don was born August 12, 1941 in Mt. Pleasant. He was the son of Fain Milton and Cleola Grace (Wilson) Riley. Fain died while Don was an infant. He was raised by his mom, and Paul David Riley, Cleola’s second husband and the man whom Don called his dad. Don attended school in Mt. Pleasant. In February of 1964 in Mt. Pleasant, Don was united in marriage to Marjorie Lee Hill. The couple later divorced. On May 23, 1975 in Kahoka, MO, Don was united in marriage to Donna Jo Myers. Donna preceded Don in death.

For nearly all of his working career, Don was a farm implement small engine mechanic. He worked on a variety of small engines, primarily lawn mower engines. He was a longtime employee of Bill Hasenfritz’s Implement and later T.H.E. Company. For a few years, Don was a partner with Faylon Palmer in Don & Fay’s Lawn Mower Care.

Lawn mowers occupied not only much of Don’s working career, but his pastime as well, as Don loved to mow lawns. When not mowing, Don could be found watching NASCAR races, cheering for his favorite driver, Dale Ernhart, Sr. Don was also known to enjoy watching the W.W.E. as well. Don was a previous member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, and the ATV Club, where he was often called upon to be the flagger for the ATV races.

Those thankful for sharing in Don’s life include his children – Todd Riley and his wife April, Machelle Kemp and her husband Steve and Kristina Riley, all of Mt. Pleasant; his sister – Karen Hummell and her husband Kenny of Mt. Pleasant; 15 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren (with 1 great grandchild on the way) and 1 great great grandchild; 3 nieces and 1 nephew.

His parents,  wife Donna, brother Leroy Riley and infant sister Joyce Ann Riley precede Don in death.

A Celebration of Life for Don will be held from 5-8 PM on Thursday, May 8, at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant.

Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com

May 5, 2025 – May 11, 2025

By Allison Jacobs · Sunday, May 4th, 2025 at 1:38 pm CDT
05/05/25
Karen Hassel
05/05/25
Deb Mabeus
05/05/25
Tasha Thornton
05/05/25
Tony Denning
05/05/25
Karsen Vantiger
05/06/25
Jerry Lalaga
05/06/25
Brock Greear
05/07/25
Adalyn Anderson
05/08/25
Alissa Alexander
05/08/25
Becky Calhoun
05/08/25
Flint Wilson
05/09/25
Karen Carter
05/09/25
Peter Kilbourne
05/10/25
Thelma Scarff
05/10/25
Philip Geiser
05/11/25
Jill Kilbourne
05/11/25
Demi Dawson
05/11/25
Mike Hampton

Coming Up Next Week…

By Allison Jacobs · Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 at 7:44 am CDT

The Danville City Council will meet in regular session on Monday, May 5th in the Danville City Hall.  The call to order is at 5pm.  This meeting is open to the public.

A Preserve Oakland Mills/Save the Bridge planning meeting is scheduled for 6pm on Wednesday, May 7th.  Anyone interested in this project is invited to attend.  The meeting will be held at the new LuLu’s Landing, 1529 253rd St, Mt Pleasant.

The WACO music departments has Spring Concerts Scheduled!  On Tuesday, May 6th, the Orchestra will perform at 6:30pm in the WACO high school gym and on Wednesday, May 7th, enjoy the WACO Band and Choir performances also scheduled for 6:30pm.

Henry County Fair Costume Contest!

By Allison Jacobs · Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 at 7:42 am CDT

The Henry County Fair will feature a Poultry, Calf, Sheep, and Goat Costume Contest on Wednesday, July 16th during the fair.  Entry forms must be submitted to the Fairboard office by 9am that day.  Prizes will be awarded for overall champ, most creative, most humorous and best team costume.  The Henry County Fair Dates are July 13-21 and for more information, contact the Henry County Fair Board.

Sports, May 3rd

By Slaten Swords · Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Track

Mt. Pleasant and Van Buren County made the trip to Cardinal yesterday to compete in the Bob Gerard Relays and the Mt. Pleasant girls’ team ran away with the victory, collecting 197 points, while the Mt. Pleasant boys’ team took 2nd place with 146 points behind Pekin.

On the girls’ side, Alex Scott sprinted to the gold in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.24 seconds. Alexis Wagner took the win in the 400-meter dash with a mark of 1 minute and 3 seconds. Quintire Lee finished in 1st place in the 3000-meter run with a time of 11 minutes and 26 seconds. Taylor Williamson hopped to the win in the 100-meter hurdles, while Linzy Streigel claimed the gold in the 400-meter hurdles. The Panthers collected wins in the 4×100, 4×200, 4×400, sprint medley, and the shuttle hurdle relays. In the field events, Izzy Sloat grabbed the victory in the long jump with a leap of 15 feet and 5 inches, while Ella Ensminger tossed the shot 38 feet and 3 inches to win the event.

The Van Buren County girls’ team finished in 2nd place with 123 points. Kayley Snowgren outsprinted the field in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes and 31 seconds. Rylee Phillips outmaneuvered the field in the 1500-meter run.

On the boys’ side for Mt. Pleasant, Griffen Jones sprinted to a time of 11.14 seconds to win the 100-meter dash. In the field events, Kaden Schadt leapt 5 feet and 8 inches to win the high jump. 

Van Buren County, who finished in 3rd place with 127 points, had Lincoln Bainbridge grab the win in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.25 seconds and the 400-meter dash with a mark of 54.52 seconds. Kayden Simmons won the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.5 seconds. The Warriors took home the gold in the 4×400 and the distance medley relays.

Mt. Pleasant and West Burlington/Notre Dame will participate in the Brookhart-Crew Relays at Fairfield on Monday, May 5th. 

Columbus will host the Wildcat relays at Louisa-Muscatine, due to their field renovation, on Monday with Wapello in attendance. 

The Van Buren County Co-Ed meet is scheduled for Monday with New London and Central Lee making the trip.

WACO and Danville will make the trip to Highland for an Invitational on Monday.

High School Tennis

Mt. Pleasant will square off against Burlington on Monday, May 5th, with the girls’ team on the road and the boys’ team at home.

The Fairfield boys’ team will compete at the Ottumwa Invitational today, while the girls’ team will participate in the Grayhound Invite.

High School Golf

The Mediapolis and Danville girls’ teams will compete in the Washington Invitational on Monday, May 5th.

The Burlington Notre Dame girls’ team will face off against WACO on Monday at home.

The Mt. Pleasant, Central Lee, New London, and Holy Trinity Catholic girls’ teams will compete in the Keokuk Invite on Monday.

The Mt. Pleasant, Danville, Mediapolis, New London, and Fairfield boys’ teams will compete in the Washington Invitational on Monday at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course.

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference boys’ tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7th. 

High School Soccer

Mediapolis swept Central Lee last night with the girls’ team thundering past the Hawks 6-0 and the boys’ team shutting out Central Lee 3-0. The Bulldogs will take on Burlington Notre Dame on the road on Monday, May 5th, with the girls playing first at 5 pm and the boys’ game to follow.

The Central Lee girls’ team will face off against Canton on the road on Monday at 5 pm, while the boys’ team will play on Thursday, May 8th, against Albia on the road at 5:30 pm.

The Wapello girls’ team had their senior night spoiled by Cedar Valley Christian, losing 5-2. The Arrows will travel to Benton at 5 pm on Monday. 

The Fairfield girls’ team was outdueled by Columbus last night with the Wildcats winning 5-3. 

The Columbus boys’ team will compete against Danville on Monday at 7 pm at home and the girls’ team will battle Centerville on Tuesday, May 6th, at 5:30 pm on the road.

Fairfield will compete against Washington on Monday with the girls’ team on the road and the boys’ team at home.

The Burlington Notre Dame boys’ team will face off against Wahlert Catholic today at Assumption High School.

Mt. Pleasant will face off against Keokuk on Monday with the girls on the road at 5 pm.

The WACO boys’ team is back in action on Tuesday, May 6th, against Sigourney Keota at 5 pm on the road.

Southeast Iowa Playbook

Winfield-Mt. Union was our school focus for this week’s episode with special guest senior Jake Edwards joining the program. Edwards was a key contributor to the state football and basketball teams from a year ago and the community played a key part in his motivation,

“It means a lot, you know, coming from a small school where, heck, I don’t even think we have like 200 kids in our school and just 1000 people total in the town. Everybody knows your name. Like you’ll be walking down the street and it’ll just be like, ‘hey, Jake, good game’ and stuff like that. So, to know that everybody cares, and everybody wants to see you succeed. And it means a lot.”

If you missed last night’s episode, then follow the link: Winfield-Mt. Union Episode

Southeastern Community College                                                     

The baseball team endured a marathon yesterday against Indian Hills Community College, but exited on the wrong side of 14-inning final, losing 3-2. Michael Farina went 4 for 5 at the plate, nabbing an RBI. The Blackhawks will look to sweep the doubleheader today to win the series.

This Day in Sports History

1910 – Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States is renamed the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

1936 – New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio makes his major-league debut, gets 3 hits.

2023 – MLB Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani joins New York Yankee legend Babe Ruth as only pitcher to strike out 500 batters and hit over 100 career home runs in 6-4 win over the Cardinals in St. Louis.

Honoring Fallen Firefighters on Sunday 5/4/25

By Allison Jacobs · Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 at 5:39 am CDT

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Firefighters who have died in the line of duty during the previous year are honored at the national memorial service in Emmitsburg, Maryland. All firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice over the years are also honored.

“As we lower flags, we remember the sacrifice of those who have given their lives. We thank those who have served and those who are currently serving.

Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties, and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flags at half-staff for the same length of time.

Road Construction South of New London Starts Monday

By Allison Jacobs · Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 at 5:38 am CDT

The Henry County Engineer’s Office has announced the start of a road construction project near the 305th Street and Quincy Avenue Intersection south of New London.  The project, beginning on Monday, May 5th, will consist of several crossroad pipe replacements and the intersection being reconstructed to a “T” intersection.  The work, weather permitting, will take approximately 2 weeks.  Please note, there will be daily road closures and motorists are asked to watch for signage indicating the closures.  The roads will be open overnight.  Questions can be directed at the Henry County Engineer’s office at 319-385-0762.

New London Spring Clean-Up 5/5/25

By Allison Jacobs · Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 at 5:37 am CDT

Please have items by the curb by 6am on your regular trash day.

DISPOSAL ITEMS MUST BE BAGGED/BOXED AND PLACED WITHIN 3 FEET OF THE ROADWAY/CURB ON YOUR REGULAR PICKUP DAY BY 6:00 AM

ITEMS ACCEPTED – Unwanted miscellaneous household bulk items that are simply otherwise too large for a cart. Volume is limited per household and cannot exceed a pickup bed truck volume.

ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED – Construction debris, dirt, stumps, railroad ties, wet paint, hazardous waste, automobile/mechanical parts, no appliances, no tires, nothing from businesses, etc.

Loose piles of trash thrown out at the curbside will NOT be picked up. The garbage collector will not rake or scoop up loose waste. Items MUST BE BAGGED OR BOXED.

APPLIANCES – Such as refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, stoves, water heaters, microwaves, air conditioners, furnaces, etc. for curb pickup must have a receipt from City Office, fee $15.00.

TVs – Televisions and computer monitors will NOT be picked up curbside and must be taken to the Des Moines County HazChem Center for disposal. There may be a fee required for disposal, please contact the HazChem in advance for costs/drop off times, 319-753-8758.