Sports, April 30th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, April 30th, 2025 at 6:18 am CDT

High School Track

New London hosted the Co-Ed Chris Selby Invitational last night and Mediapolis swept the team crowns with the boys’ team taking 151 points and the girls’ team collecting 155 points.

On the boys’ side for the Bulldogs, Nathan Schmidgall won the 400-meter dash with a time of 52.64 seconds. Mason Lindeen outpaced the field in the 1600-meter run by two-tenths of a second. Lathan Keller snuck away with the victory in the high jump with a height of 6 feet and 3 inches. The Mediapolis squad raced to wins in the 4×800 and the sprint medley relays.

New London finished in 2nd place with 122 points followed by Danville with 82 points. The Tigers had Gavin Strawhacker take the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.56 seconds. New London won the 4×100, 4×200, and the distance medley relays. In the field events, London Franklin leapt 21 feet and 9.5 inches to take the long jump.

Danville’s Nick Powell scored the win in the 800-meter dash with a time of 2 minutes and 4 seconds. The Bears grabbed the victory in the 4×400 meter relay.

West Burlington/Notre Dame was led by Landry Haberichter’s 1st place time of 10.97 seconds in the 100-meter dash. Logan Hamma flew his way to a win in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 57.95 seconds, which helped catapult the Falcons to the victory in the shuttle hurdle relay. 

Wapello’s Kolton Small claimed the victories in the throwing events with a heave of 47 feet and 5 inches in the shot and a toss of 138 feet and 3 inches in the discus.

On the girls’ side for Mediapolis, Amelia Pfeiff took the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 17.76 seconds. Annabelle Hedges captured the win in the long jump with a distance of 15 feet and 2 inches, while Madden Thie took the high jump with a leap of 5 feet. Lastly, Payton Harris won the discus with a throw of 99 feet and 7 inches. 

Danville, who finished in 3rd place, had Alaina Gourley win the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.02 seconds. The Bears sprinted to the win in the 4×100, 4×200, 4×400, and sprint medley relays.

Wapello’s Kate Lanz grabbed the win in the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.2 seconds. West Burlington/Notre Dame’s Kaitlyn Kipp took home the gold in the 3000-meter run with a time of 11 minutes and 41 seconds. The Falcons won the distance medley relay with a time of 4 minutes and 38 seconds and the shuttle hurdle relay.

Mt. Pleasant and Central Lee competed in the Keokuk Relays last night and the Panther girls’ team walked away with the team title, collecting 156 points, while the Fort Madison boys’ team out legged Keokuk with 126 points to the Chiefs’ 122 points.

Starting with the Mt. Pleasant girls’ team, Alexis Wagner won the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds. The 4×100 meter relay team of Kynlee White, Alex Scott, Taylor Williamson, and Kiyah Sanders grabbed the gold with a time of 50.68 seconds. Sanders joined Ellie Freeman, Izzy Sloat, and Linzy Striegel in the 4×200 meter relay as the team won with a time of 1 minute and 48 seconds. The Panthers also finished in 2nd place in ten different events.

Central Lee’s best finisher was Allison Gruntmeir in the girls’ high jump as her leap of 4 feet and 10 inches earned her 3rd place. Aubrey Weber took 3rd place in the discus as well with a toss of 105 feet and 1 inch.

On the boys’ side, Mt. Pleasant tied Burlington for 3rd place with 83 points. The Panthers took 2nd in both throwing events with Jaymisen Rich’s toss of 42 feet and 8 inches in the shot put and Mason Frueh’s throw of 124 feet and 7.5 inches in the discus. Mt. Pleasant also finished in 2nd place in the shuttle hurdle and distance medley relays as Silas Hulett claimed the silver in the 3200-meter run.

Central Lee’s Kegan Damico won the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.24 seconds as the Hawks collected the 6th most points at 43 for the meet.

WACO will host the Ekstrand Relays tomorrow, May 1st, with Danville, Fairfield, Central Lee, Mediapolis, New London, and Winfield-Mt. Union all participating.

Mt. Pleasant and Van Buren County will make the trip to Cardinal to compete in the Bob Gerard Relays on Friday, May 2nd.

High School Tennis

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team handed Fort Madison their second loss in as many days, this time on the road in a 7-2 final. Bethany Drury, Audrey Richmond (in a shutout), Hali Crane, Lila Cook, and Hannah Villaplaza (in a tiebreaker) all won their singles matches. The teams of Crane and Zoey Carlsen and Cook and Villaplaza escaped with victories in their doubles showdowns.

Mt. Pleasant will square off against Fairfield tomorrow, May 1st, with the girls on the road and the boys at home.

The Fairfield boys’ team doubled up wins against Burlington with a 7-2 final last night.

High School Golf

The Columbus girls’ team defeated Louisa-Muscatine yesterday 208-220 as Hailey Wellington shot a 49 to lead the Wildcats. Columbus will face off against Highland tomorrow, May 1st, at home.

The Burlington Notre Dame girls’ team snuck past Mediapolis yesterday 215-225, despite Katelyn Wischmeier carding a 51. The boys’ match featured a rare tie, 161-161. Kohen Stotlar had a phenomenal round of golf, ending the nine-holes with a 34 for the Bulldogs. 

Mediapolis will host Van Buren County tomorrow. 

New London will square off against Burlington Notre Dame at home today.

Holy Trinity Catholic swept WACO yesterday via forfeit. The Crusader boys’ team shot a 191 with Brock Sheetz turning in a 46, while WACO’s Malachi Rinner tied for the 3rd best score of the course with a 48. For the girls’ match, Emma Mohrfeld shot a 49 for the Crusaders to lead the course as Morgan Meyer carded a 57 to pace the Warriors.

The Wapello girls’ team will compete against WACO tomorrow on the road.

Danville will travel to Flint Hills Golf Course tomorrow to face off against Holy Trinity Catholic. 

The Winfield-Mt. Union and Wapello boys’ team competed in the West Liberty Tournament yesterday and Justin Knipfer’s 18-hole score of 83, which tied for 14th best, led the Wolves to a 6th place score of 346. Wapello finished in 9th place with a team score of 363.

Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to Lone Tree tomorrow.

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team finished in 12th place at the Oskaloosa Invite yesterday with Fairfield following immediately behind with a team score of 353. Archer Kreuter led the Trojans with an 18-hole score of 84, which ranked 25th amongst the field.

The Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield boys’ teams will compete in the Washington Invitational on May 5th at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course.

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will host a tournament on Friday, May 2nd.

The Central Lee girls’ team will compete in the Keokuk Invite on May 5th. 

High School Soccer

The Mediapolis girls’ team had their three-game winning streak snapped last night by Fort Madison in a 4-1 final. Mediapolis will take on Central Lee on Friday, May 2nd, at home with the girls playing first at 5 pm and the boys game to follow at 7 pm.

The Central Lee girls’ team fell to Albia 6-2 last night. 

The Danville boys’ team’s comeback attempt ended just short of its mark as Fairfield exited with the 3-2 victory. Binh Truong had two goals for the Trojans in the winning effort. Fairfield will face off against Fort Madison with the girls on the road and the boys at home tomorrow, May 1st, at 5 pm.

The Wapello boys’ team struggled against Hillcrest Academy last night losing 10-0, while the girls’ team fell to Monmouth-Roseville 4-0. Wapello will celebrate their senior night on Friday with the girls’ team competing against Cedar Valley Christian at 5 pm and the boys’ team taking on Danville at 7 pm.

The WACO boys’ team will host Washington tonight at 4:30 pm.

The Burlington Notre Dame boys’ team will make the trip to Highland tomorrow at 5 pm, while the girls’ team will play at Muscatine at 6:45 pm.

Mt. Pleasant will square off against Washington tomorrow with the girls’ team at home and the boys on the road.

Southeastern Community College                                                     

The baseball team will host Marshalltown Community College today for a doubleheader.

The softball team starts their Region 11 tournament as the #3-seed today in a best-of-three series against Iowa Western with the winner advancing to the championship game.

This Day in Sports History

1922 – Chicago pitcher Charlie Robertson throws at the time the fifth perfect game in MLB history as the White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers, 2-0 at Navin Field.

1939 – Lou Gehrig sets a then-MLB record, playing his 2,130th consecutive and final game for the New York Yankees.

2022 – Brock Purdy is selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, becoming Mr. Irrelevant.

Keokuk HS senior: Kelly Takorbisong, honored as Governor’s Scholar in Iowa

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 at 3:31 pm CDT
KHS Governors Scholar: Kelly Takorbisong posed at the Governor’s Scholar Ceremony with her certificate for honored as one of 425 seniors in Iowa as the highest academic achievers in Iowa.

Keokuk High School senior Kelly Takorbisong was honored as a Governor’s Scholar on Sunday, April 27, as one of the top academic seniors from across Iowa by the Iowa Governor’s Office, the Iowa High School Athletic Association, and the title sponsor, the Iowa Farm Bureau in Des Moines.

There were 425 seniors honored and Takorbisong was chosen to represent KHS. Takorbisong ranked first in her class, who recently qualified to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) for a second year in a row this Spring, she is an officer in the KHS FFA Chapter, a member of band, a varsity track athlete that has qualified for the Drake Relays, and participates in many more organizations with numerous honors.

The Iowa Governor’s Scholar program states that it is “proud to continue the tradition to honor students’ hard work, dedication, and perseverance.”

Each student received a recognition plaque and certificate to commemorate the achievement. The Governor’s Scholar program began in 2003.

Mount Pleasant CSD Superintendent Responds To Residents Input on Facility Needs Survey

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 at 1:51 pm CDT

More than 1,000 Mount Pleasant Community School District residents provided input on the district’s facility needs through a recent community survey.

The survey, conducted from April 7-20, received 1,022 responses. The MPCSD Board of Education and administration requested feedback as they explore options for modernizing and right-sizing the district’s schools.

“The participation we saw in the survey was impressive for a community of our size and speaks to how important public education is in Mount Pleasant,” Superintendent John Henriksen said. “We want to thank everyone who made their voices heard and for providing valuable insight that will help the district with our planning.”

The district has worked with architects over the past year to conduct comprehensive evaluations of existing facilities and formed a Master Planning Committee to identify solutions. Areas of focus include modernizing schools to support 21st-century learning, adjusting the number of attendance centers to reflect declining enrollment and population, and reducing financial and operational inefficiencies associated with maintaining four elementary schools.

Survey results showed strong awareness of the planning process, with more than 92% of respondents indicating they were familiar with the district and Board of Education’s efforts to address facility needs. Additionally, 64% agreed the district’s most urgent needs must be addressed now.

The survey gathered feedback on potential projects including renovation and new construction at Van Allen Elementary School and Central Campus (former Iowa Wesleyan University).  The projects would allow for the closure of multiple elementary schools, reducing the number of elementary attendance centers from four to two.

Approximately 37% of respondents said they would support a general obligation bond referendum in November 2025 to fund the proposed projects.

“We listened, and it is clear that many people understand there are facility challenges our students and staff face, but our community is not yet aligned on how to solve them,” Henriksen said. “We will re-evaluate our next steps and continue engaging with the community.”

A full report of the survey results is available at https://tinyurl.com/mpcsdsurvey.

Two Dogs Perish in Burlington House Fire; Extension Cord Blamed

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 at 1:46 pm CDT

A house fire on Hedge Avenue claimed the lives of two dogs Monday evening, though no people were injured, according to the Burlington Fire Department.

Firefighters were dispatched at 6:40 p.m. on April 28 to 624 Hedge Ave., where they arrived four minutes later to find the first floor of a one-and-a-half-story home fully engulfed in flames. Crews made entry and quickly brought the fire under control.

The home, owned by Michael and Audra Baker, was insured and equipped with working smoke alarms. The Bakers were not home at the time of the incident. The cause of the fire was determined to be a failed extension cord, and officials have ruled the fire accidental.

The Burlington Fire Department was assisted by Alliant Energy and Gas, West Burlington Fire Department, and Burlington Police. Fireground operations concluded at 8:35 p.m.

Fire Marshal Robert Berndt confirmed that damages are still being assessed.

Thomas Joseph “Tom” Harvey

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 at 11:07 am CDT

Thomas Joseph “Tom” Harvey, 65, of West Point passed away at 4:06 p.m. Monday, April 28, 2025, at his home.

He was born on November 19, 1959 in Fort Madison, Iowa, the son of Francis M. “Frank” and Elizabeth L. “Betty” (Buckert) Harvey.

Survivors include four brothers: Jim (Margie) Harvey of Neenah, Wisconsin, Don (Patty) Harvey of Montrose, Iowa, Jerry Harvey of West Point, Iowa, Pat Harvey of West Point, Iowa; one sister: Pam (Chad) Kesselring of Montrose, Iowa; uncle and aunt: Larry and Cheryl Buckert and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters-in-law: Karla and Kara Harvey; several aunts and uncles.

Tom was a 1978 graduate of Marquette High School. He enjoyed sports and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals and Iowa State Cyclone fan. Tom especially enjoyed playing softball, reading books and history. He looked forward to holidays.

A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday, May 2, 2025, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point.

A memorial has been established in his memory.

Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.

Henry County Supervisors Agenda May 1, 2025 9:00 a.m.

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 at 11:03 am CDT

Henry County Supervisors
100 E Washington St Ste 202
Mt Pleasant IA 52641
Fax: 319-385-3601

Chad White, Vice-Chair Marc Lindeen, Chairman Steven Detrick, Member
319-385-0759 319-385-0760 319-385-0761________

 

AGENDA
Board of Supervisors
May 1, 2025
9:00 a.m.

1. Approve Agenda

2. Approve Minutes

3. Department Head Meeting

4.. Jake Hotchkiss Engineer Weekly Update

5. Judge Peterson, Courthouse Security, Part-time Deputy

6. Motion to Approve the Transferring of Opioid Funds
Sheriff Dept to Public Health Dept.

Supervisors’ Sub-Committee Updates

Closed Session pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 21.5 1(c) to discuss present litigation involving Sheriff’s Office

School Board Candidate Forum Scheduled; Board Approves Employee Compensation and Milk Pricing for 2025-26

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 at 7:59 am CDT

The upcoming school board election and a series of district business items were major topics at the latest school board meeting from Monday night.

A School Board Candidate Forum will take place Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in the high school Media Center. The event is sponsored by KILJ Radio and the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance. Rachel Lindeen, Vice President of the Chamber Alliance, will serve as moderator. The forum is open to the public and will be livestreamed on KILJ.com and broadcast live on 105.5 FM.

The election itself will be held on Tuesday, May 13th. Early and absentee voting options are available; voters can contact the County Auditor for more information. There will be one polling location, set at Manning Hall, adjacent to St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. The decision regarding the polling site was made by the County Auditor, not the school district.

In other business, the board approved the 2025-26 Employee Compensation Packages for non-union employees. Here’s a summary of the approved increases:

  • Building Secretaries: Total package increase of 5.161%, starting hourly wage now $15.31.
  • Bus Drivers: 3% wage increase (wage only, due to part-time status).
  • Managers in Buildings and Grounds, Technology, and Transportation: 3.8% total package increase.
  • Administrators (including the Superintendent and Director of Finance): 3.19% total package increase.
  • Central Office Staff: 3.53% total package increase.
  • Food Service Staff: 14.04% total package increase, raising starting wages to $14.00/hour for new hires in food service.

The board noted that these adjustments are aimed at keeping district wages competitive regionally, as the district has historically lagged behind neighboring districts.

Lastly, the board approved pricing for the 2025-26 afternoon milk program. The milk program will now serve only preschool and kindergarten students, based on feedback from principals and teachers. The cost will remain 40 cents per half-pint of 1% white milk, even though the district’s current cost is about 34.2 cents per carton, reflecting efforts to keep the program affordable.

The meeting concluded with a reminder that the Candidate Forum is on Wednesday evening and the election follows on May 13.

Struggling with Utility Bills? United Way’s 211 Network Can Help

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 at 7:58 am CDT

If your gas or electric bill is causing you stress, help is just a phone call away. The 211 network, supported by United Way, connects individuals and families with local resources that can offer financial assistance for past-due utility bills.

By dialing 211, callers are connected to trained specialists who can guide them to programs and services available in their community. Whether you’re facing an unexpected crisis or ongoing hardship, the 211 network is designed to provide confidential support across the United States and Canada.

Don’t wait — call 211 today and ask about utility assistance options. To learn more, visit unitedway.org/211.