Holiday On Main Parade Postponed to Friday, December 5 Due to Extreme Cold

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 at 12:09 pm CDT

The Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that the Holiday On Main Christmas Parade, originally scheduled for Thursday, December 4, has been postponed to Friday, December 5 due to the dangerously cold temperatures forecast for Thursday evening.

“All of the beloved parade traditions remain exactly the same,” said Erica Martin, Membership Director for the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce. “Same time, same lineup location, same festive magic – we simply want families, children, and participants to enjoy the evening safely.”

The parade will now take place on Friday, December 5, stepping off at 5:15 PM in downtown Mount Pleasant. Parade lineup will still begin at 4:15 PM behind the Mount Pleasant Public Library on Madison Street. The route will remain unchanged, traveling from Madison to Jefferson to Monroe, with the parade concluding in front of the Public Library.

“We appreciate everyone’s flexibility,” Martin added. “This event is a special tradition for our community, and we want to make sure everyone can enjoy it without the extreme weather.”

For more information, contact the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce at 319-385-3101 or visit the Chamber’s Facebook page for updates.

It is Giving Tuesday – December 2, 2025

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 at 12:07 pm CDT

It’s Giving Tuesday, a day that encourages generosity across communities here at home and around the world. Observed each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday is dedicated to supporting nonprofits, charities, and local organizations that rely on community donations to continue to do their work.

Many Southeast Iowa groups are taking part – from local food pantries and youth programs to animal shelters and service clubs. Even small contributions can make a big impact, especially as demand for services rises during the winter months.

Organizers remind the public that giving isn’t limited to money. Volunteering time, donating goods, or helping spread the word on social media all support the mission of Giving Tuesday.

Residents interested in participating can check with local organizations or visit their websites for ways to contribute. Just be aware about scams if you do choose to give online; make sure you’re donating to a legitimate non-profit on their vetted website.

On this Giving Tuesday, communities across Southeast Iowa are encouraged to lend a hand, give what they can, and help strengthen the organizations that support our region year-round.

Iowa 4H Foundation announces 2026 Scholarship Opportunities

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 at 12:00 pm CDT

The Iowa 4H Foundation announces the 2026 scholarship programs for 4H’ers attending or planning to attend college in the fall of 2026. The current scholarship program offers nearly 90 scholarships worth $100,000.

The various awards range in amounts from $500 – $5,000. Some of the scholarships are open to students pursuing any field of study, while others are open to those seeking specific degrees in various fields like agriculture, food and nutrition, ag business, animal science, and journalism. Former Iowa 4H’ers and current 4H’ers graduating from high school are eligible applicants.

Many of the scholarships will be awarded to students attending Iowa State University. Some scholarships are also available to students planning to attend another Iowa Regent University, Iowa private college, or Iowa community college.

There is an online application form to apply for all 90 scholarships. Recommendation letters are also done online. Visit iowa4hfoundation.org/scholarships for more information.

All applications must be completed online no later than Sunday, February 1, 2026.

Body Discovered in Parked Car at Fairfield Walmart

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 at 11:51 am CDT

Fairfield Police are investigating an unattended death after a body was found inside a vehicle at the Fairfield Walmart parking lot. Officers discovered the deceased on November 22, 2025 after Walmart requested a welfare check on a car that hadn’t moved for an extended period.

Fairfield Police Chief, David Thomas, says the individual was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and there is no threat to public safety or indication of a crime. The person’s identity is being withheld until family members are notified.

The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.

A Trio of Cyclones Earn Weekly Awards

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 at 10:03 am CDT

Ames, IA- It would be an understatement to say that Iowa State athletics has had a great week. The volleyball team earned a bid into the national tournament, the football team won their regular season finale for another eight-win regular season, both basketball teams are undefeated, and the men’s wrestling team squashed a 21 year losing streak on the mats against #3 Iowa in a 20-14 final.

With all of that success, follows the accolades with three members of Cyclone athletics garnering weekly accolades.

Football

It was an ugly game last Saturday when the Cyclones vanquished the Oklahoma State Cowboys and a big reason for that was the play of the defense. Namely, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, Caleb Bacon. The Lake Mills, Iowa, native was all over the field, snatching seven tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble.

Bacon is the first Iowa State player since JoQuan Bailey in 2020 to register three sacks in a game. It was a perfect exclamation mark for the redshirt senior after missing most of last season due to injury. The Cyclones await their bowl destination, which will be announced on Sunday, December 7th.

Women’s Basketball

No one has been able stop Audi Crooks. The junior owns the longest active streak for games with double-digit points, sitting at 76 straight games. Additionally, she bested her own school record for points and field goals when she poured in 47 points on 19 field goals in a 106-95 victory over Indiana to secure the Coconut Hoops Blue Heron Division Championship and tournament MVP honors.

Due to the offensive onslaught, Crooks earned Big 12 Player of the Week for the second time this season. Her 27.3 points per game will look to lead the 10th ranked Cyclones past Northern Illinois on Sunday, December 7th, at 1 pm at home.

Men’s Basketball

Iowa State keeps climbing the ranks as the Cyclones finished 3-0 at the Players Era Championship, including a narrow 83-82 win over #14 St. John’s. Senior forward Joshua Jefferson has been leading that charge as he averaged 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in their three victories. His stat line of 13 points, six rebounds, and 10 assists in a thrashing of Syracuse was only the second time a major conference player since 1996-97 posted a similar stat line.

Jefferson collected his first Big 12 Player of the Week honor but his fifth total conference award after being named Newcomer of the Week four times last season. The 10th-ranked Cyclones will host Alcorn State tomorrow, December 3rd, at 7 pm.

Harold W. Swailes

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 at 8:37 am CDT

Harold W. Swailes, 87, of Olds passed away at his home on Saturday, November 29, 2025.

Harold was born on June 4, 1938, in Mount Pleasant, the son of Arthur Thomas and Erma Frances (Brownell) Swailes. He graduated from Olds High School in 1956. Harold worked at the Spahn and Rose Lumber Yard in Olds and for several local farmers before he began working for the Henry County Secondary Roads Department as a road grader retiring in 2000 after 38 years. He enjoyed hunting and trapping. He always raised a large garden and was proud to give his produce to friends and family. Over the years he has fixed many bikes for the local kids in town. He enjoyed woodworking. Most Saturday nights you would find him at the car races. Harold enjoyed spending time with his friend’s drinking coffee at the Saint Avenue Stop and most importantly spending time with his family.

Those thankful for sharing in his life include his children, Artie (Cami) Swailes of Sioux City and Treasa Swailes of Washington, his daughter-in-law, Sherry Swailes of West Chester, and his grandchildren, Ryan, Chelsey, Kenny, Alixzandra, Gabrielle and William, his great grandchildren, Kayden, Kellyn, Kemsley, Carver, Trey, Berkley, Imari, Malachi, Sophya, Athena, Paul and Caleb, his brother, James (Madeline) Swailes of Mount Pleasant and his two sisters, Janice (Jack) Murphy of Lockridge and Betty Farley of Mount Pleasant along with several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Bruce Swailes, one grandson, Brandon Swailes, two great grandsons, Isaiah Swailes and Ryan Schafer and his brother, Robert Arthur Swailes.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant with Pastor Steve English officiating. Burial will follow in the Grant Cemetery. Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2025, where the family will be present from 4 to 7 p.m. that evening. Memorials may be directed to the Iowa SIDS Foundation or to Hospice Compassus in his memory.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com

The Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is honored to serve the family with love, comfort and dignity as we celebrate the life of Harold Swailes.

Sports, December 2nd

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 at 6:22 am CDT

High School Basketball

In one of the few games that persevered on a night full of cancellations and postponements in southeast Iowa, the Mt. Pleasant boys’ team hung in against Cedar Rapids Washington, trailing by three at halftime; however, the Warriors exploded for 44 second half points to run away with a 73-45 victory over the Panthers. Head coach Eric Rawson knew the matchup was going to be a tough one, especially for a team that has not had abundant experience at the varsity level,

“Kind of working on endurance and you know for a lot of these guys, they’re playing at a different level this year and it’s a different speed and just the physicality of it and the mental portion of it, you know, I think it probably took a toll on us a little bit. You know we’re down 10 going in the fourth quarter and it just completely got away from us.”

It was two sophomores that led the scoring for the Panthers, as Carter Gehling netted 16 points followed by Isaiah Lange with nine points. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team had their contest against Burlington Notre Dame postponed last night. Both Mt. Pleasant teams will start conference play in a road showdown in Burlington on Friday, December 5th, with the girls playing first at 6 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 5:45 pm.

WACO versus Holy Trinity Catholic was postponed last night. 

Central Lee will tip-off their season against Holy Trinity Catholic at home with the girls playing first at 6 pm tonight. 

WACO will face off against Pekin on Friday in a doubleheader with game one at 6 pm.

Van Buren County and Cardinal postponed their matchup to December 15th.

Burlington Notre Dame will host Van Buren County tonight with the girls’ teams playing at 6 pm. 

Fairfield will face off against Oskaloosa tonight with the girls playing first at 6 pm and the boys game to follow at home. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will tangle with Louisa-Muscatine at home tonight with the boys’ game following the girls’ game at 7:30 pm.

Columbus will host Lone Tree tonight with the girls’ teams leading off the night at 6 pm.

West Burlington will compete against New London tonight on the road with the girls tipping off at 6 pm and the boys at 7:30 pm.

Danville will square off against Mediapolis on the road tonight with the night starting at 6 pm. 

Wapello will take on Pekin tonight with the doubleheader starting at 6 pm on the road. 

High School Bowling

Fairfield had their triangular canceled yesterday. The Trojans will hit the road to take on Burlington on Friday, December 5th.

Mt. Pleasant will duel West Burlington/Notre Dame today.

High School Wrestling

The Mediapolis, Fairfield, Wapello, and Van Buren County girls’ teams will compete at the Fort Madison Invitational tonight.

The WACO boys’ and girls’ teams will compete in the Washington County quad tonight at Mid-Prairie High School.

The Mediapolis boys’ team will wrestle in a quad at Muscatine tonight.

The Wapello boys’ team will participate in a quad at English Valleys tonight.

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will duel Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union on the road on Thursday, December 4th.

Southeastern Community College

The women’s basketball team will travel to Iowa Central Community College tomorrow, December 3rd, at 5:30 pm.

The men’s basketball team will hit the road to take on Sauk Valley Community College tomorrow at 7 pm.

The men’s and women’s wrestling teams will duel Ellsworth Community College tomorrow at home.

College Football

Iowa and Iowa State will await their bowl destination, which will be announced on Sunday, December 7th.

College Basketball

The #12 Iowa women’s team will make the trip to Rutgers on Saturday, December 6th, at 5 pm for their first Big Ten matchup.

The Iowa men’s team will be tested in their first Big Ten showdown of the season when they travel to face off against #7 Michigan State tonight at 6 pm.

The #10 Iowa State women’s team will take on Northern Illinois on Sunday, December 7th, at 1 pm at home.

The #10 Iowa State men’s team will host Alcorn State tomorrow, December 3rd, at 7 pm.

This Day in Sports History

1951 – Future Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Don Hutson has his #14 jersey retired by the Green Bay Packers; first number retired in franchise history.

1984 – Miami quarterback Dan Marino breaks the then-NFL single-season touchdown passing record when he throws his 37th in the Dolphins’ 45-34 loss to the Raiders; finishes the season with 48 touchdown passes.

1987 – “334” club forms as 334 brave Devil fans journey through 20″ of snow to attend New Jersey Devils 7-5 NHL victory over Calgary.

UPDATE: Wrong Way Driver Shuts Down HWY 34 Westbound for Several Hours Early Monday Morning

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, December 1st, 2025 at 4:35 pm CDT

KILJ has received updated information regarding a fatal overnight traffic accident on Highway 34 westbound near Middletown which shut down the westbound lanes of traffic for nearly 4 hours early Monday morning and re-routed traffic using ramps between Beaverdale and Old 34.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash occurred when an eastbound vehicle was traveling the wrong direction in the westbound lanes of Highway 34. At the 255-mile marker, that vehicle—a 2002 Chevy S10 truck—struck a westbound vehicle –a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The driver of Chevy was ejected from the vehicle.

According to the crash report, one fatality occurred and one injured person was transported to the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center. The names of those involved have not been released at this time.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene by Breuers Towing. Multiple agencies assisted at the scene including the Iowa State Patrol and the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office. The Iowa State Patrol says the crash remains under investigation.