Juvenile Escapes Custody During Transport, Quickly Apprehended by Law Enforcement

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, May 8th, 2025 at 11:19 am CDT

A juvenile briefly escaped custody Tuesday during a secure transport operation in Montrose, according to a statement from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities say the individual kicked out the back window of a transport vehicle—an operation not affiliated with the Sheriff’s Office—and fled on foot.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies, with assistance from neighboring law enforcement agencies, responded swiftly and located the juvenile a short time later. The individual was safely returned to custody without any reported injuries.

The Sheriff’s Office has launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape. The juvenile now faces additional charges related to the incident, officials said.

“There is no risk to the public at this time,” Sheriff Vandenberg stated in the release, adding that the office remains committed to public safety and accountability while working to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Due to state and federal privacy laws, no further details about the juvenile or the ongoing investigation are being released. The Sheriff’s Office also emphasized that a charge is merely an accusation and that the juvenile is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Bettye Rose Brown

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, May 8th, 2025 at 11:08 am CDT

Bettye Rose Brown, 98, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Friday, May 2, 2025.

Visitation for family and friends will be 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 16, 2025 at First United Methodist Church in Fairfield. Funeral services celebrating her life will follow at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church or Jefferson County Health Center Auxiliary in care of Barbara McLarney 2102 Pine Ave., Fairfield, Iowa 52556. Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield is assisting the family.

Bettye was born October 23, 1926 in Fairfield, the daughter of Leonard and Olive (Russel) Hisel. Bettye and Robert Brown began over 74 years of happy devotion to each other when Bob returned from the Army Air Force at the end of World War II. They were married in her parents’ home on an icy Christmas Eve, 1945. Bob’s death in March of 2020 ended daily loving joy, together.

Bettye was blessed with many life-long friends starting with her childhood friend, Erma Hartman. During early family years, the Second Street Neighbors got together for many coffee times, picnics, yard parties, and games of wiffle ball for all ages.

They belonged to several Bridge Clubs with one couples group playing for over 50 years. In retirement, Bob and Bettye wintered in Texas and there found good winter friends.

Family years with five children were busy cooking and baking delicious meals and treats. She was known for her Christmas cookies and candies. Her seamstress skills were put to frequent use making pretty dresses. There was always a garden and a tidy yard where Bob and Bettye planted and nurtured beautiful plants to grow. Their pond provided hours watching for wildlife and birds. A highlight of each year was the family camping and hiking vacation throughout many of our national parks.

Bettye was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church, the MethoWeds Sunday School group and a women’s kitchen luncheon group.

In Bettye’s early retirement years, she volunteered regularly at the hospital auxiliary Bargain Box.  She became a proficient and creative quilter; these quilts grace her home. During the last years of her life, Bettye knitted afghan pieces for a church mission project. With the support of this women’s group, she felt useful even when she needed to sit a lot, she kept knitting.

Bettye was so happy to join one last bridge group made up of “younger” friends, Martha, Rose, Judy, and Lorelee. Those weekly bridge games brought sunshine to the final years of her life.

Those left to honor her memory include her children, Ronald (Sharon) Brown of Fairfield, Nancy Huff of Fairfield, Barbara (Joe) McLarney of Fairfield, and Phil (Cindy) Brown of Marion; daughter-in-law, LuAnne Brown of Richland; grandchildren, Mike, Samantha, Kara, Benjamin, Ryan, Shawn, Jennifer, Amanda, Kellan, McKensey and Tyler; and 18 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, Bob, she was preceded in death by her parents; son, Doug Brown; sister, Ruth Sporkman; and son-in-law, Phil Huff.

Online condolences may be made to Bettye’s family by viewing her obituary at www.behnerfh.com.

HENRY COUNTY ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY RELEASES STATEMENT ON PAYROLL PHISHING ATTACK IN DECEMBER OF ’24

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, May 8th, 2025 at 10:37 am CDT

On January 30, 2025 Sheriff Rich McNamee publicly informed the Board of Supervisors that he had not received a portion of his paychecks for the last three pay periods. The matter was referred to the lowa Division of Criminal Investigation and an administrative investigation was begun.

Finding of Facts: On or about December 10, 2024 Henry County and other lowa counties were hit with a phishing attack (scam emails) aimed at duping counties into changing an employee’s direct deposit to Green Dot bank account. At that time, a newer Henry County employee was taken in by scam emails purportedly from Rich McNamee asking to change his direct deposit. This change was made on December 10, 2024. Approximately a month and a half later, during the week of January 24, 2025, the County Auditor’s office was made aware of the issue. McNamee was asked about the delay in noticing and reporting the issue despite missing the major portion of three paychecks. He responded that he usually only reconciles his checking account at the end of the month (although not this December), but became aware when he tried to withdraw funds from his bank in late January and was told he didn’t have enough money in his account.

Conclusion: DCI continues the outside investigation into the phishing attacks. Sheriff McNamee was made whole. Corrective actions have been taken in the auditor’s office including additional safeguards against scams. All Henry County employees are encouraged to check their bi-weekly paystubs for inaccuracies to ensure that the County can respond immediately.

Respectfully submitted,

Steve Giebelhausen

Assistant County Attorney

Russel G. Whitaker

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, May 8th, 2025 at 10:33 am CDT

Russel G. Whitaker, 99, of Brighton, IA passed away on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington, IA.

 

Funeral services honoring his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Brighton Community Church in Brighton, IA with Pastor Rick Zickefoose officiating.

 

Burial with military honors will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery immediately following.

 

Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the church and will last until the time of service.

 

Memorial contributions in Russel’s honor may be directed to the Brighton Volunteer Fire Department and mailed c/o Cranston Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 189, Fairfield, IA 52556. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

 

Sports, May 8th

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, May 8th, 2025 at 6:39 am CDT

High School Track

The Southeast Conference Meet is scheduled for tonight at Fairfield. 

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference meet is set for tonight with WACO acting as the host. 

High School Tennis

Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant will compete in the SEC Tournament tonight with the boys’ teams traveling to Fairfield, while the girls’ teams will make the trip to Burlington.

High School Golf

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference boys’ tournament was held yesterday and Central Lee finished as conference champions after shooting a 324 as a team, eight strokes better than Van Buren County’s 332. Winfield-Mt. Union rounded out the podium with a 3rd place score of 335. The Hawks were led by Mylan Lowenberg, the individual conference champion, as he carded a course-low 77 followed by Carson Morrison with an 80. Konner Kinneberg put an 81 for the Wolves.

Mediapolis, last year’s champion, grabbed 5th place followed by Burlington Notre Dame and Wapello, respectively. Holy Trinity Catholic finished in 9th place, while WACO, New London, Danville, and Columbus collected 11th through 14th place, respectively. Alex Holtkamp shot an 88 for the Bears. 

In Class 1A, Winfield-Mt. Union will host their Sectional meet on Wednesday, May 14th, with Danville, Holy Trinity Catholic, New London, WACO, and Wapello making the trip. 

Mediapolis, Central Lee, Columbus, and Van Buren County will make the trip to Pella for their Class 2A sectional meet. 

The Southeast Conference boys’ tournament commenced yesterday and for the third year in-a-row Washington finished the meet as the conference champion with Cole Vetter’s 18-hole score of 72 leading the course and the Demons to a team score of 316. Fort Madison clinched 2nd place, while Mt. Pleasant grabbed 3rd place with a team score of 345. Merrick Lamm shot an 82 for the Panthers, the 5th best score of the day. Fairfield took 4th place as Archer Kreuter took home an 83. 

Merrick Lamm and Brody Engle earned All-Conference honors for Mt. Pleasant as Lamm claimed the 4th best season score. Archer Kreuter and Drew Myers were All-Conference nods for Fairfield. Brady Wade and Cole Quittem grabbed All-Conference for Fort Madison. Lastly, Conner Leyden, Cole Vetter, Carson Brown, and Drew Conrad all finished with All-Conference honors for Washington as Conrad carded the overall best score of 254 for the SEC.

The Mt. Pleasant and Burlington Notre Dame boys’ teams will head to Washington, while the Fairfield boys’ team will make the trip to Knoxville for their Class 3A District Qualifiers on Wednesday. 

The Fairfield girls’ team will travel to Van Buren County today.

New London will take on Wapello at home tomorrow, May 9th.

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference girls’ tournament is scheduled for Monday, May 12th.

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will compete in their SEC tournament on May 14th. 

High School Soccer

The #6 Burlington Notre Dame boys’ team handled business against Danville last night, winning 3-1. The Bears will look to get back in the win column tonight on the road against Highland at 5 pm.

The Fairfield girls’ team will host Keokuk tonight at 4:30 pm.

The Central Lee boys’ team will play tonight against Albia on the road at 5:30 pm.

Mt. Pleasant will take on Burlington tonight with the boys’ team on the road and the girls’ team at home. 

The Mediapolis boys’ team will tangle with Hillcrest Academy tonight at home at 5 pm, while the girls’ team will take on Wapello tomorrow, May 9th, on the road.

The WACO boys’ team will face off against Burlington Notre Dame tomorrow at 5 pm at home.

Columbus will compete against Wapello on Monday, May 12th, with the girls playing first at 5 pm with the boys’ game to follow.

The Central Lee girls’ team will host Burlington Notre Dame on Monday with game time at 5 pm.

Southeast Iowa Playbook

Winfield-Mt. Union’s Kellee Milks joined us last night for the Southeast Iowa Playbook as her first year of high school golf comes to a close. Despite the individuality of the sport, Milks pushes to do her best to help out the team,

“We always try to support each other like before our meets we always tell our other teammates, ‘good luck.’ But usually it comes down to like, oh, I have to do this for myself. So I play this myself, but I know that’s going to come out and help my team in the end.”

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

Southeastern Community College                                                     

The baseball team received the #1-seed and a first-round bye for the ICCAC Region 11 tournament. The Blackhawks will face off against the winner between Ellsworth and Des Moines Area Community College tomorrow, May 9th, at 3:30 pm. 

This Day in Sports History

1936 – Jockey Ralph Neves is unexpectedly revived after being declared dead after a fall. His wife fainted when he returned to the track.

1973 – Ernie Banks technically became the first African American MLB manager when Cubs’ manager Whitey Lockman was ejected from the game. Banks filled in as the manager and won the game 3-2 in 12 innings.

2020 – 11-year old Brazilian skateboarder Gui Khury creates a world record by performing the first 1080 degree turn on a vertical ramp.

Prep Girls’ Golf: Postseason Team Assignments and Qualifying Information

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, May 7th, 2025 at 1:24 pm CDT

Prep Girls’ Golf- The postseason is drawing near for girls’ high school golf with teams Classes 1A and 2A teeing off on Friday, May 16th. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union has released postseason information, including team assignment, so here’s a look at where our local teams will be competing.

Class 1A

Van Buren County will be our isolated local team in Region 4C as the Warriors will be making the trip to Sigourney Golf and Country Club for the first round of Regionals. BGM, Highland, Keota, Montezuma, Moravia, and Wayne will also be competing.

The Region 4 final will take place at Prairie Knolls Golf Course in North Mahaska.

Over in Region 5A, Wapello will be the acting host team at Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club. It will be a meet-up amongst the Southeast Iowa Super Conference with Columbus, Danville, Holy Trinity Catholic, Louisa-Muscatine, New London, WACO, and Winfield-Mt. Union competing.

The Region 5 final will be held at Little Bear Country Club in Midland.

Class 2A

Central Lee and Mediapolis will be traveling to Kalona Golf Course in Mid-Prairie. Regina Catholic, Tipton, West Branch, West Liberty, and Wilton will be participating, as well. The Region 5 final will take place at West Liberty Country Club in West Liberty.

Qualifying

The top two teams in Classes 1A and 2A will qualify for the region finals; unless one of the top two teams is the host team, then the third-place team will also qualify—this procedure will not apply for the advancement to the state meet. Additionally, the top six individuals will advance.

Class 3A

Our local teams will be hitting the road on May 21st and heading west to Oskaloosa to compete at the Edmundson Golf Course for the Region 3 final. Burlington Notre Dame, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, and Mt. Pleasant will be some of our familiar names.

Also attending will be Carlisle, Clarke, Pella, South Tama County, and Xavier.

Class 4A

Lastly, Burlington will head to North Scott for the Region 5 final at Glynn’s Creek Golf Course with Bettendorf, Clinton, Davenport Central, Davenport North, Davenport West, Iowa City Liberty, Linn-Mar, and Pleasant Valley also making the trip.

Qualifying

The top two teams and the top six individuals will advance to state for Classes 3A and 4A.

Schedule

The two-day girls’ state golf meet will commence on May 29th and 30th with Class 1A taking place at American Legion in Marshalltown, Class 2A will be in Dike at Fox Ridge, Class 3A will travel to Saddleback Ridge in Solon, and Pleasant Valley in Iowa City will host Class 4A.

Burlington Native Supports Critical Navy Operations in the Pacific Ocean

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, May 7th, 2025 at 12:36 pm CDT

A Burlington, Iowa native is playing a vital role in U.S. Navy operations in the North Pacific Ocean. Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Riley Etchison, originally from Burlington, was recently photographed giving critical hand signals to pilots of an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter during a helicopter in-flight refueling (HIFR) exercise aboard the USS Preble (DDG 88), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer.

The exercise, conducted May 1, allowed the Easyriders of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 37 to refuel mid-air without landing on the ship’s flight deck — a vital capability in situations where deck landings aren’t feasible due to operational or environmental constraints.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jamaal Liddell)
Riley Etchison giving critical hand signals to pilots of an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter during a helicopter in-flight refueling (HIFR) exercise aboard the USS Preble

The USS Preble is currently forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 (DESRON 15), the Navy’s largest destroyer squadron and the principal surface force of the U.S. 7th Fleet. Operating in the Indo-Pacific region, DESRON 15 supports missions aimed at maintaining security, stability, and freedom of navigation in some of the world’s most strategically important waters.

Etchison’s role as a boatswain’s mate involves expertise in seamanship, deck operations, and supporting flight deck activities. In the photo, taken by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jamaal Liddell, Etchison can be seen giving precise hand signals that guide the helicopter crew safely through the complex refueling procedure.

Family and friends in Iowa can take pride in Etchison’s contributions aboard the USS Preble as the ship continues its deployment in support of U.S. Navy operations throughout the Pacific.

Mount Pleasant Personnel & Finance Committee Meeting May 14th

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, May 7th, 2025 at 9:14 am CDT

The Mount Pleasant Personnel & Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 9:00 AM at City Hall in the City Administrators’ Conference Room.

AGENDA

1. Call to Order
2. Discuss Purchasing Policy
3. Review Bids for Airport Hangar Project
4. Discuss Proposal from Iworq
5. Discuss & Review Contract to Purchase New Pumper Fire Truck
6. Open Forum
7. Adjourn