According to the National Drought Monitor this week, nearly 30% of Iowa is in moderate drought, which is an improvement from last week’s report. About 50% of the state is abnormally dry. However, Henry, Lee & Jefferson counties in Southeast Iowa remain untouched by drought. The drought monitor information shows that the month of March is Henry County is the 53rd wettest March ove the past 131 years, while Jan.-March has been the driest.
MPCSD Board Meeting 4/14/25
The Mt. Pleasant Community School District School Board will hold a Special Session Meeting just before the Regular Session Meeting on Monday, April 14th starting at 6:01pm. The Special Session meeting is a Fiscal Year 26 Certified Budget Public Hearing and public comments will be take. Immediately following the Special Session, the MP School Board will call to order for their regular meeting in the Mt. Pleasant High School Media Center, 2104 S. Grand Avenue. For a look at the agenda, please visit mtpcsd.org/board/meetings.
U.S. Senator Grassley in Lee County 4/15/25
U.S. Senator Charles Grassley is holding a Town Hall meeting in Lee County on Tuesday, April 15th. The town hall is being held in the Council Chambers 811 Avenue E. in Ft. Madison from 11:45am – 12:45pm. This is Grassley’s 45th year of holding question and answer sessions in each of Iowa’s 99 counties and Iowans set the agenda. Senator Grassley’s goal is staying in touch with Iowans for better representation in Washington D.C.
NWS: Gusting Winds this Weekend
Friday Fires in SE Iowa
Sports, April 12th
High School Track
Columbus, Danville, and Mediapolis will travel to compete in the Eastern Iowa Track and Field Festival today at Iowa City West High School.
The Mt. Pleasant, New London, Danville, Mediapolis, Van Buren County, Winfield-Mt. Union, Fairfield, West Burlington/Notre Dame and Central Lee girls’ teams will participate in the Pen City Relays on Tuesday, April 15th.
The Wapello boys’ team will host their own relays on Tuesday with Danville, Mediapolis, West Burlington/Notre Dame, and Winfield-Mt. Union making the trip.
The New London boys’ team and WACO will compete in the Lisbon Opener on Tuesday.
High School Tennis
The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team had their make-up match against Maharshi last night and narrowly lost 5-4. Zoey Carlsen and Lila Cook dominated their singles matches, allowing a combined one point. The Panthers will host Fairfield on Monday, April 14th.
The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will square off against Burlington on Thursday, April 17th, on the road.
The Fairfield boys’ team will take on Davis County at home on Tuesday, April 15th.
High School Golf
Mediapolis swept Louisa-Muscatine last night with the girls’ team winning 250-261 and the boys’ team taking their match 170-195. Katelyn Wischmeier led the girls’ team with a round of 57, while the boys’ team had William Worrall card a 41.
The Mediapolis boys’ team will compete in the Golden Hawk Invitational on Tuesday, April 15th, at Kalona Golf Course.
The WACO boys’ team fell to Hillcrest Academy yesterday 166-249. The Warriors will compete against Highland on Monday at home.
Winfield-Mt. Union will tangle with Wapello on Monday, April 14th, on the road.
Danville will host Van Buren County on Monday.
Central Lee will square off against Burlington Notre Dame on Monday at home.
The Holy Trinity Catholic girls’ team will face off against George-Little Rock on Monday on the road.
The next boys’ SEC meet will take place in Keokuk, while the girls’ teams will travel to Fort Madison on Monday.
New London will host Central Lee on Tuesday.
Columbus will head to New London on Wednesday, April 16th, for a tournament with Mediapolis making the trip.
High School Soccer
The Burlington Notre Dame girls’ team was shutout by Fort Madison last night 10-0, while the boys’ team has won their last three games after defeating Solon last night 4-1. The Nike girls’ team will host Quincy Notre Dame on April 22nd at 7 pm and the boys’ team will continue on their road series on Tuesday, April 15th, at 5 pm against Fort Madison.
The Central Lee boys’ team kept their record unblemished last night, smacking Sigourney Keota 6-1 as Mason Sanders tabbed a goal and five assists in the win. The Central Lee girls’ team fell to Washington last night 4-0. The Hawks boys’ team will face off against Danville on Tuesday at 5 pm on the road.
The WACO boys’ team will host Danville on Monday, April 14th, at 4:30 pm.
Mediapolis will take on Wapello at home on Monday with girls playing first at 5 pm.
Mt. Pleasant will square off against Washington on Monday with the boys at home starting at 4:30 pm and the girls on the road at 5 pm.
Fairfield will compete against Fort Madison on Monday with the girls at home and the boys traveling to the Baxter Sports Complex.
The Columbus boys’ team will hit the road on Monday to take on Highland, while the girls’ team will have a road contest against Tipton on Tuesday with both games at 5 pm.
Southeastern Community College
The softball and baseball teams will square off against Iowa Western Community College at home today in a doubleheader with game one at 1 pm.
This Day in Sports History
1877 – With a well-earned fear of foul tips ricocheting off his head, Harvard’s Alexander Tyng wore a converted fencer’s mask for a game, becoming the first-known player to wear a catcher’s mask.
1938 – Stanley Cup Final, Chicago Stadium, Chicago, IL: Chicago Blackhawks beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-1 for a 3-1 series win; one of three teams to win the Cup with a losing regular season record.
1980 – Canadian one-legged distance runner Terry Fox begins his “Marathon of Hope” attempt to cross the country at St. John’s, Newfoundland.
MPFD Responds to Field fire
At about 4:45pm this afternoon, The Mt. Pleasant FD, New London FD and Winfield FD were dispatched to Nebraska Avenue at 270th Street Northeast of Mt. Pleasant for mutual aid. A grass fire has gotten out of control and is now affecting CRP acres in that area. A structure located nearby the field was not, at this time on fire.
Michael Allen Westerbeck
Michael Allen Westerbeck, 79, of New London, died Thursday, April 10, 2025 at New London Specialty Care. He was born April 5, 1946 in Mt. Pleasant to N.J. “Steve” and Mary Hannah Wellington Westerbeck. He was a 1964 graduate of New London High School.
He married Jean Miller in New London in 1967 and they later divorced. On May 16, 1986 he married Joyce Ann Gill. Mike was a long-time carpenter for Westerbeck Construction and later for Staley Construction, and also had his own handyman business.
He was a member of New London Christian Church where he was actively involved in Promise Keepers; assisted with cabinetry and painting for the new church; and did janitorial work for a short time. Mike was a member of the New London Volunteer Fire Department; served on the city council and the planning and zoning committee; played on men’s league at Deerwood Golf Club; and delivered Meals on Wheels until his health declined. He attended all of his children’s and later grandchildren’s activities. He enjoyed playing cards on Thursday nights; family time and holidays; going to the races where he was part of Steve Watts’ pit crew; and loved taking his grandchildren to the Burlington Bees games. He was a loyal follower of Caitlyn Clark and all the good she has done for Iowa. He and Joyce cherished their Friday night get togethers with several couples in town and Mike especially enjoyed his get-togethers with the “Morning Gang”.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his daughters Melissa Anne (Chris) Anderson and Jennifer Jayne (Damon) Loyd both of New London; step children Sandra Lynn (Kip) Esbaum of Lowden, Iowa, Patricia Jo Gill-Jones of New London, and Travis Eugene (Amy) Gill of Salem; seven grandchildren, Samuel (Alexis) Loyd, Layney (Judah) Cooper, Gaige (Maureen) Gill, Claire Jones, Laettner (Jalen) Esbaum, Elle (Mathew Meline) Esbaum, Pavin Esbaum; two great-grandchildren, Mac and Mara Gill; his brother Mark (Nell) Westerbeck of Georgia; nieces and nephews; and a host of good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister Joyce Staley; two brothers, Norman and Dickie Westerbeck; and one grandson Logan Michael Esbaum.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at the New London Christian Church with Pastors Rod and Nathan Cooper officiating. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm, Monday, April 14 at the church with the family receiving friends from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the New London Black and Gold Backers and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
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