Mom & Me Tea Party Set for May 4th in Winfield

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 at 6:50 am CDT

Families in and around Winfield are invited to a heartwarming afternoon of bonding and fun at the upcoming Mom & Me Tea Party, happening on Sunday, May 4th, 2025 at 1 p.m. The event will take place at the Winfield Veterans Building, located at 116 N. Locust Street.

Designed to celebrate mothers and their children, the tea party promises a delightful blend of activities, food, drinks, and fun for all ages. The cost is $15 per Mom & Me pair, with an additional $5 fee for each extra child.

More than just a charming afternoon outing, this event also supports a meaningful cause—all proceeds will go towards funding the 2025 Crooked Creek Days events, a beloved community tradition.

Organizers ask that those planning to attend R.S.V.P. by April 26th. Reservations can be made by calling Winfield City Hall at 319-257-6661 or by messaging the Winfield Crooked Creek Day Facebook Page.

Salem Elementary School to Host Annual Spring Carnival on April 25

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 at 6:49 am CDT

Salem Elementary School is inviting the entire community to join in the fun at its school carnival on Friday, April 25, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The event will be held at the school, located at 412 E Jackson Street, Salem, Iowa.

Billed as “The Greatest Salem Elementary School Carnival,” the evening promises an array of family-friendly activities and attractions. Attendees can enjoy a snow cone truck, a variety of games, a dunk tank, a bounce house, several food options, and both live and silent auctions.

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome to attend. The event is designed to bring together students, families, and community members for a night of laughter, fun, and fundraising. In case of inclement weather, the carnival will be moved to the rain date of Friday, May 2. For more information, contact Salem Elementary School.

Henry County Board of Supervisors Sets Agenda for April 22 Alternative Wind Energy Ordinance

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 at 6:48 am CDT

The Henry County Board of Supervisors will hold a public meeting Tonight (Tuesday, April 22, 2025), at 6:00 p.m. on the third floor of the Henry County Courthouse, in the courtroom located at 100 E Washington St, Suite 202, Mount Pleasant.

The meeting will begin with the approval of the agenda and minutes from the previous session, followed by the first public hearing scheduled to discuss the Alternative Wind Energy Ordinance.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend.

Last Chance to Register SMASH FOR A CAUSE Pickleball Tournament

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 at 6:44 am CDT

BURLINGTON, Iowa – Time is running out to sign up for Greater Burlington Leadership’s SMASH FOR A CAUSE pickleball tournament, happening this Saturday at the Burlington YMCA — and tomorrow at 10:00 p.m. is the final deadline to register online.

This action-packed tournament invites players of all levels to come out, get active, and support local leaders making a difference. Proceeds from the event will go towards new community banners.

✅ Register online by 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23 to guarantee your spot: pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/smash-for-a-cause

You can still register on-site the day of the event at the Burlington YMCA (if spots are available). Payment options include card, cash, or check.

Sports, April 22nd

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Track

Mt. Pleasant will host the Panther relays tonight with Danville, Mediapolis, and the girls’ teams of New London, Central Lee, WACO, Wapello, Winfield-Mt. Union, and West Burlington/Notre Dame making the trip.

The WACO boys’ team will host the Warrior Relays tonight with Central Lee, New London, Wapello, Van Buren County, West Burlington/Notre Dame, and Winfield-Mt. Union participating.

Fairfield will compete in the Don Newell Classic in Ottumwa tonight. 

The 115th Drake Relays will get underway for our local high school athletes on Thursday, April 24th. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be giving updates throughout the multi-day event. For a full list of all of our local athletes competing, follow this link: Drake Relays Roster

High School Tennis

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team captured a 5-4 win over Burlington Notre Dame last night in a road matchup. Bethany Drury defeated Micah Svoboda in the #1 singles match, while Lila Cook and Hannah Villaplaza defeated their opponents in their singles showdown. The team of Hali Crane and Zoey Carlsen won their doubles match 8-3 and the team of Cook and Villaplaza combined to win the meet in an 8-6 final. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will play Maharishi at home tonight, while the boys’ team will travel to Fairfield.

The Fairfield girls’ team shut out Fort Madison last night 9-0. The Trojans will face off against Maharishi on Thursday, April 24th, at home.

High School Golf

The boys’ teams of the SEC traveled to Washington yesterday for a conference showdown and the home squad finished in 1st place with a team score of 156 followed by Fort Madison with a 168 and Mt. Pleasant carding a 169 for 3rd place. The Panthers were led by Brody Engle, who carded the fourth best score of the course in a 39, and Merrick Lamm’s 41. Fairfield finished in 4th place with a team score of 189 as Brice Boatright shot a 43. Washington’s Carson Brown had the best round with a 35 (-1). 

The Fairfield boys’ team will host an invite on Friday, February 25th, with Mt. Pleasant and Van Buren County making the trip.  

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will travel to compete in the Oskaloosa Invite on Thursday, April 24th. 

The Fairfield girls’ team will hit the road to participate in the Golden Hawk Invitational on Thursday. 

Mediapolis took on Wapello and WACO yesterday for their triangular and the Wapello girls’ team outpaced the field, shooting a 197, while the Mediapolis boys’ team handled business, carding a 167. Emmalin Marshall led the Arrows with a 9-hole score of 46, while Payton Gerling shot a 57 for the Bulldogs. 

On the boys’ side, the Bulldogs had all six golfers finish in the top six with Max Griffin nabbing a 40 for the 9-hole course. Barrett Garrison took home a 47 for Wapello.

Wapello will host an invite tomorrow, April 23rd, with Danville, Columbus, and Winfield-Mt. Union competing. 

WACO will face off against Columbus on Thursday at home. 

The Columbus boys’ team will participate in the Wildcat Invitational today. 

The Holy Trinity Catholic girls’ team will participate in the Lee County Classic tomorrow at Sheaffer Memorial Golf Park along with Central Lee.

Mediapolis will host Holy Trinity Catholic on Thursday.

New London will face off against Winfield-Mt. Union on Friday on the road. 

High School Soccer

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team dropped their first game of the season against Burlington last night, losing 4-0. The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team survived being down a man for the entire second half to defeat the Grayhounds 2-1. Akbar Wilson notched both goals for the Panthers. Mt. Pleasant will square off against Fort Madison on Thursday, April 24th, with the boys at home and the girls on the road. 

The Mediapolis boys’ team squashed Highland last night 5-0. The Bulldogs will travel to WACO on April 28th at 5 pm. The Mediapolis girls’ team will take on Keokuk tonight at 5:30 pm at home.

The Fairfield girls’ team fell to Keokuk last night 4-2 as Jalyiah Gardner netted two for the Chiefs. The Fairfield girls’ team will host Knoxville tonight at 5 pm, while the boys’ team will make the trip to Burlington on Thursday at 5 pm.

The WACO boys’ team got back into the win column last night, defeating Columbus 3-2. The Warriors will take on Highland on the road on Thursday at 5 pm.

Columbus will host Central Lee at the Muscatine Soccer Complex on Thursday with the girls’ teams playing at 5 pm and the boys’ teams to follow at 7 pm.

Central Lee will host Wapello tonight with the girls’ teams playing first at 5 pm.

The #4 Burlington Notre Dame boys’ team will take on Danville tonight at home at 5 pm, while the girls’ team will face off against Quincy Notre Dame at 7 pm.

Southeastern Community College                                                     

The softball team handled business yesterday against St. Louis Community College, sweeping the visitors 5-2 in game one and 3-1 in game two. Jeliane Stewart clobbered her fifth home run in three games, tabbing three RBIs in the first showdown, while Anna Woods was dominant in the circle in game two, striking out nine in a complete game performance. The Blackhawks will close out the regular season tomorrow, April 23rd, in a road doubleheader against Indian Hills Community College.

The baseball team fell to Black Hawk College yesterday 7-0. The Blackhawks are back at home tomorrow in a doubleheader against Des Moines Area Community College with game one at 3 pm.

This Day in Sports History

1876 – Philadelphia native Tim McGinley of the Boston Red Caps scores baseball’s National League’s 1st run, in Philadelphia, as his team wins 6-5. 

1954 – NBA adopts a 24-second shot clock and the 6 team-foul rule. 

1969 – Robin Knox-Johnston ends his 312 days of non-stop sailing to become the first person to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe.

Charles W. Sparrow

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 at 6:02 am CDT
EPSON MFP image

Charles W. Sparrow, 85, of Columbus Junction, passed away on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Colonial Manor in Columbus Junction.  Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Columbus Junction United Presbyterian Church from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  Funeral services will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. at the church.  Following the service, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the Columbus Junction American Legion.  Burial will be in the Columbus City Cemetery at a later time.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of Washington County, Columbus Junction United Presbyterian Church or Tunnel to Towers Foundation in memory of Charles.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.  The Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Columbus Junction is caring for Charles’ family and arrangements.

Charles William Sparrow was born on January 30, 1940, in Hancock County, Illinois the son of Dwight William and Magarita “Fern” (Heberer) Sparrow.  Charles served in the National Guard based out of Burlington.  He was united in marriage to Judith Oetken on September 20, 1959 in Burlington, Iowa and later divorced.  On August 19, 1983, Charles was united in marriage to Nancy Cutkomp in Des Moines, Iowa.  Charles owned and operated Compu-tek Computers in Muscatine, Columbus Junction, Washington and Iowa City.  He was also a past area manager for Vigortone Ag Products in Cedar Rapids, former State Adult Ministries Director for the Free Methodist Church, past Treasurer and Sunday School Superintendent of the Columbus Free Methodist Church and past Elder of the Columbus Junction United Presbyterian Church.

Charles will be deeply missed by his wife, Nancy of Columbus Junction; his children, Carlyle (Kim) Sparrow of Lancaster, Ohio and Lucinda (Mike) Hiebert of McPherson, Kansas; daughter-in-law, Bonnie (Sherman) Waters of Cornelius, North Carolina; step-children, Kimberly (Brett) Hafner of Columbus Junction, Deborah (Victor) Haan of Cedar Rapids and Jennifer (Rick) Coleman of Cedar Rapids; 16 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren and sibling, Irene (David) Hulett of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Lanny and Monty and siblings, Margaret Mae (Walter) Whitson and Doris (Gilbert) Blom.

Karen Johnston

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 at 5:39 am CDT

Karen Johnston, 79, of Wapello passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025 at her home.   Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 2025 at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Wapello.  Memorial Service will be 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 2025 at the funeral home.  Inurnment will be in the Wapello Cemetery.  A memorial has been established for the Wapello Fire Department and the Wapello Ambulance.    Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservices.com.

Karen Jane McKinney was born on July 6, 1945 in Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of Robert “Bob” and Helen Maxine (Earnest) McKinney.  Karen graduated from Wapello High School in the class of 1963 and went on to attend Burlington Business School.  In 1968, Karen was united in marriage to Tom Johnston in Wapello;  he preceded her in death in 2002.  Karen worked as the secretary for the Wapello Elementary School for 30 years.  She was a member of the Eastern Star and the Wapello Methodist Church where she sang in the choir and taught both Sunday School and Bible School.  Karen enjoyed boating-making many wonderful memories with her family and friends and attending dances at the VFW in Wapello.  She loved watching football and basketball and was especially fond of the Iowa Hawkeyes.  Above all, Karen’s greatest love was spending time with her family and getting to  watch her children and grandchildren in their many sporting events.

Karen will be deeply missed by her children, Kevin (Shelly) Johnston of Burlington and Tami (Brad) Kerr of Florida; grandchildren, Zak (Jenn) Kerr, Alex Kerr, Kyla Johnston and Tyler Johnston; great – grandchildren, Brooks, Boston and Baylor Kerr; and brother David (Joellyn) McKinney of Wapello.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Tom; in-laws, Clem and Wilma Johnston, sister, Julie (Dave) Jacobs and nephew, Scott Keltner.

Jared Patrick Graber

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 at 5:38 am CDT

Jared Patrick Graber, 32, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Saturday, April 19, 2025.

A Memorial Mass celebrating his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 25, 2025 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield with Fr. Nick Adam as celebrant. Memorials may be made to the family in care of 205 W. Washington Ave. Fairfield, Iowa 52556. Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield is assisting the family.

Jared was born May 21, 1992 in Fairfield, the son of Paul and Nohema (Castillo y Castillo) Graber.

Jared enjoyed reading and spending time at the library. He loved traveling the world, visiting Mexico, and riding his bicycle on the trails. Jared had a kind and pure heart, and a gentle soul. He had a sharp sense of humor and loved spending time with his family.

Those left to honor his memory include his brother, Christian Graber of Fairfield; his sister, Nohema Marie Graber of Fairfield; and many extended relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

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