Sports, May 4th

High School Track and Field

Mt. Pleasant will host the state qualifying meet on Thursday, May 9th, with Washington, Keokuk, Fort Madison, and Fairfield making the trip.

Danville, New London, WACO, Columbus, and Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to Sigourney for their state qualifying meet, while Mediapolis, West Burlington, Van Buren County, and Central Lee will head west to Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont for their meet on Thursday.

High School Soccer

Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to Wapello on Monday, May 6th, with the girls playing first at 5 pm.

The WACO and Danville boys’ teams were locked at two after a half of play last night, but the Bears offense generated 17 shots on goal and pushed across three goals to win 5-2. Kadu Garcia tallied a hat trick in the win with Talan Whaley assisting on four of the goals. 

The WACO boys’ team will look to get back in the win column today against Highland at home.

The Central Lee boys’ team’s offense could not be stopped last night, thumping Keokuk 7-3. Landan Lowenberg and Landon Crank each netted two goals as Nathan Newberry, Zach Estrada, and Ayden Kent each scored a goal.

The Central Lee girls’ team will take on Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union on Tuesday, May 7th, at home.

The Mediapolis girls’ team will take on Canton on Monday. 

The boys’ Southeast Iowa Super Conference tournament will begin on Tuesday.

Mt. Pleasant will face off against Fort Madison on Monday with the boys’ team celebrating senior night at home and the girls’ team hitting the road. 

High School Tennis

Mt. Pleasant will compete on Monday, May 6th, in Fairfield with the girls’ team participating in the regionals and the boys’ playing in their district matches.

High School Golf

The New London boys’ team will host Danville, Holy Trinity Catholic, Winfield-Mt. Union, and WACO for their district meet. The boys’ teams of Central Lee, Van Buren County, and Mediapolis will take a trip to Mid-Prairie for districts on Tuesday, May 7th. 

The SEISC girls’ teams will participate in their conference meet on Monday, May 6th. 

The SEC boys’ teams will meet up on Wednesday, May 8th, at Mt. Pleasant for sectionals with Albia, West Burlington/Notre Dame, and Mt. Vernon also competing.

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will compete in their SEC meet on Wednesday. 

The Central Lee boys’ team will host a meet today with Van Buren County, Holy Trinity Catholic, and Burlington Notre Dame also making the trip. 

Southeastern Community College

SCC baseball have now rattled off four consecutive victories after winning both games of their doubleheader against Indian Hills Community College yesterday. Game one saw the bats on full display with a 14-3 win. Luke Wallace went 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs. Michael Farina and Caleb Klein also smacked a home run in the win.

Game two was a nail biter as the Warriors were on the verge of tying the game in the bottom of the ninth until Cole Smith struck out the last batter to tally the save in a 6-5 win. Wallace collected two more RBIs to bring his two game total to six. The Blackhawks will stay on the road today to finish their three-game series against the Warriors.

SCC softball appeared poised to advance to the Region 11 championship after scoring 13 runs in the first two innings against Indian Hills Community College yesterday; however, the Warriors would put up 11 unanswered runs in the final four innings to win 16-13. The Blackhawks will wait to see if they are selected for the NJCAA DI softball world series.

This Day in Sports History

1869 – Cincinnati Red Stockings play their 1st official baseball game, a win against the Great Western Base Ball Club, 45-9.

1893 – Cowboy Bill Pickett invented bulldogging, the skill of grabbing cattle by the horns and wrestling them to the ground.

1984 – Dave Kingman’s fly ball never comes down as it gets stuck in the Metrodome ceiling.

SEISC Conference Results: Mediapolis Sweeps South Team Titles as the Pekin Girls and Columbus Boys Repeat in the North

Wayland, IA- The Southeast Iowa Super Conference (SEISC) held their conference meet last night and Mediapolis claimed the boys and girls’ South division title, while the Pekin girls’ team claimed the North division crown and Columbus took the boys’ North division banner.

Girls South Division

Mediapolis

The Mediapolis girls’ team, which finished fourth last year, collected 148 points and six conference champions. Bryn Wright ran the 1500-meter in 5 minutes and 21 seconds to win the event. Kendall VanWinkle won the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1 minute and 14 seconds.

Avery Crear leapt to a first-place finish in the high jump with a height of 4 feet and 8 inches. The 4×100 team of Baily Jackson, Josie Hutcheson, Kira Messer, and Haley Steffener took the win over Danville by 0.01s of a second. The same team won the 4×200 meter relay by nearly 13 seconds.

Hutcheson and Steffener were joined by Grace Holsteen and Avery Dietz in the 4×400 meter relay, which grabbed the win with a time of 4 minutes and 25 seconds.

West Burlington

The Falcons, attempting to defend their title from last year, fell just short in that endeavor, earning 144 points and four conference champions. Ady Lamm grabbed first place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.57 seconds.

Kaitlyn Kipp paced herself to a win in the 3000-meter run with a time of 11 minutes and 37 seconds. The 4×800 meter relay team of Hannah Fruehling, Nickel Jilian, Olivia Ritter, and Chloe Diewold won with a time of 10 minutes and 53 seconds—37 seconds faster than second place.

Nadiya Jones won gold in the shot put with a heave of 32 feet and 1.5 inches.

Danville

The Bears’ 110 points was good enough for third place. Jaeda Molle won the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.17 seconds. Miya Orbiana raced to a time of 1 minute and 4 seconds in the 400-meter dash.

The 800-sprint medley team of Kenna Furnald, Delaney Newberry, Alaina Gourley, and Molle won by seven seconds with a time of 1 minute and 54 seconds. Furnald doubled up with a win in the long jump with a leap of 15 feet and 9 inches.

Van Buren County

The Warriors finished with 94.5 points. Kayley Snowgren won the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes and 34 seconds. Marlee Mertens took the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 18.84 seconds.

The distance medley team of Ava Loeffler, Daphny Wells, Emma Coffin, and Snowgren took first with a time of 4 minutes and 42 seconds. Mertens, Wells, Lexie Wiley, and Libby Bainbridge won the 4×100 meter shuttle hurdle team with a time of 1 minute and 19 seconds.

Central Lee

The Hawks finished with 63.5 points and one conference champion in Aubrey Weber, winning the discus with a throw of 93 feet.

New London

The Tigers were led by the 4×200 meter relay team of Morgan Jones, Marlianna Woodsmall, Angelica Schlarbaum, and Brooklyn Curry with a fourth-place finish. New London finished with 12 points.

Boys South Division

Mediapolis

Mediapolis won 11 events on their way to 190 points. Solomon Zaugg won two events with first place finishes in the 1600 and 3200-meter runs. Nathan Schmidgall claimed the gold in the 400-meter dash and Logan Rosas won the 800-meter run.

Grady Gunn hopped his way to a first-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles. Gavin Hallgren heaved the shot 42 feet and 4.5 inches to finish as the conference champion in the shot put.

The Bulldogs dominated the relays, winning the 4×200 with the team of Braden Oliver, Henry Luttenegger, Noah Schmidgall, and Kyler Crow with a time of 1 minute and 33 seconds. The 4×400 meter relay of Reese Campbell, Will Schmidgall, Nathan Schmidgall, and Logan Rosas with a time of 3 minutes and 32 seconds.

The 4×800 meter relay team Simon Wendel, Owen Schmidgall, Will Schmidgall, and Zaugg won with a time of 8 minutes and 33 seconds. The 4×110 meter shuttle hurdle team Ben Wolter, Jackson Hutcheson, Gunn, Kamden Stotlar won the event with a time of 1 minute and 5 seconds.

The distance medley relay team of Noah Schmidgall, Crow, Rosas, and Campell finished with a time of 3 minutes and 38 seconds.

Van Buren County

The Warriors finished in a distant second place with 94 points. Tyler Stoltz won the high jump with a leap of 6 feet and Cameron Stoltz took the discus with a heave of 115 feet and 5 inches.

Danville

The Bears grabbed 79 points and third place. Danville’s Ayden Doyle grabbed gold in the 200-meter dash and the 4×100 meter relay team of Jaden Bauer, Drake Bielser, Landon Seibert, and Doyle won with a time of 44.52 seconds.

West Burlington

The Falcons had Landry Haberichter win the 100-meter dash, Logan Hamma took the 400-meter hurdles, and the 800-sprint medley team of Maddox Diewold, Colby Booton, Hamma, and Caden Schwenker won with a time of 1 minute and 40 seconds. West Burlington claimed 76 points.

Central Lee

Central Lee finished with 70 points. Ostyn Moore took second in the shot put with a throw of 39 feet and 3.25 inches. Owen Krogmeier tossed the discus 109 feet and 10.5 inches to earn second place. Lastly, Aden Ross raced to a second-place time of 54.73 seconds in the 400-meter dash.

New London

For the Tigers, London Franklin was the conference champ for the long jump with a leap of 21 feet and 6 inches. New London finished with 55 points.

Girls North Division

The Pekin girls’ team handled business, generating 165 points, with Louisa-Muscatine taking second place with 97 points followed by Hillcrest Academy with 84 points.

Columbus

The Wildcats grabbed 60 points to finish in sixth place. Kymila Bacon’s second-place finish in the 200-meter dash with a time of 28.74 seconds and Bella Forbes’ second-place throw of 30 feet and 3 inches in the shot put led the team.

WACO

WACO collected 58 points as the 4×100 meter shuttle hurdle relay team of Ally Rinner, Brenna Graber, Madelyn Farmer, and Zoey Dennler finished as conference champions with a time of 1 minute and 15 seconds.

Winfield-Mt. Union

Winfield-Mt. Union finished with 51 points and two conference champion hurdlers as Josie Nelson won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 17.2 seconds and Tessa Huston took the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1 minute and 12 seconds. Quin Smith won the high jump with a leap of 5 feet and 2 inches.

Boys North Division

Columbus has now gone back-to-back after garnering 186 points as Pekin followed behind with 140 points.

Columbus

The Wildcats had two multi-conference champions and six total event wins.

Kaiden Amigon was one of the two multiple winners with a first-place time of 11.40 seconds in the 100-meter dash and a winning time of 23.4 seconds in the 200-meter dash. Lamar Ceant jumped to a win in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.69 seconds.

The team of Juan Chairez, Riley Kaalberg, Ceant, and Amigon won the 4×100 meter relay with a time of 45.31 seconds—just 0.14 seconds faster than WACO.

Russell Coil showed off the muscle and technique, winning the shot put with a heave of 48 feet and 7 inches and the discus with a toss of 136 feet and 8 inches.

Winfield-Mt. Union

Winfield-Mt. Union finished in third place in the North division with 120 points. Ty Scorpil won the 400-meter dash with a time of 51.76 seconds and 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.11 seconds. Kolby Newsom grabbed the gold in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes.

The 800-sprint medley team of Kael Johnson, Eli Miller, Abram Edwards, and Gabriel Hemsworth and the distance medley team of Lane Genkinger, Edwards, Jaxton Jones, and Newsom finished with the win.

Jake Edward leapt 6 feet to take the high jump and Cam Buffington won the long jump with a distance of 20 feet and 11 inches.

WACO

The Warriors earned 67.5 points to finish in fifth place. Chase Waterhouse with a toss of 135 feet and 1 inch in the discus and Louden Huisenga in the high jump with a leap of 5 feet and 10 inches each grabbed second place.

Upcoming Meets

Danville, New London, WACO, Columbus, and Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to Sigourney for their state qualifying meet, while Mediapolis, West Burlington, Van Buren County, and Central Lee will head west to Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont for their meet on May 9th.

Free Mental Health Assistance for Farmers in Iowa

Affordability and accessibility are the top barriers for farmers seeking mental health services, per an American Farm Bureau Federation survey. During May Mental Health Awareness Month, the Iowa Farm Bureau wants to remind farmers support is readily available—and at no cost—through Personal Assistance Services (PAS).

This service provides farm families with personalized, ongoing counseling. It is facilitated by rural mental health clinicians, many of whom have a farming background or understand the unique challenges farming communities face. They offer tailored support for stress, anxiety, sleep issues, substance abuse and more.

“We put so much energy into our farms that sometimes we can neglect our own well-being,” says Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson. “While farming is a calling and a significant part of our life, you—as a friend, spouse, parent, neighbor, community member and volunteer— are irreplaceable, and your health deserves to be prioritized. We feel strongly about mental health for farm families, which is why we provided financial assistance to a farm-focused mental health program in 2020 that has now expanded nationwide.”

Additionally, Iowa Farm Bureau has compiled a comprehensive list of mental health services, Iowa-based resources and suicide prevention hotlines that assist all Iowans in their pursuit of wellness. For more information, visit iowafarmbureau.com/farmstress.

Burlington Police Department Needs Your Help: Gunshot Through a Window

The Burlington Police Department investigates every report of the sound of gunfire. We need community members to help by providing any information they might have related to the incident. Many times, officers are unable to locate evidence or witnesses to help determine the exact location the gunfire originated from. In the following case, evidence of a shooting was located, and arrests are anticipated.

At approximately 9:32 pm on May 2, 2024, Burlington Police Officers responded to a call of shots fired in the 1400-block of Spray. Upon officer’s arrival, they located a residence nearby that had a single gunshot through a window. No injuries were reported. This investigation is ongoing and arrests are anticipated. If you have any information about this incident, please call DESCOM at 319-671-7001, or to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 319-753-6835. If your information leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward.

2024 Small Business of the Year: Triple Seven Trucking

After a weeklong celebration of five finalists for the 2024 Small Business of the Year in Mount Pleasant, the winner was announced Friday morning.

Congratulations to your 2024 Small Business of the Year, Triple Seven Trucking! During the breakfast, Blaire Barton (owner) spoke about being honored to even be a finalist. Triple Seven Trucking acquired a new building a few short years ago, and it is built on ground that his grandfather owned when he was a baby.

Guest speaker, Craig Smith (CEO of Sterzing Food Company) talked about change, which is something that every business must face. He joined Paul and Kadie for a special episode of generation gap, which is available on KILJ.com and on KILJ Spotify page, where nearly every finalist spoke as well.

It is important to celebrate small businesses, and to congratulate those who work extra hard to make this town a better place. Congratulations to all of the finalists, From the Heart Flowers and Gifts, Sa3m Sao Market, Orthodontic Associates of Iowa, and Southeast Iowa Realty!

Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk on Cinco de Mayo Weekend

Cinco de Mayo is on Sunday and that means people will be celebrating all weekend long.  It’s a day to enjoy Mexican culture with themed food and drink. GTSB is partnering with law enforcement to spread the message, “Designate Before You Celebrate”.

If you’re going to indulge in alcohol on May 5, plan a sober driver or use a ride share service.

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated a number of ways – whether you are just meeting a few friends after work or attending a Cinco de Mayo party, think before you drink and plan a safe ride home.

  • Designate a sober driver
  • Use a rideshare app or taxi
  • Take public transportation
  • Stay the night at your location

Remember on Cinco de Mayo, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.

May your celebration be a colorful, festive and safe.

Two Vehicle Accident on 218 Yesterday Afternoon

Around 3:11pm yesterday a motor vehicle accident occurred at mile marker 46 in the 2100 block of highway 218. According to reports, it was a two vehicle accident with one of those vehicles entering into the trees. Responding to this was the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Mt. Pleasant Police Department, Henry County Health Center, and Mt. Pleasant Fire and Rescue.

Sports, May 3rd

High School Track and Field

The Southeast Conference meet ran yesterday and the Washington boys’ team continued their dominance and won with 143 points, while the Washington girls’ team usurped Mt. Pleasant to take the title with 173 points. 

On the boys’ side, Fort Madison took second with 138 points followed by Burlington with 96 points. The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team finished with 42 points as Franklin Tousignant’s second place finish in the discus with a heave of 128 feet and 3 inches led the Panthers. 

On the girls’ side, Mt. Pleasant finished in second with 125 points and five conference champions. Alex Scott won the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.79 seconds. The 4×100, 4×200, and 800 medley relay teams grabbed the gold and Bailey Jalas took the long jump with a leap of 16 feet and 2.75 inches. 

Mt. Pleasant will host the state qualifying meet on Thursday, May 9th, with Washington, Keokuk, Fort Madison, and Fairfield making the trip.

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference meet had a couple repeat champions and a school sweep as the girls champion of the North Division was Pekin was 165 points and the champion of the south division was Mediapolis with 148 points, just four more than West Burlington.

Focusing on the girls’ North division, WACO collected 58 points as the 4×100 meter shuttle hurdle relay team of Ally Rinner, Brenna Graber, Madelyn Farmer, and Zoey Dennler finished as conference champions with a time of 1 minute and 15 seconds. 

Winfield-Mt. Union finished with 51 points and two conference champion hurdlers as Josie Nelson won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 17.2 seconds and Tessa Huston took the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1 minute and 12 seconds. Quin Smith won the high jump with a leap of 5 feet and 2 inches. 

On the South side, Mediapolis’ Bryn Wright ran the 1500-meter in 5 minutes and 21 seconds to win the event. Kendall VanWinkle won the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1 minute and 14 seconds. The Bulldogs rattled off wins in the 4×100, 4×200, and 4×400 meter relays. Avery Crear leapt to first place finish in the high jump with a height of 4 feet and 8 inches. 

West Burlington’s Ady Lamm grabbed first place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.57 seconds. Kaitlyn Kipp paced herself to a win in the 3000-meter run with a time of 11 minutes and 37 seconds. The 4×800 meter relay team grabbed the victory and Nadiya Jones won gold in the shot put with a heave of 32 feet and 1.5 inches. 

Danville took third place with 110 points and four conference champions. Jaeda Molle won the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.17 seconds. Miya Orbiana raced to a time of 1 minute and 4 seconds in the 400-meter dash. The 800 sprint medley team won by seven seconds and Kenna Furnald took the long jump with a leap of 15 feet and 9 inches. 

Van Buren County finished with 94.5 points, Central Lee 63.5 points, and New London grabbed 12 points. For the Warriors, Kayley Snowgren won the 800-meter run. Marlee Mertens took the 100-meter hurdles. The distance medley and 4×100 meter shuttle hurdle team each took home first place. The Hawks had a conference champion in Aubrey Weber in the discus with a throw of 93 feet. 

On the boys side we had two repeat champions, Columbus won the North division with 186 points and Mediapolis nearly won by 100 points in the South division with 190 points. 

Winfield-Mt. Union finished in third place in the North division with 120 points. Ty Scorpil won the 400-meter dash with a time of 51.76 seconds and 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.11 seconds. Kolby Newsom grabbed the gold in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes. The 800 sprint medley and distance medley teams finished with the win. Jake Edward leapt 6 feet to take the high jump and Cam Buffington won the long jump with a distance of 20 feet and 11 inches. 

WACO earned 67.5 points to finish in fifth place. Chase Waterhouse in the discus and Louden Huisenga in the high jump each grabbed second place.

For the South division, Mediapolis won 11 events. Solomon Zaugg won two events with first place finishes in the 1600 and 3200-meter runs. Nathan Schmidgall claimed the gold in the 400-meter dash and Logan Rosas won the 800-meter run. Grady Gunn hopped his way to a first place finish in the 110-meter hurdles. The Bulldogs won the 4×200, 4×400, 4×800, 4×110 meter shuttle hurdle, and distance medley relays. Lastly, Gavin Hallgren heaved the shot 42 feet and 4.5 inches to finish as the conference champion in the shot put.

Van Buren County finished in second place with 94 points followed by Danville (79 points), West Burlington (76 points), Central Lee (70 points), and New London (55 points). 

For the Warriors, Tyler Stoltz won the high jump and Cameron Stoltz took the discus. Danville’s Ayden Doyle grabbed gold in the 200-meter dash and the 4×100 meter relay team won with a time of 44.52 seconds. The Falcons had Landry Haberichter win the 100-meter dash, Logan Hamma took the 400-meter hurdles, and the 800 sprint medley team won with a time of 1 minute and 40 seconds. For the Tigers, London Franklin was the conference champ for the long jump with a leap of 21 feet and 6 inches. 

Danville, New London, WACO, Columbus, and Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to Sigourney for their state qualifying meet, while Mediapolis, West Burlington, Van Buren County, and Central Lee will head west to Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont for their meet on May 9th.

High School Soccer

Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to Wapello next Monday, May 6th, with the girls playing first at 5 pm.

The WACO boys’ team will host Danville tonight at 5 pm.

The Central Lee girls’ team had their game against Mid-Prairie canceled last night due to weather. The boys’ team will host Keokuk tonight at 7 pm and the girls’ team will take on Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union on Tuesday, May 7th, at home.

The Mediapolis girls’ team will take on Canton on May 6th. The boys’ team will wait for the Southeast Iowa Super Conference tournament on Tuesday. 

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team fell to Burlington last night 4-2. Axel Noriega Ruiz scored both goals for the Panthers with Dylan White assisting on both plays. The girls’ team also lost to the Grayhounds last night 4-2. The Panthers will face off against Fort Madison on Monday with the boys’ team celebrating senior night at home and the girls’ team hitting the road. 

High School Tennis

Mt. Pleasant will compete on Monday, May 6th, in Fairfield with the girls’ team participating in the regionals and the boys’ playing in their district matches.

High School Golf

New London will host Danville, Holy Trinity Catholic, Winfield-Mt. Union, and WACO for their district meet. Central Lee, Van Buren County, and Mediapolis will take a trip to Mid-Prairie for districts on Tuesday, May 7th. 

The SEISC girls’ teams will participate in their conference meet on Monday, May 6th. 

The SEC boys’ teams will meet up on May 8th at Mt. Pleasant for sectionals with Albia, West Burlington/Notre Dame, and Mt. Vernon also competing.

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will compete in their SEC meet on May 8th. 

The Central Lee boys’ team will host a meet tomorrow, May 4th, with Van Buren County, Holy Trinity Catholic, and Burlington Notre Dame also making the trip. 

WACO will host Hillcrest Academy today.

Southeastern Community College

SCC baseball will travel to Indian Hills Community College today in a doubleheader.

SCC softball will host Indian Hills today in the semifinals of the ICCAC tournament. The winner will advance to the championship game to face off against #1 Iowa Western. 

This Day in Sports History

1910 – Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States is renamed the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

1936 – New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio makes his major-league debut, gets 3 hits.

2023 – MLB Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani joins New York Yankee legend Babe Ruth as only pitcher to strike out 500 batters and hit over 100 career home runs in 6-4 win over the Cardinals in St. Louis.