Sports, January 2nd

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, January 2nd, 2025 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Basketball

Mt. Pleasant will square off against Keokuk tomorrow, January 3rd, at home with the girls’ tipping off the night at 6 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 5:45 pm. 

Fairfield will take on Burlington at home tomorrow with game one at 6 pm.

Burlington Notre Dame will travel to Danville tomorrow with the boys’ leading off the night at 6 pm.

Mediapolis will host Central Lee tomorrow with the girls’ teams playing at 6 pm.

West Burlington will square off against Van Buren County tomorrow in a road matchup with the boys following the girls’ game at 7:30 pm. 

New London will take on Holy Trinity Catholic at home tomorrow with game one at 6 pm. 

Winfield-Mt. Union is in the middle of a three-game homestand with a game against Wapello slated to start at 6 pm tomorrow.

Columbus will face off against Pekin on the road with the night starting at 6 pm tonight. 

WACO will compete tomorrow with the girls’ tipping off the night at 6 pm at home against Columbus. 

High School Wrestling

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union and Mediapolis boys’ teams will participate in the Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont tournament on Saturday, January 4th.  

The Burlington Notre Dame boys’ team will host an invitational tonight with New London in attendance. 

The Van Buren County boys’ team will compete at the Ottumwa Invitational on January 11th. 

The WACO girls’ and boys’ teams will compete in a dual tournament on Saturday at BGM. 

Fairfield will host a quad on January 7th with Wapello making the trip. 

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will travel to Highland for the Gary Curtis Invitational on January 11th. 

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will compete in the Megan Black Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Invitational tomorrow, January 3rd. 

The Mt. Pleasant, Fairfield, Van Buren County, and Mediapolis girls’ teams will participate in the Keokuk Invite on Saturday. 

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant will host Washington on January 9th. 

Southeastern Community College

The #20 men’s basketball team will take on Western Iowa Tech at home on January 8th with tip-off scheduled for 7 pm. 

College Basketball

The #3 Iowa State men’s team will face off against #25 Baylor in a home matchup on Saturday, January 4th. 

The Iowa men’s team will compete against Wisconsin tomorrow, January 3rd, at 6 pm on the road. 

The #23 Iowa women’s team’s fourth quarter defense sealed the 80-68 win over Penn State yesterday. Taylor McCabe banged five three-pointers from off the bench to lead the team with 17 points as Hannah Stuelke finished with a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The Hawkeyes will face off against Maryland on Sunday, January 5th, at home with game time at 5 pm. 

The Iowa State women’s team ran away with a 78-64 victory over Kansas yesterday for their first Big 12 victory of the season. Audi Crooks was a force in the contest with 33 points, while Addy Brown collected a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Cyclones will stay at home to take on Utah on Sunday at 6:30 pm. 

This Day in Sports History

1922 – 8th Rose Bowl: California ties Washington and Jefferson, 0-0. The first of three ties in the history of the Rose Bowl. 

1966 – National Football League Championship, Lambeau Field, Green Bay: the Green Bay Packers beat the Cleveland Browns, 23-12; first NFL title game televised in color; last one played before Super Bowl era. 

1982 – “The Epic in Miami” The San Diego Chargers defeat the Miami Dolphins 41-38 in overtime in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game, a game that set numerous playoff scoring records along with the then-highest-scoring playoff game in NFL history.

David T. Ford,

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, January 2nd, 2025 at 5:38 am CDT

David T. Ford, 68, of Rome passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home on Saturday, December 28, 2024.

David was born on August 14, 1956, in Mt. Pleasant the son of Leonard and Doris Jean (Kerfus) Ford, Sr.   He was raised by his mother Doris and his stepfather Lee Welcher.  David will be remembered as a caring and loving son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. Those that knew David loved him. He was the kind of person that would give you his last dollar if you were in need.

Those thankful for sharing in his life include his partner in life, Tim Dameron, his sister, Janice Carpenter, his brother, Randy (Sara) Welcher, his sister-in-law, Ann Ford and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews.

 He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Lee Welcher, his mother Doris Welcher, his sister, Shirley McDonald and brother, Leonard Ford, Jr.

No services are planned at this time.  A celebration of David’s life will be held at a later time.  Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant.

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

Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, is caring for his arrangements.

Mt. Pleasant Notices

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 at 6:39 am CDT

Lance Refuse and Wemega Waste garbage collection schedule for this week:  today’s  (1/1/25) pickup will be on Thursday, 1/2/25 and Thursday’s garbage collection is moved for pick up on Friday, 1/3/25.

Mt. Pleasant Public Works crews will pick up Christmas trees next week, January 6-10.  Set your tree by the curb (remove all plastic, decorations, tinsel) on Monday and it will be picked up by the end of the week (weather permitting).

AAA Weekly Fuel Report

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 at 6:34 am CDT

Triple A reports the price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 1 cent this week.

  • As of Tuesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.76 across Iowa according to AAA.
    • Prices fell 1 cent from last week’s price and are down 5 cents from a year ago.
  • Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 1 cent this week with a statewide average of $3.28.
    • One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.68 in Iowa.
    • The current Iowa diesel price is 23 cents lower than the national average of $3.51.

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.

 

Sports, January 1st

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Basketball

Mt. Pleasant will square off against Keokuk on Friday, January 3rd, at home with the girls’ tipping off the night at 6 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 5:45 pm. Boys’ head coach Eric Rawson talked about the upcoming conference showdown,

“Keokuk, obviously, you know, Clark is a big kid. And he’s getting a lot of attention from mid-majors and Big 10 schools, and you know, he’s a handful. So, you know, we’ll be ready absolutely. And you know, looking forward to it.”

Fairfield will take on Burlington at home on Friday with game one at 6 pm.

Burlington Notre Dame will travel to Danville on Friday with the boys’ leading off the night at 6 pm.

Mediapolis will host Central Lee on Friday with the girls’ teams playing at 6 pm.

West Burlington will square off against Van Buren County on Friday in a road matchup with the boys following the girls’ game at 7:30 pm. 

New London will take on Holy Trinity Catholic at home on Friday with game one at 6 pm. 

Winfield-Mt. Union is in the middle of a three-game homestand with a game against Wapello slated to start at 6 pm on Friday.

Columbus will face off against Pekin on the road with the night starting at 6 pm tomorrow, January 2nd. 

WACO will compete on Friday with the girls’ tipping off the night at 6 pm at home against Columbus. 

High School Wrestling

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union and Mediapolis boys’ teams will participate in the Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont tournament on Saturday, January 4th.  

The Burlington Notre Dame boys’ team will host an invitational tomorrow, January 2nd, with New London in attendance. 

The Van Buren County boys’ team will compete at the Ottumwa Invitational on January 11th. 

WACO will compete in a dual tournament on Saturday at BGM. 

Fairfield will host a quad on January 7th with Wapello making the trip. 

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will travel to Highland for the Gary Curtis Invitational on January 11th. 

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will compete in the Megan Black Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Invitational on Friday, January 3rd. 

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant will host Washington on January 9th. 

Southeastern Community College

The #20 men’s basketball team will take on Western Iowa Tech at home on January 8th with tip-off scheduled for 7 pm. 

College Basketball

The #3 Iowa State men’s team will face off against #25 Baylor in a home matchup on Saturday, January 4th. 

The Iowa men’s team will compete against Wisconsin on Friday, January 3rd, at 6 pm on the road. 

The #23 Iowa women’s team will travel to Penn State today at noon.

The Iowa State women’s team will face off against Kansas today at home at 2 pm.  

This Day in Sports History

1902 – First Rose Bowl played at Tournament Park in Pasadena, California: Michigan beats Stanford, 49-0; MVP: Neil Snow, Michigan, FB. 

1935 – First Orange Bowl: Bucknell beats Miami (FL), 26-0.

1969 – Jack Kent Cooke, owner of NHL’s LA Kings, fines each player $100 for “not” arguing with the referee.

Area Meetings Scheduled

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 at 5:34 am CDT

The Henry County Board of Supervisors will meet on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at 9am.  The meeting is held at the Board of Supervisors Office in the Henry County Courthouse and is open to the public.

 

The City of Wayland City Council will meet in regular session on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 7:30pm.  The meeting will be held in Wayland City Hall, 218 W. Main Street. And is open to the public.

 

The New London Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 1:00pm.  The meeting is being held at the New London City Office and is open to the public.

Board of Supervisor Chairman Greg Moeller Adjourns His Last Supervisors Meeting For Henry County

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 at 10:19 am CDT

 

Henry county board of supervisors held their last supervisors meeting of 2024. Board of Supervisor Chairman, Greg Moeller attended his last meeting as he retires from his Chairman seat.

Judge Wyatt Peterson was present to do the honors in swearing in the returning & newly elected Henry county officials.

 

Sworn in as 2025 Henry county officials:

Chad White – Vice Chairman Henry County Board of Supervisors
Rich McNamee – Henry County Sheriff
Robin Detrick – Henry County Auditor
Steve Detrick – Henry county Board of Supervisors

 

Former Chairman Greg Moeller spoke to KILJ about his time as a county Supervisor.

Before Greg Adjourned his final meeting, He put into motion to nominate Marc Lindeen as new Henry County Chairman, The board of supervisors unanimously approved the motion. Greg finished up by saying he plans to travel with his wife and visit his children who live outside of Iowa

The next Henry County board of supervisors meeting will be January 9th at 9am.

Former Mount Pleasant Mayor Tom Vilsack To Exit His Role as U.S. Agriculture Secretary

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, December 31st, 2024 at 7:58 am CDT

Former Mount Pleasant Mayor & Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack will exit from his role as U.S. Agriculture Secretary in three weeks with the second-longest tenure as the nation’s top ag official. Tom grew up on the east coast and, after graduating from law school, Vilsack moved to his wife’s hometown of Mount Pleasant.

Vilsack was elected as the town’s mayor, then as a state senator before he won two terms as Iowa’s governor. Serving as Secretary of Agriculture during the Obama Administration and President Biden asked him to return to the role four years ago.

Tom said during an interview with Radio Iowa.. “It’s been a tremendous honor and privilege to have had nearly 12 years as the secretary of agriculture. It is an extension of work actually that began in a small town in southeast Iowa as a small town lawyer representing farmers during the Farm Crisis. It really sort of gave me a direction to my life which has ultimately ended up with me in this office.”

Former Mount Pleasant Mayor & Iowa Governor Vilsack, who turned 74 on December 13, is not planning to retire. Instead, he Hopes he can figure out ways to continue his contributions to Iowa Agriculture for its future.