Mount Pleasant Man Arrested after Public Intoxication

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 at 7:05 am CDT

A Mount Pleasant man was arrested early Sunday after police say he was intoxicated in the roadway.

According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department, at approximately 2:09 a.m., an officer on patrol observed a man stumbling in the middle of the 300 block of South White Street.

Police made contact with the individual, identified as 48-year-old Manuel Alvaro Urizar Perez. Officers reported a strong odor of alcohol, along with bloodshot, watery eyes and unsteady balance. The man admitted to drinking.

At the jail, authorities attempted to administer a breath test using a Datamaster unit, but due to technical issues, a preliminary breath test was conducted instead. The result showed a breath alcohol concentration of .263.

Urizar Perez was taken into custody following the incident. Charges are pending.

Chicago Man Facing Charges After Incident in Mount Pleasant Saturday Night

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 at 7:03 am CDT

A Chicago man is facing charges after an incident late Saturday night in Mount Pleasant.

According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department, officers were called to a home in the 400 block of West Park Avenue around 10:32 p.m. on April 4th after a homeowner reported an unknown man sitting on the front porch.

When officers arrived, they found 29-year-old Jesus Alfonzo Castellanos Perez at the residence. The homeowner told police he did not know the man.

An investigation determined the suspect had been at a local tavern earlier in the evening and left on foot, attempting to walk home. However, police say he became disoriented and was unable to find his residence.

Officers reported a strong odor of alcohol and observed that the man had red, watery eyes. He admitted to drinking, and a preliminary breath test showed a blood alcohol content of .253 percent—more than three times the legal limit.

Castellanos Perez was taken into custody following the incident.

Sports, April 7th

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 at 6:43 am CDT

High School Track and Field

Mt. Pleasant and Washington’s trip to the Williamsburg Co-Ed Invitational has been canceled for today.

Mediapolis has canceled the track meet scheduled for today due to the weather.

The WACO Relays have been canceled for tonight due to the forecasted weather. The meet will be made up on April 13th.

The Fairfield girls’ and boys’ teams had their meets today canceled. 

High School Soccer

Mt. Pleasant traveled to Muscatine last night to face off against Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union and finished the night 0-1-1, as the girls’ team lost 7-1 and the Wildcats scored a late goal in the boys’ game to even it up at 2. Iris Garza netted a hat trick, while the Panther boys’ team had Dylan White and Brandon Veloz each grab a goal.

Mt. Pleasant will take on Keokuk on Thursday, April 9th, with the girls’ playing at home at 4:30 pm and the boys’ traveling to start at 5 pm.

Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union will hit the road to take on Mid-Prairie on Thursday with game one at 5 pm.

Burlington Notre Dame split their night against Burlington with the girls’ team losing 5-0 and the boys’ team’s second half surge leading to a 4-1 victory. The boys’ team will take on Keokuk tonight at 5 pm, while the girls’ team will host Monmouth-Roseville on Friday, April 10th, at 5 pm.

The Central Lee girls’ team started the year with an 8-1 loss to Keokuk, while the boys’ team throttled the Chiefs, 11-1. Evelyn Adkins had the lone goal for the girls’ team, while Peter Seyb found the back of the net five times with Colton Taft nabbing a hat trick in the boys’ contest. 

Central Lee will face off against Centerville tonight with the girls’ team leading off the night at 5:30 pm.

Fairfield will start conference play against Burlington on Thursday with the boys’ team at home and the girls’ team on the road at 5 pm.

The Danville boys’ team lost to Cedar Rapids Washington last night, 8-0.

The Washington girls’ team fell to Oskaloosa last night, 4-0. The Demons will compete against Fort Madison on Thursday at 5 pm, while the boys’ team will host Hillcrest Academy tonight at 5 pm.

Wapello will take on Cedar Valley Christian tonight at home with the girls leading off the night at 5 pm.

The Mediapolis girls’ team will hit the road to play Tipton tonight at 5 pm, while the boys’ team will host Danville on Thursday at 7 pm.

High School Golf

The Southeast Conference boys’ teams met up at Fairfield for the first conference meet of the year and Washington paced the field with a team score of 153 followed by Fairfield with a 164 and Mt. Pleasant shortly behind at 166.

Rajan Roth’s card of 36 on a par-35 led the Demons followed by Kaleb Orr with a round of 38. Brody Engle of Mt. Pleasant snatched the silver medal, as he carded a 38. Andrew Myers, Archer Kreuter, and Luke Thornton each posted a round of 40 for the Trojans, which tied for 6th.  

The Washington girls’ team hosted their first conference meet of the season and Fairfield took the top spot with the team shooting 66-over par followed by Mt. Pleasant taking the silver (+70) and the hosts nabbing 4th place.

Mt. Pleasant’s Sophia Walderbach and Keokuk’s Carrigan Morris tied for the best score of the day at 12-over. Ellanor Bentler and Vanessa Kessel of Fairfield and Washington’s Adalyn Long each claimed 3rd place with a score of 13-over par. 

The SEC will meet back up on Thursday, April 9th, with the boys’ teams heading to Fort Madison and the girls’ teams playing at Fairfield.

Holy Trinity Catholic and Burlington Notre Dame’s meet today has been postponed. A makeup date will be determined later. 

Wapello will host Louisa-Muscatine today.

Mediapolis versus Danville has been canceled for today.

Columbus will take on Hillcrest Academy at home today.

Van Buren County and Central Lee had their meet canceled for tonight.

WACO had their match against Lone Tree scheduled for today postponed due to the weather. They will face off on May 4th.

The Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will host WACO on Thursday.

The Winfield-Mt. Union and New London boys’ teams will attend the Wapello Invite tomorrow, April 8th. 

High School Boys’ Tennis

Mt. Pleasant will take on Keokuk for their home opener tonight.

Fairfield will host Burlington for their first match of the season on Thursday, April 9th.

Southeastern Community College

The baseball team held on to beat Heartland Community College yesterday, 7-6. Gavin Awbrey clobbered a home run and tallied three RBIs. The Blackhawks will travel to Marshalltown Community College tomorrow, April 8th, for a doubleheader.

The softball team will face off against Indian Hills Community College tomorrow in a road doubleheader.

March Madness

The KILJ bracket challenge, sponsored by The Press Box, is officially in the books and Sharon Menke is our 2026 winner with Matt Donnolly taking 2nd place and Mat Wilson finishing in 3rd place!

Michigan claimed their second title in their program’s history last night and the first for the Big Ten since 2000 in a 69-63 victory over UConn. Elliot Cadeau’s 19 points led to him being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

College Baseball and Softball

The Iowa baseball team will travel to USC on Friday, April 10th, with first pitch at 9 pm.

The Iowa softball team will get ready for Iowa State tomorrow, April 8th, at home at 5 pm.

The Iowa State softball team rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the 7th inning, including a three-run walk-off home run for Reggan Bartholomew to down #14 Arizona yesterday, 12-10. 

This Day in Sports History

1943 – The NFL adopted the free substitution rule; helmets are made mandatory and a 10-game schedule for all teams was approved.

1958 – The Dodgers erect a 42-foot screen in left field at the LA Coliseum to cut down on home runs, since it is only 250 feet down the left field line.

1969 – Dodgers’ Bill Singer was credited with the first official save against the Cincinnati Reds.

Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report March 30 – April 5, 2026

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 at 6:03 am CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (Apr. 6, 2026) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.  

“As I travel the state, farmers confirm that they’re feeling the pressure from the tough ag economy, with high input costs and low commodity prices. Despite these challenges, spring represents a time of hope, optimism, and the potential for a productive season ahead,” said Secretary Naig. “Widespread rain and thunderstorms brought much-needed moisture as we wrapped up Iowa Ag Week and headed into the first week of April. Rain chances are expected to continue through the first half of April, which may delay fieldwork for some but will help replenish soil moisture after a particularly warm and dry winter.”   

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at https://www.nass.usda.gov/.   

Crop Report
There were 2.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 5, 2026, which is 0.4 days less than last year. Corn and soybean planting in Iowa reached 0% complete for the week ending April 5, 2026, which is unchanged from last year. Topsoil moisture conditions across Iowa were rated 4 percent very short, 19 percent short, 63 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus for the week ending April 5, 2026.

Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

The first reporting period of the season was unseasonably warm and wet as an active storm track brought several rounds of showers and thunderstorms, some severe, across Iowa. Temperatures were generally several degrees above average with the warmest conditions over southern Iowa; the statewide average temperature was 48.0 degrees, 4.4 degrees above normal.

Gusty southerly winds helped boost Sunday (29th) afternoon highs into the upper 60s and low 70s with generally clear conditions. Overnight lows at sunrise on Monday (30th) held in the upper 30s northwest to mid 50s southeast. Daytime conditions were well above average with temperatures from the mid 80s to low 90s with blustery winds out of the south; the statewide average temperature was 84 degrees, 30 degrees above normal. Scattered thunderstorms formed from central to eastern Iowa through the evening hours, bringing locally heavy rain, vivid lightning, and small hail. Cedar Rapids (Linn County) reported 0.71 inch, while 1.52 inches were observed in Dallas Center (Dallas County). Tuesday (31ˢᵗ) morning thunderstorms moved out of eastern Iowa as a cold front passed through the state. Wind speeds increased and shifted to a northerly direction, with afternoon conditions varying from the 50s in the north to the upper 60s in the south under mostly sunny skies. Showers moved into southern Iowa after midnight on Wednesday (1ˢᵗ), followed by a brief lull into the late morning hours. Winds also shifted to an easterly direction as a large-scale low-pressure system approached the state. Moderate rainfall became more widespread through the nighttime hours and overnight, with nearly 120 stations observing at least one inch. The highest totals were found across northwest, central and southeastern Iowa; Le Mars (Plymouth County) collected 1.50 inches, Ames (Story County) recorded 1.87 inches, and Earlville (Delaware County) recorded 1.95 inches; the statewide average was 0.86 inch, over 130% of the normal weekly total. 

Thursday (2nd) was an active severe weather day for portions of southern and eastern Iowa as a warm front became a focusing mechanism for severe thunderstorms. Afternoon temperatures pushed into the low 70s with dew points in the mid 60s, providing enough instability for all modes of severe weather. Three-inch diameter hail was reported in Martinsburg (Keokuk County) along with an EF-1 tornado with winds approaching 105 mph near Welton (Clinton County). Moderate to heavy rainfall was again reported at many stations with the highest totals in north-central, northeast and a swath of southeast Iowa: New Hampton (Chickasaw County) registered 1.01 inches while Wellman (Washington County) observed 1.57 inches; the statewide average was 0.70 inch. Winds swung back to northerly as the cold front crossed Iowa with morning lows on Friday (3rd) near freezing north to the low 40s south. Another low pressure center moved across the Iowa-Missouri border through the day, producing some morning thundershowers and then some stronger storms in the southwest, ahead of the low’s triple-point. Large hail was observed in southwestern Iowa, but the ingredients for a bigger severe weather outbreak did not come together. Thunderstorms streamed into northern and eastern Iowa as another cold front swept through Iowa. Rainfall totals reported at 7:00 am on Saturday (4th) were exceedingly high within a west-central to northern swath with 1.98 inches in Boone (Boone County) to 4.60 inches in Decorah (Winneshiek County); more than 70 stations observed at least an inch. Afternoon conditions were chilly with a brisk westerly wind and highs in the low 40s under cloud cover. Sunday (5th) dawned with most stations in the upper 20s and low 30s. 

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.55 inch in Rock Rapids (Lyon County) to 6.43 inches in Decorah. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 2.31 inches; the normal is 0.65 inch. Clarinda (Page County) reported the week’s high temperature of 91 degrees on the 30th, 33 degrees above normal. Sioux City (Woodbury County) reported the week’s low temperature of 24 degrees on the 30th, six degrees. 

Bomb Threat Note Found During Testing at New London School

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, April 6th, 2026 at 11:51 am CDT

New London School officials say a bomb threat discovered during testing today was quickly investigated and determined not to be credible.

According to Superintendent Chad Wahls, the note was found on the floor of a high school classroom after a group of students had already moved to another testing location.

Administration was immediately notified and took action to keep students and staff safe by securing the group in their current classroom while the situation was assessed.

Officials say the building was not evacuated, as the students from the identified classroom were safely contained and supervised by administrators and law enforcement.

Local law enforcement, along with the school’s resource officer, responded quickly. Within minutes of the note being discovered, a student came forward and admitted to writing it.

The student was detained, questioned, and searched by authorities, and has since been sent home indefinitely pending further review.

School officials say they take all threats seriously and are committed to ensuring student safety. They also thanked students, staff, and local law enforcement for their cooperation.

Superintendent Wahls says the safety and well-being of the school community remains the top priority.

Mount Pleasant Fire Department Pancake Breakfast Draws Strong Support for Safety Upgrades

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, April 6th, 2026 at 11:03 am CDT

The Mount Pleasant Fire Department is celebrating a successful turnout following its annual pancake breakfast, with more than 750 people attending the community event.

Fire officials expressed their appreciation to residents who came out to support the department, noting that the strong participation will have a direct impact on local emergency preparedness and response capabilities.

Proceeds from the breakfast will be reinvested into two key initiatives aimed at improving safety and efficiency. The first focuses on upgrading training equipment, specifically replacing outdated rescue manikins with new adult and junior models. These tools are essential for preparing firefighters and first responders to handle a wide range of emergencies, including vehicle accidents and search-and-rescue operations.

In addition to training improvements, the department is launching a long-term effort to replace its aging emergency response vehicle. Funds raised will help kick off a new “side-by-side” (SXS) fund, intended to purchase a modern utility vehicle equipped for fighting timber and grass fires.

The department’s current vehicle, a 2010 John Deere Gator, is nearing the end of its service life. A new side-by-side with a high-capacity skid unit is estimated to cost around $50,000—an investment officials say is critical for maintaining effective response in rural and off-road conditions.

Fire officials emphasized that this year’s fundraising success marks an important step toward that goal while immediately enhancing training capabilities.

By directing proceeds back into equipment and preparedness, the department says community support is playing a direct role in strengthening public safety across Mount Pleasant.

Salem City Council to Tackle Taxes, Loans, and Community Concerns at April 7 Meeting

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, April 6th, 2026 at 11:01 am CDT

Residents of Salem will have multiple opportunities to weigh in on key financial and community issues during a series of public hearings and the regular city council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the Community Center.

The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with a public hearing on the city’s proposed property tax levy rate, followed immediately by a second hearing concerning a proposal to enter into a General Obligation Corporate Purpose Loan Agreement. Both items are expected to shape the city’s financial outlook for the coming fiscal year.

Following the hearings, the council will move into its regular session, where a range of topics—from nuisance properties to infrastructure updates—will be addressed.

One notable issue on the agenda is a hearing regarding a dog complaint at 104 S. Maple Street, reflecting ongoing concerns about animal control within city limits. Additional animal-related matters include updates on at-large dog issues and enforcement actions tied to previous cases.

Council members will also review ongoing nuisance complaints at several properties, including locations on North Main, North Jefferson, East Oak, and West Liberty streets. These discussions highlight continued efforts to address property maintenance and neighborhood concerns.

Residents are expected to play an active role in the meeting, with two designated public comment periods allowing individuals to speak directly to the council. Among the listed concerns are a noise complaint from a resident and another unspecified complaint awaiting discussion.

Financial and administrative matters will also take center stage. The council plans to discuss employee pay structures, insurance renewal, and updates on water loss and meter issues. In addition, officials will consider a grant opportunity for the fire department and review funding allocations for both the fire department and the public library for fiscal year 2027.

New business includes decisions on multiple resolutions, such as authorizing a loan agreement and issuing general obligation notes, listing a city property for sale, and approving local funding measures. Building permit applications for properties on East Cherry and South Maple streets will also be reviewed.

Other agenda items reflect community-focused initiatives, including planning for the 2026 farmers market and discussion of a potential time capsule project at the city park.

The meeting will conclude with approval of bills and financial reports, followed by a final opportunity for public comment before adjournment.

City officials encourage residents to attend and participate, emphasizing the importance of community input as Salem navigates both routine operations and long-term planning decisions.

KILJ’s 2026 Bracket Challenge Standings with the Championship on the Line Tonight

By Slaten Swords · Monday, April 6th, 2026 at 10:49 am CDT

Mt. Pleasant, IA- The 2026 KILJ Bracket Challenge, sponsored by The Press Box, will wrap up after tonight’s National Championship contest between #1 Michigan and #2 UConn with tip-off slated for 7:50 pm. It has been an arduous climb back for the Wolverines, while Dan Hurley can cement himself as one of the greatest coaches in collegiate history.

An entertaining tournament had a rather anticlimactic semifinal series; yet the matchup for the title is expected to be a thriller.

What Happened

The first Final Four showdown pitted #3 Illinois against #2 UConn. The Fighting Illini had a bit of an easier path, beating #14 Penn and #11 VCU by an average of 28 points before taking down #2 Houston by 10 points and shutting down #9 Iowa’s offense in the second half to beat the Hawkeyes, 71-59.

The Huskies had to claw their way to the Final Four after handling #15 Furman and #7 UCLA by double digits in the first two rounds. UConn then brushed past #3 Michigan State, 67-63, before sprinting back from a near twenty-point deficit in the Elite Eight to knock off #1 Duke, 73-72.

In Indianapolis, the change of venue was causing havoc for both teams on offense as Illinois made just three of their 14 three-point attempts, while UConn drilled only 7-of-17 attempts from deep. Accordingly, the Fighting Illini held the lead for only a total of three minutes and some change, as UConn went on to make 12 threes and Illinois knocked down only 34% of their shots in a 71-62 final.

For Coach Hurley, he has led the Huskies to the National Championship in three of the last four seasons and will be looking for the program’s seventh banner and third since 2023. Tarris Reed Jr. continued to be a force in the pain with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The nightcap between #1 Michigan and #1 Arizona was never close. A 9 to 0 run got the game within five points for the Wildcats with 6:43 remaining in the first half, but Michigan responded by outscoring Arizona 20 to 9 to end out the half and rode that momentum to a 91-73 dismantling.

Two years ago, Michigan had gone just 8-24 and had just hired Dusty May away from Florida Atlantic University after leading the Owls to their just their second NCAA Tournament in program history and first appearance in the Final Four, where they were a buzzer-beater away from advancing to the championship game. Now, May has led the Wolverines to consecutive Sweet 16 appearances, one Big Ten championship, and now has a chance to claim a national championship for the Big Ten for the first time since 2000, when Michigan State took down Florida 89-76. The Wolverines last won the title in 1989.

Of course, the important part of Saturday’s brawls: the bracket challenge. We started the tournament with 60 completed brackets. 35 of those brackets picked Arizona to advance to the Final Four and 28 had Michigan in the Final Four. On the left side of the bracket, UConn was picked to go the Final Four in just six brackets, while Illinois was chosen for five brackets, a meager 8.3%.

To break it down further, no one picked Illinois to play for a championship—great guessing. UConn was selected to advance to the championship game in just two of the brackets—you thought 8.3% was meager try 3.3% for the Huskies. Michigan advanced to nine championship matchups for a generous 15%, while Arizona was selected for the championship game 27 times or 45% of the time with 12 brackets hailing the Wildcats as the winner.

So, Michigan’s win knocked out 43% of the brackets with only one of the brackets picking UConn and Arizona to meet up in the championship contest. Now, seven brackets did pick Michigan to win the national championship and only one bracket correctly selected the championship showdown. That bracket belonging to Mat Wilson is also the only bracket to pick UConn as the national champion.

The Final Four results also ushered in six new names into the top 10 with Andy Krutsinger and Lesa Fitzpatrick being our highest climbers, as both were tied in 52nd place after the first two rounds and now have the chance to finish tied for 5th if the results go their way.

Standings

  1. Mat Wilson: 246 Finals Prediction: UConn (winner) vs Michigan
  2. Jakin Bunnell: 212 Final Score
  3. Sharon Menke: 192 Finals Prediction: Michigan (winner) vs Duke
  4. Matt Donnolly: 182 Finals Prediction: Michigan (winner) vs Duke
  5. Dan Clouer: 180 Finals Prediction: Michigan (winner) vs Houston
  6. Andy Krutsinger: 178 Final Prediction: Michigan (winner) vs Michigan St.
  7. Lesa Fitzpatrick: 178 Final Prediction: Michigan (winner) vs Duke
  8. Joseph Koller: 178 Final Score
  9. Alan Buckert: 176 Final Score
  10. Karen Brimhall, Georgie Alter, and Janel Fedler: 174 Final Score

More

Stay tuned to KILJ for the final standings tomorrow, April 7th.

KILJ’s Bracket Challenge Standings