At about 11:15am this morning a widespread power outage was reported throughout Mt. Pleasant and surrounding communities. Mt. Pleasant Utilities is working constantly this Saturday to combat the power outages and they encourage everybody to be prepared for several power outages throughout the ice storms as the ice weighs down the power lines and causes tree limbs to snap on lines. It is causing several power outages through Henry County. Know that Mt. Pleasant Utilities is working through the weather to combat against the power outages as they source through the issues. If you have questions or concerns, please call MPU at 319-385-2121.
Keep Iowa Beautiful Scholarships Available for HS Seniors
Keep Iowa Beautiful is a statewide nonprofit. They are committed to enhancing the image and appearance of the countryside and Iowa communities with the goal of improving economic health and cultural vitality for those communities. Keep Iowa Beautiful has announced scholarships for 2025. Three $1,000 scholarships are awarded to Iowa high school seniors who plan to enroll in an Iowa college or university.
These annual scholarships honor important figures in Keep Iowa Beautiful history who have made significant contributions to Iowa communities.
For more information and to apply online, visit keepiowabeautiful.org/grants. Applications are due Jan. 31.
- The Byers Scholarship — High school seniors who plan to enroll and study environmental science, community development, landscape architecture or architecture (historical emphasis) or community planning and sustainability are eligible to apply. In memory of Bob Byer’s dedication to young people and environmental concerns, KIB and the Byers family established the Byers Environmental Scholarship Fund in 2009.
- The Schnepf Scholarship — High school seniors who have a record of community service and a desire to continue to support and contribute to the enhancement of the place they live and work are eligible to apply. College programs could include community & regional planning and volunteer management. This scholarship honors Gerry Schnepf, founding Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful. His career spanned 50 years of making Iowa a better place to live, work and raise a family.
- The Fultz Scholarship — High school seniors who plan to enroll and study communications, public relations and/or marketing are eligible to apply. This scholarship honors William J. Fultz, a founding KIB board member and artist who started an advertising agency that became the largest agriculture advertising agency in the world.
NL School Board Meeting
Flags at Half-Staff in Honor of Former Congressman Jim Leach
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise this morning until sunset on Sunday, December 15th in honor and remembrance of former Congressman Jim Leach. Leach passed away on Wednesday, December 11th at the age of 82. He served Iowa in Congress for 30 years (1977-2007). Flags will be at half-staff at the State Capitol Building, all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.
“Move Over or Slow Down” Law
Roads in Iowa are slick today. Law Enforcement officials remind motorists to keep Iowa’s Iowa’s “Move Over or Slow Down” law in mind.
It pertains to anybody: emergency vehicles, tow truck operators, garbage trucks, even stranded motorists that have hazard lights flashing on the side of the road.
In the state of Iowa, the “Move Over or Slow Down” law requires drivers to get out of the way of vehicles slowly moving, parked, or stranded on the side of the road.
The move over law states that f you do not have the ability to move over, you must slow down and proceed with caution.
Hometown Care Energy Fund
The Hometown Care Energy Fund provides up to $500 to eligible homes to help with heating and cooling costs during winter months. Alliant Energy operates the program and makes sure donated funds stay local. Funds are distributed within the county from which the donation is received. Alliant Energy designated $2 million to start the donations for the heating season. The company invites its own employees and stakeholders, and all customers to contribute if they can. Donations can be made one-time or with a monthly contribution on their bill.
The donations are typically given to households that qualify for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), individuals over 60 years old who are on a fixed income without alternative funds, and those who are disabled and unable to be economically self-sufficient.
Learn more about the Hometown Care Energy Fund at alliantenergy.com/hometown/care
Sports, December 14th
High School Basketball
WACO split the night against Lone Tree as the girls’ team fell 48-33, while the boys’ team smacked the Lions 66-44. Marie Farmer led the girls’ team with nine points and Isaac Rich and Christian Stacy each collected 20 points in the winning effort last night. The Warriors will face off against Hillcrest Academy on Tuesday, December 17th, with game one at 6 pm.
The Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team had #14 Highland on the ropes, but could not keep up as the Huskies exited the contest with a 48-37 win. The boys’ team got back in the win column in convincing fashion, 74-36. Jake Edwards led the way with 25 points with Lane Genkinger adding 18 points. The Wolves will host Holy Trinity Catholic this afternoon with the girls’ teams tipping-off at 2 pm.
The Holy Trinity Catholic girls’ team has improved to 5-0 after another slugfest victory against West Burlington last night 36-33. In a five-star matchup, the boys’ teams traded blows but it was the Falcons who came out on top 69-58. Quincy Collins scored 21 points for the Falcons, while Luke Hellige tallied 37 points for the Crusaders. West Burlington will travel to Danville on Tuesday with the girls playing first at 6 pm.
The Wapello boys’ and girls’ teams struggled against Hillcrest Academy last night with the girls’ team losing 65-41 and the boys falling 68-28. Wapello will compete against Highland on Tuesday in a road matchup with the first game at 6 pm.
Mediapolis collected a pair of wins against Van Buren County last night with the girls’ team drubbing the Warriors 67-29 as Josie Hutcheson gathered 19 points in the winning effort, while the boys’ team snuck past with a 60-53 win. The Bulldogs will face off against Burlington Notre Dame on Tuesday with the boys following the girls’ game at 7:30 pm.
The Van Buren County boys’ team will take on West Liberty on Monday, December 16th, at 7:30 pm.
The Fairfield girls’ team lost 44-33 to Washington last night, while the boys’ team fell 55-47. The Fairfield girls’ team will play Davis County today at 4:30 pm at home.
New London was not able to keep up with Burlington Notre Dame last night with the girls’ team collapsing 33-14 and the boys’ team losing to the Nikes 77-42. The Tigers will square off against Central Lee on Tuesday with the girls starting off the night at 6 pm.
The Central Lee girls’ team will take on Centerville on the road tonight at 6 pm.
Mt. Pleasant was swept by Fort Madison last night in a road matchup as the girls’ team lost 63-34 and the boys fell 47-37. Abi Shelangowski had 13 points for the Panthers in the girls’ game, while the boys were led by Aiden Humble with 16 points. Mt. Pleasant will host Benton for a Monday night doubleheader with game time scheduled for 5:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 5:15 pm.
Columbus will face off against Winfield-Mt. Union on Tuesday with the girls’ getting the night going at 6.
High School Wrestling
The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union and Burlington Notre Dame boys’ teams will participate in the Colfax-Mingo Dual Tournament today.
The Wapello boys’ team will compete at the Montezuma tournament today.
The New London boys’ team will travel to North Cedar today for an invitational.
The Mediapolis and Mt. Pleasant boys’ teams will compete at Grinnell today for the Tiger Duals.
The WACO and Van Buren County boys’ teams will head to Tri-County for their invitational, while the WACO girls’ will travel to Vinton-Shellsburg for a tournament today.
The Wapello girls’ team will participate in a tournament today at Marion.
The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union, Van Buren County, Mediapolis, and Mt. Pleasant girls’ teams will compete at the Keokuk Invitational today.
High School Bowling
Fairfield will host Mt. Pleasant on Monday, December 16th.
Southeastern Community College
The #10 men’s basketball team started the Highland Tournament with a dominant 73-58 win over Olive-Harvey College last night. The Blackhawks will take on Moberly Area Community College today at 11 am.
College Football
#18 Iowa State will face off against #16 Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl on December 28th at 2:30 pm in Orlando.
Iowa will take on #19 Missouri for the Music City Bowl on December 30th in Nashville at 1:30 pm.
College Basketball
The #3 Iowa State men’s team will host Omaha tomorrow, December 15th, at noon.
The Iowa men’s team will take on New Orleans tomorrow with game time scheduled for 1 pm.
The #21 Iowa women’s team will start conference play tomorrow in a road matchup against #17 Michigan State at 11 am.
The #18 Iowa State women’s team will look to regroup against Eastern Illinois tomorrow at home with tip-off at 6 pm.
This Day in Sports History
1901 – The first table tennis tournament was held at the London Royal Aquarium.
1930 – The New York Giants defeat Notre Dame 22-0 in a charity game.
1947 – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is founded in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Janet Elaine Wehrle
Janet Elaine Wehrle, 84, of Burlington, Iowa, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2024 at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House.
Born on December 31, 1939, in Burlington, Iowa, she was the beloved daughter of Ernest and Vera Conn. Janet graduated from Burlington High School in 1958 and married the love of her life, Dean Wehrle, on July 19 of the same year. They shard a remarkable 66 years of marriage.
Janet worked as a school bus driver for the Burlington School District for 30 years, a role she cherished for the relationships she built with the children, always offering and receiving hugs with joy. Her life revolved around her family and her selfless care for others. She found happiness in spending time with her sister Lucille, gardening, tending her flowers, spending time outdoors, and reading while enjoying a cup of tea. Janet and Dean enjoyed many years of vacations with Dick and Elaine Wehrle and Jim and Jane Bradshaw, as well as leisurely drives through Crapo and Dankwardt parks, and Geode State Park, often ending with a treat from Dairy Queen.
Janet is survived by her devoted husband, Dean Wehrle; her children Dennis (Sally) Wehrle, Scott (Becky) Wehrle, and Gina (Jeff) Crabtree; her grandchildren Cody Wehrle, Cameron (Kaylor) Crabtree, and Karissa Crabtree; and her step-grandchildren TerriAnne Christner, Janice Swailes, and Shelly Stacy, along with 15 step-great-grandchildren and five step-great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Lucille Hogberg; sister-in-law Jane Bradshaw; brother-in-law Randy (Debbie) Wehrle; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Janet was preceded in death by an infant son, her parents, her in-laws Paul and Vera Wehrle, her brothers Ernest Conn and Wilson Conn, her sisters Bonnie Stout and Virginia (Earl) Clingingsmith and her in-laws Richard and Elaine Wehrle, Donna and Art Trimble, Jim Bradshaw and Robert Hogberg.
In accordance with Janet’s wishes, cremation has been entrusted to Lunning Chapel. No visitation or service will be held at this time.
Memorials may be made in Janet’s honor to the Burlington Area YMCA and Burlington Parks Endowment Fund. Contributions can be dropped off or sent to: Lunning Chapel, 2620 Mt. Pleasant Street, Burlington, Iowa 52601