Prep Track and Field- The Iowa Track Coaches Association (IATC) Hall of Fame just added some Maroon and Gold as Dave Hutchcroft was officially inducted over the weekend.
(Picture Courtesy of Mitch Anderson)
Coach Hutchcroft led the Mt. Pleasant girls’ track and field program for 22 years and success followed. He coached 17 individual and six relay state champions, 48 individuals and 40 relay medalists, and an overall count of 228 state qualifying events.
The Panthers grabbed three state team titles, collected two runner-up finishes and went top five in five other trips. Additionally, Mt. Pleasant made its mark at the Drake Relays with 106 total events qualified with 37 top 8 finishes and two golds.
In personal hardware, Hutchcroft was named IATC Regional Coach of the Year six times and State Coach of the Year twice before retiring in 2015 after 44 years of coaching. Nevertheless, you can still see him volunteer his time with the middle school girls’ track team.
This will only add to his resume as he was also inducted to the Iowa Girls Coaching Association Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004 after amassing 482 career wins.
Please be advised that an Organizational Meeting for the Mt. Pleasant CSD Board of Directors is scheduled for Monday, December 9, at 6:00 PM, in the High School Media Center. The Agenda is attached to this email. You may also view the Agenda and supporting documents by going to the district website: www.mtpcsd.org, to the “Board” tab, then to “Agenda and Minutes”. You can then click on Meetings (on the right side), then to Meetings Listing.
Fort Madison, IA- As college coaches look to fill out their recruiting class, Coe College’s Division-III softball program added a Crusader to their ranks as Emily Ross of Holy Trinity Catholic signed her National Letter of Intent Monday morning.
She admitted the proximity of Coe College—located in Cedar Rapids—was an important factor in her decision amongst other things,
“I’ve really enjoyed the coaches they are very nice and then also the girls are all very nice as well and just the atmosphere at Coe like where it is, where it’s located, everything like that was just perfect for me.”
Ross destroyed the ball in her first action at the varsity level last season. The junior finished the year with a top five slash line in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference South, going for a 0.519 batting average (3rd)/0.581 on-base percentage (3rd)/0.815 slugging percentage (5th).
Crusader head coach Loren Menke discussed how important she has been to her squad,
“What she means for our program, she means pretty much everything. She’s a great softball player. Beyond that, she’s a great person and she’s a great leader and the kids just look up to her and. It’s like having a second coach. Just she’s outstanding. I don’t know. I’ve heard countless kids say how they can’t imagine her not being on the team after this year. They all look up to her so.”
Ross belted two home runs to go along with 10 doubles to lead the team with 19 runs batted in. She was efficient on the base path and the field, stealing eight bases on nine attempts and committing zero errors at first base.
The Crusaders finished the 2024 season with an 8-12 record as the program restarted play in 2019. Ross will look to get some time in the outfield as well this season to supplement her travel ball play with the Iowa Gold out of Des Moines.
For Ross, this was the path she saw herself taking,
“It was always going to be [softball]. I’ve always loved playing softball and I’ve always known that I wanted to go play softball in college. That was a big thing for me.”
She will be studying accounting and business administration as a self-admitted math nerd.
The Kohawks finished with an impressive 34-11 record (12-4 in conference) for the 2024 season, falling to #7 Case Western Reserve University in the NCAA Super Regionals. Coe College ended the year with their second consecutive 30-win season and NCAA Regional Title.
Letha Sher Brown, 55, of Danville, died Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at home. She was born August 23, 1969 in Burlington to David Franklin and Susan Alene Small Brown.
She attended New London Schools. She worked at Motorola/Celestica and then earned a nursing degree at Southeastern Community College and worked as a traveling nurse for several years. Letha enjoyed traveling, reading, doing word puzzles, watching movies, and always had a dog companion. She especially loved her special time with her granddaughter.
Survivors include her son Jonny Salvador of Mediapolis; granddaughter Thea Jordan; her father David (Kathy) Brown of rural Danville; her mother Susan Brown of Florida; and her brother Shannon (Heidi) Brown of Texas. She was preceded in death by her grandparents.
According to her wishes, her body has been cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Lyle Eugene Litton, 77, of Mt. Pleasant, died Friday, December 6, 2024 at New London Specialty Care. He was born July 20, 1947 in Mt. Pleasant to Arthur Burton and Dorothy Agnes Mallams Litton. He attended Pleasant Lawn Grade School and was a 1966 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School.
He farmed and raised livestock on the family farm all of his life. He enjoyed raising a garden and canning the produce; cooking; and watching football games on TV. Lyle loved pies with tons of fruit in them. He was a very good neighbor and took pride in keeping his yard mowed and looking nice. After his father passed, he took care of his mother so she was able to stay on the farm. In his later years he treasured the companionship of his dogs Dozer and Violet. Once or twice a year he enjoyed getting together to visit with his brother and sister in Oskaloosa.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Walter Litton and his wife Darla; and his sister Betty Litton. He is survived by good friends.
According to his wishes, his body has been cremated. Visitation at Elliott Chapel in New London will begin at 10:30 am, Friday, December 13, 2024 with a procession leaving at 11:30 for a graveside inurnment at Glasgow Cemetery, Glasgow, Iowa. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
On 12/09/2024 at 3:45am, Mount Pleasant Police Officers responded to 709 South Main Street for a report of a disturbance between two subjects.
Contact was made with two male subjects identified as 29-year-old Isaiah Sanchez of Mount Pleasant and 21-year-old Mathew Osborn of Mount Pleasant. After an investigation was conducted it was determined that Isaiah and Mathew who reside together, engaged in physical altercation leaving each other with injuries.
Mathew was placed under arrest without incident.
Isaiah resisted with officers after an attempt to be placed under arrest. A taser was deployed on Isaiah and eventually was taken into custody after a continued physical struggle, injuring one officer.
Isaiah was assessed by the Henry County Health Center Emergency Medical Services on scene then transported to the Henry County Jail. Mathew was transported to the Henry County Jail as well.
The injured officer was assessed by HCHC EMS and staff at the HCHC Emergency room for non-life-threatening injuries and was later cleared and released.
Isaiah is being criminally charged with Domestic Abuse Assault 1st Offense (simple misdemeanor, Interference with Official Acts (simple misdemeanor), Interference with Official Acts causing bodily injury (serious misdemeanor)
Mathew is being criminally charged with Domestic Abuse Assault 1st Offense (simple misdemeanor)
The Mount Pleasant Police Department was assisted by the Henry County Sheriffs Office and Henry County Health Center Emergency Medical Services.
A criminal charge is an accusation until proven guilty
In the early morning hours of Saturday December 7th, a hit-and-run collision took place in the 1300 block of High Street.
The at-fault vehicle has been identified as a white 2016 Ford Edge which would have significant damage to the front passenger side.
Keokuk Police Department is asking for assistance in identifying the owner or driver of this vehicle.
If you have any information regarding this event or, see a vehicle matching this description with the aforementioned damage, please contact Keokuk Police Department at 319-524-2741.
