O. Brien Kelly

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, December 12th, 2024 at 10:16 am CDT

O.Brien Kelly, 71, of Washington, Iowa, died Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at the University of Iowa Hospital.

Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington, Iowa is assisting with arrangements. Cremation has been accorded and graveside services will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be sent for O. Brien’s family at www.jonesfh.com.

O.Brien was born December 31, 1952 in Burlington, Iowa, to Patrick and Loyce (Smoot) Kelly.  He graduated from Mount Pleasant Community High School in 1972.  After some schooling, he worked as a heavy equipment operator and truck mechanic most of his life.  His faith and love of children led him to be a dedicated volunteer in the bus ministry of his church, Marion Avenue Baptist, Washington, Iowa.

O.Brien is survived by sisters Karen (Steven) Brimhall of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Candace (Bruce) Huber of Danville, Iowa, and sister-in-law Julie Kelly (Eddie) Johnson of New London, Iowa, several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Mike, and step-father, Harvey Jeffrey.

Kelly O Brien

Kevin Allen Sinn,

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, December 12th, 2024 at 10:13 am CDT

Kevin Allen Sinn, 67, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at Prestige Care Center in Fairfield.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the family and sent to Kendall Sinn, 1003 W. Spaulding Ave. Fairfield, Iowa 52556. Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield is assisting the family.

Kevin was born November 30, 1957 the son of William and Lilli (Negelan) Sinn. He married Kathryn Rae Mercer, May 29, 1976. She preceded him in death August 20, 2014.

Kevin worked as a truck driver, as well as working for S & S Excavating, Roto Fab, and Hancor in Sebring, Florida. He enjoyed playing pool, golfing in his younger years, motorcycle riding, and building model cars. He loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Those left to honor his memory include his children, Kendra Sinn of Brighton, Kendall (Jamie) Sinn of Fairfield and Angela (Jimmy) Moore of Sebring, Florida; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild; his mother, Lilli Sinn of Burlington; sister, Heidi Voss-Howard of Burlington; and brother, Drew Christiansen of West Columbia, South Carolina.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his father; and brother, Scott.

Online condolences may be made to Kevin’s family by viewing his obituary at www.behnerfh.com.

Sinn Kevin

SEIRPC Want’s Mount Pleasant Residents To Help in Their Comprehensive Safety Action Plan

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, December 12th, 2024 at 7:05 am CDT

The Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission (SEIRPC) is looking for the Mount Pleasant community to provide feedback in their new Comprehensive Safety Action Plan.

The survey will provide the city with details in how people get around in Southeast Iowa, Experiences as a pedestrian, driver, & cyclist.

This Comprehensive Safety Action Plan will also provide insight into what the community would like to see in southeast Iowa.

You can be part of the solution by taking the survey we have linked on our website at KILJ.com. https://bit.ly/SEIRPCSurvey.

Mount Pleasant City Council Approves Speed Limit Change For South Grand Ave

By Hayden Douglas · Thursday, December 12th, 2024 at 6:42 am CDT

The Mount Pleasant City Council Board members had a room full of Mount Pleasant High School Government Relations students present for last nights City Council Meeting. Government Students are required to attend at least one government related meeting and report notes back to class.

Mayor Steve Brimhall joked to the students that they chose to attend the perfect meeting, both due to a short agenda, and one item on the agenda affecting their school zone speed. A third and final reading approved the motion of (8b), Which will lower the speed on South Grand ave.

Mount Pleasant Police Chief, Lyle Murray talked to KILJ about the change.

Also approved was motion (8a), The Four-way intersection at South Grand Ave & Harvest Drive will be changed to a permanent stop sign. This is in efforts to help with safety for those going to and from the high school. The City of Mount Pleasant will announce and post these changes publicly for a set time before changes go into effect.

New Business was also covered in last night’s city hall meeting. The motion was approved to issue a new Class E Retail Alcohol License to Iowa Wine & Spirits at 109 Jefferson Street.

The City’s 5 year Capital Improvement Program with the FAA was approved. This will allow for airport improvements and the City becomes Eligible for FAA funding.

Sports, December 12th

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, December 12th, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Basketball

WACO will face off against Lone Tree at home tomorrow, December 13th, with game one at 6 pm. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will stay at home to take on Highland tomorrow with the girls tipping off the night at 6 pm. 

Wapello will host Hillcrest Academy tomorrow with the girls’ team playing first at 6 pm. 

Van Buren County will compete against Mediapolis tomorrow at 6 pm at home. 

Holy Trinity Catholic will take on West Burlington tomorrow with the girls starting the night at 6 pm. 

New London will take on Burlington Notre Dame at home tomorrow with the girls playing first at 6 pm. 

Fairfield will travel to Washington tomorrow for a doubleheader with the boys playing at 7:30 pm. 

Central Lee will host Danville tomorrow with game one at 6 pm. 

Mt. Pleasant will hit the road to take on Fort Madison tomorrow with the night starting at 6 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 5:45 pm. 

Columbus will face off against Winfield-Mt. Union on Tuesday, December 17th, with the girls’ getting the night going at 6. 

High School Wrestling

Fairfield will face off against Washington tonight at home. 

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will compete in a double dual today at home with Burlington Notre Dame in attendance. 

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will travel to Keokuk tonight.

The New London boys’ team will host a quad with Wapello attending tonight.

The Mediapolis boys’ team will compete at the Tiger Duals on Saturday, December 14th, at Grinnell.

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 on Saturday.

The Wapello girls’ team will participate in a tournament on Saturday at Marion.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union, Van Buren County, Mediapolis, and Mt. Pleasant girls’ teams will compete at the Keokuk Invitational on Saturday. 

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant will take on Keokuk today at home.

Fairfield will host Mt. Pleasant on Monday, December 16th. 

Southeastern Community College

The #11 men’s basketball team will participate in the Highland tournament tomorrow, December 13th. 

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 Iowa men’s team will host #3 Iowa State for the Cy-Hawk Series tonight at 6:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM will have the call.

The #21 Iowa women’s team’s late fourth quarter surge secured a 75-69 win last night over #18 Iowa State in another rendition of the Cy-Hawk series. In a battle of star players, Audi Crooks shined for the Cyclones putting up 31 points and snatching 10 rebounds for a double-double, but it was Lucy Olsen’s 25 points and Hannah Stuelke’s own 13 point-10 rebound double-double effort that lifted the Hawkeyes to their 9th straight win at home against Iowa State. 

Iowa will start conference play on Sunday, December 15th, in a road matchup against #17 Michigan State at 11 am. 

Iowa State will look to regroup against Eastern Illinois on Sunday at home with tip-off at 6 pm. 

This Day in Sports History

1930 – The Baseball Rules Committee greatly revised the rule book; a ball bouncing into the stands is no longer a home run but a double. 

1965 – Chicago halfback Gale Sayers tied the NFL record for most touchdowns in a game with six in a 61–20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at Wrigley Field. 

1968 – Arthur Ashe became the first Black person be ranked #1 in tennis.

Diane M. Coughlin – Pending

By Allison Jacobs · Thursday, December 12th, 2024 at 5:59 am CDT

Diane M. Coughlin, 69, of Mt. Pleasant, died Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com

Burlington Structure Fire

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, December 11th, 2024 at 2:21 pm CDT

Announced on behalf of Robert Berndt, Burlington Fire Marshal – On December 11th, 2024, at 3:27 a.m. the Burlington Fire Department was dispatched for a house fire located at 1111 Hagemann Ave. in Burlington. Burlington firefighters arrived five minutes later and could see flames coming from the roof of the single-story single-family residence.

The residence is owned by David Wiele who was asleep at the time of the incident. Mr. Wiele was awoken by the sound of his smoke alarms and was able to make it out safely with three out of the four cats. The residence was insured at the time of the incident.

Burlington Fire Department was assisted by Alliant Energy and Gas, West Burlington Fire Department, Burlington Police Department, Burlington Waterworks, and the American RedCross.

Fire ground operations were completed, and all crews returned to service at 7:00 a.m.
The fire that occurred at 1111 Hagemann Ave. originated within the attic space near the chimney flue and is probable that the fire was caused by inadequate maintenance.

Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission Full Board Meeting December 12th – Agenda

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, December 11th, 2024 at 2:11 pm CDT

Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission
Full Board
December 12, 2024
Call In: (312) 626-6799 Meeting ID: 892 2327 3112
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89223273112
12:00 PM
211 N. Gear Ave., Suite 100
West Burlington, IA 52655
Meeting Type Full Board
—– Agenda —–
CALL TO ORDER Schleisman
Agenda Approval Board Action
Consent Agenda (Director’s Report, Minutes, Financial Report, Claims,
Correspondence)
Board Action
OLD BUSINESS
1. Department Reports
2. STBG Scoring Review Process
3. Regional Priority Projects Review
4. SEIRPC Bylaws Update
Various
James
James
Norris
Board Information
Board Action
Board Action
Board Action
NEW BUSINESS-
MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR–
ADJOURN-