Ronald D. Coberley, 83, of New London, died Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at Southeast Iowa Regional Health Center following a short illness. A Celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, March 14, 2026 at the Ronald D. Coberley Auditorium at New London High School with Pastor David Mixon officiating. Inurnment will be held at Long Creek Cemetery, rural Danville, immediately following the service. Visitation will begin at noon on Friday at Elliott Chapel where the family will receive friends from 4:00 -7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for New London Dollars for Scholars or Burlington Municipal Band. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Prep Boys’ Basketball: #4 Burlington Notre Dame Advances to Class 1A State Semifinals
Des Moines, IA- It had been 17 years since #4 Burlington Notre Dame had attended the state tournament and the Nikes had not won a game at the state tournament since their program’s first appearance in 1981. 32 minutes later and Notre Dame wiped all those statements away as the Nikes outlasted #5 Bellevue, 68-62, in the Class 1A Quarterfinals.
Notre Dame knew they had to come into the game prepared, which meant pilgrimages to Carver Hawkeye Arena and Drake University to practice shooting in arenas similar to the Casey’s Center, even with a nine-day layover since the substate championship.
For Nike head coach Dan Kies, there was some worry about how his team would handle that time,
“Right, I hope so. You know, it’s a long week in between. You know, you don’t play anybody after substate for so long, so you’re trying to keep things fresh. You’re watching film. You’re working on different things but trying to keep it so it’s not just so monotonous and boring that they lose interest. So, yeah, we can take a breath, enjoy this day, and then get back at it, you know, tomorrow morning.”
Notre Dame responded by going on an 8 to 2 run, which included a three pointer by Payne Prottsman and three free throws from Shay Stephens. That turned out to be just a small taste of what Stephens would deliver the rest of the half.
Still, Bellevue would answer the call by scoring the last four points of the quarter to make it 15 to 11 in favor of the Nikes at the end of the first quarter. The Nikes responded by going on an 11 to 0 run to start the quarter and outscore the Comets 19 to 7 for the second quarter to take a 34 to 18 halftime lead.
Stephens was responsible for 21 of the team’s 34 points as he buried four threes himself. After hitting just three three-pointers against Calamus-Wheatland, Notre Dame buried nine against Bellevue, an aspect of the game coach Kies was happy to see return at state,
“I mean, it’s one of those things. We’ve got Shay, obviously, and then we’ve got Griffin. Payne can knock down threes, Tatum can knock threes down, Kellan can knock down threes, Eli can knock down threes. I don’t think he hit one today, but they’ve all got confidence to shoot it. So, the big thing there is knowing, hey, trust each other. When they’re doubling, Shay, or trying to triple, whatever, find a spot, get open. And he trusts his teammates, you know, so that’s a big thing.”
Despite holding a lead as large as twenty, the Comets found themselves hurtling back into the game after raging back with a 12 to 4 run to start the third quarter and eventually cut the lead to four points, 49 to 45, at the end of the third quarter.
That would be as close as Bellevue would orbit to taking over the Notre Dame lead as a Griffin Kies three pointer proved to be the dagger with the help of the team going 17-22 from the free throw line. It was clear that the Nikes never panicked.
“We knew they’re gonna make a run” said Coach Kies. “You know, they’re here for a reason. They’ve got good athletes, they got size. So, I mean, the big thing is to say we’re battle-tested enough that we just need to hang in there and stay calm, do our thing, you know, take a little bit better shots, and just find a way to get it done, you know.”
Notre Dame will now attempt to make it back to the state championship for the first time since 1981, but standing in their way will be #1 St. Edmond on Thursday, March 12th, at 2 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 1:45 PM.
Notre Dame Scoring: Shay Stephens 26 points, Griffin Kies 12 points, Payne Prottsman 8 points, Kellan Porter 7 points, L.J. Harris 6 points, Tatum Warner 5 points, Eli Oleson 4 points
Henry County Supervisors Working Toward FOIA Fee Policy
The Henry County Board of Supervisors is working to develop a formal policy regarding fees for Freedom of Information Act requests.
During Tuesday’s meeting, supervisors discussed creating a consistent process for handling requests that require staff time to search for records. County officials said they have reached out to other counties and consulted with Steven Giebelhausen from the Henry County Attorney’s Office for guidance while developing the policy.
Supervisors discussed the possibility of charging for staff time spent fulfilling information requests. One option being considered would bill by the hour and vary by department based on employee wages. For example, the Henry County Auditor’s Office rate would be approximately $42 per hour, while other offices could be closer to $45 per hour.
Board members said the goal is to create a fair and consistent system when requests require significant staff time. Supervisors expect to review a final draft of the policy and take a vote at next week’s meeting.
In other business, Gunner Sloan reported that interviews were conducted last week for an IT Technician position within the county’s IT department. The position has since been offered to a candidate following those interviews.
Central Lee Superintendent Dr. Andy Crozier Selected to Lead Waukee Schools
Central Lee Superintendent Dr. Andy Crozier has been selected as the next superintendent of the Waukee Community School District.
Crozier confirmed the news during Tuesday morning’s Central Lee School Board meeting after completing final interviews and stakeholder meetings in Waukee on Monday. The Waukee School Board announced its decision Tuesday morning, although a formal vote and contract details are still pending.
Crozier will begin his new role July 1.
“I am deeply honored to be selected as the next superintendent of the Waukee Community School District,” Crozier said in a statement released Tuesday. “Waukee CSD has a well-earned reputation as a leader in innovation and student achievement, and I am eager to partner with our talented staff, dedicated families, and the entire community.”
Crozier has served as superintendent of the Central Lee Community School District for the past 10 years and has more than 15 years of experience as a public school superintendent.
During his time at Central Lee, Crozier helped lead a successful bond referendum and master facility plan, expanded universal four-year-old preschool, and implemented the Leader in Me leadership framework throughout the district. Under his leadership, the district was also recognized five times in the past six years as a Des Moines Register “Top Workplace” and achieved “High Performing” status on the Iowa School Performance Profile.
Crozier began his career as an elementary teacher and coach before serving as activities director at Louisa-Muscatine Schools and later as coordinator of digital learning for Grant Wood AEA.
At age 28, he became the youngest superintendent in Iowa when he was appointed superintendent and principal of the Andrew Community School District. He later served as a shared superintendent for Andrew and Easton Valley Schools before joining Central Lee.
Crozier currently serves on the Iowa High School Athletic Association Board of Control and has also held leadership roles with School Administrators of Iowa.
Central Lee officials say the district plans to begin working with a search firm later this week to begin the process of finding Crozier’s replacement.
Crozier holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Iowa State University, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Viterbo University, and a doctorate from Western Illinois University.
Muscatine County Jail Could See Increased Revenue from Federal Detainees
The Muscatine County Jail could see a significant increase in revenue for housing federal detainees under a contract amendment with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to newly released records, ICE amended its contract with Muscatine County in March of 2025, raising the maximum amount the county could receive for housing federal detainees from about $479,000 to roughly $839,000. That increase of $360,000 represents about a 75 percent rise in potential payments.
Most of the increase, about $340,000, is intended to cover the added costs of housing detainees, while $20,000 is designated for transportation services, such as taking inmates to federal court.
The amendment covers the period from April 2025 through March 2026, during a time when federal immigration detentions have increased.
The newly disclosed documents were released after officials initially said the contract could not be made public, but ICE later withdrew that claim.
Des Moines County 4-H Community Dinner & Auction Rescheduled Due to Severe Weather
The Des Moines County 4-H Community Dinner and Auction has been postponed due to expected severe weather.
Organizers announced the event, originally scheduled for this evening, will now take place Tuesday, March 31st from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Barn on the Ridge.
Tickets will be available for purchase at the door, and community members are encouraged to attend and support local 4-H youth programs.
Officials say the decision was made out of an abundance of caution as extreme weather conditions are forecast for the area tonight.
Severe Weather Possible Today; Officials Remind Residents of Lightning Safety
Residents across southeast Iowa are being urged to stay weather aware today as severe storms are possible later this afternoon and evening.
According to the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities, an Enhanced Risk, or level 3 out of 5, for severe thunderstorms is in place for areas south of a line from Sterling, Illinois to the Quad Cities and Fairfield, Iowa. Forecasters say storms could produce golf ball sized hail or larger, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes. A level 2 risk also extends farther north toward southwest of Iowa City.
Heavy rainfall could also lead to localized flooding, especially in areas that see multiple rounds of storms.
In response to the severe weather potential, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management is reminding residents about lightning safety. Officials stress that people should not seek shelter under trees, on hilltops, or in open fields during thunderstorms, as those locations increase the risk of lightning strikes.
If a building is not available, emergency officials say a hard topped vehicle can offer some protection.
The safest place during a thunderstorm is inside a sturdy building, and officials encourage people to follow the rule: “When thunder roars, go indoors,” and remain inside for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
The National Weather Service also says storm spotter activation may be needed later today and tonight as storms move through the region.
Looking ahead, forecasters say dry and windy conditions Thursday could lead to elevated fire danger.
Hy-Vee Round Up Campaign Raises More Than $370,000 for Iowa Children
Hy-Vee customers helped make a big difference for children across the state during a recent fundraising campaign.
The grocery chain announced that shoppers raised more than $370,000 for Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa during its February round up campaign. Customers were invited to round up their grocery purchases at checkout, with the spare change donated to support children with special needs.
According to Hy-Vee, the campaign brought in $370,130 statewide. The funds will help provide essential mobility equipment for children, including adaptive bikes, gait trainers, and mobile standers. Donations will also support programs, grants, and transportation services for children who are underserved, at risk, or facing serious health challenges.
Ryan Roberts, Senior Vice President at Hy-Vee and a board member of Variety, says the company is proud to continue its long standing partnership with the organization.
He says the collaboration reflects Hy-Vee’s commitment to giving back and notes that the generosity of customers plays a key role in making the effort successful.
Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa Executive Director Wendy Ingham says the round up campaign is a simple but powerful way to create lasting impact. She says the partnership helps provide resources that improve mobility, increase independence, and enhance quality of life for children across the state.
Hy-Vee has supported Variety’s mission for more than four decades. Since 1983, the company and its customers have raised more than $21 million to help children throughout the Midwest.
Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa has raised more than $148 million since 1975 to support children who are at risk, underprivileged, critically ill, or living with special needs across the state.