Des Moines County 4-H Community Dinner & Auction Rescheduled Due to Severe Weather

By Shelbi Swinscoe · Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 at 2:00 pm CDT

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

By Shelbi Swinscoe · Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 at 2:00 pm CDT

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

By Shelbi Swinscoe · Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 at 2:00 pm CDT

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.

 

Winfield Historical Society to Host Program on Local Railroad History

By Shelbi Swinscoe · Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 at 2:00 pm CDT

The Winfield Historical Society and Museum is inviting the public to take a trip back in time with a special program highlighting the history of the railroads that helped shape the region.

The event, titled “Ride Through the History of the Rails,” will feature guest speaker Ron Graber, who will share stories and historical insights about the rail lines that once served the Winfield area.

The presentation will take place Sunday, March 15th at 2 p.m. at the Winfield Community Veterans Building in Winfield.

Organizers say the program will explore the history of railroads such as the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy (CB&Q) and the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway (M&StL) and their impact on the community. Attendees who have photographs, articles, or memorabilia related to those railroads are encouraged to bring them along to share with others.

A free will donation will be accepted, and refreshments will be served following the program.

The event is open to the public and is intended to bring together local history enthusiasts and community members interested in learning more about Winfield’s railroad heritage.

 

The Southeast Iowa Symphony Celebrates 75th Anniversary with Beethoven’s 9th Symphony

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 at 1:54 pm CDT

By Ming Vierra for the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa – Joyful noises will ring through three Eastern Iowa auditoriums March 14 and 15 when the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra presents its Beethoven 9th Masterworks concert.

More than 100 musicians — including the orchestra, the SEISO Chorus, and four acclaimed soloists, Jessica Faselt, Jill Phillips, Dennis Willhoit and Jeremiah Sanders — will unite on work known as “Ode to Joy.”

The popular Symphony No. 9, composed after Ludwig van Beethoven lost his hearing, is regarded as one of the most powerful and uplifting moments in all of classical music. This celebration of humanity and hope premiered in Vienna in 1824.

The program also includes the premiere of the two-movement composition “at willow’s edge” by award-winning composer Jordan Jinosko, featuring SEISO Principal Trumpet Derrick Murphy. Murphy, a longtime Burlington educator and Director of Bands at Burlington Community High School, has served as principal trumpet of SEISO for many years. Listeners will experience the quiet beauty and heartfelt emotion embedded in every note through Murphy’s expressive playing.

Students and children can attend Beethoven’s 9th and all the Masterworks concerts for free. Families are strongly encouraged to reserve youth tickets in advance at www.seiso.us, as limited tickets will be available at the door.

If You Go

What: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 & Jinosko’s “at willow’s edge”

Who: Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra, SEISO Chorus, Jessica Faselt (soprano), Jill Phillips (alto), Dennis Willhoit (tenor), Jeremiah Sanders (baritone), and Principal Trumpet Derrick Murphy

When & Where:

March 14, 2026: 7 p.m., Capitol Theater, Burlington
March 15, 2026: 2 p.m., Bridge View Center, Ottumwa
March 15, 2026: 6:30 p.m., Chapel Auditorium, Mount Pleasant

Admission: $20 general admission. Free for students and children; reserve in advance at www.seiso.us

State Announces New Grants for Crime Victim Support Programs

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 at 1:44 pm CDT

The Iowa Attorney General’s Office will soon offer several grant opportunities aimed at supporting victims of violent crime.

Three competitive grants will be available in 2026 for nonprofit and government organizations that provide victim-centered and trauma-informed services.

The first opportunity opens March 16th. Eligible groups that assist victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, homicide, and other violent crimes can apply for comprehensive victim service grants. Funding will be distributed regionally to help ensure support is available across the state.

Two additional funding opportunities are planned for April. One will support programs that help the criminal justice system hold offenders accountable. Those funds may go to county attorney offices, prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, courts, and others involved in investigating or prosecuting domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

The second April grant will support organizations that provide training and technical assistance to victim service groups, law enforcement, prosecutors, and others who work with victims of violent crime.

Both currently funded organizations and new applicants are eligible, but applicants must be registered in the Iowa Grants system for Victim Services.

More information is available on the Iowa Attorney General’s website. Questions about the grant opportunities can be directed to John Gish at 515-281-5044 or by email at crimevictiminfo@ag.iowa.gov.

Sports, March 10th

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 at 6:40 am CDT

Boys’ State Basketball

The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) tipped-off the 2026 state tournament yesterday and there was one upset through the first day of action. 

In Class 3A, #1 Ballard displayed why they are the top seed after dismantling #8 Gilbert, 70-40, to lead off the day. Jude Gibson led the floor with 20 points in the winning effort. 

It appeared #4 Pella was going to steal the game away from #5 Carroll after nabbing a late lead; however, the Tigers were able to snatch it back and advance to the semifinals in a 50-49 final. Jared Mohr netted 17 points in the winning effort, while Jack McGuire led the Dutch with 24 points. 

Ballard and Carroll will play tomorrow, March 11th, at 5:30 pm. 

On the bottom half of the bracket, #2 ADM sprinted to a 15-point lead at halftime over #7 Xavier and never looked back in a 68-59 victory. Hudson Lorensen was unstoppable, tabbing 34 points. 

In one of the closest battles of the night, #3 Storm Lake and #6 Solon needed overtime to decide the outcome and the Spartans were unable to complete the upset, losing 68-60. Jaidyn Coon notched a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. 

ADM and Storm Lake will tangle tomorrow at 7:15 pm.

Starting the Class 4A quarterfinals, #4 Dowling Catholic clobbered #5 Dubuque Senior, 63-45. Noah Martens led the Maroons with 18 points. 

Lastly, #1 Cedar Falls kept their bid for a perfect season alive after steamrolling #8 Urbandale last night, 73-53. Will Gerdes notched a 28 point and 15 rebound double-double in the winning effort. 

Cedar Falls will face off against Dowling Catholic on Thursday, March 12th, at 10:30 am in the semifinals. 

For Class 1A, #4 Burlington Notre Dame will face off against #5 Bellevue today with tip-off at 3:45 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 3:30 pm. 

Other Class 1A matchups include: #1 St. Edmond facing off against #8 Woodbine, #2 MMCRU taking on #7 Boyden-Hull, and #6 Marquette Catholic looking to upset #3 Bishop Garrigan.

Mt. Pleasant Girls’ Basketball

The Panthers celebrated their team banquet last night, reminiscing on the season and handing out the team awards.

Earning Most Improved was freshman Emma Humble. A pair won the Coaches Award and Panther Award. Taking the Coaches Award was Kaylen Hunold and Delania Hourihan, who are both seniors, while Myah Starr and Ruby Syfert earned the Panther Award.

Abby Carthey, who finished her career with 471 points, was named Offensive MVP, while Kynlee White took home Defensive MVP, as she was often tasked with taking on the opponent’s best player.

Lastly, Paityn Ensminger was named Team MVP. She averaged 6.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on a team high 45.8% shooting as was named All-Conference Honorable Mention. Coach Watson was impressed with how she controlled the paint for the Panthers,

“Yeah, she did. I think she had four double-doubles, and she fought like crazy in the lane to get rebounds and stuff. And she, like I said, probably was the shortest post we played in all the games we played this year. But she battled, and she just got better as the year went on. And I’m looking forward for her next year to have a big year.”

Girls’ High School Basketball

A handful of local athletes will be participating in the Larry Niemeyer Senior Girls All-Star basketball tournament scheduled for Saturday, March 14th.

In Class 2A, Danville’s Alaina Gourley will play on the Gray Team with their game at 1 pm.

Over in Class 3A, Adalyn Long of Washington will join a trio from the Southeast Iowa Super Conference in Kenna Sandoval of Central Lee and Grace Holsteen and Ellah Wagenbach of Mediapolis on the White Team. They will play at 10:30 am. 

Lastly, Kendra Boatman of Keokuk and Burlington’s Mylee Stiefel will join sides for the Gray Team in a combination of Class 3A/4A/5A talent. They will square off at 9:15 am.

High School Track and Field

The Indoor Track and Field season started yesterday with the Dickinson Relays at the UNI-Dome and three of our local schools sent a team to compete on the boys’ side, resulting in a couple of top 10 finishers.

WACO led the charge with two top ten finishers, as Hayden Shelman notched a 54th place finish in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.36 seconds then outleapt Mt. Pleasant’s Kayle Brown, who is just a freshman, in the long jump with a mark of 21 feet and 4.75 inches to take 8th place, while the Panther snatched 9th.

Jude Dykstra will be looking to pace southeast Iowa in the 800-meter run, as the Warrior claimed 4th place with a mark of 2 minutes and 6 seconds. Locken Henderson, Gavin Slagel, and Garrett Landau joined Dykstra for the 4×800 and the squad nabbed 17th place.

Some other top finishers for Mt. Pleasant saw Jaymisen Rich throw the shot put 45 feet and 8 inches for 34th place. Brown also took 30th place in the 200-meter dash with a mark of 24.11 seconds. Lastly, the 4×200 (33rd place) and 4×800 (38th place) each finished inside the top 40.

Columbus will again be leaning on Lamar Ceant and Alexander Rees in the hurdles, as the pair qualified for the finals in the 60-meter hurdles. Ceant’s time of 8.15 seconds was fast enough for 4th place, while Rees claimed 8th place.

The girls’ teams will compete today.

Southeastern Community College

The baseball team swept Anoka-Ramsey Community College in their home doubleheader yesterday, 18-7 in game one and 14-7 in game two. Jackson Petsche clouted two doubles and a home run for eight RBIs between the two contests. The Blackhawks will travel to Delgado Community College on Saturday, March 14th. 

The softball team will travel to St. Louis Community College on Monday, March 16th, for a doubleheader.

College Basketball

The #7 Iowa and Iowa State women’s teams will see their postseason fate determined on the Selection Sunday Show on March 15th at 7 pm.

The Iowa men’s team will take on either Maryland or Oregon at 11 am tomorrow, March 11th, to begin their path in the Big Ten Tournament. 

The #7 Iowa State men’s team earned a bye in the Big 12 tournament and will play tomorrow at 11:30 am. 

This Day in Sports History

1985 – Dallas Maverick coach Dick Motta is the 4th NBA coach to win 700 games.

1991 – Eddie Sutton of Oklahoma State becomes the first coach to lead four schools into the NCAA tournament.

2022 – After a 99-day lockout, Major League Baseball and MLB Players Association reach a new collective bargaining agreement; MLB teams set to play a full 162 game season in 2022.

Judith Ann (Dunbar) Bower

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 at 6:18 am CDT

Judith Ann (Dunbar) Bower passed away peacefully Monday, March 9, 2026, at Sunrise

Terrace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Winfield, IA.

Judy was born on April 12, 1946, in the Washington Community Hospital in Washington, IA., the daughter of Dale and Maurine (Sheets) Dunbar. She attended Keota grade school until the fifth grade, where the family lived south of Keota, east of Talleyrand. Judy attended the 6th grade in Mt Zion, one room school. She then attended Lockridge for junior high school, and graduated from Fairfield High School, class of 1964. Judy briefly attended Northeast Missouri State University, Kirksville, MO.

After graduation Judy was employed with H&R Block, Henry County Savings Bank and US Bank for 25 years in the bookkeeping department as a supervisor in that area. She then worked as a case manager for the Henry County Attorney for 13 years, before retiring.

Judy married Ben Bower in Mount Pleasant on June 21, 1970.

Judy was a seamstress, an avid reader and sang in the Southeast Iowa Sweet Adelines Choir, Mount Pleasant Choral, Iowa Wesleyan College Vocal group, Acapella Group, Church Choir and played in Bell Choir and was an accomplished piano and flute player.

Judy and Ben built their first home in rural Salem, lived there for 12 years, then moved to West Point, for 14 years and then built a home in Mount Pleasant where they currently reside.

Judy and Ben had many interests. Spending time with friends and family. Among them was traveling to Colorado, to their condo and to Branson, MO. Trips in the late winter to visit Judy’s brother and sister in California, with stops in Arizona to visit relatives and friends. Together they traveled in all 50 states and some many times over. Cruised to Alaska, flew to the Arctic Circle and once drove to Alaska via Canada & the Yukon on the Alcan highway. They vacationed in the Hawaii, Bahamas, Germany, Italy and Austria.

Surviving is her grade school sweetheart and loving husband of 51 years, Ben. Brothers; Dennis Dunbar, Muscatine, IA.; Lyle (Ann) Dunbar, San Diego, CA. and John (Angie) Dunbar, Fairfield, IA. Sister-in-law’s: Melissa Olson, Urbandale, IA and Karen Bower, Mount Pleasant; many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Preceding her in death are her parents Dale and Maurine “Sheets” Dunbar, a sister Linda Appleby, brother-in-law, Tim Bower, and sister-in-law Betty Dunbar.

Judy deeply appreciated all of the compassionate care she received from the entire staff and Poppy, while she was at Sunrise Terrace Care Center in Winfield, their kindness and support meant a great deal to Judy and her family.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2026, at Olson-Yoder Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant, where the family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m. Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Court Fischer officiating. Burial will be in the Glasgow Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for the Glasgow Cemetery and the First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant. The Olson-Yoder Funeral Home is caring for Judy and her family. www.olsonyoderfh.com.