Prep Cross Country: Two Local Squads Find Themselves in the Top 5 After Another Week of Races

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, October 1st, 2024 at 4:17 pm CDT

Prep Cross Country- The Iowa Track Coaches Association released their 6th edition of the high school cross country team rankings and two of our local teams have ventured into the top five in their respective classes.

Class 3A

Fort Madison and Washington will make for a very interesting conference showdown on October 17th as both their boys’ and girls’ programs find themselves ranked within the top 20.

Looking at the boys’ teams first, Washington holds the advantage after moving up in the top 10 to #8, while Fort Madison also surged up two spots to #18. The Demons have finished in 1st place as a team in three straight meets, including a 23-point victory over the Bloodhounds at the Mt. Pleasant Invitational.

Tyler Alderton, who is ranked individually, and Andrew Rees headline the Washington squad, while Fort Madison is led by the duo of Riley Tripp and Jacob Shottenkirk.

On the girls’ side, Fort Madison took a huge leap from #11 last week to #3 this week after back-to-back meet victories at Mt. Pleasant and Anamosa. At Anamosa, Avery Rump took 8th place but more importantly the top five runner for the Bloodhounds finished in the top 16.

Washington remained at #20 with Iris Dahl leading the charge for the Demons. At Mt. Pleasant, the Demons finished only 11 points away from the Bloodhounds.

Class 2A

A 2nd place team finish at Burlington launched Mediapolis back into the top 20 to round out the list after a week of being unranked. Will Schmidgall, the #13 runner in Class 2A, anchors the Bulldogs as he has finished in 2nd place at the last two meets.

Class 1A

A trio of teams from the Southeast Iowa Super Conference find themselves ranked in the top 20 for the boys’ team rankings. Danville jumped up from 18th to 5th, Van Buren County, fresh off a victory at Burlington, fell back two spots to 15th, and Columbus hurdled a couple teams to be ranked 9th this week a week after being ranked 12th.

On the girls’ side, the Danville girls’ team claimed 3rd place as a team at the Mt. Pleasant Invitational, which knocked them back two spots in the top 20 from 15th to 13th.

Next Rankings

The IATC will release a new round of individual rankings next Monday, October 7th, while the team rankings will come out on Tuesday, October 8th.

Two Adult Males Arrested after Endangered Lee County Juvenile Found in Illinois

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, October 1st, 2024 at 9:25 am CDT

An endangered person in Lee County was located in Peoria County, Illinois, on Saturday after an advisory was put out to the public.

On September 28th, at approximately 11:30 am, Peoria County Sheriff’s deputies were notified by Lee County Sheriff’s Office of a missing 15-year-old female who was listed as an Endangered Runaway. Lee County investigators informed the deputies that the juvenile’s phone was pinging in an area in Peoria County. The deputies were given information about the juvenile, including the vehicle she may have been in.

Deputies with the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office started looking in the area and a short time later located the Dodge Ram, the juvenile, and two adult males at a gas station. However, the license plates on the truck did not match the ones previously given. Astonishingly, the males swapped the license plates out to avoid police. The two adult males were interviewed, arrested, and booked into the Peoria County Jail.

Shawn M. Carrell, 28, was arrested for 2 counts of Criminal Sexual Assault, Violation of Order of Protection, and Harboring a Runaway. It was found that the juvenile had an order of protection against Carrell.

Ian J. Fifer, 19, was arrested for Harboring a Runaway and Child Pornography. During the investigation, Peoria County investigators found pictures of a nude underage female on Fifer’s cell phone.

Both males are from Iowa.

Shawn Carrel
Ian Fifer

PO Box Permanently Closed for Mt. Pleasant Utilities

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, October 1st, 2024 at 8:58 am CDT

If you see a suspicious vehicle driving around Mt. Pleasant in the coming days, chances are it’s just looking for leaks. According to the Mt. Pleasant Utilities, a company will be driving around town in a blue van and/or an orange moped inspecting for leaks.

If you have any questions, please contact our office at 319-385-2121.

Additionally, the Mt. Pleasant Utilities PO Box number has now been closed. From now on, please send payments to their physical address at 509 N Adams St. in Mt. Pleasant.

Dry Conditions and Gusty Winds may lead to Field Fires – Weekly Crop Report

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, October 1st, 2024 at 8:56 am CDT

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“As we head into October, harvest activity will move into high gear with dry conditions expected to continue,” said Secretary Naig. “Although suitable for harvest, these warm and dry conditions, paired with low humidity and gusty winds, also produce an environment that can lead to field fires. I encourage everyone to be prepared, have a plan, and keep safety top of mind as you are in the field, on the road and around the farm.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report
Iowa continued to experience hot and dry conditions this week allowing Iowa farmers 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 29, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.  Field activities included harvesting both corn and soybeans.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 15 percent very short, 44 percent short, 41 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 11 percent very short, 44 percent short, 44 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn in the dent stage or beyond reached 97 percent this week. Corn mature reached 75 percent, 1 week behind last year but 2 days ahead of normal. Corn harvested for grain reached 11 percent, 3 days behind last year but equal to the five-year average. Corn condition remained at 77 percent good to excellent. Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 95 percent. Soybeans dropping leaves reached 80 percent, 2 days behind last year but 3 days ahead of average. Soybeans harvested reached 27 percent this week, 3 days ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Soybean condition rated 77 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition continued to deteriorate with 44 percent rated good to excellent this week.  With the continued dry conditions, some producers have had to begin hauling water to cattle.

Teenage Driver Involved in Rollover Faces Non-Life Threatening Injuries

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, October 1st, 2024 at 7:05 am CDT

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single vehicle rollover on September 25th. At 6:30am that morning, the office received a 911 call reporting a crash near the intersection of 150th St and Graham Avenue.

Mariah Christiansen, 17,  of Wayland, Iowa was driving eastbound in the 1500-grid of 150th Street. The driver lost control of her vehicle causing her to enter the ditch and rollover multiple times. The driver was transported by Henry County EMS for non-life-threatening injuries.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Wayland First Responders and Henry County EMS.

Sports, October 1st

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, October 1st, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Football

Mt. Pleasant will celebrate their Homecoming on Friday, October 4th, against Washington at 7:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 7:15 pm. Head coach John Bowlin knows confidence and preparation will be the keys to success this week,

“We get to go home. That’s awesome. It’s homecoming. Should be a lot of fun. You know, our guys just got to go get their heads right and we gotta bounce back from these last two weeks and know that we can compete, and we will compete. And now you know, get healthy next week hopefully and get a few guys back and, you know, take it one week at a time. So, we got to learn from this and just keep going for that next ‘W’. So, I know we’ll be excited for Friday night and you know, we’ll be ready.”

Danville will travel to Van Buren County on Friday at 7 pm.

WACO will celebrate their senior night on Friday at 7 pm against New London. 

Mediapolis will host Mid-Prairie on Friday at 7:30 pm. 

Columbus will hit the road to compete against Louisa-Muscatine at 7 pm on Friday. 

Central Lee will celebrate their homecoming on Friday at 7:30 pm against West Burlington/Notre Dame.

Fairfield will take on Williamsburg on Friday at 7:30 pm on the road. 

Wapello will host Lisbon at 7 pm on Friday.

Winfield-Mt. Union will face off against Iowa Valley on Friday at 7 pm at home. 

High School Volleyball

Winfield-Mt. Union will host Columbus at 7:30 pm tonight.

WACO will participate in a quad tonight at Lone Tree starting at 5:30 pm.

Mt. Pleasant will celebrate their senior night at 7:15 pm tonight against Fairfield.

Holy Trinity Catholic will take on Burlington Notre Dame on Thursday, October 3rd, at 7:30 pm at home. 

West Burlington will compete against Central Lee on Thursday at 7:30 pm on the road. 

Mediapolis will face off against New London on Thursday at home at 7:30 pm.

Van Buren County will travel to Danville on Thursday at 7:30 pm.

Wapello will tango with Highland at home on Thursday at 7:30 pm.  

High School Cross Country

Winfield-Mt. Union, Columbus, Wapello, New London, and West Burlington/Notre Dame made the trip north to participate in the Clear Creek-Amana Clipper Classic last night and here’s how the teams competed. 

In the boys’ race, Columbus’ Ty Muniz led the charge with a 6th place finish, collecting a time of 17 minutes and 31 seconds, which helped the Wildcats finish in 4th place as a team with 90 points. Cade Storm and Ryan Vila were the next Wildcats’ to finish as they grabbed 19th and 20th place, respectively.

Winfield-Mt. Union finished in 5th place as a team with 159 points as Kohlby Newsom’s 15th place time of 18 minutes and 29 seconds headlined the team’s results. 

Jared Glendening, Liam Haeger, and Gabe Andrus took 35th through 37th place, respectively, as West Burlington/Notre Dame finished in 6th place as a team with 170 points. 

New London’s Nathan Bergman raced to a 54th place time of 21 minutes and 22 seconds, while Will Parsons of Wapello was their top finisher in 65th place with a time of 22 minutes and 21 seconds.

For the girls’ race, Kaitlin Kipp of West Burlington/Notre Dame took the bronze with a time of 21 minutes and 23 seconds, while Hannah Fruehling also finished with the 7th best time at 22 minutes and 6 seconds. 

Iris Garza led Columbus with a 15th place finish of 22 minutes and 49 seconds, which helped the team finish in 4th place. Wapello’s Kenna Small headlined the team’s 6th place finish with a 23rd place time of 23 minutes and 45 seconds. 

Irelynn Kelly led New London with a time of 29 minutes and 41 seconds, which was good enough for 53rd place. 

Van Buren County will host Holy Trinity Catholic, Central Lee, and New London tonight.

Mt. Pleasant, WACO, and Fairfield will travel to Washington today.

Danville will travel to Williamsburg tonight.

Mediapolis will participate in a meet hosted by Winfield-Mt. Union on Thursday, October 3rd.

High School Cross Country Rankings

The Iowa Track Coaches Association released their latest individual rankings yesterday and no runners were knocked out of the top 30 after a week of racing.

In Class 3A, Washington’s Iris Dahl fell back three spots to be ranked 23rd this week, while Tyler Alderton shuffled into the top 20 to be ranked 19th after a 2nd place finish at the Mt. Pleasant Invitational.

Even after nabbing the gold at the Mt. Pleasant Invitational, Class 2A’s Will Schmidgall of Mediapolis slid two spots in the rankings to be placed at 13th as he also took 2nd at the Burlington Invitational last Thursday.

In Class 1A, Van Buren County’s Lincoln Bainbridge leapfrogged three runners to enter this week ranked 6th after a 1st place finish at the Burlington Invitational. Jude Dykstra of WACO’s personal-best run at Mt. Pleasant saw him fly up the list from 27th to 14th. Danville’s Jackson Shacklett tumbled down the rankings to 16th. Lastly, Ty Muniz of Columbus entered the week ranked 27th.

On the girls’ side of Class 1A, Danville’s Alaina Gourley’s 6th place finish at the Mt. Pleasant Invitational was not enough to see her move up in the rankings as she actually fell a couple spots to be ranked 26th.

Southeastern Community College

The volleyball team will stay at home to compete against North Iowa Area Community College tomorrow, October 2nd, at 7 pm. 

College Football

#16 Iowa State is back at home on Saturday, October 5th, at 6:30 pm, taking on Baylor. KILJ 98.5 FM and AM 1130 will have the broadcast. 

Iowa will square off against #3 Ohio State on the road at 2:30 on Saturday. KILJ 105.5 FM will have the call. 

This Day in Sports History

1903 – First Baseball World Series game ever played; the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Americans 7-3 at Huntington Avenue; Jimmy Sebring hit the first home run and Cy Young was the losing pitcher.

1932 – Babe Ruth called his shot in the 5th inning of Game three of the World Series against the Chicago Cubs. Yankees go on to win the game 7-5. 

2004 – Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki gets his 258th hit of the season, breaking George Sisler’s 84-year-old MLB single-season record; Ichiro ends the season with 262 hits. 

Gavin Browning

By Yorke Prough · Monday, September 30th, 2024 at 2:49 pm CDT

Gavin Wayne Browning, 16, of New London, died Friday, September 27, 2024 in New London.  He was born March 22, 2008 in West Burlington to Ashley Kathleen Kieler and William Wayne Browning.  He was a junior at New London High School and following graduation he had planned to become an apprentice in a welding program in Missouri.

Gavin was very independent; loved fishing, especially at Oakland Mills Dam; being with his friends; and adored his three brothers and his “Popi”.  He was thriving at his first real job at the Jet Stop in New London.

He is survived by his parents Ashley and Ryan Peiffer of New London, and William Browning; three brothers Bryce Peiffer, Ayden Browning and Chayse Peiffer of New London; half-brothers Liam Browning and Jacob White; half-sister Indie Browning; grandparents Nicholas and Theresa Kieler of West Burlington, Steve Peiffer of Mt. Pleasant, and Bill and Norma Browning of Dayton, Ohio; aunts and uncles Adam Kieler of Burlington, Katie and Adam Duncan of Antioch, Illinois, Connie and D.J. King of Sault St. Marie, Michigan, Lisa Browning of Ohio; cousins Jake, McKenzie, Wyatt, Moira and Logan; and many, many good friends.

A Celebration of Gavin’s life will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, October 4, 2024 at the New London Christian Church with Pastor Nathan Cooper officiating.  His body has been cremated and inurnment will be held at a later date.  A memorial has been established for a memorial bench near the welding shop at New London High School.  Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com

William Fleig Jr – Pending

By Yorke Prough · Monday, September 30th, 2024 at 2:47 pm CDT

William “Bill” Fleig Jr., 63, of Mount Pleasant, died unexpectedly Monday, September 30, 2024, at his home. Funeral services are pending at Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory.