The following are upcoming ImpactLife blood drives scheduled in the KILJ listening area – you are welcome to click on a link and register!
Monday, 12/22/25 Swedesburg Lutheran Church
Wednesday, 12/31/25 Winfield Lions Community
Monday 12/29/25 Fairfield First United Methodist Church
Friday, 01/02/26 Mt. Pleasant REC Center
The Parks and Rec Department is looking for volunteer coaches for the 3rd and 4th grade basketball league which is coming up in January and February. The registration deadline for students has been extended Kids until 12/31/25. Please contact the Mt. Pleasant Parks and Rec Department in City Hall for more information.
High School Basketball
Mt. Pleasant lost a pair of games to Washington last night 44-22 in the girls’ game and 55-47 in the boys’ game. The Demons went on a 20 to 3 run in the second half to take control of the boys’ game. Abi Shelangoski chipped in four points, while the boys’ team was led by Isaiah Lange’s 15 points. The Panthers head into winter break.
Fairfield was squashed by Keokuk last night, 63-19 in the girls’ game and 88-54 in the boys’ game as Jaxon Clark dropped 50 points for the Chiefs. The Trojans will head into winter break.
The Central Lee boys’ team handled West Burlington last night 67-41. The Hawks and West Burlington boys’ team will head into the break.
New London was swept by Mediapolis last night 76-13 in the girls’ game and 84-57 in the boys’ game. Amelia Grier led the way with 18 points for the Bulldogs.
The #10 Mediapolis girls’ team will host West Burlington today at noon.
The Wapello girls’ team rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Columbus 48-40 last night. Macey Kuntz collected 18 points in the victory. Both teams will head into winter break.
The Holy Trinity Catholic girls’ team collected their first victory of the season last night in a thrilling 30-28 final over Burlington Notre Dame, while the Nike boys’ team extinguished the Crusader boys’ team 59-43, despite 15 points from Layne Rung.
Burlington Notre Dame will face off against Fort Madison today with the girls’ tipping-off at 2 pm at home.
Danville split their night against Van Buren County with the girls’ team falling 59-41 and the boys’ team throttling the Warriors 68-28. Violette Sowell led the Bears with 17 points in the loss.
Danville will host Clark County today with the girls’ team playing first at 3:30 pm.
High School Bowling
Mt. Pleasant participated in a quad at Burlington yesterday and the girls’ team exited with the victory, bowling a 1,846, while the boys’ team finished in fourth place with 2,140 pins. Central Lee snatched 2nd place for the boys’ team and 3rd place for the girls’ team.
High School Wrestling
The New London, Mt. Pleasant, Van Buren County, Mediapolis, and Burlington Notre Dame boys’ teams will wrestle at day two of the Fort Madison Invitational today.
The Fairfield boys’ team will compete at the Pella Invitational today.
The WACO and Wapello boys’ teams will participate in the Regina Invitational today.
The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will wrestle at the North Linn Invitational today.
The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will travel to Prairie today for an invite.
The WACO and Wapello girls’ teams will compete in the Warhorse Invitational today.
College Football
#23 Iowa will take on #14 Vanderbilt on December 31st at 11 am for the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida.
College Basketball
The #10 Iowa State women’s team will prepare to host their first conference game of the season against Kansas tomorrow, December 21st, at 1 pm.
The #11 Iowa women’s team will face off against #1 UConn in the Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic today at 12:30 pm.
The Iowa men’s team will travel to play Bucknell tonight at 5 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM will have the call.
The #4 Iowa State men’s team will stay at home to take on Long Beach State tomorrow at 5 pm.
This Day in Sports History
1921 – The American League votes to return to a best-of-7 World Series, while the National League votes for a best-of-9; Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis casts the deciding vote for a best-of-7.
1966 – The NBA awards the Seattle Supersonics a franchise for the 1967-68 season.
1979 – Behn Wilson scores the game-tying power play goal with 4:08 remaining in regulation to keep the Philadelphia Flyers unbeaten streak alive at 28 — tying the NHL record for longest undefeated stretch — in a 1-1 draw with the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Spectrum.
Richard M. “Dick” Noble, 84, of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 9:25 a.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the West Point Care Center in West Point.
He was born on February 4, 1941, in Niota, Illinois, the son of Melvin and Ruby (Rogers) Noble. On July 7, 1961, he married Reita Cline in Kahoka, Missouri.
He is survived by his wife: Reita; daughter: Leanne Stuekerjuergen; son: Bruce Noble; five grandchildren: Tori (Steve) Odie, Kaci (Tommy) Loggia, Nick (April) Stuekerjuergen, Courtney (Alan) Fitzwater, Hunter Noble; great grandchildren: Ayden, Rorie, Enzo, Carter, Jaxson and bonus daughter: Susan Everman. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister: Betty Mayfield.
Dick graduated from Colusa High School. He worked as a heavy equipment operator for Ferrosil in Keokuk. He was a member of New London Christian Church and the Two Rivers Tractor Club. Dick enjoyed purple martins, John Deere, classic cars, all of his pups, grand pups, friends pups and more.
His body has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.
A celebration of Dick’s life will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 9, 2025, at Sonny’s Other Side on the east side of the square in West Point.
A memorial has been established in his memory for West Point Care Center activities.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Compassus Hospice and the West Point Care Center.
Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.
Elaine C. Haigh, 88, of Ottumwa Vista Woods Care Center, formerly of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 7:40 p.m. Thursday, December 18, 2025, at Vista Woods Care Center.
She was born on April 5, 1937, in Nelson, Wisconsin, the daughter of Ole T. and Anna M. (Thompson) Thompson. On July 5, 1958, she married Lyle Haigh at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Alma, Wisconsin. He preceded her in death on January 30, 2022.
She is survived by her children: Norman Haigh of West Point, Iowa, Clarice (Mike) Hutchens of Ballwin, Missouri, Steven (Jill) Haigh of Ottumwa, Iowa; nine grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; two sisters: Elizabeth Kriebich of River Falls Wisconsin, Kathleen Reick of Durand, Wisconsin. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Lyle; twin sons: Thomas and George; one daughter: Sharon Frazer.
Elaine graduated from Nelson High School then attended nursing school. She worked at West Point Care Center then at the Mental Health Institute in Mt. Pleasant as a registered nurse. She was a member of St. James the Less Catholic Church, the Altar and Rosary Society of the church, former member of the Daughters of Isabella, past Regent State Secretary of the Madonna Circle and a member of the St. Paul Quilters. For many years, Elaine and Lyle were proud to donate the cranberries for the St. James God’s Acre Sale. She also enjoyed quilting, crossword puzzles, reading and browsing on Facebook.
A visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. Friday, January 2, 2026, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point, where the family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and a Christian wake service will be held at 5:30 p.m.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 3, 2026, at St. James Catholic Church in St. Paul with Father Dan Dorau as celebrant.
Burial will be in St. James Cemetery in St. Paul.
Memorials have been established in her memory for St. James Catholic Church or Holy Trinity Catholic Schools.
Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.
Two area veterans were honored with Quilts of Valor at the Mt. Pleasant Veteran’s Breakfast on Friday, December 19th. Kent White of Mt. Pleasant, a U.S. Navy Veteran who gave 20 years of service as a naval aviator was honored. Warren Woepking of Riverside, Iowa, served from 1970-1976 in the Iowa National Guard, was also honored with a Quilt of Valor. Jane Messer of Mt. Pleasant heads up the area organization, Iowa Patriotic Stitchers and explains the history:
The breakfast is hosted for veterans and the public every 3rd Friday of the month, according to Messer.
The Quilts of Valor that are presented are more than just a blanket; they mean so much more…
Thus far, over 600 Quilts of Valor have been stitched and presented to area veterans and Jane Messer says their group is far from finished!
Joyce Long, 87, of Mt. Pleasant, went home to be with her Lord and Savior at 3AM on Thursday, December 18th, 2025 at Park Place Elder Living in Mt. Pleasant, IA.
Joyce was born June 1, 1938 in Linby, Iowa to Charles “Chuck” Clayton and Hazel Lela (Johnston) Nicholson, the eldest of nine children.
Joyce attended Winfield High School. On October 2, 1955, Joyce was united in marriage to Donald Eugene Long in Lockridge, Iowa. They were blessed with two daughters, Teri Lu in 1957 and Melanie Dawn in 1962.
Joyce was employed for 12 years at Martha Brown and Henry County Credit Union, both in Mt. Pleasant. For 20 years, she served the Lord as Secretary of Calvary Baptist Church, retiring in 2004.
Joyce made the most important decision of her life at the age of 18 when she received Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. Her life verse was Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”.
She was an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed sewing clothes for her grandchildren. She was an avid reader, oved shopping, traveling, trips to Branson, collecting cookbooks and received great joy spending time with family and friends.
She had a great love for music and played the trumpet and hand bells, and sang in the church choir for many years. She had a special fondness of hearts and was a collector of P. Buckley Moss prints.
Her faith was very strong. She was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant where she served as Sunday School Teacher, VBS worker, missionary committee and other ministries through the years.
She was a volunteer at Midwest Old Threshers Information Booth for many years and attended Silver Sneakers at the Mt. Pleasant REC Center. She enjoyed attending Sunday evening after-church fellowship groups and the Winfield Class of 1956 trips and get togethers.
Those thankful for sharing in Joyce’s life include her 2 daughters – Teri Long of Muscatine and Melanie (Jim) Housel of Mt. Pleasant; 4 grandchildren – Mitch (Theresa Meeker, Molly (Cory Bachman, Kelly (Matt) Lord and Jeff (Audrey) Housel; 10 great grandchildren – Audrey, Myra, Jordan, Owen, Ivy, Lily, Philip, Brinley, Malia and Teegan; 6 siblings – James (Wanda) Nicholson of Blowing Rock, NC, Janet (Richard) Eggenberger of West Burlington, Judy (David) Rixe of Bennett, Jill Hoover of Burlington, Joan (David) Exline of West Branch and Jewel Schultz of Mt. Pleasant.
Her parents, husband Don (who died Sept. 5, 2019 in Mt. Pleasant), 2 brothers – William Robert “Bob” Nicholson and Charles Edwin “Ed” Nicholson, and 2 grandsons – David Allan Glasgow and Brian Eugene Glasgow precede Joyce in death.
Friends may call from 2-7 PM on Sunday, Dec. 21 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. The family will be present to receive friends from 3-5 PM Sunday at the funeral home and again on Monday from 10-11 AM at the church.
The funeral service for Joyce will be 11:00 AM on Monday, December 22nd at the Calvary Baptist Church, 801 East Mapleleaf Drive, Mt. Pleasant. The Rev. Dr. David Strope, Pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Trinity Cemetery, rural Mt. Union.
Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to Calvary Baptist Church. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com
The Mount Pleasant Community School District Board of Education has named Dr. Sharon Dentlinger as the district’s next superintendent.
Dr. Dentlinger is the current assistant professor of practice and superintendent program coordinator at the University of Northern Iowa. She also has over 20 years of experience serving as a principal at Kuemper Catholic Schools, superintendent and curriculum director for the Interstate 35 Community School District, and director of special education at Heartland Area Education Agency (AEA).
Throughout her time as an educator and administrator, Dr. Dentlinger has been known for her strategic leadership and expertise in providing professional development opportunities for educators. This reflects her commitment to student growth and achievement in the classroom.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Sharon Dentlinger as our next superintendent,” said Board President Angie Blint. “Her deep passion for education, coupled with a commitment to supporting both students and staff, makes her the right choice for our district. Sharon understands that every decision must center around the well-being and success of our students and the professional growth of our educators. We are confident that under her leadership, our district will continue to thrive, and our students will receive the best possible education. We will work together to ensure the path ahead is clear: a district united, a community inspired and our students empowered to achieve without limits.“
Dr. Dentlinger also has experience teaching early childhood and special education in communities across Iowa. She is a Rural School Advocates of Iowa (RSAI) legislative team member and an active member of Lions Club International and Rotary International.
“I am honored and excited to work with the students, staff, board and community of the Mount Pleasant Community School District as we engage in the work that focuses on continuing to “empower students to achieve without limits.” The foundation for learning is strong and I look forward to being a part of the journey.” Dr. Dentlinger said.
Board members worked with staff at Grundmeyer Leader Services to find the district’s superintendent. The board’s goal was to conduct the search as early as possible to provide ample time for a transition.
Dr. Dentlinger will officially begin leading the Mount Pleasant Community School District effective July 1, 2026.
