Sports, July 23rd

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024 at 6:32 am CDT

High School Postseason Baseball

Class 1A and Class 3A competed in their first round matchups yesterday and the results were generally close but predictable.

The day did not start out predictable in Carroll as #8 Bedford and #1 Akron-Westfield were still tied at two after 8 innings. Finally, the Westerners walked it off on a Carter Wilken squeeze bunt, advancing with a score of 3-2. 

#1 Akron-Westfield will face off against #4 Lynnville-Sully in the semifinals tomorrow, July 24th, at 7 pm after the Hawks brushed past Sigourney 2-0.

Newman Catholic extended their win streak to five over South Winneshiek with a 3-1 victory yesterday. Lastly, Remsen St. Mary’s offense was too much for North Linn to handle as the Hawks defeated the Lynx 10-6. 

Newman Catholic will take on Remsen St. Mary’s tomorrow at 4:30 pm. 

The Class 2A state tournament will start play today with Underwood and Unity Christian throwing the first pitch at 11 am.

For Class 3A, Bishop Heelan handled Pella to the tune of a 3-1 victory. The Crusaders will find out who their opponent will be today as Wahlert Catholic versus Central DeWitt had to be moved due to time; the two will play at 9 am this morning.

In the bottom half of the bracket, Marion’s bats caught fire with a 12-2 thumping of Center Point-Urbana and North Polk snuck past Harlan Community to win 5-4. The Comets and Wolves will compete tomorrow at 7:30 pm.  

#1 Cedar Rapids Kennedy will face off against #8 Pleasant Valley today at 11:30 am to begin play for Class 4A.

High School Postseason Softball

The state tournament commenced yesterday in Fort Dodge with Classes 5A and 4A completing their first round of matchups and Class 3A getting through half of their bracket. Here’s how the first round of action went down. 

In Class 5A, #1 Valley dominated #8 Prairie, pulling away late to end the game early in favor of the Tigers, 11-1. 

#4 Waukee Northwest and #5 Ankeny engaged in a pitching duel that went the way of the Hawks and Abby Rusher as she pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only two hits and striking out four to earn a 2-0 win for Ankeny.

#1 Valley will face off against #5 Ankeny tomorrow, July 24th, at 10 am. #8 Prairie and #4 Waukee Northwest will compete today in the consolation bracket at 10 am.

#2 Pleasant Valley was against the ropes in their matchup against #7 Waukee, needing to score five runs between the 6th and 7th innings to force extras, then scoring another three runs in the bottom of the 8th to win 8-7 over the Warriors.

#6 Urbandale held off a last ditch comeback effort from #3 Muscatine to pull off the upset, winning 10-9. Sarah Webster led the way with three RBIs. 

#2 Pleasant Valley will take on #6 Urbandale tomorrow at 12:15 pm. #7 Waukee will square off against #3 Muscatine today at 10:30 am.

#7 Carlisle kicked off play in the Class 4A bracket with an 8-6 upset over #2 Dallas Center-Grimes. Kaliyah Freeman led the way with a double and three RBIs for the Wildcats. 

#6 North Scott followed suit with a 2-0 upset of #3 Norwalk. The Lady Lancers will play Carlisle tomorrow at 10:30 am. Dallas Center-Grimes will compete today at 12:15 pm against Norwalk.

In the bottom half of the bracket, #1 North Polk dispatched #8 Western Dubuque 7-2 and #4 ADM shut down #5 Fort Dodge 2-0. The Comets and Tigers will play in the semifinal at 12:45 pm tomorrow. Western Dubuque and Fort Dodge will compete today at 12:45. 

Lastly, #2 Williamsburg downed #7 PCM 8-2 and #3 Wahlert Catholic escaped with a 9-8 victory over #6 Sumner-Fredericksburg to advance to the semifinals tomorrow at 2:30 pm. PCM will take on Sumner-Fredericksburg today at 2:30 pm in the consolation bracket. 

Class 3A will complete their first round matchups today as Classes 2A and 1A begin their postseason journeys. 

Prospect League

The Burlington Bees scored first but the Clinton LumberKings outscored them the rest of the way, downing the Bees 4-2. Blake Gaskey picked up the win on the mound with 6 innings of work, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out five. Michael Carrano Jr. had the two-run blast for the Bees in the 2nd inning. 

The Bees will travel to take on the Alton River Dragons tonight at 6:35 pm.

The Clinton LumberKings will face off against the River Dragons tomorrow, July 24th, at 6:35 pm on the road. 

This Day in Sports History

1866 – Cincinnati Baseball club, also known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings, forms.

1931 – France announces it can’t afford to send a team to the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics due to the Great Depression. They eventually manage to send a team.

2009 – Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox becomes the 18th pitcher to throw a perfect game in MLB history, defeating Tampa Bay Rays 5-0.

Larry Eugene Breitenstein

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, July 22nd, 2024 at 1:37 pm CDT

Larry Eugene Breitenstein, 85, of Farmington, Iowa passed away at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, July 21, 2024 at his home.

Born on July 2, 1939 in Farmington, Iowa, the son of Walter Virgil and Sara Katherine (Miner) Breitensten. On December 22, 1963, he married Ginger E. Gantz at the Union Presbyterian Church in Fort Madison, Iowa, she preceded him in death on December 4, 2021.

Survivors include his two daughters: Shawn (Ken) Perkins of Bonaparte, Iowa and Rhonda Jordan of Donnellson, Iowa; one son Darin (Casey) Breitenstein of Farmington, Iowa; grandchildren: Brittany (Matthew) McClure, Billy Perkins, Spencer (Morgan) Breitenstein, Richard (Stephanie) Jordan, Kaitlin Jordan, Adrian Breitenstein, and Sara Breitenstein; great grandchildren: Landen Jones, Logan, Cameron, Weston McClure,  Xander, Ryder, Lane, Sailor, Laremee Breitenstein, Liam and Lakeson; and two sisters: Sue Spanier and Edith Schaffer. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Ginger; son-in-law Bill Jordan; sisters: Virgil Kerr and Betty Mead; brothers: Glenn, Jack, Harold, and Charles Breitenstein.

Larry worked at Santa Fe Railroad for over forty years. He was a United States Navy Veteran. Larry was a past member of the Farmington Rod and Gun Club and an active member of the Farmington American Legion.

He loved his family and being on his sesquicentennial family farm. Larry was a great father and grandfather.

A visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 25, 2024 at Schmitz Funeral Home in Farmington, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 26, 2024 at Farmington United Methodist Church with Pastor Jared Meyers officiating.

Burial will be in Acklam Cemetery near Primrose, Iowa with full military rites by the Farmington American Legion

A memorial has been established in his memory for Farmington American Legion or Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center Home Health and Hospice.

On-line condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com. Schmitz Funeral Home of Farmington is assisting the family with arrangements.

Kathleen M. Mathews

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, July 22nd, 2024 at 1:36 pm CDT

Kathleen M. Mathews, 96, of New London and formerly of Denver, Colorado, died Friday, March 29, 2024 at the Morning Sun Care Center.

Kathleen was born January 6, 1928 in Danville, she was the daughter of Fred D. and Bertha F. Parrott Mathews.  She was a 1946 graduate of Danville High School Danville and attended the Congregational Church of Danville.   Kathleen was a legal secretary for Caddes Law Firm in Denver for almost 50 years.  She enjoyed reading, walking, and loved to travel.

Kathleen is survived by her nieces and nephews: Pat (J.D.) Stucker and Tom (Becky) Wagner of Danville; John (Bev) Wagner of Amana; and Mike Mathews, Norm (Susie) Mathews, and Judy (Charlie) Webb, all of Arizona. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Ralph, Wayne, and Wendell Mathews; sister Cyrene Wagner; nephews Donald and Fred Mathews; and her stepmother Isabelle Mathews.

A graveside service will be held at 4:00 pm, August 6, 2024 at Jaggar Cemetery, rural Danville with Steve Parker officiating.  Memorials have been established to the Danville Museum and the Danville Congregational Church.

Elliott Chapel, New London is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences my be left a www.elliottfuneralchapel.com

Are Cover Crops For You?

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, July 22nd, 2024 at 9:36 am CDT

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are collaborating on a series of cover crop fact sheets for Iowa farmers interested in adopting the practice or trying new cover crops to achieve specific goals on their operation.

Thousands of Iowa farmers plant cover crops annually to help reduce soil erosion, increase soil organic matter, suppress weeds, minimize soil compaction, scavenge excess nutrients, or provide supplemental livestock grazing. A large percentage of Iowa farmers use cereal rye, oats, wheat, radishes and turnips. However, there are many other cover crop options available.

The collection of fact sheets includes legumes like hairy vetch and cowpeas, broadleaves like flax and buckwheat, grasses such as millets and triticale, and brassicas like camelina and rapeseed.

“We feel these fact sheets are a good introduction to cover crops for producers who haven’t tried them yet,” said Mark Licht, associate professor and cropping systems specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “There are also species that a more seasoned cover crop user might be interested in learning more about.”

More than 25 fact sheets are currently available on the Iowa NRCS website, with 33 fact sheets by the end of August and the potential to add additional species as interest develops. Each fact sheet includes sections on: Identifying Features, Cultural Traits, Planting Information, Performance Ratings, and pictures that highlight various features and growth patterns.

“The collaboration between ISU Extension and Outreach and NRCS on the fact sheets is important,” said Iowa NRCS State Soil Health Specialist Hillary Olson. “We are on the same page in the belief that all Iowa crop producers can find a way to make cover crops work on their farms. We feel these fact sheets will be a valuable learning tool for producers.”

 

For more information about conservation programs and practices to help you treat natural resource concerns on your farm, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/ia. To connect with ISU Extension and Outreach, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/.

Mount Pleasant Street Committee Meeting Agenda 07/23

By Yorke Prough · Monday, July 22nd, 2024 at 8:45 am CDT

The Mount Pleasant Street Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024, at 9 AM at City Hall in the City Administrators’ Conference Room.

                                    AGENDA

 

  1. Call to order.
  2. Discuss the request by Jeff Cole to purchase a portion of S. Grand Ave right of way.
  3. Discuss Alleys in the Downtown District
  4. Discuss Jackson Street & Linden Drive / 2025 Projects
  5. Open Forum
  6. Adjourn

 

 

Henry County Democrats Met With John DaBeet, Discuss Issues at Saturday’s Meeting

By Yorke Prough · Monday, July 22nd, 2024 at 7:50 am CDT

A group of 56 Henry County Democrats gathered on Saturday morning to hear from John DaBeet, a candidate for Senate District 48. The district includes nine rural townships in Henry County, excluding Mount Pleasant. Currently DaBeet serves as a distinguished Professor of Economics and  Statistics at Muscatine Community College and as a member of  the Muscatine Community School Board. During the meeting, he expressed concerns about how the new voucher plan will siphon funds from Iowa’s public schools.

DaBeet is challenging Republican incumbent Mark Lofgren who assumed the role in January 2023.

Recently elected Co-Chairs Mary Elgar and Dave Helman welcomed the attendees and presented laminated maps of all the precincts in Henry County and the 2020 redrawn Senate and House District maps.  Helman discussed the need to effectively communicate with Democrats in Henry County. Registered Democrats and Independents are encouraged to forward their e-mail addresses to Elgar (maryelgar41@gmail.com) and Helman (cdhelman@gmail.com).

Miller-Meeks Calls for President Biden to Resign After Withdrawing from Campaign

By Yorke Prough · Monday, July 22nd, 2024 at 7:48 am CDT

President Biden announced that he will be withdrawing from the 2024 Presidential race on Sunday, and Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks chimed in.

“A historic injustice perpetrated by the Democrats who lecture the country about democracy. Yet they just disenfranchised millions of primary voters while covering up the President’s cognitive decline, despite it being readily apparent to millions of Americans.”

Meeks then highlights “failed policies” which have torched the nation, mentioning inflation, open borders, and weakness on the world stage to name a few.

She also believes that Biden should resign from office if he is not fit enough to campaign.

Washington County Child Predator Caught, Will Serve 20 Years in Prison

By Yorke Prough · Monday, July 22nd, 2024 at 7:47 am CDT

Trevor Miller, 23 of Washington County, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for producing child pornography.

According to public court documents, Miller had produced a video of himself engaged in a sexual activity with a female minor. He then sent that video via snapchat to other minors. Investigators confronted Miller after witnesses notified the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, where they discovered that he had produced a similar video with a separate minor.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Miller will be required to serve 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Miller will be required to register as a sex offender.

This case was investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.