This Day in Sports History, July 31st

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 at 1:59 pm CDT

July 31st, 1930 NY Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig drives in 8 runs with a grand slam and 2 doubles in a 14-13 win over the rival Boston Red Sox.

Today Gehrig is best remembered for his emotional farewell from baseball at age 36, when he was stricken with ALS, now often called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He gave a speech to a packed Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, which famously included the lines “…today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth.”  (Video of Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech.) ALS claimed his life just two years later.

Over a 15-season span from 1925 through 1939, Gehrig played in 2,130 consecutive games, leading to his being elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939. In 1969, he was voted the greatest first baseman of all time by the Baseball Writer’s Association and was the leading vote-getter on the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, chosen by fans in 1999.

https://www.braininstitute.pitt.edu/centers-institutes-and-departments/live-lou-center-als-research/about-lou-gehrig

Judith Kae Scarff – Pending

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 at 1:41 pm CDT

Judith Kae Scarff, 75, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Sunday, July 28, 2024, at Arbor Court in Mt. Pleasant.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant.

Leo William Meade – Pending

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 at 1:41 pm CDT

Leo William Meade, 69, passed away on Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Kenedy, Texas and formerly of Mt. Pleasant.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant.

Raymond P. Gerst – Pending

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 at 1:40 pm CDT

Raymond P. Gerst, 93, of West Burlington passed away on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at the Southeast Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant.

Todd A. Jones – Pending

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 at 1:40 pm CDT

Todd A. Jones, 64, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Sunday, July 28, 2024.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant.

Eric M. Richenberger

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 at 12:23 pm CDT

Eric M. Richenberger, 43, of Wellman, passed away Sunday, July 28, 2024, near Ladora, Iowa. A funeral service will be held Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 10:30 AM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. Burial will follow at North Hill Cemetery north of Wayland. Visitation will be held Friday, August 2, 2034, from 5 –  7 PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. Folks are encouraged to wear their Chicago Cubs gear. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established for the family’s use.

Eric Matthew Richenberger was born July 30, 1980, in Mt. Pleasant, IA, the son of Duran Allen and Tracy (Conner) Richenberger. He graduated from Mid-Prairie High School in 1998. Eric worked as a purveyor of fine meats and cheeses at Freemans Foods in Wellman for the past six years. On January 26, 2008, he was united in marriage to Annie Bates in Cedar Rapids. Eric collected vintage video games, magic cards, coins, trains and comic books. He enjoyed playing Dungeons and Dragons, woodworking and spending time with this family. Eric was an avid Chicago Cubs fan.

Survivors include his wife Annie and children Xavier and Penelope of Wellman; his mother Tracy Richenberger of Wesley Chapel, FL; sister Laura (Micah) Scott of Wesley Chapel, FL, two nephews: Oliver and Emmet Scott, paternal grandmother Geraldine Rixe, uncle Mike Richenberger, two aunts: Cindy Richenberger and Mary Lou Richenberger, all of Wayland; and four cousins: Scott, Amy, Stephanie and Steven Richenberger.

Preceding Eric in death were his father Duran, his uncle Stan Richenberger, aunt Linda Richenberger, paternal grandfather Glen Richenberger, maternal grandparents William and Nina Evelyn Conner and father-in-law Mike Bates.

No Henry County Board of Supervisors Meeting August 1st

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 at 10:19 am CDT

According to the Henry County Auditor, there will be no Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting on Thursday, August 1st, due to a lack of quorum. Quorum is defined as the minimum numbers of members of an assembly or society that must be present at a meeting for the proceedings to be valid.

Donations Welcomed for Fellowship Cup Back to School Supply Drive

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 at 7:56 am CDT

The Fellowship Cup is collecting school supplies for its annual Back to School Supply Drive today to August 15. They need backpacks, 1, 2, and 3-inch binders, dry erase markers, and wide-ruled loose-leaf paper. These donations can be dropped off at The Fellowship Cup at 203 N Jefferson St Mondays and Thursdays 8:00am to 4:00pm or any other day by calling ahead to make sure they have staff there. For more information, call 319-385-3242 during normal business hours.