Tommy R. “Tom” Thompson

By Kadie Johannson · Wednesday, December 17th, 2025 at 5:56 am CDT

Tommy R. “Tom” Thompson, 76, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Sunday, December 14, 2025 at his home.

Tom was born January 24, 1949 in Anamosa, Iowa the son of Homer and Dorothy (Orr) Thompson. Tom was raised in Wyoming, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1971.

Tom was a Certified Public Accountant at TDT CPAs and Advisors, opening the firm in Fairfield in 1975.

Tom was active in the Fairfield community volunteering for many organizations and serving on their boards, including the Community Child Care Center, Fairfield Community Center, and Lord’s Cupboard of Jefferson County. He was on the board of directors for Iowa State Bank, Chairman of the Jefferson County Republicans, Fairfield Chamber of Commerce board president, president of the Iowa Society of CPAs, and served on the Accountancy Examining Board for the State of Iowa.

Tom was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and enjoyed driving his red Corvette and flying in his airplane.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Phyllis; children, Dr. JayD (Jan) Horton of Plano, Texas, Jolene Horton of Tarpon Springs, Florida, Alisa Thompson of Columbia, Tennessee, and Jennifer (Cott) Sammis of Arrington, Tennessee; grandchildren, Braz Johnson, Max Johnson, and Vivienne Sammis; siblings, Shirley Kellogg of Monticello, Iowa, Gary Thompson of Texas, Donna (Buster) Wilslef of Wyoming, Iowa, and Becky Mullin of Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation for Tom will be 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Thursday, December 18, 2025 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. The family will not be present. Private funeral services will be held Friday. Burial will be at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in rural Douds.

Online condolences may be made to Tom’s family by viewing his obituary at www.behnerfh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Fairfield Community Center or Word of Life Lutheran Church and sent to 604 S. 32nd St. Fairfield, Iowa 52556.

Gene Wyse

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 at 3:56 pm CDT

Gene S. Wyse, 90, of Wayland, died Monday, December 15, 2025, at Parkview Home in Wayland.

A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 22, 2025, at the Bethel Church in rural Wayland. Burial will be in the Bethel Cemetery.

A visitation will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, December 21 at the church, where the family will be present to greet friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Bethel Church or Parkview Home. The Olson-Yoder Funeral Home and Crematory in Mount Pleasant is caring for Gene and his family. www.olsonyoderfh.com.

Larry L. Ridinger

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 at 3:43 pm CDT

Larry L. Ridinger, 83, of Trenton, passed away on Monday, December 15, 2025, at his home.

Larry was born on September 3, 1942, in Royal Oak, Michigan, to Leonard and Margaret (Leydens) Ridinger. He attended Star School in rural Trenton and the Greenmound Church. In 1962, Larry asked his grandma Nora Ridinger to sign to authorize him to join the Navy. During his service, Larry was a diver and welded ships under the sea. Additionally, he was on the Navy boxing team.

Larry was united in marriage to Sylvia Klaus on August 28, 1964, at the Trenton United Methodist Church. To this union the couple had three children, Rami, Angela, and Thomas.

Larry worked for many different contractors pouring and finishing concrete; Mennatts, HE Smith, Fox Pools, and Barton Construction. Additionally, he drove over the road hauling for Bill Rockwell. Larry and Dick Morrow owned and ran the Coppock Sawmill. He owned and raised beef cattle.

Larry was also a member of the International Rodeo Association, riding bulls and helping with pick-up during the performances. He also helped haul rodeo stock for Tonch Heartsill. During his later retirement, he purchased a sawmill and started cutting his own planks. Larry loved working in his shop, building everything from small boxes to headboards and tabletops, all created with different patterns and woods, cut by him at his sawmill.

Larry is survived by his wife, Sylvia; daughters Rami S. Ridinger, Angela M. (Mike) Looker, Melanie Thomson; son Thomas C. (Cindy Keeley) Ridinger; grandchildren, Sasha Noel, Abigail Noel, Tucker Noel, Nicole Schlatter, Justina Thomson, Jesse Thomson, Brittany (Derek) Throckmorton, and Connor (Paige) Wiseman; great grandchildren Easton, Sage, Theone, Natalie and Bennett. He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers John and Emmett.

Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 19, 2025, at the Olson-Yoder Funeral Home & Crematory. Pastor Jeff McPheron will officiate. Burial will follow in the Finley Cemetery. Military Rites will be conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard. Visitation will be 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 18, at the Olson-Yoder Funeral Home & Crematory. The family will be present to greet friends from 4:00 – 6:00. A memorial fund has been established for Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice. Condolences may be left for the family at www.olsonyoderfh.com.

James Ryan Robinson

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 at 3:33 pm CDT

James Ryan Robinson, 65, of Brighton, IA, died Friday, December 12, 2025 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

James was born June 5, 1960 in Osceola, IA. He was the son of Olin Clay and Nina (Swartz) Robinson. He was raised by his father and adoptive mother, Elna Ruth (Evoritt) Robinson.

James graduated from Mt. Pleasant Community High School in the late 1970’s. He was employed as a truck driver first at Moutrie Trucking and the Agri-Way Processors of Wayland.

James was a member of ABATE District 14. He loved to ride his motorcycle and cook in his garage – grilling steaks and smoking ribs and pork. James kicked back to listen to the radio, especially 80’s and 90’s Country Music with a cold beer in his hand.

Those thankful for sharing in his life include his daughter, Ashely Robinson of Brighton; a stepbrother Michael Bird of Altoona, IA; his birth mother Nina Swartz of Tennessee and his fur baby, Skidmore.

His parents, Olin & Elna Robinson Bird, his stepfather – Melvin Bird, his brother – Raymond Robinson and a stepbrother – Jerald Bird, precede James in death.

A visitation will take place from 12 Noon – 7PM on Monday, December 22nd, at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. The family will be present to receive friends from 5-7 PM that evening.

Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com.

$141,000 Awarded to 27 Organizations Through Enhance Henry County Community Foundation

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 at 11:30 am CDT

Henry County, Iowa — The Enhance Henry County Community Foundation has awarded $141,000 to 27 County organizations. An estimated 40,000 people will benefit from the 21st round of grants to be made by the Enhance Henry County Community Foundation.

The 27 grants were announced at a special celebration and media advisory event held at the Union Block Building in Mt. Pleasant on December 16th, beginning at 11 am. The event was open to the public, all grant recipients, public officials from throughout the county and community leaders.

This was the 21st time that the Enhance Henry County Community Foundation has engaged in grantmaking. The foundation applied for and received funds from the County Endowment Fund legislation.

“Our foundation received a total of $148,961. Twenty five percent of this was restricted to permanent endowment and 75 percent was required to be released through local competitive grantmaking. In addition, we took $35,903.95 from our endowment earnings and granted them as well.” said Robert Meyer, Foundation President.

“We received grant applications totaling $435,057.32. We only wish that we had more resources at the foundation because we know there are many needs and worthy projects throughout the county.”

The Enhance Henry County Community Foundation was organized by representatives from throughout Henry County. “Our mission involves helping the communities and non-profit organizations of the county,” said Robert Meyer. “We want to partner with communities and non-profit organizations to help them with programs and projects that might otherwise not be available to the individuals, families and visitors to our county.”

As an affiliate foundation, the Enhance Henry County Community Foundation can assist donors who wish to make outright and testamentary gifts of support to our foundation or other charitable organizations in the county. “It’s even possible for local charitable organizations to establish their own funds and benefit from special tax credits and the professional expertise and investment management we help provide,” said Robert Meyer.

Further information about Enhance Henry County Community Foundation is available by contacting, Lora Roth at 319-385-8728.

An Update from Superintendent of MPCSD John Henriksen

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 at 7:21 am CDT

On Monday, December 16, 2025 KILJ sat down with superintendent of Mount Pleasant Community Schools, John Henriksen, to get an update. Here are a few of the highlights:

At a recent organizational meeting, the Mount Pleasant School Board re-elected Angie Blint as Board President and elected Aaron Williamson as Vice President. They will serve in these roles for the next year.

Today, December 16, 2025, the top three candidates vying for superintendent of Mount Pleasant Community School District will be on campus taking tours and doing interviews. Following a review process conducted with Grundmeyer Leader Services, the board selected Dr. Sharon Dentlinger, Ken Kasper, and Derek Philips as finalists for the position.

Dr. Dentlinger currently serves as an assistant professor of practice and superintendent program coordinator at the University of Northern Iowa and as director of special education for the Knoxville Community School District. Mr. Kasper is the superintendent for the Garner Hayfield Ventura and Rudd Rockford Marble Rock Community School Districts. And Mr. Philips serves as principal of Davis County High School in Bloomfield and has previously served as superintendent of the Pekin Community School District.

Henriksen says the board hopes to make a decision tonight during their special board meeting on who they’d like the new superintendent to be, which will be a closed session to discuss the candidates. Once they have decided on their top candidate, they will offer the position. Once the candidate accepts, the new superintendent of MPCSD will be announced, a process that may take a week or two, according to Henriksen. The new superintendent will assume their leadership role on July 1, 2026 following Henriksen’s retirement.

And upcoming this Thursday, December 18, 2025, the Facilities Ad Hoc Committee will meet for their third and final session. The goal is to come up with a proposal for the school board for the future of our elementary attendance centers, which will be presented to the school board in January. All information and notes from the facilities ad hoc committee meetings can be found following a link on the MPCSD’s homepage.

KILJ will keep you updated on the superintendent search as news becomes available as well as the proposal put together by the Facilities Ad Hoc Committee.

A Record Setting 122.4 Million Americans Plan to Travel for the Holidays, According to AAA

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 at 6:54 am CDT

AAA says a record 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the year-end holiday period from December 20 through January 1. That’s a 2.2 percent increase over last year and the highest number ever recorded.

Driving remains the top choice, with nearly 109.5 million people hitting the road—about 89 percent of all holiday travelers. AAA says lower gas prices are helping, with the national average below three dollars a gallon for the first time in four years.

Tips for drivers: AAA recommends slowing down and checking your tires, battery, and fluids before leaving. Last year alone, AAA handled more than 860,000 roadside assistance calls during the holidays.

Air travel is also setting records. AAA projects just over 8 million people will fly, the highest number ever for the year-end holiday period. However, flying is more expensive, with domestic airfare up 7 percent, averaging nearly $900 per ticket. Flights leading up to Christmas and around New Year’s Day are the priciest, while flying on Christmas Day itself tends to be cheaper.

Tips for flyers: Travelers should check flight status before heading to the airport, sign up for airline alerts, and arrive early—at least two hours for domestic flights and three for international. Pack essentials like medications, chargers, and a change of clothes in your carry-on, and consider travel insurance, which can help cover delays, cancellations, or lost luggage during peak holiday travel.

Read the full AAA holiday travel report here.

Sports, December 16th

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 at 6:37 am CDT

High School Basketball

Mt. Pleasant was swept by Benton last night with the boys’ team losing 70-47 and the girls’ team falling 66-28. Aiden Humble led the squad with 15 points in his third consecutive game hitting five three-pointers. The girls’ team had Abby Carthey knock down nine points in the effort. The Panthers will travel to Washington on Friday, December 19th, with game one at 6 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 5:45 pm.

Van Buren County swept Cardinal last night with the girls’ team winning 52-40 and the boys’ team taking their game 66-51. 

Holy Trinity Catholic will hit the road to play Van Buren County tonight with the girls’ tipping-off at 6 pm.

Central Lee will head back home to take on New London tonight with the girls playing first at 6 pm.

Danville will hit the road to compete against West Burlington tonight with tip-off at 6 pm.

WACO will tangle with Hillcrest Academy at home tonight at 6 pm.

Wapello will host Highland with the night starting at 6 pm tonight.

Burlington Notre Dame will face off against Mediapolis at home tonight with game one at 6 pm.

Winfield-Mt. Union will compete tonight at home against Columbus with the night starting at 6 pm.

Fairfield will face off against Keokuk on Friday at home with game one at 6 pm.

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant split their duel with Fairfield last night with the girls’ team sneaking out with an 18-pin victory (1,924-1,906) and the boys’ team falling 2,530-2,292. Shyann Smith bowled a meet high 342 pins for the Panthers, while Autumn McBride led Fairfield with 314 pins. 

Mt. Pleasant will compete in a quad in Burlington on Friday, December 19th, with Central Lee also in attendance. 

High School Wrestling

The WACO boys’ team will travel to a meet at North Mahaska tonight.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will head to Lisbon for a triangular tonight.

The Mediapolis boys’ team will host a triangular tonight with Van Buren County participating. 

Mt. Pleasant will travel to Fort Madison for a dual on Thursday, December 18th.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will host a quad on Thursday with Van Buren County and Wapello making the trip. 

The Burlington Notre Dame boys’ team will compete in a triangular at home against WACO and Mediapolis on Thursday. 

Fairfield will face off against Burlington on Thursday at home.

The New London boys’ team will wrestle at the Fort Madison Invitational on Friday, December 19th.

The WACO and Wapello girls’ teams will compete in the Warhorse Invitational on Saturday, December 20th.

Southeastern Community College

The women’s basketball team will host Ellsworth Community College tomorrow, December 17th, at 5:30 pm.

College Football

#23 Iowa will take on #14 Vanderbilt on December 31st at 11 am for the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida. 

The Hawkeyes had center Logan Jones and offensive guard Beau Stephens named AP First-Team All-Americans yesterday. Iowa outrushed nine of their opponents and surrendered just 16 sacks for the season. Additionally, the offensive line helped Mark Gronowski break the single-season record for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Iowa was the only team to have two offensive players selected to the First Team. Jones also earned the Rimington Trophy.

College Basketball

The #10 Iowa State women’s team will prepare to host their first conference game of the season against Kansas on Sunday, December 21st, at 1 pm. The Cyclones will be led by Addy Brown, who was named Big 12 Player of the Week, and Audi Crooks, who was placed on the league’s Starting Five. 

The #11 Iowa women’s team will face off against #1 UConn in the Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic on Saturday, December 20th, at 12:30 pm. 

The Iowa men’s team will travel to play Bucknell on Saturday at 5 pm.

The #4 Iowa State men’s team will stay at home to take on Long Beach State on Sunday at 5 pm.

This Day in Sports History

1930 – Golfer Bobby Jones wins the first James E. Sullivan Award. The award is given to “the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.”

1972 – The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to go unbeaten and untied in a 14-game regular season.

1973 – O.J. Simpson broke Jim Brown’s single-season rushing record in the NFL. Brown had rushed for 1,863 yards, while Simpson became the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards when he attained 2,003 yards in a single season.