Sports, June 22nd

By Slaten Swords · Saturday, June 22nd, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Baseball

Fairfield handled Albia last night 16-8. The Trojans will travel to Keokuk on Monday for a doubleheader with game one at 5:30 pm. 

Central Lee demolished Danville last night 20-0. Blake Davis slugged a triple and totaled four RBIs in the win for the Hawks. Central Lee will take on Pekin on Monday, June 24th, at 4 pm at the Field of Dreams. 

Danville will face off against Hillcrest Academy today at 10 am on the road. 

Burlington Notre Dame defeated Mediapolis last night 11-0. The Nikes will be the road team tonight in their matchup against Burlington at 7 pm. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will square off against Mediapolis on Monday at 5:30 pm on the road. 

West Burlington’s offense could not stop scoring last night as the Falcons defeated New London 15-7. Caleb Bush brought home three runs for the Falcons in the win. 

New London will look to get back in the win column on Monday against Highland at 5:30 pm at home. 

West Burlington will host Lone Tree on Monday at 5:30 pm. 

Van Buren County will compete at the Moravia Triangular today at 10 am. 

Mt. Pleasant will square off against Fort Madison on Monday at home in a doubleheader with game one at 5:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 5:15 pm. 

High School Softball

WACO lost to Hillcrest Academy last night 18-5. WACO will travel to Lone Tree on Tuesday, June 25th, at 6 pm. 

Winfield-Mt. Union fell to Louisa-Muscatine last night 12-0. Mediapolis will face off against Winfield-Mt. Union on Monday, June 24th, at home at 6 pm. 

Fairfield traveled to Clear Creek Amana yesterday to compete in a tournament, splitting their two matchups. Game one saw Lilly Bergren tab two RBIs to help the Trojans take down Regina Catholic 3-1, while Laney Norris notched five strikeouts in the win. 

The host team would bring a 10-0 beatdown of Fairfield in game two as Savannah Hollander managed the only hit for the Trojans. Fairfield will continue their play in the tournament with matchups against Solon and Williamsburg today. 

West Burlington’s offense ended their matchup against New London after four innings with a 12-0 for the Falcons. Lauren Krieger slashed three singles and totaled two RBIs with Madelyn Thomas smacking a home run for three RBIs in the winning effort. 

West Burlington will face off against Lone Tree on Monday at 7 pm at home. 

New London will take on Highland on Monday at home at 7 pm. 

Danville will square off against Hillcrest Academy today on the road. 

Central Lee will host Pekin on Monday at 7 pm. 

Van Buren County will compete against Columbus on Monday at 7 pm at home. 

Holy Trinity Catholic will face off against Hillcrest Academy on Monday at 5:30 pm at home. 

Mt. Pleasant will host Fort Madison on Monday for a doubleheader with game one at 5:30 pm. 

High School Cross Country

Mt. Pleasant’s optional summer runs, available for 7th through 12th graders, are scheduled Monday through Thursday. The runs will often be led by upperclassmen as coaches may not be present for every run.

On Mondays and Wednesdays the runs will start at 6:30 am at the Old Threshers Museum Theatre and on Tuesdays and Thursdays they will be at Saunders Park by the swimming pool at 7 pm. 

If you have any questions, contact Coach Murray at 319-850-0867. 

Prospect League

The Burlington Bees narrowly fell to the Normal CornBelters last night 7-6. Cooper Donlin finished 2 for 4 with an RBI for the Bees. Burlington will host the Alton River Dragons tonight at 6:30 pm. 

The Clinton LumberKings lost to the Cape Catfish last night 7-4. Karson Grout led the LumberKings with two RBIs. Clinton will attempt to get their revenge tonight against the Catfish at 6:30 pm. 

This Day in Sports History

1889 – The Louisville Colonels set an MLB record with their 26th consecutive loss. A record that still stands today. 

1981 – John McEnroe screams his famous ‘You cannot be serious’ rant in his first round win over Tom Gullikson at Wimbledon. 

2016 – NHL owners unanimously approve the Las Vegas expansion bid to start play in the 2017-18 season.

Summer is Officially Here! Firework Schedule and Rules for City of Mount Pleasant

By Yorke Prough · Saturday, June 22nd, 2024 at 6:16 am CDT

Now that summer is officially here, long nights, bbqs, and pool parties are certain. What also seems to be certain is shooting off fireworks long into the night to watch them explode in a burst of beautiful colors in the sky. Mount Pleasant DOES ALLOW fireworks, but there are limits to the times that they can be used. From now until the 28th, fireworks can only be set off between 9:00am and 10:00pm. June 29th, 30th, and July 4th, brings an extra hour on the end of that for extra explosions.

Please be courteous and remember your neighbors, pets, and especially veterans.

Fireworks may not be used/exploded:

-On city property (streets, parks, sidewalks, etc.) without specific permission of the —-City Council

-On private property without permission of the owner

In a manner that deposits litter/waste on neighbor’s property or streets, sidewalks, etc.

For questions, please call the Mount Pleasant Police Department at (319) 385-1450 or City Hall at (319) 385-1470.

Pursuit Through Keokuk Reaches 85mph

By Yorke Prough · Friday, June 21st, 2024 at 12:29 pm CDT

On 6/20/2024, at approximately 1:06 p.m., Keokuk Police Officers were dispatched to Walmart at 300 N Park Drive in reference to a theft.

Upon the arrival of a Keokuk police officer, a silver Jeep occupied by one person fled the parking lot at a high rate of speed.

The officer utilized his emergency lights and audible siren to initiate a traffic stop on the Jeep. The driver of the Jeep refused to stop, committing multiple traffic violations while leading the officer on a pursuit outside of the city limits. The pursuit reached speeds over 85 miles per hour and lasted approximately 6 minutes.

The driver would stop the vehicle on a private drive near the end of Iowa Road, fleeing on foot into a wooded area. After a short foot pursuit, the subject was taken into custody without further incident.

The on-duty Fort Madison Police Department K9 unit was requested and responded to the scene. The K9 unit alerted on the vehicle, and a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted. Once the search was complete, the vehicle was towed from the scene.

Eric J. Reid, 48, of Keokuk, was arrested and charged with eluding, a felony, and Theft 5th Degree, a simple misdemeanor. Reid was also cited for multiple traffic infractions.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Fort Madison Police Department also contributed to this investigation.

Additional Information Regarding Henry County EMS

By Yorke Prough · Friday, June 21st, 2024 at 12:29 pm CDT

The Henry County Board of Supervisors recently approved a resolution declaring Henry County Emergency Medical Services (HCEMS) as an essential county service. HCEMS is owned by the Henry County Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees. There is a $0.27 property tax levy which funds the service.

In May 2021, Iowa code provided county supervisors the authorization to impose a tax levy in support of EMS, due to EMS not being considered an essential service such as police and fire departments. This designation of “essential county service” is up to the voter.

The change comes from the revenue shortfalls, which will make the future sustainability of EMS impossible. Several counties have this say issue on upcoming ballots, including Henry County.

A public vote of atleast 60% majority on September 10th, would ensure that this service will continue. In this instance, the $0.27 cent current tax levy would be removed from the hospital budget and replaced with a new $0.75 cent essential services tax.

So, what does this mean for the average tax payer? With the current tax levy, a property assessed just over $115,000, with a net taxable value of $62,853, generates a $2,466 tax bill. With a $0.48 cent tax increase, the same tax bill would be $2,496, which is approximately a $30 change for the entire year, or $2.50 extra per month.

Additional information about EMS as an essential service will be given in the following weeks.

Governor Reynolds Visits Mount Pleasant, Comments on Illegal Immigration

By Yorke Prough · Friday, June 21st, 2024 at 12:28 pm CDT

Governor Kim Reynolds visited Mount Pleasant on Thursday afternoon where she met with leaders across the town to hear their needs. Afterwards, Reynolds was asked about the Illegal Immigration reentry law, following the news that a federal district court judge granted an injunction. Reynolds supports the Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s appeal of this matter.

In an interview, the governor stated that “it is horrible when we have a president of the United States that is not doing his constitutional duty to protect the United States citizens and most importantly the sovereignty of this country.”

Governor Reynolds also says that the state is stepping up and protecting the citizens, and Iowa is enforcing the illegal immigration laws that are already on the books. “The case that they used they had actually superseded the existing U.S. immigration laws already on the books…” she continues “we didn’t do that, Arizona in fact did, but Iowa didn’t.”

After the interview with the governor, the Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed an official appeal of the federal court’s decision to block enforcement of Iowa’s immigration law. Attorney General Bird released the following statement:

“Iowa won’t back down. Today, my office filed an appeal to defend Iowa’s immigration enforcement law that keeps Iowa families safe. We can’t afford to stand by any longer as Biden’s border crisis rolls out a welcome mat for drug cartels, human traffickers, and suspected terrorists to invade our home communities. If Biden won’t do his job to secure our borders, Iowa will.”

Three Substances, Including Crack Cocaine, Seized in Burlington

By Yorke Prough · Friday, June 21st, 2024 at 7:00 am CDT

The Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force has been conducting an in-depth investigation over the past several months into a suspected drug network operating in Burlington, Iowa. This investigation culminated in the execution of a search warrant at 221 S 9th St., Burlington.

On June 20, 2024 at approximately 9:30 A.M. officers from the Task Force, with the assistance of local law enforcement agencies, carried out the search warrant at the residence located at 221 S 9th St. Crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana, were among the substances seized during the arrest of 56 year old James Griffin. He received two warrants for possession of Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Deliver, amongst other charges.

This operation is part of a broader effort to dismantle drug trafficking operations within the region and ensure the safety and well-being of the community.

Airlift Required for 21 Year Old Injured in Boating Accident

By Yorke Prough · Friday, June 21st, 2024 at 6:59 am CDT

A 21-year-old was airlifted on Wednesday after a boating accident at the Fort Madison Marina. At approximately 6:48pm, the Fort Madison Fire Department was dispatched to the Fort Madison Marina for a report of a person injured in a boating accident.

It was reported that the injured person had been struck by the propeller of a boat. The extent of the injuries was unknown. Rescue personnel requested the air ambulance be dispatched to the scene for patient transport.  The injured person was identified as Carlos Antonio Tecpanecatl, 21.

Fort Madison Fire dispatched our rescue boat to respond to the Willow Patch Access while other fire department personnel along with other agencies went to the Access. Rescue personnel were on scene within minutes and the boat bringing the injured person in was able to get under way arriving at the access.

Air Evac Life team helicopter landed at the access and the patient was transported by helicopter to the hospital in Iowa City.

Agencies assisting at the scene were Fort Madison Fire Department, Fort Madison Police Department, Lee County Sheriff Department, Lee County Ambulance, Air Evac Life team, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

There is no update on his condition at this time.

 

 

Sports, June 21st

By Slaten Swords · Friday, June 21st, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Baseball

Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield are now tied atop the Southeast Conference standings at 8-3 after the Trojans routed the Panthers 13-1 last night. Everything was bouncing Fairfield’s way last night as the Trojans worked nine walks and tallied 12 hits as a team. 

Cason Miller did most of the damage, going 3 for 5 with a triple and five RBIs in the win. Luke Konczal slugged two doubles as he and Caden Allison combined for another five RBIs. Payson Coleman tabbed the lone RBI for the Panthers.

Fairfield will look for another road win tonight at Albia with first pitch at 7:30 pm.

Mt. Pleasant will square off against Fort Madison on Monday, June 24th, at home in a doubleheader with game one at 5:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 5:15 pm. 

Danville’s four-run third inning propelled the Bears past Mediapolis last night 5-3. Jaden Bauer slapped a triple and tallied two RBIs for the Bears. Danville will host Central Lee tonight at 5:30 pm.  

Burlington Notre Dame will face off against Mediapolis tonight at 5:30 pm on the road. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to Louisa-Muscatine tonight for first pitch at 5:30 pm. 

New London will stay at home to take on West Burlington tonight at 5:30 pm. 

Van Buren County will compete at the Moravia Triangular tomorrow, June 22nd, at 10 am. 

Postseason Baseball

The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) released their Class 1A and Class 2A postseason brackets with the first round of postseason action scheduled for July 6th. Here’s a look at our local teams and their matchups.

For Class 1A Substate 6: District 11, Burlington Notre Dame, the #2 team in Class 1A according to the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association, took the top seed in the district, earning the Nikes a bye into the second round. 

#4 New London will face off against #5 Pekin at 5 pm at Keota with the winner to take on the Nikes in the second round. #2 Moravia will host #7 Moulton-Udell at 7 pm. The winner will take on the winner between #3 Keota and #6 Danville as they will compete at Keota at 7 pm.

Class 2A Substate 5: District 10, will feature three of our local teams. #1 Anamosa earned a bye and will take on the winner between #4 Winfield-Mt. Union and #5 Louisa-Muscatine at 5 pm at Mediapolis. #3 Mediapolis will tango with #6 West Burlington at 7 pm at Mediapolis. The winner will compete against #2 Mid-Prairie.

Substate 6: District 12 will also have our attention as #4 Cardinal and #5 Van Buren County will fight for the right to play #1 Interstate 35 in the second round. #3 Central Lee will compete against #6 Centerville with the winner facing off against #2 Pleasantville. The first-round matchups will take place at Central Lee.

Stay tuned to KILJ to find out our postseason broadcast schedule. Moreover, the Class 3A and Class 4A postseason brackets will be released on June 27th.

High School Softball

Mediapolis clobbered Danville last night 22-9. The Bears will square off against Central Lee tonight at home at 7 pm. 

Mediapolis will face off against Winfield-Mt. Union on Monday, June 24th, at home at 6 pm. 

Winfield-Mt. Union stopped their 9-game skid last night with a 9-2 win over WACO. Katie Miller led the Wolves with two RBIs as Makiah Lower picked up the win in the circle with 8 strikeouts. Natalie Wagner smacked a triple for the Warriors. 

WACO will take on Hillcrest Academy at home tonight at 7 pm. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to Louisa-Muscatine tonight at 6 pm. 

Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield battled in a conference showdown last night and the Trojans slammed the door to end the Panthers’ late surge, winning 9-6. Savannah Hollander clubbed a three-run home run to help seal the win. The Panthers will host Fort Madison on Monday for a doubleheader with game one at 5:30 pm. 

Fairfield will travel to Clear Creek-Amana today for a tournament. 

West Burlington will take on New London tonight at 7 pm on the road. 

Van Buren County will face off against Holy Trinity Catholic tonight at 7 pm at home.

High School Cross Country

Mt. Pleasant’s optional summer runs officially get underway this week. The runs are a great way to get in shape and to run with others. The runs are available for 7th through 12th graders and will often be led by upperclassmen as coaches may not be present for every run.

On Mondays and Wednesdays the runs will start at 6:30 am at the Old Threshers Museum Theatre and on Tuesdays and Thursdays they will be at Saunders Park by the swimming pool at 7 pm. 

If you have any questions, contact Coach Murray at 319-850-0867. 

Prospect League

The Burlington Bees tried to keep up with the offense of the Normal CornBelters, but ultimately fell short 16-7. Skylar Agnew clocked a home run and three RBIs in the losing effort. The Bees will look for their revenge against the Cornbelters tonight at 6:30 pm on the road. 

Weather halted the game between the Clinton LumberKings and the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp last night in the 3rd inning. The game will resume on July 12th. The LumberKings will host the Cape Catfish tonight at 6:30 pm. 

This Day in Sports History

1970 – FIFA World Cup Final, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City: Brazil and Pelé become first team and player to win World Cup three times, beating Italy, 4-1 in front of 107,412.

1994 – Tennis superstar Steffi Graf becomes the first defending champion to lose in the first round of a major tournament (Wimbledon to Lorrie McNeal).

1997 –  The Women’s National Basketball Association begins as the New York Liberty beats the Los Angeles Sparks.