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.

Prep Baseball: Postseason Assignments for Classes 1A and 2A

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, June 20th, 2024 at 11:49 pm CDT

Prep 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.

Class 1A

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. They will attempt to make it back for the second consecutive year.

#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.

Substate 6: District 12 will feature #6 Wapello facing off against BGM at Hillcrest Academy at 5 pm as the #2-seed Hillcrest Academy will host HLV at 7 pm. #1 Sigourney will host the top half of the bracket as they face off against English Valleys and #4 Highland takes on #5 Lone Tree at 5 pm.

The district 11 champion will clash with the district 12 champion on July 16th to see who will advance to the state tournament.

Class 2A

Class 2A Substate 5: District 10, will feature three of our local teams. #1 Anamosa earned the 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.

The district 10 champion will face off against one of these six teams to advance to the state tournament: #1 Sumner-Fredericksburg, #2 Alburnett, #3 Jesup, #4 Columbus Catholic, #5 West Liberty, and #6 West Branch.

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.

District 11 will feature #1 Des Moines Christian, #2 Pella Christian, #3 Albia, #4 PCM, #5 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, and #6 Central Decatur with the district champion advancing to the substate 6 final.

Up Next

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.

Special Gift Donated to K9 Mack of Lee County Sheriff’s Office

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, June 20th, 2024 at 10:38 am CDT

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office received good news as they were told that K9 Mack will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Mack’s vest is sponsored by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and will be embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of K9 Hobbs, Des Moines, IA – EOW 12/12/23”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and NIJ certified. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 5,627 vests to K9s in all 50 states at a value of $6.9 million, made possible by both private and corporate donations.

The program is open to U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $985 will sponsor one vest. Each vest has a value of $1800.00, weighs an average of 4-5 lb., and comes with a five-year warranty. For more information, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts donations at www.vik9s.org, or you may mail your contribution to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.

 

Tara Hillyer

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, June 20th, 2024 at 10:26 am CDT

Tara Gail Hillyer, 49, of Middletown, died Sunday, June 16, 2024, at her home.

Born May 18, 1975, in Mount Pleasant, she was the daughter of William and Linda Simmons Farr. On October 24, 1998, she married Steven P. Hillyer at Saints Mary and Patrick’s Catholic Church in West Burlington.

She was a graduate of Mount Pleasant High School. She attended Dayton’s School of Hair Design.

Tara was a hair stylist for many years at A Cut Above in Burlington. She was a United States Postal Carrier delivering for the rural routes covering West Point.

Tara enjoyed the outdoors; camping, fishing, working in her garden and planting flowers on the deck. She liked to spend time on the river and with her animals. She was a great cook, but never gave out her recipes. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family and the numerous vacations they took.

Survivors include her husband, Steven Hillyer of Middletown; two children Cade Hillyer and Alivia Hillyer both of Middletown; mother, Linda Farr of Mount Pleasant; three siblings Lynette (William Lyon) Farr, Brian (Carol) Farr and Marla Farr all of Mount Pleasant; two sisters-in-law, Kim (Brian) Wolbert of Eldridge and Jan (Bill) Lippert of Burlington; brother-in-law, Kenneth (Hope) Hillyer of Middletown; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, father, brother and great niece.

Visitation will be from noon until 7:00 PM with the family to receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Friday, June 21, 2024 at Prugh Funeral Service, 3940 Division Street.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

A memorial has been established for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Diesel and Unleaded Each Rise 3 Cents Across Iowa – Weekly Fuel Report

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, June 20th, 2024 at 8:30 am CDT

$3.18 is the average price across Iowa for a regular unleaded gallon of gasoline, according to AAA. This is a 3 cent rise from last week and a 12 cent drop from this time last year. This price creeps closer to the national average, which held steady this week at $3.45.

Diesel prices also rose 3 cents, for a statewide average of $3.52, which is 9 cents cheaper than last year, and 28 cents lower than the national average.

Natural gas prices fell 13 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.88/MMbtu.

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.

Help Make Mount Pleasant Home Sweet Home Ahead of RAGBRAI

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, June 20th, 2024 at 8:30 am CDT

RAGBRAI is right around the corner and it’s hard to escape hearing about it. The route through Mount Pleasant was announced earlier this week, and while houses along that route should certainly expect a large amount of riders, so should almost every house in town.

Have you ever wanted to make your house the best looking one on the block? Maybe there is a project you’ve been pushing back and waiting for a long weekend to complete. Whatever it is, now is the time to spruce up your home and yard. Every street, corner, and park should represent what Mount Pleasant is all about, Home Sweet Home.

Whether it’s crafting colorful banners, planting beautiful flowers, placing an extra chair or two in your yard or simply adding a touch of Mt. Pleasant to your storefront, every little bit counts!

Looking for help or ideas for decorating? Send a message to the Mount Pleasant RAGBRAI Facebook page for inspiration!

Sports, June 20th

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, June 20th, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Baseball

Winfield-Mt. Union and West Burlington participated in a thrilling contest last night that saw the Wolves score four runs in the bottom of the 7th to force extras just for the Falcons to put up a run in the top of the 8th inning to eventually win 7-6. Isaac Beard and Emry Watson each totaled two RBIs for the Falcons, while Riley Kaalberg crushed a home run and tallied three RBIs for the Wolves. 

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

New London will stay at home to take on West Burlington tomorrow, June 21st, at 5:30 pm. 

Van Buren County clobbered Wapello last night 18-4. Izaak Loeffler slugged two doubles and brought home three runs for the Warriors. Van Buren County will compete at the Moravia Triangular on Saturday, June 22nd, at 10 am. 

Mediapolis handled Highland last night 14-3. The Bulldogs will take on Danville tonight at 5:30 pm on the road. 

Central Lee’s late surge cemented the win for the Hawks over Hillcrest Academy yesterday 7-1. Cory Jones notched four RBIs for the Hawks as Blake Davis tallied 10 strikeouts and the win on the mound. Central Lee will travel to Danville tomorrow at 5:30 pm. 

Burlington Notre Dame demolished Regina Catholic last night 14-1. The Nikes will face off against Mediapolis tomorrow at 5:30 pm on the road. 

Mt. Pleasant will host Fairfield tonight at 7:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 7:15 pm. 

High School Softball

West Burlington squashed Winfield-Mt. Union last night 20-1. Logan Kelley swatted a home run and grabbed four RBIs along with Shona Andersen for the Falcons. West Burlington will take on New London tomorrow, June 21st, at 7 pm on the road. 

New London lost to Louisa-Muscatine last night 11-1. 

Van Buren County was shut out by Wapello last night 4-0 as Ada Boysen fanned 17 Warriors to earn the complete game win. Van Buren County will face off against Holy Trinity Catholic tomorrow at 7 pm at home. 

Mediapolis was handled by Highland last night 10-0. Avery Crear went 2 for 3 with a double for the Bulldogs. Mediapolis will face off against Danville tonight on the road at 7 pm.

Mt. Pleasant fell to Cardinal last night 11-1. The Panthers will take on Fairfield tonight at home at 7:30 pm. 

Fairfield and Washington continued their rain out game from last Thursday and the Trojans appeared poised to pull off the upset, leading 2 to 0 for three innings. Nevertheless, the Demons got the offense rolling to win 7-2. Faith Jones nabbed the lone RBI for the Trojans, while Colbie Greiner smacked a home run for Washington to total two RBIs. 

Central Lee walloped Hillcrest Academy last night 16-0. The Hawks will take on Holy Trinity Catholic tonight in a doubleheader with game one at 5:30 pm. 

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

High School Softball Rankings

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released their fifth edition of the softball rankings and our local teams experienced a shakeup.

Class 4A saw Burlington fall out of the top 15 after a shaky seven games since the injury of their senior star Sydnee Plummer. The Grayhounds have surrendered 31 runs in their past seven games after allowing 14 runs in their first 11 games of the season.

In Class 3A, Washington returned to their #8 spot in the rankings after an 8-2 loss to Centerville curtailed what could have been a 15-game winning streak. The Demons tout a team ERA of 2.41, while Leighton Salazar is batting 0.571 on the year with 25 RBIs.

Central Lee advanced a spot in the rankings to end the week #14. Kenna Sandoval and Shana Buford have led the bats this season with slugging percentages over 1.000. Jayln Hawk touts an ERA of 2.23.

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 continued their matchup from June 13th against the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp and despite entering the game with the lead the Pistol Shrimp exited with the win 12-11. 

Game two also did not go the Bees way as they fell 3-2. Jackson Lindquist smacked a home run in the losing effort. 

Burlington will host the Normal CornBelters tonight at 6:30 pm. 

Clinton will take on Pistol Shrimp tonight at home at 6:30 pm. 

This Day in Sports History

1949 – Tennis star Gussie Moran shocks Wimbledon by wearing a short dress “to look good” and “move more freely on the court.”

1968 – Jim Hines becomes the first person to run 100 meters in under 10 seconds.

2018 – FIFA World Cup: Cristiano Renaldo heads a goal against Morocco to become the all-time leading European goalscorer (85) in international competition.