Prep Boys’ Basketball: Keokuk’s Jaxon Clark Earns Back-to-Back SEC Player of the Year Honors

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, February 26th, 2026 at 10:10 pm CDT

Prep Boys’ Basketball- The Southeast Conference (SEC) still has one team vying for a spot at the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s (IHSAA) state tournament, but the All-Conference teams have been released in the meantime.

Player of the Year

Jaxon Clark has been named SEC Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and it is hard to argue with the decision. The senior is averaging the 3rd most points per game in the state with 28.6 and the most rebounds per game at 17.5.

With Clark in the captain’s seat, the Chiefs have gone 53-19 over the past three seasons with back-to-back trips to the Substate Championship after upsetting Center Point-Urbana Thursday night. Additionally, Keokuk is finally back on top of the conference standings since the 2014-15 season.

Keokuk

It’s been over a decade, but the Chiefs are conference champions once again and they did it in dominant fashion, handing their SEC foes double digit losses in all ten regular season conference contests.

Clark was a unanimous First Team selection. Finding a spot on the All-SEC Second Team was Jalen Clark, a sophomore, and Chayce Smith, a senior. Clark finished second on the team with 10.5 points per game to go along with five rebounds. Smith also claimed 10.1 points per game on 50.5% shooting from the field.

Kyler Beelman and Antonio Crockett were named Honorable Mentions.

Burlington

If it was not for Keokuk, then Burlington would have gone undefeated in conference play. Nevertheless, the Grayhounds finished the season with a 12-10 record with an 8-2 conference mark for 2nd place in the SEC.

As one of the three unanimous choices for First Team, Jett Morris burst onto the scene as a sophomore with 16.7 points per game for 3rd in the conference. The Grayhound finished 5th in the SEC for three pointers made per game.

On the Second Team was Kobe Edmunds and Michael Kantzavelos. Edmunds’ 1.9 steals per game finished 4th in the conference, while Kantzavelos dished out 4.2 assists per game for 2nd in the SEC.

Cj Chandler and Keshawn Wyldon made the Honorable Mention list.

Mt. Pleasant

The Panthers saw an eight-game improvement from last season to this year with four more conference wins this past year for an overall record of 10-12 and an SEC mark of 5-5. The result was two First Team nods in Isaiah and Noah Lange.

Isaiah Lange was superman for the Panthers, tabbing the 5th most points per game (14), 3rd most rebounds (7.9), and the 6th highest field goal percentage (59.2%). His play got even better when Noah Lange got back into the lineup after winter break. In his 12 games on the court, Lange put up 11 points per game to go along with nearly seven rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Pointedly, with Noah on the court, the Panthers went 8-4.

Finding a spot on the Second Team was Ryan Helling. The sophomore played in six less games, but still averaged the 2nd most three pointers made per game on 38.5% shooting to knock in 11 points per game.

On the Honorable Mention list was Aiden Humble and Grayson Lowery. In the two years as a starter, Humble buried 110 three pointers, which is the most in a two-year span going to the 2006-07 season. Lowery proved hard work paid off after going from first man off the bench to the starting lineup for 17 of the 22 games.

Washington

The Demons went 13-10 for the season and finished 4th in the conference with a 4-6 record. Although, one of their biggest victories of the season was a road upset against Burlington in the first round of the substate tournament.

Nic Stone was named First Team All-SEC for his conference leading 3.3 three pointers made per game. Due to his high three-point play, Stone cashed in for 15.4 points per game for 4th in the SEC.

Kael Williams was named to Second Team as he tied for the conference lead in steals per game with Honorable Mention Rajan Roth. Drew Conrad, also an Honorable Mention, led the SEC in assists per game with 5.1 and third in the conference with two steals per game.

Fort Madison

The Bloodhounds shocked some teams by compiling five wins on the season and knocking off Washington and Fairfield in their conference showdowns. As the third and final unanimous selection, Nolan Guzman was placed on the First Team.

One could argue that he deserved Player of the Year honors. The Bloodhound broke the school record for points in a game with 51. He was 2nd in the conference for points per game with 20 and 3rd in assists per game with 3.0. In the team’s wins, Guzman put up 33, 26, 21, 13, and 21 points, respectively.

Darius Foy and Jonah Tackett were named Honorable Mentions.

Fairfield

The Trojans won two games on the season, both in SEC play and both on the road. Ethan Bisgard and Eli Zillman were placed on the Honorable Mention list.

Henry County Supervisors Address Roads, Budget Timeline, and America 250 Plans

By Shelbi Swinscoe · Thursday, February 26th, 2026 at 11:19 am CDT

The Henry County Board of Supervisors met Thursday morning, February 26, approving the agenda and addressing a range of infrastructure projects, funding matters, and upcoming community initiatives. Supervisor Steven Detrick reported on the Assessor’s Conference Board meeting held Tuesday evening, where pay adjustments were approved of up to five percent for the deputy assessor and up to three percent for office staff. The assessor’s office operates under its own levy and is governed by the conference board. County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss presented a RISE grant application to the Iowa Department of Transportation for improvements at the Goodyear Road and Washington Street intersection along Business Highway 34. The project would rework the intersection and add turn lanes to better accommodate heavy truck traffic. Henry County is partnering with the City of Mount Pleasant on the project, and both entities agreed the county would take the lead due to the recent loss of the city administrator and the city’s ongoing hiring process to fill that position. Supervisors approved the application unanimously.

Supervisors approved a contract awarding quarry crushing services to Preston Ready Mix at $7.05 per ton, totaling $775,500, compared to last year’s rate of $6.93 per ton. The secondary roads department reported three utility permits, including one for utilities along Winfield Avenue in preparation for an upcoming City of Mount Pleasant reconstruction project, with bids expected to be let in April, according to the City’s engineer. Two additional permits were presented for Windstream. Culvert replacements on Fremont Street have been completed, and crews are now backfilling and shaping the banks. Contractors are moving equipment into position on Lexington Avenue, while work continues on 235th Street with the removal of the west pier. In personnel news, county mechanic Bruce Breuer has submitted his resignation as he plans to retire.

Paul Katsion appeared before the board on behalf of the America 250 committee to discuss plans to open a time capsule buried on the courthouse lawn in 1976, which was intended to be opened 50 years later in 2026. The committee proposes opening the original capsule during anniversary celebrations and then burying a new time capsule filled with items representing life in 2026, to be opened in 2076. Supervisors made a motion to allow the America 250 committee to uncover the time capsule. Supervisors also set the fiscal year 2027 budget hearing for March 26, with the proposed tax levy hearing to follow the same day. Detrick expressed concern about the timeline and suggested holding the hearing at 6 p.m. to improve public accessibility. The Supervisors will work to accommodate a evening time so that Henry County Residents can attend the hearing.

Tonya Scott of Alcohol and Drug Services spoke about prevention programs offered in Henry County, including GenRx and prescription drug abuse education in local schools, and warned the organization will operate at a deficit if county funding is not secured. She noted opioid settlement funds are used to support ADS services in Lee County and suggested Henry County explore whether similar funding could be applied locally. Supervisors agreed to review the eligibility of those funds and plan to consult with the County Attorney’s Office regarding contract details and work with the Sheriff’s Office to better understand whether opioid settlement dollars could be used to support ADS prevention services in Henry County. County salary discussions are scheduled for March 4 at 10 a.m., after which the meeting adjourned.

The County Auditor, Robin Detrick told supervisors she needs to know the proposed raise rates for county employees so her office can prepare the necessary documentation for the upcoming budget hearing. Supervisors plan to meet March 4 at 10 a.m. to compile pay rates and finalize 2026–2027 wage increases for the Auditor’s Office.

Representative Collins Leads 5-Year Tuition Freeze Through the Iowa House

By Kadie Johannson · Thursday, February 26th, 2026 at 7:35 am CDT

On Tuesday, February 24, 2026 State Representative Taylor Collins guided House File 2242 through the Iowa House. The measure would freeze tuition and mandatory fees at the state’s three regent institutions for the next five years, aiming to address what he calls a college affordability crisis impacting Iowa students.

Collins says the state already appropriates more than 600 million dollars annually to the universities governed by the Iowa Board of Regents. He argues that despite that funding, administrative costs continue to grow.

According to Collins, the total regent enterprise budget — excluding the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics — now exceeds five billion dollars, which he says is more than half the size of Iowa’s overall state budget. He also noted that roughly one-third of regent expenditures currently go toward academic instruction.

Collins says the primary mission of the institutions is to educate students and prepare the workforce, adding that students deserve predictability when it comes to tuition costs.

House File 2242 passed the Iowa House with bipartisan support on an 86-to-5 vote. The bill now moves to the Iowa Senate for consideration.

Southeast Iowa Band’s “Musical Passport” Concert Takes Audience on Global Journey in Mount Pleasant Sunday, March 8

By Kadie Johannson · Thursday, February 26th, 2026 at 7:21 am CDT

The Southeast Iowa Band is inviting the public to take a musical journey around the world — no passport required.

The group’s spring concert, titled “Musical Passport,” will be held Sunday, March 8th at 3 p.m. inside Chapel Auditorium in Mount Pleasant. Admission is free, with support provided through free-will donations. The performance will last about 90 minutes, include an intermission, and conclude with a reception in the lobby.

Music Director Robert McConnell says the program is designed to appeal to all ages, especially families with students who may be considering joining band. During the concert, musicians will introduce their instruments by playing short musical excerpts, giving young audience members a chance to hear the unique sounds that come together to form the full ensemble.

The afternoon’s repertoire will span the globe — from South America to Armenia to Latin America — and even into outer space. The concert opens with John Williams’ iconic “Superman” theme. Other featured works include “Armenian Dances” by Alfred Reed, the familiar “Light Cavalry Overture,” and a high-energy Latin finale.

Horn player Amanda Stout will be featured as soloist on “Cape Horn,” a piece inspired by the dramatic waters off southern Chile where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet. Stout says the work is filled with powerful horn calls and driving energy, balanced by a lyrical middle section reminiscent of rolling ocean waves.

The 50-member ensemble includes band directors, music educators, professional musicians, and advanced student performers from across southeast Iowa. The group rehearses for five weeks before presenting fall and spring concerts, with a mission of challenging performers while promoting music education in the region.

Again, the Southeast Iowa Band’s “Musical Passport” concert is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, March 8th at Chapel Auditorium in Mount Pleasant. Admission is free.

Great River Health Honors Two Local Nurses with 2026 DAISY Awards

By Kadie Johannson · Thursday, February 26th, 2026 at 7:16 am CDT

The Great River Health system recently presented its latest DAISY Foundation Awards for Extraordinary Nurses of 2026. The national award honors nurses who demonstrate outstanding compassion and dedication to patients and families.

Among the recipients is Adrene Garcia, a registered nurse on the Medical-Surgical Unit at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington. She was nominated by the girlfriend of a patient recovering from hip replacement surgery. In the nomination, Garcia was praised for her warmth, empathy, attentiveness, and professionalism, as well as her encouragement during therapy and detailed communication during doctor visits.

Also honored was Amber Larkin, a registered nurse in the Women and Family Center at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington. She was nominated by a patient for her compassionate care during labor and delivery. The patient highlighted Larkin’s attentiveness, supportive bedside manner, and thoughtful gesture of writing “Have a Birthday Party” on the room’s whiteboard under the day’s care plan. The mother described the experience as the best of her childbirths and credited Larkin’s care as a major reason why.

Both nurses were recognized during special ceremonies attended by colleagues, family members, and patients. Each received a certificate, a DAISY Award pin, and a hand-carved sculpture titled “A Healer’s Touch.”

Great River Health employs more than 800 nurses across its campuses in West Burlington, Fort Madison, and at Henry County Health Center in Mount Pleasant. Nurses can be nominated for the DAISY Award on an ongoing basis by patients, families, and coworkers.

Sports, February 26th

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, February 26th, 2026 at 6:37 am CDT

Boys’ District Basketball

In Class 1A Substate 5, #4 Burlington Notre Dame and Calamus-Wheatland will face off for the Substate Championship on Saturday, February 28th, at 4 pm at Iowa City High. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 3:45 pm.

In Class 3A Substate 5, #5 Washington will travel to #1 Pella tonight at 7 pm.

#3 Keokuk will tangle with #2 Center Point-Urbana tonight at 7 pm on the road. 

Girls’ Postseason Basketball

For the Class 3A state tournament, #7 Mediapolis will square off against #2 Maquoketa for the state quarterfinals on Monday, March 2nd, at 8:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 8:15 pm.

The other Class 3A matchups include #1 Mt. Vernon taking on #8 Cherokee Washington, #4 Wahlert Catholic will face off against #5 Williamsburg, and #3 Des Moines Christian will tangle with #6 Forest City.

High School Bowling

At the Class 2A State Individual Tournament yesterday, Keokuk’s Chase Hemann snuck into the final eight after totaling 695 pins in his three games, which included a game of 258. 

In the finals, he would be bumped to the 7th place match where he would take down Western Dubuque’s Devon Rubner 234-189 for 7th place. ADM’s Cole Darling won the individual title with a game of 237 for the championship match.

Waukee would rally past Waterloo West for the Class 3A team title, winning the best-of-five series, 235-216, in the final game.

College Signing

Mt. Pleasant’s Kynlee White will be sprinting her way to Southeastern Community College after signing her letter of intent to join the women’s track and field program yesterday.

As a member of the Panther program, she is a three-time state qualifier, two-time Drake Relay Qualifier, and helped Mt. Pleasant reclaim their 11th conference title in the past 13 years after winning the last event of the night last season. For White, competing at the next level realized a dream that has been ongoing since middle school,

“Well, growing up, all I ever heard was you’re so fast, like all this, and it all kind of just came to me. Yes, I put in a lot of work to get to where I am today, but I would like to say I was born fast, whatever. So field day in elementary school, I always won those races, and I was like, maybe I should do track in high school, and I did middle school and had great experiences, and fell in love with it, and the team, if you have been on the team, which it’s not too late to join track if you’re listening and you can still go [out], but we just have so much fun, and I’m really glad I chose track.”

The 4×200 meter relay team broke the school record and managed to claim 10th at the state track meet last year. With the season starting on March 12th with the Indoor State Meet at Iowa State University, White is ready to roll into the spring season,

“Just do what Mount Pleasant Track does best, and go kick butt out there, and make it to Drake, make it to state, but that’s anyone’s goals, so just have fun…”

Southeastern Community College

The women’s basketball team finished the regular season with a dominant 68-34 victory over Southwestern Community College last night, snapping an 11-game losing streak. 

The men’s basketball team will travel to Marshalltown Community College on Saturday, February 28th, at 7 pm for their regular season finale. 

College Basketball

The Iowa State women’s team dropped their senior night contest to Oklahoma State last night, 88-77. Jada Williams tabbed a 19 point and 10 assist double-double in the loss. The Cyclones will square off against Kansas State on Sunday, March 1st, on the road at 1 pm.

The #9 Iowa women’s team will host Illinois tonight at 8 pm.

The Iowa men’s team breezed past Ohio State last night, 74-57. Bennett Stirtz led the charge with 22 points. The Hawkeyes have won 20 games in a year for the first time since the 2020-21 season. Iowa will travel to Penn State on Saturday, February 28th, with tip-off at 11 am.

The #4 Iowa State men’s team will face off against #16 Texas Tech on Saturday at 3 pm. KILJ 98.5 FM and AM 1130 will have the call.

This Day in Sports History

1967 – 9th Daytona 500: Mario Andretti wins his first and only NASCAR Grand National event; the only time a driver born outside the US has ever won the Great American Race.

1981 – 84 penalties (406 mins) assessed for a brawl between the NHL’s Minnesota North Stars and the Boston Bruins. Boston won 5-1.

2017 – 59th Daytona 500: Kurt Busch wins after Kyle Larson runs out of gas on the last lap; Jeffrey Earnhardt makes NASCAR history as the first ever 4th generation driver to compete in the Daytona 500.

Mount Pleasant City Council Hears Updates, Approves Routine Business

By Shelbi Swinscoe · Thursday, February 26th, 2026 at 6:24 am CDT

The Mount Pleasant City Council met in regular session Wednesday evening, February 25th, approving the consent agenda unanimously. Routine items included minutes, bills, and reports, all passed with all ayes.

During communications, Alan Buckert, Vice President of the Midwest Old Threshers Board of Directors, thanked the city for its continued partnership and provided updates on improvements at the grounds. Buckert said work is underway to replace a restroom west of the office, noting it is one of the first facilities visitors see when arriving by bus. Plans also include a new restroom near the EMS building by the carousel and a permanent structure for the steam engine prints east of Museum B.

Buckert also promoted the upcoming Alive After 5 event on March 11th, where this year’s entertainment lineup will be announced. He added that school tours will soon begin, giving students hands-on opportunities to learn about local heritage. Buckert reported strong attendance at the Festival of Lights, with approximately 6,500 vehicles visiting this past season.

Joy Lapp of the Historic Preservation Commission also thanked the city for its partnership. Joined by Deb Savage and Lea Bradley, Lapp explained that restoration bids for the historic Second Baptist Church came in far beyond what the group can afford. As a result, organizers are forming an independent nonprofit to facilitate the transfer and preservation of the building.

In other business, the council considered routine agenda items and scheduled its next regular meeting for Wednesday, March 11th at 5:30 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant’s Kynlee White Ready to Sprint Onto Southeastern Community College’s Track and Field Program

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, February 25th, 2026 at 8:34 pm CDT

Mt. Pleasant, IA- The Mt. Pleasant Girls’ Track and Field program has been nearly unstoppable in southeast Iowa over the past decade after taking back the Southeast Conference (SEC) championship from Washington for their 11th title in 13 years.

A big reason for that success has been Kynlee White, leading to the speedster signing her letter of intent to continue her Track and Field career at Southeastern Community College. White discussed what went into the decision,

“Yeah, it’s actually started a while back in the summer. I went all the way to Wisconsin and visited two huge schools there, and I was like, yeah, maybe I want to be far away and do that, and then I stayed in touch with those schools, but I came back, went to some smaller D3 schools, and I loved them, but then I realized maybe I don’t want to be far away in those schools. I don’t want to go to a big school either. Also, if you know any of my teachers or any of my coaches, I like to say I’m an athlete-student. I don’t like school at all, so maybe going to a four-year school wouldn’t be the route for me, so I’d rather go to a two-year, smaller school and keep it close.”

The senior has put together quite the resume through her three years as a Panther, setting a new school record in the 4×200 meter relay with Alex Scott, Kiyah Sanders, and Ellie Freeman, which was also an SEC meet record helping the Panthers take back the conference title. A moment she would put at the top of the list of memories,

“You know, it was down to the last race. I was in that race, the 4×400, which I don’t always run that, but I like to do what’s, I’m a very team [oriented] player. I like to do what our team needs, and I actually wasn’t the anchor of that, but it was between two teams, and we had to get that to win, and I put everything I had out there to get it to win, and it was a really surreal moment.”

Additionally, she is a three-time state qualifier—three times for the 4×200, twice for the 4×100, and once in the 200-meter dash and sprint medley—and two-time Drake Relays qualifier. Even though White has done just about every other sport the school offers, the spring season can never come around quick enough,

“Me and my friend Ella, that’s all we ever talk about. If you’re ever around us, it’s always, oh, track’s this many days away, or this many days away, and I’ve been distracted by playing other sports, but always, I’m always ready to be back on the track doing what I love.”

At last year’s State Track Meet, White took 6th in the 4×100 meter relay and 10th in the 4×200 meter relay with the team’s 5th place finish in the 4×100 meter relay in her sophomore campaign being her best finish. With the gift of speed, the thought process on the oval is simple,

“Coach [Scot] Lamm always tells me not to think, just go,” said Kynlee White. “He says that I’m an athlete, and just go. There’s nothing, so you can’t really think about anything. Once you’re out on there, you literally can’t be in your head. Just go, do it.”

With the track season looming, it is nice to have the dream finalized for White,

“I always wanted to be a college athlete and specifically running track. You know, I participate in other sports, volleyball, basketball, but I like to say I just do those to stay in shape, and I’ve really enjoyed them the last basketball season, but running track has always been my favorite, and I’ve always wanted to continue doing it.”

White is looking at enjoying her senior season with her friends and coaches with the expectation to get back to the Blue Oval twice this season. More than anything it’s an opportunity to keep the tradition of Mt. Pleasant track rolling,

“Just do what Mount Pleasant Track does best, and go kick butt out there…”

In terms of studies, White has narrowed down her choice but has not officially decided,

“I haven’t really thought too much into it. That’s what, one of the hardest decisions was, was thinking about what I’m gonna do. I originally thought I was gonna do kinesiology, but then I realized I don’t want any of the careers that come out of that, so I think business administration, there’s, it’s very versatile, and there’s a lot that I can, a lot of different pathways I can go with that.”

The season will get underway with the Indoor State Meet scheduled for March 12th at Iowa State University.