The Henry County Sheriff’s Office reports of an arrest over the weekend.
On April 6, 2024, at approximately 10:20 PM a traffic stop was conducted on 2004 red Buick Lesabre for improper registration plate lamps in the 2600-grid of Hickory Avenue near Oakland Mills.
The driver was identified as David Whiteaker, 39, Homeless, previously of Winfield, Iowa. David’s Iowa driving status was Barred with 11 withdrawals in effect. David was arrested for Driving While Barred, an Aggravated Misdemeanor and received a citation for Improper Registration Lamps.
KILJ Bracket Challenge- It has been 25 days since the first round of March Madness got underway and after 13 upsets in the first round, NC State turned into the true Cinderella Story and looked to become the lowest seed to advance to the championship game, while UConn was looking to take down Alabama for a chance at a repeat.
Unfortunately for the fans of the underdog, NC State never led in the game as the Wolfpack went ice cold in the second half from the field, losing 63-50. Purdue’s Zach Edey is a double-double machine, notching his fifth of the tournament with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Additionally, Alabama hung in for a half of play against UConn, but it was not enough as all five starters for the Huskies finished in double figures, including Stephon Castle who cashed in for 21 points.
It seems appropriate that the championship will be against two #1 seeds after the lunacy that was the first round of upsets.
Purdue is looking for their first National Championship in program history as this is their first appearance in the title game since 1969 and just their second trip to the finals.
UConn on the other hand has been one of the blue bloods of men’s basketball since the turn of the century with seven trips to the Final Four since 1999 and five National Championships including one from last year.
It will be a battle between Edey and UConn’s Donovan Clingan. Purdue’s 7’4 center, who averages a double-double on the season with nearly 25 points and 12 rebounds, will be up against the 7’2 sophomore who puts up 13 points per game. Will Clingan be able to curtail Edey in the lane?
Great storyline for the championship game, an even better one is how tight the race will be to finish in the top three for the KILJ Bracket Challenge.
Out of the 34 brackets, only eight have been eliminated from competition. Eight brackets also guessed the correct matchup for the National Championship. On average, it was a 50% success rate for picking the Final Four.
The top five went unchanged in terms of standings as Julie Leichty has predicted the last six games correctly as she was the only bracket to correctly pick all four games correctly in the Elite Eight.
Mat Wilson had the highest jump of everyone after being in 26th place through the Elite Eight, he is now in 10th place with 178 points.
Where things might get interesting is of the top ten brackets, only two selected Purdue to win. So, now we wait and see who will end up on top after tonight’s showdown.
Joseph Edward Kessler, 89, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Saturday, March 30, 2024 at Good Samaritan Society in Ottumwa.
Graveside services will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 15, 2024 at Pleasant Plain Friends Cemetery in Pleasant Plain. Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice. Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield is assisting the family.
Joe was born September 23, 1934 the son of Arthur and Thelma (Coil) Kessler. He served in the United States Army. Joe married Mary Britt, December 19, 1959. She preceded him in death November 1, 2018.
Joe worked as a semi driver for 20 years at Modine in Fairfield. He loved to talk to people about driving his semi. He enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting, and visiting with friends.
Those left to honor his memory include his daughter, Roberta Nicholson of Guthrie Center, Iowa; grandchildren, Cassie and Keenan Nicholson; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Marjorie McMillan of Cedar Rapids and Dixie Watson of Mt. Pleasant.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; twin sister, Josephine; sister, Marie; and brother, William.
Online condolences may be made to Joe’s family by viewing his obituary at www.behnerfh.com.
Reed Ross Haeger, 78, of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 8:24 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2024, at Birkwood Village in Fort Madison, Iowa, surrounded by his family.
Reed was born on July 28, 1945, in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Reed “Ross” Haeger, Sr. and Mary (Phelan) Haeger. On August 10, 1968, he married Susan Teresa Hanley in Lewistown, Montana. She preceded him in death on January 15, 2024, after fifty-five years of marriage.
As a boy, Reed spent summers at his grandparents home outside of Rhinelander, Wisconsin at Haeger’s Lodge on Lake Thompson. Upon graduation from Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Reed spent a summer on the Whitetail Ranch outside of Missoula, Montana working as a ranch hand. This experience provided a lifetime of stories and a deep personal connection to the cowboy persona. Reed attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in education. Accepting a gift from his father upon graduation, Reed spent three months traveling Europe. Through a college roommate, he learned of and accepted a teaching position at Marquette High School in West Point where he would teach English for nine years. After teaching, Reed dabbled as a restaurateur managing the West Point Knights of Columbus, Donnellson Green Acres Golf Club and as owner/proprietor of Reed’s Pizza in West Point. He finished his full-time working career at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown after twenty years. Reed and Sue purchased the Corner Tap in 1983. In August of 2023, in fine West Point Sweet Corn Festival festive fashion, they celebrated forty years in business.
From area bass fishing tournaments to weekend fishing getaways with Sue, Reed was an avid fisherman. He transitioned from water to land in the game of golf, a pastime passion he renewed with a vengeance. His dedication and knowledge for the game was intense, perhaps even driving a patron or two out of the Corner Tap with his incessant talk of it! His love of reading was evidenced by the many books that went through his hands, thousands and thousands of pages turned. Reed had not only the gift of word crafting, but with those page turning fingers, he would use his woodworking craft to spend hours in his basement making gifts for family and friends, especially his grandkids. Reed was most proud of his family. Four children, thirteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren and counting… Always the teacher, always the storyteller, lighting up at the opportunity to share with them is what he loved best.
Reed is survived by his three daughters: Kathleen “Katie” (Chris) Dailey of Terre Haute, Indiana, Jennifer “Jenny” Steffensmeier (Randy Larson) of West Point, Megan (Bill) Kruse of West Point; son: Ross (Erin) Haeger of Burlington; thirteen grandchildren: Daniel Dailey, Jack Dailey, Claire Dailey, Isaac Steffensmeier (Courtney Abolt), Rachel Steffensmeier (Julian Holmes), Sarah (CJ) Richardson, Aaron (Taylor) Steffensmeier, Nathan Steffensmeier (Larissa Ferrill), Elton Kruse (Madelyn Swigart), Owen Kruse (Katie Beach), Emmett Kruse, Liam Haeger and Gordon Haeger; two great-grandchildren: Quincy and Calvin Richardson; three sisters: Beth (Paul) Reis of Wheaton, Illinois, Jane (Greg) Zimmerman of Downers Grove, Illinois, Anne Haeger of Marion, Iowa and one brother: Mark (Julie) Haeger of Downers Grove, Illinois.
Reed was preceded in death by his parents; sisters-in-law: Sister Kathleen Hanley, CHM, Laurie Voelker; brothers-in-law: Mark Hanley, Edward Hanley, Eugene Foecke and son-in-law: Ben Steffensmeier.
A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 12, 2024, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point.
A time of remembrance will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday with Father Gary Beckman officiating at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point. A time of food and fellowship will be held at the West Point American Legion after the burial. Following the luncheon, a celebration of life will be held at the Corner Tap.
Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in West Point.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established in his memory for Southeast Iowa Hospice.
Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.
Congratulations to the three Mt. Pleasant High School students who participated at the Iowa State Science Fair recently. Below each name is a list of their accomplishments!
Briar Bender
– SSTFI Honorable Mention Plant Sciences
– Loras College Scholarship $1000
– Mayowa Aderoju – Plant Sciences Innovation Award
Jacie Campbell
– FFA Agriscience – 1st place Environmental Systems Division III – Nomination to the National FFA Agriscience Fair
– SSTFI Honorable Mention Environmental Science
– Loras College Scholarship $750
– ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Scholarship $500
Sarai Sanchez
– Loras College Scholarship $750
– 4H Excellence in Research
– Invitation to IGNITE Leadership Conference March 2025
Eugene Michael Stewart, 75, of Mt. Pleasant, left his earthly home to go be with his God and family on Friday, April 5, 2024.
Gene was born on June 5, 1948, in rural Cass County, Illinois, the son of Alfred and Evelean (Mayhew) Stewart. Gene graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in the class of 1966. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and served his country from 1968 until 1972, doing a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1968 until 1969. Gene was united in marriage to Pamela Mills on October 18, 1969, then returned to California after marriage, where he had two years left at Camp Pendleton. They settled in California until his retirement in 2003 from the United States Postal Service as a Postmaster in Los Olivos, California.
Gene was blessed with many loving family members from both His and Pamela’s families and friends from wherever he lived. He was a loving husband, brother, uncle and friend to all who were in his life. His greatest pleasure was to do something for someone, always ready to help or just give his love or be there to support and encourage. He loved his family and friends with his whole heart. He loved to mow and maintain his property in Mt. Pleasant, having hosted many family parties and class reunions for his and Pamela’s classmates. He loved showing off his property and having people come see it. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking in his woodshop, taking road trips with Pamela and just seeing the many beautiful places in the United States. Gene was active in his community. He served on the Salem East Cemetery Board, was part of the construction and fundraising for the Crew Public Library in Salem and was a vital part in the Salem Veterans Memorial project.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Pamela, his sisters, Maxine (Larry) Freeman of Bettendorf, Iowa, Wanda (Neil) Watts of Burlington, Iowa, Sandi (Ron) Benge of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Brenda Baker (Brent Rodriquez) of Cottonwood, Arizona, his brothers, Jim (Mary Anne) Stewart of Rock Island, Illinois, Rick (Holly) Stewart of Coal Valley, Illinois, Don Stewart of Denmark, Iowa, along with many very loved nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers, Sterling Stewart, Jerry and his wife Ardith Stewart, Willie and his wife Mary Lou Stewart and Robert Stewart.
A Celebration of Gene’s Life will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 2 p.m. at the Salem Congregational Church with Pastor Aaron Helterbran officiating. Friends may call at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant on Friday, April 12, 2024 from 1 until 6 p.m. where the family will be present from 4 to 6 p.m. that evening. Memorial contributions in Gene’s honor may be directed to the Salem East Cemetery in his memory.
The NAMM Foundation has honored the Central Lee Community School District with the 2024 Best Communities for Music Education Award.
The award recognizes schools and districts that provide exemplary music education opportunities to students. Central Lee joins just 975 districts across the country and 14 in the state of Iowa to receive the honor this year.
“This recognition from the NAMM Foundation is a tremendous honor for our entire school district community,” said Dr. Andy Crozier, Superintendent. “It reflects the dedication of our music educators, the hard work of our students, and the unwavering support of our Music Boosters and community. Music education is a critical component of our curriculum that enriches the lives of our students by fostering creativity, discipline, and teamwork. We are proud of the opportunities we are able to deliver to our students when it comes to music.”
The Best Communities for Music Education Award highlights the importance of music as an integral element of a comprehensive education. In Central Lee, students can get involved in music at the elementary level, with beginning band, youth choir, and general music classes. Middle school students can take part in show choir, concert choir, band, marching band, and jazz band. At the high school level, students participate in CENTRifugal Force, concert choir, marching band, concert band, and jazz band.
“The commitment of both our community and administration to the musical education of our students is truly remarkable,” said Central Lee Music Teacher Tracy Madsen. “Thanks to their support, our music staff has access to resources that help them provide several ensemble opportunities during and beyond the regular school day. This not only enriches the students’ music education, but also enhances their performance experiences.”
The district’s music program also benefits from the Central Lee Music Boosters, which raises money and provides opportunities for more students to get involved in music from an early age. To learn more about the Central Lee Music Department, visit https://www.centrallee.org/page/choir.
