NLCSD Offers Community Help After Devastating Storms

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, April 17th, 2024 at 6:45 am CDT

The New London Community School District still has school today, but due to the destruction of yesterday’s storm, administration is extending the offer for students 7th through 12th grade to help with clean up around town. New London Community School District stated, “Providing students with the opportunity to help with cleanup efforts not only supports the community but also instills a sense of empathy and responsibility in our students.”

The school district is asking parents with students wanting to participate to call or email the High School office. They plan to leave the school after the 1st period and will return for a short lunch before returning to the community to provide more assistance. If you were affected by the storm and need assistance, please message your address and name to the New London Community School District Facebook page, or call the high school at 319-367-0500.

The city of New London will be picking up residents limbs and branches curbside tomorrow (Thursday, 4/18/2024).

After this date residents can haul their branches to the city lot south of the school’s football field (on Adams St.).

Southeast Iowa Hit Hard With Severe Weather

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, April 17th, 2024 at 6:44 am CDT

Southeast Iowa was hit hard with severe weather yesterday afternoon. Downed power lines are still throwing a wrench in todays plans, Salem Elementary will not have school today due to loss of power but staff is to report as normal.

Lee County spotted a total of 3 tornados in the county. Overturned semis, sides of buildings gone, debris, and downed power lines. Damage at Hwy 16 and 150th avenue resulted in a closure yesterday afternoon, as of this morning the span of Hwy 16 from 150th to 130th is still closed.

Yesterday just before 4:30 in the afternoon, Mount Pleasant Fire Department reported a tornado touchdown south east of Mount Pleasant heading East. The tornado followed Highway 34 wreaking havoc on powerlines. The West side of New London saw damage to homes, downed trees, a barn obliterated, and machine sheds ripped apart.

The tornado then headed Northeast through Burge cemetery. Jesse Howard, President of Burge Cemetery said, “The impact has been significant, damaging hundreds of headstones, shredding nearly every tree, and completely destroying our historic shed built in 1921. In light of the current situation, our primary focus is to ensure that the families affected by the storm receive the necessary assistance to restore their homes to livable conditions. We understand that their needs should be prioritized, and therefore, we have decided to postpone the cleanup process until Thursday.”

North of New London on New London Road, Quaker Avenue, and 250th Street saw extensive damage. Homes were destroyed, debris littered fields, outbuildings were lifted from their foundations, and residents arrived in droves to assist those affected. Residents and first responders uncovered basement entrances, boarded up windows, and tarped no longer existing roofs.

 

 

Damage was also reported in Yarmouth, IA.

No injuries have been reported. Walt Jackson of Henry County Emergency Management has a working list of homes damaged by yesterday’s storms, if you experienced damage you can email Walt at wjackson@henrycountyiowa.us or call the office and leave a message at (319) 385-1479.

Kevin Wheeler, General Manager and CEO of Access Energy Cooperation confirmed power was restored to almost all members by midnight last night. The only member still without power is moving a manure spreader that was displaced into the lines by the storm. Wheeler thanks everyone for their patience.

As of 8:45 a.m. this morning Alliant Energy is working to restore power to 17 residences North of and around Salem with power restoration expected at 9 this morning, 796 residences around the Houghton area with power restoration expected about 10:30 this morning, and 40 residences with an estimated power restoration time of 10 am.

When yesterday’s storms passed, a double rainbow took the place of dark skies. Thank you to all of the hard working utility workers, first responders, and everyone that showed up to help their neighbors.

Sports, April 17th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, April 17th, 2024 at 6:32 am CDT

High School Track and Field

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will travel to Washington tomorrow, April 18th, with Mediapolis also in attendance. The boys’ team will travel for the Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Ike Ryan Relays tomorrow with Mediapolis participating. 

The Central Lee and Van Buren County boys’ and girls’ teams will compete tomorrow at Louisa-Muscatine.

The Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ and boys’ teams will host their senior night meet tomorrow with Danville, New London, West Burlington, and WACO bringing both teams. 

High School Soccer

The WACO boys’ team will host Highland tomorrow, April 18th. 

Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union will face off against Central Lee tomorrow with the girls playing first at 5 pm. 

The Mediapolis boys’ team will take on WACO on April 23rd at 5 pm, while the girls’ team will compete against West Branch tomorrow at 5 pm. 

Mt. Pleasant will take on Fort Madison with the girls at home and the boys on the road tomorrow. 

The Danville boys’ team will travel to take on Hillcrest Academy tomorrow. 

High School Tennis

Mt. Pleasant will take on Keokuk tomorrow, April 18th, with the girls’ team at home, while the boys’ team will be on the road. 

High School Golf

The Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ and girls’ teams will hit the road for a meet today at Wapello with the Danville boys’ team and the Burlington Notre Dame girls’ team also in attendance. 

The WACO boys’ and girls’ will travel to Columbus tomorrow, April 18th. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will travel to participate in a tournament tomorrow at Edmundson Golf Course, while the boys’ team will head to Fairfield on Friday, April 19th, for a makeup meet. 

New London will take on Central Lee on the road tomorrow.

Southeast Iowa Playbook

Make sure to tune in to KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, tonight at 6 pm for a new episode of the Southeast Iowa Playbook. Mt. Pleasant will be the school of focus as our special guests will be Avin Truong of boys’ Track and Field and Ellie Situmeang of girls’ tennis.

Southeastern Community College

SCC baseball will host Des Moines Area Community College tomorrow, April 18th.

The SCC softball team will face off against Indian Hills Community College today at home in a doubleheader. 

University of Iowa

Patrick McCaffery of the men’s basketball team received the Chris Street Award last night during their team’s annual awards banquet. The award is given to the Hawkeye player, or players, who best exemplify the spirit, enthusiasm, and intensity of Chris Street.

Other awards given out last night were Josh Dix as the Most Improved Player and co-Best Defensive Player along with Ladji Dembele, Owen Freeman was tabbed Newcomer of the Year and Top Rebounder, Payton Sandfort was selected for the Academic Excellence Awards and Top Rebounder, Brock Harding earned Top Playmaker, and Ben Krikke and Dix shared the Kenny Arnold Hawkeye Spirit Award. 

Caitlin Clark was tabbed 2023-24 Academic All-America Team Member of the Year yesterday by the College Sports Communicators. She became the 7th player to earn this honor in back-to-back seasons. Along with dominating women’s college basketball with 31.6 points per game and 8.9 assists per game, she also earned a 3.64 GPA with a major in marketing.

This Day in Sports History

1860 – Champion of England Tom Sayers and American John Heenan fight out brutal 2 hour, 27 minute draw near Farnborough, England; police stop the fight and has been acknowledged as first world title bout.

1972 – Kiteman attempting to throw out the first ball at Veterans Stadium crashes into the centerfield seats. 

1997 – NJ Devil Martin Brodeur is the second NHL goalie to score in a playoff game.

Russell Rippey

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 at 1:19 pm CDT

Russell Rippey, 71, a resident of Libertyville, passed away Sunday, April 14, 2024 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.

Funeral services celebrating his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Faith United Methodist Church in Libertyville. Burial will be at Fell Cemetery. Friends may call after 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 19th at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield with the family present from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the family and sent to Robyn Rippey, P.O. Box 264, Libertyville, IA 52567.

Russ was born April 17, 1952 in Keosauqua, the son of Wayne and Helen (Williams) Rippey. He married Cora Ruth Cubbage, January 31, 1970 at Faith United Methodist Church in Libertyville. She preceded him in death, December 24, 2023.

Russ worked for Rockwell International / Meritor for 30 years. He then worked for Orscheln Farm & Home in Fairfield. Russ enjoyed car races, working on cars, and coaching baseball. He was a part of the 1990 state championship Little League team. Russ was proud of earning his commercial driver’s license, driving a semi-truck for a short time in his retirement.  His true joy was being with his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the love of his life, Ruth.

Those left to honor his memory include his daughters, Robyn Rippey of Libertyville and Renea Rippey of Fairfield; granddaughters, Jessica (Jacob Dunn) Barnett and Cortney Barnett; great-grandchildren, Allison and Colton Dunn; siblings, Betty (Elliott) Vealey, Barb (Gordon) Pilcher, and Larry (Cindy) Rippey, all of Fairfield; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; brother, James; father and mother-in-law, Robert and Betty Cubbage; and son-in-law, James Mrogenski.

Online condolences may be made to Russ’s family by viewing his obituary at www.behnerfh.com.

David Cook Carpenter

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 at 11:00 am CDT

David Cook Carpenter, 70, of Fairfield, passed away Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at the Keosauqua Health Care Center.

A private family service was held to honor David on Monday, April 15, 2024. Memorials may be made to the family.

David was born June 3, 1953 in Detroit, Michigan to Robert Carpenter and Signe Broch.

David was a technical writer and worked on high-speed printers. He bought and sold high-speed printers and wrote instruction manuals for Apple. David was a movie buff, enjoyed working with his hands, was an electronic wizard, loved to tinker, and enjoyed working on cars.

Those left to honor his memory include his brothers, Douglas Carpenter (Patricia Saunders), Hugh Carpenter (Nina), and Bruce Carpenter; and one niece.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Online condolences may be made to David’s family by viewing his obituary at www.behnerfh.com.

Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin Are Off to the WNBA

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 at 10:21 am CDT

Iowa City, IA- The WNBA added two more Hawkeyes to their roster after last night’s WNBA draft, one of the picks made history for Iowa’s basketball program.

To no one’s surprise, the all-time leading scorer in collegiate basketball history with 3,951 points, Caitlin Clark, was the first Hawkeye to ever be selected first overall as the Indiana Fever selected the phenom. Clark led the nation in assists and scoring in back-to-back seasons, the first to ever accomplish the feat.

The Fever, led by Christie Sides in her second season at the helm, are in desperate need of a superstar after going 13-27 last season with their last non-losing season taking place back in 2016, which was also the last time the Fever made the playoffs.

The 2012 season marks their only WNBA championship and since their inception in 2000 they have posted a 0.447 winning percentage.

17 selections later, Kate Martin was picked by the Las Vegas Aces where she will join another Hawkeye legend Megan Gustafson, who is in her fifth season in the WNBA. Martin averaged 8 points per game, while shooting over 50% from the floor. She also averaged 6.8 rebounds per game.

Their fourth name change was all the Aces needed; since their move to Las Vegas in 2018, the Aces have gone 137-61 and have won the WNBA championship in back-to-back seasons under the coaching of Becky Hammon.

Before the move, the Aces—then the San Antonio Stars and Silver Stars—experienced a losing season in 13 of their 21 seasons.

Clark and Martin are now the fourth and fifth Hawkeyes to be drafted into the WNBA since 2019, including Kathleen Doyle, Monika Czinano, and the aforementioned Gustafson.

The WNBA season is set to start on May 14th.

Vehicle Abandoned After Accident, Law Enforcement Awaits Owner

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

On Sunday just before 5 am, deputies were dispatched to the 2100 blk 290th ave for a one vehicle accident. Upon arrival, deputies found a 1997 black Toyota Tacoma on its side unoccupied. Deputies also found skid marks going around the corner to the current location of the vehicle. Deputies did not see any signs of injuries located in or around the vehicle, and local hospitals advised they had not treated anyone with injuries. The vehicle was towed with a hold until the registered owner can make contact with law enforcement.

High Speed Chase in Lee County Results in One Vehicle Accident

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, April 16th, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

On Saturday just after midnight, Lee County Communications advised of a pursuit in Missouri that was heading towards Lee County. Deputies advised the suspect vehicle was heading northbound at excessive speeds on Business Hwy 61 and the suspect vehicle had been involved in an accident resulting in a rollover. The vehicle was occupied by two people; a male driver, identified as Kayden Chaney and a female occupant, identified as the registered owner Selyna Adamson. Both occupants were extricated from the vehicle and taken to Southeast Iowa Reginal Medical Center-Fort Madison for treatment. After a search of the vehicle, drug paraphernalia was found. A Lee County Deputy advised that as the vehicle approached his location, the speed of the vehicle registered at 135 mph in a 55 mph zone. The Deputy advised that as the suspect vehicle approached, it lost control, crossed the centerline, struck the street sign and stop sign and rolled once it reached the ditch.

** A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.**