Trevor Coughlin

Trevor Maurice Coughlin, 32, of Mt. Pleasant, died Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Trevor was born January 21, 1992 in Mount Pleasant. He was the sone of James Bryan Dugger and Diane Marie Cornell. He graduated from Mt. Pleasant Community High School in 2010. He furthered his education at WyoTech College in Wyoming.

For many years, Trevor was employed at the former Jerry’s Restaurant in Mt. Pleasant. A football devotee, he was a huge fan of the Los Angeles Rams and the Georgia University Bulldogs.

Survivors include his mother Diane of Mt. Pleasant; brother – Michael Sammons and wife Sheila and Juston Sammons, all of Mt. Pleasant; a nephew Tyler and a niece Shawna.

His father precedes in death.

A graveside funeral service will be held at 1 PM on Tuesday, April 2 at the Forest Home Cemetery, where interment will take place. The Rev. Gary Van Nyhuis, Associate Pastor, Faith Christian Outreach Church, will officiate. Visitation will be from 9 AM until 12:00 PM on Tuesday at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant.

Online condolences may be directed to wwwkimzeyfh.com

Sports, April 1st

High School Track and Field

The Mediapolis girls’ team will host a meet tomorrow, April 2nd, with Danville and Winfield-Mt. Union also in attendance. 

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ and girls’ teams will travel to Williamsburg for a meet tomorrow.

The Van Buren County girls’ and boys’ teams will participate in a meet tomorrow hosted by WACO.

The Central Lee girls’ team will travel to Fairfield for a meet tomorrow. 

The Winfield-Mt. Union boys team will participate in a relay at Mediapolis tomorrow.  

The New London girls’ team will travel to WACO for a meet tomorrow.

The New London boys’ team will travel to West Burlington for a meet on Thursday, April 4th.  

High School Soccer

The WACO boys’ team will face off against Burlington Notre Dame on the road tonight at 5 pm.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union versus Mt. Pleasant girls’ and boys’ games scheduled for tonight have been canceled due to weather.

Mediapolis will take on Wapello tonight in a road matchup with the girls’ playing first at 5 pm. 

The Central Lee boys’ team will host Centerville tomorrow, April 2nd, and the girls’ team will travel to Mid-Prairie on the same day with both games starting at 5 pm.

The Danville boys’ team will battle Mediapolis in a road matchup on Thursday, April 4th, at 5 pm.

High School Tennis

Mt. Pleasant’s match against Keokuk today has been postponed to Friday, April 5th, for both the boys’ and girls’ teams. 

High School Golf

The Central Lee boys’ team will take on Holy Trinity Catholic on Thursday, April 4th.

The WACO boys’ and girls’ teams will compete in a meet hosted by New London tomorrow, April 2nd. 

The Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ and girls’ teams will travel to Columbus to participate in a meet on Thursday.

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team had their meet at Washington today postponed to April 16th, while the boys’ had their meet at Fairfield postponed to Wednesday, April 3rd.

Southeastern Community College

For baseball, SCC pulled off the three-game weekend sweep of Southwestern Community College. Game one saw the offense put up eight runs in the first inning as the Blackhawks went on to win 11-1. Carter Gallagher and Connor Maiers each tabbed three RBIs in the contest as Eddy Eveland picked up the win on the mound with six strikeouts. 

It took a bit longer for the offense to get going in game two as the Blackhawks piled on five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win 7-2. Gallagher continued swinging the hot bat as he knocked two doubles to finish with three RBIs. Mason Behn went 7.1 innings, striking out three to pick up the win. 

Game three needed extra innings after the Spartans pushed across two runs in the 7th inning to knot the game at 3. The Blackhawks would go on to win in the bottom of the 10th inning on a walk-off 4-3 finish. Gallagher finished off his impressive weekend with another RBI to bring the total to 7 RBIs in the three games. The Blackhawks will face off against Marshalltown Community College on Wednesday, April 3rd, in a doubleheader on the road. 

The SCC softball team will travel to take on Marshalltown Community College on Wednesday in a doubleheader.

College Basketball

The #1-seed Iowa women’s team’s potent offense punched their ticket to the Elite Eight, downing #5 Colorado 89-68. The Hawkeyes had all five starters finish in double figures and the team shot nearly 41% from three-point range. Caitlin Clark, 29 points and 15 assists, and Hannah Stuelke, 11 points and 10 boards, each finished with a double-double. In a rematch of last year’s championship, the Hawkeyes will take on the #3-seed LSU tonight at 6:15 pm.

March Madness

The KILJ bracket challenge, sponsored by The Press Box and Wiley’s Interior Furnishings and Design, is down to the final four and 21 of the 34 brackets still have a champion in the dance. 

Standings will be updated today.

This Day in Sports History

1926 – Montreal Maroons’ Clint Benedict becomes the first NHL goalie to record 3 straight playoff shutouts, in a 3-0 win against the visiting Victoria Cougars in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Championship series.

1930 – Chicago Cubs catcher Leo Hartnett breaks the altitude record for a catch by gloving a baseball dropped from the Goodyear blimp 800 feet over Los Angeles, California.

1978 – New York Islanders right wing Mike Bossy becomes the first NHL rookie to score 50 goals in a season after scoring #50 and #51 in the closing moments of a 3-2 win over Washington.

April 1, 2024 – April 7, 2024

04/01/24
Karen Brimhall
04/01/24
Emily Myers
04/02/24
Kenan & Regina Drebenstedt (30 Years)
04/02/24
Luke Stein - 23
04/02/24
Andy Dubon
04/02/24
Linda Enearl
04/03/24
Whit Mabeus
04/03/24
Emma McCabe
04/03/24
Erma Jeanne McCabe
04/03/24
Randy Brown
04/03/24
Mary Jo Shelman
04/03/24
Tara Sammons
04/03/24
Kaley White
04/04/24
Tammy Tyrell
04/04/24
Kathy Holtkamp
04/04/24
Emily Orr
04/04/24
Nancy & Randy Poos *Anniversary
04/04/24
Eleanor Bjork
04/04/24
Doug Conner
04/05/24
Connie Pendell
04/05/24
Ty Denning
04/05/24
Finley Harrison
04/05/24
Ashlyn Owens
04/05/24
Madeline Hurd
04/05/24
Henry Orr
04/05/24
Lucas Spinner
04/05/24
Dylan Hagensee
04/05/24
Mikayla Jennings
04/05/24
Finn Lalaga
04/06/24
Joe & Deb Hudson *Anniversary*
04/06/24
Sarah Davis
04/06/24
Mindy Creager
04/6/24
Anthony Carrasco
04/06/24
Samantha Steffensmeier
04/06/24
Ian Franklin
04/06/24
Paul May
04/06/24
Matthew Moothart
04/06/24
Jason Smith
04/06/24
Madonna Warden
04/07/24
Addyson Calhoun
04/07/24
Emma Jones
04/07/24
Addy Smith
04/07/24
Jerayl McArtor

Sports, March 30th

High School Track and Field

The Mediapolis girls’ team will host a meet on Tuesday, April 2nd, with Danville and Winfield-Mt. Union also in attendance. 

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ and girls’ teams will travel to Williamsburg for a meet on Tuesday, April 2nd. 

The Van Buren County girls’ and boys’ teams will participate in a meet on April 2nd hosted by WACO.

The Central Lee girls’ team will travel to Fairfield for a meet on April 2nd. 

The Winfield-Mt. Union boys team will participate in a relay at Mediapolis on April 2nd.  

The New London girls’ team will travel to WACO for a meet on April 2nd.

The New London boys’ team will travel to West Burlington for a meet on Thursday, April 4th.  

High School Soccer

The WACO boys’ team will face off against Burlington Notre Dame on the road on Monday, April 1st, at 5 pm.

Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union will take on Mt. Pleasant on April 1st at home with the girls’ playing first at 5 pm. Head Coach Rocco Russo discussed what the Panthers will be working on heading into the matchup. 

Mediapolis will take on Wapello on April 1st in a road matchup with the girls’ playing first at 5 pm. 

The Central Lee boys’ team will host Centerville on April 2nd and the girls’ team will travel to Mid-Prairie on the same day with both games starting at 5 pm.

The Danville boys’ team will battle Mediapolis in a road matchup on April 4th at 5 pm.

High School Tennis

Mt. Pleasant will take on Keokuk on Monday, April 1st, with the boys’ hosting the Chiefs and the girls’ hitting the road. 

High School Golf

The Central Lee boys’ team will take on Holy Trinity Catholic on Thursday, April 4th.

The WACO boys’ and girls’ teams will compete in a meet hosted by New London on Tuesday, April 2nd. 

The Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ and girls’ teams will travel to Columbus to participate in a meet on Thursday.

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will travel to Washington Golf and Country Club on Monday, April 1st, and the boys’ team will participate in a conference match at Fairfield Golf and Country Club on the same day. 

Southeastern Community College

For baseball, SCC will host Southwestern Community College in a three-game series starting today. 

The SCC softball team defeated Iowa Western Community College 8-5 in game one, but could not outslug the Reivers in game two, falling 15-11. The Blackhawks will travel to take on Marshalltown Community College on Wednesday, April 3rd, in a doubleheader.

College Basketball

The #1-seed Iowa women’s team will battle with the #5-seed Colorado in the Sweet 16 today with tipoff at 2:30 pm. 

March Madness

The KILJ bracket challenge, sponsored by The Press Box and Wiley’s Interior Furnishings and Design, is officially underway with over 30 brackets submitted with the top three set to receive prizes.

Standings will be updated on Monday, April 1st. 

This Day in Sports History

1925 – Stanley Cup Final, Patrick Arena, Victoria, BC: Victoria Cougars (WCHL) beat Montreal Canadiens (NHL), 6-1 for a 3-1 series win; last non-NHL team to win the trophy.

1986 – 5th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Texas beats USC, 97-81; Longhorns’ Clarissa Davis earns the MVP award; Texas completes the first undefeated season (34-0).

2001 – At 15 years, 9 months, Michael Phelps breaks the 200m butterfly world record at the US World Championship trials at Austin, Texas; becomes the youngest male to set a world mark.

Single Vehicle Rollover Accident

A single vehicle rollover accident at around 11:30am, Thursday March 28, 2024, near 602 North Lincoln Street in Mt. Pleasant left the driver trapped in the car.  Crews freed the driver who was transported to the Henry County Health Center.  Mt. Pleasant Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Mt. Pleasant Fire and Rescue and Henry County Emergency Medical Services responded.  The vehicle appeared to be traveling at a low rate of speed and clipped the corner of a parked vehicle.

Ottumwa Teen Kidnaps Juvenile Girlfriend

On Thursday, March 28th at approximately 9:00 a.m., the Ottumwa Police Department made contact with a female juvenile victim who reported being assaulted by her boyfriend. The victim reported that her boyfriend picked her up from school on the previous day and took her to his residence located at 436 N. Jefferson, Ottumwa. The male then assaulted the victim, threatened the victim with a firearm, and kept the victim from being able to contact anyone. The victim was then allowed to go to school the next day where police were ultimately contacted.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., the suspect in this case was arrested in the 900 Block of Gateway Drive. The suspect is identified as Isaac Angel Martinez, age 18, of 436 N. Jefferson, Apartment 6, Ottumwa.

Martinez was initially charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, an Aggravated Misdemeanor. Police then obtained and executed search warrants on Martinez’s apartment and his vehicle.

After the execution of the search warrants, Martinez was additionally charged with Kidnapping in the 1st Degree, a Class “A” Felony and Assault While Participating in a Felony, a Class “D” Felony.

Martinez is currently in custody in the Wapello County Jail with no bond amount set at this time.

Please note the following pursuant to recent Supreme Court rulings: “A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Henry County Child Advocacy met with the Henry County Supervisors on Thursday morning. Here, they made a proclamation recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Erin Jones, with Henry County Extension and Outreach, spoke about the importance of bringing awareness to the issue. If you see blue pinwheels on the courthouse lawn in April, it is because pinwheels symbolize a carefree childhood, which every child should have. April 5th is national wear blue day, where people are encouraged to wear their favorite blue in honor of their commitment to preventing child abuse.

IowaWINs “Welcome Home Center” Opening Next Week

IowaWINs is pleased to announce the opening of the Welcome Home Center in Mount Pleasant IA.  The Welcome Home Center is available to all local residents seeking connection to community services.  The center offers bilingual services for Spanish speakers.

IowaWINs conducted an outreach program in 2023 to learn about the needs of the immigrant community in Mount Pleasant.  The greatest need was the creation of a trusted bilingual organization to provide advice, information, and support for the community.

The center will connect people with resources in our community and facilitate relationship development to benefit everyone in the community.  They plan to host outreach sessions and workshops on a variety of important issues including skill building, literacy, cultural education, mental health services, immigration, financial literacy, and building new businesses. They also look forward to hosting community celebrations.

The Welcome Home Center is located at 217 W. Washington in Mount Pleasant.  A grand opening is scheduled for April 4, from 11:00 to 6:00.  Office hours are: Monday through Friday, 9:00-12:00 and 2:00-5:00.

The Welcome Home Center is open to all local residents regardless of where they are coming from.  Please feel free to stop in during office hours.  You can also follow up on our Facebook page. Search for “Welcome Home Center.”

The Welcome Home Center is possible in part through a grant from Enhance Henry County Foundation.

IowaWINs (Iowa Welcomes its Immigrant Neighbors) was originally established in the fall of 2015 in Mt. Pleasant in response to the global refugee crisis. Since its formation, the Commission expanded the Vision and Mission to include immigrants living in our community.  The Commission is open to all community members.