Iowa’s January Job Report

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 at 8:32 am CDT

Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.0 percent in January, down from the 3.2 percent announced in December but unchanged from a revised December rate. The state’s jobless rate was 2.9 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent in January.

The total number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 50,900 in January, down 1,100 from revised December data. The total number of working Iowans decreased by 1,200 to 1,653,800. The labor force participation rate decreased to 67.3 percent from a revised December rate of 67.5 percent.

”January’s report was mixed. On the positive side, it shows the total number of nonfarm jobs remains 12,700 above last year’s total, even after retail businesses pared 2,000 jobs following the holidays,” said Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “We also saw 2,300 people leave the workforce voluntarily in January. Given we have over 58,000 job openings currently in Iowa, it is important we retain the Iowans in the workforce and recruit those who have dropped out. We help Iowans find great career opportunities every day, and we encourage those who have been out of the workforce for a period of time to get in touch. We can help you find your next great career.”

Visit www.iowalmi.gov for more information about current and historical data, labor force data, nonfarm employment, hours and earnings, and jobless benefits by county.

Sports, March 13th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 at 6:25 am CDT

High School Track and Field

The Mt. Pleasant and Van Buren County boys’ teams will compete at Central College on Friday, March 15th, while the Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will run on Saturday, March 16th.

The WACO and Central Lee boys’ teams and the WACO girls’ team will travel to Central College tomorrow, March 14th, to start their season.

The Winfield-Mt. Union and New London boys’ teams will travel to Danville on March 18th to get the season rolling. 

The New London, Central Lee, and Van Buren County girls’ teams will travel to Columbus for their first meet of the year on March 18th. 

The Mediapolis boys’ team will travel to Washington on March 21st for a meet. The girls’ team will compete in a relay on March 26th at West Burlington.

High School Soccer

The WACO boys’ team will open the season on March 28th against Fairfield on the road at 5 pm.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ and girls’ teams will take on West Liberty on March 25th at home with the girls’ game scheduled first at 5 pm. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ will host Mediapolis on March 26th to start their season at 4:30 pm, while the boys’ will travel to Danville to play at 5 pm on the same day. 

The Danville girls’ team will face off against Assumption on March 25th on the road at 5 pm.

The Mediapolis boys’ team will take on Burlington on March 26th on the road at 5 pm.

College Signing

WACO’s Chase Waterhouse will be trading in the blue and white for purple and gold this upcoming fall after signing his letter of intent to play football at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). Waterhouse will be a preferred walk-on for the Panthers.

In Waterhouse’s four years of playing football, he collected 86.5 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 25 tackles for a loss, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. The Warriors finished 33-9 over his four years, which included a trip to the quarterfinals in 2021 and a state runner-up finish in 2022.

Chase Waterhouse will study business/law at UNI next fall.

College Basketball

The #2 Iowa women’s team will wait for Selection Sunday on March 17th to find out their seeding for the women’s National Championship.

The Iowa State women’s team was unable to overcome #5 Texas last night in the Big 12 championship, losing 70-53. A 19-point first half deficit spelled disaster for the Cyclones as only one player scored double figures in the loss with Audi Crooks scoring 25 points and grabbing nine rebounds. The Cyclones will wait for Selection Sunday to see where they end up for the women’s National Championship bracket.

The #7 Iowa State men’s team will compete against either Texas or Kansas State tomorrow, March 14th, at 6 pm in the Big 12 tournament. The Cyclones will be led by All-Big 12 First Team and All-Defensive Team honoree Tamin Lipsey and All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Newcomer Team honoree Keshon Gilbert.

The Iowa men’s team grabbed the 7th seed in the Big Ten tournament and will take on the #10-seed Ohio State tomorrow at 5:30 pm.

Big Ten Awards

Owen Freeman earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors after his stellar season. Freeman averaged 10.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game and racked up nine Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors–second most all-time in conference history.

Tony Perkins nabbed second-team All-Big Ten laurels, while Payton Sandfort was a third-team selection. Josh Dix, Ben Krikke, and Freeman were tabbed all-conference honorable mentions. Krikke was honored with Iowa’s Big Ten Sportsmanship award. 

March Madness

The NCAA men’s basketball season is winding down as teams are battling for position and the opportunity to be crowned National Champion in this year’s March Madness bracket.

KILJ, with the help of The Press Box and Wiley’s Interior Furnishings and Design, will be hosting another bracket challenge, but things will be done a little differently this year. March 17th marks Selection Sunday with the brackets being released after 5 pm central time.

A printable bracket will be posted to KILJ’s Facebook page after Selection Sunday for you to fill out. You can either bring your bracket out to our station or email it to sports@kilj.com. The four play-in games will not count towards your final score. Brackets are due by the end of the day March 20th.

For a full list of rules and prizes follow this link: KILJ Bracket Challenge 

This Day in Sports History

1915 – Brooklyn Robins manager Wilbert Robinson tried to catch a baseball dropped from an airplane, but the pilot, Ruth Law, substituted a grapefruit, which exploded on impact and left Robinson temporarily believing that he was seriously wounded.

1954 – Braves’ Bobby Thomson breaks his ankle, he is replaced by Hank Aaron.

2022 – After a 40-day retirement, Tom Brady announces he will play at least one more season in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Multiple Exercises for Henry County Emergency Management This Month

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 at 5:55 am CDT

Henry County Emergency Management Coordinator, Walt Jackson, spoke with KILJ on Tuesday to discuss the busy month for his department. There will be multiple drills taking place in March which will see a large presence of law enforcement and first responders. He mentioned that there are many types of exercises, with two levels of intensity. A functional exercise is one in which you may see first responders, but it will essentially be a “walk-through.” Meanwhile, a full-scale drill, one of which is happening at the end of the month, will see lights and sirens.

The New London Community School District is partaking in a full-scale exercise, which has been named Operation Prom. Taking place on March 27th, highschoolers will have the opportunity to see the realities of what takes place at an accident scene.

Students will be part of a simulated accident and emergency response, providing a hands-on experience of the potential consequences of risky behaviors. As well as students and law enforcement, medical personnel, firefighters, life flight crews, and funeral home representatives will be on-site to interact with students.

Some of the material may be graphic in nature since it will be a simulated accident scene.

You may see a large presence of emergency responders in New London on Wednesday, March 27th. This is a simulated drill that will benefit the school district and the responders alike.

 

Carolyn Dorothy

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 at 5:53 am CDT

Carolyn J. (Smith) Dorothy, 91, of Mt. Pleasant, died Sunday, March 10, 2024 at Arbor Court in Mt. Pleasant.

Carolyn was born February 19, 1933 in Fairfield, IA. She was the daughter of Robert W. and Nellie (Hendricks) Smith. She grew up in Birmingham and attended Birmingham schools. Carolyn was united in marriage to Vern E. Dorothy on June 5, 1949 at her residence in Birmingham. Uniquely, she continued her education at Birmingham High School where she was an excellent basketball player. She graduated from Birmingham High School in 1951.

For many years, Carolyn was the receptionist for Dr. Don Jensen, an optometrist in Fairfield. She then became the secretary at the First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield. While her children were in the Van Buren schools, she was the secretary for the Jr. High in Stockport and then in Birmingham.

In the early 1990’s , Vern and Carolyn sold their farm and moved to Mt. Pleasant. For nearly 30 years, Carolyn was a funeral associate and visitation hostess for the Weir Funeral Home, later the Kimzey Funeral Home. Carolyn was a tireless worker in retirement. She was the Volunteer Coordinator for the former Hospice of Central Iowa, a cook for the former Sunnybrook Assisted Living, and a receptionist and sales associate for Whitney Monuments.

Carolyn was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church, the Mt. Pleasant Women’s Club and the American Legion Auxiliary. Food was an integral part of Carolyn’s life. She baked and decorated cakes for all occasions, most especially weddings. Nearly every Sunday after church, as well as many weekdays, Carolyn prepared meals. Over the years, Carolyn cooked for an untold number of guests. She often hosted the missionaries who visited her church. At church, she was known by the children as they sought her out for the suckers she gave to them. She volunteered to pop popcorn at the Women’s Club booth at Midwest Old Threshers. Also at Old Threshers, she and her husband Vern worked the Carousel.

Those thankful for sharing in Carolyn’s life include her husband of 74 years, Vern of Mt. Pleasant; 2 children – Joy (Brian) Messer of Fairfield and R.V. (Debra Bislip) Dorothy of Aruba; a brother – Bobbie (Janet) Smith of Birmingham; 4 grandchildren – Jason (Tasha), Jodi, Chad (Stacy) and Shelby; 10 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.

Her parents precede her in death.

A funeral service for Carolyn will be held at 11 AM on Friday, March 15 at the Calvary Baptist Church, 801 E. Mapleleaf Drive, Mt. Pleasant. Pastor Zach Fisher will officiate. Burial will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery, Birmingham. Friends may call after 12 Noon on Thursday, March 14 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main Street, Mt. Pleasant. The family will be present to receive friends from 4-6 PM on Thursday.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the family for a decision to be made later. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com

WACO’s Chase Waterhouse Signs on to Play Football at UNI Next Fall

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, March 12th, 2024 at 3:29 pm CDT

WACO- Chase Waterhouse will be trading in the blue and white for purple and gold this upcoming fall after signing his letter of intent to play football at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). Waterhouse will be a preferred walk-on for the Panthers.

The senior is heavily involved at WACO as member of the National Honor Society, part of the Band and Choir, a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track and field, along with being the student body president.

In Waterhouse’s four years of playing football, he collected 86.5 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 25 tackles for a loss, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. The Warriors finished 33-9 over his four years, which included a trip to the quarterfinals in 2021 and a state runner-up finish in 2022.

Chase Waterhouse will study business/law at UNI next fall.

Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners Meeting Agenda 03/19

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, March 12th, 2024 at 2:36 pm CDT

The Henry County Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioners

will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 19th at 3.30.

at the USDA Office, 709 S.  Iris Street, Mt Pleasant.  Tentative agenda

items include approve minutes, watershed report, and cost share payments

and other district business.    Those needing special accommodations

should call the office @ 319-385-2824 ext. 3.

Sports, March 12th

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, March 12th, 2024 at 6:25 am CDT

High School Track and Field

The Mt. Pleasant and Van Buren County boys’ teams will compete at Central College on Friday, March 15th, while the Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will run on Saturday, March 16th.

The WACO and Central Lee boys’ teams and the WACO girls’ team will travel to Central College on Thursday, March 14th, to start their season.

The Winfield-Mt. Union and New London boys’ teams will travel to Danville on March 18th to get the season rolling. 

The New London and Van Buren County girls’ teams will travel to Columbus for their first meet of the year on March 18th. 

The Mediapolis boys’ team will travel to Washington on March 21st for a meet. The girls’ team will compete in a relay on March 26th at West Burlington.

High School Soccer

The WACO boys’ team will open the season on March 28th against Fairfield on the road at 5 pm.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ and girls’ teams will take on West Liberty on March 25th at home with the girls’ game scheduled first at 5 pm. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ will host Mediapolis on March 26th to start their season at 4:30 pm, while the boys’ will travel to Danville to play at 5 pm on the same day. 

The Danville girls’ team will face off against Assumption on March 25th on the road at 5 pm.

The Mediapolis boys’ team will take on Burlington on March 26th on the road at 5 pm.

College Basketball

The #2 Iowa women’s team will wait for Selection Sunday on March 17th to find out their seeding for the women’s national championship.

The Iowa State women’s team’s offense was unstoppable yesterday against #17 Oklahoma as the Cyclones stomped the Sooners 85-68. Audi Crooks had another superb showing with 25 points and nine rebounds in the winning effort as Emily Ryan totaled a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists. The win marked their sixth win against a ranked opponent this season. The Cyclones will face off against #5 Texas for the Big 12 championship tonight at 8 pm.

The #7 Iowa State men’s team will compete against either Texas or Kansas State on Thursday at 6 pm in the Big 12 tournament. The Cyclones will be led by All-Big 12 First Team and All-Defensive Team honoree Tamin Lipsey and All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Newcomer Team honoree Keshon Gilbert.

The Iowa men’s team grabbed the 7th seed in the Big Ten tournament and will take on the #10-seed Ohio State on Thursday, March 14th, at 5:30 pm.

March Madness

The NCAA men’s basketball season is winding down as teams are battling for position and the opportunity to be crowned National Champion in this year’s March Madness bracket.

KILJ, with the help of The Press Box and Wiley’s Interior Furnishings and Design, will be hosting another bracket challenge, but things will be done a little differently this year. March 17th marks Selection Sunday with the brackets being released after 5 pm central time.

A printable bracket will be posted to KILJ’s Facebook page after Selection Sunday for you to fill out. You can either bring your bracket out to our station or email it to sports@kilj.com. The four play-in games will not count towards your final score. Brackets are due by the end of the day March 20th.

For a full list of rules and prizes follow this link: KILJ Bracket Challenge 

This Day in Sports History

1881 – Andrew Watson makes his Scotland debut as the world’s first black international football player and captain.

2020 – The 2020 NCAA men’s basketball tournament is canceled over concerns of the spread of COVID-19; first time ‘March Madness’ not held since it began in 1939; women’s tournament also canceled.

2023 – PGA Players Championship, TPC at Sawgrass: Scottie Scheffler becomes the third golfer, after Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, to hold the Masters and Players titles at the same time.

Iowa HHS Promotes Volunteer Opportunities and Recognitions

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, March 12th, 2024 at 6:07 am CDT

Iowa HHS recognizes the incredible work being done throughout the state of Iowa by countless volunteers to improve local communities and the state.

Each year, over 57% of Iowans volunteer in some capacity to serve others. Iowa HHS offers numerous volunteer opportunities and recognition ceremonies through Volunteer Iowa and other areas of the Department to encourage all Iowans to get involved and give back.

“We are thrilled to be able to recognize the outstanding contributions of so many selfless Iowans who continue to give back to our state through their passionate volunteer efforts,” said Iowa HHS Director Kelly Garcia. “Iowa HHS provides many unique volunteer opportunities for all Iowans to get involved in their communities. Volunteering not only helps a specific cause, but also has tremendous impact on a person’s mental health and cognitive wellbeing. I hope Iowans will see the value in volunteering and commit to helping others and our community.”

Below are details on the specific recognition and volunteer opportunities:

 

2024 Governor’s Volunteer Awards

The annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards, which recognizes individuals and organizations for their generous volunteer efforts, is now accepting nominations through April 30, 2024 at 10:00 p.m. Categories for the awards include: individual, group, and length of service.

Since 1982, the Governor’s Volunteer Awards have recognized thousands of volunteers for their efforts to make their communities and the state better through projects in arts and culture, education, mentoring, and STEM to name a few.

Nominations are accepted online from: City, county, state and federal governments, community colleges, private colleges, universities, Iowa MENTOR certified programs, K-12 schools (public and parochial), national service programs operating in Iowa (AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Seniors), nonprofit and charitable organizations, and non-state government organizations.

To learn more, please visit https://volunteer.iowa.gov/about/recognition-programs/governors-volunteer-awards.

 

Give Back Iowa Challenge

Registration for the 10th annual Give Back Iowa Challenge, an eight-week challenge from April 1 – May 31, 2024, aimed at engaging Iowans in employer-supported volunteering efforts, is now open.

The Give Back Iowa Challenge was created in 2015 as a competitive challenge for Iowa employers to track the volunteer efforts of their employees. Last year, 24 employers participated in the challenge logging over 17,000 volunteer hours.

“It has never been more important to support the physical and mental well-being of employees than it is today,” said Jami Haberl, executive director of the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative. “Volunteering as an organization is a fantastic way to build a sense of community and connection that will foster the supportive culture workplaces should strive for.”

Volunteering not only has a significant impact on meeting community needs, but employer supported volunteering has a positive impact on business, including improved employee engagement, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and retention.

For more information and employers interested in participating in the challenge should visit https://volunteer.iowa.gov/volunteering/employers/give-back-iowa-challenge.

 

Iowa Citizens Foster Care Review Board

The Poweshiek County Foster Care Review Board is seeking volunteers to join the board, which ensures children in the foster care system receive the services they need during the process of finding a permanent home.

Each county in Iowa has a Foster Care Review Board that is part of the Iowa Citizens Foster Care Review Board program and serve as a forum where key parties involved in the child’s case hear about both the progress and the challenges being encountered. Board members then offer recommendations for ways to clear any obstacles while also ensuring the case maintains a sense of urgency.

This volunteer opportunity requires an average of 10 hours a month of reviewing specific case materials and attending the monthly board meeting.

For more information about the FCRB program, call or text Cara Galloway, Program Coordinator for the Foster Care Review Board for Southeast Iowa at 515-499-3160 or visit https://hhs.iowa.gov/programs/programs-and-services/fcrb.