Sports, October 15th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 at 6:36 am CDT

High School Volleyball

West Burlington ended the regular season with an eight-game winning streak and a senior night victory sweep over Van Buren County last night (25-21, 25-23, 25-19). Senior Baylee Woodsmall had 41 assists, while Kaylee Webb laced 18 kills, two blocks, and two aces in the winning effort. Clara Box collected 11 kills for the Bulldogs. 

West Burlington finished the regular season with an 18-15 record, while Mediapolis tallied a 14-15 record. 

WACO fell to Pekin last night in four sets (15-25, 25-17, 18-25, 14-25) to finish the regular season with a 6-17 record. 

Columbus defeated Hillcrest Academy last night in four sets (25-23, 25-18, 24-26, 25-14). Senior attackers Kennedy Woepking (19 kills) and Jessica Del Rio (13 kills) combined for 32 kills, while Del Rio notched eight aces for the night. The Wildcats head to Washington tomorrow, October 16th, at 7:15 pm. 

Wapello’s senior night was a success as they captured a dominant four set victory over Louisa-Muscatine, surrendering just 31 points in their three set wins (25-16, 21-25, 25-7, 25-8). Mila Jordan was unstoppable with 18 kills and three aces, both team highs. The Arrows finished the regular season with a 23-11 record. 

Fairfield will celebrate their senior night tomorrow at 7:15 pm against Albia. 

Danville will host an Invite tomorrow with Burlington Notre Dame and Mt. Pleasant making the trip. 

Mediapolis will host a tournament tomorrow at 5 pm with #2 Holy Trinity Catholic participating. 

Postseason Volleyball

Regional Volleyball for Classes 1A and 2A starts on Monday, October 20th, at 7 pm with a majority of our teams competing within the same regional.

In Class 1A Region 2, #2 Holy Trinity Catholic has the top seed and a bye into the second round. The Crusaders will play the winner between Winfield-Mt. Union and Pekin with the Wolves acting as the host.

Burlington Notre Dame will take on WACO at home on Monday. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 6:45 pm. The winner will play the winner between Wapello and New London on Wednesday, October 22nd. 

In Class 2A Region 8, Danville will host Cardinal on Monday at 7 pm. The winner will advance to play Regina Catholic on Wednesday. Van Buren County will take on West Burlington at home on Wednesday to draw out the top half of the bracket. 

High School Cross Country

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference ran last night and the WACO boys’ team claimed the conference championship with 73 points, while the Van Buren County girls’ team collected the title with 59 points. 

Starting on the boys’ side, WACO’s Jude Dykstra grabbed the individual conference championship with a time of 16 minutes and 47 seconds, while Locken Henderson turned in a 7th place time of 17 minutes and 36 seconds. 

Mediapolis had Simon Wendel and Will Schmidgall anchor the Bulldogs with Wendel finishing with a silver medal time of 17 minutes and 3 seconds and Schmidgall taking 4th place, but the team finished back in 5th place. 

Van Buren County’s Lincoln Bainbridge clocked a time of 17 minutes and 10 seconds, which was good enough for 3rd place. The Warriors took 4th place as a team. Columbus did not have a runner finish in the top 10 but a strong team performance put the Wildcats in 3rd place, Victor Tovar led the charge with a 12th place finish.

Notre Dame/West Burlington’s Cavin Denney collected an 8th place time of 17 minutes and 40 seconds, while Isaac Shinn of Danville took 15th place with a time of 18 minutes and 15 seconds. 

On the girls’ side, Van Buren County was led by Kayley Snowgren’s time of 21 minutes and 25 seconds, which was good enough for 9th place. 

Central Lee finished in 4th place as a team followed by Danville, Columbus, and Mediapolis, respectively. Aubree Bunnell of Central Lee rounded out the top 10 with a time of 21 minutes and 40 seconds. The Bears got a 7th place finish by Alaina Gourley with a time of 21 minutes. Lastly, Iris Garza claimed 12th place with a time of 21 minutes and 57 seconds for the Wildcats. 

Individually, WACO’s Josie Dykstra took home the silver with a time of 20 minutes and 10 seconds, while Hannah Ritter of Notre Dame/West Burlington grabbed 5th place with a time of 20 minutes and 46 seconds. 

The Class 1A and 2A boys’ and girls’ state qualifying meet is scheduled for October 23rd.

Mt. Pleasant will host the Southeast Conference meet tomorrow, October 16th.

High School Football

#8 Mt. Pleasant returns home to square off against #3 Solon at 7:30 pm on Friday, October 17th, with the winner claiming the District Championship. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 7:15 pm.

Mediapolis will host Central Lee on Friday at 7 pm.

WACO will take on #4 Iowa Valley on Friday at 7 pm on the road. 

Fairfield will compete against Keokuk at home on Friday at 7:30 pm. 

West Burlington/Notre Dame will tangle with #6 Mid-Prairie at 7 pm on Friday. 

Second place for Class A District 5 will be up for grabs when Danville travels to Wapello on Friday at 7 pm. 

Columbus will host Pekin at 7 pm.

Winfield-Mt. Union will face off against Belle Plaine on Friday at 7 pm. 

Southeastern Community College

The men’s and women’s soccer teams will host Iowa Central Community College today with the women playing first. 

The volleyball team will take on Iowa Central Community College tonight at 7 pm at home. 

College Football

Iowa will face off against Penn State on Saturday, October 18th, at 6 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM will be on the call. 

Iowa State is on a bye week.

This Day in Sports History

1884 – Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn pitches his 60th win of the season for the MLB Providence Grays in 8-0 win over the Quakers at Philadelphia.

1925 – MLB World Series: the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Senators 9-7 in Game 7 at Forbes Field for 4-3 series victory; the Pirates became the first team to recover from 3–1 deficit in a 7-game series.

1988 – Oklahoma broke its own NCAA record for most net rushing yards in a game, going for 768 yards on the ground in a 70-24 win over Kansas State.

Two Juveniles Injured in Fort Madison Bicycle-Vehicle Collision

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 at 5:31 am CDT

Fort Madison, Iowa — On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at approximately 4:44 p.m., the Fort Madison Police Department responded to a motor vehicle accident involving an electric bicycle and a passenger car at the intersection of 20th Street and Avenue E in Fort Madison. 

According to the Iowa State Patrol crash report (Case No. 2025024565), a 2020 Honda Civic driven by 19-year-old Jordyn Burch of Fort Madison was traveling eastbound through the intersection when a 2025 Kepin electric bicycle, operated by a 9-year-old male and carrying a 12-year-old male passenger, entered the intersection heading southbound and failed to stop. The electric bike struck the front driver’s side of the vehicle, ejecting both juveniles from the bicycle. 

Both young riders sustained injuries. The 9-year-old was airlifted by Air EMS to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, while the 12-year-old was transported by ground ambulance to Fort Madison Community Hospital. Neither was wearing a helmet or seatbelt at the time of the crash. The driver of the Honda Civic was uninjured. 

Both vehicles were towed from the scene by Dunkin Towing. 

The collision remains under investigation by Trooper J. Gronewold (Post 13) of the Iowa State Patrol, with assistance from the Fort Madison Police and Fire Departments, Lee County EMS, AirEvac, and Dunkin Towing. 

Authorities remind the public of the importance of observing traffic signs and using proper safety equipment when operating or riding bicycles and electric bikes. 

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Kidsymphony: A John Williams Halloween Brings Movie Magic to Southeast Iowa

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 at 5:31 am CDT

Get ready for a Halloween celebration filled with capes, candy, and cinematic magic! The Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra invites families to enjoy “Kidsymphony: A John Williams Halloween,” a delightful costume concert perfect for children of all ages. Tickets range from $0 to $5, making it an affordable and unforgettable family outing.

Under the direction of Maestro Bob McConnell, the orchestra will bring to life some of the most iconic movie scores ever written by legendary composer John Williams — including themes from Superman, E.T., and Star Wars.

Children (and parents!) are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite Halloween costumes. After the 45-minute concert, families can meet the musicians and explore their instruments up close. The event will also feature a festive costume photo booth and tasty treats to enjoy, creating a full afternoon of fun and imagination.

The concert will travel across Southeast Iowa on November 1–2, with performances scheduled as follows:

  • November 1 – 11:00 AM: Bridge View Center, Ottumwa

  • November 1 – 2:00 PM: Chapel Auditorium, Mount Pleasant

  • November 1 – 4:30 PM: The Capitol, Burlington

  • November 2 – 2:00 PM: Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, Fairfield

  • November 2 – 4:30 PM: Washington High School, Washington

So grab your lightsabers, capes, and candy buckets — and get ready for a musical adventure that soars to infinity and beyond!

For more information or directions to each venue, visit the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra’s website.

Sam Wellington – PENDING

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 at 5:12 am CDT

Sam Wellington, 77, of Williamsburg, Iowa, formerly of New London, died Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at Compass Memorial Healthcare in Marengo, Iowa.  

Services are pending at Elliott Chapel, New London. 

Karen Sue Angstead Brown

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 at 5:11 am CDT

Karen Sue Angstead Brown, 83, of New London, died Monday, October 13, 2025, at Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House, West Burlington. She was born March 4, 1942, in Fairfield to Donald and Jean Ross Angstead. On January 27, 1961, she married Wilbur “Bud” Brown at the New London Methodist Church Chapel.

Karen was a 1960 graduate of New London High School and worked at the Flower Shack in New London, Bud’s Flower Shop in Mt. Pleasant and retired from the New London City Clerk’s office after many years. She was a member of the Community of Christ Church, Dover Museum, and New London VFW Post 7641 Women’s Auxiliary. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, flowers and plants, feeding the birds and squirrels, and loved her Yorkshire Terriers.

Karen is survived by her husband Bud of New London, sons Jon (Dawn) Brown, New London, and Michael (Trish) Brown, Sperry; one daughter Connie (Daniel) Norton, New London; a special niece Kathi who she thought of as a second daughter; one brother Don (June) Angstead of Mt. Pleasant; six grandchildren; Thomas, Aaron, Stacy, Kara, Alaina, and Bennett; Great-grandchildren Rili, Emma, Ella, and Archer; nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Sharon Nehring.

Visitation will begin at noon on Friday, October 17, at Elliott Chapel, New London, with family present from 4:00 PM- 6:00 PM. According to her wishes, her body will be cremated following the visitation with inurnment at a later date at Burge Cemetery, New London.

Memorials have been established for New London Fire and Rescue and Community of Christ Church.

Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com

Henry County Supervisors Board of Supervisors October 16, 2025 9:00 a.m.

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 at 4:58 am CDT

Henry County Supervisors

100 E Washington St Ste 202

Mt Pleasant, IA 52641

Fax: 319-385-3601

Chad White, Vice-Chair Marc Lindeen, Chairman Steven Detrick, Member

319-385-0759 319-385-0760 319-385-0761________

AGENDA

Board of Supervisors

October 16, 2025

9:00 a.m.

1. Approval of Agenda

2. Approval of Minutes

3. County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss Weekly Updates

4. WEIMGA Waste, Lynn Whaley Monthly Updates

5. Approve Smyth Subdivision, in Section 8 Salem Township

6. Approval of #30-2025 Resolution to set Public Hearing to Sell Tract G of the Plate of Lots C through and P through S of the SE ¼ of the SW ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 15 Township 71 Range 6 West of Henry County, Iowa to Michael A. Moehlman; for the sum of $100.00

7. Sheriff Rich McNamee, Courthouse Security

Supervisors’ Sub-Committees’

Mount Pleasant Public Library Closing Early; Board Meeting Rescheduled

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 at 11:25 am CDT

The Mount Pleasant Public Library will close early today, Tuesday, October 14th, at 5:00 p.m. due to unforeseen circumstances.

As a result, the library board meeting originally scheduled for 6:00 p.m. this evening has been postponed. The meeting will now take place next week on Tuesday, October 21st.

Library officials apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate the community’s understanding. Regular library hours are expected to resume tomorrow.

Dillon J. Becker

By Hayden Douglas · Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 at 9:29 am CDT
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dillon J. Becker on Monday, October 6, 2025, at the age of 31.

 Dillon was born on May 7, 1994, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, to James and Lori (Alberts) Becker. He grew up in Mount Pleasant, where he was surrounded by the love and protective spirit of his older brothers, AJ and Cameron. His childhood was filled with the close bonds of family, including his grandparents, Robert and Delores Alberts and Bernice and James Milton Becker.

 Dillon possessed a gentle soul and a kind heart that warmed everyone around him. He approached life’s challenges with remarkable patience and understanding, and his demeanor was consistently amiable and friendly. His gentle laugh a perfect reflection of his inner spirit.

 He found joy in the simple pleasures of life: his dog Fitz, riding his motorcycle, rounds of golf with his family and friends, and getting “rowdy” while playing video games online with his closest friends.

 Dillon was the cherished son, brother, and grandson his family adored. His younger sister, Grace, looked up to Dillon and remembers his sweet demeanor when they were together. His mother, Lori, fondly remembers Dillon as her constant tag-along buddy, always present and comforting her with unparalleled compassion throughout her life’s journey. His father, Jim, cherished their relationship, noting that Dillon was an open book who never caused a fuss. While Dillon cherished his mother’s love and support, he also shared a bond with his “bonus mom”, Candice Becker — where she was blessed to see his tender heart and the way he loved people so freely.

 Dillon’s sole remaining brother, Cameron, admired his patient work ethic, quiet discernment, and inner wisdom, noting his unique ability to remain calm and collected, amidst life’s abundant challenges.

 Dillon’s loss comes just over three years after the passing of his older brother and closest companion, AJ. The two were inseparable from the moment of Dillon’s birth, and he cared deeply for him.

 Dillon J. Becker will always be close to the hearts and minds of all who knew him. His family and friends will endure the road ahead by holding tight to the memory of his warm presence and gentle smile.

 Dillon can be described as having a quiet lion’s heart-steadfast and gentle-free at last to run into the light.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 18, 2025, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant. Rev. Ross Epping will celebrate the Mass. There will be no visitation. A Gathering of Grief & his Goodness to follow in Manning Hall.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Brothers To Infinity & Beyond; a charity fund (tax deductible) has been established; To honor AJ & Dillon and to provide the funding for education toward mental health & suicide awareness in communities throughout the area. Memorials may be sent to Lori at 1900 Audubon Dr. Waterloo IA 50701. Or to Luv Ya Like A Brother (a 501(c)(3) charity) to advance mental health awareness, expand access to care and suicide prevention resources, and provide scholarships to local students of character who champion mental well-being.

The Olson-Yoder Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Dillon and his family. www.olsonyoderfh.com