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
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.
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
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
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
Driver Injured in Early Morning Franklin Avenue Accident
On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at approximately 5:44 a.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported accident near 1277 Franklin Avenue.
Authorities determined that Christopher Wiggins of Viola, Illinois, was traveling south on Franklin Avenue when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. Wiggins was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.
The Wayland Fire Department and First Responders, along with Henry County EMS, assisted at the scene.
No additional details regarding the cause of the accident have been released at this time.
Sports, October 14th
High School Volleyball
The final round of the Southeast Conference Tournament commenced last night and Burlington avenged their loss from last year and took down Washington in the opening match of the night to claim the conference crown.
Fairfield finished the tournament with a 4-2 record after defeating Fort Madison in a thrilling three set finish (25-20, 21-25, 15-12) and losing to Washington in straight sets (20-25, 21-25) to finish in 3rd place. Faith Jones nabbed 46 assists, while Leah Helmick smacked 19 kills. Mt. Pleasant finished in 4th place.
Fairfield will celebrate their senior night on Thursday, October 16th, at 7:15 pm against Albia.
Danville will host an Invite on Thursday with Burlington Notre Dame and Mt. Pleasant making the trip.
West Burlington will host Mediapolis for their senior night tonight at 7:30 pm.
WACO will take on Pekin at home tonight for their regular season finale.
Columbus will celebrate their senior night tonight against Hillcrest Academy at 7:30 pm.
Wapello will celebrate the senior night tonight at 7:30 pm against Louisa-Muscatine.
Mediapolis will host a tournament on Thursday at 5 pm with Holy Trinity Catholic participating.
High School Cross Country
The Southeast Iowa Super Conference will meet at Hillcrest Academy tonight.
Mt. Pleasant will host the Southeast Conference meet on Thursday, October 16th.
High School Cross Country Rankings
In the penultimate team and individual rankings for the Iowa Association of Track Coaches (IATC), the majority of our local runners tumbled in the rankings due to a lack of meets last week.
In Class 3A, Mt. Pleasant’s Avery Fedler won the Mediapolis Invite but fell back a spot in the individual rankings to #7. She won’t be the only member of the Southeast Conference ranked heading into the conference meet with both Fort Madison teams ranked along with #19 Andrew Rees of Washington and #13 Avery Rump of Fort Madison.
In Class 2A, Mediapolis improved their standing with the Bulldogs being logged in at #13 as a team, while Will Schmidgall leapfrogged up to #15. Simon Wendel stayed put at #9.
Lastly, the WACO boys’ team showed out at the Mike Jay Invitational resulting in the Warriors being slotted in at #4 in the Class 1A rankings, while Jude Dykstra’s gold medal finish led to him climbing up the rankings to #6. Staying with the WACO program, Josie Dykstra continues to anchor the girls’ team as she is now ranked #23 after taking 2nd place at the Mike Jay Invitational.
The Columbus boys’ team slid back to #10 and despite not having a meet last week, Van Buren County was left mostly unfazed with the boys’ team placed at #14 and the girls’ team marked one spot back to #8.
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.
High School Football Rankings
The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) released their week 7 rankings for Classes 2A, 1A, A, and Eight-Player and the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) for Classes 3A, 4A, and 5A and we are in store for a top ten matchup this Friday night.
In Class 3A, Solon remained at #3 in the rankings behind Clear Lake and West Delaware, respectively, and those two teams will meet for a week nine district showdown. Mt. Pleasant survived an upset alert in Keokuk last Friday and were awarded the #8 slot in the rankings. Panther head coach John Bowlin reflected on the program’s rise,
“I think we’ve talked before about those three years in, and this senior group, you know this junior group as well. Like they’ve put the work in, and I always tell them that it’s not a coincidence when you’re winning games, it’s because you put the work in and you know, we’ve got some great athletes and we got some physical kids on our team. But you know, it’s the work they do that has kind of pushed them here and, you know, great to see our fans out there being loud, I mean just huge support and yeah, nothing better than the fall, you know? And playing football and getting everybody on board and nothing better than Friday nights.”
Washington and Keokuk tumbled back to #25 and #26, respectively, while Fairfield is back at #29 and Fort Madison remained at #34.
Staying on top of the rankings was Class 5A’s Waukee Northwest as the lone undefeated team in the class, Xavier in Class 4A, Class 2A is still touted by Kuemper Catholic, West Lyon in Class 1A, while MMCRU is still atop Class A along with Bishop Garrigan in Eight-Player.
Southeastern Community College
The men’s and women’s soccer teams will host Iowa Central Community College tomorrow, October 15th, with the women playing first.
The volleyball team will take on Iowa Central Community College tomorrow 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
1908 – The MLB World Series: the Chicago Cubs beat the Detroit Tigers 2-0 at Bennett Park to clinch the 4-1 series win; only 6,210 fans attend as it is the smallest crowd in World Series history.
1908 – Upset over seating arrangements at the MLB World Series, sports reporters form a professional group that will become known as the Baseball Writers Association of America.
1979 – Wayne Gretzky scores his first NHL goal.
FDA Issues Health Alert: Check Your Cinnamon for Lead Contamination
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a health alert warning consumers about several brands of ground cinnamon that have been recalled due to the presence of lead. The alert urges households to check their cabinets and ensure that the cinnamon products they have at home are not among those affected.
Children are considered especially vulnerable to lead exposure because of their smaller body size, rapid metabolism, and ongoing growth. Lead is highly toxic and can cause a range of serious health effects, including developmental delays, learning difficulties, headaches, and other health problems. Importantly, children exposed to lead may not show immediate symptoms, making vigilance crucial.
Parents and caregivers who believe their child may have consumed cinnamon products containing lead are strongly encouraged to contact their healthcare provider promptly.
For a full list of affected cinnamon brands and more information on the recall, consumers are advised to refer to the FDA’s official website.
Henry County Public Health is reminding the community to stay informed and take precautions to protect children from potential lead exposure. Healthyhenrycounty.org