Wapello Fire and Rescue: Same Fire, Different Days

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, February 27th, 2024 at 8:30 am CDT

Wapello Fire and Rescue have been busy. A fire from Sunday continued into Monday afternoon, where they requested the assistance of the Morning Sun Fire Department.

Called to an area along US 61 north of Wapello, fire crews found that the high winds yesterday caused the fire from Sunday to grow. While contained to an area, fire crews worked tirelessly to ensure it did not spread to the adjacent grassland.

Fire crews remained on scene for approximately four hours. This fire will continue to burn in the timber and firefighters will continue to monitor the situation in an attempt to prevent the fire from spreading further. High winds and changing wind directions in the upcoming days could complicate these efforts.

While crews were on scene at the US 61 fire, an additional fire was reported in the area of Klum Lake Wildlife Management Area. Wapello Fire and Rescue was requested to respond for automatic mutual aid. An attack truck and a fire engine cleared the US 61 scene and arrived on scene to find a grassland area and wooded fencerow on fire. The high winds were causing the fire to rapidly spread into a wooded area. Fire crews quickly controlled the fire from further spreading into the densely wooded area. Additional crews from Grandview and Fruitland arrived on scene and assisted in extinguishing the remaining fire.

This fire was possibly caused by an improperly discarded cigarette. Wapello Fire crews cleared this scene and responded back to US 61 to assist the remaining crews on that scene. All units were back at base by 6:00 PM.

Conditions are extremely dry and it’s going to take a large precipitation event to change that. We are empathetic to those who need to perform prescribed land management burns but ask that you please avoid burning during periods of high winds or when high winds are forecast before your fire is completely extinguished.

Sports, February 27th

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, February 27th, 2024 at 6:31 am CDT

Girls’ State Basketball

Classes 5A and 3A tipped-off the 2024 State Tournament yesterday and here’s how the seven quarterfinal games shook out.

#1 Johnston cruised to a dominant 60-31 final after holding Valley to a 12-point second half. Jenica Lewis led the way for the Dragons with 18 points. 

#5 Ankeny Centennial almost avenged their two regular season losses to #4 Waukee by outscoring them 23 to 18 in the second half but a missed game-tying layup with less than five seconds remaining, which gave the win to Waukee 46-44. Johnston and Waukee will face off at 10 am on Thursday, February 29th, in the semifinal.

On the bottom half of the bracket, #7 Cedar Falls pulled off the major upset against #2 Davenport North 71-65. Grace Knutson was unstoppable, draining eight threes to finish with 34 points in the game.

#3 Dowling Catholic ensured a new Class 5A state champion after defeating #6 Pleasant Valley 53-48 last night. Ava Zediker led the winning effort with 29 points. #7 Cedar Falls will compete against #3 Dowling Catholic on Thursday at 11:45 am.

For Class 3A, #1 Estherville-Lincoln Central did not have much issue with #8 Forest City, winning 61-47. Haylee Stokes almost outscored Forest City by herself, scoring 44 points.

#4 Mt. Vernon clobbered #5 Harlan Community 67-25. The Mustangs outscored the Cyclones 45 to 11 in the second and third quarters as four of the five starters finished in double figures. #1 Estherville-Lincoln Central will take on #4 Mt. Vernon.

#2 Des Moines Christian got revenge for their postseason loss last year against #7 Benton, defeating the Bobcats 49-46. Abby Hall finished with 17 points as she nailed three three-pointers. 

Today will be led off by #3 Solon going against #6 Dubuque Wahlert at 10 am. For Class 4A, #1 Clear Creek-Amana will take on #8 Gilbert. #4 Dallas Center-Grimes will face off against #5 North Polk. #2 Waverly-Shell Rock will compete against #5 Sioux Center at 3:15 pm. Lastly, #3 Bishop Heelan will take on #6 Lewis Central. 

The day will end with two Class 2A games in #1 Dike-New Hartford competing against #8 Cascade and #4 Sioux Central taking on #5 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont at 8:30 pm.

Boys’ State Basketball

#4 Winfield-Mt. Union will take on #5 Lynnville-Sully on Monday, March 4th, at 12:15 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at noon.

#4 West Burlington will face off against #5 Treynor on March 4th at 7:15 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 7 pm.

Williamsburg won the Class 3A Substate 5 championship last night 51-40 against Keokuk as the Chiefs fourth quarter push was not enough. Keokuk finished the season with a 17-7 record. 

College Basketball

The #4 Iowa women’s team will travel to Minnesota tomorrow, February 28th, at 8 pm. 

The Iowa State women’s team will face off against #10 Kansas State tomorrow at 6:30 pm.

The #8 Iowa State men’s team will compete against Oklahoma tomorrow at home at 7 pm.

The Iowa men’s team will take on Penn State in a road matchup tonight at 8 pm.

Conference Player of the Week

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark keeps adding on to her resume as she earned her 28th weekly award after being named Big Ten Player of the Week. She tallied her 16th career triple-double against Illinois over the weekend and is only 51 points away from surpassing Pete Maravich, the men’s scoring champion. 

Audi Crooks for Iowa State was not only named Big 12 Freshman of the Week but Big 12 Player of the Week as this is the first time this season a Big 12 player has won both awards. Crooks totaled 44 points and 21 rebounds over two games as she broke the all-time freshman scoring record. 

This Day in Sports History

1959 – Boston Celtic Bob Cousy sets a then-NBA record with 28 assists as the Boston Celtics score 173 points against Minneapolis Lakers.

1966 – 8th Daytona 500: Polesitter Richard Petty comes from two laps down to win the event after 198 laps were completed because of rain.

1987 – The NCAA cancels SMU’s entire 1987 football schedule for violations of NCAA rules regarding athletic corruption.

Don’t Drink and Drive: Mt. Pleasant Man Charged After Rolling Pickup Truck

By Yorke Prough · Monday, February 26th, 2024 at 4:16 pm CDT

After a report of an overturned truck in a ditch, the Mount Pleasant Police Department and Henry County Sheriff’s Department responded to the intersection of E Harvest Drive and S Locust St.

Upon arrival, a Ford Pickup was found lying in the ditch with an unconscious male inside the vehicle. The male, identified as Colton Atchley of Mount Pleasant, became conscious and was assisted out of the overturned truck. He was then transported to the Henry County Health Center for assessment.

Upon investigation, it was determined that Colton had been operating the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, lost control, and rolled into the ditch. He was then taken into custody after being released from HCHC.

Colton Atchley was charged with Operating While Intoxicated 3rd Offense and Driving While Barred. He received citations for failure to maintain control and failure to provide proof of financial liability/accident.

Rep. Collins Announces Reelection Bid

By Yorke Prough · Monday, February 26th, 2024 at 2:40 pm CDT
Today, Rep. Taylor Collins filed for re-election to Iowa House District 95, encompassing parts of Des Moines, Henry, and Muscatine counties, and all of Louisa county.

“Since being sworn in last January I’ve kept my promise to be a strong, conservative voice for Southeast Iowa at the state capitol,” said Rep. Collins. “I’m proud to stand on my record as a fiscal watchdog, furthering tax cuts for my constituents, and keeping bureaucrats in state government on watch. I’ll continue my commitment to prioritize education over indoctrination and protecting the innocent life of the unborn.”

Rep. Collins was elected to the Iowa House in November 2022 and, shortly after, was appointed to serve as Vice-Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, the committee charged with crafting the state’s $8 billion budget. Rep. Collins also serves on the Judiciary, State Government, and Education policy committees, and on the Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

“Despite the challenges our country is facing, due to incompetent leadership in Washington D.C., Iowa has charted a common sense course and Iowans are better off because of it,” said Rep. Collins. “I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished over the last year, but more work remains in order to ensure Iowa is the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Speaker of the House Pat Grassley (R-New Hartford) praised Collins’s work in the House.

“In just his first term in the Legislature, Rep. Collins has become a valued member of the House Republican Caucus,” said Speaker Grassley. “He has stepped up as Vice Chair of the Appropriations committee to ensure that Iowa’s budget funds the priorities Iowans value and trims the fat. Rep. Collins has proven to be a committed representative for his district and I look forward to continuing to work with him in the Statehouse.”

Before his election to the legislature, Rep. Collins previously served in state government as a Policy Advisor to Governor Kim Reynolds and Senior Advisor to Lt. Governor Adam Gregg. Outside of the legislative session, Rep. Collins manages his family’s farm operation, with some acreage dating back over 150 years. Rep. Collins is a proud member of the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Rep. Collins holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Iowa State University, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Drake University, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Drake University. Rep. Collins, and his wife Savannah, reside in Mediapolis.

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Welcome to Medicare Seminars Hosted by Great River Health

By Yorke Prough · Monday, February 26th, 2024 at 2:38 pm CDT

The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) will present the following Welcome to Medicare seminars at Great River Health locations. The seminars will cover:

  • Medicare Parts A and B benefits
  • Prescription drug benefits (Part D)
  • Medicare Advantage plans
  • Medicare supplement insurance
  • Identifying Medicare fraud, errors and abuse

The seminars will be offered at these times and locations:

 

Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, Fort Madison

Wednesday, March 22, 2024 – Registration deadline: Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

10 to 11:30 a.m.

Willard and Canella Conference Room(s)

5445 Avenue O, Fort Madison (lower level-east side of building)

To make a reservation, call 319-768-3342.

Henry County Health Center, Mount Pleasant

Tuesday, April 2, 2024 – Registration deadline: Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 – Registration deadline: Wednesday, May 22, 2024

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Health Education Center

407 White Street, Mount Pleasant

To make a reservation, call 319-385-6774.

Prep Football: Keokuk’s New Head Coach Marvin McNutt is Aiming for the Moon

By Slaten Swords · Monday, February 26th, 2024 at 11:03 am CDT

(Photo Courtesy of Keokuk’s Marketing Specialist Jessica Martin)

Keokuk, IA- It is not often that a former NFL player is hired to be the head coach of a high school football team; it is beyond rare that a former NFL player seeks out an opening at a high school, but Keokuk was the beneficiary of this seldom seen move.

Zach Summers, the Athletic and Activities Director, was the one to reveal the news that Marvin McNutt had been the one to pick Keokuk and understood the team,

“…And he knows our kids by name.”

When the inevitable question popped up of “why Keokuk?” new head coach McNutt had a simple answer,

“…One of my favorite quarterbacks is from here, James Vandenberg,” said McNutt. “I also recruited from here for Coe [College], these kids are special and so is this area.”

McNutt was an All-State athlete in football, baseball, and basketball at Hazelwood Central High School before joining the Iowa Hawkeyes football program. He was a team captain in 2011 and a part of Kirk Ferentz’s Leadership committee from 2007-2011.

With the help of Vandenberg, McNutt ended his collegiate career as the all-time leader in receiving touchdowns and yardage, single season and career, before becoming the 194th pick in the NFL draft for the Philadelphia Eagles. He bounced around the league for three seasons before becoming a head coach for the Cedar Rapids Titans in Indoor Football League in 2017.

After serving as the general manager in 2018, McNutt moved on to become the wide receiver coach at Coe College until 2022. He coached two All-Conference receivers in his first two seasons.

(Photo Courtesy of Keokuk’s Marketing Specialist Jessica Martin)

He talked with the varsity, junior varsity, and middle school football players that attended the press conference afterwards as his goal for this program is a State Championship,

“I’m not going to just coach you like high school or college players, I’m going to coach you for the NFL.”

McNutt ended his press conference with this last note,

“…Let’s see where we can take this program, we will shoot for the moon and land next to the stars.”

The Chiefs finished last season with a 4-5 record as they have collected just three winning seasons over the past 16 seasons. Keokuk will start the season on the road against Ottumwa on August 30th at 7:30 pm.

Mary Menke

By Yorke Prough · Monday, February 26th, 2024 at 10:00 am CDT

Mary Jo Menke passed away on January 5, 2024. Her graveside services will be on Saturday, March 2nd at 12:00 noon at Calvary Cemetery in West Point, Iowa. There will be a luncheon immediately following at the American legion in West Point. We invite all family and friends to join us in celebrating Mary Jo’s life on March 2nd and look forward to seeing as many of you as can make it. Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point  is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.

Red Flag Warning – Do Not Burn Today

By Yorke Prough · Monday, February 26th, 2024 at 9:51 am CDT

If you were planning on burning today, put that on the backburner. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 9:00am to 6:00pm, with a Do Not Burn Warning. Very low humidity, gusty winds, and warm temperatures in the 70s (record highs) will lead to very high to extreme fire behavior.

 

From record highs to snow in just one day, that’s the Midwest. A strong cold front will move in Tuesday night, with a possible dusting of snow and cold wind chills.

 

So a recap, do not burn today due to that red flag warning, but enjoy the beautiful weather in the 70s this afternoon. Tomorrow, you can burn, but you might have to bundle up in layers to do so due to the temperature reaching into the teens.