Water Shut-Off

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, August 18th, 2022 at 10:47 am CDT

Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities will need to shut water off Friday, 8-19-22, from approximately 9 am to 1 pm. The affected are will include the following:

  • S. Walnut St. extending from the intersection of E. Washington to the intersection of Webster St.
  • E. Webster St. extending from the intersection of Corkhill to the intersection of Walnut St.
  • E. Clay St. extending from the intersection of S. Jay to the intersection of S. Walnut St.

The water shut off is to tie in water services from the recently completed water main project on E. Clay St. We are contacting residents that will be affected by this as well as placing door hangers this morning.

Marlene L. Statler (final arrangements)

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, August 18th, 2022 at 10:41 am CDT

Marlene L. Statler, 89, of Mount Pleasant, died Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at the Lone Tree Care Center, in Lone Tree.

Marlene was born October 29, 1932, in Mount Pleasant, the daughter of Miles and Ruth (Kopp) Mallams. She graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1950. On January 7, 1956, Marlene was united in marriage to Robert Statler at the First United Methodist Church Chapel. Marlene was a dedicated associate in the Mount Pleasant Community School District for 19 years. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, Order of Eastern Star where she served as Worth Matron in 1976. She was also a member of the VFW Auxiliary. Marlene enjoyed spending time with family and weekly meals with family.

Marlene is survived by two daughters, Lori (Shannon) Scherwin of Mesa, Arizona, Christi Sammons of Conesville; four grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; sister Jan Roach of Mount Pleasant; and two sisters-in-law Joann Mallams of Mount Pleasant and Mary Rich of Wayland.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob, son-in-law Terry Sammons, two brothers Dale Mallams, Marvin Mallams, sister-in-law Phyllis Mallams and brother-in-law Dick Roach.

A Memorial Service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 20, 2022, at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel. Inurnment will follow in the Lockridge Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for the First United Methodist Church and Hospice Compassus. www.powellfuneralhomes.com

Sports, August 18th

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, August 18th, 2022 at 10:40 am CDT

Mt. Pleasant Meet the Players

Mt. Pleasant’s Meet the Players is tomorrow night, August 19th. Introductions for Cheerleaders, Cross Country, Football, and Volleyball will begin at 7:15 pm. The Freshmen and Sophomore football teams will scrimmage at 7:40 pm, followed by a Varsity scrimmage to conclude the night.

New London Football

Football is back in Southeastern Iowa tomorrow night, August 19th, as the New London Tigers start their 2022-23 season with a week zero matchup at home against the Moravia Mohawks. The Tigers finished last season with a record of 4-4 with a playoff appearance. KILJ will have the call with Coach Bennett and I heading to New London. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm.

WACO and Winfield-Mt. Union Start Week Zero

This Saturday, August 20th, WACO and Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to Martensdale-St. Marys for a four-team football showcase. Winfield-Mt. Union will face off against Audubon at 2 pm. WACO will battle against Southeast Warren to end the night as they will look to continue their dominant stretch, as they went 10-1 last fall.

Winfield-Mt. Union

Winfield-Mt. Union’s Meet the Players has been postponed. The new date will be August 22nd from 5 to 7 pm. It will coincide with Back-to-School Supply Night, so player introductions will begin at 7 pm. There will also be a supper and kids carnival running throughout the scheduled time.

Des Moines Register’s Preseason Football Rankings

Des Moines Register released their Top 10 football rankings for each class for Iowa high schools this morning, August 18th. The polls were put together using the guidance of more than 150 coaches statewide and various discussions and observations by media members. WACO and Winfield-Mt. Union both ranked inside the Top 10 for 8-man teams with WACO slotted at number 4 and Winfield-Mt. Union sneaking in the top 10 at number 9.

Iowa Wesleyan Soccer

Iowa Wesleyan’s fall sports will officially get underway this week as both the men’s and women’s soccer teams have games scheduled.

The Men’s team travels to Southeastern Community College August 19th to kick off the season. Their first home game is August 21st against North Iowa Area Community College.

The Women’s team begins their season traveling to face off against William Penn University on August 20th. Their first home game will take place August 27th when St. Mary-Of-The-Woods College travels into town.

This Day in Sports History

1973 – Hank Aaron set a major league record with his 1,378th extra base.

1981 – Herschel Walker of the University of Georgia took out an insurance policy with Lloyd’s of London. The all-American was insured for one million dollars.

1987 – Earl Campbell announced his retirement from the National Football League (NFL).

1992 – Larry Bird, after 13 years with the Boston Celtics, announced his retirement.

New Utilities General Manager

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, August 17th, 2022 at 4:36 pm CDT

Mount Pleasant Utilities Manager Jack Hedgecock introduced his successor at Tuesday’s meeting of the Utilities Board of Trustees.  August 25 the transition to Nate Lucas will begin.  Hedgecock will continue to work with the new general manager for a period of time before retiring from the position. IN other news from the trustees meeting…Hedgecock reported on the progress of the new well under construction saying they are still experiencing drilling issues. A vote on a change order on the project was tabled. He reported on the water main replacement project on East Henry Street saying the plan is to finish that project mid October. The old control building at the Adam Street Substation is being replaced this is a million dollar project that should be completed by next spring. A long lead time for materials is to blame for the extended project time line.

Stanley Ross

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, August 17th, 2022 at 4:07 pm CDT

Stanley W. Ross, 80, of Fort Madison formerly of Mount Pleasant, died Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at Parkview Manor in Wellman.  Funeral Services are pending at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel.

Dolores V. Freitag (updated)

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, August 17th, 2022 at 3:42 pm CDT

Dolores V. Freitag, 104, of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 4:45 p.m. Friday, August 12, 2022, at the West Point Care Center.

Born on July 18, 1918, in West Point, Iowa, the daughter of Ben and Theresa (Merschman) Wellman. On February 14, 1939, she married Cletus Freitag at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point, Iowa. He preceded her in death on November 12, 1955.

Survivors include one son: Mark (Mary) Freitag of Billings, Montana; three grandchildren: Chad (Anya) Freitag, Amy (Jeff) Berve, Ryan Freitag; five great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; two step-grandchildren: Stacie (Austin) Heil and Sara (Cody) Belgarde, four step great grandchildren; one great-great step grandchild; one sister: Phyllis Ward of West Point, Iowa; one brother: Ron (Linda) Wellman of West Point, Iowa; one sister in-law: Marilyn Wellman. Also surviving are  several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four sisters: Germaine, Virginia, Bernice and Crescentia;  four brothers: Bob, Stanley, Paul and Donald in infancy.

Dolores was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, the Altar and Rosary Society, St. Anns Circle Daughters of Isabella, several card clubs, the study club and the West Point Historical Society. Dolores farmed with her husband until his death. She then worked several years at Freitag Implement and later became the Postmaster of the West Point Post Office until her retirement in 1984. Dolores enjoyed traveling, quilting, playing scrabble, volunteer work and most of all being with family.

Visitation will begin at 12:00 P.M. Friday, August 19, 2022, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point, where the family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A parish rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. and a Christian wake service will be held at 6:00 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 20, 2022, at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point with Father Dan Dorau as celebrant.

Burial will be in Saint John’s Cemetery in Houghton, Iowa.

A memorial has been established for Holy Trinity Elementary School or Saint John’s Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements.

Sports, August 17th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, August 17th, 2022 at 3:26 pm CDT

Mt. Pleasant Meet the Players

Mt. Pleasant will be having a Meet the Players night this Friday, August 19th. Introductions for Cheerleaders, Cross Country, Football, and Volleyball will begin at 7:15 pm. The Freshmen and Sophomore football teams will scrimmage at 7:40 pm, followed by a Varsity scrimmage to conclude the night.

Mt. Pleasant Baseball

The Panthers baseball team voted to award several members of the team for their play last season. Ben Newton was voted “Rookie of the Year.” Lincoln Henriksen was voted “Most Improved Player.” Zerek Venghaus was awarded “Defensive Player of the Year” while Jake Ensminger earned “Offensive Player of the Year.” Lastly, the team MVP went to Carter Amos. Congratulations to everyone who earned an award and the team as a whole.

New London Football

Football is back in Southeastern Iowa this Friday as the New London Tigers start their 2022-23 season at home against the Moravia Mohawks. The Tigers finished last season with a record of 4-4 with a playoff appearance. KILJ will have the call with Coach Bennett and I heading to New London. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm.

New London Baseball

New London’s Baseball Coach Brad Helmerson was named the Des Moines Register’s 2022 All-Iowa Baseball Coach of the Year after leading the Tigers to their first State Championship in school history. The Tigers won their first 23 games of the season before finally tallying their first loss. That loss did not trip them up for too long as they dominated their way through the playoffs before winning a tense 8-7 Championship game over the undefeated Remsen St. Mary’s team.

It was a perfect ending for Helmerson’s last season leading the Tigers after doing so for 14 years, “We wanted to build a program to where it was respected, not so much for wins and losses, but how the kids respect the game and respect everybody. That’s what I pushed as much as anything is life lessons.”

WACO and Winfield-Mt. Union Start Week Zero

This Saturday, August 20th, WACO and Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to Martensdale-St. Marys for a four-team football showcase. Winfield-Mt. Union will face off against Audubon at 2 pm. WACO will battle against Southeast Warren to end the night as they will look to continue their dominant stretch, as they went 10-1 last fall.

Winfield-Mt. Union

Winfield-Mt. Union’s Meet the Players has been postponed. The new date will be August 22nd from 5 to 7 pm. It will coincide with Back-to-School Supply Night, so player introductions will begin at 7 pm. There will also be a supper and kids carnival running throughout the scheduled time.

Iowa Wesleyan Soccer

Iowa Wesleyan’s fall sports will officially get underway this week as both the men’s and women’s soccer teams have games scheduled.

The Men’s team travels to Southeastern Community College August 19th to kick off the season. Their first home game is August 21st against North Iowa Area Community College.

The Women’s team begins their season traveling to face off against William Penn University on August 20th. Their first home game will take place August 27th when St. Mary-Of-The-Woods College travels into town.

This Day in Sports History

1894 – John Wadsworth of Louisville set a major league record when he gave up 28 base hits in a single game.

1933 – MLB player Lou Gehrig plays record 1,308th consecutive game

1986 – Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds) was struck out for his last at bat by San Diego Padres relief pitcher Rich “Goose” Gossage.

 

Marlene L. Statler

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, August 17th, 2022 at 10:02 am CDT

Marlene L. Statler, 89, of Mount Pleasant, died Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at the Lone Tree Care Center, in Lone Tree. Services are pending at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel.