On August 11, 2022, at approximately 4:08AM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a single vehicle crash in the 2300 Grid of U.S. Highway 34 near New London, Iowa. After an investigation, it was found that the driver, Susan Hubler (19 years of age), of Biggsville, IL, was traveling eastbound on U.S. Highway 34 and fell asleep while driving a gray, 2014, Ford Focus. After falling asleep, Susan drove the vehicle off the roadway onto the southside shoulder. After driving off the roadway, Susan came to, panicked, and took evasive action to correct the vehicle. Susan unfortunately overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle which caused her to drive across both the median and westbound lanes of traffic. After crossing the westbound lanes, the vehicle exited the northside ditch of the roadway and struck a wooden barn located along the highway. Susan sustained possible injuries and was transported to the Henry County Health Center by Henry County Paramedics. Susan was given a citation for failing to maintain control of a motor vehicle. The approximate damage to the vehicle was $4,000, and the approximate damage to the barn was $2,000. Assisting with this incident was the Mount Pleasant Police Department, New London Fire and Rescue, and Henry County Paramedics.
James Stephen Denning
James Stephen Denning, 98, of Houghton, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 8, 2022, at Savannah Heights Care Center in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
He was born on August 3, 1924, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Fort Madison, the son of Joe and Nellie (Freesmeier) Denning. On April 3, 1945, he married Majorie Stenger in Fort Madison. Together, they had three children: Tim, Monica and Mike. Marjorie passed away in 1950 shortly after the birth of their son, Mike. The following year, Jim married Marjorie’s sister, Eileen Stenger, on April 7, 1951 and they had seven children.
Jim is survived by seven children: Tim (Sharon) Denning of Houghton, Monica Gallagher of Schaumburg, Illinois, Mike (Sally) Denning of Houghton, Marilyn (Glen) Starkey of Mount Pleasant, Linda (Sam) Baxter of Fort Madison, Sam (Kim) Denning of Spring Hill, Kansas and Philip (Jackie) Denning of Houghton; daughter-in-law: Patsy Kruse of Houghton; twenty-nine grandchildren; fifty-one great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; sisters: Phyllis (Paul) Steffensmeier of Donnellson and Sister Jane Denning of Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi Convent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wives: Marjorie and Eileen; two daughters: Dianne Denning and Pat Sallee; son: David Denning; granddaughter: Darcy Denning; great granddaughter: Abby Denning; parents: Joe and Nellie Denning; brother: Reverend Jack Denning; sisters: Ruth (Pete) Mertens and Laverne (Vernon) Coffey.
Jim graduated from Saint John’s School in Houghton and was a dairy farmer for many years. He was a member of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Houghton and a charter member of the Houghton Knights of Columbus, where he was a past Grand Knight. He also was a 4th Degree member of Gallitzin Assembly 0278 of Fort Madison. In his retirement, Jim enjoyed visits with his children and grandchildren and especially enjoyed sitting on his front porch greeting neighbors and friends.
Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon, Thursday, August 18, 2022, at Saint John’s Catholic Church in Houghton, where the family will receive friends at 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A parish rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m. and a Christian wake service will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the church.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, August 19, 2022, at Saint John’s Catholic Church in Houghton with Father Dan Dorau as celebrant.
Burial will be at Saint John’s Cemetery, Houghton.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his memory to Holy Trinity Catholic Schools, Saint John’s Catholic Church or the Houghton Knights of Columbus.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements.
KILJ Welcomes New Sports Director
KILJ Radio is pleased to welcome Slaten Swords to our broadcast team as sports director. He comes to us from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale with a major in radio, tv, and digital media. Slaten brings his experience in sports announcing to our airwaves having done color and play by play for football, basketball, baseball and volleyball. Slaten minored in math and will add special skills in sports analyst and statistics to his sports reporting on KILJ. He has called Ottawa, Illinois home but says he’s excited to get to meet everyone in the community and deliver the sports. And is thankful for the opportunity to make Mt. Pleasant his new home.
UNVEILING OF SAUNDERS PARK PLAZA WITH SPECIAL DEDICATION TO THE MEMORY OF SCOTT AND AMY LOWE
MOUNT PLEASANT, IA – The first of five community vision projects will be unveiled on Monday, August 29 at 6:00 pm at a special community celebration and everyone is invited to attend.
“It’s only fitting that our first community vision project includes so much of the history of Mount Pleasant as well as the many dedicated leaders that make Mount Pleasant special” said Kristi Perry, Executive Vice President of the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance.
This new plaza is a cooperative effort by a number of community organizations. The trailhead includes a history of Saunders Park thanks to the efforts of Pat White and the Henry County Heritage Trust. The trail improvements, plantings and trail map are thanks to the efforts of the City of Mount Pleasant Parks Department. And thanks to a contribution from the Lowe Family, it also includes a plaque in memory of Scott and Amy Lowe who dedicated their time and talents to make our community a better place to live.
The community is invited to join us for a special celebration on Monday, August 29 from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at Saunders Park Plaza located directly across from the Mount Pleasant Aquatic Center. Join us at the TTT Shelter in Saunders Park for complimentary hamburgers and hot dogs grilled up by HyVee Food Store. There will be musical entertainment by Whiskey Friends before the program and ribbon cutting at 6:45 pm. Parking will be available at the Mount Pleasant Aquatic Center or feel free to ride your bike down and enjoy the new trail!
For more information, please contact Kristi Perry at the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance at 319-385-3101. The Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance exists to improve the quality of life for Henry County residents through economic growth. The Chamber consists of 345 businesses, organizations, and individual members. The Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance encompasses the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce, Mount Pleasant Area Development Commission, and Henry County Tourism.
August 12th, Sports
Mt. Pleasant
Mount Pleasant Middle School is hosting a Back to School 3 vs. 3 Basketball Tournament coming up on August 20th. The tournament is open to 3rd through 8th graders. The cost to enter is $60 per team and registration is due by August 15th. With questions, you can contact Ronnie Ashton at reash10@yahoo.com.
New London
Tonight starting at 6 pm, New London will be introducing the players for Volleyball, Cross Country, Cheer, and Football at the high school gym and football field. There will also be a Silent Auction scheduled at 6:45 pm. The event will wrap up around 7:15 pm.
Bill Russell’s Number to be retired across the League
The National Basketball Association announced August 11th that Bill Russell’s number 6 will be retired league wide. NBA players will also wear a commemorative patch on their jerseys for the 2022-23 season, while a shamrock-shaped logo with the Number 6 inside of it will decorate every court on the sideline near the scorer’s table.
Russell is the first player in the NBA to have his number retired leaguewide. NBA commissioner Adam Silver had this to say about ensuring Russell’s career will always be remembered, “Bill Russell’s unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honored in a unique and historic way.”
In his 13-year career with the Celtics, Russell was a 5-time MVP, an 11-time All-NBA selection, 11-time NBA champion, and remains second all time in NBA history in rebounds.
The NBA legend passed away at age 88 on July 31st.
Iowa Enjoys another Field of Dreams Game
The Cubs defeated the Reds 4-2 last night in front of an intimate crowd of 7,823 fans. Reds manager, David Bell, despite being on the losing side of things called the night, “perfect.” The Field of Dreams game will not return in 2023 due to construction.
Today in Sports History
1969 – The Boston Celtics were sold for $6 million. To date it was the highest price paid for a pro basketball team.
1973 – Jack Nicklaus won his 14th major golf title. The win broke the record that had been held by Bobby Jones for 50 years.
1994 – Major league baseball players went on strike rather than allow team owners to limit their salaries. The strike lasted for 232 days. As a result, the World Series was wiped out for the first time in 90 years.
2016 – Katie Ledecky won the 200-meter, 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle at the same Olympics. She was the first swimmer to win all three at the same Olympics since Debbie Meyer in 1968.
Irma Elizabeth (Betty) Eis
Irma Elizabeth (Betty) Eis, 93, passed away peacefully on August 6th, 2022 at Wesley Acres, Des Moines, IA. Betty was born on April 22, 1929 on the family farm in Lincoln County, Sioux Falls, SD. She was the daughter of Howard Huston and Irma Charlotte (Jacobson) Bement. She graduated from Harrisburg Consolidated School District. She was active in drama, speech, band, chorus, school newspaper (co-editor) and 4-H. While in high school she also played the piano, organ, and taught Bible School.
She graduated from Yankton College in 1950. She took classes at Garrett Biblical Institute and Northwestern University receiving her Master’s Degree in 1953.
June 10, 1951 she married Richard Lee (Dick) Eis in Sioux Falls, SD. Betty served with Dick as he was appointed to churches in Bonaparte-Bentonsport, New Virginia-Medora-Liberty-Medford-Pleasant Hill, Milton-Cantril-Mt Sterling, Letts-Cranston, Radcliffe-Ellsworth-Evergreen, Osceola, Emmetsburg, and Maquoketa. In 1964, Dick and Betty purchased a small acreage north of Bonaparte, where they spent many family vacations before moving there permanently in 1990.
Betty was a wife, mother, homemaker, and volunteer. She enjoyed music, reading, bird watching, rocks, puzzles, genealogy, and spending time with family. Betty loved learning the history of every person she ever met. For many years she taught piano to students of all ages. Throughout her life she was an active volunteer not just at local churches but also at the District and Conference levels. She was also involved in many community projects, receiving the Bonaparte Main Street volunteer of the year award, presented to her by the governor of Iowa.
She is survived by her children: Keith (Nancy) Eis, Beth (Ben) Campney, Karen Eis and Carol Eis all of Des Moines and Ann (Steve) Mallams of Mt. Union, seven grandchildren: Erica Eis, Austin(Dana) Eis, Carla (Eric) Olson, Daniel Sherman, Julie (Mitch) Brown, Jessica (Seth) Streeter and Jacob Mallams, eight great-grandchildren, her brother Fred Bement of Silverthorne, CO, two sisters-in-law: Alice Parks of Mt. Pleasant and Beverly Sage of Waterloo, nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and her sister Edna Strobel.
Visitation will be Friday, September 9th from 4:00 to 7:00 at Iles Dunn’s Funeral Home, Des Moines, IA. The memorial service will be Saturday September 10th at 2:00 at the Bonaparte United Church. Per her wishes, her body was donated to Des Moines University so the committal will be at a later date at Parr Cemetery, near Muscatine, IA.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Bidwell Riverside Center, Bonaparte Food Pantry or the Good Samaritan Fund at Wesley Acres.
Brian L. Wesely
Brian L. Wesely, 55, of Mt Pleasant, formerly of Denver, Colorado passed away on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at peace, at home with family.
Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant where the family will be present from 5 to 7 p.m. that evening. Burial will be held in the Salem East Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be directed to the Henry County Cancer Association or the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice of West Burlington in his memory.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com
Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, is caring for his arrangements.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs launches program to train next generation of nonprofit leaders
DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Culture Affairs has selected 11 Iowa arts, culture, history and humanities organizations to participate in its first Iowa Culture Leadership Cohort program.
The two-year program runs now through June 30, 2024, and is designed to help participants build leadership skills and increase organizational capacity in areas including operations, sustainability and programming. The program is jointly administered by two department divisions, the Iowa Arts Council and State Historical Society of Iowa, and will address challenges these organizations face by providing training, networking and technical assistance.
“We’re pleased to establish the Iowa Culture Leadership Cohort as a skill-building program to help cultivate Iowa’s next generation of arts and cultural leaders,” Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Chris Kramer said. “Our goal is to offer training and resources so organizational leaders can successfully run the museums, arts centers and other cultural institutions that drive tourism and experiential learning in their communities across the state.”
Although some of the participating organizations are in larger cities, the program will also help nonprofits in rural areas, where arts and culture can play an especially vital role in economic and community development.
Thirty-five organizations applied to participate in the pilot program, which is designed to primarily serve small and mid-sized organizations. The following 11 groups were chosen to participate:
Council Bluffs, Historical Society of Pottawattamie County
Des Moines, After School Arts Program
Forest City, Winnebago Historical Society
Fort Madison, Fort Madison Area Arts Association
Grinnell, Grinnell Area Arts Council
Iowa City, Public Space One
Maquoketa, Maquoketa Art Experience
Oskaloosa, George Daily Auditorium
Oskaloosa, Mahaska County Historical Society
Swedesburg, Swedish Heritage Society Foundation
Winterset, Madison County Historical Society
For more information about the Iowa Culture Leadership Cohort program, visit iowaculture.gov.