Prep Boys’ Wrestling: WACO Keeps Both Wrestlers in the Championship Bracket After Day One for Class 1A

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 at 10:47 pm CDT

Des Moines, IA- Day one of the 2024 Boys’ wrestling state tournament is in the books with the quarterfinals set in the championship bracket and the first round of consolation bracket matchups ready to begin, here’s how our local wrestlers from Class 1A performed.

In the 106-pound weight class, Reed Laudeman of Pekin fell in his first-round matchup by fall to Max Millage of Earlham. He will take on Kingston Carrigan in the consolation bracket.

For WACO, both wrestlers have advanced to the quarterfinals after receiving byes for the first-round. First, Gage Samo inched past Jensen Dyer by a 3-1 decision to set up a match against Gavin Landers of Denver.

In the 190-pound weight class, Louden Huisenga will face off against Tate Haffner after defeating Drew Lansing by a 7-0 decision.

In the 126-pound weight class, New London’s Gage Burden picked up a round-one victory over Jordan Smith on a thrilling 9-8 decision final. Unfortunately, Jaxon Larson defeated the Tiger by a 7-1 decision. Burden will compete in the consolation bracket with his first match against Brody Kleitsch.

For Wapello, Zach Harbison, in the 138-pound weight class, took down Dallas Tisue of Wapsie Valley by a 7-3 decision to move on to take on Gabriel Brisker of Wilton. Nevertheless, Brisker sent Harbison to the consolation bracket with a win by pin. Harbison will wrestle Sam Myer in the consolation bracket.

In the 150-pound weight class, Matthew Helscher fell by major decision in the first round against Taven Moore of Riverside. Helscher will face off against Jared Rodriguez in the consolation bracket.

KILJ will update as the tournament progresses.

WACO’s Colton Leichty Signs Letter of Intent to Play Football at Grand View University

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 at 3:53 pm CDT

(Photo Courtesy of Chad Edeker)

WACO- Colton Leichty announced his decision to continue his football career at the collegiate level after signing his letter of intent to attend Grand View University in Des Moines.

The three-sport athlete tallied 184.5 tackles, 40.5 tackles for a loss, and 25 sacks on the defensive end for his career; additionally, he hauled in six touchdowns and 322 receiving yards.

Leichty holds the career and season record at WACO in tackles for loss and sacks for 8- man records.

His impressive junior season ended with him capturing the quarterback 17 times as he tallied 27 tackles for loss before the Warriors finished as the state runner-up.

Leichty will be studying accounting at Grand View in the fall.

Burlington Notre Dame Student Arrested After Threatening School Shooting

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 at 3:19 pm CDT
On February 13, 2024 near the end of the school day, Burlington Police Officers responded to a call for service at Notre Dame High School at 702 S Roosevelt Ave., regarding threats. During the investigation, it was learned that a student had threatened to shoot up the school.
On February 14, 2024 there was a increased police presence at Notre Dame Highschool. During this time the Criminal Investigation Division conducted multiple interviews. Following the investigation, 18-year-old Lance Steinhoff, of Danville, Iowa, was placed under arrest and charged with Threats of Terrorism, a Class D Felony. Steinhoff is currently in custody at the Des Moines County Jail, pending a court appearance. No additional information will be released at this time.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.

Gary Liese

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 at 2:29 pm CDT

Gary M. Liese, 82, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Friday, February 2, 2024 at Prestige Care Center in Fairfield.

Memorial services celebrating his life will be held at 2:00pm. Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. The family will greet friends from 1:00pm – 2:pm Saturday.

Gary was born September 17, 1941 in Greensburg, Kansas the son of Herman and Alma Liese. He married Judith Ann Klingbile, September 16, 1964 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Gary served in the United States Air Force, stationed for a time in the Philippines. He became a counselor, specializing in family therapy. He enjoyed ceramics, artwork, photography, and attending auto shows.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Judy; son, Noel Liese of Sonoma, California; sister, Nancy (Jim) Silva of San Luis Obispo, California; and nephews, Travis and Chad.

“Traffic Laws Photo Enforced” Signs Out, Not Enforced Yet in Keokuk

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 at 10:10 am CDT

The Keokuk Police Department has “traffic laws photo enforced” signs around the city of Keokuk. However, the automated speed enforcement program has not started and there is not a definitive start date at this time. There will be a 30 day informational campaign and warning period to start the program.

The program will consist of two stationary automated speed enforcement cameras near schools and a mobile unit that will be operated by a uniformed officer in a fully marked squad car.

If you have any questions, please contact the police department.

Norma Bauman

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 at 9:50 am CDT

Norma Lee Bauman, 67, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Monday, February 12, 2024 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Per Norma’s wishes, she will be cremated. A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Noah’s Ark Animal Foundation. Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield is assisting the family.

Norma was born July 27, 1956 in Centerville, Iowa, the daughter of Harold R. and Alice Mae (Burlingmair) Bauman. Norma served in the Army in the early 1980s.

Norma enjoyed meeting people through work with insurance agents in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Fairfield, as a staff member of Fairfield motels, as a member of the Fairfield Library staff, and most recently, as the event coordinator of the McElhinny House in Fairfield. She enjoyed riding motorcycles, riding in Lee Morton’s classic cars, and “pet sitting” for friends.

Those left to honor her memory include her sisters, Joan (Kenneth) McKee of Fairfield and Mary Biggs of Fairfax Station, Virginia; nieces, nephews, and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Kenneth Bauman, and brother, James Bauman, who died in infancy.

Online condolences may be made to Merri’s family by viewing her obituary at www.behnerfh.com.

Donna Dupree

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 at 6:48 am CDT

Donna Lucille Dupree, 86, of New London, died Monday, February 12, 2024, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.

Born January 15, 1938, in New London, IA, she was the daughter of Woodrow Wilson and Frances Lucille Kendall Brown. She married Jerry James Dupree and they later divorced. 

Donna graduated from New London High School.

She worked at Champion Spark Plug for 30 years.

Donna enjoyed being outside, working in the yard, tending to her huge flower garden, going to garage sales and making crafts. She loved her neighbors and enjoyed any time that she spent socializing with them.

Survivors include her son, Shane (Connie) Dupree of New London; two grandchildren, Lisa Dupree of New London and Aaron Smith of Cañon City, CO.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Coleen Thorington and Jeanette Martin.

Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Prugh Crematory.

There will be no visitation or services.

Prugh Funeral Service is in care of the arrangements.

Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Donna’s obituary at www.prughfuneral.com.

Caught With a Needle in His Lap: Davenport Man Arrested with Large Quantity of Drugs in Burlington

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 at 6:47 am CDT

On February 13, 2024, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Deputies stopped a vehicle at Agency St. and Roosevelt Ave. after observing a vehicle run through a stop sign and recognizing the driver to be unlicensed. Deputies contacted the driver, and he was identified as Jeremy Ronald Rourke, age 51, of Davenport, Iowa. While speaking with Rourke, deputies observed a loaded hypodermic syringe sitting on Rourke’s lap. Rourke admitted to deputies the syringe contained drugs.

Deputies then conducted a search of the vehicle and found 23.5 grams of psilocybin mushrooms and 340 grams of methamphetamine. After discovering the large quantity of drugs in the vehicle, the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force was contacted. Further investigation led detectives to the Howard Johnson Hotel in Burlington, Iowa where Rourke had been coming from prior to the traffic stop. A search warrant was conducted on two hotel rooms. During the search warrant, detectives found drug packaging material, a digital scale, hypodermic syringes, and indicia for Jeremy Rourke.

Rourke was placed under arrest for no valid driver’s license, fail to obey stop sign, possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine (a class B felony), possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine (a class D felony), possession of a controlled substance psilocybin mushrooms (a class D felony), and 2 counts of failure to affix drug tax stamp (a class D felony). Rourke was transported to the Des Moines County Correctional Center.