John Bogert

By Yorke Prough · Friday, January 26th, 2024 at 3:38 pm CDT

John Kenneth Bogert, 67, of rural Donnellson, Iowa, passed away at 9:00 a.m. Friday, January 26, 2024, at his home.

He was born on September 4, 1956, in Keokuk, Iowa, the son of Clifford Marion and Evelyn Marie (Peel) Bogert. On October 7, 1978, he married Catherine Schier at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fort Madison. They later divorced in 2008.

He is survived by three children: Vanessa Bogert, Derek Bogert, and Shaye Bogert; and one sister Janice (Greg) Gobble. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

From the time he had his driver’s license, John loved competing in the demolition derbies held in the area, especially at the Lee County Fair.  He and his buddies would strategize with one another on how to take the “out of towners” out of the running. One year the prize was finally his and when the local paper reported his winning the Derby, it referenced him as the “Hometown Favorite.” Some of his buddies went so far as to put a crudely constructed sign north of town announcing “Donnellson, Home of Hometown Favorite, John Bogert.

John loved conversation and managed to remember everything he had been told by Dad, Maurice and other elders who had imparted their knowledge to him on topics from local history, family history, farming and deer hunting. He was a member of the Franklin Township Deer Hunting Association through several generations of hunters and would regale any listener with not only details of the hunt but the pranks the hunters pulled on one another. He loved history and was an avid reader devouring books and watching documentaries on the World Wars and other major historical events.

He was devoted to family and friends his entire life. He was eager to help those that needed help or at least offer his sage advice on how to handle problems life throws at you. He dearly loved his kids, Vanessa, Derek & Shaye and his extended family Erinne, Emma, Garrett, Ashley & Daniel and their offspring. He prided himself on being the “Patriarch” of his clan.

A visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. Monday, January 29, 2024 at Schmitz Funeral Home in Donnellson, where the family will receive friends from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Donnellson, Iowa with Tony Keefe officiating.

Burial will be in Evangelical Cemetery, Donnellson, Iowa.

A memorial has been established in his memory for St. Paul’s United Church of Christ or Donnellson Fire and Rescue.

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

Steven Voyles

By Yorke Prough · Friday, January 26th, 2024 at 3:37 pm CDT

Steven Gregory Voyles, 61, of Burlington, died Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at his home. He was born March 4, 1962 in Marshfield, Wisconsin to John “Jack” L. and Glenna J. Hess Voyles. He was a 1980 graduate of New London High School and attended Hawkeye Technical College in Waterloo. On March 23, 1985 he married Teresa Marie Wilson in New London; she died February 26, 2023.

He worked at Burlington Basket Company for over twenty years, then at O’Reillys Auto Parts in Burlington for the past several years. Steve enjoyed fishing; going to Geode; NASCAR races; and was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Iowa Hawkeyes, and Chicago Bears. He was very artistic and had a great sense of humor. He loved spending time with his family, especially his kids and grandchildren.

Steve is survived by his mother of New London; two sons, Christopher (Amber) Voyles of New London and Jordan (Alexandra) Voyles of Burlington; two daughters, Stephanie (Dan) Housh of Mt. Pleasant and Abigail Voyles of Mediapolis; six grandchildren; one brother John (Heather) Voyles of Blakesburg, Iowa; and four sisters, Cindy (Curt) Watson, Sharon (Scott) Barron, Karen (Tim) Conrad, and Denise (Russ) Wolfe, all of Mt. Pleasant; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, his wife, and nephew Ethan Conrad.

Visitation will begin at noon on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at Elliott Chapel, New London, with the family greeting friends from 2:00 until 4:00 pm. According to his wishes, his body will cremated with private inurnment at a later date. A memorial in his honor has been established. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

Paralympic Class Expanding for Iowa High School Track and Field

By Slaten Swords · Friday, January 26th, 2024 at 2:24 pm CDT

IHSAA- The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) conducted their Board of Control meeting yesterday and changes have been made to Track and Field, Soccer, and Football.

The IHSAA and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union have added an Ambulatory Division to the Paralympic Class to go along with the Wheelchair Division. The Ambulatory Division will give student-athletes with at least one of eight impairments—limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, visual impairment, and intellectual impairment—an opportunity to compete.

Event points will be added alongside the Wheelchair Division, which was added to the State Track and Field Championships in 1990. Team points will now be distributed from both divisions’ events.

Soccer will now see their state semifinals and championship games played in Des Moines starting this spring. The semifinal games will be played at both Drake Stadium and Mediacom Stadium with Mediacom Stadium hosting the finals.

The Quarterfinals will still be held at the Cownie Soccer Complex. The quarterfinals are scheduled to start on May 29th with the semifinals running on May 31st and the finals going on June 1st.

Football will feature some changes heading into the 2024 season with the first line of order having to do with postseason site assignments. For the Round of 16, hosting priorities will be relegated in this order: district finish, head-to-head results, IHSAA rankings, fewest district losses, and alphabet draw.

That same order will be used for the Quarterfinals sans district finish.

Teams that forfeit a regular-season contest due to a lack of available players will be ruled ineligible for the postseason, which includes week 9 non-district games allowed in Classes 2A, 1A, A, and 8-Player.

Rules regarding preseason have been laxed. Teams are allowed to schedule weight room sessions outside the preseason allotted four-hour practice window. Teams will also be permitted to practice on Saturday or Sunday following the first allowable scrimmage date; additionally, teams can determine how many teams attend a scrimmage with four being the maximum at the same site.

Lastly, state semifinals and finals will now feature seven-person officiating crews instead of the typical five-person crews for all classifications.

Community 1st Credit Union Honored as One of the Best

By Yorke Prough · Friday, January 26th, 2024 at 2:09 pm CDT

Community 1st Credit Union, a local business, has been recognized as one of America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions for 2024, receiving a prestigious five-star rating on a five-star scale. This accolade is based on a comprehensive analysis of 9,440 financial institutions across the United States, highlighting the top 250 regional banks and 250 credit unions.

In a statement from Greg Hanshaw, President and CEO, he revealed how he feels. “We are deeply honored to receive this recognition,” expressed Hanshaw “especially as one of only three credit unions in Iowa to achieve a five-star rating.”

LCSO Warns Individuals to Beware of Scam Calls

By Yorke Prough · Friday, January 26th, 2024 at 2:02 pm CDT

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office had a report recently where an individual received a call from someone posing as a Dish Network representative. The scammer was asking for the ID number for their receiver for update purposes. The scammer then asked for credit card information to process payment for the update.

Never provide account or credit card numbers to unverified individuals over the phone. If you receive any suspicious calls, contact your service providers directly through established and verified channels of communication.

Mt. Pleasant InMotion Show Choir Performs in Davenport This Saturday

By Yorke Prough · Friday, January 26th, 2024 at 1:37 pm CDT

The Mount Pleasant High School InMotion Show Choir performs on Saturday in Davenport at the “Big Dance.”

This is choir director Makenzie Kauffman-Ho first competition at the helm.

A reminder that the 30th Annual Music InMotion Show Choir Invitational in Mount Pleasant will be held on Saturday, February 3rd. Currently, volunteers are still needed, mainly in the kitchen and concession area. These two areas are crucial in running the invitational smoothly. If you are able to volunteer for a few hours, please sign up using the links provided below.

Results from this week’s Invitational, as well as other competitions throughout the season, will be posted on KILJ.com. Good luck to InMotion!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EA8AF2DA5F5C43-46446921-music?useFullSite=true#/

These are basic food prep and serving areas. Putting together sandwiches, tacos, restocking goodies, etc. and then handing to people. Most are shorter shifts of only 2-2.5 hours.

End of the day concessions is also in need of more volunteers:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EA8AF2DA5F5C43-46631909-music?useFullSite=true#/

Car Collides With Deer

By Yorke Prough · Friday, January 26th, 2024 at 12:17 pm CDT

On January 25th, 2024, at approximately 1:06 a.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a single vehicle collision involving a deer in the 1100 grid of Oasis.

An investigation into the collision determined a 2014 Buick Regal, driven by Jason Hoaglin, 50, of Winfield, was travelling southbound on Oasis when a deer ran out into the middle of the roadway, striking the front passenger’s side of the vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle was estimated to be $3,500. Vehicle removed from the scene.

 

***A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendants are

presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.***

MPPD and HCSO Respond to DUI Offense

By Yorke Prough · Friday, January 26th, 2024 at 11:23 am CDT

The Mount Pleasant Police Department was assisted by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office in a traffic stop on January 26th. At 12:19am, a stop was performed in the intersection of 235th Street and Blackhawk Lane.

Prior to the stop, law enforcement noticed a small pick-up truck swerving, speeding, and failing to dim its lights. During the stop, the driver was identified as 42-year-old Susan Butts of Burlington. She received several traffic warnings and was charged with Operating While Under the Influence, first offense.