Over this past weekend (Saturday) the Veteran’s Memorial in Salem was hit by a vehicle and the driver fled the scene.
If you have any information about this incident, please give us a call at city hall and leave a voicemail or email city council member Haley Swinscoe.
Number: 319-258-4531
Email: haleyswinscoe.salem@gmail.com
The Iowa State Patrol recently conducted a traffic stop on Highway 78 in District 13 near Richland. The driver was travelling at a speed of 118 miles per hour before being pulled over just west of Richland.
As the ice and snow clears from the roads and the sun starts to shine, it can be tempting to take your car to the limits. However, speeding is speeding and speeding can kill. Watch your speed, follow all traffic laws, and always watch for other vehicles as well.
The Henry County Sheriffs Office received two E-911 calls reporting a burglary on Thursday. An investigation then revealed that a Mount Pleasant man had attempted to enter a neighbor’s residence. He then forcibly attempted to enter another. Jonathan Bowers, 36, was then arrested. He was charged with Burglary in the Second Degree, Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the Fifth Degree,
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Mount Pleasant Police Department in this case.
On February 1, 2024, investigators with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Ottumwa Police Department, and Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at 21891 Highway 78 near Ollie. The search warrant was part of an effort to locate 40-year-old Craig Smith of Ottumwa, who was reported missing on January 20, 2024. His roommate advised he had not seen Smith for two weeks at that point. It was revealed to investigators that Smith may have been heading to Keokuk County to see a friend.
During the search, investigators found the remains of an adult. The condition of the remains is preventing law enforcement from making a positive identification. Evidence and statements collected during the investigation have led investigators to tentatively identify the remains as those of Craig Smith. The State Anthropologist, the Office of the State Medical Examiner, and the DCI Crime Lab are working to make a positive identification.
This afternoon, DCI agents charged 44-year-old Jeffrey Gautreaux with Murder in the First Degree and Abuse of a Corpse. Gautreaux, who lived with his stepfather, 63-year-old Steven Grant, at the Ollie address, was arrested without incident at the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office on February 1. Gautreaux and Grant were initially charged with drug offenses. Grant has been released from custody.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the DCI at 515.725.6010 or at dciinfo@dps.state.ia.us.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
High School Basketball
The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will host Ottumwa and the boys’ will travel to Ottumwa tonight with the girls’ game at 6:45 pm and the boys’ game at 7:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will cover the boys’ game with the pregame show at 7:15 pm.
The Danville girls’ team clobbered Columbus over the weekend 60-18 in the two seed game of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference shootout (SEISC). Kenna Furnald led the Bears with 18 points as the Bears tallied 25 steals. The Danville boys’ team has now won three games in-a-row after taking down Collins-Maxwell 73-48. The Bears will take on Holy Trinity Catholic tonight at 7:30 pm at home.
The Holy Trinity Catholic girls’ team claimed the SEISC title after dominating Lone Tree over the weekend 50-26. The Crusaders will host Mediapolis tonight at 7:30 pm. The Holy Trinity Catholic and WACO boys’ teams collided over the weekend in a matchup of the #2 teams in the SEISC. In an instant classic, Connor Gehling finished off Holy Trinity Catholic’s comeback with a lay-up with two seconds remaining to win 54-53. Gehling finished with 24 points as Colton Leichty led WACO with 16 points.
The WACO boys’ team will travel to Pekin tomorrow, February 6th, at 7:30 pm.
Van Buren County was swept by Davis County over the weekend with the girls losing 65-44 and the boys falling 67-52. The Warriors will take on Cardinal tomorrow with the girls’ team playing at 6 pm at home.
The #4 Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team could not stop #10 West Burlington’s conference supremacy over the weekend as the Falcons defeated the Wolves 45-38. Cam Buffington led the effort with 14 points as West Burlington has now won back-to-back SEISC titles. Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to Lone Tree tomorrow at 7:30 pm.
Central Lee will take on Cardinal tonight with the girls’ team playing at 6 pm on the road.
The Mediapolis boys’ team will face off against Central Lee tomorrow at 7:30 pm on the road.
Girls’ Basketball Regional Pairings
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union has released the regional pairings for classes 1A, 2A, and 3A and here’s some of our local matchups. In Class 1A Region 7, Lone Tree will host Winfield-Mt. Union. Danville will take on Burlington Notre Dame with the Bears acting as host. The winner of the two games will compete against one another.
In Class 1A Region 8, WACO will face off against Hillcrest Academy at home and New London will travel to Holy Trinity Catholic. All Class 1A games are scheduled to take place on February 8th at 7 pm.
For Class 2A Region 6, Van Buren County hits the road to face off against Pleasantville on February 10th at 7 pm. Columbus will host West Burlington on February 13th at 7 pm.
In Class 3A Region 1, Mediapolis will host Central Lee on February 10th at 7 pm.
In Class 3A Region 5, Fairfield will take on the top seed Solon on the road and Washington will host Davis County. Both games will take place on February 10th at 7 pm.
High School Wrestling
WACO hosted the Warrior Invite over the weekend and finished in 6th place with 104 team points. Mediapolis and North Mahaska tied for 1st place with 174 points, while Mt. Pleasant finished in 3rd with 157.5 team points.
For WACO, Gage Samo finished in first place in the 113-pound weight class after defeating Nate Edmonds of Washington by fall. John McLaughlin took third place by fall in the 126-pound weight class. Louden Huisenga picked up the gold in the 190-pound weight class after taking down Parker Lange of Mediapolis by fall.
Mt. Pleasant had Lane Beckler of the 126-pound weight class and Ramzy Davis of the 150-pound weight class each claim 2nd place for the Panthers. Keegan Birdsell defeated fellow Panther Jahmal Dodson in the 144-pound weight class to claim 3rd place. William Birdsell grabbed 3rd place in the 215-pound weight class with a win by fall.
New London and WACO will travel to Wilton to compete in districts. Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union will wrestle at Solon, while Mt. Pleasant will travel to Fairfield with Burlington Notre Dame, Keokuk, and Mediapolis also in attendance. Districts will take place on Saturday, February 10th, at 10 am.
High School Bowling
Mt. Pleasant will travel to Louisa-Muscatine today.
The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will be heading to Oskaloosa on Monday, February 12th and the boys’ team on Tuesday, February 13th, to compete in the state qualifying meet. Burlington and Keokuk will also be making the trip.
College Basketball
The #3 Iowa women’s team defeated Maryland over the weekend 93-85. Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin each finished with double-doubles as Clark scored 38 points and dished out 12 assists, while Martin cashed in for 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. The Hawkeyes will host Penn State on Thursday, February 8th, at 8 pm.
The Iowa State women’s team has gone 1-4 in their last five games after losing to UCF over the weekend 71-66. Emily Ryan led the Cyclones with 18 points as Audi Crooks scored 15 points and collected 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double. Iowa State will compete against Oklahoma on Saturday, February 10th, at 6 pm at home.
The #12 Iowa State men’s team had their game-winning basket waved off against #18 Baylor over the weekend as the Cyclones fell 70-68. Keshon Gilbert led the way with 24 points. The Cyclones will travel to take on Texas tomorrow, February 6th, at 7 pm.
The Iowa men’s team will face off against Penn State on the road on Thursday at 6 pm.
This Day in Sports History
1943 – Jake LaMotta defeats future multi-weight world boxing champion Sugar Ray Robinson by unanimous points decision in Detroit in the 2nd of their 6 meetings; his only win of their rivalry. It was Robinson’s first loss in his first 40 pro bouts.
1989 – Kareem Abdul-Jabar becomes the first NBA player to score 38,000 points.
2017 – Super Bowl LI, NRG Stadium, Houston, TX: New England Patriots defeat Atlanta Falcons, 34-28; MVP: Tom Brady, New England, QB. The first Super Bowl to be decided in overtime.
Jane Wickham passed away on February 2, 2024 at Park Place Nursing Facility in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
Jane Anne Lindeen was born on November 13, 1939 to Arnold and Marjorie (Olson) Lindeen. She was raised on a farm east of Swedesburg and graduated from Olds High School in 1957. Jane furthered her education at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls where she earned a two-year teaching certificate. She then taught third grade in Crawfordsville for three years. 
Jane married John Wickham on June 19, 1960 at Swedesburg Evangelical Lutheran Church; they have farmed north of Mt. Pleasant ever since. Jane was very active in her church and community, serving on many committees and teaching Sunday School at SELC, volunteering for the Swedish Heritage Society Museum, and serving on the Waco School Board, where she was the first woman elected to the school board. Jane and John also attended and enjoyed countless musical performances and sporting events of their children and grandchildren over the years.
Jane is survived by her husband of 63 years, John Wickham of rural Mt. Pleasant; Dr. Steven (Dr. Shelly) Wickham of rural Mt. Pleasant and children Blake (Kacie Nelson), Sterling, and Hannah (Matt); Lyn (Craig) Alberty of Rapid City, South Dakota and their children Thad, Grant, Erin (Craig) and Seth (Susan); Mark (Sara) Wickham of Indianola and their children Abram, Davis, Marie, and Thomas; twin brother Jerry (Norma) of Mt. Pleasant; sisters-in-law Jane (Russ) Barlow of Ankeny and Sue (Stan) Skopit of North Miami Beach, Florida; and eight nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Jane will be 11:00 AM on Thursday, February 8, at Swedesburg Evangelical Lutheran Church in Swedesburg, IA. The Reverend Mark Youngquist, Pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Swedesburg Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call from 12 Noon to 9 PM on Wednesday, February 8 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant. The family will be present to receive friends from 5-7 PM Wednesday evening.
Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Swedish Heritage Society or Swedesburg Evangelical Lutheran Church. On-line condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com
Randy J. Ackerson, 66, of Burlington passed away on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Randy was born on June 18, 1957, in Webster City, Iowa the son of Thomas F. and Barbara E. (Best) Ackerson. He worked at ISC before working for Locaota and Case. Randy was united in marriage to Dana Forrester on July 30, 2023, in Burlington. He enjoyed listening to music and riding his motorcycle, but most of all spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Dana, of Burlington, his children, Andrea Mora, ChaChi (CeCe) Martin, Ashley Smith, Olivia Leitch, Tessa Piper, Bryan Piper and Kaylynn Leasure and six grandchildren.
Randy was preceded in death by his mother, Barbara Ackerson, one son, Tanner Ackerson and his grandparents.
Randy’s family will host a celebration of his life at his home, 1300 South 10th Street, Burlington on Saturday, February 10, 2024 from noon to 4 p.m. Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com
Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, is caring for his arrangements.
