IHSAA Boys’ Basketball Rankings: West Burlington is the New Team on the Block

By Slaten Swords · Monday, January 29th, 2024 at 4:29 pm CDT

IHSAA- The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) released their newest boys’ basketball rankings, and the top teams are still undefeated, but now two local teams have found themselves in the top 10.

In Class 4A, Cedar Rapids Kennedy is still the team to beat boasting a 14-0 record. Iowa City West and Valley are ranked #2 and #3, respectively. Ankeny was kicked out of the top 10 with Norwalk replacing them at the #10 spot. Sioux City East jumped up the rankings from 10th to 4th after three straight victories.

The top four teams stayed locked in Class 3A with Clear Lake sitting atop the standings and an undefeated Solon team is still #4. Assumption has gone from #10 to #6 and Bishop Heelan is no longer in the top 10 with Marion taking over the vacancy at #8.

West Lyon is still the king of Class 2A with a 16-0 record with Western Christian and Hudson finding the podium at #2 and #3, respectively. #4 Underwood still touts an undefeated record at 17-0. Entering the top 10 for the first time this season is #10 West Burlington with a perfect 14-0 record. The Falcons are led by a trio of guards in Brady Martin (17.2 points per game), Quincy Collins (14.5 points per game), and Mason Watkins (19.9 points per game). West Burlington averages 70 points per game, while winning by an average differential of 23 points.

Class 1A has Marquette Catholic clinging on to their top spot with an unblemished record, but Madrid leapfrogged North Linn and Winfield-Mt. Union in the rankings after big wins against Des Moines Christian and Earlham to be ranked #2. The Wolves are #4 with a 14-1 record. Winfield-Mt. Union and West Burlington seem poised to meet in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference shootout this weekend.

Henry County Supervisors Meeting Agenda January 30th

By Yorke Prough · Monday, January 29th, 2024 at 3:00 pm CDT

AGENDA

 

January 30, 2024

 

Approve Agenda

 

Approve Minutes

 

9:00 Jake Hotchkiss, Engineer Weekly Update.

Motion – IDOT agreement intersections south of Mt. Pleasant on Hwy 218

Motion – IDOT agreement intersections east of Mt. Pleasant on Hwy 34

 

9:20 John March, New London School Transportation Director for Bus Route Maintenance.

 

9:30 Zach James, Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission – Revolving Loan Fund.

 

10:00 Joe Buffington, P & Z, Public Hearing to Amend Title 6, Chapter 2, Article 11-2 through 11-6 Alternative Energy Overlay District.

Immediately following, Public Hearing to Amend Title 6, Chapter 1, Article 7-2, Adding Fees for Subdivision and Plates of Survey.

 

Other County Business as time allows

 

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

Henry County Proposed Site for 50-90 Wind Turbines

By Yorke Prough · Monday, January 29th, 2024 at 10:36 am CDT

Northern Henry County might soon become the sight for a large wind farm. RWE Renewables, a nuclear electric power generation company, has begun a wind study in our area to determine how many wind turbines would be added to the county. This study began in the summer of 2023, and is set to last for “one to two years” according to a Henry County Supervisor.

RWE is proposing 50-90 turbines in the northern part of the county. Each individual turbine is 650ft at the top of their revolution. Noise pollution is one common issue that has been raised in these discussions. For those a quarter of a mile away, the turbine noise can be likened to that of a constant refrigerator hum. Standing under the turbine at ground level will sound more like a jet plane taking off.

The company has been in contact with landowners to ask if they would allow wind turbines on their property. Landowners are allowed to decline. Each turbine needs at least 40 acres of space to operate.

It is difficult to determine just how big of an impact this will have in our county. The Planning and Zoning Commission first needs to rezone these areas as they are updating the commercial wind ordinance.

This project would, theoretically, generate funds for the county and property owners in the norther portion of Henry.

There is a map in the Henry County Courthouse showing all the landowners that have agreed to this project so far. This project would have a 30,000-acre footprint, while producing 200-300 construction jobs. The minimum amount in landowner payments that can be expected over the 35-year project is 77 million dollars. Meanwhile, 133 million dollars is the amount that Henry County and townships within the project area will receive.

There are many questions that will come with this potential project. RWE is responsible for the deconstruction/decommission of the wind turbines. The scope of this construction and size of these turbines is something we have not seen in our county.

The Henry County Board of Supervisors has the final say on this matter. There is an open meeting at 9:00 am on Tuesday, January 30th at the Henry County Courthouse. Joe Buffington with the Planning and Zoning Commission will be in attendance for a public hearing at 10:00 am.

It must be noted that there are many “unknowns” surrounding this project, with many conversations still to be had.

RWE Flyer

David Brower

By Yorke Prough · Monday, January 29th, 2024 at 7:49 am CDT

David Lamont Brower, 74, of Mt. Pleasant, died Friday, January 26, 2024 at his residence.

Dave was born August 1, 1949 in Ottumwa. He was the son of Harvey David and Dolores Eloise (Fattig) Brower. Dave grew up in Blakesburg, IA and graduated from Blakesburg High School in 1967. On August 18, 1993 in Mt. Pleasant, David was united in marriage to Martha Louise Schadt. Martha preceded Dave in death on March 5, 2018 in Mt. Pleasant.

For 33 years, Dave was employed at Case IH in Burlington. He was a repair technician at the end of the production line, correcting problems before the equipment left the line. He retired in 2002. In 1996, the company sent Dave to France to work on some of the equipment with which they were experiencing trouble.

Dave honorably served his country during the Vietnam War. He was inducted into the US Army from Ft. Des Moines  on September 11, 1969 and was honorably discharged on August 6, 1971 at Ft. Lewis, Washington.

While at Case IH, Dave was a member of the United Auto Workers Union. Dave enjoyed classic cars and attending car shows. He liked to cook and spend time with his family. For many years, Martha and he were members of the Gold Wing Touring Association. They loved getting on their Honda Goldwing motorcycle and attending Goldwing rallies across the nation.

Those thankful for sharing in Dave’s life include a son and his wife, Rob and Brenda Schadt of Mt. Pleasant; a sister, Rosemary Vandello of Ottumwa, several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives.

In addition to his parents, parent-in-laws Jim & Bertha Schadt and wife Martha, Dave’s sister Linda Fine precedes him in death.

A funeral service for Dave will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, February 1 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. Open visitation will be from 12 – 7 PM on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com.

Jerry Bonser

By Yorke Prough · Monday, January 29th, 2024 at 7:47 am CDT

Jerry L. Bonser, 89, of Mt. Pleasant, died on Sunday, January 28, 2024 at his home in Mt. Pleasant. Jerry died on his 89th birthday.

Per his request, there will be no services.

Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com

Emergency Response Drill Rescheduled to Wednesday

By Yorke Prough · Monday, January 29th, 2024 at 7:44 am CDT

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a Live Emergency Response Drill at the New London Community School District on Wednesday, January 31st. This drill was meant to take place this morning, January 29th, but has been rescheduled due to intense fog causing a delay for NLCSD.

They believe this will ensure that they are prepared for any emergency situation.

During the drill, students and staff will either practice exiting the building as if they were leaving in a real emergency or will remain in their classrooms with their teachers. It’s important to note that students will not be leaving the school property during this drill.

The purpose of this exercise is to familiarize everyone with the necessary procedures in case of an emergency and to ensure a swift and coordinated response from our school community.

Remind your students before they leave this morning for school of this drill.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Chad Wahls, 319-367-0512.

Sports, January 29th

By Slaten Swords · Monday, January 29th, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Basketball

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team fell to Mediapolis over the weekend 57-33. Hanna Wagenbach scored 13 points and Haley Steffener collected 10 points as they each grabbed 11 rebounds to finish with a double-double. The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team saw the two-headed monster of Christian Stacy and Payton Hagans lead the Panthers to victory over the Bulldogs 55-42. Stacy scored 28 points and Hagans cashed in for 22 points. Max Griffin led the Bulldogs with 18 points. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will travel to Fairfield tomorrow, January 30th, with game time scheduled for 7:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will have the call with the pregame show at 7:15 pm. The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will host Burlington tomorrow at 7:30 pm. 

Mediapolis will take on Van Buren County tomorrow with the girls game scheduled for 6 pm. 

The Van Buren County girls’ team lost to Clark County over the weekend 49-15. Shae Batten scored 7 points for the Warriors. The boys’ team defeated Clark County 51-45 over the weekend. 

The Holy Trinity Catholic girls’ team will travel to Danville tonight at 6 pm. The boys’ team will take on Mediapolis tonight at home at 7:30 pm. 

Central Lee was swept by Keokuk over the weekend with the girls losing 63-28 and the boys falling 75-43. Kendra Boatman led the Chiefs with 28 points. In the boys’ game, Owen Swan led the Hawks with 11 points. Central Lee will compete against Holy Trinity Catholic tomorrow with game one scheduled for 6 pm. 

The WACO girls’ team outscored Wapello 32 to 12 in the second and third quarters to defeat the Arrows over the weekend 49-41. Breanna Graber scored 16 points in the win. The WACO boys’ team clobbered Wapello 60-36. Chase Waterhouse cashed in for 16 points, while Colton Leichty finished with a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. The Warriors will celebrate their senior night tonight against Louisa-Muscatine with the girls playing at 6 pm. 

Danville will compete against West Burlington tomorrow with the girls scheduled to start the night at 6 pm. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will take on Highland tomorrow on the road with the girls leading off the night at 6 pm. 

New London will host Burlington Notre Dame tomorrow with game one at 6 pm. 

High School Wrestling

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference tournament saw Burlington Notre Dame and Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union battle for the conference championship and Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union won their first conference championship in 13 years by one point, 247-246. Mediapolis finished in third place and WACO took fifth. 

Burlington Notre Dame and Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union competed in four championship matches and the Nikes won all of them with Colt Boyles pinning Dakota Aney, CJ Davis rallying back to take down Ty Scorpil by an 8-7 decision, Dirk Boyles winning by fall over Trevor Phillips, and Blake Wilson taking his match by a 5-1 decision over Cole Storm.

Russel Coil and Kason Dopler each grabbed first place in their respective weight classes. Bowen Thomson took second place. Jacob Nelson, Cael Phillips, and Cooper Buffington also finished in 3rd place in their respective weight classes. 

WACO’s lone conference champion was Louden Huisenga as he took down Riley Kaalberg (C/WMU) by fall in the 190-pound weight class. Gage Samo lost by fall in the championship match of the 113-pound weight class to Burlington Notre Dame’s Carter West. 

New London was led by Michael Raines’ second place finish as he fell to Kyler Crow of Mediapolis by an 18-14 decision. Gavin Menke-Bailey took 3rd place over Kohlby Newsom in a win by fall.

Parker Lange also finished in first place for Mediapolis as he won by fall in the 215-pound weight class. 

Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union will compete in a dual tomorrow, January 30th. 

WACO will host a triangular tomorrow. 

New London and Mt. Pleasant will compete at districts on February 10th.

The girls’ state tournament will begin on Thursday, February 1st, with the morning session starting at 10 am. KILJ will be covering 16 wrestlers at the meet and updating as the day goes on. 

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant will travel to take on Keokuk tomorrow, January 30th. 

College Basketball

The #5 Iowa women’s team cruised past Nebraska over the weekend 93-72 to get back in the win column. Caitlin Clark buried eight three pointers on her way to a double-double with 38 points and 10 rebounds. The Hawkeyes will face off against Northwestern on Wednesday, January 31st, at 7 pm on the road. 

The Iowa State women’s team could not pull off another underdog win against #24 West Virginia as the Mountaineers pulled away with the 84-78 win over the weekend. Audi Crooks attempted to will the Cyclones to victory single handedly as she collected 25 points and 16 rebounds to finish with a double-double. Iowa State will compete against Oklahoma State on Wednesday at 6:30 pm at home. 

The #23 Iowa State men’s team picked up another upset victory with a 79-75 final against #7 Kansas over the weekend. Tre King was one of four Cyclones to finish in double figures as he tallied a game-high 21 points. Iowa State will travel to Baylor on Saturday, February 3rd, at 7 pm. 

The Iowa men’s team’s nearly perfect offense downed Michigan over the weekend 88-78. The Hawkeyes shot over 50% from the field and perfect from the free throw line as Payton Sandfort, 26 points, and Tony Perkins, 24 points, led the way in the winning effort. The Hawkeyes will take on Indiana tomorrow, January 30th, at 6 pm in a road matchup. 

This Day in Sports History

1982 – Old Dominion ends Louisiana Tech’s women’s basketball record 54-game winning streak with a 61-58 victory. 

1989 – After nine years of use, the game-winning RBI is dropped as an official statistic. New York Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez will remain the all-time leader with 129.

2012 – Snowboarder Shaun White achieves the first ever SuperPipe perfect score (100) in Winter X Games history.