|
GTSB- Increased Law Enforcement on Roads
Travelers on Iowa’s roads can expect to see an increased police presence this Thanksgiving weekend. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is promoting road safety during the holiday season alongside law enforcement agencies across the state. The increased law enforcement presence will run through November 30th.
There were 17 fatal or serious injury crashes during 2024, a year ago. Five of those involved people who were not wearing seat belts. People are reminded as they travel to celebrate the holiday to always buckle their seat belts.
In addition, the GTSB states that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. If you go out, plan ahead of time to have a sober driver. According to GTSB, 37% of traffic deaths in Iowa are related to impairment.
Prep Football: IFCA Puts Three Local Athletes on the All-State List
Prep Football- The Iowa Football Coaches Association (IFCA) selected the All-State football teams for the 2025 season and three of our local players found a spot amongst the selections.
Class 3A
Washington’s Blaine Rees was the lone member of the Southeast Conference that was named to the All-State team, as the junior was named 2nd Team offensive lineman. He helped pave the way for an offense that generated 1,691 rushing yards on 6.3 yards per carry for 31 total touchdowns.
Class 2A
The Mediapolis defense has been a stifling bunch for a couple of years now and senior Kyler Crow kept that reputation intact as he was placed on the 2nd Team defensive line. Crow led the team with 63 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. His 23.5 tackles for loss ranked 7th in the state.
Class A
Pekin’s Henry Adam has been a force at the linebacker for the last three years, but the junior found another gear as he was selected as All-State Second 2nd Team linebacker. Adam totaled 57 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, two fumble recoveries, three interceptions, including a pick-six.
Richard Lewis (Rick) Van Winkle
Richard Lewis (Rick) Van Winkle, 76, of Mount Pleasant, entered heaven on Monday, November 24, 2025, at the VA Medical Center in Iowa City.
Rick was born on June 30, 1949, in Kirksville, Missouri, the son of Lewis M. and Hazel M. (Heise) Van Winkle. He grew up on a farm four miles west of Houghton. He attended the Hillsboro Baptist Church, where he accepted Jesus as his Savior and was baptized.
Rick attended Hillsboro Elementary and Harmony Community Schools before moving to Burlington, where he graduated from Burlington High School in 1967. He entered the United States Army on September 17, 1970. He requested training in electronics and served with the 552nd Military Police Company during the Vietnam War. Rick was honorably discharged on April 20, 1972. He was united in marriage to Becky A. Swailes on February 15, 1975, at Forest Lake Baptist Camp south of Ottumwa.
Rick farmed with his cousin in the Houghton area for a couple of years before moving to Mount Pleasant, where he was employed with Motorola, later Celestica, for over 33 years. He served as director of the Henry County Veterans Affairs Office for six years and was also active in local politics, serving as co-chair of the Henry County Republican Party. He was a member of Faith Christian Outreach Church in Mount Pleasant.
Rick took great joy in his family, especially in the many trips they took together while the boys were young. His grandchildren were a particular delight to him. Rick’s faith in Jesus Christ was of supreme importance in his life and shaped the way he loved and served others.
Rick enjoyed canoeing, wood carving and whittling, hunting, fishing, and riding motorcycles. He loved spending time at car shows and cruising in his 1951 Ford, which his grandmother had purchased new. Rick enjoyed cooking for family and friends and was famous for his homemade ice cream and his great-grandma’s coffee cake. He sang in the Happy Memories Group and presented Vietnam War programs in area schools. Rick and Becky were blessed with the opportunity to travel to many places, including Israel, Alaska, and Holland.
Those thankful for sharing in Rick’s life include his wife of 50 years, Becky; his son, Dan (Kira) Van Winkle of Ottumwa; his daughter-in-law, Kristin Van Winkle of Washington; his beloved grandchildren, Madison, Lincoln, Quincy, Grady and Cooper; his sister, Cheryl Bell of Houghton; his brother-in-law, Rex Swailes of Mount Pleasant; along with nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Dr. James L. Van Winkle; his brother, Alan Van Winkle; and his brother-in-law, Richard Bell.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Faith Christian Outreach Church in Mount Pleasant, with Reverend Monte Knudson officiating. Burial, with military honors conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard, will be in Forest Home Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 29, 2025, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Faith Christian Outreach Church in Mount Pleasant. Memorials may be directed to Cradle of Hope in his memory.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com
The Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is honored to serve the family with love, comfort and dignity as we celebrate the life of Rick Van Winkle.
Sports, November 26th
High School Basketball
The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team fell to #14 Pella last night 57-12 in their season opener. Haylay Lydolph hustled all night for the Panthers, tagging five points and a couple of steals in her first action wearing the Maroon and Gold. The Panthers will look to regroup for their road matchup against Burlington Notre Dame on Monday, December 1st, at 6 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 5:45 pm.
The Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team was held in check last night in a 53-28 loss to Pekin. The Wolves will tangle with Louisa-Muscatine at home on Tuesday, December 2nd, with the boys’ game following the girls’ game at 7:30 pm.
The Fairfield girls’ team clobbered Knoxville last night 64-16. The Trojans will face off against Oskaloosa on Tuesday with the girls playing first at 6 pm and the boys game to follow at home.
The Columbus girls’ team got off to a fast start last night against Louisa-Muscatine but was outpaced in the second half, losing 62-48. Elle Sanders led the scoring for the Wildcats with 11 points and five steals, while Navieah Garza totaled 9 points and 13 rebounds. Columbus will host Lone Tree on Tuesday with the girls’ teams leading off the night at 6 pm.
The WACO and Wapello girls’ teams battled in their first conference showdown of the season and it was the Arrows who ended up on top, winning 49-46. Mya Wagner helped Wapello exit with the victory, tabbing 14 points, while Carlee Lunsford netted 11 points for the Warriors.
WACO will welcome Holy Trinity Catholic on Monday with the girls playing first at 6 pm.
The West Burlington girls’ team started the season with an overtime contest with Centerville, but the Falcons were outscored 10 to 0 in the extra period to lose 55-45. The Falcons will compete against New London on Tuesday on the road with the girls tipping off at 6 pm and the boys at 7:30 pm.
The Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will attend a scrimmage at Kirkwood Community College on Friday, November 28th, with a matchup against Columbus Catholic.
The New London girls’ team will travel to Louisa-Muscatine on Monday at 6 pm.
High School Bowling
Fairfield will host their triangular on Monday, December 1st.
Mt. Pleasant will duel West Burlington/Notre Dame on Tuesday, December 2nd.
High School Wrestling
The Mediapolis, Fairfield, Wapello, and Van Buren County girls’ teams will compete at the Fort Madison Invitational on Monday, December 1st.
The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will travel to Tipton for an Invitational on Monday.
Southeastern Community College
The women’s basketball team fell to North Iowa Area Community College last night 73-44. The Blackhawks will travel to Iowa Central Community College on Wednesday, December 3rd, at 5:30 pm.
The men’s basketball team dropped their contest against Spoon River college last night, 77-63. Jaleel Donley and Jacob Franklin each put 20 points in the losing effort. The Blackhawks will host the Broadway Classic on Friday, November 28th, with a showdown against Lincoln Trail College at 7 pm.
The men’s and women’s wrestling teams will duel Ellsworth Community College on December 3rd at home.
College Football
Iowa will travel to Nebraska on Friday, November 28th, to end the regular season with kickoff at 11 am. KILJ 105.5 FM will have the call.
Iowa State will face off against Oklahoma State on Saturday, November 29th, at 11 am.
College Basketball
The #11 Iowa women’s team will host Western Illinois tonight at 6:30 pm. The Hawkeyes will be led by Ava Heiden, who was named National Player of the Week by the United States Basketball Writers Association yesterday. Heiden put up 38 points and 17 rebounds in their two victories at the WBCA showcase last week.
The Iowa men’s team remains unbeaten for the season after outlasting Ole Miss in the opening game of the Acrisure Classic last night, 74-69. Bennett Stirtz was a one-man wrecking crew, splashing six threes on his way to a game-high 29 points. The Hawkeyes will take on Grand Canyon at 8:30 pm tonight for the championship.
The #10 Iowa State women’s team will compete in a tournament starting on Friday, November 28th, at 10 am.
The #15 Iowa State men’s team handled Creighton yesterday 78-60 to move to 2-0 in the star-studded Players Era tournament. Killyan Toure shined in the game for the Cyclones, scoring 20 points in the victory. Iowa State will face off against Syracuse today at noon.
This Day in Sports History
1917 – The National Hockey League (NHL) was founded. The teams included were the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Arenas, and Quebec Bulldogs. Frank Calder was elected as the first NHL president. He served from 1917 to 1943.
1982 – Howard Cosell called his last boxing match.
1998 – Barry Sanders (Detroit Lions) became only the second running back in NFL history to run for more than 15,000 career yards.
The Mount Pleasant City Council approved a reduced-cost contract for a major sewer project and advancing two ordinance updates
Council approved a revised agreement for the sanitary sewer bypass project near Broadway and Winfield. The price dropped to just over $374,000 after engineers determined a waterline no longer needed work.
The city also authorized a professional services agreement with Shive-Hattery to help meet new phosphorus testing requirements at the wastewater treatment plant. Staff say the partnership will ensure Mount Pleasant stays ahead of upcoming DNR mandates.
In other actions, the council held first readings on two ordinances. One updates the city’s loitering rules in certain commercial areas—such as Walmart and Main Street—giving police additional tools to address lingering on private property.
The second ordinance ties fire department emergency response fees to the state fire association’s recommended cost schedule. That change ensures the city can recover appropriate costs and will be reaffirmed each year.
The council also approved a Class C alcohol license for L & J Products on North Broadway, where the business plans to operate a golf simulator and small retail space.
City staff reported that plans for the Winfield-area infrastructure project are nearly ready for DOT review, with contractors preparing to begin work soon. The meeting adjourned at 5:38pm.
The Mount Pleasant City Council meets again on December 10th at 5:30 p.m.
Henry County Conservation Hosts “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” Trivia Night
Henry County Conservation is inviting community members of all ages to put their knowledge to the test at a fun and family-friendly trivia night on Friday, December 5, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Oakland Mills Nature Center.
Participants can compete solo or in pairs as they take on a series of questions inspired by the classic game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? The event is free to enter, and prizes will be awarded to the winners.
This lighthearted competition is designed for all ages, making it a great outing for families, friends, or anyone who loves a good challenge. Whether you want to prove your brainpower or just enjoy an evening at the nature center, everyone is encouraged to join the fun. To register, call 319-986-5067.
State Historical Society of Iowa Expands Access to Millions of Records Through Ancestry Partnership
The State Historical Society of Iowa has announced new progress in its partnership with Ancestry.com, opening public access to millions of digitized archived documents—all without cost to taxpayers.
The two-year project added more than one million newly scanned records from the State Archives into Ancestry’s searchable database. These materials include vital records, Iowa National Guard enlistment files, World War I and II casualty reports, Fort Madison convict registers, and mug shots—providing researchers and genealogists with deeper insight into Iowa’s history.
“Ancestry is excited to partner with the State Historical Society of Iowa to digitize these important collections at no cost to the taxpayers,” said Jaren Akenheads, Senior Manager of Content Acquisition. “These records hold significant genealogical value for Iowans and for people around the world.”
Iowans can access the records for free through the State Historical Society’s institutional Ancestry account at the Research Center. Those with personal Ancestry subscriptions will see newly digitized material added on a rolling basis as scanning and metadata processing continues.