Prep Football: Keokuk Opens Up the Search for a New Head Coach

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 at 3:42 pm CDT

Prep Football- Southeast Iowa will see a couple new coaches patrolling the sideline in 2024 after Jim Krekel retired from his head coaching position with Burlington at the conclusion of the 2023 season and Josh Roberts just recently announced that he will resign from the helm of the Keokuk football team after five years as head coach.

Krekel was honored after Burlington’s game against Xavier, which marked the end to his 38 years of coaching and his four years at the helm of the Grayhounds. Krekel was gifted a football with the numbers 347 written on it as he finished with a 17-17 record in his four years as head coach. His 7-3 record in 2021 was the first winning season for Burlington since 2009.

Roberts’ departure from the position is perhaps a bit more subtle though just as expected after his move to Carthage to take over the family farm proved to be too much to balance. Roberts worked on the staff for a total of seven years and worked as head coach for five years. In that span, he finished with an 18-22 overall record and led the Chiefs to the playoffs in 2020 for the first time since 2012.

Keokuk will have Brenton Hoard returning for his senior season at quarterback after improving their record from 2-7 to 4-5, while Burlington will have to find replacements for their leading tackler and longtime starter at quarterback, Gabe Robinson.

Iowa Girls High School Wrestling Super Regional Assignments and Schedule

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 at 11:48 am CDT

IGHSAU- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released their Super Regional wrestling assignments for the tournament scheduled to start on January 26th. Spectators will be allowed into the building at 9 am and the wrestling will begin at 10 am.

For our local teams, they will be wrestling at the Alliant Energy Power House in Cedar Rapids. In Region 5, Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union, and Fort Madison will be battling it out against 23 other teams. Burlington, Keokuk, Mediapolis, Mt. Pleasant, WACO, and Wapello will be wrestling in Region 6.

The top four wrestlers in each of the 8 regions will qualify for the State Tournament scheduled for Thursday, February 1st, and Friday, February 2nd, at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

KILJ will bring you updates throughout the tournament.

Methamphetamine Found Inside Man’s Vehicle

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 at 8:46 am CDT

On January 6, 2024, a deputy with the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation at US Hwy 34 and Roosevelt Ave. During the traffic stop, a Bulington Police Department K-9 Officer responded to assist. An open-air K-9 sniff was conducted around the exterior of the vehicle and the K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics. A search of the vehicle was then conducted and several hypodermic needles containing methamphetamine were located inside the vehicle.

The driver, Clarence Junior Kilbride, age 49, of New London, Iowa, was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance 3rd or subsequent offense, a D felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Clarence was transported to the Des Moines County Correctional Center.

SEIRMC Fort Madison Welcomes First Baby of the Year

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 at 8:03 am CDT

Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, Fort Madison, welcomed Henry Lee Meng, son of Randy Brooks and Cory Meng, as the hospital’s first baby born in 2024. Henry was born at 9:01 a.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2024. He weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz. and was 21” long. The first baby of the new year was delivered by Dr. Timothy Staudte.

Sports, January 9th

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Basketball

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team survived a flurry of late three-pointers last night to extend their win streak to 7 games after taking down Wilton 64-60. The Panthers held onto a slim 34 to 29 lead entering the second half and that’s when Nate Stroud took over as he started the third quarter off with a dunk that gave Mt. Pleasant all the momentum. The Beavers were held to just four points in the third quarter as Stroud finished the game with 19 points. Head coach Eric Rawson talked about the big man’s play after the game. Payton Hagans had a game high 21 points as Christian Stacy also finished in double figures with 11 points. 

Mt. Pleasant will face off against Burlington at home on Friday, January 12th, with the girls playing at 6 pm. Coach Rawson knows the matchup could be a statement game.  

The WACO girls’ team will compete against Iowa Valley on Thursday, January 11th, at 7:30 pm in a road matchup. The boys’ team will take on Wapello on Friday on the road at 7:30 pm. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will host Louisa-Muscatine with the girls scheduled to play at 6 pm and the boys to follow. 

The Van Buren County/New London matchup scheduled for tonight has been moved to Thursday with the girls leading off the night at 6 pm. 

Central Lee will travel to New London on Friday with the girls’ team leading off the night at 6 pm. 

The Danville versus Holy Trinity Catholic boys’ game scheduled for tonight has been postponed. A make up date will be announced at a later time. 

The Holy Trinity Catholic girls’ team will face off against West Burlington on Friday at 6 pm at home. 

High School Wrestling

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will be hosting WACO and New London in a triangular on Thursday, January 11th. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ and boys’ teams will travel to Washington to compete in a dual on Thursday. 

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will participate in a tournament hosted by Louisa-Muscatine on January 20th.

The WACO girls’ team will compete in an invitational on Saturday, January 13th.

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant will host Fairfield on January 18th. 

College Basketball

The #4 Iowa women’s team will travel to take on Purdue tomorrow, January 10th, at 7 pm. 

Caitlin Clark broke the conference record after garnering her 24th career Big Ten Player of the Week honor. Clark drilled the game winner and finished with 40 points against Michigan State, then followed that up with her 50th career double-double against Rutgers. 

The Iowa State women’s team will host West Virginia tomorrow at 6:30 pm. 

Earning Big 12 women’s basketball Freshman of the Week was Addy Brown for her first ever honor as a Cyclone. She scored 38 points over her two games this past week as she also collected her seventh career double-double. 

The Iowa State men’s team will face off against #2 Houston tonight at 6 pm. 

The Iowa men’s team will play at home on Friday against Nebraska at 8:30 pm. 

Owen Freeman collected his fifth Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor after averaging 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last week. 

This Day in Sports History

1958 – Oscar Robertson, in his varsity debut, scored 56 points against Seton Hall inside Madison Square Garden in a 118-54 win.

1972 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leads the Milwaukee Bucks past the Los Angeles Lakers, 120-104, ending LA’s consecutive win streak at 33, the longest winning streak in major league sports history. 

1991 – Dean Smith of North Carolina is the 6th coach to win 700 career basketball games.

There’s Snow Reason to Drive Today: More Snow Expected Throughout the Day

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 at 6:12 am CDT

Snow has fallen in Southeast Iowa and whatever your thoughts on it, there will be more. The National Weather service is forecasting an additional 1-2 inches of snow per hour at certain times throughout the day.

Expect heavy winds this afternoon, in excess of 40mph. This will cause blowing snow and make travel very difficult. While plows have been out on the roads this morning, cars have been seen in ditches. Do not drive if you do not need to, and if you do, slow down and pay attention. Expect commute time to increase greatly this morning and throughout the day.

For a list of closures and cancellations due to this storm, head to KILJ.com and click on the purple banner detailing the weather related announcements.

Henry County Democratic Party to Host New Caucus Format on January 15th

By Yorke Prough · Monday, January 8th, 2024 at 3:25 pm CDT

The Henry County Democratic Central Committee will be hosting the county’s Democratic Caucuses for all county precincts on January 15, 2024 at 7:00pm at 120 S. Main Street, Suite 103 in Mount Pleasant.

 

The new Iowa Democratic Caucuses will consist of two parts. One part will be the mail-in expression of Presidential preference. Iowa Democrats will be able to request a presidential preference card through the mail or online.  The last day to request a preference card is February 19, 2024.

The second part will be the in-person precinct caucuses which will be held in-person on January 15, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. The in-person precinct caucuses are when the party conducts traditional party business. Party members elect unbound delegates and alternate delegates to county conventions, elect county central committee members and discuss platform resolutions that can be shared at county conventions. Participants must be in-line or signed-in by 7:00pm to participate.

No Presidential preference will be taken at the in-person precinct caucuses. The results of the mail-in Presidential preference will be released on March 5.

 

More information, including details about changes to the Iowa caucus process, is available at www.iowademocrats.org/caucus/

The caucus is a great way to get involved in grassroots activities with the Iowa Democratic Party.

 

All Henry County Democrats are encouraged to attend. Visit www.prohenrycounty.org for more information about the county caucus and other local events.

Student Charged After Firing Shots at Vehicle

By Yorke Prough · Monday, January 8th, 2024 at 11:09 am CDT

On the morning of Sunday, January 7th, 2024, Fort Madison officers were dispatched to an address on Florence Drive to a report of criminal mischief. At that time, it was discovered that an unoccupied vehicle had been shot multiple times with a firearm. Evidence was recovered at the scene and interviews were conducted. The owner, also named a suspect, believing it was perpetrated because of an earlier dispute between the two.

With the assistance of Southeastern Community College staff and West Burlington Police Department, Fort Madison detectives executed a search warrant that same day at the Blackhawk Tower Apartments in West Burlington. Subsequently, additional evidence was recovered and Angel Joann Maes, age 19, a resident of the SCC housing, was taken into custody.

Maes has been charged with Going Armed with Intent (D felony); Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon (D felony); 1st degree Harassment (aggravated misd) and Reckless Use of a Firearm (aggravated misd). She was subsequently transported to the Lee County Jail where she awaits arraignment in North Lee County District Court.

The public is advised that this was determined to be an isolated event between involved parties, and not a continued threat to the general community. Also, that charges are merely an accusation of a crime, and the suspect presumed innocent until conviction in a court of law.