Mt. Pleasant Police Officers Retiring…

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, December 27th, 2023 at 9:29 pm CDT

Two long time Mt. Pleasant Police Officers are retiring on December 31, 2023.   Mayor Steve Brimhall and the City Council accepted the retirement of Sergeant Michael Stalder who began his service to the City of Mt. Pleasant in 1995.  After 28 years of service, Sergeant Stalder was recognized by Chief Lyle Murray for dedication, loyalty, and honorable service at the Mt. Pleasant City Council Meeting on Wednesday.

Mayor Steve Brimhall and the City Council also accepted the retirement of Sergeant Richard Lanphier who has had a 33-year career with the Mt. Pleasant Police Department and was hired in 1990.   Chief Murray recognized Sergeant Lanphier for his dedication, loyalty, and honorable service at the Mt. Pleasant City Council Meeting on Wednesday.  Both officers have received letters of commendation during their careers.

The Mt. Pleasant City Council approved the hiring of Storm E. Swanson to fill the position of Police Officer made open by the retiring officers, and the council approved a new police car for the department.

 

Mt. Pleasant Citizens Express Frustration at MP City Council Meeting…

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, December 27th, 2023 at 8:56 pm CDT

The Mt. Pleasant City Council listened to questions and citizen frustration for close to two hours Wednesday night at their regular session meeting.  It was the 1st reading of the Ordinance Amending Chapter 21 “Solid Waste” and Chapter 25 “Solid Waste Charges.  The City has signed a 5-year contract with two private garbage haulers to take over those services for the City of Mt. Pleasant.  At issue with the over 30 citizens in attendance were the cost of the private service and no choice to opt out of receiving the service.  Citizens spoke out about not receiving adequate notification and not having enough time to let their voice be heard by the council.  There were concerns about elderly or disabled citizens not being able to get the container to the curb, and those on a fixed income being able to afford the fee.

Mt Pleasant Mayor Steve Brimhall and City Administrator Brent Schleisman explained that the sticker system the city has been using caused a deficit this year. The city is unable to meet overhead costs because of workman’s compensation, rising insurance premiums, and would not have been able to purchase a new garbage truck that met insurance standards.  Another option discussed was raising the price of garbage stickers, but that would have caused residents to go to private trash haulers, as has happened in the past.  The City of Mt. Pleasant does not profit from the change to private trash haulers.

Citizens will be automatically charged $19.75 per month for a 95-gallon bin.  The only other option is a 65-gallon bin for $16.75 per month and residents must physically change to their plan to the smaller size online or by calling City Hall.  You have until April 1st, 2024, to make that change with no fee. The amended Solid Waste Collection fees will be shown on each residential monthly utility bill starting in March 2024.  If you would like to see the size of the bins, you will find them in that alley beside City Hall.

The trash pickup with Wemiga Waste and Lance Refuse will begin on February 7th, 2024, and citizens should be looking for a letter from the City of Mt. Pleasant during the next two weeks explaining the two options and giving residents more information.

 

See a copy of the Curbside Residential Solid Waste Collection Agreement between the City of Mount Pleasant, Wemiga Waste Inc., and Lance Refuse Inc.

Waste Agreement

 

 

Darrel R. Rogers

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, December 27th, 2023 at 11:25 am CDT

Darrel R. Rogers, 72, of Mt. Pleasant, died Sunday, December 24, 2023 at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant.

Sports, December 27th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, December 27th, 2023 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Basketball

Looking at the Southeast Conference (SEC) standings on the girls side. Keokuk sits atop the standings with a perfect conference record. Burlington’s win over Fort Madison has the two locked in second place in the conference at 3-1. Washington is 2-2, while Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant currently are tied at 0-4 in conference play. 

On the boys side of the SEC, Mt. Pleasant’s 57-55 win over Keokuk secured their spot on top of the standings before winter break with the Panthers touting a 4-0 conference mark with the Chiefs at 3-1. Washington and Fort Madison are tied at 2-2, while Fairfield is 1-3 followed by Burlington, who is 0-4.

Moving over to the Southeast Iowa Super Conference (SEISC) north division for the girls, Columbus and Lone Tree are the top teams with the Wildcats touting a 7-0 record in conference followed by Lone Tree’s 6-1 conference record. WACO is tied for fourth in conference with Wapello, sporting a 4-3 record. Winfield-Mt. Union’s 1-7 mark sits the Wolves eight in conference with Hillcrest Academy rounding out the rankings with an 0-8 record. 

On the boys side of the north, Winfield-Mt. Union’s win over WACO earlier in the season is the determining factor in the conference rankings with the Wolves sitting at 7-0 and the Warriors in second place at 5-1. Pekin and Hillcrest Academy are still in the battle for the conference with two losses apiece. 

Focusing on the SEISC-south for the girls, Holy Trinity Catholic and Mediapolis are knotted at the top with matching 5-1 records. The Crusaders hold the advantage with a win over the Bulldogs. Danville is 4-2 followed by Burlington Notre Dame who is 4-3, but one of those wins came against the Crusaders. Central Lee is in fifth place with a 3-3 mark, while Van Buren County, West Burlington, and New London all have one conference win. 

On the boys side, West Burlington is alone at the top with an undefeated conference record of 7-0. Burlington Notre Dame and Holy Trinity Catholic are tied for second place with a 4-2 record. Tied for third at 3-3 is Central Lee, Danville, and Mediapolis. Lastly, New London sits above Van Buren County in the rankings with one conference win as the Warriors seek out their first conference win in the new year. 

High School Wrestling

The WACO boys’ team will compete in a meet at Washington on January 4th.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union, Mt. Pleasant, and WACO girls’ teams will compete at a tournament after winter break on January 5th at Highland. 

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ teams will have to wait until after winter break with the Panthers competing on January 4th at Sigourney.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will wrestle on January 6th at Highland in a tournament. 

New London will wait until after winter break to compete in a quad at Cascade on January 4th. 

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant will take on Washington on January 4th. 

College Football

Iowa State University will take on Memphis in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis on December 29th at 2:30 pm. The Cyclones defeated Memphis in the 2017 AutoZone Liberty Bowl 21-20. 

#20 Iowa will face off against #25 Tennessee in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on January 1st at noon. 

College Basketball

The #4 Iowa women’s team will face off against Minnesota on December 30th at 1 pm at home. 

The Iowa State women’s team will begin conference play on December 30th at 2 pm against Oklahoma State on the road. 

The Iowa State men’s team will host New Hampshire on December 31st at noon. 

The Iowa men’s team will take on Northern Illinois on December 29th at 6 pm at home. 

This Day in Sports History

1964 – National Football League Championship, Cleveland Stadium: Cleveland Browns shutout Baltimore Colts, 27-0; last championship win by a major-league pro sports team from Cleveland until 2016 NBA Cavaliers.

1971 – The first Fiesta Bowl: #8 Arizona State beats Florida State, 45-38. 

1981 – Edmonton Oiler Wayne Gretzky becomes the fastest NHL player to get 100 points in a season with four goals and an assist in a 10-3 win over the visiting Los Angeles Kings. It took only 38 games.