Ottumwa Police Department Participate in “No Shave November” Raise Funds for Young Girl with Leukemia

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 at 6:13 am CDT
Every year members of the Ottumwa Police Department participate in No Shave November as part of a fundraiser. It is that time again. This year marked our 9th annual No Shave November event.
This was by far the biggest and best year to date. This year we were able to branch out into other communities and sponsors along with new sponsors in Ottumwa. Saturday morning we were able to present the family with a huge check in the amount of $6.635!
This year we raised funds for 4 year old Khinley. Below is a quick narrative about Khinley, her family and her story.
“Khinley Jo has a unique story that starts out with we thought she had allergies the beginning of June, and with two Dr. visits and some blood work June 28th 2023 we received the news that she has T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and upon her admission to Iowa stead Family children’s hospital they took a chest X-ray and found a mass/tumor the size of a football taking up the space in her chest over her right lung, and pushing on her heart.
Within 12 hours of being admitted to the pediatric oncology unit, she was rushed down to the PICU, because she could no longer keep her oxygen level up by herself, and they risked losing her airway and not being able to intubate her as the mass/tumor was laying over her airway, and if she stopped breathing the mass/tumor could crush her heart, the artery’s around it, and her collapse her right lung. The next 24 hrs. were the most nerve racking as the Drs. had a long road to figure out how to sedate her without making her too sleepy so her mass/tumor wouldn’t crush the vital organs.
Friday June 30th she underwent successful procedures and came out like the champion we know her to be. On top of getting a PICC line placed, and a lumbar puncture done, within a few hours they noticed her kidneys were failing and needed to be placed on dialysis, they kept her lightly sedated and put a dialysis catheter in and she received dialysis for 48 hrs. After we found the kidney failure we noticed her chest was swelling, and she ended up needing a chest tube as well, and then she spent over a week in the PICU and 4-5 weeks in the pediatric oncology unit at the university of Iowa.
They did her bone marrow aspiration a couple of weeks ago, and said it came back negative and that means we can start phase two of treatment because she is now in remission, but that doesn’t mean we are close to the end of treatments, they quoted us a 2 and a half year treatment plan for the cancer she has.
As of right now we go to the hospital/ clinic once a week for chemo, and then give chemo meds at home, some weeks we have to go Monday- Friday. I quit my job back in April after working for ORHC for 14 years to stay home with our kids, my husband Taylor Selix works at Cargill for 12 years, and just joined the Centerville Police Department as a reserve officer.
We have 4 kids Tucker – 16, Kharley- 11, Khinley-4, Maverick-2. Khinley has a Facebook group if you would like to join to keep up on updates for her. Khinley Jo’s Journey.”

Elva Marie Waters

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, December 11th, 2023 at 5:47 pm CDT

Elva Marie Waters, 89, of Fairfield passed away peacefully on November 14, 2023, at Lantern Park, Coralville, Iowa.

Elva, the daughter of Elsworth A. (Andy) Anderson and Martha Sodergren Anderson was born June 1, 1934, in Perry, Iowa.  Elva was raised in the Olds, Iowa community and graduated from Olds Consolidated High School.  She then attended college, graduating from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa with a degree in elementary education.  Elva started her teaching career in a rural one room schoolhouse.  She taught 2nd and 3rd grade at Van Allen Elementary in Mount Pleasant for many years as well as substitute teaching in numerous school districts including Fairfield.

Elva married Norman R. Waters of Crawfordsville, Iowa on October 10, 1958, in Olds.  They moved to Fairfield in 1960 where the raised their two children, JoEllyn Sue Waters Owens and Scott Richard Waters.

Elva loved life and fought through many injuries and illnesses throughout the years including several cancers and a car accident that resulted in multiple surgeries and many, many months in hospitals. She loved all animals, especially cats.  Family always came first!  She and Norman attended every event their children participated in and later made countless trips to Texas to see their granddaughter’s many dance recitals, ball games, orchestra and choir concerts, and cheerleading and dance team competitions.

Elva was preceded in death by her husband Norman on November 6, 2013, and a brother, John Robert Anderson.  Elva is survived by her daughter, JoEllyn S. Owens and her husband, Robert, of Wichita Falls, Texas, granddaughter Erin Meek and her husband, Colby, and great granddaughters Emalyn and Ellastyn Meek of Tolar, Texas, son, Scott R. Waters and his wife, Peggy, of Iowa City, Iowa, and her brother, Richard L. Anderson, and his wife Jean, as well as several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life is planned for June 1, 2024.  We will gather to commemorate her 90th birthday and do what she loved most, spend time with family and friends.  Final details will be shared as we get closer to the date.

Behner Funeral Home of Fairfield is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to Elva’s family by viewing her obituary at www.behnerfh.com.

Iowa State Fair Board Election Results

By Yorke Prough · Monday, December 11th, 2023 at 1:14 pm CDT

During the annual State Agricultural Convention, held December 10, 2024 in conjunction with the Association of Iowa Fairs Conference, elections were held for positions on the Iowa State Fair Board of Directors.

As outlined in Iowa Code, county fair delegates representing six geographic districts in Iowa elect two board members to serve two-year staggered terms on the Iowa State Fair Board. Directors re-elected by their districts are Alan Brown, Hampton (North Central); John Harms, Monticello (Northeast); C.W. Thomas, Guthrie Center (Southwest); Randy Brown, Osceola (South Central); Darwin Gaudian, Primghar (Northwest); and Curtis Claeys, Grand Mound (Southeast).
Board Officers re-elected for 2024 are as follows:
President: Darwin Gaudian, Primghar (Northwest)
Vice President: Curtis Claeys, Grand Mound (Southeast)
Treasurer: Deb Zumbach, Coggon (Northeast)
Jeremy Parsons, Des Moines, was re-appointed as Board Secretary.

Other Iowa State Fair Board Members include:
Tennie Carlson, Stratford (North Central); Gary Van Aernam, Exira (Southwest); Deb Zumbach, Coggon (Northeast); Jo Reynolds, Indianola (South Central); and Gary McConnell, Bloomfield (Southeast) and VerDon Schmidt, Everly (Northwest). Board Members by office held are Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (represented by Lt. Governor Adam Gregg); Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig (represented by Grant Menke); and Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen (represented by Andrea Welchans).

Christmas with the Governor

By Yorke Prough · Monday, December 11th, 2023 at 7:52 am CDT

Governor Kim Reynolds and First Gentleman Kevin Reynolds invite Iowans and their families to join them for Christmas at Terrace Hill on Sunday, December 17, from 1:00-3:00 pm.

Guests are encouraged to explore the historic property and enjoy several activities including photos with Santa Claus and the first family, ornament decorating, carolers, Christmas cookies and a letter-writing station to send correspondence to deployed Iowa National Guard service members.

At this year’s event, as an additional way to say “Thank You” to our men and women who are currently deployed, Terrace Hill will be collecting donations for deployed service members.

The event will conclude with Governor Reynolds reading No Company for Christmas, a story which centers around Terrace Hill and was written by local children’s author, Susan Maupin Schmid, with illustrations created by local artist, Tara Gartin.

Tickets are $25 per individual or $50 per household + processing fees and must be purchased in advance. To purchase tickets, call their office at 515-281-7205.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Terrace Hill Partnership, the non-profit organization that supports necessary conservation and restoration projects at Terrace Hill. Last year’s event raised over $5,000 that went toward the upkeep of the 154-year-old building and grounds.

Enhance Henry County Community Foundation Meeting Tuesday

By Yorke Prough · Monday, December 11th, 2023 at 7:52 am CDT

The Enhance Henry County Community Foundation is planning a celebration ceremony and announcement of their nineteenth grant-making awards and results. The event will be held December 12th in the Union Block building on the north side of the Mt. Pleasant square at 11am. Grant recipients, county elected officials and the public are encouraged to attend.

 

The Enhance Henry County Community Foundation applied, received, and was awarded $158,914 in County Endowment Funds. Under terms of the award 75% of the funds shall be awarded to county not-for-profits, communities, and charities.

 

A special grantmaking committee of the foundation has been busy receiving and evaluating grant applications. 42 grant applications were received totaling over $534,000. The Enhance Henry County Community Foundation is actively seeking contributions and gifts to build the grantmaking capacity of the new foundation.

Burlington Burglary Bandits Bounced off the Street and into Jail

By Yorke Prough · Monday, December 11th, 2023 at 6:55 am CDT

Over the past several weeks the Burlington Police Department has been investigating multiple car burglaries. In these burglaries, valuable items, including firearms, were taken. During the investigation, Burlington Police Department Detectives were provided great assistance by the public, who provided home security footage. Because of the public’s help, on December 7, 2023, Detectives established persons of interest and conducted search warrants at their residences. Two Burlington males have been arrested and charged for their involvement in the string of burglaries.

ARRESTED:

Johnathan Jordan Holloway:

2 counts of Burglary of a Motor Vehicle – Aggravated Misdemeanors.

Christian Anthony Alexander:

2 counts of Burglary of Motor Vehicle – Aggravated Misdemeanors

Theft 2nd – Class D Felony

This investigation is ongoing and additional charges are anticipated. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty the court of law.

Sports, December 11th

By Slaten Swords · Monday, December 11th, 2023 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Basketball

Mt. Pleasant will travel to Benton Community tonight with the girls’ game starting at 5:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will have the call with the pregame show at 5:15 pm. Head Coach Eric Rawson talked about how his team cannot let the moments of a game influence their play. 

The Danville boys’ team put triple-digits on the board, cruising past Cedar Valley Christian 103-19. Carson Ourth scored 26 points and gathered 13 rebounds to finish with a double-double. Jaden Bauer also collected a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. The girls’ team also won in convincing fashion 61-23 against WACO over the weekend. Jadae Molle and Taegan Fraizer each finished with a game-high 15 points. Ella Huisenga led the Warriors with 12 points.

WACO will host Highland tomorrow with the girls playing at 6 pm and the boys’ game to follow. 

Van Buren County will take on Danville tomorrow with the girls going at 6 pm. 

The Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team snuck past Hillcrest Academy 43-42 over the weekend, while the boys’ team crushed the Ravens 63-35. Abram Edwards finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds. The Wolves will take on Columbus on Friday, December 15th, with the girls playing at 6 pm. 

Central Lee will face off against West Burlington tomorrow with the girls starting the night at 6 pm. 

Holy Trinity Catholic will take on Burlington Notre Dame tomorrow with the girls playing at 6 pm. 

New London will host Mediapolis tomorrow with the girls starting the night at 6 pm. 

Mediapolis will host Louisa-Muscatine today with the girls game scheduled to start at 6 pm with the boys’ game to follow. 

High School Wrestling

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will compete on Saturday, December 16th, at Cedar Rapids-Prairie. 

The WACO and Fort Madison girls’ teams competed in the Vinton-Shellsburg Invitational over the weekend. In the 105-pound weight class, Elyssa Graber finished in 3rd place after winning by fall. Rylee Rice took 8th place in the 115-pound weight class. Lastly, Macy Bonebroke won the 5th place match by fall over Taylea Palar of Fort Madison in the 190-pound weight class. The top finisher for the Bloodhounds was Hailey Kemper in the 100-pound weight class, who took 3rd place. The Warriors will compete on Saturday at Chariton. 

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team participated at the Grinnell Duals but fell to Grinnel, 53-30, Webster City, 51-21, and Bondurant-Farrar. Against the Tigers, Ramzy Davis, Jackson Newman, Payton Walker, and William Birdsell all picked up wins by fall. Walker and Birdsell each picked up wins by fall against Webster City. Landon Beckler also picked up a win by fall, while Ramzy Davis won by a 6-0 decision. Mt. Pleasant will travel to Fort Madison on Thursday, December 14th, to compete in a dual. 

For the New London boys’ team, Michael Raines picked up a 1st place finish in the North Cedar Invitational in the 165-pound weight class over the weekend. The Tigers will compete at Pekin on Thursday in a dual. 

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team competed at the Colfax-Mingo duals over the weekend and defeated all five of their opponents, including Burlington Notre Dame, 42-35. Jacob Nelson, Ty Scorpil, Cole Storm, Kason Dopler, Riley Kaalberg, and Cooper Buffington each picked up wins by fall against the Nikes. Kaiden Dietzenbach, Carter West, C.J. Davis and Kael Cook won by fall, while Cole Mincer and Colt Boyles won by decision and Dirk Boyles won by technical fall. The Wolves will travel to Van Buren County on Thursday for a triangular. 

The WACO boys’ team will head to Mediapolis on Thursday to compete in a triangular. 

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant will take on Fairfield today. 

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 has now beaten Wisconsin 28 consecutive times after taking down the Badgers yesterday 87-65. Caitlin Clark was a rebound away from a double-double with 28 points. Hannah Stuelke contributed 21 points to the effort. The Hawkeyes will compete against Cleveland State on Saturday, December 16th, at 6 pm. 

The Iowa State women’s team got everyone involved yesterday as six players scored in double figures to defeat North Dakota State handily, 89-59. Addy Brown had a terrific game, finishing with a double-double as she put up 16 points and collected 13 rebounds. The Cyclones will host Troy on Sunday, December 17th, at 12 pm. 

The Iowa State men’s team dominated Prairie View A&M 107-56. Curtis Jones and Keshon Gilbert each shot over 50% for the contest with Jones finishing with 22 points and Gilbert cashing in for 20 points and eight rebounds. The Cyclones will take on Florida A&M on Sunday at 5 pm. 

The Iowa men’s team has now lost three straight after narrowly falling to Michigan yesterday 90-80 to open up Big Ten play. Ben Krikke had a nice game with 24 points and eight rebounds. The Hawkeyes will look to get back in the win column on Saturday at 3:30 pm against Florida A&M. 

This Day in Sports History

1951 – Joe DiMaggio announces his retirement from baseball. 

1966 – Al Nelson sets a then-NFL record, returning a missed field goal 100 yards for a touchdown. He would return another missed field goal 101 yards for a touchdown in 1971. 

1985 – The Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks play one of the wildest games in modern NHL history, combining for 21 goals on 90 shots in Edmonton’s 12-9 victory, the most goals since 1943.

Robert Wallingford

By Yorke Prough · Monday, December 11th, 2023 at 6:21 am CDT

Robert L. Wallingford, 95, of Revere, Missouri, passed away at 6:05 a.m. Thursday, December 7, 2023, in Kahoka, Missouri.

He was born in Anson, Missouri, on The Wallingford family farm on November 22, 1928, the youngest child of Wortha Eston and Hattie LaVerne (Peacock) Wallingford.  His birthplace was designated a Century Farm in 2017 and has been in the family since 1879.

Robert was a member of the Anson Community Church.

Robert graduated from Revere High School with the class of 1946.  He also had five children that graduated from Revere.  His favorite activity was to attend basketball games, at which everyone recognized his voice as he cheered on the players and offered to “help” the referees.

He was married to Gladys Ann Brewer on November 6, 1949, at the first Christian Church in Kahoka, Missouri by Rev. Richard Golden.  Robert and Gladys celebrated more than seventy-two years together.  They were a great example to their family with their dedication to each other.

Robert was a farmer at heart, but he was a handyman and could do about anything and wasn’t afraid to try.  He and Gladys helped all of their children in some way, or another, set up and remodel their first homes.  He also taught himself to weld and used this skill during employments at Ajax in Ft. Madison and Buffalo Caster in Farmington, Iowa, along with farming full time.  He took a leave from farming from 1956-1958 when he became the first manager of the D-X Station in Donnellson, Iowa.

When he was able, one of his favorite things to do was get on his side-by-side and tour what he called the “160,” which was a 160-acre parcel near his home.  He had it manicured like a state park with beautiful rolling grassy hills, covered with black cows and a fishing pond.  The family would tease him about how irritated that he made the squirrels when they saw his bulldozer coming.

Robert could visit with anyone, which enabled him to enjoy being a feed and seed salesman and operating a seasonal fireworks business.  He believed that the fireworks business, on the Century Farm, was the oldest in northeast Missouri.

Robert was also known for lovingly attaching nicknames to family and friends.  He loved to tease.

Robert was survived by his children: Barbara (Stanley) Elwell, Bonnie (Buddy) Martin, Mark Wallingford (Ellen Wilson), Brenda (Ruben) Leffler and Richard (Anna) Wallingford.  Also surviving are fourteen grandchildren:  Brian (Lesley) Elwell of Overland Park, Kansas, William Elwell (fiancé Brittney Hardin) of Germantown Hills, Illinois, Rob (Jennifer) Elwell of Melbourne, Florida, Tressa (Kalin) Sharkey of Columbia, Missouri, Tara (Nathan) Klepfer of Ashland, Missouri, Megan (Aaron) Zook of Philadelphia, Missouri, Mykel (Melea) Martin of Kahoka, Missouri, Jason (Linda) Wallingford of Maywood, Missouri, Tisha (Troy) Patterson of Monroe City, Missouri, Jenette (Justin) Hurayt of Foristell, Missouri, Jenelle (David) French of Olathe, Kansas, Brandon (Claudia) Leffler of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Tyson Wallingford of Revere, Missouri and Ashley (Brandon) Kerr of St. Charles, Missouri; twenty-seven great grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; his in-laws: Ray Wilbert and Gladys Faye Brewer; a special aunt: Mary Brewer; his siblings and their spouses: Vera (Raymond) Yates, Mabel (Ivan) Lee, Helen (Harley) Seth, Charles (Louise) Wallingford, Lois (Paul) Rider; a special nephews: Dean Wallingford and Steve Rider; special niece: Janet Elliott; and sister-in-law and her spouse: Lois (George) Tanner.

There will be no visitation.

A private family memorial service will be held Saturday, December 16, 2023, at the Anson Community Church in Anson, Missouri with burial at the Anson Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in his memory for the Anson Cemetery and can be mailed to the family at: Schmitz Funeral Home, P.O. Box 22, Donnellson, Iowa 52625.

On-line condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com. Schmitz Funeral Home of Farmington is assisting the family with arrangements.