Presidential Visit Scheduled for May 16th During Bentonsport Heritage Day

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 at 1:52 pm CDT

Bentonsport is getting ready to step back in time as Heritage Day returns on Saturday, May 16, bringing living history, entertainment, and family activities to the historic river town.

A highlight of the day will be a special presentation at 1 p.m. in Riverside Park, where Peter Grady will appear as U.S. President and Civil War General Ulysses S. Grant. The program, titled “Unconditional Surrender,” will explore Grant’s leadership during the Civil War and his role in rebuilding the nation afterward. The presentation is supported by Humanities Iowa and the State Historical Society of Iowa.

Festivities begin early, with Dr. Quacksham returning to Bentonsport at 11 a.m., offering his “Amazing Elixir” and demonstrations in hypnosis.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can also take part in Victorian dance instruction led by costumed instructors from Historical Merriments of Nauvoo, Illinois.

History enthusiasts will have the chance to tour the State of Iowa’s official Odd Fellows Museum, located on the second floor of the Odd Fellows Hall, open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

At the Stone House, a display of historical quilts and fabric items will be featured from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with quilter Paula Logan on hand to discuss the pieces and answer questions.

Throughout downtown Bentonsport, visitors will find musicians performing period music, artisans demonstrating traditional crafts, and horse-drawn wagon rides offering tours of the village.

Food vendors will be available, along with homemade pie sold by the slice or whole pies from the Bentonsport Improvement Association. Local shops will also be open throughout the day.

Parking will be managed to allow space for wagon tours, with limited accessible parking available on Sanford Street near the village center.

Heritage Day is a free, family-friendly event presented by the Bentonsport Improvement Association, with support from First Iowa State Bank, Libertyville Savings Bank, and State Central Bank.

Bentonsport’s National Historic District is located on Van Buren County Road J-40 between Bonaparte and Keosauqua. More information is available at bentonsportheritage.org or on the Bentonsport Historic District Facebook page.

Prep Track and Field State Qualifying Sites and Assignments

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 at 1:38 pm CDT

Prep Track and Field- The spring season has been a mixed bag of beautiful nights allowing for school records to be set and an onslaught of storms that end the meet before it has even had a chance to start.

Nevertheless, the 2026 State Track and Field meet is now only a month away with the three-day event running Thursday, May 21st, through Saturday, May 23rd. But, to earn a spot you have to compete at the state qualifier on Thursday, May 14th, with no more than 24 qualifiers for any event.

Here’s a look at where our local teams will be competing.

Class 1A

Heading off to Region 10 in Sigourney will be Danville, New London, Van Buren County, WACO, Wapello, and Winfield-Mt. Union. For Class 1A, the top place winner in each event plus the next 14 best statewide performances will advance.

Class 2A

Tipton will host Columbus, Mediapolis, and West Burlington/Notre Dame for Region 7.

Class 3A

Mt. Pleasant will have a familiar playing field with Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Washington, and Burlington plus Solon and Clear Creek Amana will join the other members of the Southeast Conference.

Classes 2A and 3A will have the top two place winners in each event plus the next eight performances statewide advance to state.

Diane Rae (Meister) Mehler

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 at 1:38 pm CDT

Diane Rae (Meister) Mehler, 67, of Mt. Pleasant, died Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at Arbor Court in Mt. Pleasant.

Diane was born April 17, 1958 in Harvard, Illinois. She was the daughter of John Alvin and Carol Josephine (Caputo) Meister. She graduated from Mt. Pleasant Community High School and Iowa Wesleyan College as a Summa Cum Laude graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dietetics. In her spare time, Diane liked to crochet.

Those thankful for sharing in Diane’s life include a brother, Steven (Linda) Meister of Victoria, TX and a sister, Sandy Pounds of Cedar Rapids, and several nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

An open visitation to pay respects will be held on Monday, April 27 from 12 to 6PM at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant. The family will not be present on Monday, but they will receive friends at a further visitation from 12 to 1PM on Tuesday, April 28 in the Chapel of Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery, 3430 West Fourth Street in Waterloo. Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com.

 

MPCSD Middle School iJAG Students Travel to Iowa State Fairgrounds

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 at 1:23 pm CDT

Students from Mount Pleasant Middle School are getting a hands-on look at their future careers.

Some middle school iJAG students recently traveled to the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines to take part in the Build My Future experience.

The event is designed to give students an up-close introduction to a wide range of career pathways. Through interactive exhibits and demonstrations, students had the chance to learn by doing—exploring everything from skilled trades to technical and professional careers.

Participants also connected with college representatives and industry professionals, helping them better understand the education and training needed for various fields.

The trip provided a valuable opportunity for students to start thinking about their futures while gaining real-world insight into potential career paths through the Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates program.

Henry County Senior Receives Iowa Farm Bureau Scholarship

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 at 1:20 pm CDT

The Henry County Farm Bureau is recognizing a standout local student for her achievements and future in agriculture.

Beatrice Anderson, a graduating senior at WACO High School, has been named a recipient of a $1,000 Henry County Farm Bureau Scholarship.

Anderson plans to attend Iowa State University, where she will major in Agriculture and Life Sciences Education. Her long-term goal is to return to Iowa as an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, helping guide the next generation of agricultural leaders.

A dedicated advocate for agriculture, Anderson has been heavily involved in both FFA and 4-H. She has served as an FFA officer, 4-H Club President, and Henry County Teen Council President. She also made history as the first member of the Crooked Creek FFA Chapter to earn the Iowa FFA Degree.

Beyond her leadership roles, Anderson has contributed more than 700 hours of volunteer service in her community. Her efforts include helping with Vacation Bible School, Midwest Old Threshers events, youth programs, and serving as a Clover Kid co-leader.

Her accomplishments also include being crowned the 2024 Henry County Junior Fair Queen and earning recognition as the 2025 Midwest Old Threshers Sweet 16 Miss Volunteer. She maintains a strong academic record with a 3.91 grade point average.

The Henry County Farm Bureau says it is proud to support Anderson as she continues her education and prepares for a future in agriculture, education, and community leadership.

Barbara E. Raymond

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 at 1:13 pm CDT

Barbara E. Raymond, 86, of Gig Harbor, Washington and formerly of Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield, IA, died Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at Gig Harbor Court in Gig Harbor.

A private graveside funeral service for Barbara will be held at the Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield, with her grandson, Father Tyler Raymond officiating. There will be no visitation. The Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant, is caring for Barbara and her family.

Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com

Prep Track and Field: Mt. Pleasant Sweeps the Panther Relays and a Recap of Other Local Meets

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 at 12:05 pm CDT

Southeast Iowa- It was a busy day for our local track and field teams, especially for the Mt. Pleasant locals with their second home track meet in less than a week’s time. Nevertheless, more meet records fell at Mapleleaf  as athletes get ready for the upcoming Drake Relays

Panther Relays

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team has hit their stride as of late with back-to-back team meet victories, winning the Panther Relays by one point over conference foe Washington; moreover, the Mt. Pleasant boys’ team joined their counterparts in winner’s lane for the second time this season, dusting Mediapolis by 30 points.

While it was not quite on the same rate as the Denny White Relays, the Mt. Pleasant girls’ team did reset a new meet record and in an event that the Panthers did not get one last Thursday. This time, it was the distance medley team of Ellie Freeman, Taylor Williamson, Izzy Sloat, and Avery Fedler crossing the finish line in 4 minutes and 16 second, which was nearly three seconds faster than the record set back in 2002.

The Panthers also picked up wins in the shuttle hurdle, 4×100, and 4×200 meter relays, along with Sloat taking the long jump with a leap of 17 feet and 2.5 inches.

Danville’s lone win came in the sprint medley relay with a time of 1 minute and 54 seconds by the team of Macie Wagner, Violette Sowell, Delaney Newberry, and Alaina Gourely.

WACO’s Josie Dykstra grabbed the gold in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes and 23 seconds, less than a tenth of a second faster than second place. Allison Gillip had the lone win for New London in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1 minute and 12 seconds.

Mediapolis’s Avery Crear won the high jump with a leap of 4 feet and 10 inches.

Lastly, Washington’s Jaedyn Moore claimed the 100 and 200-meter dashes. Lauren Drahota took the 400-meter dash. Leighton Messinger glided to the win in the 100-meter hurdles. Additionally, the Demons won the 4×400 meter relay with the team of Drahota, Brynnlee Flynn, Sawyer Manz, and Iris Dahl.

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team strode to victory due, in large part, to six first-place finishers for the Panthers, including a new meet record. Mason Frueh has continued to step up in the discus ring, catapulting a new Panther meet record throw 139 feet and 9 inches.

Other Panthers to end up with the gold last night: Silas Hulett in the 3200-meter run, posting the only sub-10-minute time (9:55), Griffen Jones displayed his speed with a victory in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.44 seconds, Kaden Schadt in the high jump with a leap of 5 feet and 10 inches, and Jaymisen Rich helped sweep the throwing events with a toss of 44 feet and 11.5 inches in the shot put.

Additionally, the Panther team of Kayle Brown, Keegan Heaton, Gavin Kerr, and Kaden Schadt snatched the win in the shuttle hurdle relay.

Mediapolis may have finished in second place as a team, but the Bulldogs did walk away with more meet records than Mt. Pleasant. The team of Will Luttenegger, Brock Spears, Kyler Crow, and Henry Luttenegger broke both the 4×100 and the 4×200 meter relay meet records.

The Bulldogs ran the 4×100 in 43.34 seconds, which was 0.46 seconds faster than Williamsburg a year ago, and the 4×200 was completed in 1 minute and 30 seconds, which was nearly one second faster than Pekin’s run a year ago.

The Bulldogs were plenty busy elsewhere with Will Schmidgall outrunning the field in the 400-meter dash with a time of 52.5 seconds and Gannon Gunn taking the 110-meter hurdles. Simon Wendel snatched the gold in the 1600-meter run with a mark of 4 minutes and 31 seconds. Larson Truett won the tiebreaker for the boys’ long jump with a mark of 20 feet and 10 inches.

Washington’s Kael Williams sprinted to the gold in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.42 seconds. Andrew Rees took the 800-meter run.

Danville’s team of Drake Bielser, Zaylan Wenig, Ty Frazier, and Noah Horn won the distance medley with a time of 3 minutes and 42 seconds and 4×400 meter relay with a mark of 3 minutes and 36 seconds.

Ottumwa’s Don Newell Classic

Fairfield traveled to the Don Newell Classic in Ottumwa last night and the girls’ team finished in 8th place, while the boys’ team grabbed the bronze medal with 100 points.

The boys’ team found victories in the 4×200 meter relay with a time of 1 minute and 33 seconds and the 4×800 meter relay with a mark of 8 minutes and 45 seconds. Moreover, Eli Zillman flew to a win in the high jump with a height of 6 feet and 6 inches.

Warrior Relays

The WACO boys’ team held the Warrior Relays last night with two divisions running. In Class A, Van Buren County snatched the title with 105 points with West Burlington/Notre Dame and Central Lee taking 4th and 5th place, respectively. For Class B, Winfield-Mt. Union ended up on top with 100 points, while New London, WACO, and Wapello made up 3rd through 5th place, respectively.

Staying in Class A, Lincoln Bainbridge continued his dominant march to the Blue Oval with a victory in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.05 seconds. Jace Duncan has continued turning heads as an underclassman with a winning time of 53.91 seconds in the 400-meter dash. Landry Loeffler was a step faster in the 1600-meter run with a mark of 4 minutes and 57 seconds and outpaced the field in the 3200-meter run by over 30 seconds.

Kayden Simmons won the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.71 seconds. Additionally, the Warriors grabbed wins in the 4×100, 4×800, the sprint medley, the distance medley, and the shuttle hurdle relays.

West Burlington/Notre Dame’s Cavin Denney claimed the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes and 6 seconds. Kellan Porter shared the gold medal with Louisa-Muscatine’s Oscar Cline as they both cleared 6 feet in the high jump.

Central Lee managed to come out on top in a pair of relays: the 4×200 and the 4×400.

For Class B, Cruz Hagmeier led the Wolves to a gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles with a mark of 16.15 seconds. Parker Wilson continued the Wolves success in the 400-meter hurdles, leading to a sweep in the shuttle hurdle relay. Graham Haines took the high jump with a mark of 5 feet and 6 inches. Lastly, Colin Anderson swept the throwing events with a heave of 43 feet and 8.25 inches in the shot put and a catapult of125 feet and 8.5 inches in the discus.

New London is known for their speed, and they exhibited why as London Franklin took the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.36 seconds with his teammate Cale Westerbeck finishing right behind him. The 4×100 meter relay team, which will be competing in the Drake Relays also reeled in the gold with a time of 43.17 seconds.

The Tigers also snatched the 4×200 meter relay. Elijah Ingwersen sprinted to a win in the 800-meter by almost 15 seconds. Franklin would go on to leap 22 feet and 6.5 inches in the long jump for a nearly two-foot victory.

WACO had Hayden Shelman win the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.94 seconds. In the 400-meter dash, Jude Dykstra, by nearly two seconds, claimed the win with a time of 52.36 seconds over Shelman.

Up Next

If you are not participating in the Drake Relays, then most of our local teams will be competing tomorrow, April 23rd.

Central Lee, Columbus, Van Buren County, West Burlington/Notre Dame, and Wapello will be heading to Louisa-Muscatine for the Gardner-Wilson Co-Ed Relays.

Winfield-Mt. Union will welcome Danville, New London, and WACO to the Co-Ed Pankoke Relays.

The boys’ teams of Mt. Pleasant, Mediapolis, and Fairfield will head to Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, while the girls’ teams will travel to the Washington Invitational at Case Field.

Lee County Sheriff’s Department Warns of “Court Enforcement Action” Scam

By Allison Jacobs · Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 at 10:51 am CDT

The Lee County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents about a scam message circulating in the area that falsely claims to be a “Final Notice — Court Enforcement Action” for unpaid traffic violations.

Authorities say the text may look official, but it is designed to create urgency and pressure recipients into responding quickly.

The sheriff’s office emphasizes that law enforcement agencies and courts do not notify individuals of violations or request payment through text messages. Residents are urged not to click on links, scan QR codes, or provide any personal or financial information in response to suspicious messages.

Anyone with questions about a legitimate citation or court matter should contact their local court or law enforcement agency directly using verified contact information.

Officials are encouraging the public to stay alert and share the warning to help protect others in the community.