Sports, February 10th

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 at 6:32 am CDT

High School Basketball

Mt. Pleasant split their night with Ottumwa as the girls’ team fell to the Bulldogs, 77-32, while the boys’ team spoiled their senior night, 64-36. Four Panthers finished the night in double figures for the boys’ team, including 15 points off five three-pointers by Aiden Humble, the fourth time he’s done that this season.

West Burlington will travel to Mt. Pleasant tonight for a doubleheader starting at 6:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 6:15 pm.

The Fairfield boys’ team was squashed by Mid-Prairie last night, 75-28. The Fairfield girls’ team will face off against Davis County tonight at 7 pm on the road. 

The Van Buren County boys’ team traded blows with Twin Cedars last night but came up short in the effort, losing to the Sabers 76-74. The Warriors finished the regular season with a 6-16 record. 

Holy Trinity Catholic swept Clark County last night with the girls’ team winning 49-31 and the boys’ team stomping them 70-35. Layne Rung cashed in for 22 points for the boys’ team. The Crusader girls’ team finished the regular season with a 5-15 record as their contest with Burlington Notre Dame was canceled for tonight, while the boys’ team collected a 14-7 record for the regular season. 

The Columbus girls’ team’s 24-point fourth quarter led the Wildcats past Cardinal last night in comeback fashion, 59-49. The Wildcats finished the regular season with an 11-10 record. 

The Danville girls’ team finished the regular season on a 10-game winning streak, surviving a rough third quarter of offense to pick up the 51-47 victory over Louisa-Muscatine. Alaina Gourley led the scoring with 17 points, as she sits 52 points away from 1,000 career points. 

The Danville boys’ team will host Davis County tonight at 7:30 pm.

The WACO boys’ team will look to bounce back against Wapello at home tonight at 7:30 pm. 

The Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will head to Pekin tonight with gametime at 7:30 pm.

The Burlington Notre Dame boys’ team will face off against Keokuk at 6 pm on the road. 

Central Lee boys’ team will hit the road to take on Davis County on Thursday, February 12th, at 7:30 pm.

Girls’ Regional Basketball

The regional brackets for Class 1A are set to start on Thursday, February 12th, at 7 pm and Classes 2A and 3A starting on Saturday, February 14th, at the same time. Here’s a look at our local competition.

In Class 1A Region 4, New London will make the trip to Lone Tree.

Wapello will host Burlington Notre Dame.

Over in Region 6, Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to Highland. 

WACO will face off against Pekin on the road. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 6:45 pm.

In Class 2A Region 8, Van Buren County will host Columbus. 

In Class 3A Region 6, #9 Mediapolis will get another swing at Central Lee at home.

Boys’ Basketball Rankings and District Schedules

The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) released both the sixth edition of their rankings and the district brackets for Classes 1A and 2A yesterday and here’s the breakdown.

#3 Burlington Notre Dame kept their positioning in the Class 1A top 10 despite the loss to Class 2A’s #10 Pella Christian. The Nikes were able to bounce back with their 19th double-digit victory of the season to claim the Southeast Iowa Super Conference title over Hillcrest Academy. Notre Dame has also posted the most victories against teams with a record above 0.500 in Class 1A, going 14-1. 

The Class 1A district bracket is scheduled to start on Friday, February 13th, with the preliminary round. The first round for Classes 1A and 2A is scheduled for Monday, February 16th, with all games tipping-off at 7 pm.

Class 1A Substate 5 District 9 is where most of our local teams were placed with #3 Notre Dame grabbing on to the top seed.

To start off the bracket, New London will host Highland on Friday with the winner advancing to play the Nikes. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 6:45 pm.

On Monday, Winfield-Mt. Union and Danville will square off in the #4-#5 seed contest with the Wolves getting to host.

Holy Trinity Catholic will take on WACO at home. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 6:45 pm.

Over in Substate 5 District 10, Wapello will travel to Hillcrest Academy on Monday.

In Class 2A Substate 5 District 9, Central Lee earned the first round bye and will take on the winner between West Burlington and Cardinal with the Falcons getting to host. 

On the top half of the bracket, Van Buren County will hit the road to play Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont to open the first round.

In Substate 5 District 10, Columbus will face off against Durant on the road and Mediapolis will host Louisa-Muscatine for their first round showdowns. 

The Class 3A and Class 4A brackets will be released on Monday.

High School Wrestling

The boys’ district wrestling meets are scheduled for Saturday, February 14th.

Coralville’s Xtreme Arena is set to host the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s first State Dual Team tournament in January 2027. The site already hosts the State Volleyball tournament and State Individual Wrestling Tournaments. 

High School Bowling

The girls’ state meet is scheduled for today through Thursday, February 12th, in Waterloo. Keokuk will be competing as a team today, while Mt. Pleasant’s Shyann Smith will bowl as an individual along with Keokuk’s Allison Sapp, Jaelynn Ketterer, and Josie Sapp tomorrow.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) released the state qualifying meet assignments for the boys’ teams and Central Lee will host West Burlington, while Fairfield will travel to Monticello in Class 1A.

 In Class 2A, Clinton will play host to Burlington, Keokuk, and Mt. Pleasant.

Both meets are scheduled for Monday, February 16th, at 10 am.

Southeastern Community College

The women’s basketball team will travel to Ellsworth Community College tomorrow, February 11th, at 5:30 pm.

The men’s basketball team snuck out with a 100-97 overtime victory over Illinois Central College last night. Trevan Krumrei, Prophet Fields, and Aric Hines each put up at least 20 points in the victory. The Blackhawks will travel to Indian Hills Community College on Saturday, February 14th, at 7 pm.

The men’s and women’s wrestling teams will travel to North Iowa Area Community College for the District Championships on Sunday, February 15th. 

College Basketball

The Iowa State women’s team will compete against BYU on the road tonight at 8 pm.

The #15 Iowa women’s team will host Washington tomorrow, February 11th, at 6:30 pm.

The Iowa men’s team will travel to Maryland tomorrow at 5 pm.

The #5 Iowa State men’s team will take on TCU on the road tonight at 8 pm.

This Day in Sports History

1920 – Baseball outlaws all pitches that involve tampering with the ball. 

1971 – Bill White becomes the first African American baseball announcer. 

1989 – To gain deregulation, the WWF admits pro wrestling is an exhibition and not a sport in a New Jersey court.

Caution is Advised by Iowa DNR as Ice Conditions Rapidly Deteriorate

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 at 6:26 am CDT

With temperatures warming up this week, ice conditions at many Iowa lakes are changing quickly. DNR conservation officers urge caution as conditions for ice- related activities, such as fishing and OHV riding, deteriorate.

“Ice conditions have been changing by the day, and even by the hour in some places,” said Craig Cutts, Iowa DNR Law Enforcement Bureau Chief.

Lack of snow cover, which typically slows winter ice melt even on slightly warmer days, means sunshine and warm temps will cause the ice to crack and contract, making ice unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

According to Cutts, when there is no snow cover, areas closest to the bank of the lake will become dangerous first. “This is where you can go through quickly, so be sure and check ice thickness every step of the way.”

Use caution if heading out and keep plenty of distance from open water. The standard safety practices of checking ice thickness frequently, and including a life jacket, throwable floatation and 50 feet of rope with your fishing equipment is encouraged.

“We emphasize that ice thickness varies on each body of water. It’s a good reminder that no ice is 100 percent safe – and to trust your instincts – if it doesn’t look right, stay off,” Cutts said

Washington Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest on Multiple Charges

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 at 6:23 am CDT

A traffic stop early Saturday morning in Washington resulted in an arrest on multiple charges, according to the Washington Police Department.

Officers conducted a serious traffic stop at approximately 1:43 a.m. on February 7, 2026, at the intersection of East Third Street and North 12th Avenue.

During the stop, police arrested Stanley Ray Butterbaugh Jr., 23, listed as homeless. Authorities say Butterbaugh was charged with driving while license suspended, with five prior suspensions.

Police also report Butterbaugh faces two counts of first-degree harassment and contempt of court for violating a no-contact or protection order. In addition, warrant paperwork connected to the incident has been submitted for judicial review.

No further details have been released at this time. The incident remains under investigation.

Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities Confirms Water Meter Upgrades Are Legitimate

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 at 6:16 am CDT

Mount Pleasant residents are being advised that recent contacts from Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities regarding water meters are legitimate.

Municipal Utilities is currently upgrading its water metering system and is installing new water meter radios across the community. The upgrades allow for remote meter readings, improved accuracy, and quicker detection of potential water leaks.

As part of the project, utility staff may contact customers directly, leave notices on doors, or visit residences to schedule installation. Officials stress that these visits are not a scam and are part of an authorized utility project.

There is no cost to customers for the upgrade, and any service interruption will be minimal or, in most cases, none at all.

Municipal Utilities thanks residents for their cooperation as the work continues and encourages customers with questions to contact Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities directly at (319) 385-2121.

Important Notice: Water Meter Upgrade in Your Area.

Dear Valued Customer,
Mt Pleasant Municipal Utilities is currently in the process of upgrading our water metering system to better serve our community.
As part of this upgrade, we will be installing water meter radios. These new radios allow for real-time remote meter readings, which improves accuracy and enables us to better monitor water usage. This technology also helps identify potential water leaks more quickly, giving customers greater insight into their water consumption.
We are now scheduling appointments for these installations. Our staff may contact you directly, leave notices on your door, or visit your residence to coordinate the installation. The process is automated, accurate, and designed to be efficient.
There is no cost to customers for this upgrade, and service interruption will be minimal or, in most cases, none.
We appreciate your cooperation as we work to improve our system and provide better service to our customers. Thank you for your continued support of Mt Pleasant Municipal Utilities.

Sincerely,
Mt Pleasant Municipal Utilities

Three Injured in Two-Vehicle Crash Near Montrose; Highway 61 Temporarily Closed

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 at 6:00 am CDT

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash Monday afternoon near Montrose, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency responders were dispatched to the crash at approximately 2:17 p.m. on February 9, 2026, at the intersection of Highway 61 and 255th Street, just north of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities say all three individuals involved in the crash were from outside the area and sustained injuries.

Due to the nature of the incident, Highway 61 was temporarily shut down to allow first responders to safely manage the scene and to permit both MedForce and Air Evac medical helicopters to land on the roadway. The highway was later reopened once the scene was deemed safe for travel.

The Sheriff’s Office noted the incident highlighted strong coordination among local and regional emergency agencies, with the scene processed quickly and efficiently.

Agencies assisting at the scene included the Fort Madison Fire Department, Montrose Fire Department, Des Moines Township Fire Department, Rairden’s Towing, Dunkin Towing, Lee County EMS, LeeComm, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and area law enforcement personnel.

Officials thanked the public for their patience and cooperation during the temporary road closure. The crash remains under investigation, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Henry County Board of Health Meeting Agenda for 2/11/26

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 4:55 pm CDT

The Henry County Board of Health will meet Wednesday, February 11th, at 12:30 p.m., at the Henry County Public Health conference room in Mount Pleasant.

On the agenda: approval of previous meeting minutes, an environmental health report, public comments, and a public health report including budget and general assistance updates.

The board will also discuss the fiscal year 2027 budget, old and new business, including Thrive Iowa’s Lee County contract to provide services in Henry County, and several policy reviews.

The meeting will conclude with announcements and adjournment.

Central Lee CSD Board Meeting Agenda for 2/10/26

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 4:50 pm CDT

The Central Lee Community School District Board of Directors will hold a regular meeting Tuesday morning, February 10th, at 7:00, at the district office in Donnellson.

On the agenda: a fifth-grade presentation, the superintendent’s report including legislative and financial updates, the fiscal year 2027 budget timeline, and upcoming district events.

The board will also consider consent agenda items, board policy updates, a proposal for a K–8 freezer and cold storage expansion, a request to correct a SAVE to PPEL accounting error, and a solar lease agreement with Red Lion, which will include a public hearing.

Additional action items include setting public hearing dates for the fiscal year 2027 budget, personnel matters including contracts, resignations, volunteer approvals, and other district business.

Following adjournment, the board will hold an exempt session to discuss negotiations as allowed under Iowa law.

City of Mount Pleasant Personnel & Finance Committee Agenda 2.10.26

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 4:43 pm CDT

The Mount Pleasant Personnel and Finance Committee will meet Tuesday morning, February 10, 2026 at 9:00 a.m., at City Hall in the City Administrator’s Conference Room.

On the agenda: approval of a contract with the Community Day Care Center for temporary use of city buildings, discussion of City Hall cleaning services, a temporary part-time employee for the City Clerk’s Office, and discussion of the fiscal year 2027 tax rate.

The meeting is open to the public and will include an open forum before adjournment.