Caroline K. Bailey

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 2:45 pm CDT

Caroline Kay Bailey, 82, of Keosauqua, passed away Sunday, February 8, 2026 at Country Lane Manor in Keosauqua. Our mom was born February 12, 1943 in Keosauqua to Kenneth Harold and Nola Jeanette (Hervey) Robbins.

Our mom was an avid Chicago Cubs and Bulls sports fan, enjoyed playing Bingo, fishing, horses, and her pets. In her younger years, she was a fantastic bowler, and along with the Bonadome ladies, played some serious fast pitch softball. In her later years, she enjoyed following her grandchildren’s sports games and coffee with her friends.

Those left to honor her memory include her sons, Ken (Nancy) Nelson of Franklin, Jason (Shelley) Nelson of West Point, Vince (Heather) Nelson of West Point, and Danny Bailey of Bloomfield; and 12 grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Verne Michael Bailey; brother, Kenneth Wayne Robbins; and sister, Connie Sue Robbins Singer.

Mom has been entrusted to Behner Funeral Home and Crematory in Fairfield for cremation. There will be no service at this time; a private graveside service will be held at a later date at Harness Cemetery in Mt. Sterling. Cards may be sent to the family at 203 Franklin Liberty St., West Point, Iowa 52656. Memorials will be made to Harness Cemetery or Every Step Hospice in Mt. Pleasant.

Recap of the 32nd Annual Music In Motion Show Choir Invitational

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 12:28 pm CDT

Christopher Jive and the Uptown 45 from West Branch captured the Grand Championship at the 32nd Annual Mount Pleasant Music in Motion Show Choir Invitational.

The invitational took place Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Mount Pleasant High School and featured a full day of performances from across the region. In total, nine middle school and eleven high school show choirs competed, with Mount Pleasant’s middle school and high school choirs performing in exhibition to close out the event.

You can hear more below as KILJ’s Shelbi Swinscoe got in on the action at Music in Motion:

 

Congratulations to the Mount Pleasant Music Department for putting together this massive invitational and thank you to all the parents, teachers, and volunteers that help make it happen year after year. This is one of the biggest fundraisers for the Mount Pleasant Music Department.

4A Division:
Crimson & Black: Fort Madison High School – First Place
Xuberance: Xavier High School – Second Place
Jubilation, Inc.: Benton Community High School – Third Place

3A Division:
Celebration Co.: Benton Community High School – First Place and Best Band
Voices Unlimited: West Liberty High School – Second Place
Swingspan: Fort Madison High School – Third Place and Best Represented Group
Summit Street Singers: Center Point-Urbana High – 4th Place
Sound Attraction: Williamsburg Jr/Sr High School – 5th Place
Purple Harmony: Keokuk High School – 6th Place
Outstanding Bass Soloist (Carter Killoren)

2A Division:
Christopher Jive and the Uptown 45: West Branch High School – First Place and Best Crew
CENTRifugAL Force: Central Lee High School – Second Place

Walmart Employee Arrested for Public Intoxication in Washington

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 12:20 pm CDT

A Washington man was arrested Thursday, February 5, 2026 for public intoxication at the Walmart Supercenter in Washington.

According to the Washington Police Department, officers were dispatched at approximately 9:46 p.m., after receiving a report of an intoxicated employee at the store.

Officers responded to the scene and subsequently arrested Michael Adair, 34, of Washington, for Public Intoxication. Adair was transported to the Washington County Jail. A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities Board Approves Contracts, Budget Changes in January Meeting

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 12:17 pm CDT

The Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees held its regular meeting January 20, 2026 at the utility offices on North Adams Street.

The board approved minutes from its December meeting, along with more than one million dollars in bills and electronic payments. Trustees also approved the December Treasurer’s Report as presented.

Among major action items, the board approved a consulting contract with LEV Consulting and authorized a reallocation of 250-thousand dollars in the water capital budget. The funds were moved from the Well 7 drilling budget to the EDR stack upgrade project. EDR is a water cleaning process.

Trustees also approved a Veolia contract totaling more than 815-thousand dollars to replace EDR water treatment equipment.

Updates were provided on several ongoing projects, including the Cedar Lane Well 7 and water distribution project, advanced metering infrastructure installation, water treatment maintenance, and the Hoaglin Drive overhead-to-underground improvement project.

Utility managers reported three electric outages and one water main break during December. Crews also continue work on underground electric projects, automated metering infrastructure installations, and preparations for the Winfield Avenue Road project.

The next Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24th, at 1 p.m. This meeting is open to the public.

Fort Madison Man Stabbed on Sunday Identified

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 12:14 pm CDT

On February 8, 2026, the Fort Madison Police Department was called to the 3033 Avenue J address in reference to a disturbance involving an agitated male. While officers were in route, LeeComm advised that a male subject had been stabbed.

Officers from the Fort Madison Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Madison Fire Department, and Lee County EMS responded to the scene. The male subject was stabilized on scene and transported to Southeast Iowa Regional Hospital in Fort Madison.

The male was identified as Jacob Haage, age 32, of Fort Madison.

The Fort Madison Police Department conducted an initial investigation, and at this time no suspects have been charged. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further information will be released at this time.

Washington Man Arrested After Driving Into Parked Car

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 12:12 pm CDT

A Washington man was arrested following a two-vehicle traffic accident reported Sunday night in Washington.

According to the Washington Police Department, officers were dispatched at approximately 9:48 p.m. on February 8, 2026, for a reported two-vehicle accident in Washington. The crash involved a vehicle operated by Griffin Leeroy McDole, 25, of Washington, and a legally parked vehicle.

Washington Police, Washington Fire Department, Washington County EMS, and the Iowa State Patrol responded to the scene. No injuries requiring transport were reported.

Following an investigation, McDole was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated, First Offense, and was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. During the incident, officers also requested a call for service related to seized drugs.

As a result, McDole was additionally charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The incident remains under investigation. A criminal charge is an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Sports, February 9th

By Slaten Swords · Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 6:35 am CDT

Southeast Iowa Super Conference Shootout

The SEISC titles were decided over the weekend and the South Division dominated the day.

On the girls’ side, Danville started off the day by shutting down the Lone Tree offense in a 54-26 clobbering to secure the #2-seed contest. Alaina Gourley led the way with 17 points, followed by Alivia Bauer with a double-double as she scored 15 points and grabbed 10 boards.

#9 Mediapolis left no doubt as they cashed in for 12 three-pointers in a 70-41 drubbing of Highland. Josie Hutcheson cashed in for 27 points and corralled 10 rebounds for a double-double. It is their second consecutive SEISC title.

For the boys’ teams, Mediapolis snuck past Winfield-Mt. Union 53-48 in the #2-seed contest, while #3 Burlington Notre Dame sprinted past Hillcrest Academy for the SEISC championship, 86-58. 

High School Basketball

Mt. Pleasant will look to bounce back against Ottumwa tonight with the girls’ playing at home and the boys’ tipping-off on the road with both start times at 7:30 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call for the boys’ game with the pregame show at 7:15 pm.

The Fairfield boys’ team will host Mid-Prairie tonight at 7:30 pm.

The Van Buren County boys’ team will compete against Twin Cedars tonight at 7:30 pm. 

Holy Trinity Catholic will face off against Clark County tonight with game one at 6 pm at home.

Columbus will tangle with Cardinal in a doubleheader on the road at 6 pm tonight. 

The Central Lee girls’ team will travel to Illini West tonight at 7:30 pm, while the boys’ team will hit the road to take on Davis County on Thursday, February 12th, at 7:30 pm.

The Danville girls’ team will square off against Louisa-Muscatine tonight at 6 pm at home, while the boys’ team will host Davis County tomorrow, February 10th, at 7:30 pm.

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

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

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

The Burlington Notre Dame girls’ team will take on Holy Trinity Catholic tomorrow at 7:30 pm, while the boys’ team will face off against Keokuk at 6 pm with both games on the road. 

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.

Burlington Notre Dame will host Wapello.

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.

High School Wrestling

The 2026 Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s state tournament is officially over and Wapello’s Clara Ball became the first-ever girls’ state champion in program history, as she did not allow a point during Friday’s competition in the 115-pound weight class. 

Southeast Iowa had six other wrestlers finish in the top eight, including Kenadee Helscher of Wapello, who finished as the runner-up in the 105-pound weight class and closed out her senior season with a 45-1 record. 

For a full breakdown of Friday’s action, follow this link: Championship Recap

The boys’ state dual meets commenced over the weekend and Don Bosco snuck past Jesup, 36-30, to claim their 5th straight Class 1A state dual championship. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont finished as the Class 2A champion for the first time in their program history and Southeast Polk rolled to their second consecutive Class 3A state dual title. 

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

High School Bowling

The girls’ state meet is scheduled for tomorrow, February 10th, through Thursday, February 12th, in Waterloo. Keokuk will be competing as a team, while Mt. Pleasant’s Shyann Smith will bowl as an individual along with Keokuk’s Allison Sapp, Jaelynn Ketterer, and Josie Sapp.

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 fell to Kirkwood Community College 106-47 over the weekend. The Blackhawks will travel to Ellsworth Community College on Wednesday, February 11th, at 5:30 pm.

The men’s basketball team made it five-straight victories over the weekend after taking down Triton College, 72-67. The Blackhawks had five players finish in double figures. SCC will be looking to “Pack the Gym in Pink” tonight with a home matchup against Illinois Central College at 7 pm. 

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

College Basketball

The Iowa State women’s team has found their rhythm again after picking up their fifth straight victory over the weekend, 79-72, over Utah. Audi Crooks led the scoring with 26 points. The Cyclones will compete against BYU on the road tomorrow, February 10th, at 8 pm.

The #10 Iowa women’s team will host Washington on Wednesday, February 11th, at 6:30 pm.

The Iowa men’s team defeated Northwestern yesterday, 76-70, for their sixth straight victory. Bennett Stirtz was nearly unstoppable, throwing in 36 points to fend off the Wildcats. The Hawkeyes will travel to Maryland on Wednesday at 5 pm.

The #7 Iowa State men’s team clung on to a 72-69 victory over Baylor this past weekend to remain unbeaten at home. Milan Momcilovic cashed in for 21 points in the winning effort. The Cyclones will take on TCU on the road tomorrow at 8 pm.

This Day in Sports History

1971 – Satchel Paige is nominated to the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

1980 – Rick Barry of the Houston Rockets is the first in NBA history to score eight 3-pointers in a game. 

1988 – New Hampshire begins an NCAA record 32-game losing streak at home (ends Feb 1991).

Fatal Single-Vehicle Crash Under Investigation in Jefferson County

By Kadie Johannson · Monday, February 9th, 2026 at 6:05 am CDT

Authorities are investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash that occurred on Sunday, February 8, 2026 in Jefferson County.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash happened in the 1400 block of Germanville Road in Brighton. A 1990 Ford Mustang was traveling northbound on when the driver lost control of the vehicle for unknown reasons. The vehicle left the roadway and struck an embankment.

The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Ole A. Olson, 19, of Brighton, was pronounced dead due to injuries sustained in the crash. Olson was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision.

The vehicle was towed from the scene by RPM Towing of Fairfield. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

The incident remains under investigation. The Iowa State Patrol was assisted at the scene by multiple agencies.