Man Leads Lee County on 100mph Pursuit

By Yorke Prough · Friday, October 6th, 2023 at 10:43 am CDT

A man has been arrested in Lee County for exceeding speeds of 100mph. On October 5th at 2:29pm, a Trooper was in an ongoing pursuit near Keokuk with a green Chrysler Sebring.

When backup arrived, the Chrysler had crashed into an embankment while trying to make a right turn onto 250th Ave from Hilton Road, after reaching a reported speed of 102 mph. A stop sign was damaged in the crash, resulting in an estimated damage cost of $500.

The driver, Drew Garretson, was placed under arrest and taken to the Lee County Jail. His vehicle was subsequently towed from the scene.

Mt. Pleasant Man Made 2-Hour Drive to Des Moines to Meet Minor – Update

By Yorke Prough · Friday, October 6th, 2023 at 10:36 am CDT

A Mt. Pleasant man was arrested on September 21st by Des Moines Police for enticing a minor. KILJ now has more information.

Paul Miller engaged in conversation with what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl in an online chat room. He was actually speaking with an undercover Des Moines Police Officer, who posed as a minor.

Miller made the 2-hour trek to Des Moines to meet with what he thought was an underage girl, with the intent of committing sexual acts. Instead, he met police officers who subsequently placed him under arrest.

As a result, Paul Wesley Miller, 48 of Mt. Pleasant, was charged with enticing a minor under 16 for sexual purposes, a class D felony. Miller was also given an Order of Protection, which prohibits him from engaging in conversation with unattended minors and requires his absence from spots that minors typically hang around. His bond was set at $50,000. A formal reading of his charges is scheduled for Thursday, November 9th, 2023.

Sports, October 6th

By Slaten Swords · Friday, October 6th, 2023 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Football

Mt. Pleasant will stay on the road to take on Keokuk tonight at 7 pm. KILJ will be on the call with the pregame show at 6:45 pm. 

In other Class 3A District 4 matchups, Washington will host Assumption and Fort Madison will wrestle with Mt. Vernon at home.

Fairfield will attempt to bounce back tonight against South Tama in a road matchup.

#10 Mediapolis will host Davis County tonight.

Columbus will hit the road to take on Van Buren County tonight. 

Central Lee will take on Mid-Prairie at 7:30 pm for their Homecoming game.

Danville will host Lisbon tonight in an attempt to extend their win streak to four games. 

#10 WACO will face off against English Valleys at 7 pm in a home game.

New London will compete against Moravia at 7 pm.

Mormon Trail has forfeited their game against #1 Winfield-Mt. Union tonight.

High School Volleyball

Mt. Pleasant will be competing in the Oskaloosa Invite tomorrow, October 7th. 

Winfield-Mt. Union swept Pekin last night by scores of 25-10, 25-16, and 25-11. Mariana Piper and Quin Smith tied for the team lead in kills with six, while Aurey Meeker tallied 10 assists and three aces from the service line in the winning effort. The Wolves will look to claim the SEISC North Championship on their senior night when they clash with Wapello on October 10th. 

WACO will participate in the Washington Classic tomorrow.

Mediapolis will compete against #14 West Burlington on October 10th. 

New London, Van Buren County, and Central Lee will participate in the Davis County Invitational tomorrow.

Holy Trinity Catholic celebrated their senior night in style with a dominant win over Danville in straight sets: 25-13, 25-11, and 25-12. The Bears will face off against New London on October 10th. 

Holy Trinity Catholic will head over to Pella tomorrow to compete in a quad with Knoxville and Valley also in attendance. 

Cross Country

Mt. Pleasant will be competing in the Southeast Conference (SEC) meet on October 12th. 

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference (SEISC) meet ran yesterday and the Pekin girls team grabbed first place while Mediapolis fended off Danville for the gold on the boys’ side. 

On the girls’ side, Chloe Glosser for Pekin had the fastest time with the only sub-20 minute time. Kaitlyn Kipp finished in third place for West Burlington-Notre Dame with a time of 21 minutes and 9 seconds. Alaina Gourley led Danville’s second place effort with a time of 21 minutes and 24 seconds. Abby Arnett and Ava Ourth also finished in the top ten.

Kayley Snowgren finished eighth overall for Van Buren County and Shelby Schultz led the way for Mediapolis with a time of 23 minutes and 17 seconds, which helped clinched fourth place for the Bulldogs. 

On the boys’ side, Solomon Zaugg and Owen Schmidgall finished with gold and silver for Mediapolis with a difference of only four seconds between the two runners. Carter Fesler and Jackson Shacklett finished in fifth and sixth, respectively, for Danville as the Bears took second as a team. 

Van Buren County grabbed fourth as a team with Lincoln Bainbridge finishing in fourth place with a time of 17 minutes and 11 seconds. Kohlby Newsom took 10th place and Gabriel Hemsworth finished in 13th place, which helped Winfield-Mt. Union grab seventh place. Central Lee finished in eighth and Holy Trinity Catholic took ninth place. 

College Football

The University of Iowa will celebrate Homecoming tomorrow, October 7th, against Purdue at 2:30 pm. 

Iowa State University will take on TCU in a home game tomorrow at 7 pm.

For the Hawkeye broadcast, tune into KILJ 105.5 FM and the Cyclone broadcast will be on 98.5 FM and AM 1130. 

This Day in Sports History

1920 – The first brothers to oppose each other in the World Series as Cleveland’s Wheeler Johnston pinch-hits while his brother, Jimmy, plays 3rd base for Brooklyn.

1926 – Babe Ruth becomes the first MLB player to hit three home runs in a World Series game as the New York Yankees beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 10-5, in Game four at Sportsman’s Park, St. Louis.

1945 – Tavern owner “Billy Goat” Sianis buys a seat for his goat for Game 4 of the Baseball World Series, but is escorted out and casts the infamous “Billy Goat” curse on the Chicago Cubs.

Propane! Get Your Propane!

By Yorke Prough · Friday, October 6th, 2023 at 6:03 am CDT

With propane prices lower than last year and supply above the five-year average, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is encouraging propane consumers to make preparations ahead of the arrival of colder temperatures and winter conditions.

“Though it has felt more like summer lately, we know colder weather is coming and it’s a good time to top off the tank if you rely on propane to heat your home or livestock barn,” said Secretary Naig. “With lower propane prices than last year, higher supply levels, and persistent drought accelerating the dry down of grain in the field, conditions are right for propane consumers to proactively prepare for winter.”

As of October 4, the state average propane price in Iowa stood at $1.53 per gallon, down from $1.89 a year ago. Beginning October 2 and continuing through March of 2024, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will compile a weekly state average propane price in coordination with EIA. These findings can be found as part of the Department’s weekly fuel reports.

John Campbell

By Yorke Prough · Friday, October 6th, 2023 at 5:58 am CDT

John W. Campbell, 74, of Wayland passed away at his home on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.  

Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 9, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant with Pastor Steven English officiating.  Burial will follow in the North Hill Cemetery, Wayland.  Friends may call after 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant where the family will be present from 4 to 7 p.m. that evening.  Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association, Wayland Fire and Rescue or to the North Hill Cemetery in his memory.  John’s car buddies are welcome to bring their cars and honor John by driving them to the cemetery in his honor.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com

Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, is caring for his arrangements.

Kenneth Simmons

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, October 5th, 2023 at 3:25 pm CDT

Kenneth Eugene Simmons, 75, of New London, died Wednesday, October 4, 2023. He was born May 23, 1948 to Virgil Berthel and Henrietta Lee Simmons Hennessee. He married Virginia Ronk Bench and they later divorced.

He attended New London High School before serving in the United States Army stationed in Panama.  He was a member of New London Christian Church. For thirty-five years he worked as a draftsman at CECO and retired from IAAP in Middletown.

Kenny loved tinkering in his garage, woodworking, house remodeling, keeping his yard pristine, going to Hardee’s for coffee with the gang, and visiting pawn shops; but mostly enjoyed raising his twin granddaughters and spending time with them and his great-granddaughters.

Survivors include his granddaughters that he raised; Annie (Josh) Pence of Red Oak and Kaity Bench of Danville; great-granddaughters Kaidyn and Makenzie; his loving partner of nearly fifteen years, Linda Peterson of New London and her children and grandchildren; sister Connie Tarrence of New London; nieces and nephews, Mike Raines, Jodi Jackson, Jana Fallon, Ken Bunkley, and Mike Bunkley; and his beloved dog, Otis. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Joann and Carol.

Visitation at Elliott Chapel, New London, will begin at noon on October 16, 2023 with the family receiving friends from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. A memorial has been established for the New London High School Industrial Technology class. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

Finance Committee Meeting Agenda

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, October 5th, 2023 at 3:24 pm CDT
Published Meeting
10/6/2023, 3:00 PM
Finance Committee Meeting
Mt. Pleasant CSD – Central Office | 1010 East Washington Street, Suite 102
Add to your calendar: Google | Outlook (.ics) | Yahoo
Meeting Agenda
1. FY23 Year End Financial Reports
2. Limited English Proficiency Weighting
3. Fall 2023 Enrollment
4. November 7 School Board Election Information
5. Nov. 13 Regular School Board Meeting – IWU Property Due Diligence Executive Summaries and Environmental Reports
6. Nov. 27 Special Session School Board Meeting – Organizational Meeting/Seat New Members
 
 

Football: Mt. Pleasant Versus Keokuk Time Change

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, October 5th, 2023 at 3:08 pm CDT

Keokuk, IA- Tomorrow’s week 7 district matchup between Mt. Pleasant and Keokuk will now start at 7 pm instead of the originally scheduled time of 7:30 pm.

The game will still be taking place at Calvert Stadium at Keokuk High School. KILJ will be on the call with the Hagge Insurance Pregame Show at 6:45 pm.