Golf Cart Reminders

By Yorke Prough · Friday, September 1st, 2023 at 6:04 am CDT

Midwest Old Threshers continues, and while it certainly is a lot of fun, safety is still a priority. The Mt. Pleasant Police Department wants to remind those of you with golf carts that there are rules you must abide by.

If driving a golf cart, you can not drive on Washington Street or Grand Avenue. These are very busy streets and it’s best for all parties involved if we leave those roads to the cars. However many seats the manufacturer made is how many people you can have on the golf cart

. Everyone needs to be buckled up and only one person for seat. Finally, you need to register your golf cart through the city by going to the Police Department and dropping off a $25 check or cash. The business office is open 8am-4pm Monday through Friday, and will be closed on Labor Day, reopening on Tuesday, September 5th at 8am.

Flu Shot Available at Hyvee, No Appointment Needed

By Yorke Prough · Friday, September 1st, 2023 at 5:48 am CDT

Hy-Vee, Inc. announces today that the flu vaccine is now available inside its more than 275 Hy-Vee Pharmacy locations, with no appointment or prescription necessary throughout the company’s eight-state region.

The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone ages six months and older annually. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes each year. Anyone can become ill with the flu. The elderly, young children, pregnant women and individuals with chronic health conditions are more susceptible to serious health complications such as pneumonia, sinus infections, ear infections and bronchitis if they contract the illness.

Hy-Vee’s pharmacies make it easy for patients to receive their flu shot. With convenient hours and no appointment needed, patients can stop in anytime their local pharmacy is open to receive their flu shot. For a quicker, more convenient experience, patients can also schedule their flu vaccination and complete their vaccine consent form in advance online by visiting www.hy-vee.com/my-pharmacy/vaccine-consent.

Hy-Vee pharmacists will conduct a screening process prior to vaccination to ensure each individual is receiving the most beneficial flu vaccine for their health. Both regular- and high-dose flu vaccines are available at Hy-Vee Pharmacy locations*. Medicare and most insurance plans cover the flu vaccine and other immunizations at no charge.

Currently, flu vaccines are available without a prescription during regular pharmacy hours to patients 6 months and older at Hy-Vee’s Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota locations; or 3 years and older in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin locations, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ PREP Act.

Each patient who receives a flu vaccine at a Hy-Vee Pharmacy can earn a 20-cent Hy-Vee Fuel Saver + Perks reward, which can be redeemed at any Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh or Dollar Fresh Market fuel location. See www.Hy-Vee.com for details. Restrictions apply.

Prep Volleyball: First Rankings of the Regular Season

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, August 31st, 2023 at 3:19 pm CDT

Prep Volleyball- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) released their first rankings of the regular season and two #1 teams fell from their top rankings, while Southeast Iowa kept one team in the top five.

Ankeny Christian is the top team in Class 1A, sporting a 5-1 record. Riverside jumped up three spots from 5th to 2nd in the rankings after a 6-0 start to the season. Making the largest jump was North Tama after starting the season at the #15 slot, the Redhawks now rank 3rd after taking down two ranked teams: Holy Trinity Catholic and formerly ranked in Class 2A Pella Christian. The Crusaders fell two spots on the list from 2nd to 4th but are currently riding a four-game win streak with each win being a sweep. New London was ranked 8th but after their loss to North Mahaska the Tigers are now unranked along with Central City. River Valley and Stanton enter the rankings at #13 and #15, respectively.

In Class 2A, the top three teams in Dike-New Hartford, Hinton, and Grundy Center are all undefeated and ranked the same as last week in that respective order. Eddyville-Blakesburg Fremont essentially switched spots with Denver as the Rockets now ranked 11th and Denver is 7-0 and ranked 4th. Class 2A had the biggest shakeup with four teams getting knocked out of the top 15: Pella Christian (8th), Wilton (13th), Central Lyon (14th), and South Central Calhoun (15th). Regina Catholic enters the rankings at the 10th spot. Aplington-Parkersburg is ranked 13th. Hudson is ranked 15th. Lastly, West Burlington, with a 7-1 record, came into the rankings at the #14 position. The Falcons are led by Taryn Snodgrass with 134 assists and Brenna Beggs and Taryn Havener, who each have a kill efficiency north of 0.420.

Class 3A is where we witness the first #1 team fall from their throne as Des Moines Christian’s loss to Class 4A’s 9th ranked ADM set the Lions back to 3rd. Western Christian and Assumption each moved up one spot, respectively, in the rankings to make up the top three. Beyond that craziness, Class 3A was rather calm with only Estherville Lincoln Central (14th) and Roland-Story (15th) falling out of the top 15. Mid-Prairie barely holds on to the top 15, falling four spots after their loss to West Burlington.

The top eight spots remain the same for Class 4A with Clear Creek-Amana still wearing the crown followed by Indianola and North Scott. Knoxville fell from 9th to 10th and previously mentioned ADM jumped up from 12th to 9th. Again, only two team fell from the rankings in Bishop Heelan (13th) and Waverly-Shell Rock (15th). Sioux Center take Bishop Heelan’s spot and Dallas Center-Grimes jumps up to the #14 slot.

Lastly, Waukee Northwest went from ranked 1st in Class 5A to now ranked 4th. Dowling Catholic is now atop the list followed by Ankeny Centennial and Ankeny, previously ranked 6th and 8th, respectively. Valley had a tough start to the season with a 2-5 record knocking them back six spots to 10th in the rankings. Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln (11th) and Sioux City North (13th) were removed from the top 15 with Cedar Rapids Kennedy taking the #13 slot and Iowa City High being ranked 14th. Muscatine rounds out the top 15, despite touting an 0-2 record.

Prep Volleyball: Holy Trinity Catholic and New London Set to Meet in a Top 10 Matchup Tonight

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, August 31st, 2023 at 11:34 am CDT

New London, IA- There’s always a certain excitement when it’s the beginning of the season, but for #8 New London their second game of the season will have the atmosphere of a playoff match as the Tigers take on #2 Holy Trinity Catholic at home tonight.

The two teams split their matchups last season with each team getting a sweep of the other; interestingly enough, the largest winning differential in any of the sets was just 8 points. On average the sets were determined by just five points. Of course, the competitive nature of the matches makes sense since the Crusaders earned a trip to the state tournament last season, while the Tigers came up just a set short.

Nevertheless, both teams dropped a couple talented seniors from last year’s team as New London loss Emma Nye, Eliana Manning, Natalie Burden, and Camryn Lair and Holy Trinity Catholic graduated Kayla Box, Alexa Dingman, Laura Mehmert, and Brooke Mueller. The Crusaders will also be missing Reagan Holvoet due to a preseason injury.

But the Crusaders truly have not missed a step with Natalie Randolph returning from her season-ending injury from her junior season as they find themselves touting a 7-3 record after going 3-3 at the Skip Anderson Tournament at Bondurant-Farrar and an undefeated run through the Wapello tournament.

Their 5-2 offense has allowed Randolph (69 assists) and Anna Bendlage (68 assists) to feed their attackers in Mary Kate Bendlage (50 kills) and Presley Myers (52 kills). Myers 0.404 kill efficiency and 16 blocks on the season are exciting advancements for the sophomore. Additionally, Adalyn Kruse has provided some youth to this experienced squad as she has tallied 10 aces in their first 10 games.

New London had more to replace, but also bring back talented seniors in Tysann Gipple (201 kills last season) and Sophie Malott (220 kills) to attack opposing defenses. Morgan Jones, a junior, provides a reliable source on defense and on the service line for the Tigers.

While the Crusaders are running high on a four-game win streak, the Tigers fell in their first match of the season to North Mahaska three sets to one. It was competitive throughout with New London winning set one 25-22, but the Warhawks glided past the Tigers 25-18, 25-20, and 25-17 in the final three sets.

However, it’s volleyball in Southeast Iowa, so the only certainty about the game tonight is there will be a competitiveness and intensity that seems more attune to a playoff game than a late August matchup.

Christamore House Closing – Comments from Representative Collins and MP Police Chief Murray

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, August 31st, 2023 at 10:24 am CDT

The Christamore House of Mt. Pleasant has announced its closure effective Friday, September 1st, 2023. This comes after the MP Police Chief asked the community to call their representatives and ask for change. The Christamore House has caused the Police Department many problems and costs the taxpayers money due to the high number of calls coming from there. A comment from an interview with the Police Chief on August 17th reveals some of the issues coming from the family treatment center. “Mount Pleasant Police Chief Lyle Murray has contacted the Department of Human Services twice on this facility due to broken windows, broken furniture, minors climbing out of windows, fighting in the streets, assaults on staff members, and inappropriate sexual relations on campus.”

Representative Taylor Collins commented on the immediate closure in an interview, mentioning how he was thankful for the citizens who reached out to their representatives.

Mt. Pleasant Police Chief Lyle Murray gave a statement regarding the closure and how he believes it “will be good” for the community. He also thinks the taxpayers of Henry County will be thankful as well, as the constant calls for service to the Christamore House drained Police Department resources.

We are unaware of what the soon to be vacant building will eventually host, but starting tomorrow, it will no longer be the Christamore House.

Alarming Amount of Iowans Admit to Cell Phone Use While Behind the Wheel

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, August 31st, 2023 at 6:43 am CDT

During this year’s Iowa State Fair, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau partnered with the Iowa State Patrol to survey fairgoers about mobile device and seat belt use in vehicles. Iowans from nearly every county were polled and represented in the data. The results show lower seat belt use in the backseat, an alarming number of drivers holding cell phones, and broad support for hands-free legislation.

Results from the survey of 1459 Iowans show cell phone use behind the wheel is prevalent with 51% of drivers admitting to always or sometimes having a mobile device in hand. Despite high usage, 85% surveyed support hands-free legislation.  Bills limiting cell phone use by mandating hands-free technology have been introduced in the Iowa Legislature since 2019, all attempts at passage have been unsuccessful.

Over 55% of Iowa’s passenger vehicle traffic fatalities are unbelted/unknown. While 91% of Iowans polled reported always buckling up when driving, only 66% always wear a seat belt in the backseat. This statistic comes on the heels of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announcing a proposed rule to require front and rear seat belt warning systems for drivers in most new vehicles manufactured in the United States. Iowa has a primary seat belt law for front seat passengers only. Passengers over 18 in rear seats are not required to wear a seat belt.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau works with city, county, state, and local organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce deaths and injuries on Iowa’s roadways using federally funded grants.

Sports, August 31st

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, August 31st, 2023 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Football

Mt. Pleasant will be traveling to face off against West Burlington tomorrow, September 1st, who is 1-0 after taking down Wapello last Friday. KILJ will be on the call with the pregame show at 7:15 pm.

In other Class 3A District 4 matchups, Washington will host Burlington. Keokuk will take on Pella at home and Fairfield will travel to face off against Fort Madison. 

Mediapolis will travel to take on Sigourney Keota at 7 pm.

Central Lee will compete against Cardinal at home. 

Van Buren County hosts Pekin at 7 pm.

Danville will have their first home game this week against Highland.

Winfield-Mt. Union and New London combine for a district matchup tomorrow at 7 pm. 

WACO takes on the 2-0 Iowa Valley Tigers tomorrow at home.

High School Volleyball

Mt. Pleasant will take on Albia tonight in a road matchup at 7 pm. 

New London will host Holy Trinity Catholic tonight to start their season. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will compete in the English Valleys Tournament on Saturday, September 2nd.

WACO will host Hillcrest Academy tonight.

Van Buren County will face off against Central Lee today.

Cross Country

Mt. Pleasant will travel to Pella on Saturday, September 2nd, to compete in a meet at Central College.

Danville’s first meet will be today in Ottumwa.

College Football

The University of Iowa will be hosting Utah State this Saturday, September 2nd. Cade McNamara is questionable heading into the matchup this weekend. Deacon Hill will get the start if McNamara is unable to play.

Iowa State University will be taking on the University of Northern Iowa this Saturday at 1 pm in Ames. 

Both games will be on KILJ with the Hawkeyes on FM stations and the Cyclones on the AM station at their respective times. 

The College Football Playoff was expected to expand to a 12-team format heading into the 2024 season, but with the Pac-12’s dissolution imminent for the 2024 season the expansion has been put on halt until the “dust settles.” 

The expanded model would have the six highest-ranked conference champions plus the next six highest-ranked teams, which focuses on the conference champion from each Power 5 Conference, which includes the Pac-12, then one Group 5 champion.

10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director discussed the possibility of picking the five highest-ranked conference then the next seven highest-ranked teams, or the option of 12 at-large teams. However, no final decision was reached. 

This Day in Sports History

1894 – Phillies outfielder Billy Hamilton equals George Gore’s MLB single game stolen bases record with 7 steals in 10-8 win vs Washington Senators in Philadelphia.

1987 – The Great Potato Incident: Minor league Williamsport Bills catcher Dave Bresnahan attempts to lure an opposing baserunner off third base using a potato carved to look like a baseball. Umpire calls runner safe, and the catcher is fined $50 and released by the team.

1990 – Baseball outfielders Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr. become the 1st father and son to play on the same team (Seattle Mariners), the pair hit back-to-back singles in the first inning and both scored.

Secretary Naig Encourages Fuel Retailers to Apply for Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program Grants

By Yorke Prough · Thursday, August 31st, 2023 at 5:56 am CDT

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is encouraging Iowa fuel retailers to apply for cost-share grants through the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) to upgrade fueling systems and provide consumers with greater access to higher blends of lower-cost biofuels.

The RFIP helps fuel retailers provide more consumer options for higher blends of lower cost Iowa grown biofuels by incentivizing the installation, replacement and conversion of ethanol and biodiesel dispensing and storage infrastructure. Incentives to upgrade biodiesel terminal and storage facilities are also available.

During the 2023 legislative session, Gov. Reynolds and the Iowa Legislature authorized a record $15 million for the program during this fiscal year, up from $10 million last year. This increase builds off the momentum that was established during the 2022 session when Iowa became the first state in the nation to establish an E15 access standard.

“As Iowans continue to face expensive fuel costs and unacceptably hot inflation, consumers benefit from greater access to higher blends of lower-cost biofuels,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Given the historic investment made by Gov. Reynolds and the Legislature in this grant program, there has never been a better time for fuel retailers to utilize this cost-share funding to upgrade their fueling infrastructure and help Iowans save money at the pump.”

While the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship manages the program, a board appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate determines grant allocations on a quarterly basis. The board will consider the next round of RFIP grant applications during its next quarterly meeting on Wednesday, October 11. The RFIP grant application is available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website. To be considered at the next meeting, grant applications are due to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship by the close of business on Monday, September 25.

Over the history of the RFIP program, the state has invested approximately $75 million while private industry has invested over $225 million. To learn more about the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, visit the program’s webpage on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website.