Beulah Louise Mears

By Allison Jacobs · Saturday, August 12th, 2023 at 5:19 am CDT

Beulah Louise Mears, 98, of New London, died Friday, August 11, 2023 at New London Specialty Care.  She was born March 5, 1925 in Ferris, Illinois to Charles Albert and Myrtle Carroll Long.  On March 10, 1945 she married John Leonard Mears in Good Hope, Illinois.  He died May 28, 2011.

Louise worked as a nurse’s aide at Mount Pleasant Mental Health; IAAP in Middletown; and at Motorola for twelve years, retiring in 1986.  She was a member of First Christian Church, Blandinsville, Illinois and later attended Harmony Bible Church and Calvary Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant.

Survivors include her sons Charles (Connie) Mears and John E. Mears, both of New London; daughter Linda (Larry) Zachmeyer of Ft. Madison; eight grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren and many great-great-grandchildren.  Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; daughter Charlotte Allen; son-in-law Larry Allen; sister M. Maxine Keithley; and nephew Gene Keithley.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am, August 25, 2023 at Elliott Chapel, New London with Mr. Dan Dingus officiating.  Visitation will begin at 9:00 with the family receiving friends beginning at 10:00 until the time of the service.  Burial of her cremains along with her beloved husband, John, will be at Burge Cemetery, rural New London immediately following the service.  A memorial has been established for Harmony Bible Church.  Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

14 Current or Former Student-Athletes Have Now Been Charged in Iowa-Iowa St. Gambling Sting

By Slaten Swords · Friday, August 11th, 2023 at 3:35 pm CDT

Iowa- The University of Iowa and Iowa State University’s gambling sting has now charged a total of 14 current and former players seven more criminal complaints were filed yesterday. This round-up includes heavy blows to the Cyclone starting football experience.

Jirehl Brock is perhaps the biggest name out of this newest group as he was slated to be the starting running back for ISU. Brock rushed for 445 yards and three touchdowns last season, but his career is now in jeopardy after being accused of making 1,327 online bets under a DraftKings account that was listed under a non-athlete. This includes three games that he played in last season.

Three more Cyclones were accused: offensive tackle Jake Remsburg, defensive tackle Isaiah Lee, and tight end DeShawn Hanika. Remsburg is accused of used his mother’s account to place 273 wagers. The affidavit stated that Lee utilized a FanDuel account registered to his fiancée, which included 12 games that he participated in. Lastly, Hanika is accused of also using his mother’s DraftKings account to place 70 wagers on Iowa State basketball games and 288 total online wagers.

Remsburg expressed that he knew of the NCAA rules prohibiting athletes from gambling during the investigation.

The University of Iowa had one current player charged along with two former players. Hawkeye wide receiver Jack Johnson was accused of making 380 wagers utilizing a DraftKings account under his mother’s name.

Arland Bruce IV and Reggie Bracy are the former players who have been charged as they transferred to Oklahoma State and Troy, respectively. Allegedly, Bruce and Bracy tag teamed the effort as they both used a DraftKings account registered to Vincent Bruce, who was over the age of 21. Bruce is accused of placing 132 online wagers, including 11 games which he played in. Bracy made 66 wagers, which included two games that he participated in last season.

The Hawkeye’s student-manager Owen O’Brien was also charged with placing more than 350 wagers while underage utilizing a FanDuel account listed under his mother. He was on staff for three of the games that he bet on last season.

A student-athlete can lose permanent eligibility if they wager on their own sports or other sports at their school. The charge also carries a maximum prison sentence of two years with a fine ranging from $855 to $8,540. The two universities suspected a total of 41 student-athletes when the investigation was launched in May.

Lee County Sherriff’s Office Intensifies Search for Missing Woman

By Slaten Swords · Friday, August 11th, 2023 at 3:08 pm CDT

(Photo: Lee County Sherriff’s Office)

Lee County, IA- The Lee County Sherriff’s Office conducted an intense search today utilizing drones, dogs, and UTVs along Highway 2 between Fort Madison and Donnellson as they continue to search for Kelly Barlow.

The family has grown increasingly concerned as Barlow has been missing since August 8th. The Sherriff’s office is asking if the public has any information on her whereabouts to contact LeeComm at 319-372-1310.

Southeastern Looking for a New Head Women’s Basketball Coach

By Slaten Swords · Friday, August 11th, 2023 at 2:18 pm CDT

West Burlington- Southeaster Community College (SCC) will be searching for a new Head Women’s Basketball Coach after Steve Williamson decided to step down from the position in on August 4th.

Williamson was coming over from Iowa Wesleyan University after the University closed at the end of May. He finished as the program’s winningest coach after totaling a record of 288-160 in his two stints with the Tigers. Williamson was also a National Coach of the Year along with a five-time Conference Coach of the Year. The Tigers had qualified for the NAIA National Tournament the last two seasons that Williamson returned for.

SCC finished last season with an 0-8 record and had their final 18 games canceled due to roster limitations. The Director of Athletics Peyton Deterding stated,

“We are planning on a season currently. Rosters for women’s basketball have been an area of concern for quite some time but believe we will turn the corner in a positive manner moving forward.”

The Blackhawks are looking for their first winning season since the 2019-20 season when they finished 19-13.

Temporary closure of Iowa 78 near Winfield in Henry County begins on Monday, Aug. 14

By Allison Jacobs · Friday, August 11th, 2023 at 2:08 pm CDT

If you travel on Iowa 78 in Henry County you need to be aware of an upcoming road construction project that may slow down your trip. Beginning on Monday, Aug. 14 until early September, weather permitting, Iowa 78, between U.S. 218 and the junction of Iowa 78 and Henry County Road H-18, will be closed so crews can resurface the Iowa 78 roadway.

Louise Mears

By Allison Jacobs · Friday, August 11th, 2023 at 11:31 am CDT

Louise Mears, 98, of New London, died Friday, August 11, 2023 at the New London Specialty Care.  Services are pending at Elliott Chapel, New London.

Mark Hankins, former Mt. Pleasant Graduate, Taking Over Men’s Golf Program at USC

By Slaten Swords · Friday, August 11th, 2023 at 11:25 am CDT

NCAA Golf- The West Coast is slowing starting to crawl towards the Midwest with the likes of USC joining the Big Ten in the 2024 season. To lead the Trojans Men’s Golf team into that new arena is former Mt. Pleasant graduate and highly decorated head coach Mark Hankins after hiring him on July 9th.

Hankins has been on the course for most of his life, as a student-athlete at Iowa State University Hankins finished his senior season with an All-Conference nod. His first year as head coach of a college program spans back to 1997 with Texas-Arlington. During his three-year reign he led the Mavericks to 8 tournament wins.

His next stop was to the Big Ten with Michigan State (1999-2007). Haskins put the Spartan golf team on the map, which culminated into two Big Ten conference championships, two Big Ten Coach of the Year awards along with five NCAA Championship Regional appearances.

Jumping from Michigan to Iowa (2007-2014), Hankins took the Hawkeyes and built the program into a Top-25 juggernaut. In his seven-year tenure, he coached three All-Americans, 11 first-team All-Big Ten honorees and appeared in six NCAA Championship Regional rounds. His team finished as high as 10th place at the NCAA Championship Finals.

After a brief hiatus from coaching, Hankins moved west and took the helm of the University of Nebraska (2018-2021). Hankins helped the Huskers finish in 4th place twice at the Big Ten Conference Championship.

Hankins then moved south to help co-coach at Missouri (2021-2023). The Tigers qualified for the NCAA Championship Regional round in back-to-back years and finished in 5th place at the SEC Championship, their best program finish.

Hankins has served at President and Vice-President of the Golf Coaches Association of America from 2006 until 2014, served in athletic administration and on the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Committee for four years, and served as the head coach for Team USA at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand in 2007.

USC has won their Conference Championship twenty times.

Southeast Iowa Fishing Report

By Allison Jacobs · Friday, August 11th, 2023 at 10:30 am CDT

Big Hollow LakeThe water temperature is around 80 degrees; cooler weather this week might lower the water temperature. Thermocline is bottoming out at 6 feet. Water clarity is about 30 inches. Bluegill – Slow: Try fishing in the trees out from the islands on the north side of the lower end of the lake. Find bluegill in 5-6 feet of water in the trees. Bobber and worm work best; a small jig tipped with a small piece of bait is worth a try. Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for catfish along the face of the dam and in the old creek channel, especially out from the boat ramp bay where the old bridge was.  Largemouth Bass – Slow: Look for bass down at about 6 feet, no deeper. Flip soft plastics and jigs back into the flooded timber at 4-6 feet down to find them.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River)The Iowa River got a brief bump of 6 inches of water level after the rains. That is long gone; didn’t even cover over any of the sand bars. Would be tough to navigate with a boat right now. Channel Catfish – Fair: Find the deeper pools of water around the brush piles and logjams where catfish spend nearly every August waiting out the low water and hot weather. Most anglers have switched from live bait to cut bait and stink baits.

Lake Belva DeerWater clarity is a couple of feet. Thermocline is at 5 to 7 feet. Water temperature was 78 degrees on August 7, down from 83 the week before. Water remains a green color. Black Crappie – Slow: A few anglers early in the morning are still picking up a few in about 6 to 7 feet along the trees out from the beach. Bluegill – Slow: Try vertically jigging around the trees to a depth of about 6-7 feet.  Drift quietly from spot to spot; use a 1/64 oz jig tipped with a waxworm. Try the bays on the south side where there is more shade on the water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Along the face of the dam is always a good place to catch nice catfish. Don’t forget to try the “Old Pond”. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Bass are suspended down about 6-7 feet out in the trees. Try soft plastic or weedless jigs early in the morning.

Lake DarlingWater temperature is 77 degrees. Water clarity is 20 inches. Water remains a green color. The lake is still  8-10 inches from going over the spillway. Most fish are hanging out at between 6.5 and 7.5 feet to stay cool. Bluegill – Slow: Try slow trolling a small (1/64 oz) jig tipped with a waxworm over tops of the rock piles. Channel Catfish – Fair: Catfish are out in the shallower culvert piles and at the foot of the rip-rap. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Water is fairly clear below the phytoplankton layer (about 2.5 feet). Run a shallow diving crankbait (0-4 feet) just below that in the morning or a medium diver (5-9 feet) trolled a little later in the day.

Lake GeodeLots of rain has water going over the spillway. Water remains very green with a water clarity of 25 inches. The water temperature is 81 degrees. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappies are out in deeper water for the summer. Try slow trolling in 8 to 10 feet of water along the drop-offs. Bluegill – Slow: Slow troll or drift with a small jig along the lake renovation haul road on the west side of the lake; should bring you up along side enough of the rock piles and gravel flats to catch some bluegills. Largemouth Bass – Slow: While the water has cooled some, fishing pressure has remained fairly low. Bass are hanging out just off the drop-offs in 7 to 8 feet of water.

Lost Grove LakeWater clarity has remained fairly good this summer at 7-8 feet; not really that green in color. Water temperature is 77-78 degrees. Weed beds are few and far between. The thermocline starts at 7 feet and bottoms out at 14 feet. Lost Grove Lake has Eurasian Watermilfoil; be sure to clean all vegetation off your boat and trailer before leaving the boat ramp area. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappies are out along the edge of the flooded timber in 10 to 12 feet of water. Try vertical jigging or slow trolling until you find them. Bluegill – Fair: Try slip bobbers and worms off the jetties in 5-6 feet of water. Boat anglers are fishing the rock piles and cedar trees at about those same depths. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Most boats are out from shore either vertically jigging or slow trolling crankbaits in about 10-12 feet of water. The thermocline bottoms out a little deeper at about 14 feet.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)The rains bumped up the water level just a little. The water temperature is in the upper 70s. Channel Catfish – Fair: Keep working  the deeper pockets of water; haven’t seen much to get those fish to leave that yet.

For more information on the above lakes and rivers call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319- 694-2430.