Henry County Planning and Zoning Approve Rezoning Discussion

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, July 12th, 2023 at 9:12 am CDT

The Henry County Planning and Zoning met on Tuesday, July 11th to discuss the future land use of a residential zone on the west side of Hickory Avenue. A concrete plant plans to begin operations, meaning this area must be rezoned to industrial. This was passed by the Board of Supervisors on June 29th to take the discussion back to the Planning and Zoning. The vote was passed Tuesday evening, and now will be brought up at the Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting on Thursday, July 13th. There will be a public hearing. There are certain conditions that must be met, and we can expect this to be completed and signed on Thursday.

KILJ will continue to bring updates as they come.

MP Music Booster Garbage Bag Sale

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, July 12th, 2023 at 8:42 am CDT

It is garbage bag sales time again, offered through the Mt. Pleasant Community Schools Music Boosters.

Over the next two weeks, a representative of the Charity Services Organization will be calling on behalf of the Music Boosters to explain the garbage bags. They will take you through the price, sizes, quantity, and how to play an order. The garbage bags will the be delivered directly to the customers’ homes.

The sole purpose of the Mt. Pleasant Music Boosters is to support the K-12 instrumental and vocal music programs of the Mt. Pleasant Community School District. All fundraising dollars are used directly for these programs. Currently the Music Boosters are developing a plan to update our soundboard and lighting system.

Ongoing projects include the Marching Band Invitational, High School Variety Show, InMotion Show Choir Invitational, Dessert Theatre, OPUS (K-12 honor choir), All-State Music Festival, and the Middle School Honor Band Festival.

“The focus of the fundraiser is to help sustain a growing music program.” says Stan Holtkamp, Mt. Pleasant Music Boosters President. “We have a very active music program with lots of student involvement!  Our focus for this campaign is toward the drumline needs.”

Membership in the Mt. Pleasant Music Boosters organization is free and is defined as anyone with children participating in music in Mt. Pleasant Community Schools. “If you have a child participating in any music activity within the schools or if you just love music, we invite everyone to join the fun of being involved in Music Boosters,” said Holtkamp.

The Charity Services, Inc., organization is registered with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office and assists organizations throughout the Midwest with fundraising.

If you’d like to add your number to the form, it is posted below.

MP Music Garbage Bag Campaign – Google Sheets

Sports, July 12th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, July 12th, 2023 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Postseason Baseball

In Class 1A Substate 5, Burlington Notre Dame punched their ticket to the state tournament after sneaking past Hillcrest Academy last night 4-3. The Nikes took a 3 to 0 lead in the 2nd inning after Eli Oleson, Dylan Kipp, and Isaiah Crow loaded up the bases to lead off the inning. Maddox Diewold pushed across the first run on a squeeze bunt and the next two runs scored on a throwing error. 

The next run would not score until the 5th inning when Logan Brent slapped an RBI single to score Spence Brent, allowing the Nikes to take a 4 to 0 lead. The Ravens made things interesting in the 6th inning with a bases loaded hit by pitch and a 2 RBI single by Liam Schrock to make it a 4 to 3 game. 

After the Nikes could not add any insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th inning, it was up to the defense to win the game. Luke Schrock led the inning off with a single, but a nifty 5-4-3 double play quickly flipped the momentum in the Nikes direction with a lineout to Diewold on the next play sealing the deal. Coach Chiprez talked about his never-say-die-squad after the game. The Nikes will face off against Lisbon on July 17th in the first round of the state tournament at 1:30 pm.

In the Class 2A Substate 5 championship game, Van Buren County defeated Mid-Prairie in a 6-4 thriller last night. The Warriors took a 3 to 1 lead in the third inning after a two RBI double by Jackson Manning and Lucas Fett stole home. Nevertheless, Mid-Prairie took back the lead in the 6th inning after scoring three runs. Down to their final three outs, the Warriors scored three runs to take the 6 to 4 lead and Manning shut down the Golden Hawks to pick up the win. The Warriors will take on West Lyon on July 18th at 1:30 pm for the first round of the state tournament. 

High School Postseason Softball

In the Class 1A state tournament, Sigourney grabbed the #7 seed and will face off against North Linn in the first round on July 18th at 7 pm.

In Class 3A Region 8, West Burlington fell to Assumption last night 3-2. The Falcons finished the season with a 23-11 record.

In Class 4A Region 6, Burlington was defeated by Norwalk 5-0 yesterday. The Grayhounds ended the season with a 20-9 record.

Mt. Pleasant Cross Country

On Mondays and Wednesdays, runs will begin at the Old Threshers Museum Theatre at 6:30 am.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, runs will start at 7 pm at Saunders Park by the swimming pool.

The runs will continue throughout the summer until the middle of August. If you have any questions, reach out to Coach Murray at 319-850-0867.

Prospect League

The Burlington Bees took down the Lafayette Aviators last night 14-8. Corey Boyette smacked a three-run homer and led the team with 5 RBIs. Trent Rice tallied 3 RBIs in the winning effort. The Bees will travel to take on the Champion City Kings tonight.

The Clinton LumberKings defeated the Normal CornBelters yesterday 13-7. Jeremy Figueroa clobbered a three-run home run to finish with 4 RBIs in the contest. The LumberKings will face off against the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp today in a doubleheader.

This Day in Sports History

1949 – Baseball owners agree to erect warning paths before each fence.

1954 – Major League Baseball Players Association is founded.

1979 – “Disco Demolition Night” at Comiskey Park: fans go wild destroying disco records and cause the White Sox to forfeit the second game of a doubleheader to the Detroit Tigers.

Farmland Leasing Meeting in Lee County August 24

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, July 12th, 2023 at 6:22 am CDT

The Iowa State University Lee County Extension and Outreach office will host a meeting on August 24th, beginning at 1:30 PM. with doors open at 1:00 PM. The location is at the Lee County Extension office located at 414 North Main St., Donnellson. The meeting will last approximately 2 ½ hours and will be facilitated by Charles Brown, Farm Management Specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach.

 

The discussion will focus on various methods to determine a fair 2024 cash rental rate and the importance of good tenant/landlord communications. Emphasis will be placed on recent returns to Iowa Cash Rented Land and the 2023 Iowa Cash Rental Rate Survey.

 

Pre-registration is required by August 17, 2023, and the registration fee of $20.00 can be paid at the door. Participants will receive a 100-page booklet and meeting handouts designed to assist landowners, tenants, and other agri-business professionals with issues related to farmland ownership, management, and leasing arrangements.

 

Contact the Lee County Extension office at 319-835-5116 with your questions or to pre-register by August 17, 2023.

 

For a list of meetings statewide, check the ISU Extension calendar for a meeting near you.

www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/meetings.html

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, July 12th, 2023 at 6:21 am CDT

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued and will be in effect until 11am. Widespread damaging winds are likely, with isolated significant gusts reaching as high as 85 mph possible. Isolated large hail 1.5 inches in diameter is possible, and due to the conditions, a tornado is possible.

A fast moving and intense bow will surge across the watch area this morning, posing a risk of widespread damaging wind gusts. The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 80 statute miles north and south of a line from 25 miles south of Denison IA to 35 miles south southeast of Cedar Rapids IA.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes.

2023 Henry County Fair Wednesday

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, July 12th, 2023 at 6:11 am CDT

The 2023 Henry County Fair continues Wednesday with a full day of events. The static exhibit judging will take place in the exhibit building from 8:00am-3:00pm. The farmer’s market is from 4pm-6pm followed by the Kids Pedal Pull at the Tractor Headquarters at 6pm. Of course, the Queen will be crowned tonight at the Wright Pavilion at 7:30pm, and KILJ will be there to report on all the coverage. The 2023 Henry County Fair Queen Contest is sponsored by Hometown Veterinary Care in New London. It is a busy week at McMillan Park and remember that there is no admission fee for entry into the fair. For a full schedule of events, head to KILJ.com and click on our daily calendar for a detailed breakdown of each day.

Prep Baseball: Fairfield’s Tate Allen Named Conference Player of the Year

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, July 11th, 2023 at 3:56 pm CDT

Southeast Conference (SEC)- The regular season for baseball is in the books and here’s a look at the All-Conference awards.

Burlington won the conference with a 13-1 record and had 4 players named to the 1st Team All-Conference list. Kyler Schwartz won three games on the mound with a 2.39 ERA and 49 strikeouts. Schwartz also picked up 12 RBIs at the plate. Josh Zahner batted 0.282 with 3 home runs and 20 RBIs for the season and went undefeated on the mound with a 5-0 record. Hunter Ford led the team in batting average with a 0.373 average as he also hit two home runs with 28 RBIs, the conference leader. Ford also knocked 13 doubles. Moise Cordero, the senior, batted 0.289 on the season with one home run and 20 RBIs along with 8 doubles. Cordero claimed 13 of those RBIs in conference play.

Alex Fawcett, Christos Kantzavelos, and Logan Messer were named All-Conference 2nd Team. Noah Nixon was an Honorable Mention.

Fairfield grabbed 2nd place in conference with a 9-6 record as two players were named to the All-Conference 1st Team. Tate Allen, a senior, led the team in batting average with a 0.316 average as he clobbered 5 doubles with 17 RBIs. Allen also won 5 games on the mound with a 2.03 ERA with 57 strikeouts. Tallon Bates was also a force on the mound with a 3.42 ERA and 2 wins. Bates also batted 0.315 with a home run and 27 RBIs as he also collected two triples.

Dain Burkhart, Landon Nodruft, and Caden Allison were all named to the All-Conference 2nd Team. Aidan Kreuter and Aiden Westercamp were named All-Conference Honorable Mentions.

Mt. Pleasant finished with an 8-7 conference mark. Zerek Venghaus was named to the 1st Team All-Conference list as he ranked 4th in the conference in batting average with a 0.371 average. Venghaus also scored 21 runs and hit home 14 runs, while collecting 3 wins on the mound with 22 strikeouts and a 2.07 ERA.

Carter Amos, Payton Walker, and Jake Ensminger were all named to the All-Conference 2nd Team. Amos hit for a team leading 24 RBIs and tied for the team lead in home runs with two along with Walker. Walker also hit 0.312 and brought in 15 runs. Ensminger finished the season with 13 RBIs and 2 wins on the mound.

J.C. Sitar and Payson Coleman earned All-Conference Honorable Mentions.

Fort Madison and Keokuk tied with 5-10 conference records, and each had two players be recognized as All-Conference 1st Team. The Bloodhounds had Kane Williams and Brennan Ulik named to the team and the Chiefs had Bryor Lindner and Blake Chase receive the nod. Williams hit for a 0.364 average with 11 RBIs, while Ulik batted for a 0.312 average with three triples and 12 RBIs. Lindner brought home 18 runs and hit for a 0.304 average, while Chase led the team with a 0.368 batting average and tallied 19 RBIs. ,

For the Bloodhounds, Hunter Cresswell, who led the conference in batting average, was named All-Conference 2nd Team as Tatem Schelich and Cason Barnes earned an Honorable Mention.

For Keokuk, Jacob Lantz and Brenton Hoard earned 2nd Team All-Conference honors, while Bennett Church and Brendan Worster were All-Conference Honorable Mentions.

Washington finished with a 4-10 conference record. Isaac Vetter was the lone Demon to be named All-Conference 1st Team. The Senior batted 0.319 on the season with 7 RBIs and 12 runs scored. He also collected a win on the season with a 4.85 ERA.

Caleb Zieglowsky and Luke Beenblossom were each All-Conference Honorable Mentions.

The SEC Player of the Year award went to Tate Allen for his impressive season at the plate and on the mound for the Trojans.