New Electric Vehicle Chargers Tax Beginning July 1st

By Yorke Prough · Friday, June 9th, 2023 at 2:59 pm CDT

The Iowa Department of Revenue would like to remind owners of non-residential electric vehicle chargers that new tax changes take effect on July 1st, 2023.

Owners of these charging stations will now be held responsible for reporting and paying the Iowa Department of Revenue two and six-tenths cents for each kilowatt hour ($0.026 per kWh) of electric fuel dispensed into either the vehicle batter or energy storage device. Any business or organization, including nonprofits and local governments, that has a charging station for employees or customers will need a license. Licensing and taxation does not apply to electric fuel dispensed at residences. For more information, follow the link below.

Electric Fuel Excise Tax

IWU Furniture

By Yorke Prough · Friday, June 9th, 2023 at 2:38 pm CDT

Rumors have been circulating regarding the furniture from Iowa Wesleyan University. There have been movers out at the university, and we can now confirm why. William Penn University has had an offer accepted for an undisclosed number of beds and dressers from the dorms. There are also a number of houses near campus for sale now that the USDA owns the land.

KILJ will bring updates as they come.

Prep Softball Rankings: 3 New Top Teams

By Slaten Swords · Friday, June 9th, 2023 at 12:26 pm CDT

Prep Softball- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released their third rankings for the season and this last week provided for a lot of entertainment and three new teams rocking the crown in the five Classifications. Moreover, nine teams were dropped from the top 15.

North Linn is the new top team on the block in Class 1A after being ranked 4th last week. Their rise in the rankings comes after two wins against the #3 team in Class 2A Lisbon, 3-1 and 7-5. Martensdale-St. Marys jumped up the rankings after defeating the former #1 team Southeast Warren in a nail-bitter, 1-0. The Warhawks sit in the #3 slot. Remsen St. Mary’s and Collins-Maxwell experienced identical falls of 5-spots with the Hawks now ranked 8th and the Spartans now 11th. Earlham jumped into the rankings with an 11-4 record with Twin Cedars rounding out the top 15. Woodbine fell out of the top 15 despite winning their last 5 games and outscoring their opponents 44 to 9.

Class 2A had their top 5 almost remain the same from a week ago with Iowa City Regina sitting on top of the rankings. Van Meter jumped Wilton for the #4 spot. West Monona jumped up 6 spots in the rankings after taking down a previously ranked Ridge View, 8-7, amid a 9-game winning streak. After starting the season 3-6, Interstate 35 has turned a corner to even their record at 7-7 and moved up the rankings to 10th after falling to 14th last week. Louisa-Muscatine and Ridge View were dropped from the rankings. Missouri Valley, with a 15-1 record, enter the rankings in 11th and Waterloo Columbus Catholic rounds out the top 15 with a 13-3 record.

Class 3A had the least amount of movement with Williamsburg sitting on top of the rankings with an undefeated record. Saydel had the farthest drop of any team in Class 3A, going from 3rd to 7th. The Eagles 5-1 loss to unranked Greene County did them no favors. Davis County jumped up to the 3rd spot with their own undefeated record. West Lyon leaped three spots in the rankings to move into the top 10. Benton was the only team knocked out of the top 15 with 9-3 Grinnell taking their spot at #15.

Dallas Center-Grimes fell from their thrown in Class 4A and their heir, Fort Dodge, followed in suit. Indianola is now the top team after beating Norwalk, the new #2 team, twice. Dallas Center-Grimes fell to Norwalk 8-2 and Fort Dodge lost to Johnston and Southeast Polk; two teams ranked in Class 5A. Winterset ascended the rankings from 13th to 8th after defeating previously ranked ADM 4-1. Burlington remained ranked at 9th. Cedar Rapids Xavier had the steepest fall after losing three games in a row. One game to now unranked Benton in Class 3A and then two games to Dubuque Senior, a team ranked in Class 5A. Creston and ADM fell out of the rankings with Storm Lake taking the #14 spot and Knoxville rounding out the top 15.

Ankeny Centennial trekked 6 spots up the rankings to be ranked #1 in Class 5A. The Jaguars defeated Ankeny twice and Johnston once on their way to a 10-1 record. Valley had two losses handed to them by Southeast Polk, who would have taken the top spot if they had not lost to Winterset and Waukee the games before. Valley is now ranked 2nd and the Rams in 6th. To add to the craziness, three teams were dropped from the top 15. Urbandale, who was ranked 12th, Ames, and Sioux City East, who were ranked 14th and 15th respectively. Ottumwa is now ranked 13th with Dubuque Hempstead and Dubuque Senior taking the spot of Ames and Sioux City East, respectively, to round out the top 15.

Water Main Break on West Orange Street

By Yorke Prough · Friday, June 9th, 2023 at 11:42 am CDT

The Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities is currently experiencing a water main break on West Orange Street. The water will be temporarily shut off on West Orange St. and N. Shepard Dr. for our water department to make repairs. The crew hopes to have water back on in a couple of hours.

New Donation Box at the Quarter Maybe More Store

By Yorke Prough · Friday, June 9th, 2023 at 9:09 am CDT

The Quarter Maybe More Store is excited to announce a new “after hours drop box” where donations can now be given outside of store hours. The store asks that donations be taken inside during regular store hours. The donation box can be found behind the store in the alley, accessible by car, and they ask that only soft items be placed in the box to ensure that nothing breaks.

Fellowship Cup – Summer Sack Program Donations

By Yorke Prough · Friday, June 9th, 2023 at 9:07 am CDT

The Fellowship Cup is in need of donations for their Summer Sack-Lunch Program. This nonprofit program provides food to children who typically rely on school lunch during the school year. Sack lunch menus vary daily but usually include a sandwich, chips/crackers, a vegetable, a fruit, and a drink, ensuring the children have food. Juice and deli meat are the main items the Fellowship currently needs. Deli meat does not have to be in bulk. The Fellowship Cup of Mount Pleasant can be found at 203 N Jefferson St and is open 8am-4pm during the weekdays.

 

Sports, June 9th

By Slaten Swords · Friday, June 9th, 2023 at 6:48 am CDT

High School Baseball

Mt. Pleasant took down Keokuk last night 4-1 with all of their runs coming in the top of the 5th inning. Jake Ensminger and Payton Walker picked up the RBIs. Ben Newton got the win on the mound going 6.1 innings allowing only 2 hits and striking out 7. Payton Hagans got the final two outs, one via the strikeout. The Panthers will host Alburnett tonight. 

Winfield-Mt. Union fell to Louisa-Muscatine 1-0 in walk-off fashion with the RBI going to Ty Northup. The Wolves travel to Pekin tonight.

New London scored two runs in the bottom of the 7th inning but came up just short with West Burlington winning 10-9. Zachary Webb and Levi Fletcher-Bates each tallied 3 RBIs for the Falcons. New London will host Hillcrest Academy on June 12th.

Danville will travel to Mediapolis today with first pitch at 5:30 pm.

Central Lee will take on Fairfield tonight on the road at 7:30 pm.

Van Buren County took down Burlington Notre Dame 6-4 last night. Taylor Sprouse notched 2 RBIs in the contest for the Warriors. They will host Louisa-Muscatine on June 12th at 5:30 pm.

In Southeast Iowa conference (SEC) play, Fort Madison handled Washington 14-0 last night. Burlington defeated Fairfield yesterday 7-5. Tate Allen and Dain Burkhart led the Trojans with 2 RBIs each. 

High School Softball

Mt. Pleasant fell to Keokuk last night 13-3 after 5 innings. Keokuk’s bats were hot last night as their middle part of the lineup with Taeja Anderson, Rachel Moore, and Ada Wood notching three consecutive singles to load the bases in the bottom of the first. Kenadi Ames started the scoring with a 2-RBI double, which started the chain of the next 7 batters reaching base safely and 9 runs coming to cross home before the inning was over. 

Mt. Pleasant would score two runs in the top of the 2nd inning off a fielder’s choice by Ella McNamee and an RBI double by Myah Starr. The Chiefs would strike for four more runs in the bottom of the 4th inning. Jayden Housh would tally an RBI in the top of the 5th inning as the Panthers were looking to stage a comeback, but a swift play by the shortstop Brylee Balentine ended the game. The Panthers will compete in the Fairfield Invite today against Central Lee.

Central Lee defeated Mediapolis last night 13-1. 

Winfield-Mt. Union lost to Louisa-Muscatine 13-1 last night. Keely Malone finished with two singles. The Wolves will take on Pekin tonight on the road. 

New London fell to West Burlington yesterday 12-0. The Tigers will travel to take on Fairfield tonight at the Fairfield Invite. 

Danville will face off against Mediapolis today at 7 pm.

Van Buren County scraped by with a 6-5 win last night despite the Crusaders scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning. Ivy Davison clobbered a home run and tallied 4 RBIs for the Warriors. The Crusaders will take on West Burlington tonight at home and the Warriors will face off against Chariton today at the Fairfield Invite. 

In other SEC games, Fort Madison shocked Washington last night 12-3. Lauryn Helmick finished 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs for the Bloodhounds. Fairfield fell to Burlington 6-0 yesterday. 

Iowa Hawkeye Track and Field

Austin West finished in 3rd place in the decathlon after a strong performance yesterday including a career best throw in discus at 146 feet 2 inches, he finished as an All-American. Amanda Howe finished in 12th for the Hammer Throw with a toss of 209 feet 3 inches, she is 2nd team All-American. 

Iowa State Track and Field

Ezekiel Rop will run in the 1500 meter final today and Emily March will compete in the discus tomorrow.

This Day in Sports History

1914 – Pittsburgh Pirate baseball shortstop Honus Wagner is 2nd player to get 3,000 hits.

1946 – New York Giant Mel Ott becomes first manager in MLB history to be ejected from both games of a doubleheader; Giants lose both games to Pittsburgh Pirates.

2010 – Stanley Cup Final, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA: Chicago Blackhawks edge Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3 in OT for a 4-2 series win; first Championship for Chicago since 1961.

4-H Camp a Success

By Yorke Prough · Friday, June 9th, 2023 at 6:11 am CDT

Regional 4-H Camp a Success

4-H junior members filled two days and one night with outdoor adventures, fun in the sun and team building activities on June 6 and 7 at Crooked Creek Christian Camp in Washington.  ISU Extension and Outreach team Region 19 (Iowa, Johnson, Keokuk and Washington Counties) work together to offer this camping experience annually to their 4th – 6th grade members.

Campers had a variety of activities, including canoeing, fishing, swimming, water slide, mindfulness exercises, grilled cheese food challenge, archery, tie-dye, and more.  Special guest presenters Bows & Bullets 4-H Club, Tanner Wenger for Taekwondo and extension staff from Washington, Johnson, Keokuk and Iowa county delivered the other programs.

4-H junior members enjoyed meeting other 4-Her’s from neighboring counties and spending time together. The “magic” of camp was in full effect.  One camper even said they couldn’t pick a favorite moment, “Every minute was my favorite.”

Region 19 4-H staff was excited to offer this overnight opportunity again as they took a few years off due to COVID.

“The learning, bonding, growing and fun that happens at 4-H Jr Camp is special,” said Washington County 4-H/Youth Coordinator.  “As staff, I love getting to spend time with these 4-Hers to see them in action and try new things.   And then watching them grow for the next 7-9 years in our program is so rewarding.”

For more information about joining 4-H, summer camp opportunities or how to volunteer for Washington County 4-H, please contact the Washington County Extension Office at 319/653-4811.  Follow “Washington County 4-H – Iowa” on Facebook.