Owen Vansickle Grabs Gold at SEC Conference Tennis Meet

By Slaten Swords · Friday, May 5th, 2023 at 10:30 am CDT

Prep Boys’ Tennis- The Southeast Conference tournament is in the books and Mt. Pleasant finished atop the regular season standings with an 8-0 record and three Panthers walked away with All-Conference honors.

Owen Vansickle entered the tournament as the #1 seed and made quick work of Brendon Worster of Keokuk to move into the semifinals. Carson Ziegler of Burlington was next on his list as Vansickle dispatched of him 6-3 and 6-1 leading to the top two seeds colliding in the finals. Vansickle had already defeated Hunter Ford of Burlington earlier in the season and history repeated itself. With the scores of 6-4 and 6-3, Vansickle claimed the gold and All-Conference honors.

Elliot Cook fell in the 3rd place match to Ziegler to claim 4th place, one spot outside of All-Conference honors. Ford and Ziegler grabbed All-Conference honors for Burlington.

In doubles, Jake Ensminger and Phoenix Watson for the Panthers entered as the #2 seed as they were destined to meet the #1 seed from Fairfield Garrett Flanagan and Jace Hannes in the championship round. Ensminger and Watson made quick work of the first-round opponent, but Shaye Stringer and Thomas Fell of Burlington almost came up with the upset as the second set went to a tiebreaker. The Panthers scrapped by with the win. Flanagan and Hannes had no trip-ups on their way to the championship bout and Ensminger and Watson threw everything they had at the duo but would come up short losing 6-4 and 6-3.

For Mt. Pleasant, Gavin Ross and Lou Schimmelpfennig lost to Stringer and Fell in the 3rd place match. So, the All-Conference honors went to 1st place Flanagan and Hannes, 2nd place Ensminger and Watson, and 3rd place Stringer and Fell.

Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, and Mt. Pleasant will compete at the District Meet on May 8th.

Secretary Naig Comments on the Conclusion of the 2023 Iowa Legislative Session

By Theresa Rose · Friday, May 5th, 2023 at 10:29 am CDT
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig released the following statement today after the Iowa General Assembly concluded their work for the 2023 legislative session:

“I want to commend Governor Reynolds and the Legislature for continuing to enact a positive agenda that sets Iowa up for future growth and success. All Iowans, as well as communities big and small, benefit from a strong agriculture. As we mark the 10-year anniversary of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, I’m pleased to see a continued investment in water quality and conservation programs that will further accelerate the adoption of innovative and proven practices. Funding the completion of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Iowa State University and dedicating additional resources for foreign animal disease preparedness and response will protect our critically important livestock industry. Consumers benefit from ongoing support for the Choose Iowa program, the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, additional meat processing capacity, and the newly created Dairy Innovation Fund, all of which will enhance the availability of Iowa products. With key investments in these and many other important priorities for agriculture, we are ensuring that Iowa’s #1 industry can thrive and remain productive for years to come.”

Flags At Half Staff

By Theresa Rose · Friday, May 5th, 2023 at 10:26 am CDT

Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered flags in Iowa to half staff today (Friday) for the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony as the state honors law enforcement who died in the line of duty over the past year. Two officers will be honored during the 2023 ceremony: Fremont County Deputy Austin “Melvin” Richardson and Coralville Police Sergeant John Karl Williams. Richardson was returning from a call for service on June 14, 2022, and collided with a combine on Highway 275 near Hamburg. On July 3, 2022, Williams died of cardiac arrest after responding to a fatal shooting involving a three-year-old child. Reynolds says, “These officers lost their lives defending and protecting their communities. The community of Coralville, the state of Iowa, and their brothers and sisters in law enforcement will never forget their service. While their families and our state continue to grieve, lowering flags across the state serves as a small memory of their sacrifice and is a reminder to every Iowan the importance of law enforcement to our communities.” Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex from sunrise to sunset today (Friday), May 5. Flags will also be at half-staff on all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties, and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

Darlene Hook

By Theresa Rose · Friday, May 5th, 2023 at 10:02 am CDT

Darlene Hook, 91, of rural Wapello died Sunday, April 30, 2023 at Great River Medical Center in West Burlington.

She was born October 17, 1931 in Burlington, was the daughter of Ora and Clara Deppey.  On February 15, 1949, she married William (Bill) Hook in Burlington.  They had three children, Connie (Rohwer), Randy Hook, and Georgia (Riley).  She and her husband Bill, farmed the family Century Farm near Toolesboro their entire life.

She was a Charter member of Indian Hills Golf and Country Club, now known as, Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club.  Darlene was a devoted sister of the TTT Organization.  She was a member of the Wapello Methodist Church.

She and Bill spent many years wintering in South Texas at their Condo.  They both enjoyed golfing, playing cards and spending time with family.  She played many card games, such as Cribbage, Euchre, Gin, Hand and Foot, Pinochle, 31, 65, and “Ole Heck”, just to name a few!  She was an avid Iowa / Iowa State Sports fan!

Survivors include, Brother, Doug Deppey, two daughters, Connie Rohwer, (Gary), Georgia Riley (Doug), and son, Randy Hook (Vicki).  Grandchildren, Jaime Truitt, Angie Phillips (Bill), Jason Guckert (Carley) and Jeffrey Guckert (Kelley), 2 step-grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Bob, and husband Bill, on February 13, 2009.

Visitation with family will be 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral Home on Monday, May 8, 2023 in Wapello.  The funeral service with be 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at the funeral home.  Graveside will follow at the Mallory Cemetery.

Memorials have been established for the Wapello Methodist Church and Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club.

 

Single Vehicle Crash

By Theresa Rose · Friday, May 5th, 2023 at 9:55 am CDT

On May 4th at approximately 7:45AM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a single vehicle accident in the 3100 grid of Lexington Avenue.  An investigation into this report determined that Jennifer Dorothy, 69, of Mt. Pleasant, was driving southbound when she lost control of her vehicle while negotiating a curve.  No injuries were reported.  The vehicle was considered totaled.

Sports, May 5th

By Slaten Swords · Friday, May 5th, 2023 at 6:27 am CDT

High School Track and Field

The Mt. Pleasant girls team defended their Southeast Conference championship and the boys team for Washington repeated as conference champs. For the girls, Andi Scott won the 400 meter dash with a time of 1 minute and 1 second. The team of Natalie Freeman, Mica Carter, Alexis Wagner, and Elsie Lange took the 4×400 meter relay. The 800 sprint medley team of Bailey Jalas, Tristian Shull, Courtney Raub, and Andi Scott and the distance medley team of Olivia McCormick, Alex Scott, Carter, and Abby Carthey grabbed wins. Elsie Lange won the long jump with a leap of 16 feet 1.5 inches and Ava English won the shot put with a throw of 36 feet 10.5 inches.

The boys team finished with 148 points to take 2nd place. Will Davidson picked up wins in the 100 meter dash, and the 110 meter hurdles. The 4×400 meter relay team of Jacob Richtman, Gabe Feldmann, Tyler Johnson, and Mason Sloat grabbed the win and Avin Truong won the long jump with a leap of 21 feet 10 inches. Lastly, Isaac Jerrel tossed the shot put 52 feet 4 inches to win the event.

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference meet produced one new conference champion as Mediapolis repeated as the boys South title winner and on the girls side, West Burlington Notre Dame and Pekin defended their titles for the South and North, respectively. Columbus is the new champion as they won the North title by 71 points.

For the North girls division, Winfield-Mt. Union took 6th place and WACO finished in 8th place. For the Wolves, Keetyn Townsley won the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 17.14 seconds. Townsley also joined Josie Nelson, Tessa Huston, and Keyreana Sharar in the 4×100 meter shuttle hurdle that finished with a time of 1 minute and 12 seconds winning the event. For WACO, Zoey Dennler won the 400 meter hurdles and the distance medley team of McKenzie Vrandenburg, Dennler, Halle Shelman, and Elyssa Graber took 2nd place.

Danville finished in 2nd place in the girls South division, Central Lee claimed 5th place, and New London finished in 6th. For Danville, Alaina Gourley won the 400 meter dash, 800 meter dash, the 1500 meter run, and the 3000 meter run. With a time of 1 minute and 12 seconds, Alexis Dietsch took the 400 meter hurdles. Kenna Furnald won the long jump with a leap of 16 feet 1 inch. Taylor Jones, Furnald, Jaeda Molle, and Miya Orbiana took the 800 sprint medley.

Shifting to the boys side for the North division, Winfield-Mt. Union was the runner-up and WACO finished in 3rd place. For the Wolves, Kohlby Newsom won the 800 meter run and Gabriel Hemsworth took the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 57.09 seconds. Cam Buffington grabbed the long  jump crown with a leap of 21 feet 4.5 inches. The team of Sheaden Adams, Ty Scorpil, Newsom, and Hemsworth won the 4×400 meter relay and the team of Caleb Giese, Abram Edwards, Buffington, and Hemsworth took the 800 sprint medley. Lane Genkinger, Edwards, Scorpil, and Newsom won the distance medley.

WACO won the 4×200 meter relay with the team of Braden Spain, Isaac Oswald, Mason Miller, and Clayton Miller. Oswald and Mason Miller joined Louden Huisenga, and Simeon Reichenbach to take the 4×110 meter shuttle hurdle.

For the boys South division, Central Lee grabbed 3rd place, Danville took 5th, and New London rounded it out in 6th place. Grabbing wins for Central Lee was Thomas Eschman in the long jump, and Brody Fuller in the shot put. AJ Bonnesen won the 3200 meter run for Danville. New London’s lone win came from Cade Benjamin in the high jump with a jump of 6 feet 8 inches.

High School Soccer

The Mt. Pleasant girls team crushed Fairfield last night 9-0. Charice Auwerda and Elly Manning each scored four goals and two assists. Tori Wilson netted one. The Panthers will host Fort Madison on May 8th.

The Mt. Pleasant boys team fell to Fairfield last night 2-1 in overtime. Noah Lange scored the goal for the Panthers. Mt. Pleasant will travel to face off against Fort Madison on May 8th.

The WACO boys team will host Hillcrest Academy tonight.

The Danville boys team handled Wapello last night 11-3 after putting up seven goals in the second half. Colin Pealer and Talan Whaley each scored four goals in the contest as Whaley added four assists to his total. The Bears will host Central Lee today.

The Central Lee boys fell to Columbus last night 2-0.

The Central Lee girls team scraped by with a 2-1 win over Columbus in overtime. The Hawks will take on Burlington Notre Dame on May 8th.

High School Golf

The Mt. Pleasant boys team’s next competition will be on May 10th for the 3A sectional meet.

The Mt. Pleasant girls team will compete in the SEC conference tournament on May 10th.

The boys teams of New London, Winfield-Mt. Union, Danville, and Holy Trinity Catholic will compete in the 1A sectional meet on May 10th.

The girls SEISC competition will be taking place on May 8th.

High School Tennis

The Mt. Pleasant boys team finished as the top team in the conference with an undefeated record. Owen Vansickel entered the singles tournament as the #1 seed and walked away with the gold and All-Conference honors after taking down Hunter Ford of Burlington in two sets, 6-4 and 6-3. Elliot Cook took 4th place. Garrett Flanagan and Jace Hannes of Fairfield won the doubles tournament as they took down Jake Ensminger and Phoenix Watson, both earning All-Conference honors. Gavin Ross and Lou Schimmelpfennig finished in 4th place. The Panthers will compete at the District Meet on May 8th.

Iowa Wesleyan Athletics

The Tiger baseball team earned the 4th seed in the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) tournament and they will be facing off against Georgia Gwinnett College tomorrow, May 6th.

The Tigers outdoor track and field teams will be competing at the Fighting Scot Outdoor Invitational tomorrow.

This Day in Sports History

1904 – Cy Young pitches the first perfect game in “modern” baseball as the Boston Americans beat Philadelphia Athletics, 3-0.

1973 – 99th Kentucky Derby: Ron Turcotte aboard Secretariat wins in 1:59.4 – fastest Kentucky Derby ever.

1995 – Last basketball game at Boston Garden; Celtics eliminated from playoffs by Orlando Magic, 95-92.

 

 

Fred Lee Finke

By Theresa Rose · Friday, May 5th, 2023 at 6:25 am CDT

Fred Lee Finke, 98, of New London, died Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at New London Specialty Care.  He was born in rural New London on September 6, 1924 to William Laird and Ethel Eugenia Kelly Finke.  He attended school in Lee Town and graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School.

On August 10, 1963, he married Lois Melissa Wiederrecht in Wapello.  He was a lifelong farmer and a member of the New London United Methodist Church.  He was active in the New London Elevator; was a New London Township Trustee; and enjoyed fishing, woodworking, and watching old westerns.

Survivors include his wife, Lois M. Finke; daughter Ellen (Mike) Haase of Bondurant; niece Judy (Chuck) Stubbs of Tijeras, New Mexico; and nephew Dan (Mary) Hatala of Waverly.  Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters; Lois A. Finke, Avon Finke, and Ruth Hatala.

The funeral service for Mr. Finke will be at 2:00 pm, Thursday, May 11, 2023 at Elliott Chapel, New London with Pastor Kathleen Moore officiating.  Visitation will begin at 9:00 am with the family greeting friends from 1:00 until the 2:00 service.  Burial will follow at Burge Cemetery, rural New London.  Memorials have been established for New London United Methodist Church and New London Fire and Rescue.  Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

Charles “Charlie” Robert Wesely

By Theresa Rose · Friday, May 5th, 2023 at 6:13 am CDT

Charles “Charlie” Robert Wesely’s last race ended Saturday, April 29, 2023, while he was surrounded by family at Savannah Heights nursing home in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa as the NASCAR Xinfinity race at Dover Motor Speedway was going on the TV, that he had planned on attending with family but didn’t make it due to his health.

Charlie was born on August 24, 1932, in Iowa City to Frank and Mary (Cooper) Wesely of Keosauqua, Iowa. After his family moved to Henry County, he had the unique opportunity of attending two rural country schools, where he was an average student and when asked what his favorite part of school was, he without a doubt responded, “the girls.” After the country schools, Charlie went on to become a student in the Mount Pleasant School system and graduated in 1951.

Following graduation, Charlie moved to California to join his brother Paul, and was soon hired to work at an Air Force supply depot. However, his employment at the depot was short lived as he was called upon in 1953 to serve his country in the United Stated Army for the next two years. After receiving an honorable discharge, Charlie was hired to work at a Marine supply depot in Barstow California briefly, but knew Iowa was home and he returned to the Midwest.

After returning home to Iowa, Charlie took on farming and soon found employment at General Electric in Burlington, Iowa where he worked as an electrical tester for 26 and a half years.

Charlie was married three times, once to Rosemary Scarff of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and twice to Helen Woodyward of Burlington, Iowa, both ending in divorce.

Charlie was a member and supporter of the Salem VFW – Post 94, was an avid coin collector, loved his vintage Chevrolets, local car shows, and would never turn down a trip to Red Lobster.

He was an avid NASCAR supporter, rarely missing a race on TV, we all knew not to call when the races were on. He made many trips to Michigan and Dover with family to watch the races firsthand and one Christmas received a signed letter from Richard Childress, a NASCAR team owner, thanking him for his continued support which Charlie proudly displayed in his home next to all his Dale Earnhardt memorabilia.

In retirement, Charlie continued to help the local farmers, he loved running the equipment and was up for any task. Anywhere we would be driving in the car, he would always share his opinion of the owners’ care of the passing fields, leaving little doubt of his approval or dislike.

Farming, NASCAR racing, and old cars were all second to family. Charlie came from a large family himself having eleven brothers and sisters. Each year in June, it was time to spruce up his property by mowing, plating flowers, and painting in anticipation and preparation for the annual Wesely reunion that was held for many years at his house in Salem, Iowa. He genuinely looked forward to seeing family come literally from all over the country for reuniting, visiting, and whatever else may occur.

When the weather was good, Charlie enjoyed sitting out by his barn in the sun, or in the doorway watching the world go by and many times friends would stop by to visit and discuss the news of the day. Most of the locals knew to look for him and would honk as they passed by. Charlie would always wave and wait for the next car, truck, or tractor to go by all while relaxing, soaking up the sun and enjoying his “occasional” Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer.

Charlie is survived by his children; Roger Wesely of Mt. Pleasant, Cindy (Lynn) Conrad of Mt. Pleasant, Tina Wesely of Burlington, four grandsons, five granddaughters, several great-grandchildren, one sister; Genevieve (Wesely) Fetterman of Salem, and several nieces and nephews. He is proceeded in death by his parents; Frank Wesely and Mary (Cooper) Wesely and ten brother and sisters; Dorothy, Jane, Bertha, Jean, Pricilla, Joe, George, Merlin “Mike” Paul, and Johnny.

Kimzey Funeral Home has been entrusted to handle the care and services of Charles “Charlie” Robert Wesely. He will be cremated with inurnment in the Salem East Cemetery. A celebration of life will take place in conjunction with his late sister Jane on Friday, June 30, 2023, at the Moose Lodge in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the Salem Fire Department. On-line condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com