KILJ Radio Announces Yorke Prough as Next News Director

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, April 27th, 2023 at 6:17 am CDT

KILJ Radio is excited to announce Yorke Prough has been named the next KILJ News Director. He will begin training with current and longtime news director Theresa Rose immediately and will officially assume the role upon her retirement May 31st.

Yorke is no stranger to Southeast Iowa, graduating from Mount Pleasant High School in 2020. You may recognize his familiar voice. For the past year, Yorke has been our weekend radio personality, production assistant, and board operator at KILJ. About his new role at KILJ Yorke said, “There is something special about radio you can’t get with subscription services or anywhere else. Reporting on and delivering news important to people in Southeast Iowa is nothing short of a dream come true.”

Regarding his promotion, General Manager Kadie Johannson said, “Since 2004 Theresa has reported on the news in Southeast Iowa and done it well. She leaves big shoes to fill, but we are thrilled Yorke wants to grow with us and cultivate the next era at KILJ.”

Jordan Crooks Picks Central College’s Dance Team

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, April 26th, 2023 at 4:11 pm CDT

Mt. Pleasant- Central College will be adding a new member to their talented Dance Team this fall as Jordan Crooks has signed on to join the Dutch and major in Elementary Education.

The Panthers finished in 8th place in Class X Pom at the High School State Team Championship and 7th in Class IV Jazz for the 2022-23 season. Crooks has been in dance since a young age, but she was uncertain what her future path looked like until recently,

“I really didn’t make that decision until, I would say, this year. I have always loved to dance; I’ve danced ever since I was three. So, as I was trying to figure my life out, I figured out I wanted to dance.”

Crooks believes the Panther Dance Team helped her out immensely to make this move to the collegiate level. She linked Central College’s atmosphere for the reason she picked Pella,

“I’m really excited to attend Central because they’re a close-knit community and just the fact that I know that I’m going to know everybody there because the school is so small.”

The Dutch has been making history this last year as the Dance Team won the National Championship in Division III Pom and took 4th place in Division III Jazz. Central also won conference titles in the Jazz Division, their second year in a row, and the Pom Division.

Mount Pleasant Street Projects Update

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 26th, 2023 at 3:59 pm CDT

The W. Henry St. & Van Buren St. intersection will be closed this evening Wednesday April 26th.

Ideal Ready Mix will start loading trucks at 7:00 A.M. tomorrow morning Thursday April 27th.  Jones Contracting will start paving N. Aldrin Drive shortly after. Their will a lot of truck traffic off Broadway St. Across Race or Vine entering N. Aldrin Drive. Trucks will be backing into Aldrin Drive off Vine St. Please avoid the area if possible until early afternoon or expect delays. We want to thank everyone for your cooperation. Weather permitting this project should be complete in a couple weeks.

Iowa Utilities Board approves permit application for NuStar hazardous liquid pipeline

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 26th, 2023 at 3:52 pm CDT
 
(Des Moines) – The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) today issued its final decision and order granting the revised petition (application) for a proposed hazardous liquid pipeline permit by NuStar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.P (NuStar) in Docket No. HLP-2021-0002. NuStar filed its petition for a hazardous liquid pipeline permit with the IUB on January 27, 2022, under Iowa Code chapter 479B.

While the IUB granted the petition for the permit, the order specifies the IUB will not issue the permit until NuStar submits several corrective filings and the IUB approves them. Today’s decision grants eminent domain over six parcels and denies eminent domain over two parcels. The order will require NuStar to modify and submit revised easements related to two specific landowners.

The hazardous liquid pipeline permit allows NuStar to construct, operate, and maintain 13.74 miles of hazardous liquid pipeline in Lee County, Iowa, to transport anhydrous ammonia.

The order requires NuStar to file revised exhibits; provide proof of at least $2.5 million in general liability insurance; and provide weekly construction updates, an as-built map, and notice of construction start and completion.

Documents regarding the proposed NuStar pipeline project are available for review in the IUB’s electronic filing system under Docket No. HLP-2021-0002.

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The Iowa Utilities Board regulates utilities to ensure that reasonably priced, reliable, environmentally responsible, and safe utility services are available to all Iowans.

Follow the Board on Twitter: https://twitter.com/iub_now

Emma Nye Signs with John Wood to Play Volleyball in the Fall

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, April 26th, 2023 at 2:29 pm CDT

New London- Emma Nye, the defensive specialist with a knack for serving for New London, will be taking her volleyball talents to John Wood Community College in the fall.

In her four years at New London, Nye racked up 1,534 digs defensively and served up 170 aces. In Nye’s four years, the Tigers tallied 105 wins with one trip to the state tournament. In their state quarterfinal matchup, Nye had 12 digs and 1 ace.

Nye’s senior season was her best defensively with 667 digs and her second best from the serving line with 65 aces. Her junior year was her best year serving the ball with 67 aces. She helped navigate New London to a 28-win season and a trip to the Regional Championship game.

Nye joins the Trail Blazers who finished last season with an 11-19 record and a 1-3 conference record.

Natalie Burden will Play Volleyball at Carl Sandburg College

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, April 26th, 2023 at 2:27 pm CDT

New London- The main attacker for New London, Natalie Burden, signed her letter of intent to continue playing volleyball at the collegiate level at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois.

In her four years at New London, Burden has totaled 921 kills with 127 aces. On the defensive side of things, she added 55 blocks throughout her high school career. Burden has helped guide the Tigers to two Regional Championship games and a state tournament appearance.

Burden collected 448 kills and 37 aces in her senior season as led New London to a 28-10 record and an appearance to the Regional Championship.

She will be joining a Chargers squad that finished last season with a 25-18 overall record and an undefeated 8-0 record in conference play.

Fort Madison and Holy Trinity Catholic Athletics Reunited?

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, April 26th, 2023 at 11:36 am CDT

Fort Madison- It was only two weeks ago that the Fort Madison Community School District Board had voted by a slim majority to end their athletic share agreements with Holy Trinity Catholic, Central Lee Community School District, and Burlington School District. Now, a unanimous vote has approved 13 new shared athletic agreements. However, there are changes to the agreement that still needs Holy Trinity Catholic’s approval.

The Crusaders would pay Fort Madison a lump sum of $20,000, compared to the previous $10,000, for the 10 shared programs of girls’ and boys’ track, soccer, wrestling, tennis, girls’ cross country, and baseball. The $20,000 figure was generated by an analysis of the fees that go into keeping the programs running. The generated percentage was 7.6% and $20,000 was considered more representative of that percentage than the previous $10,000.

The deal will have to be renewed annually. If both sides agree to split, then negotiations to come back together can happen at any time in the future. If one school decides to split while the other disagrees with the split, then the school that disengages cannot negotiate to reunite for a minimum of five years.

Holy Trinity Catholic will vote on the payment tomorrow night, April 27th.

Gov. Reynolds Announces SBA Disaster Assistance for Storm-Damaged Counties 

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 26th, 2023 at 8:24 am CDT

DES MOINES – Today, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) granted her request to provide assistance in the form of low-interest disaster loans for eight counties impacted by the March 31, 2023, severe weather event. 

 

Homeowners, renters, businesses, and most nonprofit organizations in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Linn, Louisa, Muscatine, and Washington counties, whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster, will be able to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. In addition, small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, and most private, nonprofit organizations impacted by the severe weather will be eligible to apply for working capital loans. 

 

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.