Ray Dean Gillespie

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 at 1:37 pm CDT

Ray Dean Gillespie, 75, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant.

Crash Report

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 at 1:32 pm CDT

On May 30th, 2023, at approximately 11:40 a.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received several reports of a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Henry-Des Moines Avenue and Highway 34, south of New London.  An investigation determined the two vehicles involved were, a 2019 White Chevrolet box van being driven west bound by Ben Davis, 54 of Coal Valley, Il., and a 2013 Honda CRV being driven by Memphis Watson, 16 of Mount Pleasant, Ia.

The investigation determined the Watson vehicle was traveling south on 267th Street and came to a stop at the intersection of Highway 34.  The Davis vehicle was traveling west on Highway 34 at the same time.  The Watson vehicle proceeded into the intersection striking the passenger side of the Davis vehicle.  Mr. Watson was cited for Failure to obey a stop sign and yield the right of way.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles sustained disabling damage and were towed from the scene.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Henry County Emergency Medical Service and the New London Fire and Rescue Department.

Sports, May 31st

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 at 6:27 am CDT

High School Soccer

The boys’ state quarterfinals got underway yesterday and here are the results. In Class 1A, GCGR defeated Columbus Catholic 4-0. Des Moines Christian took down West Branch by the same score 4-0. Regina Catholic won against West Liberty 2-1. Lastly, Western Christian shutout Treynor to win 1-0.

Class 2A’s contests featured all shutouts. Assumption Davenport, Nevada, Gilbert, and Bishop Heelan all moved on to the next round.

Des Moines Hoover handled Xavier 6-0. Norwalk and Humboldt had a tough contest with Norwalk winning 3-2. Iowa City Liberty defeated Dallas Center-Grimes 4-2. Lastly, Marion took down Denison-Schleswig 3-1.

The games for Class 4A were postponed to today.

The girls’ state quarterfinals will start today with Des Moines Christian facing off against Hudson to lead off the day.

High School Baseball

Mt. Pleasant was swept in their road doubleheader to Washington last night 4-1 in game one and 9-8 in game two. Both teams entered the game struggling at the plate and those woes continued for both of those teams in game one. The Demons worked 5 walks in the first inning, which allowed them to score two runs. The Panthers had opportunities in the contest, but could not push across the runs. Payton Hagans notched an RBI with Payson Coleman tallying the only hit. Chase Greiner had an RBI single for the Demons.

Game two started with Zerek Venghaus, Jake Ensminger, and Carter Amos slapping singles to fill up the bases, but a Payton Walker sacrifice fly was all the Panthers could muster. The trouble began in the 4th and 5th innings, when the Demons jumped for 7 runs to take a 9-2 lead into the top of the 7th inning. The Panthers would score 6 runs due to wild pitching and a key couple hits, but it would not be enough. Ensminger, J.C. Sitar, and Payson Coleman all added an RBI to their season total. The Panthers will rematch with Washington tomorrow, June 1st, at home with first pitch at 7:30 pm.

Winfield-Mt. Union will face off against Highland at home tomorrow.

Danville will compete against Van Buren County tomorrow.

Central Lee will travel to take on New London tonight.

High School Softball

Mt. Pleasant lost to Washington in their doubleheader last night with game one’s final being 12-3 and game two’s final being 13-1. Addison Clark clobbered a home run in the second game, while notching 3 hits in the two games. The Panthers will face off against Wapello tomorrow on the road. KILJ will be on the call with pregame at 6:45 pm.

Winfield-Mt. Union fell to Columbus 12-0 last night. The Wolves will host Highland tomorrow, June 1st.

Holy Trinity Catholic handled Danville last night 14-2. The Bears will look to get back in the win column against Van Buren County tomorrow. The Crusaders will look to take down Mediapolis tomorrow.

New London lost to Mediapolis last night 14-2. The Tigers will host Central Lee tonight.

High School Tennis

The girls’ Class 1A and 2A state team tennis tournaments finished up yesterday and here are the state champions.

In Class 1A, Columbus Catholic took down Clarinda 5 sets to 1 to claim the crown.

In Class 2A, the #1 seed Cedar Rapids Washington defeated Dowling Catholic 5 sets to 2 to take home the state championship.

The boys’ state team tournament will begin today. Pella enters the tournament as the #1 seed in Class 1A, while Waukee Northwest enters as the favorite in Class 2A.

Iowa Baseball

The Hawkeyes will open up play in the NCAA tournament against North Carolina on Friday, June 2nd, at 6 pm.

This Day in Sports History

1937 – Second largest crowd in Polo Grounds history (61,756) sees Brooklyn Dodgers beat NY Giants, 10-3, ending Carl Hubbell’s record consecutive-game winning streak at 24.

2002 – The New Jersey Nets defeat the Boston Celtics 96-88 in Game 6 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference Championship, winning the series 4 games to 2 to advance to their first NBA Finals appearance.

2015 – Harriette Thompson aged 92 and 65 days becomes the oldest woman to complete a marathon.

 

 

 

 

Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 at 6:16 am CDT
 

May 22 – 28, 2023

DES MOINES, Iowa (May 30, 2023) — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November.

“Nearly all of Iowa’s corn and soybeans are now planted thanks to the seasonal temperatures and unseasonably dry conditions over the past week,” said Secretary Naig. “As the calendar flips to June, Iowans can expect scattered thunderstorms and the warmest stretch of the season thus far with weather outlooks indicating a gradual shift from drier conditions to better chances of rain.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report

Very dry conditions and relatively warm weather meant Iowa farmers had 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 28, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farmers were still planting some corn and soybeans. However, farmers took advantage of the dry warm weather to cut a lot of hay. Other field activities included spraying pesticides on emerging crops.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 10 percent very short, 40 percent short, 49 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 10 percent very short, 36 percent short, 53 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Planting is nearing completion, with 98 percent of Iowa’s corn crop planted, 8 days ahead of last year and 11 days ahead of the 5-year average. Eighty-five percent of the corn crop has emerged, 1 week ahead of last year and the average. Iowa’s first corn condition rating of the year was 0 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 65 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. Ninety-four percent of Iowa’s expected soybean crop has been planted, just over a week ahead of last year and 15 days ahead of normal. Sixty-seven percent of soybeans have emerged, 8 days ahead of last year and the average. Iowa’s first soybean condition rating of the year was 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. Ninety-seven percent of the expected oat crop has emerged, 6 days ahead of normal. Twenty-one percent of the oat crop has headed, 8 days ahead of last year and the average. Oat condition declined to 74 percent good to excellent.

Fifty-two percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, jumping from close to the 5-year average pace to nearly 2 weeks ahead. Hay condition fell 8 percentage points to 58 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition dropped to 50 percent good to excellent.  No major livestock concerns other than precipitation needed to improve pasture conditions.

Weather Summary

Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

A nearly stationary high pressure center, known as a Rex Block, dominated the weather pattern across the region through the reporting period. This atmospheric configuration blocked the large-scale west-to-east flow, setting up a dry pattern for the region; most of Iowa’s stations observed rainfall deficits from 1.00 to 1.20 inches. Warmer to near-seasonal temperatures were reported northwest to southeast with the statewide average temperature at 65.1 degrees, 2.1 degrees above normal.

Daytime highs on Sunday (21st) were in the 70s statewide while a few northwestern stations reported low 80s with sunny skies and winds out of the south.  Overnight conditions remained seasonal with lows in the 50s and patchy fog in western Iowa at sunrise on Monday (22nd). Skies became partly cloudy through the day as the remaining hints of Canadian wildfire smoke produced a copper tinge to higher level cumulus. Temperatures were again pleasant with mid to upper 70s reported under a light southerly wind. Cloud cover remained in southwestern Iowa into Tuesday (23rd) morning with calm to slightly breezy conditions and lows in the mid to upper 50s. Daytime highs pushed into the low to mid 80s with a few passing clouds in western Iowa. Winds became light and variable in eastern Iowa over the nighttime hours as the wind direction gradually shifted easterly through Wednesday (24th) morning. Afternoon conditions quickly warmed into the low to mid 80s with spotty upper 80s at several stations in eastern Iowa; the statewide average high was 83 degrees, nine degrees above normal. Rain showers with a few rumbles of thunder developed in southwestern Iowa just before sunset and slowly moved northwest. Additional, isolated cells redeveloped into late Thursday (25th) morning along a localized boundary as a weak cold front dropped north to south through the state.

Only 31 stations in western Iowa reported rainfall with six stations registering just a trace amount. Rain totals were generally under a tenth of an inch though higher totals ranged from 0.13 inch at a Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) gauge in Atlantic (Cass County) to 0.40 and 0.42 inch-totals at two stations in Woodbury County. Afternoon skies were generally cloudless with a gustier easterly wind in eastern Iowa shifting to southeasterly farther northwest. Starry skies prevailed overnight into Friday (26th) with morning lows ranging from the mid 40s east to upper 50s west with a statewide average low at 46 degrees, seven degrees below normal; some western Iowa stations were anywhere from two to six degrees above average. Afternoon conditions continued to be warmer in the northwest, with highs in the low 80s while temperatures were up to 10 degrees cooler at stations in the east. Easterly winds persisted into Saturday (27th) as morning temperatures hovered in the upper 40s and low 50s. Ample sunlight and southeasterly winds pushed daytime highs into the upper 70s and low 80s, with a noticeable lack of humidity. With lower dewpoints and clear skies, temperatures dropped into the 50s on Sunday (28th) morning.

Weekly rain totals ranged from no accumulation at a majority of Iowa’s weather stations to 0.42 inch at Sioux City Airport (Woodbury County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.02 inch, while the normal is 1.05 inches. Several stations reported the week’s high temperature of 88 degrees on the 24th, on average 13 degrees above normal. Fayette (Fayette County) and Vinton (Benton County) reported the week’s low temperature of 36 degrees on the 26th, on average 14 degrees below normal.

Henry County Board of Supervisors Meeting Agenda

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 at 6:15 am CDT

AGENDA

June 1, 2023

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

9:00 Monthly Department Head Meeting

Jenni from Elevate for Mobile Crisis Response Service

9:30 Paul Katsion, Henry County Optimist Club

10:15 RWE Wind Energy for Update on their Project

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

 

Royden Blaine Boshart

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, May 30th, 2023 at 4:41 pm CDT

Royden Blaine Boshart, 84, of Wayland, formerly of Washington, died, Monday, May 29, 2023, at the Parkview Home in Wayland. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 11:00 AM, at Bethel Church in Wayland. Burial will follow at the Bethel Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 4 – 8 PM on Friday, June 9, at Bethel Church. A memorial fund has been established for Bethel Church. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family.

 

Royden was born July 21, 1938, in Washington, IA, the son of Arthur and Stella (Graber) Boshart. He graduated from Wayland High School in 1956. On June 18, 1960, he was united in marriage to Carol Hochstedler at Howard Miami County Church in Kokomo, IN. Royden worked as supervisor of seed stock at Northup King in Washington for many years. He also worked as parks superintendent for the City of Washington, retiring in 2000. Royden drove the Washington County Minibus, was an EMT, and also drove the Amish for many years. He was a member of Bethel
Church and enjoyed watching birds, his flowers and plants and spending time with his family. Royden never met a stranger, and never had an enemy. He loved to visit with people, no matter where he was, and was known as the coffee man at Bethel Church.

 

Survivors include his wife Carol of Wayland, daughters, Lisa (Larry) Glasgow of East China, MI, and Marketta (Jeff) Leyden of Alta, IA, six grandchildren: Tiffany (Wes) Ball of Fort Wayne, IN, Natalie (Mitchell) Ortenburg of Fort Gratiot, MI, Nicole (Ben) Eastes of Pratt, KS, Dru (Ashli) Leyden of Olathe, KS, Holly (Corey) Diischer of Alta, IA, and eight great-grandchildren: Diana, Clara, Isaac, Blaine, Trevor, Wrigley, Brock and Parker.

 

Preceding Royden in death were his parents and his sister Joretta Hochstetler.

Donald J. “Don” Peterschmidt

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, May 30th, 2023 at 6:09 am CDT

Donald J. “Don” Peterschmidt, 81, of Montrose, Iowa, passed away at 3:50 p.m. Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.

Born on November 18, 1941, in Fort Madison, Iowa, the son of Valentine and Nina (Fine) Peterschmidt. On October 1, 1968, in Fort Madison he married Connie Warrington.

He is survived by his wife: Connie of Montrose; sons: Kurt (wife Christine Skow) Peterschmidt of Coralville, Iowa and Greg (wife Leslie) Peterschmidt of Erwin, Tennessee. He is also survived by a granddaughter, grandson, step grandson and step granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Don graduated from Fort Madison High School and the University of Iowa with a bachelors degree in science. He was a United States Army veteran serving during the Vietnam Era. Don retired from Monsanto as an analytical chemist. He enjoyed the the outdoors, being in nature, gardening and his yard.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Greenglade Cemetery in Farmington, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in his memory.

Schmitz Funeral Home of Donnellson is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.

Sports, May 30th

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, May 30th, 2023 at 6:04 am CDT

High School Soccer

The boys’ state quarterfinals get underway today with GCGR and Columbus Catholic leading off the day.

The girls’ state quarterfinals will start tomorrow, May 31st, with Des Moines Christian facing off against Hudson to lead off the day.

High School Baseball

Mt. Pleasant will take on Washington in a road doubleheader tonight. KILJ will be on the call with pregame at 5:15 pm.

Winfield-Mt. Union will face off against Highland at home on June 1st.

New London will take on Mediapolis on the road today as the Tigers attempt to extend their win streak while Mediapolis looks to stay undefeated early in the season.

Danville will host Burlington Notre Dame tonight with first pitch at 5:30 pm.

Central Lee will travel to take on New London tomorrow, May 31st.

High School Softball

Mt. Pleasant will take on Washington in a road doubleheader tonight.

Central Lee will face off against Van Buren County in a doubleheader today.

Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to take on Columbus tonight as both teams attempt to get back to 0.500 on the season.

Danville will host Holy Trinity Catholic tonight at 7 pm.

New London will travel to take on Mediapolis today.

High School Tennis

The girls’ Class 1A and 2A state team tennis tournament will begin and finish up today.

In Class 1A, Columbus Catholic faces off against Pella, while Clarinda takes on Central DeWitt.

In Class 2A, the #1 seed Cedar Rapids Washington battles with Valley, while Dowling Catholic will face off against Ankeny Centennial.

The boys’ state team tournament will begin tomorrow, May 31st. Pella enters the tournament as the #1 seed in Class 1A, while Waukee Northwest enters as the favorite in Class 2A.

Iowa Baseball

The Hawkeyes got an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament after an impressive 42-14 (15-8 conference) campaign and second place finish in the Big Ten Championship tournament after a 4-0 loss to Maryland. This is just their 6th appearance in program history and their first since 2017. The other teams in their regional will be the #14 seed Indiana State, Wright State, and North Carolina, who they will open up play against on Friday, June 2nd, at 6 pm.

The Hawkeyes are 20-11 on the road this season and boast the 11th best earned run average (4.04) and 14th best on-base percentage (0.418) in the country. The Tar Heels ended their regular season on a cold streak dropping four games in-a-row before losing in the semifinals to Clemson 10-4 in the ACC Tournament.

This Day in Sports History

1922 – Cubs and Cardinals trade outfielders between morning and afternoon games of doubleheader; Max Flack went to St. Louis, Cliff Heathcote went to Chicago; both got hits for their new clubs in the nightcap.

1935 – Philadelphia pitcher Jim Bivin retires Babe Ruth on an infield grounder in “the Babe’s” final MLB at-bat; Ruth plays just 1 inning in Boston Braves, 11-6 loss to Phillies at the Baker Bowl.

1986 – Barry Bonds makes his MLB debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates.