Motorcycle Crash On Lexington Ave.

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 at 3:03 pm CDT

On April 17th, 2023, at approximately 4:05PM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a single vehicle accident with injury. Having occurred in the 3100-grid of Lexington Avenue in the rural Mount Pleasant area.

Upon arrival and investigation, it was determined Jeremy Bitting of Mount Pleasant lost control of the motorcycle he was operating. Bitting was severely injured and transported from the scene.

Incident citations were later issued to the driver. Which included Failure to Maintain Control and Motorcycle License Violations. A state accident report was also completed for this motor vehicle accident.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was assisted with this incident by the Iowa State Patrol, Henry County EMS, and Mount Pleasant first responders.

Kay Suzanne (Fish) Belt

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 at 2:57 pm CDT

Kay Suzanne (Fish) Belt, 80, of El Paso, Texas, formerly of Davenport, Iowa, passed away peacefully at 2:30 a.m. Monday, December 5, 2022, at her home listening to Elvis Christmas music after an extended battle with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

A public graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 24, 2023, at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Fort Madison with Pastor Jim Luder officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting with local arrangements.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.

 

All God’s Creatures hires Davis as Executive Director

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 at 2:51 pm CDT

Local community initiative takes important step towards opening animal shelter doors. Mount Pleasant, Iowa, April 19th. All God’s Creatures (AGC), a non-profit organization looking to connect the hands and paws of Henry County to build a happier, healthier community has hit an important and exciting milestone in their development. After an extensive search and interview process, the Executive Board recently selected Emily Davis to fill the essential role of Executive Director. Davis will join the team in early May and will work alongside the Board in coming months to solidify plans for both the animal shelter facility and the community programming components. When the shelter opens its doors and is fully operational, the Executive Director will lead a group of staff and volunteers to ensure that all facets of this project run smoothly and successfully. “Our Board has been working tirelessly to ensure that this vision comes to life in the most successful and sustainable way possible. We knew that hiring a full-time, paid Director would be essential to our success and we are all so excited to add Emily to our team. Her knowledge, experience, excitement and drive are going to be invaluable assets to our organization.” -Kate Ridinger, AGC Board Member
AGC encourages you to follow along with their progress, including an upcoming, extended introduction to their Executive Director by signing up for their newsletter at www.allgodscreaturesmp.org and following their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ AllGodsCreaturesMP.

New London Man Sentenced for Embezzlement and Theft of Labor Union Assets

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 at 2:47 pm CDT

A New London man was sentenced on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, to 24 months in prison for embezzlement and theft of labor union assets.
According to court records, James Darin Boatman, 53, the former president of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 617 Union, embezzled and stole union funds for his personal use. UFCW Local 617 members include production workers and skilled trade
workers at the Conagra plant located in Fort Madison. Investigation revealed that Boatman, the president of the Union from 2010 until 2019, set up a credit card in the Union’s name, without authorization, and from at least May 2017 to August 2019 used the card for personal expenses,
including vacations to Florida, large repairs on his personal vehicle, and to pay for attorney representation for an unrelated matter. Additionally, Boatman wrote checks from the Union funds to cover personal expenses and to pay himself for unauthorized lost time for periods of time Boatman claimed he was conducting Union business. Boatman pled guilty and agreed to pay $74,231.34 in restitution to the Union. Following his prison term, Boatman was ordered to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The United States Department of Labor and Office of Labor-Management Standards investigated the case.

Spenser Remick to Compete at the World’s Strongest Man Competition

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 at 10:55 am CDT

Mt. Pleasant- A former Central College offensive lineman and Mt. Pleasant graduate, Spenser Remick, will be competing at the World’s Strongest Man competition in Myrtle Beach starting today.

Remick earned the invitation after winning the Open Division of the Official Strongman Games last November. This strongman accumulated two all-conference honors while playing at Central and won the Bruce Wendt Award for being the Dutch’s top offensive lineman and the Sterling Award as the top men’s strength and conditioning athlete of the year for 2008-09. Remick still holds lifting records at Central as he’s second in back squat at 740 pounds and third in bench press with 435 pounds.

The event starts today but will be televised by ESPN on a delayed basis. The competitors will be divided into five pools of six to see who qualifies over the first two days. Championship weekend will include the top two finishers in each group.

Sports, April 19th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 at 5:58 am CDT

High School Track and Field

The Panther Relays took off yesterday with Mt. Pleasant finishing in 1st place with 134 points for Class A. Andi Scott took the 200 meter dash with a time of 27.07 seconds. Mica Carter won the 400 meter dash. Abby Carthey and Alexis Wagner both won the 800 meter run with times of 2 minutes and 34 seconds and 2 minutes and 41 seconds, respectively. With a leap of 5 feet, Josie Gilmore won the high jump. Elsie Lange took 1st place in the long jump. With a put of 35 feet 9.5 inches, Ella Ensminger won the shot put. The distance medley team of Olivia McCormick, Courtney Raub, Elise Lange, and Abby Carthey finished in 1st place.

In Class B, Danville finished in 2nd place with 100 points, Winfield-Mt. Union took 6th place, WACO in 7th place, Central Lee finished in 9th place, and New London in 10th place.

Alaina Gourley had two of the top finishes for the Bears as she took 1st place in the 400 meter dash with a time of 1 minute and 3 seconds and 2nd place in the 800 meter run with a time of 2 minutes and 44 seconds. Alexis Dietsch won the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1 minute and 12 seconds. The team of Miya Orbiana, Jaeda Molle, Kamryn Sherwood, and Alaina Gourley finished in 1st place for the 4×400 meter relay and the 4×800 meter relay.

For Winfield-Mt. Union Keetyn Townsley finished in 1st place for the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 17.29 seconds. The team of Josie Nelson, Keyreana Sharar, Tessa Huston, and Keetyn Townsley took 1st place in the 4×100 meter shuttle hurdle.

Elyssa Graber was the top finisher for WACO with a 3rd place finish in the 800 meter run with a time of 2 minutes and 47 seconds. Central Lee’s top finishers were Gabby Maynes with a 3rd place finish in the 400 meter dash, Kamryn Cox in 2nd place in the 400 meter hurdles, and Kylie Fortune took 2nd place in the high jump with a leap of 4 feet and 4 inches.

On the boys side of the Panther Relays, Williamsburg finished in 1st place, Mt. Pleasant took 2nd place with 127 points, and Danville grabbed 5th place.

Avin Truong took 1st place in the 200 meter dash and the long jump with a leap of 20 feet and 11 inches for the Panthers. Will Davidson finished in 1st place in the 110 meter hurdles, and the 400 meter hurdles. The team of Bryce Wilson, Avin Truong, Gavin Kerr, and Will Davidson won the 4×110 meter shuttle hurdle with a time of 1 minute and 1 second.

For Danville, AJ Bonnesen finished in 1st place for the 1600 meter run.

The Warrior Relays ran yesterday with WACO winning for Class B with 182 points, Winfield-Mt. Union taking 2nd place, and New London finishing in 5th place. Simeon Reichenbach finished in 1st place in the 100 meter dash and the 110 meter hurdles. Gage Samo took 1st place in the 400 meter hurdles. Braden Spain, Isaac Oswald, Mason Miller, and Reichenbach took 1st place in the 4×100 meter relay. The 4×110 meter shuttle hurdle team of Oswald, Louden Huisenga, Clayton Miller, and Mason Miller finished in 1st place. Oleh Shefanchuk won the discus with a throw of 147 feet and Drew Diers won the shot put with a throw of 40 feet 5.75 inches.

Gabriel Hemsworth took 1st place in the 400 meter dash for Winfield-Mt Union. Jeff Maish won the 3200 meter run. The distance medley team of Abram Edwards, Lane Genkinger, Ty Scorpil, and Kohlby Newsom and the 4×400 meter relay team of Sheaden Adams, Hemsworth, Scorpil, and Newsom took 1st place. Lastly, Cam Buffington won the long jump with a leap of 20 feet and 8.25 inches.

Rylan Martin finished in 1st place in the 1600 meter run and Kade Benjamin grabbed 1st in the high jump with a leap of 6 feet and 5 inches for New London.

High School Soccer

The Mt. Pleasant boys team will host undefeated Fort Madison tomorrow, April 20th.

The Mt. Pleasant girls team will travel to face off against Fort Madison tomorrow.

The WACO boys team lost in overtime to Burlington Notre Dame 1-0 last night. The Warriors will take on Sigourney at home tomorrow.

The Central Lee girls team will take on Canton on April 20th.

The Central Lee boys team fell to Hillcrest Academy 2-1 as the game went to penalty kicks where the Ravens snuck past the Hawks 6 to 5. The Hawks will challenge Mt. Pleasant on April 21st at home.

High School Golf

The Winfield-Mt. Union boys team competed in the Nike Invitational yesterday and the Wolves finished in 3rd place with Central Lee taking 1st place. The girls and boys teams will compete at the Wapello Invite today.

The Mt. Pleasant boys team will travel to Fort Madison on April 24th. The girls team will travel to compete in the Oskaloosa Invite tomorrow, April 20th.

The Central Lee girls and boys teams will take on Danville on April 27th.

High School Tennis

The Mt. Pleasant girls team lost to Maharishi last night 8-1. Audrey Richmond shutout her opponent 8-0 in her singles match. The Panthers will face off against Keokuk tomorrow on the road.

The Mt. Pleasant boys team remains undefeated after sneaking past Maharishi last night 5-4. Elliot Cook and Gavin Ross won their singles match 10 to 3 and Lou Schimmelpfennig picked up a 10 to 4 singles win. Phoenix Watson and Tim Cam squeezed by in their doubles match to win. Ross and Schimmelpfennig won by default. The Panthers will face off against Keokuk tomorrow at home.

Southeast Iowa Playbook

Tonight will be the second episode with Will Davidson and Charice Auwerda being this week’s guests with the episode airing at 6 pm on KILJ 105.5 FM or kilj.com

Iowa Wesleyan Athletics

The Tiger softball team fell in both of their games yesterday 8-7 in game one and 10-6 in game two. Julia Hill and Alexis Davis both hit home runs in game one. The Tigers will take on Harris-Stowe State University tomorrow at home. Game one will be on KILJ with pregame at 1:45 pm.

The Tiger baseball team defeated Westminster yesterday 16-8. David Amaya and Sage Bonner each hit 2-run homers in the winning effort. They will face off against Judson University today in a doubleheader.

The men’s golf team will continue the Verhille Tournament today for day two of the competition.

The outdoor track and field teams will be competing in the DeBacker Invitational on April 22nd.

This Day in Sports History

1897 – First Boston Marathon (B.A.A. Road Race), won by John J. McDermott in 2:55:10; the world’s oldest annual marathon inspired by the success of the first marathon at the 1896 Summer Olympics.

1960 – Baseball uniforms begin displaying players’ names on their backs.

2021 – In Las Vegas, Nevada: San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau breaks Gordie Howe’s NHL record for most games played at 1,768.

Wayland City Council Meeting Agenda

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 at 5:54 am CDT

The Wayland City Council meets Wednesday, April 19, at 7:30 pm at the Wayland City Hall

1. Roll Call
2. Consent Agenda
Note: These are routine items and will be enacted by one motion without separate discussion unless a Council member requests an
item be removed for separate consideration.
a. Minutes of April 5, 2023
b. Bills for Payment
3. Citizen Forum
The Mayor and City Council welcome comments from the public for items not listed on the agenda. You are asked to state your
name and address for the record and to limit your remarks in order that others may be given the opportunity to speak. The
Order of Business is at the discretion of the Chair. No action will be taken.
4. Unfinished Business
a.
5. New Business
a. Res. 2023-10 “Resolution Granting Variance To Temporarily Conduct Open Burning
Of Landscape/Yard Waste At Specified Place And For A Specified Purpose”
b. Acknowledge Receipt of FYE21 Annual Examination Report
c. Application for Cigarette Permit – Dollar General
6. Building Permits – Approved
Neil Reichenbach-Enclose 11’x7’12’ open breezeway and add 15’x20’ concrete entry
with steps at 407 E Railroad St.
Tad Zwer – Install 386’ of 6’ wood fence at 416 W Front St
Keith Morris – Repair/Replace 210’x5’H wood fence at 216 2nd St
WACO School – Remove & Replace 190’x 4’H chain link fence at 706 N Pearl S

Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 at 5:52 am CDT

April 10 – 16, 2023

DES MOINES, Iowa (April 17, 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. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“Sandwiched between severe storms and chilly snow flurries were some unseasonably warm and dry conditions that allowed farmers to get planters rolling across the state,” said Secretary Naig. “With cooler than average temperatures expected through the end of April, farmers should monitor soil temperatures and be aware of the potential for localized patches of frost.”

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

Crop Report
Strong winds and warmer than normal temperatures led to drier soil conditions which allowed 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 16, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were a few isolated areas in the southern part of Iowa that saw more precipitation than average for this time of year. Fertilizer applications continued and oat seeding accelerated. Farmers began planting corn and soybeans although many operators were waiting for precipitation to improve soil moisture supplies.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 7 percent very short, 23 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 9 percent very short, 28 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.

Seven percent of Iowa’s expected corn crop has been planted, almost 2 weeks ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of the 5-year average. Over one-third of the State’s expected oat crop was planted during the week ending April 16 to reach 51 percent, 10 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of normal. Four percent of the oat crop has emerged.

Pastures continue to break dormancy and become green, but little new growth thus far. Calving continues. Overall, livestock conditions continue to be good.