Mount Pleasant High School graduate Christopher Raymer has recently graduated from the Department of Public Safety’s Basic Academy and is assigned as a State Patrol Trooper to District 13 headquartered in Mount Pleasant. Prior to attending the 48th Academy Raymer was a police officer for Washington and Fairfield Police Departments. His training at the Academy focused on law enforcement coursework on laws of arrest, search and seizure, defensive tactics, arrest techniques, precision driving, firearms, emergency management services, fair and impartial policing, criminal law, accident investigation, human relations, physical fitness, human trafficking, motor vehicle law, domestic violence, crisis intervention for mentally ill and several other courses in law enforcement. Trooper Raymer is the son of Alan and Mary Raymer of Mount Pleasant.
Double Fatal
A Farmington couple was killed in a motor vehicle crash Wednesday in Lee County. Rose Marie and Ross Becker died when their car collided with a semi at the intersection of Hwy 218 and County Road J40 at about 4:30 pm. According to the Iowa State Patrol the Becker vehicle was stopped at the stop sign and the semi was northbound on 218. Rose Marie Becker was driving and pulled out headed west. The semi broadsided the car on the driver’s side. Both vehicles came to rest in the median and Ross Becker was ejected. The crash remains under investigation. The semi was driven by Juan Ramirez of Texas who was not injured.
Sports, April 6th
High School Track and Field
Mt. Pleasant and WACO will travel to Washington today to compete in the Demon Relays.
The girls teams of Danville, Winfield-Mt. Union, and New London will be traveling to West Burlington to compete in a meet today. The boys teams of Danville and New London will also be making the trip to compete.
The Central Lee girls track and field team’s next meet will be the Timm Lamb Pen City Relays on April 11th and the boys will be competing at the Fairfield Meet on April 11th.
High School Soccer
The Mt. Pleasant girls will travel to play Washington tonight, while the boys will be at home against the Demons.
WACO’s boy soccer team’s next game will be against Highland tonight.
The Central Lee boys’ soccer team will take on Mediapolis on April 11th.
High School Golf
Winfield-Mt. Union’s next competition will be on April 13th against Wapello.
The New London boys and girls team will face off against Wapello on April 11th.
The Mt. Pleasant girls team will compete in the Fairfield Meet, while the boys team will travel to the Washington Meet with both competitions taking place today.
The Central Lee boys team will compete in the Van Buren County Meet on April 11th.
High School Tennis
The Mt. Pleasant girls team’s next meet will be tonight against Fort Madison.
The Mt. Pleasant boys team will take on Fort Madison at home tonight.
Iowa Wesleyan Athletics
The Tiger softball team’s next game will be at home this afternoon, April 6th, against Waldorf University with first pitch scheduled for 2 pm. KILJ will be on the call with pregame at 1:45 pm.
The Tiger baseball team crushed Hannibal-LaGrange University yesterday 16-3. The Tigers had 5 players tally multiple RBIs in the contest. David Amaya led the way as he went 5 for 6 with five RBIs and a double. Sucre Guzman tallied three RBIs. Carlos Vicente, Julian Figueroa, and Sage Bonner all had two RBIs with Bonner and Guzman each collecting a triple in the game. Joey Withers pitched 7 innings, letting go two runs and striking out four batters. The Tigers face off against Crowley;s Ridge College tomorrow at 1 pm.
The Tiger golf team’s next event will be the SCC Invitational on April 10th.
The outdoor track and field teams are scheduled to compete at the Rittgers Invitational tomorrow, April 7th, at 10 am.
Iowa Wesleyan University Wrestling has experienced a lot of success in the last three years, especially on the women’s side of things. The Tigers have three wrestlers with the ability to compete at the World Championships or the Olympics. The three wrestlers looking to attend are Adaugo Nwachukwu, JoAnna Vanderwood, and Mia Palumbo. Head Coach Jake Kadel opted to establish a Tiger Wrestling Club through USA Wrestling and created a GoFundMe to help alleviate some of the costs for these wrestlers to chase their dreams. The GoFundMe has exceeded its goal of $10,000 and Coach Kadel wanted to extend his gratitude.
“No, just wanted to say thank you for everybody’s support. Obviously, this is a super tough time for a lot of people and it’s just not a good situation overall, but we kind of make the most of it and move forward. So, everyone’s support is much greatly appreciated and can’t thank everybody enough for everything they’ve done for us as a program, as a whole.” If you would like to donate to the GoFundMe there is a link in the article on kilj.com.
Link: Tiger Wrestling Club, organized by Jacob Kadel
This Day in Sports History
1973 – Roberto Clemente Day, Pittsburgh Pirates retire his #21.
1980 – Gordie Howe completes a record 26th NHL season.
1996 – American baseball player Albert Belle shows off his arm by hitting Sports Illustrated photographer Tony Tomsic in the hand prior to a game.
New Superintendent For WMU and Columbus Community
Dr. Michael Volk will take over the head administrative position for Winfield Mt. Union and Columbus Community. Dr. Volk replaces Jeff Maeder as the shared Superintendent for the two districts. Dr. Volk will come into the position from an administrative position with St. Patrick School in Anamosa, Iowa. Prior to that he was the Talented and Gifted Administrator for the South Tama School District.
Jacob Miller
Jacob Miller, 18, of Wapello, went to Heaven on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 6:16 p.m. at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. For his last honor, Jacob became a donor for several people. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 7, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Snyder and Hollenbaugh Funeral and Cremation Services of Wapello. Funeral services will be 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at the Wapello United Methodist Church. Following the services, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family in memory of Jacob. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.
Jacob Austin Lee Miller was born on the morning of Monday, August 30, 2004, at the University of Iowa, the son of Elwood Eugene Miller and Angela Renea Starkweather. At that time, he had an older sister named Autumn. Two years later he was given a little brother named Ethan. Jacob was always a handful. From the age of four years old, when his sister tried to give him to the mailman for tormenting her, to the time he ran away from the babysitter around seven years old, and climbed to the top of a tree and stayed there until mom got home.
If you needed a hand in doing something, Jake would be the first to volunteer or if you were having a bad day, he would be the class clown to make you smile. You could always count on Jacob. Jacob loved all contact sports, especially boxing, soccer, wrestling and football. In January of 2023, Jacob graduated early from Wapello High School.
Jacob will be greatly missed by his mother, Angela of Wapello; sister, Autumn Starkweather of Wapello; brother, Ethan Miller of Wapello; two ½ sisters of Muscatine; maternal grandparents, Tina Kammerer of Muscatine and Joe Starkweather, Sr. of Letts; maternal great grandfather, Tom McCleary of Muscatine and many cousins, aunts and uncles.
Jacob was preceded in death by his father, Elwood.
Tuesday Night Fire
The Mount Pleasant Fire Department went out on two calls Tuesday night. The first call came in at 9:30 pm from 2116 270th Street. According to Fire Chief Drew Schumacher the property owner was doing a controlled burn but the winds picked up and it was feared the fire would spread too fast. Two brush trucks, a tanker and an engine were on the scene for about an hour. The second call was for a smoldering tree in Saunders Park along Saunders Park Road. The crew was only out for about 10 minutes just after 10:30 pm.
Wayland City Council Meeting Agenda
The Wayland City Council meets tonight, April 5, 2023, at 7:30 pm at the Wayland City Hall. The WACO FFA Contest Team will be giving a 15 minute presentation to start the meeting
- Roll Call
- 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.
- Minutes of March 15, 2023
- Bills for Payment
- Report
- Clerks Budgetary Report
- Utility Dept. Report
- Police Dept. Report
- Fire Dept. Report–Roster Change (Joe Hammen resigned, New-Megan Waterhouse )
- 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.
- Unfinished Business
- New Business
- Review/Approve Support Letter for IEDA Community Catalyst Grant Application
- Authorize Mayor to Sign PFAS Cost Recovery Program Agreement
- Renewal Permit App-Class C Liquor License (LC) –Corner of Main Bar & Grill (timely filed)
- Police Academy Reimbursement Agreement
- LL Pelling Summer 2023 Street Work Proposal
- Consider Quote for Police Body Camera
- West Park and City Hall Camera Quotes
- Discuss/Approve Website Update
- Building Permits – Approved
Chet Fort – Move in portable 20’ x 8’ x 8’ storage unit at 705 N Parkway
Chet Fort – Replace eight (+/1) windows, re-roof and re-side house at 203 S Brooks St.
Independent Bible Church – Re-side church at 413 N Washington St
Jordan Marner – Re-roof & re-side house and garage at 416 W Main St
- Adjournment