Fairfield Youth Performing Arts Announces “Inspiring” 2026 Season

By Kadie Johannson · Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at 9:03 am CDT

A new season of youth theater is coming to southeast Iowa, with Fairfield Youth Performing Arts announcing its 2026 lineup. On the heels of their inaugural 2025 season where they explored what was “possible,” 2026 promises to “inspire” these young performers to reach new heights and transform their communities in Southeast Iowa through theatre and art.

The organization, founded by Tommy Brower, will present a campy parody, Xanadu Jr. this summer. The award winning musical based on the 1980s cult-classic starring Olivia Newton-John, is scheduled for performances July 30th and 31st, and August 1st and 2nd. Auditions will be announced soon. To sign up for updates, fill out this form.

Later in the year, the group will shift to a more dramatic production with The Outsiders, set for December. The play is based on the classic novel by S. E. Hinton and will challenge young men in the area to get more involved with the performing arts.

As part of the lead-up to auditions, Fairfield Youth Performing Arts is also hosting a special event tied to Xanadu Jr. A pre-show “Glow” karaoke and pizza party is planned for Saturday, May 9th from 4 to 9 p.m. at 200 South Main Street in Fairfield, Iowa. The event includes a screening of the original Xanadu film, followed by pizza and Broadway-style karaoke. RSVP for the event is encouraged, but not required.

Organizers say the pre-show “glow” is open to current participants and those interested in getting involved. Everyone is encouraged to bring a friend and experience the program firsthand.

Click below to hear the full conversation with Tommy Brower about FYPA and their upcoming season.

Listeners and community members are invited to become a “Legacy Architect” with Fairfield Youth Performing Arts—joining a dedicated circle of supporters helping secure the organization’s future through investments in youth advocacy, facility growth, expanded programming, and long-term sustainability.

Keosauqua Man Facing Felony Charges Including Sexual Abuse and Incest

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at 8:38 am CDT

A Keosauqua man is facing multiple felony charges following allegations of repeated sexual misconduct involving children over nearly a decade.

Fifty-three-year-old Christopher Krogmeier has been charged with four counts of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, Class B felonies; three counts of Incest, Class D felonies; and three counts of Child Endangerment, aggravated misdemeanors.

According to court documents, the allegations involve multiple child victims and span two separate time periods. The first set of alleged incidents occurred between 2016 and 2018 and involved one child. A second series of allegations involves multiple children and is said to have taken place between 2020 and 2025.

Investigators say some of the alleged victims are blood relatives of Krogmeier. The alleged incidents reportedly occurred both at his home in Keosauqua and in other states, as he was employed as a truck driver during the time periods in question.

Krogmeier is currently being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond. A no-contact order with minor children has also been requested in the case.

The charges remain allegations, and Krogmeier is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

New London FFA Represented at State Convention

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at 6:49 am CDT

The New London FFA Chapter is in Ames this week, representing their chapter in several contests and activities.

Competing in Chapter Display are Ruby Myers, Maison Nelson, and Liam Garvey.

The Poultry Team includes Tucker Syfert, Lily Syfert, Brylor Lair, and Landon Smyth.

In individual competition, Alexa Lair will take the Chapter Test, while Cooper Fuller will compete in the Discovery Test.

Serving as Chapter Delegates are Ava DeHart and Isabella Parker.

The Iowa FFA Convention brings together students from across the state to showcase agricultural skills, leadership, and career development in agriculture.

Best of luck to all New London FFA members competing at this year’s event.

Sports, April 21st

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at 6:36 am CDT

High School Track and Field

Central Lee held the Hawk Relays last night and the Van Buren County girls’ team claimed another team victory with 173 points, while the Keokuk boys’ team ran away with the gold medal with 175.5 points.

On the girls’ side, Van Buren County had Adalyn Snowgren and Rylee Philips each clock a time of 1 minute and 8 seconds in the 400-meter dash for the win, while Rory Philips outpaced the field in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes and 34 seconds. Rylee Philips also won the 1500-meter run with a time of 5 minutes and 38 seconds. Aubrey Loeffler rounded out the individual wins with a mark of 1 minute and 12 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles. The Warriors also collected wins in the 4×100, 4×200, 4×800, and sprint medley relays.

Danville had a pair of victors in Alivia Bauer for the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.8 seconds, while the distance medley team claimed the fastest time with a mark of 4 minutes and 36 seconds. 

Central Lee’s lone victory came from Macy Anderson’s pace in the 3000-meter run with a time of 12 minutes and 54 seconds. 

On the boys’ side, Van Buren County, who finished in 3rd place as a team, won the 4×800 and distance medley relays. 

New London’s Riley Raines claimed the 1600-meter run with a time of 4 minutes and 40 seconds. The Tigers took the 4×200 meter relay with a time of 1 minute and 31 seconds. 

Jack Benner’s throw of 120 feet and 10 inches in the discus was the lone winner for Central Lee.

Mt. Pleasant will get another chance to host tonight with Danville, Mediapolis, Washington, and the Central Lee, New London, WACO, Wapello, West Burlington/Notre Dame, and Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ teams competing. 

Fairfield will travel to the Ottumwa Don Newell Classic tonight.

The Drake Relays are set to start on Thursday, April 23rd, for our local high school athletes with Eli Zillman of Fairfield competing in the boys’ high jump and Washington’s Greyson Hartman throwing the discus. For a full look at the slate for our local athletes, follow this link: Start List for 116th Drake Relays

High School Soccer

In a battle for the top spot in the conference standings, the Mt. Pleasant boys’ team dismantled Fort Madison, 6-0. Isaiah Lange and Dylan White each knocked in two goals with White adding two assists; Kolbein Ostby and Josh Aguma rounded out the scoring. The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team fell to Fort Madison last night, 9-0. The Panthers will compete against Burlington on Thursday, April 23rd, with the boys’ team at home at 4:30 pm and the girls’ team on the road at 5 pm.

The Washington girls’ team dispatched Fairfield last night, 5-1. The Demons’ girls’ team will host Burlington tonight at 5 pm, while the boys’ team will travel to Mid-Prairie at 5 pm.

The Fairfield girls’ team will square off against Knoxville on the road tonight at 5:30 pm.

The Burlington Notre Dame girls’ team will stay on the road to play Quincy Notre Dame tonight at 5 pm.

The Burlington Notre Dame boys’ team will host Hillcrest Academy tonight at 5 pm.

Central Lee will hit the road to play Mediapolis tonight with the girls’ teams leading off the night at 5 pm.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will square off against Highland tonight on the road at 5:30 pm.

The Danville boys’ team will take on Wapello at home tonight at 6 pm.

The WACO boys’ team will travel to Hillcrest Academy on Friday, April 24th, at 5 pm.

High School Golf

The Southeast Conference girls’ teams met up in Mt. Pleasant yesterday and Fort Madison picked up another team victory with a team score of 200 followed by Fairfield with a score of 205, while Mt. Pleasant and Washington finished in 4th and 5th place, respectively, displaced by only 11 and 13 strokes from the Bloodhounds.

Washington may have finished in 5th place but not from a lack of trying by Adalyn Long, as her 9-hole score of 45 was good enough to finish with the silver medal for the course. Fairfield’s Vanessa Kessel finished in 5th place with a round of 49 as Aries Wagner and Ellanor Bentler each took a spot inside the top 10, while Izzy Zihlman led the Panthers with a card of 51 to finish in 6th place. 

The Mt. Pleasant and Washington girls’ teams will compete in the Oskaloosa Invitational on Thursday, April 23rd. 

The Fairfield girls’ team will contend in the Golden Hawk Invitational on Thursday at Mid-Prairie. 

Mediapolis pulled out a pair of wins against Holy Trinity Catholic yesterday with the girls’ team sneaking past 211-214 and the boys’ team running away with a 163-186 final. On the girls’ side, Calli Kruse led the field with a card of 47 for the Crusaders, followed by Katelyn Wischmeier’s 51 for Mediapolis.

The Bulldogs had the top four scores for the boys’ teams with Kohen Stotlar’s 38 pacing the field. Brock Scheetz put together a round of 43 for the Crusaders.

Holy Trinity Catholic will host their triangular with Danville and New London making the trip today. 

New London split their contest with Central Lee yesterday with the girls’ team winning 225-270 and the boys’ team falling 150-183. The Central Lee girls’ team was led by Ava Derr’s 60, while the boys’ team had Carter Jones score a 36. 

The Central Lee girls’ team will hold an invitational tomorrow, April 22nd.

Winfield-Mt. Union swept Louisa-Muscatine yesterday with the girls’ team coming out on top 219-249 and the boys’ team winning 163-178. Ashlyn Bender led the girls’ team with a course-best 48, while Cody Milks shot 3-over par for the boys’ squad. 

The Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will take on Wapello today at home.

The WACO boys’ team defeated Columbus yesterday, 186-200. Kason Dopler took home a card of 42 for the Wildcats. The Warriors will host Louisa-Muscatine on Thursday.

The Columbus boys’ team will compete in the Wildcat Invitational today on the road.

The Wapello girls’ team will prepare for their invite tomorrow with Burlington Notre Dame, Danville, Mediapolis, New London, and Winfield-Mt. Union making the trip. 

The Fairfield boys’ will hold an invitational on Friday, April 24th, with Mt. Pleasant participating.  

High School Boys’ Tennis

Mt. Pleasant will face off against Keokuk on Thursday, April 23rd, on the road. 

Fairfield handled Fort Madison last night, 7-2. The Trojans swept the singles competition with Bowen Zhang and Yangyi Zhong sweeping their opponents. The Trojans will travel to Burlington on Monday, April 27th.

Southeastern Community College

The baseball team will square off against Kirkwood Community College tomorrow, April 22nd.

The softball team will look to bounce back at home on Saturday, April 25th, in a doubleheader against Marshalltown Community College at 1 pm.

College Baseball and Softball

The Iowa baseball team will stay at home to take on Western Illinois tonight at 6 pm.

The Iowa softball team will travel to Iowa State tonight with first pitch at 4 pm.

This Day in Sports History

1967 – The Dodgers have their first rain out in Los Angeles (after 737 consecutive games).

1990 – National League umpire Bob Engel was arrested for stealing over 4,000 baseball cards from a store.

1996 – The Chicago Bulls win a then-NBA record 72 games in a single season (72-8).

Salem History Book Committee Needs Sponsors

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at 6:35 am CDT

A local effort is underway to preserve the history of Salem, Iowa for future generations.

The Salem History Book Committee has announced plans to publish a second edition of Place of Peace: Memories of Salem, Iowa. The original book, which covered the years 1835 to 1996, is now outdated and no longer easily reproduced due to changes in printing technology.

The updated edition will include both historical content from the original book and new information covering the years 1996 through 2026. Committee members say they’ve already begun gathering and organizing materials for the expanded publication.

Plans call for printing 250 copies of the book, which will be produced as an 8.5 x 11-inch hardcover edition with approximately 250 pages. The total cost of printing is estimated at $11,000, which must be paid upfront.

To help cover those costs, the committee is seeking sponsors at levels ranging from $100 to $1,000. Sponsors will receive special recognition in the front section of the book. Pre-orders will also be offered.

If all goes according to plan, the new edition is expected to be printed by late August and available during Salem’s Old Settlers celebration.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the project can send contributions to the Salem Library. Checks should be made payable to the Salem History Book Committee.

Committee members say the project is an important way to preserve Salem’s heritage and share its stories with generations to come.

Iowa Supreme Court Hearing Oral Arguments in Fairfield Today

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at 6:23 am CDT

Today, Tuesday, April 21, the Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Fairfield, Iowa. The proceedings will take place in the Fairfield High School auditorium, 605 E. Broadway Avenue. The oral arguments are open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m.

The court will hear attorneys argue in the following case:

State of Iowa v. Kevin Charles Lind, consolidated case numbers 25–0819 and 25-0821 from Polk County District Court.

Case summary: This appeal explores whether the Iowa Code section 710A.1(4)(b) definition of human trafficking—which includes “attempting to purchase” commercial sexual services from a “person engaged in human trafficking”—is met when a defendant attempts to purchase commercial sex from another person who the defendant believes and intends will accept money in exchange for finding and providing a minor for sex.

Attorney briefs for the case are posted on the Iowa Judicial Branch website at https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/supreme-court/supreme-court-oral-argument-schedule/case/25-0819 and https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/supreme-court/supreme-court-oral-argument-schedule/case/25-0821.

A public reception with the supreme court justices sponsored by the Jefferson County Bar Association will follow the oral arguments.

Evelyn B. Riley

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at 6:15 am CDT

Evelyn B. Riley, 97, of Mt. Pleasant, died Monday, April 20, 2026 at Park Place in Mt. Pleasant.

Mrs. Riley, the former Evelyn Belle Beames, was born December 19, 1928 in New London, IA. She was the daughter of Jack and Hattie (Brown) Beames. Evelyn was raised by her mother Hattie and stepfather Glen Stafford. She attended school in Mt. Pleasant and graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School as a member of the Class of 1946. On December 24, 1946 at the Church of the Nazarene Parsonage, Evelyn was united in marriage to Virgil Riley. Mr. Riley preceded Evelyn in death on Sunday, November 16, 2014 at the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant.

Evelyn worked as a Dietary Aide for many years at both the Mt. Pleasant Correctional Institute and the Mt. Pleasant Mental Health Institute. She had also worked making circuit boards for Emerson Electric and at the Iris City Cleaners, both in Mt. Pleasant.

While raising her sons, Evelyn was very active in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, serving as a Den Mother. For her tireless efforts, Evelyn was the recipient of the Silver Fawn Award from the Cub Scouts.

Evelyn was a prolific seamstress. She sewed quilts for her grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as taking on numerous other sewing projects. She enjoyed puzzles, both crossword and jigsaw – some of which she preserved as pictures to hang on the wall. She loved to tend to her flowers and feed and watch the birds. She was especially fond of the cardinals who delighted in her well stocked feeders.

Those thankful for sharing in Evelyn’s life include her 5 sons – Lynn Riley of Mt. Pleasant, Lyle Riley of Wasilla, AK, Gary (Teresa) Riley of Muscatine, Gregg (Cindy) Riley of Mt. Pleasant and Karl Riley of New London; a sister – Violet Mills of Mt. Pleasant; a brother  – Wayne (Connie) Stafford; grandchildren – Bill (Holli) Scott (Tina), Jeff, Brandon (Erin) Cale, Jason (Theresa), Josh (Sandra), Mike (Tiffany), Jordan (Brooke), Amber (Mike), Kelsey (Josh) and Katie (Sean); a granddaughter-in-law, Samantha; 32 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents, husband, three daughter-in-law – Pat, Barb and Lynn Riley; a grandson – Nick and siblings – Don Beames, Dean Stafford, Paul Stafford, Ruth Yakle, Fern Hille and Pauline Hinkle.

A funeral service to celebrate Evelyn’s life will be held at 1:30 PM on Friday, April 24 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant. Pastor Mike Johnson of the Church of the Open Bible will officiate. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery. Friends may stop by the funeral home from 12 -8 PM on Thursday at the funeral home. The family will be present to receive friends from 5-7 PM on Thursday.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to Relay for Life. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com