Janey May Rice, 80, of Danville, died Tuesday, August24 at Parkview Care Center in Fairfield. Arrangements are pending at Elliott Chapel, New London.
Don L. Helphrey
Burlington House Fire Proves Fatal
At 7:02 AM Tuesday August 24, 2021 the Burlington Fire and Police Departments responded to
a reported house fire at 1126 Washington Street in Burlington. Firefighters arrived at 7:04 AM
to find a two-story apartment house with heavy fire showing in the front. Initial 911 calls to
DESCOM reported people trapped inside the house. Dispatchers worked with the callers to
obtain information on their locations as police officers and firefighters worked outside to
evacuate the house and bring the fire under control.
The 4-unit apartment house, owned by Wilson Rentals of Burlington, sustained extensive
damage and is considered a total loss. The property is insured. Three of the four units were
occupied with a total of 4 occupants. Two of the occupants were injured. They were treated at
the scene and transported to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington. A
third occupant escaped uninjured and left the scene prior to police arrival. The two occupants
were treated and released from the hospital.
Firefighters conducted a search of the building and located a fourth occupant, Samantha M.
Hoenig, 44. Ms. Hoenig was removed from the house by firefighters. Paramedics treated Ms.
Hoenig at the scene and transported her to SEIRMC where she later died of her injuries.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Burlington Police and Fire Departments
and the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office. It is not considered suspicious at this time.
Eleven Burlington firefighters initially responded to the call and were assisted by five West
Burlington firefighters responding on automatic aid. Burlington police officers and deputies
from Des Moines County Sheriff’s office assisted with injured victims and fireground
operations. Superior Ambulance, Alliant Energy, and 1-800-Board-Up provided vital assistance
at the scene. One firefighter was injured and was being treated at the hospital
Supervisors Disburse Funds to Two Broadband Companies
During their Tuesday meeting the Henry County Supervisors voted to share federal funds with two local fiber optic companies. Farmers and Merchants Mutual Telephone of Wayland and Danville Mutual Telephone each will receive $700,000. Henry County is a primary recipient of American Recovery Plan funds to assist with recovery from the impact of COVID-19, receiving over three million dollars. Last week the Board disbursed $250,000 each to the New London and Mount Pleasant Community Childcare Centers.
College Football: Daniels, Tigers Ready to Prove Doubters Wrong
By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Mount Pleasant — In their first year back in NAIA, the Iowa Wesleyan football team is seemed to be slept on.
The Tigers, who return 10 starters from their 1-2 spring campaign, were picked to finish last in the seven-team North Star Athletic Association preseason poll.
That’s not stopping second-year head coach M.D. Daniels and his Tigers from heading into Saturday’s season opening matchup against St. Ambrose with confidence.
Matter of fact, it seems like quite the opposite.
The Tigers are ready to prove the doubters wrong.
“I know for our players, that’s bulletin board material” Daniels told KILJ.
For him and his talented staff, they’re just trusting the process and the vision he’s laid out for the program.
“If we do everything — the little things right — the outcome and the scoreboard will work itself out. We continue to preach on that.” Daniels explained.
This will be his first full year at the helm of the Tigers after last fall’s season was wiped out due to COVID.
He believes that his program is in a great spot heading into the 2021 season.
“Our plan, I really believe we are right on track. We are hitting all the numbers. Academically, our team GPA is right there, numbers and retaining players and all of those things are going phenomenally.”
Still, coming into this year, expectations, Daniels says, are higher.
The Tigers brought in a handful of talented freshman and sought out experience on the transfer market which he believes will help Wesleyan compete on Saturday’s.
“Our schedule, it’s tough. Hopefully it will get us ready for our first year in the North Star.”
Daniels knows a lot of the Tigers success will depend on the continued improvement of offensive coordinator Kiefer Price’s Air Raid scheme that was made famous by Wesleyan legends Hal Mumme and Mike Leach.
Wesleyan put on an aerial display in the spring, and Daniels believes the sky is — literally — the limit for Price and the offense under second-year signal caller Gavin Esquivel.
“It’s a lot smoother, Gavin is back — he’s looking super sharp. That’s huge for our offense. The guys we’ve brought in have clicked, so the verbiage and all the things that are hard to pick up for younger players to get has been kind of easy. We can be really explosive with the backs and receivers have” Daniels mentioned.
Furthermore, he knows the community of Mount Pleasant and the college itself is ready for a winner. He relishes those expectations.
He’s excited to put a product on display that he feels the community and the university alike can be proud of — and he’s thankful for those that have helped rally the program in the few short years he’s been the head man.
“It’s super important — I know that the administration is behind us. I know the community wants to support us. We’ve put in a new locker room and they helped us with some [facility] improvements. They’re behind us.”
“We want to be the focal point.”
“Now we just need to win games.”
They’ll have their first chance Saturday.
You can listen to that game on KILJ-FM 105.5 and kilj.com.
Iowa Wesleyan Schedule:
August 28th — at Saint Ambrose (1:00 p.m.) KILJ
September 4th — vs. Missouri Baptist (3:00 p.m.)
September 11th — at Quincy University (1:00 p.m.)
September 18th — vs. Trinity International (1:00 p.m.) KILJ
September 25th — vs. Valley City State University (1:00 p.m.)
October 2nd — vs. Crown College (1:00 p.m.) KILJ
October 16th — at Dickinson State University (1:00 p.m.)
October 23rd — at Dakota State (1:00 p.m.)
October 30th — vs. Presentation College (2:00 p.m.)
November 6th — vs. Waldorf University (2:00 p.m.)
November 13th — at Mayville State University (1:00 p.m.)
Truck vs Scooter
Preliminary reports indicate there was a collision in front of the Mount Pleasant High School involving a truck and a scooter. The incident occurred just after 7 am Tuesday. No other details are available at this time other than there were possible minor injuries and the ambulance was dispatched.
Iowa Crop Progress & Condition Report
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 from April through November.
“After generally dry and pleasant weather during the Iowa State Fair, beneficial rain fell across much of northern Iowa over the last few days, providing some help to the extreme drought areas,” said Secretary Naig. “As we enter the final days of August, a more active weather pattern looks to bring additional chances of rainfall as soybeans are reaching a critical stage of development.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.
Crop Report
Despite spotty precipitation, Iowa’s farmers had 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending August 22, 2021, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting hay and oats. Producers were utilizing the release of CRP land for haying and grazing.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 24% very short, 40% short, 36% adequate and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 27% very short, 42% short, 31% adequate and 0% surplus. Northwest, Central and East Central Iowa had the lowest subsoil moisture levels in the State, with more than 80% rated short to very short.
Corn in or beyond the dough stage reached 90%, six days ahead of the 5-year average. Forty-seven percent of the corn crop has reached the dent stage or beyond, four days ahead of normal. There were scattered reports of corn reaching the mature stage. Some producers have begun chopping silage. Iowa’s corn condition rated 58% good to excellent. Soybeans setting pods reached 95%, eight days ahead of normal. Five percent of soybeans were coloring. There were a few reports of soybeans dropping leaves. Soybean condition was rated 61% good to excellent. Sudden death syndrome was observed in some soybean fields across the State. Oats harvested for grain reached 97%.
The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 68% complete, three days ahead of the 5-year average. Both mites and army worms have been spotted in alfalfa and grass hay crops. Pasture condition was rated 31% good to excellent. Water for cows and calves on pasture has become an issue as some creeks and ponds dry up.
Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Above-average temperatures were observed across most of Iowa during the reporting period with a cool down from a cold frontal passage late in the week. The statewide average temperature was 72.7 degrees, 0.7 degrees above normal. Though most of the week was dry, a large-scale weather system brought widespread rainfall across Iowa with above-normal totals approaching two inches in drought-stricken northern Iowa; much of southern Iowa reported only a few tenths of an inch of rainfall.
Sunshine and southeasterly winds led to pleasant conditions on Sunday (15th) afternoon. Partly cloudy skies remained overnight into Monday (16th) morning as a dome of high pressure dominated the weather pattern over the Midwest, lending to quiet conditions. Afternoon temperatures ranged from the low to mid 80s west to upper 70s east. Starry skies and a light southerly wind held temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s into Tuesday (17th) with some clouds streaming into central Iowa. Daytime temperatures were on the rise with increasing southerly winds and humidity; mid to upper 80s were observed in western Iowa while eastern Iowa reported temperatures three to five degrees cooler. Hazy skies were observed into Wednesday (18th) as wildfire smoke filtered into the region. Daytime highs rose into the 80s with a few 90 degree readings under partly cloudy skies. Morning lows reported at 7:00 am on Thursday (19th) were unseasonably warm, generally in the mid to upper 60s, up to nine degrees above normal. Dew point temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s combined with afternoon highs in the upper 80s led to very muggy conditions into the evening hours.
Light showers formed in western Iowa early on Friday (20th) before dissipating during the late morning hours. Southwesterly winds picked up through the afternoon as a cold front approached the state front from the west. Muggy conditions continued, which helped fire stronger thunderstorms in northwestern Iowa as the boundary entered the state. Some storms turned severe with a brief tornado reported near Sibley (Osceola County), causing some damage to trees and outbuildings. As the front swept across the state, measurable rainfall was observed at a majority of stations with general totals of a few tenths of inch over the state’s northern half. Numerous stations in north-central Iowa reported above 0.50 inch with nearly 30 stations measuring an inch or more. Pocahontas (Pocahontas County) reported 2.15 inches while Webster City (Hamilton County) observed 2.92 inches. Behind the front, cooler and more pleasant conditions were experienced on Saturday (21st) with sunny skies and a light northerly wind. Temperatures remained in the mid 70s to low 80s during the daytime hours and dropped into the 50s overnight into Sunday (22nd) morning.
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no accumulation at several southern Iowa stations to 3.26 inches at Webster City (Hamilton County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.57 inch while the normal is 0.95 inch. Multiple stations observed the week’s high temperature of 92 degrees on the 20th, on average nine degrees above normal. Elkader (Clayton County) reported the week’s low temperature of 46 degrees on the 16th, 12 degrees below normal.