On Sunday, January 22, 2023, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report that a semi had flipped over onto its side and was blocking the west bound traffic of Highway 34 near MM229 in Mount Pleasant. The driver, Ahmed Guled (23) of Urbandale, IA, was traveling west bound along Highway 34 when he lost control of the semi and over corrected causing the semi and trailer to flip on its side and came to rest perpendicular to the road blocking the flow of traffic. No other vehicle was involved in the accident and Ahmed did not report any injuries. Ahmed was examined and cleared by Henry County Ambulance personnel. Iowa DOT, State Patrol, and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office temporarily rerouted the west bound traffic while the semi and trailer were removed from the road. Ahmed was given a citation for Failure to Maintain Control.
Assault Investigation in Winfield
On January 23rd, 2023, at approximately 10:30 a.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office took a report of an assault occurring in the 200-block of South Locust Street in Winfield. The Sheriff’s Office arrived and conducted an investigation into the allegations. One of the parties involved was identified as Dustin Beames, 38 of Winfield. During the investigation, it was discovered Dustin had a metal smoking pipe on his person. It was determined the pipe was used for ingesting/smoking a controlled substance. Dustin was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.
***A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.****
Boys’ High School Basketball Rankings: Top Teams Remain, WACO still in 3rd
Prep Basketball- The Iowa High School Athletic Association released the updated rankings for the boys’ basketball season. None of the top teams fell from their spots, but there was some movement amongst the rankings.
Class 4A had Cedar Rapids Kennedy remain atop the rankings, but Waukee is now ranked 2nd as they switched spots with Waukee Northwest for 3rd. Indianola jumped up the rankings to 5th as Ankeny Centennial dropped to 7th. North Scott replaced Waterloo West in the top 10 at the 10th spot while Dubuque Senior dropped from 8th to 9th.
Bondurant-Farar still rules Class 3A at 13-0 followed by Cedar Rapids Xavier as MOC-Floyd Valley dropped to 5th in the rankings after losing last week. Clear Lake and Marion went from 6th and 7th, respectively, to 3rd and 4th, respectively after their productive week. Waverly-Shell Rock was replaced by Charles City for the 10th spot in the rankings.
Class 2A had the top 5 remain the same with Central Lyon on top and West Burlington in 5th and still undefeated. Alburnett dropped from 6th to 9th as Sioux Central is now ranked 6th after being 8th last week. AHSTW and Grundy Center moved up in the rankings to 7th and 8th, respectively. Carroll Kuemper fell out of the top 10 after being ranked 7th last week and Lake Mills rounds out the top 10 after being unranked last week, they are 15-0 on the season.
Class 1A still has WACO in the 3rd slot at 15-0 looking up at the top team, Grand View Christian, and North Linn. The top 7 spots remained constant as Wapsie Valley jumped up in the rankings from 10th to 8th. Lynnville Sully and Marquette Catholic both dropped out of the rankings, as they were replaced by Baxter and Gehlen Catholic.
De Anne Swartzendruber
De Anne Swartzendruber, 59, of Wayland, died Sunday, January 22, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. A funeral service will be held Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the Beatty Funeral Home in Washington. The family will greet friends from 9:30 until the time of service on Thursday. Following the meal, burial will be held at the Sugar Creek Cemetery in Wayland. A memorial fund has been established for Hospice of Washington County.
De Anne was born July 3, 1963, in Washington, Iowa, the daughter of Don and Karen Deanna (Roth) Swartzendruber. She graduated from WACO High School and the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. De Anne worked for Farm Bureau for 31 years, working in insurance for 13 years and for the Washington and Johnson County Board of Directors for 18 years. She enjoyed crafts, selling them at various craft sales with her mother, and working on the computer. She loved to be outdoors fishing and camping and had recently started collecting gnomes.
Survivors include her brother Rick Swartzendruber of Wayland, uncles and aunts: Lynn and Linda Roth of Wayland, and Rod and Kathy Roth of Wayland and a number of cousins.
Preceding De Anne in death were her parents, her sister-in-law Donna Swartzendruber and her cousin Mike Roth.
Imelda M. Groene
Imelda M. Groene, 95, of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 9:11 p.m. Saturday, January 21, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.
Born on August 6, 1927, in Fort Madison, the daughter of Dr. S. P. and Elinor Catherine (Winnike) Holtz. On August 4, 1947, in West Point, Iowa, she married James J. Groene. He preceded her in death on March 19, 2007.
Imelda is survived by her three daughters: Jeanne Bremekamp of Belize, Central America, Janet (Bill) Benjamin of Donnellson and Joyce (Bill) Meierotto of West Point; twelve grandchildren; twenty-one great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; two brothers: Carl (Rita) Holtz of West Point and Delmar Holtz of St. Joseph, Missouri. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: James; son-in-law: John Bremekamp; great granddaughter: Reagan Hulsebus; brother: Lester Holtz; sisters: Lucy Vonderhaar and Rozella Freitag.
Imelda graduated from Saint Mary’s High School. She was a member of St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church, the Altar and Rosary Society of the church and Daughters of Isabella. She enjoyed playing cards and spending time with family. Her passion was being a wonderful mother and grandmother.
Her body has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.
Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon, Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point, where the family will receive friends from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A parish rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m. and a Christian wake service will be held at 5:30 p.m.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 26, 2023, at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church in West Point, with Father Dan Dorau as celebrant.
Burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery in West Point.
A memorial has been established in her memory for West Point Holtz-Geers American Legion Post #668 or Calvary Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com. Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements.
Daily Jail Count
In the interest of keeping Henry County residents informed, the Henry County Sheriff’s office has requested KILJ post the daily jail count. During the jail referendum campaign it was publicized that the jail would be able to house additional inmates from surrounding counties and this would generate revenue for Henry County.
Date: 01-23-2023______
45 _ Henry County Inmates
30 _ Out of County Contract Inmates
75_ TOTAL
Special Session and Work Session
Mount Pleasant Community School District School Board Special Session Meeting
Date Monday, January 23 6:00 PM
Mount Pleasant Community School District: High School Media Center
Mount Pleasant, Iowa 52641
- Call to Order
- Roll Call
- Approval of Agenda
- Consideration to Approve ESSER Phase 2 Change Request: Gymnasium Duct Sock (Motion)
- Consideration to Approve ESSER Phase 2 Change Request: Chiller Waterbox Circuit (Motion)
- Adjournment
Mount Pleasant Community School District School Board Work Session
Date Monday, January 23, 2023 6:05 PM
Mount Pleasant Community School District: High School Media Center
Mount Pleasant, Iowa 52641
- Call to Order
- Roll Call
- Approval of Agenda
- E.L.L. Class Presentation
- Grade-Alike Elementary Building Discussion
- 2023 – 2024 Calendar Information
- School Board Director District Information
- Adjournment
Sports, January 23rd
High School Basketball
Mt. Pleasant will face off against Mid-Prairie in a double header tonight, January 23rd, on the road with the girls’ playing first at 6 pm. KILJ will be on the call with pregame at 5:45 pm.
New London will host Mediapolis tomorrow, January 24th, and Holy Trinity Catholic will travel to play Burlington Notre Dame Tuesday with the girls’ going at 6 pm followed by the boys.
The Danville boys’ team got back in the win column after defeating West Central 54-32 over the weekend. Spencer Nelson finished with a double-double with 27 points and 11 rebounds as Nelson hit five three-pointers in the contest. Danville will travel to play Van Buren County with the girls’ going at 6 pm followed by the boys’ team tomorrow.
The Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will have a tough matchup against West Burlington tonight and the girls’ will have to wait until Friday, January 27th, to go against Columbus.
WACO will host Highland tomorrow with the girls’ going at 6 pm followed by the boys.
High School Wrestling
The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team competed at the Williamsburg Raider Invitational over the weekend. Charlie Bohenkamp finished in 4th scoring seven points for the team. Ramzy Davis and Jahmal Dodson both finished in 6th place for their respective weight class. Bowen Davis won his first match of the day by decision and captured 5th place at the meet. Lastly, Franklin Tousignant won his final three matches of the night, two by fall and one by decision, to finish the meet on the pedestal in 3rd place. The boys’ team will host Burlington Thursday, January 26th.
High School Bowling
Mt. Pleasant will travel to play Louisa-Muscatine tonight.
Iowa Wesleyan Athletics
The women’s basketball team will be back in action January 27th against Bacone College at the Bacone Classic.
The 25th ranked men’s team is on a 18-game winning streak and getting into conference play at the Bacone Classic Thursday, January 26th, Coach Ashton talked about how tough these matchups will be.
The men’s wrestling team’s next competition will be a dual against Waldorf University on January 25th.
The women’s wrestling team’s next scheduled competition is January 27th at the 2023 Spire Classic.
The Tigers had a couple of records broken with the racewalkers going to Bumble Rumble and the rest of the team competing at the Hilltop Classic. Logan Lucas finished with a new school record of 15:52 in the 3,000 meter racewalk that ranks him 10th in the NAIA. Faith Younce was the other school record setter with a time of 16:53 in the 3,000 meter racewalk, which places her 6th in the NAIA. Other top finishers include KeRon Blackwell winning the men’s high jump with a 6’ 4.75” jump. Bri Hunter took the women’s shot put with a heave of 44’ 2”. Jabez Rivers won the 60 meter hurdles with the second best time in school history of 8.82 seconds. Judah Rivers won the 400 meter dash for his first collegiate victory with a time of 53.18 seconds. The team of Judah Rivers, Angel Lottie, Jabez Rivers, and Daron Jackson picked up the win in the 4×200 meter relay with a time of 1 minute 35 seconds. The Tigers next indoor meet will be the Grinnell Invitational on January 28th.
This Day in Sports History
1944 – Detroit Red Wings score 15 goals against New York Rangers with an NHL record 37 points; also record consecutive goals & most lopsided game, 15-0.
1984 – Buffalo Sabres become the first team in NHL history to win 10 straight road games with a 5-3 victory at Boston.
2015 – Golden State guard Klay Thompson scores the most NBA points in a quarter (37) and most 3-pointers in a quarter (9) in Warrior’s 126-101 win over Sacramento Kings.