The Henry County Conservation Department is planning two fun winter events coming up in December.There will be a WINTER OPEN HOUSE At the Oakland Mills Nature Center Thursday, December 15 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Bring your family out to the nature center in the Oakland Mills Park for some free winter fun. Tour the nature center, play games, do a scavenger hunt, make ornaments, drink hot chocolate, and so much more. All ages are welcome. Preregistration appreciated but not necessary. The NEW YEAR’S DAY SELF-GUIDED HIKE will be held December 29 thru January 3 from noon to 1 pm. Begin at Turtle Town outside the Oakland Mills Nature Center where you will receive instructions on what to do and where to go next. As you hike, you will stop at signs with fun facts, trivia, games, and more! Dress for the weather. All ages are welcome.
Campground Hosts Needed for State and County Parks
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is seeking people who enjoy the outdoors, camping and meeting new people, to consider becoming volunteer campground hosts for the upcoming recreation season. Volunteer campground hosts live in state parks from one to five months assisting DNR staff with light maintenance duties, checking in campers, and being a resource for visitors enjoying state parks and forests. Campground hosts are provided a free campsite while they are actively hosting during the camping season. Hosts volunteer 20 – 40 hours per week, including weekends and holidays, while living on site in their own camper. Host positions are available at these parks in the KILJ listening area:
- Lacey-Keosauqua
- Lake Darling
- Lake Keomah
- Lake Wapello
Information about campgrounds and state parks is available online at www.iowadnr.gov/stateparks. To discuss the host position, contact the state park directly, or call 515-443-2533.
Henry County Conservation Director Caleb Waters is also looking for campground hosts for the Oakland Mills Park camping areas. Call him at 319-986-5067.
Extension Survey
As technology continues to evolve, ISU Extension wants to learn how Iowans prefer to access, receive and engage with extension education – both in person and virtually.
ISU Extension & Outreach has created a survey that will help us learn more about how YOU access information, along with what topics you need and want to learn more about right now.
Extension wants to do its’ best to provide you with:
- Programs that address your needs and interests.
- Effective and easy delivery of the content you want.
Share your thoughts here: www.extension.iastate.edu/survey
Sports, November 25th
High School Basketball
The Mt. Pleasant girls basketball team will be back in action November 28th at home against Ottumwa at 7:30 pm. The Panthers have won the last four games of the series with the last one being a dominating 32 point victory, 44-12,.
The Winfield-Mt. Union girls and boys basketball team will face off against Louisa-Muscatine November 29th at home. The girls will play at 6 pm as they are 3-0 to start the season. Bradie Buffington will look to improve on her stellar performance against Lone Tree as she finished with 26 points and 18 rebounds. The boys will start at 7:30 pm.
The WACO girls and boys basketball teams will be on the road to face off against Holy Trinity Catholic at 6 pm on November 28th.
The New London girls basketball team will look for their first win against Columbus November 28th on the road at 6 pm. Natalie Burden leads the Tigers as she is averaging 9.7 points per game.
The Central Lee girls basketball team will host Mediapolis next Tuesday, November 29th.
The Mt. Pleasant boys basketball team’s next game will be a road contest against Cedar Rapids Washington at 7:30 pm on Monday, November 28th. KILJ will be on the call with pregame at 7:15. Coach Rawson knows the game will be a tough one to start the season but expressed confidence in his team.
The New London boys basketball team will start their season next Tuesday, November 29th against Van Buren County at 7:30 pm. They will be led by seniors Blaise Porter and Kade Benjamin, both of which were their top three scorers last year as they look to improve on their 20-3 record.
The Central Lee boys basketball team will face off against Davis County to open their season at home November 28th at 7:30 pm.
High School Wrestling
The Mt. Pleasant girls and boys wrestling team will host Columbus November 29th at 6 pm.
WACO girls wrestling team will travel to BGM to compete on Friday, December 2nd.
.Elementary Basketball Tournament
The Mount Pleasant Christmas Holidays 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for 3rd – 8th grade boys and girls will be held on Dec 17th, 2022. For more registration details contact Coach Ronnie Ashton at 319-931-2896.
Iowa Wesleyan Athletics
The women’s basketball team will look to get back in the win column November 30th against Simpson College at 7 pm on the road. The Tigers are currently 6-3 on the season.
The men’s basketball team is now on an 8-game win streak they’ll look to extend it against Waldorf at home November 30th at 7 pm. KILJ will be on the call. They defeated Waldorf 77-47 earlier in the season with Allante Pickens leading the Tigers in points with 18.
The women’s wrestling team will be back in action December 7th for a top ten matchup as they will host the #3 Grand View University Vikings. The men’s wrestling team’s next match will be Saturday, December 3rd, at the Buena Vista Open starting at 9 am.
This Day in Sports History
1952 – Only win ever for NFL’s Dallas Texans (1-11), beating the Chicago Bears, 27-23 at the Cotton Bowl.
1979 – Pat Summerall and John Madden broadcast a game together for the first time, a pairing that lasts 22 years and became one of the most well-known partnerships in TV sportscasting history.
2014 – Lionel Messi becomes the UEFA Champions League all-time top scorer.
Sports, November 24th
High School Basketball
The Mt. Pleasant girls basketball team will be back in action November 28th at home against Ottumwa at 7:30 pm.
The Winfield-Mt. Union girls and boys basketball team will face off against Louisa-Muscatine November 29th at home. The girls will play at 6 pm as they are 3-0 to start the season. The boys will start at 7:30 pm.
The WACO girls and boys basketball teams will be on the road to face off against Holy Trinity Catholic at 6 pm on November 28th.
The New London girls basketball team will look for their first win against Columbus November 28th on the road at 6 pm.
The Central Lee girls basketball team will host Mediapolis next Tuesday, November 29th.
The Mt. Pleasant boys basketball team’s next game will be a road contest against Cedar Rapids Washington at 7:30 pm on Monday, November 28th. KILJ will be on the call with pregame at 7:15. Coach Rawson knows the game will be a tough one to start the season but expressed confidence in his team.
The New London boys basketball team will start their season next Tuesday, November 29th against Van Buren County at 7:30 pm.
High School Wrestling
The Mt. Pleasant girls and boys wrestling team will host Columbus November 29th at 6 pm.
WACO girls wrestling team will travel to BGM to compete on Friday, December 2nd.
.Elementary Basketball Tournament
The Mount Pleasant Christmas Holidays 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for 3rd – 8th grade boys and girls will be held on Dec 17th, 2022. For more registration details contact Coach Ronnie Ashton at 319-931-2896.
Iowa Wesleyan Athletics
The women’s basketball team will look to get back in the win column November 30th against Simpson College at 7 pm on the road.
The men’s basketball team now on an 8-game win streak they’ll look to extend it against Waldorf at home November 30th at 7 pm. KILJ will be on the call.
The women’s wrestling team will be back in action December 7th for a top ten matchup as they will host the #3 Grand View University Vikings. The men’s wrestling team’s next match will be Saturday, December 3rd, at the Buena Vista Open starting at 9 am.
This Day in Sports History
1938 – National Semi-Pro Basketball Congress authorizes yellow basketball.
1960 – Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain pulls down an NBA record 55 rebounds in Warriors 132-129 defeat to Boston Celtics at Philadelphia Civic Center.
2012 – The continued NHL lockout results in all games to December 14 being cancelled.
Myrtle Irene Lewis Wollenhaupt
On November 19, 2022 Myrtle Irene Lewis Wollenhaupt passed away peacefully at age 98 and 8 months entered God’s Kingdom. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Service of Wapello. Funeral Service will be 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Wapello Cemetery. Online condolences may be view at www.sandhfuneralservices.com.
Third child born to Vera Gasson Lewis and Jesse Lewis on March 7, 1924, Myrtle was the last remaining grandchild born to Thomas and Sarah Gasson, immigrants from England. The Gasson’s settled in Villisca, Ia. as farmers in 1867. Vera was their youngest daughter of 9 children.
Myrt grew up in the depression and remembered having only one dress for winter and one dress for summer. Her parents were divorced when she was young, and her mother had a restaurant in Elliott, Ia. Sometimes a traveling salesman would come in and trade a meal for some new pencils. All of the children, Kenneth, Garland, and Little Myrtie lived at the Gasson farm in the summer where food was plentiful and life was full of fun farm adventures. Many aunts and uncles and cousins enjoyed Iowa summers on the farm.
In 1941 she graduated high school and met her lifelong partner, Arlin Titus Wollenhaupt. They married March 28, 1942 , and he went off to Germany to serve in the US Army during World War II for 3 years. He came home to meet their 3 year old daughter, Connie Kay (Taylor). They relocated to Wapello, Iowa where Wally got a job at the State Bank of Wapello. Three more children followed; Kathy Anne (Volkman), Kent, and Kim (Adney).
Myrt enjoyed owning the Wapello Apparel in downtown Wapello from 1960 – 1975. She was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Study Club, and the Methodist Church. During retirement, she spent time golfing, gardening, wintering in Texas, and traveling. She loved her dog companions. Myrt’s last few months were spent enjoying the birds and squirrels outside of her window. She talked to them and they listened.
Myrt is predeceased by her husband A.T. Wollenhaupt, daughter Connie Taylor, and daughter Anne Volkman. She is survived by her son, Kent and her daughter, Kim as well as grandchildren, Jeff, Doug, and Susan (Jones) Taylor, Melinda (Doblie) and Jessica (Chapman) Volkman, Ryan and Kama Wollenhaupt, and nine great-grandchildren. They will miss her greatly
Michael Ray Vradenburg Sr.
Michael Ray Vradenburg Sr., 68, of Wayland, died Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at his home. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family. His body has been cremated and private services will be held at a later date.
Michael was born March 9, 1954, in Keokuk, the son of Fredrick Sr. and Darlene (Carle) Vradenburg. He was united in marriage to Margaret Kaylor in July of 1976, in Keokuk, Iowa. He worked as an OTR Truck Driver and Mechanic. He enjoyed fishing with his brother and tinkering with small motors. He was raised in the Keokuk and Ft. Madison area, moving to Wayland in 2020.
Survivors include his son Mike Jr. (Kathi) Vradenburg of Wayland, IA, five siblings: Roger (Aletha) Vradenburg of Keokuk, IA, Annette (James) McCarthy of Keokuk, IA, Juanita (Frank) Mullen of Montrose, IA, Cathy Vradenburg of Arkansas, and Karen Vradenburg of Arkansas, thirteen Grandchildren, and four Great-Grandchildren.
Preceding Michael in death were his parents, wife Margaret on September 12, 2007, four brothers: Kirk, David, Terry, and Fredrick Jr., and one sister Annie Bell.
City Council Stops Electronic Billboards Amendment
A representative of an electronic billboard company addressed the Mount Pleasant City Council Tuesday evening to explain the benefit of allowing these signs in the community. Robinson Outdoor had requested the City change the current ordinance that allows electronic message signs limited to fifty square feet but prohibits electronic billboards. Following a public hearing during which no one else spoke, the council was split, three yes and three no, on the first reading of an ordinance change and the mayor declared the proposed amendment defeated.
The City was approached by a home occupied business owner who installed a sixteen square foot sign and was directed to take it down. The business owner asked the council to change the ordinance to allow for that size sign. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended four square feet. The current ordinance allows two square feet. None of the council members approved 16 square feet signs but approved of four square feet. Bob Griffith was the only council member to vote against an increase of any size saying these businesses are located in homes in residential areas and should not be any bigger.
During the regular November meeting Tuesday, the Mount Pleasant City Council authorized Mayor Steve Brimhall to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Police Department union agreeing to the proposed resource officer for the school district. The union had already agreed and signed the M.O.U. The next action of the Council was to approve hiring Brad Gillis as that resource officer.
Warner Engineering was approved by the Council to move forward with the planning, design and construction oversite for the West Washington Street rebuild. And finally the airport five year capital improvement program was approved. Each year, in order for the City to be considered for state and federal funding, the airport must have a program. The plan is then sent to the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation.