Parents, a former teacher and a student addressed the Mount Pleasant School Board Monday night sharing concerns about classroom behaviors at Lincoln School. Nine parents, a grandparent who was also a retired teacher and former Lincoln school teacher who still subs stood up to read prepared statements. The parents feel there are no consequences for bad behavior and that there is lack of support to hold students accountable. They said the violent actions of children in the class room are scaring the other students, creating emotional distress. One family has moved their child to a different building in the district.A high school student who also attended Lincoln shared her feelings and the problems she still deals with after seeing and dealing with the issues in her classroom at Lincoln. There is also concern that the district is losing good, long time teachers because they are physically and mentally exhausted from dealing with these situations. And that overall, teacher moral is low.The parents also feel there is no communication between teachers and administrators or between parents and the school. The group asked for help for teachers. The Lincoln building leadership was also called into question. And while, the group understands there are no easy answers and implementing improvements can be a long process, they still are demanding action and feel the board should hold the administration’s feet to the fire. They offered solutions and action items such as better communication, creating time and space for supportive programs, returning to same-grade schools and fast tracking new facilities. Sarah Donnelly gave the board a detailed behavior guide from another school district. The group pushed for making changes now but offered support. Many who spoke and who were in attendance were graduates of Mount Pleasant Schools. The Board and Superintendent listened. Board President Jennifer Crull said their concerns will be taken into consideration. Board member Josh Maher did say later in the agenda that he had visited with Lincoln Principal Lori LaFrenze to find out what the board can do to help. She told him she needs space and staff.
Sports, November 15th
High School Football
The WACO Warriors will be playing in the State Championship for the first time in school history against Remsen St. Mary’s in a battle of the unbeatens this Thursday at 9:30 am here on KILJ. The Warriors will be leaning on Simeon Reichenbach to lead the offense, while the Hawks will lean on dual threat quarterback Cael Ortmann to get past the outstanding pass rush the Warriors tout.
WACO Wrestling
Braylyn Wagler will continue wrestling in college as she signed her letter of intent yesterday. She will be taking her talents to Cornell College in Cedar Rapids next year. She will be looking to build upon her 8th place finish in the State Tournament last year when the season gets started this Saturday, November 19th, at a tournament at BGM.
High School Basketball
Mt. Pleasant will be hosting a Winter Meet the Players Night Thursday, November 17th starting at 7 pm when the Athletic Booster club serves concessions. They will start introducing teams at 7:30 pm with the order being: Bowling, Wrestling, Cheerleaders and Dance, and Basketball. The Dance Team will perform at 7:50 pm, then the JV Girls basketball team will scrimmage followed by the Freshman/JV Boys basketball team. At 8:30 pm, the Varsity Girls basketball team will scrimmage and the Varsity Boys will round out the night with their own scrimmage scheduled to start at 8:50 pm.
The girl’s basketball season starts next Tuesday, November 22nd, at home against Pella at 7 pm. They will be led by Andrea Lopreato as she signed with Black Hawk College last week. Boys basketball will travel to Mid-Prairie to participate in the Mid-Prairie Jamboree next Monday, November 21st. The first boy’s game that will be broadcast on KILJ will be their game on November 28th when they take on Cedar Rapids Washington on the road.
Elementary Basketball Tournament
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 comes into tonight’s game against Culver-Stockton College with a 4-2 record. The game will start at 6 pm.
The Tigers men’s and women’s wrestling teams will be traveling to Simpson college to compete in a dual match November 16th.
The men’s basketball team’s next game is Friday, November 18th, against Waldorf University at 7:30 pm for the Cobble Inn & Suites Classic.
The men’s and women’s cross country teams will have Logan Lucas and Lily Garnsey run at the 2022 National Championship meet November 18th with the men running at 8:30 am and the women at 9:30 am.
This Day in Sports History
1964 – Mickey Wright shoots a 62, lowest golf score for a woman pro at the Tall City Open, Midland, Texas.
1970 – Paul Brown, as head coach of the expansion Cincinnati Bengals, defeats his former team the Cleveland Browns, a moment he calls his “greatest victory.”
2015 – Holly Holm defeats UFC Champion Ronda Rousey in an upset in Melbourne, Australia.
Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report
November 7 – 13, 2022
DES MOINES, Iowa (November 14, 2022) – 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 April through November.
“A blast of cold air late last week dropped temperatures well below normal as the first flurries of the season flew over nearly fully harvested corn and soybean fields,” said Secretary Naig. “Farmers are focused on finishing up fall field work before frost settles in as forecasts show colder conditions hanging around through the end of November.”
The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.
Crop Report
Harvest was mostly complete with 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending November 13, 2022, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included wrapping up fall tillage, applying fertilizer, baling stalks, and hauling and spreading manure.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 18 percent very short, 35 percent short, 45 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 25 percent very short, 38 percent short, 36 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.
Harvest of the corn for grain crop reached 95 percent complete, eight days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of the average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 16 percent. Farmers in Northeast and South Central Iowa still have over 10 percent of their corn for grain crop remaining to be harvested.
Livestock were mostly doing well, although the abrupt change to colder temperatures caused some stress.
Weather Summary
Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Iowans experienced a drastic shift from unseasonable warmth to winter-like conditions towards the end of the reporting period; the statewide average temperature was 39.2 degrees, 1.6 degrees above normal. Widespread rainfall and some snow flurries also brought additional moisture to soil profiles over much of the state. Eastern and northwestern Iowa reported above-average totals nearing an inch while the middle of the state saw departures nearing 0.50 inch.
Spotty cloud cover was reported across portions of Iowa through Sunday (6th) afternoon as a weak low pressure center propagated along the Iowa-Missouri border. Daytime temperatures held in the 50s as southwesterly winds shifted to more of a westerly direction. Overnight skies were clear with morning lows ranging from the low 20s north to mid 30s south. Monday (7th) was chilly with afternoon highs remaining in the low 40s over northern Iowa while southern Iowa registered temperatures in the low 50s. Clouds gradually increased through the late night hours as an easterly wind persisted, though gradually turning to the southeast as a disturbance approached northwestern Iowa. Morning lows on Tuesday (8th) were near average as clouds prevented more overnight cooling; mid to upper 40s were observed in western Iowa while upper 30s were present in eastern Iowa where skies were still clear. Showers and a few thunderstorms formed over northwestern Iowa throughout the day as gusty southeasterly winds developed statewide. Beneficial rain totals were observed across several northwestern counties with two stations in Le Mars (Plymouth County) measuring from 1.00 inch to 1.20 inches; totals tailed off farther southeast with nearly 30 stations dumping out at least 0.25 inch. Thick cloud cover held on overnight as a warmed airmass pushed into the Midwest along with higher relative humidity. Morning lows reported at 7:00 am on Wednesday (9th) in western Iowa were in the upper 50s with some low 60s ahead of a cold front approaching Iowa; these readings were up to 30 degrees warmer than normal with a statewide average low of 43 degrees, 13 degrees above normal. Low clouds and muggy conditions persisted into the afternoon and evening hours.
Southerly winds increased ahead of the cold front sweeping across Iowa on Thursday (10th). Showers and thunderstorms formed in eastern Iowa where daytime highs reached into the upper 70s. Showers expanded over Iowa’s southeastern quarter though the rest of day and overnight into Friday (11th). More than 20 stations observed at least an inch with general totals of between 0.20 to 0.60 inch at most stations reporting rainfall; Dubuque (Dubuque County) measured 1.06 inches while a gauge near Lisbon (Linn County) observed 1.49 inches. Cold Canadian air filtered in behind the cold front with afternoon highs on Saturday (12th) hovering in the 20s to low 30s; the statewide average high was 28 degrees, 20 degrees below normal. Snow flurries fell over much of Iowa through the day as northwesterly winds and thick stratus clouds persisted. Winds became variable overnight into Sunday (13th) with temperatures only dropping by five to 10 degrees with peeks of clear skies southwest. Light snow accumulations were reported at a handful of stations with 0.1 inch at Orange City (Sioux County) to 1.0 inch in Waterloo (Black Hawk County).
Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no accumulation at many western Iowa stations to 1.72 inches near Wellman (Washington County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.31 inch while the normal is 0.47 inch. Several eastern Iowa stations reported the week’s high temperature of 78 degrees on the 9th, on average 26 degrees above normal. Forest City (Winnebago County) reported the week’s low temperature of 11 degrees on the 12th, 15 degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the mid 30s west to low 40s east as of Sunday.
Oliver Gerald Remaly, Jr.
Oliver Gerald Remaly, Jr., 77, of New London, died Sunday November, 2022, at Blessing Hospital, Quincy, Illinois. He was born September 13, 1945 in Ottumwa to Oliver Gerald Sr, and Martha Breonne Remaly. He married Suzanne Strickland; they later divorced. He then married Doris Krewson.
He worked as a mechanic; owned and operated Custom Sandblasting with his wife; and later sold satellite dishes. He was an amateur radio operator and enjoyed hunting, shooting and reloading.
Survivors include his wife of New London; one son Brian (Shannon) of New London; three daughters, Lori (Curtis) Jackson of Waterloo, Lucinda (Jerry) Cole of Nowata, Oklahoma, and Trudy (Mike) Wailand of Davenport; stepson Mark (Kim) Lennie of Danville; twenty grandchildren; twenty-six great-grandchildren; and a special friend, Sandy Hamilton of Mt. Pleasant.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his son Oliver III; granddaughter Stephanie Cole; and sisters Margie and Marian.
According to his wishes, his body has been cremated and a memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, November 18th at Elliott Chapel, New London with Rev. Brian Swafford officiating. Visitation will begin at 9:00 with the family receiving friends from 10:00 until the time of the service. A memorial has been established. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.
Water Main break cancels school for all New London students Tuesday
No School Tomorrow 11/15/2022 for New London School District Students
The New London City Utilities have just informed there district that there is a break in the water main that feeds Clark Elementary. This not only affects all students and staff in the Elementary, but it also affects the Kitchens and the ability to make meals to serve so there will not be classes in either school building.
In order to repair the damaged pipe, the City will need to shut the water line off Tuesday morning. It is expected to take most of the day to repair the damaged pipe.
Henry County Board of Supervisors Meeting
Dr. Michel C. Fitzpatrick (final arrangements)
Dr. Michael C. Fitzpatrick, DMD, 55, of Rock Hill, MO and formerly of Washington and Mount Pleasant, Iowa, died unexpectedly on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at his residence in Rock Hill.
The funeral service for Mike will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, November 19th at the First United Methodist Church, 309 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant. The Reverend David Bracht-Wagner, Senior Pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant. Friends may call from 12 Noon to 8 PM on Friday, November 18, at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant. The family will be present to receive friends from 4-7 PM.
The funeral service will be livestreamed on the First United Methodist Church YouTube channel. Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Mt. Pleasant Evening Rotary Club. On-Line condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com
Michael Charles Fitzpatrick was born September 29, 1967 in Chicago, IL. He was the son of Wayne James “Jim” and Beverly Gail (Barrett) Fitzpatrick. He moved with his family to Peoria and Washington, IL. Mike graduated from Washington High School in 1985. He enrolled at Illinois Central Community College, completing his Associate Degree, and graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Mike then attended the Dental School at Southern Illinois University (Alton Campus) and graduated in 1997. Dr. Fitzpatrick joined Dr. Richard Buss’s Iris Dental Practice in Mt. Pleasant and West Point. He purchased the practice from Dr. Buss and continued it for many years. Just this year, he sold the practice and moved to the St. Louis area to work at a dental practice there. Mike was always noted for the care of his patients in his practice, often making time in his off hours to care for his clients when they needed immediate care.
On July 6, 1991, at the Christ United Methodist Church in Douds, IA, Mike was united in marriage to Lesa LeAnn Benge. To this union 2 children were born – Tyler and Maggie. The couple later divorced.
Mike was very active in community events and organizations. He was a member and served 2 terms as President of the Mt. Pleasant Evening Rotary Club. He had also been a member of the Mt. Pleasant Kiwanis Club and the Mt. Pleasant Lodge #8 AF & AM. Mike was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Pleasant where he had sung Bass in the Chancel Choir. He had also served on the Board of Directors for the Panther Scholar Dollars of the MPCSD. Mike enjoyed golfing and was a member of the Deerwood Country Club in New London where he played on the Men’s League.
Mike enjoyed arts of many variations. He played alto saxophone in the Washington High School Band. He made buttons and would often make buttons for friends and clients for special occasions. He was an avid photographer as loved to study the work of Ansel Adams. Many of his favorites were framed and featured on the walls of his clinic. He would also take the pictures and design collages on his computer. A St. Louis Cardinal fan, he would travel and attend a Cardinals baseball game in St. Louis at least once a month for many years.
Those thankful for sharing in Mike’s life include his 2 children, Tyler and Maggie Fitzpatrick of Mt. Pleasant; his parents, Jim & Gail Fitzpatrick of Hudson, FL; 3 brothers and their wives, James & Sheri Fitzpatrick of West Des Moines, Mark & Lara Fitzpatrick of Aurora, IL, and Dean & Michele Fitzpatrick of Des Peres, MO; several nieces and nephews and a God Child – Sarah Kurth.