Midwest Old Threshers Seeking More Local Homes with Guest-Friendly Accessibility for In-Home Stay Program

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 at 3:38 pm CDT

Mount Pleasant, IA — As excitement builds for the 2025 Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, organizers are reaching out to local residents for help in welcoming the thousands of guests expected during this milestone year. The In-Home Stay Program, which pairs Reunion visitors with homeowners in the Mt. Pleasant area, is in need of additional guest-friendly homes, particularly those with minimal steps or single-level layouts.

“With the current list of homes filling up, we’re seeing more and more visitors reaching out in search of places to stay,” said Grant Davidson, Public Relations & Marketing Coordinator for Midwest Old Threshers. “This program not only offers guests a welcoming place to stay—it also builds meaningful connections between our visitors and the Mt. Pleasant community.”

The 2025 Reunion will take place August 28 through September 1, as Midwest Old Threshers is Celebrating 75 Years of tradition, history, and family fun. A record attendance is anticipated for the five-day event.

Residents with homes that are easy to navigate, such as those without stairs or with accessible entrances, are especially encouraged to consider participating.

To learn more or to join the program, please contact Lori Shoultz at (309) 791-7689.

By opening their homes, community members play a vital role in making this historic celebration a warm and memorable experience for all.

Victoria Pearson

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 at 3:01 pm CDT

Victoria Pearson, 54, of Mt. Pleasant, died Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington.

Ms. Pearson, the former Victoria Rose Lamm, was born July 9, 1970 in Mount Pleasant. She was the daughter of Richard Wayne and Karen Ann (Sanderson) Lamm. She attended school in Fairfield. In the early 2000’s, Victoria married Vernon Pearson. The couple later divorced.

Victoria was a longtime homemaker who enjoyed diamond painting and computers. Most especially, she cherished the time she spend with her granddaughters.

Survivors include 2 children – Nicolas Shepard and Kristen Morse and her husband Chris, all of Mt. Pleasant; a sister – Patty DuFour and a brother Jerry Lamb and his wife Renee, all of New London, and 2 granddaughters – Krysta and Dyana Morse.

Her parents, a sister – Brenda Hand and a brother, Jerry Lamb precede in death.

Private family services will be held with burial in the Salem East Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the family. Thoughts and memories may be shared with her family and friends at www.kimzeyfh.com.

Philip Humbert White

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 at 2:10 pm CDT

Philip Humbert White, 83, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Monday, May 26, 2025 at Prestige Care Center in Fairfield.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Faculty and Staff Retirement Fund at Maharishi International University and mailed to the Development Office 1000 N. 4th St. Fairfield, Iowa 52557.

Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield is assisting the family.

Philip was born May 28, 1941 in San Diego, California, the son of Francis “Marshall” and Elizabeth “Betty” (Brown) White. Phil earned a Master’s in Political Science. He graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law in 1966. He married Caroline “Fauna” Edwards in November 1966 at Balboa Park in San Diego.

Phil taught political science at Laney College in Oakland, California and later taught in the Government Department at Maharishi International University. He spent many years in Europe as part of the international staff for the Transcendental Meditation Program.

Phil loved teaching and was an excellent storyteller. He enjoyed surfing, playing tennis, and going for walks along the beach, in the mountains and around lakes with his beloved Fauna.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Fauna of Fairfield; sister, Barbara White of Hemet, California; brother, Marshall “Spike” (Mary Ellen) White of Knoxville, Tennessee; nephews, Christopher and Mario Villalobos, and Gregory White; and a niece, Susan Daffron.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Online condolences may be made to Phil’s family by viewing his obituary at www.behnerfh.com.

The Mount Pleasant Street Committee will meet on Wednesday, June 11th, 2025, at 9:00 AM

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 at 1:16 pm CDT

The Mount Pleasant Street Committee will meet on Wednesday, June 11th, 2025, at 9:00 AM at City Hall in the City Administrators’ Conference Room.
AGENDA

1. Call to order.
2. Review Letter From Residents & Neighbors Regarding Walnut Street Extension.
3. Discuss No Parking Request on W. Orange Street
4. Review Memorandum of Understanding Between Henry County & the City of Mount Pleasant regarding Winfield Ave. Reconstruction
5. Review Request from Resident at 904 W. Washington
6. Discuss Concrete Road Patches from Public Works
7. Review Timeline for Adams Street Construction Project
8. Open Forum
9. Adjourn

Wayne N. Hansen

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 at 11:58 am CDT

Wayne N. Hansen, 97, of Mount Pleasant, died Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at New London Specialty Care.

Wayne was born on March 6, 1928, in Aurora, Nebraska, the son of Charlie and Emma (Johnson) Hansen. Along with his sister Arlis, Wayne helped tend the family farm, until the Great Depression caused them to move to Yarmouth, Iowa. Upon the family’s arrival, they began to farm again in the Yarmouth and Mediapolis area. Wayne graduated from Mediapolis High School. He was drafted in the United States Army during the Korean War. On August 21, 1954, Wayne was united in marriage to Dorothy “Dottie” Congdon in Moline, Illinois. Wayne was baptized as a Jehovah’s Witness in 1957. He attended Augustana College and the University of Iowa, studying electrical engineering. Wayne’s skill with electronics took him to work for NASA for a short period, spending time in Puerto Rico launching rockets. Wayne also worked 18 years for KILJ Radio as a broadcast engineer. Wayne was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, in Burlington, and had a deep love of the Bible.

Wayne is survived by his daughter Marcie Hansen of Mount Pleasant. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Dottie, son Joe Hansen, and sister Arlis.

Memorial service will be held 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Burlington. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Oakland Mills Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for World Wide Work of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  The Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory is caring for Wayne and his family. www.powellfuneralhomes.com

Quick Response from Access Energy Keeps Power Outages Minimal During June 3rd Storm

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 at 10:33 am CDT

In the aftermath of Tuesday’s severe storms that swept across Southeast Iowa, Access Energy Cooperative reports only minimal power disruptions, thanks to a swift and effective response by service crews.

Access Energy Cooperative Manager Kevin Wheeler informed KILJ News that roughly 300 homes or businesses experienced power outages during the storm.

Crews responded quickly and worked safely through the evening to restore electricity, with power restored around midnight.

Access Energy Cooperative provides service to more than 9,000 homes and businesses across parts of 10 Southeast Iowa counties, including Henry, Jefferson, Van Buren, Lee, Des Moines, Washington, Wapello and Louisa.

KILJ News will continue to provide updates and additional storm coverage as new information becomes available.

Severe Storm Causes Damage Across Southeast Iowa on June 3

By Hayden Douglas · Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 at 9:52 am CDT

Southeast Iowa was hit hard by a fast-moving storm system on the evening of June 3, with a total of 1.45 inches of rainfall; leaving behind a trail of debris, downed trees, damaged power lines, and scattered power outages across Des Moines, Lee, Henry, and Louisa counties.

Strong winds and heavy rain moved into the area late Tuesday with reports of a possible rain covered tornado moving along the Mississippi river/Hwy 61 area. The storm prompted severe thunderstorm warnings along with Tornado warnings for several areas.

When the storm passed and the skies settled, Southeast Iowa residents set to Facebook to report the area damages.

In Henry County, high winds were blamed for damaging power lines and knocking out service to homes in and around Hillsboro. Multiple roads were temporarily blocked by fallen trees, with public works crews responding quickly to clear them.

In Des Moines County, residents reported wind gusts strong enough to topple tree limbs and scatter debris across roadways, along with roadways flooded at times. Utility crews worked into the night to restore electricity to several neighborhoods that lost power due to downed lines.

Lee County also felt the storm, with rural areas reporting tree damage and low-lying roads briefly covered with water. Strong winds and heavy rainfall moved over Fort Madison along the river, where it still unconfirmed if a tornado began moving up Highway 61 towards Burlington.

Louisa County experienced similar conditions, with strong wind bursts recorded near Columbus Junction. Residents there reported brief but intense rainfall and loud thunder, though damage was largely limited to tree limbs and power disruptions.

Officials will continue to assess the full extent of the damage, but early indications suggest no major structural damage or injuries. Residents are encouraged to report any fallen wires or blocked roads to their local authorities. Stay tuned to KILJ for updates on the storm damage as the area damage is assessed.

The storm serves as a reminder of the quick onset and intensity severe weather can bring during Iowa’s early summer months.

Sports, June 4th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 at 6:44 am CDT

High School Soccer

The Southeast Conference released the boys’ and girls’ All-Conference awards with the Mt. Pleasant boys’ team and Burlington girls’ team leading the nominations for their respective sides as conference champions. Here’s a look at the All-Conference teams.

On the boys’ side, Fairfield’s Bihn Truong was picked as this year’s SEC Player of the Year for his 10 assists and 8 goals as the Trojans finished in 3rd in the conference. Mihn Truong, Cormac Van Pelt, and Lane Stever also made the All-Conference team for Fairfield.

Mt. Pleasant had five players make the All-Conference squad, including a trio from the defensive side: Abraham Cass, Kohen Cass, and Xachary LeBlanc, the goalie. LeBlanc stopped 82% of shots on goal as the Panthers allowed only 24 goals for the season.

Samuel Schaapen, a foreign exchange student from Germany, immediately made his mark on the team. The midfielder finished the season tied for the team lead in goals with 10, which was tied for 4th in the conference. His 27 points ranked second on the team as he scored a goal in his final game as a Panther against Williamsburg.

Dylan White has been the star of the team since his freshman season, leading the team in goals and points outright in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. This year, he displayed his maturity, stepping out of the limelight and becoming the main distributor with 15 assists on the season for a team leading 33 points. He was still able to net nine goals to bring his career total to 31 goals.

For a full list of the All-Conference nods for the boys’ teams, follow this link: Boys’ All-SEC Teams

On the girls’ side, Fort Madison’s Teagan Snaadt had a year to remember as her 36 goals, which ranked 12th in the state, and 83 points led the conference and nabbed her SEC Player of the Year. She finished with 226 career points on 93 goals. The Bloodhounds finished in 2nd in the conference. 

Mt. Pleasant had their career leader in goals, assists, and points nab a spot on the All-Conference team in Charice Auwerda, as she put up 18 goals and six assists in her senior season. She finished her career with 207 points on 74 goals and 59 assists. 

The tandem of Eli Heaton and Sonya Simon made the Panthers one of the toughest teams to score on with Heaton nabbing over 100 saves for the year and totaling five shutout victories. Simon was the captain of the defense that allowed only 24 goals to cross the line, and she added two assists to her stat line. The Panthers finished 3rd in the conference.

Haleigh Strickland was the lone All-Conference member for Fairfield with eight assists and seven goals for a team-leading 22 points. 

For a full list of the girls’ All-Conference teams, follow this link: Girls’ All-SEC Teams 

High School Baseball

Fairfield had their game postponed against Albia last night, a make-up date will be announced at a later time. The Trojans will travel to Fort Madison tomorrow, June 5th, at 7 pm. 

Wapello had their game against Winfield-Mt. Union postponed. The game will be made up on June 23rd as a doubleheader. 

Wapello will host Louisa-Muscatine tomorrow at 5:30 pm.

Winfield-Mt. Union will play Highland on Friday, June 6th, at 5:30 pm at home.

Central Lee versus Burlington was canceled last night. The Hawks will take on Mediapolis tomorrow at home at 7:30 pm.

Mediapolis and Danville had their game postponed with a make-up date to be announced at a later date. 

West Burlington and Burlington Notre Dame had their game postponed to tonight at 5:30 pm at West Burlington High School.

Mt. Pleasant will look to stop a three-game skid tonight at home against New London with first pitch at 7:30 pm.

Van Buren County will take on Fort Madison tonight at 7 pm at the Field of Dreams.

High School Softball

Mediapolis and Danville had their game postponed to a make-up date to be announced.

Danville will host West Burlington/Notre Dame tomorrow, June 5th, at 7 pm.

Columbus and Central Lee had their game postponed to Monday, June 9th. The Hawks will face off against Mediapolis tomorrow at home at 7 pm.

Columbus will take on Hillcrest Academy tomorrow at 7 pm at home.

WACO had their contest against Lone Tree postponed to June 23rd. It will be played as a doubleheader. The Warriors will face off against Louisa-Muscatine on Friday, June 6th, at 7 pm.

Mt. Pleasant is taking on New London tonight at 7:30 pm at home. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 7:15 pm.

Fairfield will continue their road trip tomorrow to face off against Fort Madison at 7:30 pm. 

Van Buren County will take on Pekin tomorrow at 5:30 pm at home.

Wapello will face off against Louisa-Muscatine tomorrow at 7 pm at home.

High School Cross Country

The Mt. Pleasant Cross Country team will be starting up their optional summer runs on June 16th. The runs are available to any 7th through 12th grader with paces and plans dependent on the level of experience. Coaches may not be present at every run as upperclassmen often lead the runs.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, the runs will begin at 6:30 am at the Old Threshers Museum Theatre. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the runs will begin at Saunders Park by the swimming pool at 7 pm. The runs will continue through mid-August until the cross country camp. If you have any questions, then contact Coach Murray at 319-850-0867. 

Prospect League

The Burlington Bees postponed their matchup against the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp tonight due to unsafe field conditions caused by the storms last night. The contest has been moved to Sunday, June 22nd, to be played as a doubleheader with game one at 2 pm.

The Clinton LumberKings and Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp were able to squeeze in five innings before the weather stepped in and gave the LumberKings a 4-3 victory. Brett White slapped an RBI double in the win. The LumberKings will stay on the road tonight to face off against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes at 6:30 pm.

Prospect League Awards

Kooper Schulte of the Burlington Bees was named Hitter of the Week for May 27th through June 2nd. In 31 at-bats this season, Schulte has a league-leading 12 hits and 12 RBIs for a 0.387 batting average. Schulte has also slugged four doubles, one triple, and two home runs. In his first game with the Bees, Schulte hit for the cycle and totaled five RBIs.

This Day in Sports History

1889 – Boston Beaneaters MLB pitcher John Clarkson is first to throw an “immaculate inning” (strikes out 3 batters on 9 pitches) in a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Quakers at South End Grounds. 

1974 – NFL grants a franchise to the Seattle Seahawks.

1984 – Arnold Palmer fails to qualify for the US Open Golf Championship for the first time in 32 years.