Show Choir Competition Season Begins

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, January 25th, 2023 at 8:17 am CDT

Mount Pleasant High School Show Choir, InMotion, will head for Davenport North for the Big Dance Invitational on Saturday, January 28.  InMotion will perform at 12:15 pm. MP will be among 11 show choirs performing Saturday.  The names of three of the judges may sound familiar….Bob and Jill Anderson and Allen Chapman.  Mr. Chapman directed show choir at Ft. Madison High School and Holy Trinity Catholic School.  Bob Anderson was a vocal director at MPCHS and instrumental in establishing the modern area of show choir at Mount Pleasant. Check this website for results.

February 4 Mount Pleasant will host the 29th Annual InMotion Invitational at the High School beginning at 8 am with the Middle School choirs. Those awards will be at 12:25 pm.  The High School performances begin at 1 pm with.  Following the final afternoon performance at 5:45 pm, the Mount Pleasant Middle School show choir, Chain Reaction will perform at 6:15 pm and the daytime awards will be announced at 6:40 pm.  The evening finals begin at 7:45 pm.  The day will wrap up with the InMotion performance at 10:45 and then the final awards at 11:15 pm.

Admission is $10. Concessions will be available on site. 18 show choirs are expected to participate.

Sports, January 25th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, January 25th, 2023 at 6:31 am CDT

High School Basketball

The New London girls’ team fell to Mediapolis 79-27 as the Bulldogs held the Tigers to just 12 points in the first half. The New London boys’ team controlled the game from the beginning with the Tigers coming out on top 61-49 over the Bulldogs. New London will be hosting West Burlington this Friday, January 27th, with the girls scheduled to play at 6 pm.

Holy Trinity Catholic was swept by Burlington Notre Dame last night with the girls skating by with a win. The Nikes had a twenty point lead entering the final quarter of play before the Crusaders came roaring back scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter, but came out just short with the Nikes winning 77-68. The boys’ game was just as close as the Nikes went ahead by 9 points at halftime and held on for a 54-42 victory. Holy Trinity Catholic will travel to play Wapello tomorrow, January 26th, with the girls’ playing first at 6 pm.

The Danville boys’ team clobbered Van Buren County 47-19 last night after allowing just three points in the second half. The Bears will be hosting Central Lee Friday with the girls going at 6 pm.

The Central Lee girls’ basketball team fell to West Burlington 74-43 last night as the Falcons jumped out to a 21-5 run to start the game. The West Burlington boys’ team defeated the Hawks 68-36 to improve to 16-0 on the season.

WACO swept the night against Highland with the girls’ winning the first game 60-25. The Warriors held the Huskies to only 11 points in the first half. Ellah Kissell led the team in scoring with 17 points followed by Emma Wagler with 14 points. The boys’ team remains undefeated at 16-0 after holding Highland to just 3 points in the first half on their way to a 59-11 victory. Hunter Hughes and Colton Leichty tied for team lead in points with 12 apiece. WACO will host Hillcrest Academy Friday with the girls’ going at 6 pm followed by the boys.

Mt. Pleasant will face off against conference rival, Keokuk, on Friday with the boys’ at home and the girls on the road. KILJ will be on the call for the girls’ team with the pregame show at 7:15 pm.

Winfield-Mt. Union will travel to face off with Columbus this Friday.

High School Wrestling

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will host Burlington tomorrow, January 26th.

The Regional Duals for boys’ wrestling has been set with Burlington Notre Dame going against Knoxville in the first round with the winner matching up against Williamsburg for Class 2A.

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant will host Burlington this Friday.

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 tomorrow, January 26th.

The men’s wrestling team’s next competition will be a dual against Waldorf University today, January 25th.

The women’s wrestling team’s  next scheduled competition is January 27th at the 2023 Spire Classic.

The Tigers next indoor meet will be the Grinnell Invitational on January 28th.

Two members of the women’s Track and Field team garnered North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) honors. Faith Younce was named Track Athlete-of-the-Week for her 3,000-meter RaceWalk at the Bumble Rumble last weekend that resulted in a new school record and first place at the meet. With her final time of 16 minutes 53 seconds, Younce now ranks 6th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and made the Provisional Qualifying B Standard to qualify for the 2023 Indoor National Championship meet. Bri Hunter claimed her second career Field Athlete-of-the-Week after winning the shot put at the Hilltop Invitational with a heave of 44 feet 2 inches. Hunter’s best throw ranks her 11th in the NAIA and she has already qualified for the 2023 Indoor National Championship meet.

This Day in Sports History

1924 – 1st Winter Olympic Games opened in Chamonix, France.

1996 – Ottawa Senators set an NHL record with 16th consecutive home game without a win (0-15-1) in a 4-2 loss to Detroit at the Palladium; old record (15) shared by 1928 Black Hawks & 1939 Canadiens.

2022 – Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Keith Yandle becomes NHL’s new “Iron Man” with his 965th consecutive regular-season game, breaking Doug Jarvis’s all-time record, in a 4-3 loss at the New York Islanders.

Faith Younce and Bri Hunter Headline NSAA’s Track Athletes-of-the-Week

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, January 24th, 2023 at 3:50 pm CDT

Iowa Wesleyan- Two members of the Iowa Wesleyan women’s track and field team received North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) honors for their performances in the last meet.

Faith Younce was named Track Athlete-of-the-Week for her 3,000-meter RaceWalk at the Bumble Rumble last weekend that resulted in a new school record and first place at the meet. With her final time of 16 minutes 53 seconds, Younce now ranks 6th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and made the Provisional Qualifying B Standard to qualify for the 2023 Indoor National Championship meet.

Bri Hunter claimed her second career Field Athlete-of-the-Week after winning the shot put at the Hilltop Invitational with a heave of 44 feet 2 inches. Hunter’s best throw ranks her 11th in the NAIA and she has already qualified for the 2023 Indoor National Championship meet.

Water Shut-Off

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, January 24th, 2023 at 3:29 pm CDT
The Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities will have a water shut-off from Webster to Langdon on Thursday January 26, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 3:00 p.m. The Utilities will be replacing a fire hydrant on S. Adams Pl.
The Utilities regrets any inconvenience. For questions or additional details, please call 319-385-2121.

Kurt Drager

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, January 24th, 2023 at 3:03 pm CDT

Kurt Andrew Drager passed away peacefully at home on January 23, 2023 in Farmington, Iowa at the age of 71. Originally from Lakewood, Colorado, a 1969 graduate of Lakewood, Colorado High School, Kurt was from a proud family of Colorado pioneers. An avid rugby player for over 40 years, He played the position of a Prop for the Los Angeles Rugby Club before returning to Colorado to play for the Denver Barbarians and Colorado Senior Old Boys (“CSOBs”). He once said, “I always knew I’d grow up to be a SOB”. Kurt was also heavily involved for many years with the Annual Rocky Mountain Rugby Challenge, America’s Premier High School Youth Rugby Tournaments, High School Rugby Teams from many States came to Colorado to participate in these Tournaments.

Kurt was on the board of the Pioneer Historical Society, Inc., the Farmington Museum. He spent many hours volunteering in the Museum as well as volunteering to at the many garage sales the Museum had to raise funds to maintain the Museum.

Kurt had a beautiful voice; he sang many songs to his children when they were young. He also sang Karaoke and would sing in the car or whenever an oldies song came on the radio in the car.

Kurt’s humor, wit and sarcasm never eluded him. He was always that guy at the party, that as fast as lightning could reply with a witty remark in conversation. He loved to laugh and to laugh with the people he loved most. He was a kind, caring gentle soul.

Kurt was an avid reader and history buff; he loved the Civil War and WWII history era, books and movies. He was someone to contend with in a game of Trivial Pursuit or Jeopardy. Many evenings were spent watching Jeopardy with his daughters and later with Heidi staring at him in awe as he rambled off every single answer. Kurt was also an excellent cook, cherished his cookbooks and prepared most of the evening meals, which were always amazingly delicious.

Later in life, Kurt met Heidi, they bicycled many miles on the 100s of miles of bike trails and hiked all over the mountains of Colorado. Traveled to the Copper Canyon in Mexico, a wonderful trip to Iceland, toured 3 Islands in Hawaii, and travelled extensively throughout the United States visiting many sites as well as civil war memorials. He retired to the small town of Farmington, Iowa, renovating an old train depot for their home. Here he enjoyed his quiet small-town life, gardening, working in the yard and watching the wildlife. He loved it there, speaking often of the calmness and serenity of Iowa but his love for Colorado never waned.

Kurt is preceded in death by his parents: Kenneth and Gwen Drager, and brother: Clay Drager. He leaves behind his love, soulmate, and friend: Heidi Schutt; brother: Quentin Drager; daughters: Jennifer Drager, Kirsten Drager, and Kenna Drager (Jay Medina); as well as four grandchildren and three great grandchildren all of Colorado. As friends and family mourn Kurt’s passing, his legacy of humor and humility will live on through those who loved him most.

Kurt’s body has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation. Per his wishes, there will not be a service or memorial.

Memorials may be given to Every Step Hospice Foundation or the Farmington, Iowa EMT’s and can be mailed to the family at: Heidi Schutt, 520 State Street, Farmington, Iowa 52626.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com. Schmitz Funeral Home of Farmington is assisting the family with arrangements.

Daily Jail Count

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, January 24th, 2023 at 10:35 am CDT

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:   01-24-2023______

 

  30_   Henry County Inmates

 

 43 _    Out of County Contract Inmates              

 

   73_    TOTAL

Spring Basketball Tournaments Hosted by Iowa Wesleyan

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, January 24th, 2023 at 10:13 am CDT

Mt. Pleasant- Iowa Wesleyan University will be hosting two basketball tournaments here in the spring. The first one will be a March Madness 5 on 5 tournament held at Iowa Wesleyan University on March 18th and 19th for 5th-8th grade girls and boys.

The second one will be a 3 on 3 tournament for 3rd graders through adults during Easter Weekend on April 8th.

If you would like more details, contact Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jordan Ashton at 319-385-6307 or visit www.inforsports.com.

Dorothy Beauchamp

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, January 24th, 2023 at 10:08 am CDT

Dorothy E. Beauchamp, 105, of Winfield, passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington.  Visitation will be held on Friday, January 27, 2023, from 11:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m. at the Snyder and Hollenbaugh Funeral and Cremation Services of Winfield.  Funeral services will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home.  Burial will be in the Beauchamp Cemetery.  Following the committal services, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Winfield.  Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church of Winfield, Autism Association or American Diabetes Association in memory of Dorothy.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.

Dorothy Evelyn Kepper was born on January 15, 1918, in Winfield, Iowa the daughter of Samuel W. and Lois (Cannon) Kepper.  She was a graduate of Winfield High School.  On November 25, 1936, Dorothy was united in marriage to Russell Beauchamp at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.  She worked at the Winfield School as a cook, was a State Inspector and also worked at Casey’s.  Dorothy was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Winfield, Pinochle Card Club and enjoyed picnics, taking care of her chickens and garden, but most of all, she dearly loved to spend time with her family.

Dorothy will be deeply missed by her children, Sam (Karen) Beauchamp of Winfield, Hal (Jolene) Beauchamp of Mt. Pleasant and Mark (Terri) Beauchamp of Winfield; twelve grandchildren and many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Russell; children, Jim Beauchamp, Mick Beauchamp and Jackie Beauchamp in infancy; grandson, Michael Beauchamp; great granddaughter, Samantha Freeman; brothers, George Kepper, John Kepper and Orin “Bub” Kepper and sister, Wilma Oberman.