Boys’ Prep Track: Mount Pleasant SEC Runners Up

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 12:05 pm CDT

Mount Pleasant — The Mount Pleasant boys’ track team finished as conference runners up yesterday, losing only to Washington at the SEC meet at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.

Washington rolled up 204 points with Mount Pleasant checking in with 122.

The Panthers got wins from junior Will Davidson in both the 200m dash and the 110m hurdles.

Davidson went 22.10 in the 200m while clocking in with a 15.27 in the hurdles.

Mount Pleasant’s terrific 4×100 team of Avin Truong, Davidson, Morgan Van Nyhuis, and Colton Hutson went 45.16 for third — the shuttle hurdle team finished in second, as well.

Fort Madison placed third with Fairfield, Burlington and Keokuk following suit

Boys’ Prep Track: Mediapolis wins North, New London wins South at SEISC Meet

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 12:04 pm CDT

Wayland — Mediapolis earned the North title, with New London surging to the South championship at the SEISC Meet in Wayland.

Mediapolis bested Columbus, Wapello and Pekin in the team standings while New London held off a strong push from Danville in the South.

New London won a total of nine events in the South Division. Josh Catala picked up a title in the 200m dash, cruising to a win in 22.61.

Seth Bailey and Alexander Julian showed off their long distance chops with easy wins in the 1,600m and 3,200m run respectively.

Kade Benjamin — 4th at Drake in the high jump — cleared 6 feet, 6 inches to win the South Division high jump.

Boden Pickle, Joel Lacy, Reean Seberg and Josh Catala set another school record in the 4×100 on their way to a second place finish — behind only West Burlington Notre Dame — in 44.20.

In the North, Mediapolis won a striking 10 events, including four relays.

The Bulldogs won the 4×400, 4×800, the sprint medley and the distance medley.

Kadin Salek won both the 400m and the long jump, while Solomon Zaugg claimed gold in the 1,600m and 3,200m run.

Winfield’s Gabriel Hemsworth was the champion of the 400m hurdles, winning in 56.62.

Simeon Reichenbach of WACO was the 110m hurdle champion, earning the conference title in 15.53.

Danville’s Ty Carr was the meet champion in the 800m run in 2:03.58.

Girls’ Soccer: Mount Pleasant Rolls to Easy Win

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 12:03 pm CDT

Fairfield — Mount Pleasant got off to a hot start and never let off the gas, as they steamrolled Fairfield for a 10-0 win last night.

Elly Manning scored seven goals and also assisted on another.

Abby West had two markers, while Charice Auwerda scored once and assisted on three goals.

Evelyn Escobar made three saves in the shutout.

The Panthers, now 7-4, will take on Fort Madison next Monday on the road.

Other girls’ soccer finals:

  • Fort Madison 3, Burlington 2
  • Washington 4, Keokuk 3

Boys’ Soccer: Fairfield Blanks Panthers

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 12:02 pm CDT

Fairfield — Fairfield scored once in the first half and added two insurance goals in the second to pick up a 3-0 win last night.

Carter Moore, Carter Stark and Everett Elliason all scored once for the Trojans.

Mikael Anderson made two saves.

Mount Pleasant is now 1-12 on the year.

Fairfield improved to 3-7.

Other boys’ soccer finals:

  • Fort Madison 2, Burlington 1
  • Washington 10, Keokuk 0
  • Central Lee 2, Columbus-Winfield-Mount Union 1
By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 11:35 am CDT

Girls’ Prep Track: Mount Pleasant Girls’ Tabbed SEC Champions

It always seemed like momentum was swelling to this outcome. Scott Lamm’s Mount Pleasant girls’ track team won yet another Southeast Conference title last night, cruising to the team championship after racking up 204 points and seven individual titles.

Jadan Brumbaugh was a double winner, earning a conference title in both the shot put and discus.

The Iowa State recruit went 48 feet, 6.5 inches in the shot and 118 feet, 5 inches in the discus.

Abby Blint had a clean sweep in her three individual events, winning the 800, 1,5000 and 3,000m run, putting on an impressive showing in relatively unpleasant conditions.

Kenna Lamm also won the 100m dash — the Panther senior finishing in 12.79.

Fairfield was the conference runner up with 133 points. Washington placed third with 101, while Fort Madison, Burlington and Keokuk rounded out the basement.

Girls’ Prep Track: Danville Runner Up, Mediapolis Third at SEISC Meet

Danville finished as runner up in the SEISC South Division, while Mediapolis placed third in the North at yesterday’s Super Conference meet in Wayland.

The New London girls’ finished with 30.5 in the North, with WACO placing 5th with 93 points.

Winfield-Mount Union ended their meet 7th in the North Division.

West Burlington-Notre Dame won seven events en route to the team title in the South Division, while Pekin won the North Division.

Danville earned two individual event wins, with Kenna Furnald — a state qualifier from a year ago — winning the long jump in 16 feet .5 inches.

Alexis Dietsch scored a title in the 400m hurdles, crossing the finish line in 1:14.35.

WACO won two relay events taking the 4×200 and the shuttle hurdle relay. Ally and Maggie Rinner, Katie Leicthy and Zoey Dennler were on the victorious hurdle team.

Keetyn Townsley continued her strong season hurdling, winning the 100m hurdles in 16.99.

She also anchored their North Division winning hurdle relay team, which won with a time of 1:17.81.

Boys Prep Track: Mount Pleasant SEC Runners Up

The Mount Pleasant boys’ track team finished as conference runners up yesterday, losing only to Washington at the SEC meet at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.

Washington rolled up 204 points with Mount Pleasant checking in with 122.

The Panthers got wins from junior Will Davidson in both the 200m dash and the 110m hurdles.

Davidson went 22.10 in the 200m while clocking in with a 15.27 in the hurdles.

Mount Pleasant’s terrific 4×100 team of Avin Truong, Davidson, Morgan Van Nyhuis, and Colton Hutson went 45.16 for third — the shuttle hurdle team finished in second, as well.

Fort Madison placed third with Fairfield, Burlington and Keokuk following suit.

Boys’ Prep Track: Mediapolis wins North, New London wins South at SEISC Meet

Mediapolis earned the North title, with New London surging to the South championship at the SEISC Meet in Wayland.

Mediapolis bested Columbus, Wapello and Pekin in the team standings while New London held off a strong push from Danville in the South.

New London won a total of nine events in the South Division. Josh Catala picked up a title in the 200m dash, cruising to a win in 22.61.

Seth Bailey and Alexander Julian showed off their long distance chops with easy wins in the 1,600m and 3,200m run respectively.

Kade Benjamin — 4th at Drake in the high jump — cleared 6 feet, 6 inches to win the South Division high jump.

Boden Pickle, Joel Lacy, Reean Seberg and Josh Catala set another school record in the 4×100 on their way to a second place finish — behind only West Burlington Notre Dame — in 44.20.

In the North, Mediapolis won a striking 10 events, including four relays.

The Bulldogs won the 4×400, 4×800, the sprint medley and the distance medley.

Kadin Salek won both the 400m and the long jump, while Solomon Zaugg claimed gold in the 1,600m and 3,200m run.

Winfield’s Gabriel Hemsworth was the champion of the 400m hurdles, winning in 56.62.

Simeon Reichenbach of WACO was the 110m hurdle champion, earning the conference title in 15.53.

Danville’s Ty Carr was the meet champion in the 800m run in 2:03.58.

Girls’ Soccer: Mount Pleasant Rolls to Easy Win

Mount Pleasant got off to a hot start and never let off the gas, as they steamrolled Fairfield for a 10-0 win last night.

Elly Manning scored seven goals and also assisted on another.

Abby West had two markers, while Charice Auwerda scored once and assisted on three goals.

Evelyn Escobar made three saves in the shutout.

The Panthers, now 7-4, will take on Fort Madison next Monday on the road.

Other girls’ soccer finals:

  • Fort Madison 3, Burlington 2
  • Washington 4, Keokuk 3

Boys’ Soccer: Fairfield Blanks Panthers

Fairfield scored once in the first half and added two insurance goals in the second to pick up a 3-0 win last night.

Carter Moore, Carter Stark and Everett Elliason all scored once for the Trojans.

Mikael Anderson made two saves.

Mount Pleasant is now 1-12 on the year.

Fairfield improved to 3-7.

Other boys’ soccer finals:

  • Fort Madison 2, Burlington 1
  • Washington 10, Keokuk 0
  • Central Lee 2, Columbus-Winfield-Mount Union 1

 

Iowa Air Pollutants Down From Past

By Allison Jacobs · Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 11:17 am CDT

It’s spring. That time of year when temperatures warm, mushrooms pop up and the outdoors beckon. Visit our parks and count on better air quality. Air pollutants are down, according to Iowa DNR’s emissions inventories. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide have decreased the most—down by nearly 90 and more than 70 percent. The DNR is looking out for Iowans’ health. The annual emissions inventory tallies reports from facilities that emit pollutants. Tracking air pollutants helps DNR ensure Iowa companies comply with pollution regulations designed to protect public health and the environment.

If you want to dig into the data, emission reports, and modeling and monitoring data are available on the air quality webpages. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency summarizes long-term air quality data across the U.S. And, just published, the American Lung Association’s State of the Air report shows Iowa has clean air. Find out more about air quality trends in Iowa and your neighborhood. Or, explore a few ways you can help keep Iowa’s air healthy. 

Air quality awareness week is May 2 – 6.

Your Life Iowa: Mental Health Awareness Month

By Allison Jacobs · Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 11:14 am CDT

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and The Iowa Departments of Public Health and Human Services are urging Iowans to prioritize their mental health. After the last two years of pandemic living, many people are realizing that stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taken a toll on their well-being. The state of Iowa is launching a multi-platform, multi-audience suicide prevention messaging campaign. The campaign targets Iowa youth as well as adults who are influential in the lives of young Iowans. Messages will run on platforms frequently used by a younger demographic, including TikTok and Snapchat; and placed on broadcast television and social media sites with an older audience demographic. The call to action for both campaigns is to reach out to Your Life Iowa. Your Life Iowa provides free, 24/7 support available for anyone dealing with mental health concerns, thoughts of suicide, substance use, problem alcohol use, or problem gambling. You can reach Your Life Iowa by calling 855-581-8111, or by visiting yourlifeiowa.org.

Area Utility Phone Scam

By Allison Jacobs · Friday, May 6th, 2022 at 11:13 am CDT

Access Energy Cooperative would like to alert the public to scam telephone calls that are occurring. Access Energy has received reports that community members have been receiving telemarketing calls self-identifying as “the utility” and requesting over the phone payment before utilities are shut off. Access Energy would like to make the public aware of these scams and inform the public that utility companies, including Access Energy and the Mount Pleasant Municipal Utilities, will not call you and ask for your information. If you receive a call alerting you to pay over the phone before your utilities are shut off, please decline to respond, and remember to never give personal information over the telephone.