Men’s College Basketball: Murray Nabs Big Ten Weekly Honor

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

Iowa City — University of Iowa men’s basketball sophomore Keegan Murray has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week, it was announced Monday by the Big Ten Conference Office.

The All-America candidate has earned the Big Ten weekly honor a program-best five times this season.

Murray is the only NCAA Division I player this season averaging 23+ points, 8+ rebounds, and 2+ blocks).

He has scored 25 or more 12 games this season, the most of any player from a major conference this season.

Closing the season in a flurry, the No. 24 Hawkeyes earned another easy, 82-61 win last night over Northwestern.

Murray finished with 26 points and 18 boards to improve the Hawkeyes to 21-8.

Prep Basketball: IBCA Announces Pizza Ranch All-Stars

KILJ — The Iowa Basketball Coaches Association has released their rosters for the upcoming Pizza Ranch All-Star game.

Several area names are honored.

On the Southeast Iowa Boys’ All-Stars is Mount Pleasant senior forward Dewon Trent, who paced the Panthers with 13.8 points per game and over seven boards.

He’ll be joined by SEC rivals Amarion Davis (Burlington), Kasen Bailey (Washington) and Dayton Davis (Fort Madison).

The team will be coached by former Mount Pleasant head and assistant coach Caleb Akey, who’s now at Burlington High School.

On the girls’ side, SEC standouts Malarie Ross (Fort Madison) and Abby Wolter (Keokuk) made the Southeast Iowa Girls’ All-Stars.

Super Conference leaders Megan Harrell (Notre Dame) and Kaylee Corbin (Louisa-Muscatine) also were selected.

Mount Pleasant head coach Curt Watson will co-coach the Southeast Iowa Girls’ All-stars with Tipton’s Matt Bolger.

Sports, March 1st

Girls Prep Basketball: State Basketball Scoreboard

Day One of the IGHSAU State Basketball tournament commenced yesterday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Here’s a full look at the scoreboard:

5A

Johnston 47, Dowling Catholic 38

Pleasant Valley 52, Iowa City High 47

West Des Moines Valley 49, Des Moines Roosevelt 44

Waterloo West 67, Ankeny Centennial 59

3A

Unit Christian 40, Davenport Assumption 37

Estherville-Lincoln Central 49, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 34

West Lyon 38, Roland-Story 23

College Softball: Wesleyan Drops Two 

The Iowa Wesleyan softball team (0-2) dropped a pair of games this weekend as they opened up their 2022 season.

Playing in Columbia, Missouri, the Tigers fell 10-7 to Kentucky State and 6-4 to Stephens College.

Ariana Wolfard had a triple for the Tigers against Stephens, while Emilee Rooney had a three hit game against Kentucky State.

Wesleyan will be in action again on Sunday, March 6th as they travel Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to take on Madonna University (MI.) and Goldey Beacom College (DE.).

Women’s College Basketball: Clark Named B1G POW

University of Iowa sophomore Caitlin Clark was named Big Ten Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday.

This week’s award is the seventh Big Ten Player of the Week honor this season for Clark.

In three games for Iowa last week, including two top-10 wins, Clark averaged 33 points, 9.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game.

Clark and the No. 12 Hawkeyes will face the winner of Minnesota vs. Northwestern on Friday at the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.

Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

Men’s College Basketball: Murray Nabs Big Ten Weekly Honor

University of Iowa men’s basketball sophomore Keegan Murray has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week, it was announced Monday by the Big Ten Conference Office.

The All-America candidate has earned the Big Ten weekly honor a program-best five times this season.

Murray is the only NCAA Division I player this season averaging 23+ points, 8+ rebounds, and 2+ blocks).

He has scored 25 or more 12 games this season, the most of any player from a major conference this season.

Closing the season in a flurry, the No. 24 Hawkeyes earned another easy, 82-61 win.

Murray finished with 26 points and 18 boards to improve the Hawkeyes to 21-8.

Man Dies After Falling Thru the Ice (update)

On February 28, at 5:07pm Des Moines County Sheriff’s deputies along with the Mediapolis Fire Department responded to an address in rural Mediapolis after receiving a 911 call from a male asking for help. Sheriff deputies and fire personnel arrived and found an adult male who had falling through the ice while fishing. After pulling this subject to safety it was learned that a second male subject had also fallen through the ice and was still under the water. Mediapolis Fire Department utilized their training and equipment to begin searching for this second subject. At 6:35pm the second subject was pulled from the water. Both subjects were transported to the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center. The two subjects are brothers, ages 69 and 71, Patrick and Michael Vaughn from Davenport Iowa. Patrick Vaughn was pronounced deceased at Southeast Iowa Medical Center upon arrival.

Four Juveniles from Christamore Found in Keokuk

Four juveniles who allegedly stole a car in Mount Pleasant on Thursday, after leaving the Christamore Family Treatment Center, were found in Keokuk with the stolen car and taken to the Juvenile Detention Center. Charges are being filed in Henry and Lee Counties. On February 23 at approximately 4:20 pm the Christamore House, on S Iris Rd in Mt Pleasant, reported two female runaways from their facility that had left approximately 15 minutes earlier. They later returned on their own accord. At approximately 6:30 pm the same two females and two males ran away from the facility which was reported 10 minutes later to law enforcement.  At about 9 pm a local citizen located them going through his vehicle and chased them off and notified law enforcement. 

The Mt Pleasant PD encourages people to lock the vehicles and residences. Anyone who sees suspicious activity is encouraged to contact the Mt Pleasant PD at 319 385-1450.

Anyone with concerns about the facility and issues there is encouraged to contact the Director of DHS via email director@dhs.state.ia.us , Juvenile Court Services Michael.Rempe@iowacourts.gov or your local elected officials joe.mitchell@legis.iowa.gov or jdreichman@yahoo.com

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Mount Pleasant Community School District School Special Session Board Meeting

Date:  February 28, 2022 6:00pm

Mount Pleasant Community School District High School Media Center

Mount Pleasant, Iowa 52641

  1. Call to Order
  2. Roll Call
  3. Approval of Agenda
  4. New Business
    1. Review of Apple Lease Agreement (Discussion)
    2. Review Middle School 1:1 Device Program (Discussion)
    3. Review 22-23 PPEL Spending Plan (Discussion)
    4. Consideration to Approve Contractual Agreement with AFSCME Local 3865 (Motion)
    5. Consideration to Approve Traffic Study Contractual Agreement with Bolton and Menk, subject to Counsel Approval (Motion)
    6. Consideration to Approve iJAG Fundraiser (Motion)
    7. Negotiations Discussion (Exempt from Open Meetings Law)
    8. Adjournment

Lee County Schools Recieve STEM BEST HD Program Awards

 

 Lee County, Iowa – The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council announced Central Lee, Ft. Madison, and Keokuk Community Schools as three recipients of the STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) HD Program models for 2021. Each district award will be $40,000, totaling $120,000 to support the Lee County Career Advantage Center.

 

The STEM BEST HD Program is designed to prepare students for the workforce through curriculum focused on skills needed in job sectors such as computer science/information technology, healthcare professions, and advanced manufacturing. “We are excited to be awarded these funds by the STEM Council. “This is a collaborative effort and will make a big impact in Lee County,” stated Lee County EDG Project Director Dana Millard. “These funds will allow us to further our goal of connecting Lee County students with the skills needed to meet their career goals.”

 

Funds awarded to Ft. Madison will support the architectural design and renovation of the former KL Megla building in Montrose, serving as home to the Career Advantage Center.

“The Fort Madison Community School District is excited to be a part of a partnership that supports future learning and training opportunities for our students via the Lee County Career Advantage Center,” said Ft. Madison Superintendent, Erin Slater. “This has been a

multi-year project in the making, and we are grateful to the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council for their recognition of this endeavor. “

 

Funds awarded to Keokuk Community School District will provide furnishings for the four classrooms to be created in the first phase of renovations.

 

“The Keokuk Community School District is appreciative of the partnerships with Ft. Madison and Central Lee Community School Districts in addition to Southeastern Community College and Lee County Economic Development.  Additionally, we are excited about the opportunities the Career Advantage Center will provide for all Lee County students. This collaborative learning space will provide dynamic opportunities to prepare students as they enter the workforce here in Lee County.” -Doreen Underwood, Director of Instructional Services and Dan Mart, Superintendent.

 

Funds awarded to the Central Lee Community School district will support the installation of technology into the classroom spaces. “Having interactive display panels and HD TVs will support an engaging student experience at the Career Advantage Center. In addition to this, business and industry can utilize this technology to interact with students on collaborative projects. Central Lee is appreciative of the STEM Advisory Council for supporting this shared effort in providing robust work-based learning opportunities for Lee County students.” – Angie Fransk, Curriculum Director.

 

The STEM BEST HD Program results from a special appropriation from the Iowa legislature to expand the STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program to focus efforts on job sectors in high demand. It will help build partnerships between schools and businesses, allowing educators and industry professionals to work together to develop curriculum and projects that prepare students for careers in these high-demand fields.

 

The STEM Council Executive Committee reviewed and approved 38 new or expanded partnerships supported by up to $40,000 each. Compared to the traditional STEM BEST Program, STEM BEST HD offers a higher grant amount and a lower cost-share requirement for applicants. The awards can be used for facility upgrades, equipment, time for program planning with partners, travel needs, or integrating curriculum into existing courses.

 

To be considered for a STEM BEST HD Program award, applicants were required to submit a comprehensive proposal that incorporates rigorous and relevant STEM curriculum, valuable partnerships with community businesses or organizations, align with STEM goals, address the sustainability of the model program, and conduct an evaluation of the program’s effectiveness.

 

 

 

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About the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council: Established in July 2011 via Governor’s Executive Order, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is a public-private partnership of educators, companies and Iowa students and families addressing policies and programs designed to improve Iowa’s educational system focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The STEM Council works to engage and prepare students for a career-ready workforce path, regain our state’s historic leadership position in education and provide a vital competitive economic advantage now, and for the future, to ensure that every Iowa student has access to world-class STEM

education opportunities. The 62-member STEM Council is co-chaired by Governor Kim Reynolds and Foundation Analytical Laboratory Owner and Director of Technical Services Diane Young. For more information, visit https://iowastem.org.

WMU Jazz Band, Speech, Snow White and Cafe Concert

WMU Jazz Band competed at the Coe College Jazz Summit on Thursday, February 24th in Cedar Rapids. WMU ended up placing second at the three day long event among other 1A Bands. Griffin Humphreys was named the outstanding 1A Musician for the event. The group will compete again on Saturday, March 5th, at the SEIBA Jazz Festival at Clear Creek Amana High School, where they hope to secure another invitation to the Iowa Jazz Championships later this spring. Jazz Band Members include: Saxophones Gabe Hemsworth, Gavin Prior, and Beatrice Anderson. Trumpets Cameron Giese and Kinsley Gunnison. Trombones Griffin Humphreys and Brynn Pogmore. Rhythm Section: Isabel Kann, Maggie Hutton, Isabella Martinez, and Ella Kann.  WMU Jazz Band is directed by Lindsey Pogmore.

WMU’s speech team participated in district level competition on Saturday, February 26th at Tri-County School in Thornburg. Six WMU Students prepared eleven events for contest, with ten of those advancing on to State Competition, which will be held at Grinnell High School in mid-March. Students advancing to State Competition include: Chloe Fisher (Poetry, Literary Program), Isabel Kann (Prose, Literary Program), Griffin Humphreys (Radio News Announcing, Storytelling), Brayden Nordyke (Storytelling, Improvisation), and Alli Humphreys (Expository Address, Radio News Announcing).  Dakota Silva also competed at District Level (Prose). WMU Speech Team is coached by Lindsey Pogmore.

Spring is just around the corner, and that means many things.  One of those things is that it’s almost time for WMU’s annual collaboration with the Minnesota-based Prairie Fire Children’s Theater.  After a couple years of pandemic-related hiatus, this year’s production promises to be lots of fun for all involved.Auditions for interested students in 2nd thru 12th grades will be held on Monday, March 7th after school in the small gym, and should finish up by 5:30.  Rehearsals will be from 3:30 until 7:30 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with an opening night performance on Friday at 7:00 PM (March 11th) and at 2:00 PM on Saturday (March 12th) in the small gym.There are over 70 parts available for students to participate in this exciting show! Auditions are open to any students in 2nd thru 12th grades.  Tickets for these performances will be $10 for adults, and $7 for seniors/students, and available for purchase at the door.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Pogmore, at 257-7700 extension 128 or by email at lindsey.pogmore@wmucsd.org.

The Winfield Fine Arts Departments are gearing up for their annual Cafe Concert. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, March 19th at 7:00 PM in the big gym. The theme for this year’s concert is “Decades”, and will feature music from different decades of the 20th century. There should be some familiar tunes for everyone! There will be performances by 6th thru 12th grade Choir members, 7th thru 12th grade band members, jazz band, speech team members, and works on display by WMU art students. Additionally, there will be a bake sale and art sale in the lobby. Tickets for this fun event are $10 for table seating with dessert for adults, $7 for table seating for students, and $5 for bleacher seating for all ages.  If you have questions or would like to purchase tickets, please contact Mrs. Pogmore at 257-7700 extension 128 or Mrs. Eichelberger at 257-7700 extension 127. We hope to see you there!