“City of Christmas” Nationally Recognized and Other News

In an article written by Jeff Rindskopf from Cheapism Lifestyle, Keokuk’s own “City of Christmas” was named one of the, “50 Best Christmas Light Displays in America”.

The article chose one display from each state meaning that the “City of Christmas” was chosen as the top display in the state of Iowa.

This is the description given about the display in the article: “The citizens of Keokuk create original displays for their annual “City of Christmas” light show at Rand Park. Until Dec. 26, the drivable route winds through nearly 100 Toyland exhibits depicting a Nativity scene and Santa’s workshop among others, decorated with approximately 1 million lights.”

There is no charge to visit the “City of Christmas”.  Our display is funded totally by donations which can be left in the donation box mid-way through the display or sent to City of Christmas, P. O. Box 73, Keokuk, IA 52632.

For more information about City of Christmas you can visit their website at www.cityofchristmas.org or call volunteer Jean Meyer at 319-524-1127.

According to a report from Suzanne Potter with the Illinois News Connection, the fight in Congress to save net neutrality this year ends on Friday, but supporters are pushing Illinois Congressman Brad Schneider and 15 other Democrats to go on record in support of it.

These 16 representatives did not sign the petition under the Congressional Review Act that would have forced a vote to restore net neutrality.

Laila Abdelaziz with the nonprofit, Fight for the Future, says she believes a weaker net neutrality bill will be introduced once the next Congress is seated in January, but she worries it will only seem to address the problem and not go far enough.

She notes that Congressman Schneider has taken about $66,000 in donations over the years from internet companies. Schnieder’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Last year, the FCC repealed the Obama-era rule that would have forbidden Internet Service Providers from blocking or slowing down sites they do not like, and from creating an internet “fast lane” and charging users more.

Abdelaziz says intense public support for net neutrality has restrained Internet Service Providers from taking advantage of the repeal, so far.

Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan is one of 23 state attorney generals suing to reinstate net neutrality. A net neutrality bill stalled in the Illinois House of Representatives earlier this year.

According to Radio Keokuk’s own Suzy Glasscock, 787 wreathes were purchased for Keokuk’s Wreathes Across America and were placed at the National Cemetery in town during their ceremony on Dec. 15.

In sports news, the Fort Madison Bloodhounds played a doubleheader against conference rival Washington on Tuesday night.

Washington swept the doubleheader, defeating the girls’ team 46-23 thanks to balanced scoring. Kinsey Duwa scored nine points off the bench while Isabel Bailey and Kira Ropp each had eight points for the Demons.

Fort Madison did not score more than nine points in any of the four quarters. The loss drops the girls’ team to 0-9 on the season. They will play Mount Pleasant at home on Friday night.

The boys’ team lost by 13 to the Demons and head coach Ryan Wilson said the game was well played and close through the first half. Washington got up by double digits in the third quarter, but Wilson says he was able to fire some kids up, get a new group on the floor and get the game back within a few points.

Washington would go on another run, however, to start the fourth quarter, but Fort Madison once again made it close, getting the game within four points halfway through the final quarter. Coach Wilson said this is where turnovers plagued the team once again.

The Bloodhounds are now 3-5 on the season and will play on the road against Mount Pleasant on Friday.

West Hancock boys’ basketball suffered their first loss of the season on Tuesday night, falling to the Central Camp Point Panthers, 46-31.Peyton Dooley led the Titans with 12 points and Drake Hammel followed with nine. West Hancock is now 7-1 on the season while the win pushes Central to 6-3.

The Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball team was also in action on Tuesday night, picking up a 78-60 win over Western Carolina.

It was a stellar game for the Hawkeyes’ frontcourt as junior Tyler Cook led the team with 18 points, sophomore Luka Garza scored 15 and freshman Joe Wieskamp dropped in 10 points.

Redshirt freshman Connor McCaffery also contributed nine points and five assists of the bench, going 7-10 from the free throw line.

Every Hawkeye that played over 10 minutes scored at least four points.

Iowa’s next game will be on Saturday against Savannah State with tip-off at noon.

Finally, Wednesday is National Signing Day in college football and as of 10 AM on Tuesday morning, the Hawkeyes had signed 16 players, including four offensive linemen, three defensive linemen, three linebackers, two running backs, two tight ends, one defensive back and one wide receiver.

Four of the recruits come from the state of Iowa in Tyler Endres from Norwalk, Noah Fenske from New Hampton, Jack Campbell from Cedar Falls, Chris Reames from Van Meter and Ezra Miller from Holstein.