Lee County Leadership Request and Other News

The Lee County Leadership Program is requesting applications from nonprofit organizations throughout Lee County for community projects.

The eleven participants of this year’s Lee County Leadership Program will use their new skills and expanded network in leading three community projects proposed by Lee County community organizations. Applications for community projects are due Friday, Jan. 18.

Past successful projects include a fundraiser kickball tournament, introduction of healthy smoothies for concession stands and family friendly event to promote a community library.

Organizations will work with three to four leadership participants for an estimated 60 total man hours dedicated to completing the project.  Project timeline is beginning of February to mid-April. Leadership teams will present on their project and experience at Lee County Leadership Graduation on May 7.

Contact the Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce or Fort Madison Area Chamber of Commerce to learn more and receive a project application.

Shelley Oltmans can be reached by phone at 319-524-5055 and by email at [email protected] while Savanna Collier can be contacted over the phone at 319-372-5471 or by email at [email protected]. Chosen projects will be announced Jan. 23.

From Chuck Vandenberg and the Pen City Current, in what’s becoming a tradition from the Fort Madison High School student government, local veterans from all U.S. armed forces were welcomed and honored with speeches from local dignitaries and music from the FMHS music department.

FMHS Principal Greg Smith welcomed everyone to the assembly and said the project was created by the Student Government who wanted to do the assembly right before the holidays to honor the gift of freedom veterans have preserved for everyone.

Jeff Metcalf, a 42-year civilian resident of Fort Madison, spoke to those in attendance about the importance of recognizing the service and sacrifices made by veterans.

He said he would ask family members about veterans in the family who had medical conditions.

SFC Rob Radosevich also spoke to those in attendance and encouraged students, and parents alike, to not look at the military as just a second option. Radosevich is now a recruiter after decades of active duty.

Radosevich then saluted the veterans in the gymnasium.

The FMHS student government then donated close to $500 from a fundraiser to the local VFW in honor of their service.

In college basketball action over the weekend, the Iowa Hawkeyes had some big performances for both their men’s and women’s teams.

The Lady Hawkeyes went on the road to take on the Drake Bulldogs and came away with a 91-82 win in Des Moines.

Megan Gustafson had a performance to write home about with a season high 44 points, with 30 in the second half alone, and grabbed 14 rebounds, seven of which were offensive.

She now needs just nine points to break the school’s all-time scoring record of 2,102 points held by Ally Disterhoft, she is already the all-time leader in rebounds as well.

This was her 10^th double-double of the season, a stat that leads the country, and was also named Big Ten Player of the Week for the sixth time this season.

Tania Davis and Hannah Stewart each chipped in 14 points as well against the Bulldogs.

The top 15 ranked Hawkeyes will play against Michigan State on Sunday in East Lansing at 12 PM. This will be the first Big Ten game of the season for them and it will also be shown on ESPN 2.

The Iowa men’s team had a stellar performance of their own with a 110-64 win over the Savannah State Tigers on Saturday, thanks to a school record 19 three pointers.

Joe Wieskamp led the Hawks with 24 points while hitting five shots from downtown. He was joined in double digit scoring by Jordan Bohannon, who hit a team high six triples, Tyler Cook, Isaiah Moss and Riley Till.

All 11 Hawkeyes that played scored at least two points and were on the court for at least seven minutes.

Iowa led by 30 at the halftime break and increased their lead by 16 more points in the second half.

Their next contest will be on Saturday as the Bryant Bears come to Iowa City for a game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This will be Iowa’s Alumni Game and the Hawks and Bears will tip off at 7:05 PM.

Radio coverage for the game will begin about an hour before tip-off and you can hear Gary Dolphin and Bobby Hansen on Z93, your home for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

There is no action for the Keokuk or Central Lee athletics this week, but the West Hancock boys’ basketball team began play in the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament at 10:30 AM on Wednesday.

We will hopefully have wrap-up coverage of the tournament in Thursday afternoon’s newscast.