First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
We were proud to announce a rebrand with the return of Iowa Prep Illustrated in November 2023, in on-line version (only). Iowa Prep Illustrated was a popular high school sports magazine in our state in the Mid-90s. With its return, we are honoring its founder Mike Stevens. Originally, we were JTB247, it’s inception was in June 2021.
Iowa Prep Illustrated’s focus will be area coverage of Cherokee, MMCRU, Ridge View, and South O’Brien in Northwest Iowa. We will also provide scoreboard coverage of eight high school conference — Lakes, Missouri River, North Central, Siouxland, Top Of Iowa, Twin Lakes, War Eagle, Western Valley and one independent school in Western Christian.
Jeff B – Online Editor
Jeff pictured with his two granddaughters Arleigh and Aloni in Jeff’s home. Jeff pictured with his two grown children Alex and Ashley in his home.
Jeff is an Iowa Newspaper Association (INA) award winning sports editor and photographer. He’s won best sports photo, best sports story, and best sports pages (2009, 2010), all multiple times. In 2012, he was selected Best Sports Columnist.
He has has spent more than three decades as a sports writer, sports editor, and sports photographer. He began back in the fall of 1988 at then his hometown newspaper, Cherokee Daily Times. Jeff also worked previously for the Cherokee Chronicle. He’s cherished his opportunity to have worked with a few of his newspaper mentors the late Paul Struck, Bill McIntyre, and Mark Wicks.
His trails in newsprint media have taken him across the state. He has also worked for newsprint publications based in Floyd, Ida, Lyon and O’Brien counties.
He’s served as a voting member for the Iowa Newspaper Association (INA) all-state selections in boys & girls basketball, baseball, and football for more than 20 years, and also served as a Associated Press Iowa weekly rankings voter for boys high school athletics.
Jeff is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He attended Cherokee Washington High School and Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) in Fort Dodge. He later coached softball and women’s basketball at ICCC, as well as having served as recruitment coordinator. ICCC is where he met his former wife and began a family.
Jeff was a Ellsworth Community College statistician for football during tenure of the late head coach Mark Thomsen. He was a volunteer for head women’s basketball coach Annie (Stelow) Kalous for the 1995-96 NJCAA National Tournament qualifier. That team tied a school record 26 wins for the season, finishing 26-4.
He has also enjoyed having been able to coach middle school basketball and volleyball at Galva-Holstein, and softball
under legendary coach Leo Hupke in Cherokee.
Jeff found God again in 2015, and today plays a significant part of his life.
Jeff is a father of two grown children (Ashley, Alex), the grandfather of two: Arleigh Nicole (5) & Aloni Ann (2). Jeff also has two grown sisters Jean of Cherokee and Jenni or rural Schaller. He is the nephew of the late Kenny & Olga Bern. He is the son of the late Vernon (Pete) & Connie Benson.
Contact Jeff at: iowaprepillustrated@gmail.com
Will H – Assistant (Scores)
Will is a graduate of Storm Lake High School, graduating in 2023.
He is a fan of his hometown Storm Lake Tornadoes and Buena Vista University Beavers.
In his free time he enjoys watching and cheering for the Iowa State Cyclones, Chicago Cubs, Indiana Fever, Kansas City Chiefs, and Minnesota Wild.
He is presently working for Kwik Star in Storm Lake.
Contact Will at: harderwill659@gmail.com
“If something stands between you and your success, move it. Never be denied.”
— Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
