The Mahaska County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) have started taking applications for cost share funds for nutrient reduction practices as part of a statewide effort in support of the Nutrient Reduction Strategy. They will be offering a portion of their FY2017 annual allocation of Iowa Financial Incentive Program funds to help local farmers support the Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

The announcement for nutrient reduction practices signup is to encourage landowners to apply for the programs and give field office staff time to process applications prior to the anticipated release of funding after July 1st, 2016.

Funds are available for Water Quality Initiative (WQI) Program Water Quality Practices.
New Users Only Priority Practices:
. Cover Crops at a cost share rate of $25/ac., acreage cap per applicant is 160 ac. Eligible applicants are producers who have never used this practice.
. Nitrification Inhibitor (Nitrapyrin only, with fall applied anhydrous only) at a cost share rate of $3/ac., acreage cap per applicant is 160 ac. Eligible applicants are producers who have never used this practice.
. No-Till/Strip-Till at a cost share rate of $10/ac., acreage cap per applicant is 160 ac. Eligible applicants are producers who have never used this practice.

Funding approval for WQI will be based on the availability of funds and the practice’s ability to reduce the loss of nitrogen and/or phosphorus.

Past Users Priority Practice:
. Cover Crops at a cost share rate of $15/ac., acreage cap per applicant is 160 ac. Eligible applicants are producers that have participated in prior WQI Statewide funding or are not first time users.

Funding approval for WQI will be based on the availability of funds and the practice’s ability to reduce the loss of nitrogen and/or phosphorus.

Funds are available for Iowa Financial Incentive Program, Water Quality Practice of Cover Crop.
. Cover Crops at a cost share rate of $25/ac., acreage cap per applicant is 80 ac. Eligible applicants are producers with land in Mahaska County. They do NOT have to be first time users.
Funding approval for IFIP will be based on the availability of funds.

The Mahaska SWCD would like to encourage Muchakinock Creek landowners as well as landowners in the remaining watersheds of Mahaska County to take this opportunity to learn the benefits nutrient reduction practices can have on our Water Quality.
For more information on the signup, or how these nutrient reduction practices may fit in with your current farm conservation management system, please contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service and SWCD office @ 641-673-3476, 2503 Todd St., Oskaloosa, Iowa.

As the temperatures rise, unfortunately so do the car burglaries. Some burglar’s prefer “easy targets” such as an unlocked car with valuables inside.

Here are some tips to minimize your chances of being a victim:

– Always lock your car, no matter if it is parked in front of your residence or in your driveway.

– If you do park your car outside, park in well-lit and/or high visibility areas. You may want to add lighting, such as a motion detector light or security lights.

– If your car has a security system, use it. Your car horn honking or headlights flashing may be enough to scare off any would be burglar and draw attention to a potential problem.

– Remove all valuables from your car if possible. If you leave them inside, place them out of sight or in the trunk. Most burglars are looking for something of value and easy to take, such as a purse/wallet, computer, cell phone or GPS system. It is also not a good idea to store change/cash in your cup holder as this is something that is attractive to burglars and often taken in car burglaries.

– Never leave your keys in your car. Chances are you may be missing more than your spare change, cell phone or GPS.

– Be a good neighbor. If you see suspicious activity such as individuals looking in vehicles, walking close to vehicles or individuals out at a late hour, call and report it immediately. By working to together, we can reduce vehicle burglaries and reduce crime in neighborhoods.

Press release by the Oskaloosa Police Department

OSKALOOSA — Relay or Life of Mahaska County will return to the Oskaloosa city square for the 2016 event on June 25. Relay chairs Amanda and Wyatt Russell have spent the past three years rebuilding the event at other locations in order to once again provide this fun-filled family day to the community in the original location.
This year the theme for American Cancer Society Relay for Life is Show Your Passion — Paint Your World Purple. In keeping with that theme a purple butterfly has been created by Shaina Hansen to use in the relay butterfly story challenge. The butterfly will be placed in area businesses. Customers
can take their picture with the butterfly, post it to the Mahaska County Relay for Life Facebook Page and share why they relay. The butterfly will start the journey at Mahaska Drug in Oskaloosa.

The butterfly was chosen this year because a butterfly can be a symbol of powerful transformation and new beginnings. A second butterfly is being created and will be sold as part of the fundraising event in June.
As teams relay around the square, families can come and have a fun-filled day which includes a kids zone with games, prizes and a library story time. For a donation of $5 per child or $10 per family, families can have fun all day.

Food trucks and vendors will be on site with live entertainment all day long including Gateway Church of the Nazarene praise band, Yarkosky Dance Studio, Cody Vander Molen, RED Letter and Larry Davis to name a few.

The day will kick off at 10 a.m. with the national anthem and a survivor lap at 10:15 a.m. Survivors and caregivers will be treated to a brunch served by the Jeff and Kathy Akers family. You can bid on silent auction items and purchase raffle tickets for items throughout the day.

Luminaries and a caregivers garden will be lighted at 9 p.m. with the final laps of the relay ending at 10 p.m. There is still time for you to get your team together to relay. There is no minimum or maximum number of members for a team and sign up is free. Just go to the

Just go to the website: www.relayforlife.org/mahaskacountyia to sign up, or call the local chairs with questions at 641-295-1714.

Story provided by Deb Van Engelehoven of the Oskaloosa Herald

OSKALOOSA – Kim Stutting, originally from Wisconsin and a William Penn University graduate, has been hired as Mahaska County YMCA’s Youth Coordinator. Under the direction of Kathy Chamra, YMCA Child Care Director, the position has been vacant for some time but Chamra said the ideal candidate has now been hired.

“I am excited for Kim and the Y,” said Chamra. “She brings a wealth of experience working with youth and has a host of new ideas and activities which will be implemented in not only the after school program but summer camp as well.”

Stutting received her undergraduate degree from Central College and has a degree in art and sociology as well as a master’s degree in Business Leadership. She and her husband, who is also a WPU grad, moved back to Okaloosa last summer. They have two children.

Stutting said she has a passion for working with children, helping them learn and grow, and has a long history of working with children in a variety of activities including Girl Scouts, Lego League, sports teams, cheerleading, and activities through her church.

“I enjoy planning activities that artfully intertwine learning and exciting engagement,” said Stutting, “and believe in helping children learn critical and creative thinking skills. I want to provide opportunities for them to develop their talents and abilities, give them opportunities to learn proper problem-solving skills while working as a team. It helps them as kids, it helps them as they grow and mature. They find it very rewarding when they successfully conquer challenges as a team. It’s fun learning with life-long applications.”

Stutting said she will be revamping the after school program for the 2016-17 school year and is excited to continue working with the school district and the Y’s community partners. She says she will be bringing “more fun into learning.”  But for the moment, with school coming to a close, her focus is on the Y’s summer camp.

“I attended camp for 13 years and was a counselor after that,” said Stutting. “I want to make sure our campers personally experience what I experienced. I want them to create those lifelong memories while forming bonds with cabin groups with is so much a part of the camp experience.”

“Discovery” is a series of week-long camps throughout the summer beginning May 23. Each week’s theme is different. Some other community partners will be participating this year including Robotics Club and Master Gardeners. Stutting encourages any parent interested in this summer’s camps to call the Y (641.673.8411) for specific details. Summer camp information is also available on the Y’s web site (www.MahaskaYMCA.org).