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Labor union sues General Motors to stop plant closings in 3 states

Posted on by Rick Watts

The United Auto Workers has sued General Motors in federal court to stop the closing of plants in Ohio, Michigan and Maryland, claiming the company is forbidden from idling plants under its current contract.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Youngstown, Ohio. The plants at which the UAW is trying to prevent closures are in Lordstown, Ohio; White Marsh, Maryland; and Warren, Michigan.

GM in a statement said the company’s November announcement about the closings doesn’t violate the contract and said the company is working with the UAW on “solutions to our business challenges.”

Lordstown assembles the Cruze subcompact sedan. The Maryland site operates manufactures electric motors and drive trains, and the Michigan plant makes transmissions.

Harsh winter hurting deer and wildlife population

Posted on by Rick Watts

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said the weather is hurting the habitats of fish, pheasants and deer. It could mean fewer animals for people to hunt and fish.

The Iowa Wildlife Federation said this harsh winter is already changing how some deer are behaving, and other animals could have population problems long after the weather warms up.

Iowa Wildlife Federation President Joe Wilkinson said seeing deer closer to neighborhoods isn’t something to celebrate. It means they’re having to work harder to find a meal.

“They’re exposed more in the outside instead of in the brush where they can stay away and keep warm,” said Wilkinson. “They have to be out in the cold, they have to get the food they need to survive.”

Wilkinson said soon people may see even more on the side of the road.

“They’re taking more chances, you’ll see more roadkill around the roads this time of year,” said Wilkinson.

Wilkinson said deer aren’t the only animals in danger, though.

“Whenever Iowa gets 31 inches of snow or more, the pheasant population starts seeing a very noticeable drop,” said Wilkinson.

Freezing drizzle may impact the morning drive

Posted on by Rick Watts

Areas of freezing drizzle will continue through the morning commute, especially the farther northeast you go. Main roads will generally remain wet, though any side streets or rural roads may be rather slick at times. Overall, a cloudy day is ahead with steady temperatures in the teens. A 10-20 mph wind will keep wind chills near zero this morning and a few degrees below zero this afternoon.

Overall, our extended forecast remains extremely active. Though major storms are not anticipated, smaller ones impacting the area nearly on a daily basis will be common. Our next system may create a light dusting of snow in the area tomorrow. Friday’s snow is still on track to arrive in the late afternoon and evening hours and should only bring minor amounts of accumulating snow to northern Iowa. There is little chance of accumulating snow over southern Iowa with that one.

This weekend, another low pressure system could impact the area, especially the farther south you go. Arctic air will be coming into the Midwest at the same time, which will keep our temperatures well below normal. Additional snowfall will only serve to enhance the cold into the first part of next week

North Mahaska girls preparing for State

Posted on by Rick Watts

North Mahaska’s girls’ basketball team takes on West Hancock tonight (2/27) at the Class 1A State Tournament in Des Moines. The Warhawks advanced to State by beating previously undefeated Seymour in last week’s Region 6 championship game.  North Mahaska Coach L.E. Moore says his team’s resilience is a reason they’ve made it to State.

“Seymour, they were never behind all year. so they had a hard time reacting to that situation. Whereas we’ve been behind in some games and had to come back.  It was a tough game and fortunately, we got through it and we’re looking forward to the next step.”

For many North Mahaska players, like junior Emma Tyrrel, going to State is something they’ve seen others do.

“We’ve been working on it since third grade.  And since we saw the 2012 girls go, we’ve just all really wanted it.  And so just to get it felt amazing.”

North Mahaska takes a 15-4 record into tonight’s game with West Hancock, who come in with a 23-1 record.  You can hear the North Mahaska/West Hancock game on KBOE 104.9FM and www.kboeradio.com starting at 5:00pm, with pregame at 4:45pm.  Following that, KBOE 104.9 FM will have Montezuma’s girls against CAM in another 1A State matchup.  That one tips off at 6:45pm.

Walmart cutting greeters from workforce

Posted on by Rick Watts

Walmart is cutting greeters from its workforce, and some workers with disabilities say the company is targeting them.

More than a thousand store locations are making the switch to customer hosts instead of greeters. This means higher pay, more responsibility and more physical demands.

One employee, who has cerebral palsy, says he will lose his job as a Walmart greeter in April. Because of his physical limitations like heavy lifting and standing, he says he cannot apply as a customer host.

Walmart says it will extend its transition period to see if employees with disabilities can be accommodated.

Oskaloosa’s boys are going back to state

Posted on by Rick Watts

The Oskaloosa Indians are headed back to the 3A Boys State Basketball Tournament with a 16-5 record.  This will be their second straight year after beating Fairfield 58-37 in the 3A Substate final last night.

The first score of the night was made by Fairfield but Oskaloosa quickly caught up to take a 10-6 lead after the first quarter.  Oskaloosa went on to keep the lead the rest of the game.  They led at halftime with a 33-15 score and ended the game with a 58-37 score.

Cole Henry led Oskaloosa with 19 points, Austin Hafner had 13,  Xavier Foster scored 12, Rian Yates had 11 points and Noah Van Veldhuizen scored 3 points last night.

They will play at Wells Fargo Arena on Tuesday, March 5th.  Game time TBA.

 

Country Music Hall of Famer Mac Wiseman Dead at Age 93

Posted on by Rick Watts

Country Music Hall of Fame and Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame member Mac Wiseman passed away on Sunday morning (Feb. 24), at the age of 93.  Wiseman died at an Antioch, Tenn. rehab facility, and had been experiencing kidney failure these past few weeks.

The artist was one of the founders of the Country Music Association, and was known as “The Voice With a Heart.” Although a victim of childhood polio which affected his mobility, he was still able to play guitar, which he picked up at age 12. Starting off his career as a radio DJ in the early ’40s, he moved on to join country singer Molly O’Day’s band, and also was a member of Flatt & Scruggs’ Foggy Mountain Boys and Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. He additionally toured with Hank Williams, and recorded dozens of his own albums over the decades, which included early hits “Jimmy Brown The Newsboy: and “‘Tis Sweet To Be Remembered.”

The Country Music Hall of Fame remembered Wiseman with a social media tribute pointing out his “splendid and often groundbreaking music,” as well as his “inspirational and important life.”

Wiseman was inducted into the Bluegrass Music hall of Fame in 1993 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014. He was a 2008 National Heritage Fellowship recipient and had recently received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from West Virginia’s Glenville State College. He is survived by his five children. There are no details released yet regarding funeral arrangements.

February 26: On this day

Posted on by Rick Watts

Born on this day in 1932 in Kingsland, Arkansas, was Johnny Cash, US country singer, songwriter who was considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although he is remembered as a country icon, his songs spanned other genres including rock and roll and rockabilly and blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honor of induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. During the last stage of his career, Cash covered songs by several late 20th-century rock artists, most notably “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails. Cash died of respiratory failure on September 12th 2003, aged 71.

Public meeting tonight about Oskaloosa Street corridor

Posted on by Rick Watts

There’s going to be a public meeting tonight (2/26) in Pella about the Oskaloosa Street corridor.  City officials want to hear your ideas on what Oskaloosa Street should look like, what kind of businesses should be there, and what safety improvements should be added.  The meeting runs from 6:00pm to 7:30pm tonight at the Pella Public Safety Complex at 614 Main.  You’re asked to use the Liberty Street entrance for the meeting.

Cemetery clean-up in Ottumwa

Posted on by Rick Watts

Crews at the Ottumwa Calvary and Ottumwa Jewish Cemeteries will begin their annual spring cleanup on Friday, March 1.  Families who wish to keep any tributes or memorial decorations need to remove those items from the cemetery before Friday.  If a shepherd’s crook is used to hang an arrangement, families may leave the shepherd’s crook, but please remove the arrangement.  Cemetery personnel will remove all floral tributes, decorations and wreaths remaining after Friday.  Spring and summer decorations can be placed after April 1.

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