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Hart seeks complete recount in Iowa’s second congressional district race

Posted on by Rick Watts

BY 

Democratic candidate Rita Hart is seeking a complete recount in all 24 counties of Iowa’s second congressional district, where the current tally shows Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks ahead by just 47 votes.

Hart’s campaign manager cites what he calls “consequential errors” that were discovered in Jasper and Lucas Counties in making the request — adding Iowans “deserve to know categorically that their ballots have been accurately counted.”

Secretary of State Pate Pate says he does not certify the election until November 30th, so there are two weeks for the recount, although the second week includes the Thanksgiving holiday.

Election officials are recounting all ballots cast in Lucas County today. Tomorrow, there will be a hand recount of ballots from the precinct in the Lucas County town of Russell where results were not reported until this week.

Miller-Meeks, the Republican candidate in the race, has already claimed victory and was a guest on Fox News this morning discussing prescription drug pricing.

MEET THE H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: “SALLY SUE”

Posted on by Bob Ballard

This week’s H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week is “Sally Sue”, a sweet, 3 month old Coonhound mix pup. Sally Sue is spayed, up to date on her shots, and in search of her forever home.

If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Sally Sue or any of the pets at Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter, visit https://www.stephenmemorial.org/ and fill out an adoption application.

Check out our visit about Sally Sue with Terry Gott from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:

Eric Church & Maren Morris Win Big At The CMAs

Posted on by Bob Ballard

The 54th Annual CMA Awards went down in Nashville last night, with Eric Church walking away with the coveted Entertainer of the Year trophy, his first-ever win in that category. In his speech Eric noted that this year for him has been about the “loss of this year,” including the loss of life, playing shows and more. “The win is we’re all here tonight, together as country music, in person, live,” Eric shared, adding, “it’s gonna be music that brings us out of this. That is the one thing that is gonna save the entire world,” noting, “Politicians are about division, music is about unity.”

But while Eric won the big award of the night, it was Maren Morris who walked away with the most trophies, nabbing three, including Single and Song of the Year for “The Bones,” and Female Vocalist of the Year. Maren used her Female Vocalist speech to highlight black female country artists including Mickey Guyton, Rhiannon Giddens, Yola and more, sharing, “you’ve made this genre so so beautiful, I hope you know that we see you.”

The night’s other big winners included: Luke Combs, who won two awards, Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for “What You See Is What You Get,” Old Dominion, who won their third Group of the Year trophy, Dan + Shay, who nabbed their second Duo of the Year award and Morgan Wallen, who won New Artist of the Year.

  • This year’s show kicked off with a multi-song tribute to the late Charlie Daniels. A lone Dierks Bentley started things off with “Long Haired Country Boy,” which was followed by Brothers Osborne and Dierks’ performance of “Trudy,” with Ashley McBryde joining them for “Texas.” Jason Aldean wrapped the tribute with Charlie’s classic “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.”
  • Unlike most award shows these days, this one did have an audience, although it was basically all of this year’s nominees spread out at tables, like they were at a lounge show. Hosts Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker made a few jokes about having to stay apart, Zoom meetings, social distancing and even Reba’s love life, although with out a big audience the laughs were sparse.
  • The night also saw Charley Pride honored with the 2020 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Jimmie Allen honored Charley, calling him “a truly groundbreaking artist.” Charley then came out and performed “Kiss An Angel Good Morning” with Jimmie and the rest of the audience helping out.

Of course the CMA Awards are all about the performances and there sure were a bunch of great ones last night. Highlights included:

  • Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber performed the live debut of “10,000 Hours” from the stage of an empty Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
  • Luke Combs and his band certainly seemed happy to be together performing a rousing rendition of “Cold As You.”
  • Jon Pardi paid tribute to the late Joe Diffie with a performance of “Pickup Man,” which got the celebs in the audience dancing and singing along. Joe died in March from complications due to COVID-19.
  • Carly Pearce performed her hit “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” joined by Charles Kelley, who filled in for Lee Brice, who had to pull out of the show after testing positive for the coronavirus.
  • Reba and Darius paid tribute to the late Mac Davis with his classic tune “In The Ghetto,” which was made famous by Elvis Presley.
  • Chris Stapleton and wife Morgane let their voices do the talking during their tender performance of “Starting Over.”
  • Ingrid Andress shared an emotional performance of “More Hearts Than Mind” that left her in tears by the end.
  • Little Big Town honored the late Kenny Rogers with a lovely performance of “Sweet Music Man”
  • Old Dominion helped celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Urban Cowboy” with Johnny Lee’s “Looking for Love,” with Lee and Mickey Gilley singing along in the audience.
  • Maren Morris showed off her pipes singing her award winning hit “The Bones.”
  • Keith Urban, who was in Australia, performed “God Whispered Your Name,” noting that the song has taken on new meaning this year, but sharing that it’s mostly about “not having to go it alone.”
    He then dedicated it to healthcare and frontline workers, and their families.
  • Among the other performances: a very pregnant Gabby Barrett was joined by Charlie Puth for the remix of her hit “I Hope;” Morgan Wallen sang “More Than My Hometown,” Eric Church, sunglasses and all, performed his latest single “Hell of A View;” Ashley McBryde performed “One Night Standards;” Miranda Lambert performed “Settling Down;” Jimmie Allen offered up his “Best Shot;” Thomas Rhett reteamed his all-star lineup of Reba, Hillary Scott and Chris Tomlin for “Be a Light;” Brothers Osborne performed “All Night;” Darius brought the laid back vibes with “Beers and Sunshine;” and Kelsea Ballerini had some fun on stage with “Hole in the Bottle.”

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1988, Rosanne Cash topped the country charts with “Runaway Train,” becoming the first female country artist ever to have four #1 hits from one album. The album was “King’s Record Shop,” and the other three hits were “The Way We Make A Broken Heart,” “Tennessee Flat Top Box” and “If You Change Your Mind.”
  • Today in 1991, Kenny Rogers’ “20 Great Years” album was released.
  • Today in 1992, the “Some Gave All” album by Billy Ray Cyrus was certified for sales of 5-million.
  • Today in 1993, Mark Chesnutt hit #1 with the single, “Almost Goodbye.”
  • Today in 1997, John Denver’s album, “Wildlife Concert,” was certified gold.
  • Today in 1999, Trace Adkins’s new album, “More,” debuted in the top 10 on the country charts, making it the highest-selling debut of his career.
  • Today in 2001, Neal McCoy left on a USO tour to entertain American soldiers in Europe and Afghanistan. The troupe was led by Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton.
  • Today in 2003, George Strait received the National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush and the National Endowment for the Arts in a ceremony at the White House.
  • Today in 2004, Sugarland performed “Baby Girl” during their Grand Ole Opry Debut.
  • Today in 2006, Josh Turner delivered the national anthem at Nashville’s LP Field, where the Baltimore Ravens beat the Tennessee Titans, 27-26.
  • Today in 2008, George Strait and co-producer Tony Brown shared Album of the Year for “Troubadour” and Single of the Year for “I Saw God Today” during the 42nd annual Country Music Association awards.
  • Today in 2009, com premiered Jason Aldean’s video, “The Truth.”
  • Today in 2013, Danielle Bradbery made her Grand Ole Opry debut.

Eta regains hurricane strength as Florida prepares for hit

Posted on by Rick Watts

By CURT ANDERSON and FREIDA FRISARO

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Eta regained hurricane strength Wednesday morning as Florida braced for a second hit from the storm along the Gulf of Mexico coast near the heavily-populated Tampa Bay region.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds increased to around 75 mph (120 kph) off Florida’s southwest coast as it moved northward.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami issued a hurricane watch for a 120-mile (193-kilometer) stretch that includes Tampa and St. Petersburg. The storm has been in the Gulf of Mexico since crossing over South Florida on Sunday.

The Tampa Bay region is home to more than 3.5 million people across five coastal counties. No mandatory evacuations were immediately ordered but authorities began opening shelters for anyone needing them.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said special care is taken at shelters to protect people from the coronavirus, such as social distancing, and suggested people bring their own masks.

“Everything will be done to make sure all of our residents are safe,” Castor said.

MORE STORIES:

The latest hurricane watch extends from Anna Maria Island, which is south of St. Petersburg, to Yankeetown.

The forecast prompted school officials in Pinellas and Pasco counties, which includes St. Petersburg, to send students home early Wednesday. Both counties announced schools would remain closed Thursday, as did neighboring Hillsborough County.

The Florida Highway Patrol closed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge that links Pinellas and Manatee counties because of high winds. Tampa International Airport tweeted that it would suspend operations at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

In Pasco County, officials set up four do-it-yourself locations for people to fill sandbags. In Tampa, the Busch Gardens theme park announced it is closed Wednesday and several Veterans Day events in the area were canceled.

A coronavirus testing site at Tropicana Field was also closed Wednesday.

Eta was centered about 145 miles (235 kilometers) south-southwest of Tampa on Wednesday and moving north-northeast near 10 mph (17 kph).

The hurricane center said “life-threatening storm surge” is possible early Thursday, and forecasters advised residents to heed warnings from local officials. Tropical storm-force winds are expected in the area by late Wednesday.

Forecasts call for more rain from the storm system over parts of already drenched South Florida.

“Never seen this, never, not this deep,” said Anthony Lyas, who has lived in his now-waterlogged Fort Lauderdale neighborhood since 1996. He described hearing water and debris slamming against his shuttered home overnight as the storm crossed Florida.

The storm first hit Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane and killed nearly 70 people from Mexico to Panama, before moving into the Gulf of Mexico early Monday near where the Everglades meet the sea, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph).

There was nowhere for the water to go across much of South Florida, which had already experienced nearly 14 inches (35 centimeters) of rain in October.

Eta hit land late Sunday as it blew over Lower Matecumbe, in the middle of the chain of small islands that form the Keys, but the heavily populated areas of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties bore the brunt of the fury.

It was the 28th named storm of a busy Atlantic hurricane season, tying the 2005 record for named storms. And late Monday, it was followed by the 29th storm — Theta.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Theta broke the record of 28 named storms in 2005. Theta was centered Wednesday morning about 740 miles (1,190 kilometers) southwest of the Azores, bearing top sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph) as that system moved east-northeast at 8 mph (13 kph).

___

Associated Press writers Kelli Kennedy and Cody Jackson in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report.

Reynolds warns patients may be turned away from hospitals if Covid surge continues

Posted on by Rick Watts

BY 

More than 3,000 Iowa nursing home residents have Covid and there were a record 1,190 Covid patients in Iowa hospitals last night.

Hospital officials say this surge threatens to overwhelm the system. Governor Kim Reynolds warns rationed care is on the horizon if coronavirus cases continue to spike here.

“This situation has the potential to impact any Iowan who may need care for any reason, whether for Covid-19 or for any other serious medical condition,” she said Tuesday, “and we don’t want anyone to be turned away from our hospitals.”

The U.S. set a record overnight for the number of patients hospitalized due to Covid. Two percent of those patients were in Iowa hospitals, while the entire state accounts for a little less than one percent of the U.S. population.

“We can’t continue to see the number of individuals hospitalized,” Reynolds said. “It is about workforce and it’s about capacity.”

The two week average in Iowa for deaths from Covid is at the highest point during the pandemic. On Tuesday, the state reported 4,428 Iowans had tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours. That is 460 more than were reported in the entire state of New York yesterday. Reynolds is asking Iowans to spend as little time outside their homes as possible.

“As I said last week, these trends cannot continue,” Reynolds said, “and it’s critical that all Iowans do everything within their power to stop the spread of the virus now.”

During a news conference on Tuesday, Reynolds asked to Iowans cancel or postpone parties and get-togethers and avoid situations where others are not following pandemic basics, like wearing a mask.

“We all have to buckle down and take this serious,” Reynolds said. “It spreads. It’s very contagious and so we all need to do our part.”

In addition to a new public health proclamation that requires masks be worn in some group settings, Reynolds is now limiting the size of crowds at high school events, like band concerts, basketball games, wrestling matches. Each student participating will be allowed to have just two people in the crowd. Reynolds has stopped short of a mask mandate for schools, however. About 60 percent of Iowa districts require masks inside schools.

The president of the Iowa State Education Association said the governor’s latest public health proclamation does nothing to stop the spread of Covid in schools.  Iowa House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard of Charles City called the governor’s proclamation: “too little, too late.”

Coronavirus update

Posted on by Rick Watts

One person from Keokuk County and one from Marion County have died from coronavirus.  Those two are among 26 deaths reported Wednesday (11/11) by the Iowa Department of Public Health.  The death total from the pandemic is now 1898.

The number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 is still climbing.  1190 is the total as of Wednesday morning—that’s 55 more than Tuesday (11/10).  And 210 Iowans are in the intensive care unit, 14 more than Tuesday.  As far as people in the No Coast Network listening area hospitalized with coronavirus, the most recent data we have is from Monday.  17 people in Jasper County, 13 in Wapello County, 11 in Mahaska County, ten in Marion County, six in Keokuk County, four in Monroe County and three people in Poweshiek County are hospitalized with COVID-19.

Osky School Board member calls for High School Principal’s firing

Posted on by Rick Watts

During Tuesday’s (11/10) Oskaloosa School Board meeting, Board member Carl Drost asked that High School Principal Stacy Bandy be fired for not responding properly to a threat made at the High School last week.  Board President Shelly Herr responded that because Drost’s demand was not on the meeting’s agenda, no discussion of the matter would take place.  At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, Drost said there would be a resolution on Bandy’s status at the next Board meeting.

On Wednesday morning (11/11), a special Oskaloosa School Board meeting was called for Thursday (11/12) at noon.  This will be a closed session to discuss the professional competency of an employee.

 

The CMAs Are Tonight!

Posted on by Bob Ballard

The 54th Annual CMA Awards air tonight on ABC (8 pm) and while it will be different than past years, with no audience due to the coronavirus, it will still be a great show.

Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker host this year’s event from Nashville, which, as usual, will be filled with a boatload of performances. This year’s confirmed performers include: Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett featuring Reba, Hillary Scott and Chris Tomlin, Carly Pearce and Charles Kelley, Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, Ingrid Andress, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, Jenee Fleenor, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Keith Urban, and Morgan Wallen.

Kicking off this year’s CMAs will be multi-song tribute to the late Charlie Daniels and there will also be tributes to other artists we lost this year, including Kenny Rogers, and Joe Diffie. Old Dominion will also help celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Urban Cowboy” with a performance of Johnny Lee’s “Looking for Love.”

In addition, Charley Pride will be honored with the 2020 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, which is awarded to an “iconic artist who has attained the highest degree of recognition in Country Music.”

This year’s presenters include Thomas Rhett’s wife Lauren Akins, Lauren Alaina, Bobby Bones, Charles Esten, Sara Evans, supermodel Taylor Hill, Jake Owen, Patrick Schwarzenegger and gospel artist CeCe Winans

As for the nominees, Miranda Lambert leads this year’s pack with seven, including a nod for Entertainer of the Year. Miranda’s new nominations extend her record for the most nods for a female artist in CMA history with 55. Coming in close behind Miranda this year is Luke Combs, who has six nods, and Maren, who has five.

Artists in the running for the coveted Entertainer of the Year award include Miranda, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church and Keith Urban. Check out the complete list of nominees below:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Eric Church
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s), and Mix Engineer

“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber) (Producer: Dan Smyers; Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano)
“Beer Never Broke My Heart” – Luke Combs (Producer: Scott Moffatt; Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley)
“Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert (Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
“The Bones” – Maren Morris (Producer: Greg Kurstin; Mix Engineer: Greg Kurstin)
“I Hope” – Gabby Barrett (Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale; Mix Engineer: Buckley Miller)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist and Producer(s)

“Heartache Medication” – Jon Pardi (Producers: Bart Butler, Ryan Gore, Jon Pardi)
“Never Will” – Ashley McBryde (Producers: Jay Joyce, John Peets)
“Old Dominion” – Old Dominion (Producers: Shane McAnally, Old Dominion)
“What You See Is What You Get” – Luke Combs (Producer: Scott Moffatt)
“Wildcard” – Miranda Lambert (Producer: Jay Joyce)

SONG OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Songwriters

“Bluebird” (Songwriters: Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert)
“The Bones” (Songwriters: Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz)
“Even Though I’m Leaving” (Songwriters: Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Ray Fulcher)
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” (Songwriters: Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Carly Pearce, Jonathan Singleton)
“More Hearts Than Mine” (Songwriters: Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland)

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)

“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber) (Producer: Dan Smyers)
“Be A Light” – Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban (Producer: Dann Huff)
“The Bones” – Maren Morris with Hozier (Producer: Greg Kurstin)
“Fooled Around And Fell In Love” – Miranda Lambert (feat. Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes & Caylee Hammack) (Producer: Jay Joyce)
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice (Producer: busbee)

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Award goes to Artist(s) and Director

• “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber) (Director: Patrick Tracy)
• “Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert (Director: Trey Fanjoy)
• “Homemade” – Jake Owen (Director: Justin Clough)
• “I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice (Director: Sam Siske)
• “Second One To Know” – Chris Stapleton (Director: David Coleman)

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• Jimmie Allen
• Ingrid Andress
• Gabby Barrett
• Carly Pearce
• Morgan Wallen

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1993, Dolly Parton launched her new line of cosmetics at her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains.
  • Today in 1995, Deana Carter married Chris DiCroce. The couple has since gone their separate ways.
  • Today in 1996, Deana Carter had a lot to celebrate. Her single, “Strawberry Wine” went to #1, the video also hit #1 on CMT. She also did her first cover shoot for a national magazine and a horse named Strawberry Wine placed first in a race at Churchill Downs.
  • Today in 1998, “The Hits” album by Garth Brooks was certified for multi-platinum sales of 10-million.
  • Today in 2002, Dixie Chick Emily Robison and her then-husband, Charlie Robison, welcomed their first child at 10:06pm in San Antonio. Charles Augustus Robison made his debut at a hearty 8-pounds, 13-ounces and measured 21-inches long. News of the happy arrival was leaked on the Chicks’ webboard that afternoon as a fan posted that she heard the sister of a local nurse spill the beans to a local radio station. Reps for the Chicks confirmed the arrival the following morning.
  • Today in 2004, Darryl Worley, Mark Willis, and Rebecca Lynn Howard delivered a Veterans Day performance for troops in Tampa, Florida.
  • Today in 2006, Carrie Underwood carved her name into the top of the Billboard country chart with “Before He Cheats.”
  • Today in 2008, Taylor Swift’s album “Fearless” was released.
  • Today in 2009, Taylor Swift took home four awards at the 43rd annual CMA awards.
  • Today in 2010, Jason Aldean’s duet with Kelly Clarkson “Don’t You Wanna Stay” hit the airwaves.

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