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City of Oskaloosa Commences Massive Road Project

Posted on by Sam Parsons

The city of Oskaloosa announced that beginning today (8/8), work will begin to convert A Avenue/IA92 between Highway 432 and the east corporate limits and on Market Street between 2nd Avenue and 16th Avenue from four-lanes to three with a continuous left turn lane.

This work involves the removal and replacement of pavement markings, median construction at the railroad tracks on A Avenue West, installation of a new traffic signal at Market and C Avenue, and a small portion of sidewalk work. Construction will begin on A Avenue/IA 92 with outside lane closures across two intersections at a time progressing from west to east. The contractor will leave access to homes and businesses along the construction route at all times. The project is slated for a total of 60 working days.

The city says these improvements are based on a study through the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Traffic Safety Improvement Program. This type of conversion is shown to improve safety and efficiency, minimize traffic delays and congestion, and allow for future planning.

More information on the project is available at https://www.oskaloosaiowa.org/…/TSIP-IA-92A-Ave-US-63Market… or by contacting Civil Engineering Technician Courtney Ryan, cryan@oskaloosaiowa.org, 641.676.5014. To learn more about three lane conversions, visit the Iowa DOT’s webpage at https://iowadot.gov/tra…/4-to-3-lane-conversion/3-lane-roads.

Alex Jones ordered to pay Sandy Hook parents more than $4M

Posted on by Sam Parsons

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas jury has ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay more than $4 million in compensatory damages to the parents of a 6-year-old boy who was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre over Jones’ repeated public claims that the attack was a hoax. The jury’s decision Thursday marks the first time the Infowars host has been held financially liable for falsely claiming that the attack that killed 20 children and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut, was staged. It might not be the last such judgment against him, as a judge in Connecticut has already ruled against him in a similar lawsuit. The Texas jury must still decide how much to award in punitive damages.

Iowa DNR Issues Water Summary Update for July

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES — Iowa’s July precipitation was 3.75 inches, 1.51 inches below normal for the month, according to the latest Water Summary Update. Some locations in southern Iowa had July rainfall of four inches less than normal.

An area of extreme drought returned to Iowa for the first time since August 2021, and drought conditions were deteriorating as the month ended. Streamflow, groundwater and soil moisture conditions are below normal in parts of Iowa.

“July was the fourth below normal rainfall month in a row, and the sixth month this year that was drier than normal. We are seeing a continued deterioration of conditions across northwest Iowa, as well as the introduction of drought conditions across a large area of southern Iowa,” said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources. “July is normally a fairly wet month, but the expected rainfall did not occur in much of the state.”

For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, go to www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.

First Edition of “Mahaska Mixer” a Success

Posted on by Sam Parsons

The Mahaska Chamber held its first social event under the new name of “Mahaska Mixer” last night at the newly christened Twin Cedars Bank in Oskaloosa, celebrating its name change from the State Bank of Bussey and being in business for 130 years. We chatted with chamber director Deann De Groot, who talked about how everything turned out as well as the possibility of the chamber putting on more Mahaska Mixers in the future.

You can find the full schedule of events with the Mahaska chamber here.

Songwriting Award To Be Named After Dolly Parton

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Dolly Parton is getting honored in a very special way. The BMI Foundation has renamed their annual Nashville Songwriting Scholarship in her honor. The award will now be known as the Dolly Parton Songwriters Award, and will be handed out annually with the aspiring songwriters chosen from a nationwide competition.

The organization will also create The Dolly Parton Music Fund, which will not only underwrite the annual award, but fund initiatives to support music programs in schools.

“I know how personal and important songwriting is to those that have the talent, and to all the others that enjoy those that have it. I’m proud to be part of a program that will help support songwriting in any way possible,” Dolly shares. “I have been with BMI since I published my first song as a child, so of course I’m very proud and honored to have a BMI Songwriters Award made in my honor.”

The first Dolly Parton Songwriters Award will be handed out next spring. Applications will be accepted starting in October.

Source: Music Row

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1967, Bobbie Gentry released her only hit: “Ode to Billy Joe.”
  • Today in 1972, “Baby, Don’t Get Hooked On Me,” by Mac Davis entered the Top 40 chart.
  • Today in 1989, Dolly Parton’s single, “Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That,” topped the country charts.
  • Today in 1992, “Greatest Hits Plus” album by Ricky Van Shelton was released.
  • Today in 1998, George Strait led the list of nominees for the 32nd annual CMA Awards, nabbing five nominations, including Entertainer, Album and Single of the Year. These nods made Strait the most nominated artist in the history of the competition (47 nominations).
  • Today in 2001, Brooks and Dunn’s inaugural “Neon Circus and Wild West Show” tour, featuring Toby Keith, Montgomery Gentry, Keith Urban and Cledus T. Judd, wrapped up in Pittsburgh.
  • Today in 2002, the Summer Music 2002 issue of “Entertainment Weekly” magazine featured six of country music’s “hottest men” have were tapped as exactly that. Who topped the group? None other than Brad Paisley. He was followed (in order) by Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Andy Griggs and Eric Heatherly. Tied for sixth place were Trick Pony’s Keith Burn and Ira Dean. Each profile explained why each guy was selected, what he could improve and what’s coming next in his career.
  • Today in 2002, the Associated Press reported that Brooks & Dunn’s “Neon Circus & Wild West Show” was the highest-grossing 2002 tour based on per-date revenues.
  • Today in 2005, Keith Urban’s album, “Be Here,” was certified double-platinum.
  • Today in 2008, Jamey Johnson’s album, “That Lonesome Song,” arrived in stores.
  • Today in 2010, Charley Pride was part of an 18-person investor group headed by Nolan Ryan that bought the Texas Rangers baseball team for $593 million at an auction in Fort Worth, Texas.
  • Today in 2013, Carrie Underwood’s single, “See You Again,” was certified gold.
  • Today in 2014, the “Salt Lake Tribune” reported promoters of the Country Explosion music festival filed a $15-million suit against Florida Georgia Line and its tour manager for defamation after he told other music executives their $205,000 check bounced. The festival claimed the band’s manager was given the check to settle the balance on FGL’s $450k appearance fee, but was asked to hold off on cashing it for three days, to allow for the check to clear. Promoters say he agreed, then proceeded to cash the check the next day, and it bounced, leading him to breach the oral contract. Either way, FGL filed a counter-suit the following February alleging fraud and breach of contract.
  • Today in 2015, Taylor Swift’s album “Fearless” is certified seven-times platinum by the RIAA
  • Today in 2016, Chris Young’s “I’m Comin’ Over” album went gold.
  • Today in 2016, Chris Lane’s debut album, “Girl Problems,” was released.
  • Today in 2016, Tim McGraw and Runaway June performed the first show following renovations at Tom Benson Hall Of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction events.
  • Today in 2019, Old Dominion scored a gold single certification from the RIAA for “Hotel Key” and a gold album nod for “Happy Endings.”
  • Today in 2019, Mayor David Briley declared Dolly Parton Day in the city of Nashville.
  • Today in 2019, Thomas Rhett launched a limited-edition line of swimwear, the Rhettro Collection, in tandem with fashion company Chubbies.
  • Today in 2019, Kelsea Ballerini’s single, “Miss Me More,” was certified platinum by the RIAA.
  • Today in 2021, Jake Owen’s “Best Thing Since Backroads” hit the airwaves.

Ottumwa Council Approves Updates to Fire, Electrical Codes; New Parking Lot Project in the Works

Posted on by Sam Parsons

The Ottumwa City Council met on Tuesday. Among the action items the city approved were updates to its fire and electrical codes, as well as the designation of a portion of Church street with the honorary name of Madre Irene Munoz Way to honor her recent retirement.

The city also heard from Public Works Director Larry Seals about a possible upcoming project related to the Troeger parking lot.

Work on the project is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2023, though Seals said winter work could be approved if weather permits. This work would be done on the beach side and would not have any effect on the tennis courts in the area. The project was approved unanimously.

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

Posted on by Bob Ballard

This week’s H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week is “Max”, a one to two year old Shiba Inu mix. Max is a friendly fellow with all of his vetting and vaccinations up to date. Max gets along with other dogs, but he is food aggressive, so if you have other dogs, you would need to feed them separately.

If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Max 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 Max with Terry Gott from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:

China claims ‘precision missile strikes’ in Taiwan Strait

Posted on by Sam Parsons

KEELUNG, Taiwan (AP) — China says it has conducted “precision missile strikes” in the Taiwan Strait as part of military exercises by its navy, air force and other departments in six zones surrounding the island. The drills were prompted by a visit to the island by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week. They are intended to advertise China’s threat to attack the self-governing island republic in response to moves to solidify its de facto independence from Chinese rule. China’s official Xinhua News Agency said the exercises were joint operations focused on “blockade, sea target assault, strike on ground targets, and airspace control.” Taiwan has put its military on alert and staged civil defense drills, while the U.S. has numerous naval assets in the area.

National Group Sues Iowa District Over Its Policy for Transgender Students

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

A national parental rights group has filed a lawsuit challenging an eastern Iowa school district’s policy for transgender students.

The lawsuit accuses the Linn-Mar School District of allowing children to make “fundamentally important decisions” about their gender identity “without any parental involvement.”

Linn-Mar students in 7th through 12th grades may use different names or pronouns at school and use the restroom that matches their gender identity and choose whether their parents are notified. Linn-Mar School Board members who adopted the policy in April said the plan follows federal guidelines for supporting transgender youth in school.

Parents Defending Education, the group that filed the lawsuit, is also alleging the district is violating the First Amendment by threatening to discipline classmates or school staff who refuse to call a student by their preferred pronouns or new name.

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