MEET THE H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PETS OF THE WEEK: BARRON & DOTTIE

Posted on December 1, 2022December 1, 2022 by Bob Ballard

This week’s H & S Feed & Country Store Pets of the Week are Barron & Dottie, a couple of adorable 3 year old domestic shorthair kitties. Barron & Dottie are best buds, and they’d love to be adopted as a pair, but it’s not neccessary. Barron isn’t a fan of other male cats, but he loves playing with female cats and Dottie is his favorite. Both would make great companions, and they’d love to meet you!

If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Barron & Dottie 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 Barron & Dottie with Shanna from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:

House votes to avert rail strike, impose deal on unions

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Sam Parsons

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is moving urgently to head off the looming U.S. rail strike. The House passed a bill Wednesday that would bind companies and workers to a proposed settlement reached in September that failed to gain the support of all 12 unions involved. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. It would impose a compromise labor agreement brokered by President Joe Biden’s administration. That agreement was ultimately voted down by four of the 12 unions representing more than 100,000 employees at large freight rail carriers. The unions have threatened to strike if an agreement can’t be reached before a Dec. 9 deadline.

Iowa’s governor urging congress to repeal military’s COVID vaccine mandate

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

Governor Kim Reynolds is among 21 Republican governors who’re asking congress to repeal the COVID vaccine mandate for America’s soldiers.

Governor Reynolds, in a written statement, said the Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate for the military “creates a national security risk.” Reynolds said it affects national guard units at the state level as well and restricts governors’ ability to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies.

About 8000 active-duty soldiers who’ve refused to get a COVID shot have been discharged. A Pentagon official told a Washington, D.C. radio station in September that about 9000 National Guard soldiers around the country who haven’t been vaccinated may be discharged this year.

As of today, 93% of Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen have complied with COVID-19 vaccination requirements, according to a spokesperson for the Guard.

Neighboring governors from Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota are among the Republicans who’ve joined Iowa’s governor in sending a letter to congressional leaders asking for the COVID vaccine mandate for the military to be eliminated.

Pella’s Kerstmarkt, Tour of Homes Underway Today

Posted on December 1, 2022December 1, 2022 by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

A couple of big holiday events in the city of Pella get going today and run into the weekend.

Pella’s 59th annual Tour of Homes is happening today through Saturday. The event is described by Visit Pella as “a beloved tradition that will warm your heart as you tour four beautiful homes decorated for the holidays. If you love architecture, decorating, or are just looking for a festive activity to enjoy with friends or family, you’ll make wonderful memories at the Christmas Tour of Homes.”

Ticket includes home tours and refreshments to go provided for pick up at the Kerstmarkt Christmas Market on the Molengracht, 700 Main Street.

Tickets are available for purchase at the businesses listed below throughout the event:

Visit Pella (915 Broadway St)
PACE (818 Washington St)
The Sanctuary (719 Franklin St)
Pella Hometown Variety (635 Franklin St)

Contact Visit Pella with questions at 641-204-0885 or follow the Visit Pella Facebook page for the latest details.

Kerstmarkt, Pella’s Dutch Christmas Market, also gets going today. This is now in its second year and is held in conjunction with the Tour of Homes. It is inspired by outdoor markets in the Netherlands, and folks can stop in and shop from artisan vendors, enjoy hot Dutch eats and drinks, and listen to live music.

Dates / Times:

Thursday, December 1 – 11 AM – 8 PM
Friday, December 2- 11 AM – 8 PM
Saturday, December 3- 10 AM – 8 PM

For the latest information, visit the event’s Facebook page, or check out the event schedule HERE.

Dolly Parton: Bezos Donation Made Me Cry

Posted on December 1, 2022December 1, 2022 by Bob Ballard

Jeff Bezos recently announced that Dolly Parton was picked for the Bezos Courage and Civility Award for her charity work and was being given $100M to give to the charities of her choice. How did Dolly react to the news? “Well, I couldn’t believe it. First of all, I cried on the phone with Jeff Bezos,” Dolly told ET.

She says she’s “still praying and thinking about where it all can go,” and says that “I want to be remembered as a good person. If I can be, I want to be remembered as a giving person, a talented person.”

Source: Entertainment Tonight

This day in Country Music History

Posted on December 1, 2022December 1, 2022 by Bob Ballard

Today in 1977, the “Elvis Country” album by Elvis Presley was certified gold.
Today in 1987, George Strait’s “Ocean Front Property” album was certified platinum.
Today in 1992, Brooks & Dunn’s “Brand New Man” album was certified double-platinum.
Today in 1993, the “Big Time” album by Little Texas was certified gold.
Today in 1993, Alan Jackson’s album, “A Lot About Livin’ (And A Little ‘Bout Love),” went triple-platinum, while his single “Chattahoochee” was certified gold, for sales of half a million copies.
Today in 1993, George Strait’s “Easy Come, Easy Go” album was certified gold and platinum.
Today in 1993, the album, “Greatest Hits, Volume II,” by Reba McEntire was certified gold and platinum.
Today in 1994, Brooks & Dunn’s “Waitin’ On Sundown” album was certified gold and platinum.
Today in 1995, Alabama hit the top of the charts with the single, “In Pictures.”
Today in 1995, David Lee Murphy’s debut album, “Out With A Bang,” went gold
Today in 1996, Clint Black’s “Greatest Hits” went gold and platinum.
Today in 1998, the single, “This Kiss,” by Faith Hill was certified platinum.
Today in 1999, Alan Jackson’s “Under The Influence” album was certified gold and platinum.
Today in 2000, Tim McGraw’s “Greatest Hits” debuted at #1 on the “Billboard” Country Albums chart.
Today in 2000, Aaron Tippin and his wife, Thea, welcomed a new addition to their family – their second son, Thomas Aaron. He was born at 5:10 PM at Baptist Women’s Pavilion in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Thomas weighed in at seven pounds, four ounces and measured 20 inches long.
Today in 2005, Ricky Skaggs and The Whites performed at the lighting of the national Christmas tree in Washington, D.C. Also participating: CeCeWinans, Maya Angelou and President George W. Bush.
Today in 2007, Carrie Underwood got big results from “So Small” as the song reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
Today in 2011, Jennifer Nettles hosted as ABC-TV aired the holiday special “CMA Country Christmas.” Guests include Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, Faith Hill, Amy Grant, Martina McBride, Darius Rucker and Keith Urban
Today in 2012, Shania Twain began a two-year, 120-show residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Today in 2014, Little Big Town’s single, “Girl Crush,” hit the airwaves.
Today in 2015, Brett Eldredge earned a gold single from the RIAA for “Lose My Mind.” On the same day, Brantley Gilbert scored a triple-platinum single from the RIAA for “Bottoms Up.”
Today in 2016, an agitated Luke Bryan slapped a heckler in the front row as he performed “Move” during Charlie Daniels’ Volunteer Jam at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Also on board are Kid Rock, Travis Tritt, Larry The Cable Guy and Chris Stapleton, who joins Daniels on “Can’t You See”
Today in 2016, “Dolly Parton’s Christmas Of Many Colors – Circle Of Love” aired on NBC. Jennifer Nettles and Rick Schroder starred in the holiday special, which Dolly narrates, sings and plays a sex worker.
Today in 2016, Loretta Lynn told “People” magazine that she tried marijuana for the first – and last – time in 2016 after a physician prescribed it as she battled glaucoma: “I took one smoke off of it and it hit me right here in the chest. I like to have died! Glaucoma is just going to have to take over.”
Today in 2016, Eli Young Band bass player Jon Jones and his wife, Sarah, welcomed daughter Lila Pascale Jones in Fort Worth, Texas.
Today in 2016, “Forbes” named Taylor Swift the highest-paid musician after a year in which she earned $170-million. Elsewhere on the list are Garth Brooks at #6 ($70M); Kenny Chesney at #13 ($56M), Luke Bryan at #19 ($53M), Toby Keith clocked in at #22 ($47.5-million) and Jimmy Buffett was #27 ($40.5M).
Today in 2017, Luke Combs scored his first gold album from the RIAA for “This One’s For You.”
Today in 2018, Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman caused a public stir when they dined at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in a Sydney, Australia mall and shopped for kids’ clothing at Kmart.
Today in 2018, Adam Wakefield’s debut album, “Gods & Ghosts,” was released.
Today in 2020, Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins hosted “CMA Country Christmas” on ABC. Also in the lineup were Little Big Town, Lady A, Kelsea Ballerini, Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker, Gabby Barrett, Dan + Shay and Florida Georgia Line.
Today in 2020, Jake Owen announces his engagement to longtime love Erica Hartlein. Still going strong, the lovebirds still haven’t set a date.
Today in 2020, Kellie Pickler sang “Silent Night” from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for the lighting of the national Christmas tree in Washington, D.C. Thanks to COVID-19, the event – also featuring performances by Jerrod Niemann, Laine Hardy and Leaving Austin – is closed to the public and will be viewable only online.

Ottumwa City Council Discusses Heartland Agreement, ATV/UTVs

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Ottumwa City Council held a special meeting this week to discuss the status of the city’s financial agreement with Heartland Humane Society. Board member Garrett Ross spoke on behalf of Heartland at the meeting and reiterated the animal shelter’s need for additional funding.

The Heartland Humane Society serves all of Wapello County and adjacent communities, but Ross estimated that 60-70% of the animals in the shelter come from the city of Ottumwa. Currently, the shelter receives $1,000 a year in funding from Wapello County, and their agreement with the city of Ottumwa provides that the city subsidizes 10% of the slots in the shelter, which amounts to roughly $10 per animal per day. Ross said that the current expenses per animal per day amount to about $20 per animal per day, and that the shelter is currently operating at a loss of $3,000-5,000 per month. Ultimately, the council requested more concrete information on the expenses per animal and will revisit the agreement in a future meeting.

The council also discussed a possible new ordinance for ATV and UTV usage within city limits. No action was taken, but city administrator Philip Rath received direction to consult with the city’s legal department to research and draft a possible ordinance for next year.

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