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Pella City Council Approves 2023 Bos Landen Golf Course Fees

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Pella City Council met earlier this week and finalized the 2023 Bos Landen Golf Course fees. 

This will be the first year that the city will be fully responsible for course operations. In a staff memo to the council, the new fees were described as being “comparable to similar golf courses and consistent with previous years when the course was operated by management firms.” Minimum and maximum fees were set and some of the highlights included a single membership fee totaling between $1,600 (min) and $2,200 (max), a family membership fee totaling $2,300 (min) to $3,500 (max), lessons ranging from $20-200, and greens fees ranging from $10-75 for both 9-hole and 18-hole rounds. The full breakdown is available on the Pella city website and the new fee structure was approved unanimously.

The council also received an update on their sidewalk inspection program. This past year, the city inspected sidewalks primarily in the southwest quadrant of the city after inspecting the northeast and northwest parts of the city in 2018 and 2019. City administrator Mike Nardini gave some of the key numbers from the inspection and what comes next for the city.

The council agreed that they will most likely address the defective panels through the same process they have used previously, though no action was taken this week.

Oskaloosa Council Approves FY2024 Maximum Property Tax Dollars

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council met earlier this week and held a public hearing on their Maximum Property Tax Dollars for the upcoming fiscal year. The total tax levy represents a 12.66% increase from the previous year and Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt provided some reasoning behind that.

The total tax levy in the amount of $5,351,633 was approved without objection.

The council also discussed an application from Clow Valve to the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s High Quality Jobs Program. The company is planning a major expansion to their Oskaloosa iron foundry on 17th Avenue East with an estimated construction cost of nearly $70 million. The application to the IEDA’s High Quality Jobs Program, which in this case incentivizes job retention for the planned upgrades, requires a local match, which will come in the form of a 10-year tax abatement estimated to total $1,157,142. The exemption will occur after construction is completed. The resolution approving the application was passed.

Zach Bryan Invites Fan On Stage To Play Saxophone After Meeting In The Aspen Airport

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Zach Bryan had a couple of shows at Belly Up Aspen this week. One of his fans, Wynne Williams, ran into him at the airport and said he couldn’t get tickets to the show. It turned out it was his lucky night, however.

Wynne had a saxophone with him, and Zach said he could come to the concert if he agreed to play on stage with the band. Wynne agreed, it became the “greatest day” of his life. Zach even invited him back to play again on the next night.

Zach’s fans shared positive reactions to the day on Twitter & Instagram, with some even joking that maybe he’ll hire Wynne as his full-time sax player. Zach has some time off before his next tour in April, so Wynne has plenty of time to convince him!

Source: Whiskey Riff

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1935, Gene Autry starred in the sci-fi western “The Phantom Empire,” which included his song “That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine.” His co-star was Smiley Burnette, and the plot was that Autry finds a lost race of people with laser guns living underneath his ranch.
  • Today in 1957, Patsy Cline made her debut on the pop charts with “Walkin’ After Midnight.”
  • Today in 1959, “Don’t Take Your Guns To Town” earned Johnny Cash a #1 country single in Billboard.
  • Today in 1978, Kenny Rogers won the GRAMMY in the Best Male Country Vocal Performance category for “Lucille.”
  • Today in 1979, Tanya Tucker’s “TNT” album was certified gold.
  • Today in 1983, at the GRAMMYs, “Always On My Mind” won three awards: Song of the Year and Best Country Song for writers Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, and Best Country Vocal Performance Male for Willie Nelson.
  • Today in 1985, “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On” earned Mel McDaniel his one and only #1 single in Billboard.
  • Today in 1988, the “Born To Boogie” album by Hank Williams Jr. was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1990, Reba McEntire gave birth to her son Shelby Stephen Blackstock.
  • Today in 1993, the “Hard Workin’ Man” album by Brooks & Dunn was released.
  • Today in 1996, George Strait’s “Strait Out of the Box” 4-CD set was certified for sales of three million copies, making it the best-selling country box set of all time.
  • Today in 1996, Martina McBride’s album, “Wild Angels,” was certified gold.
  • Today in 1996, Alan Jackson hit #1 on the charts with “I’ll Try.”
  • Today in 1999, Garth Brooks attended spring training camp with baseball team the San Diego Padres as a non-roster player. In lieu of salary, the Padres Foundation agreed to contribute to the Touch ‘Em All Foundation, a charity Brooks co-founded in collaboration with Major League Baseball players, entertainers and corporate partners.
  • Today in 2000, Lonestar’s “Lonely Grill” album was certified double platinum.
  • Today in 2000, at the GRAMMYs, The Dixie Chicks and Shania Twain each won two awards. The Chicks got Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group for “Ready To Run,” and “Fly” won Best Country Album.
  • Today in 2002, LeeAnn Rimes and Dean Sheremet got married. The couple split in 2009 amidst the revelations of her affair with Eddie Cibrian – and were divorced in June 2010. She was engaged to Cibrian by December 2010 and they married in April 2011.
  • Today in 2003, Alan Jackson won his very first GRAMMY. It was in the Best Country Song category for “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning).”
  • Today in 2004, Brad Paisley was the celebrity monarch for the Krewe of Orpheus at the Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans.
  • Today in 2009, Gloriana’s video, “Wild At Heart,” premiered.
  • Today in 2012, Luke Bryan scored a platinum single from the RIAA for “I Don’t Want This Night To End.”
  • Today in 2012, Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2013, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires were married in Nashville.
  • Today in 2013, Tim McGraw’s “Two Lanes Of Freedom” spent a week at the top of the Billboard country albums chart.
  • Today in 2018, Cole Swindell’s single, “Break Up In The End,” was released.
  • Today in 2019, Steve Earle, Bob McDill, Christopher Cross and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons are inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame at the Paramount Theatre in Austin.
  • Today in 2019, Taylor Swift was a surprise performer for a fan’s engagement party.
  • Today in 2012, Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2020, Bruce Robison, Kelly Willis, Lee Roy Parnell, Walt Wilkins and Waylon Payne performed at Gruene Hall in Texas to raise money for Hal Ketchum’s medical expenses as he battled Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Today in 2021, Scotty McCreery posted a video showing his dip into a chilly backyard pool. His “polar plunge” in place raised more than $2,600 for Special Olympics.
  • Today in 2021, Luke Combs’ single, “Forever After All,” hit the airwaves.

Osky Boys Fall at Newton in Playoffs

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa Indians’ boys team entered the 3A playoffs with a 3-18 record and a first round matchup on the road at the #6 Newton Cardinals on Monday as a heavy underdog. The Indians had lost to the Cardinals 61-39 in their first matchup this season and then 79-43 in their second, and the Cardinals had only lost one game to a 3A opponent all season (to #1 ranked Bondurant-Farrar). In short, expectations were generally low for the Indians’ first round game.

The team responded by playing like they had nothing to lose. And it worked.

The Indians gave the Cardinals a run for their money that they certainly weren’t expecting, but not without early adversity. The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead and were up 31-23 at halftime, leading by double digits for stretches of the first half. Once again, Osky was having a difficult time containing 6’5″ senior Cardinal forward Cole Plowman along with senior guard Brody Bauer.

But in the 3rd quarter, the Indians flipped a switch and got back into the game. A late-quarter rally saw the Indians shock the crowd as Waylon Bolibaugh and Max Roach started burying jump shots to tie the game. In the final seconds of the 3rd quarter, it was 43-43; at this point in the previous two meetings between the Cardinals and Indians, the game had already been decided.

The Cardinals responded with a heads-up play in the final seconds to go down the floor quickly and lay in a bucket to take a 45-43 lead heading into the fourth; and unfortunately, while the energy on the Oskaloosa side of the gym was now at a new high, the Cardinals would use that basket as a kick-start to put the game away.

That last basket of the 3rd quarter began a 13-0 run for the Cardinals to go up 56-43 early in the 4th. From there, Newton kept Osky at a safe distance. The Indians were unable to generate another rally to make it a game in the final minutes and their upset bid came up short, 70-56. It was an admirable display of effort for the team in their final game.

The Cardinals (15-6) will be hosting Fairfield in their second round game on Thursday. The Indians (3-19) graduate 3 seniors: Waylon Bolibaugh, Jakob Stek, and Brody Allman.

Stats

Jimmy Carter enters hospice care. What is it?

Posted on by Sam Parsons

PLAINS, GA (AP) — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has entered home hospice care after a series of short hospital stays. The Carter Center said in a statement Saturday that Carter, 98, “decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention.” Hospice care is treatment designed to make patients comfortable and to reduce pain and suffering in their final days. It is usually home-based and reserved for those declared by two physicians to be terminally ill, with six months or less to live. Hospice care may include medicine but only to reduce symptoms, not with the intent to cure any illness.

Iowa Senate panel votes to reinstate limited form of death penalty

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

A bill to reinstate the death penalty in a limited number of cases is eligible for debate in the Iowa Senate.

The bill would make those convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering a person under the age of 18 eligible for a death sentence. Republican Senator Julian Garrett of Indianola, a retired attorney, would vote to make the death penalty an option in far more cases.

“Given how difficult it is to get a bill passed in this legislature, we’re narrowing it down as much as we possibly can,” Garrett says.

The bill cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 10-8 vote. Senator Janice Weiner, a Democrat from Iowa City, says it’s an international embarrassment that some U.S. states still have the death penalty. “It puts us right in line with Saudi Arabia, Iran, China and North Korea,” she said.

Other Democrats, like Senator Tony Bisignano of Des Moines said if there’s a mistake and an innocent person is put to death, there’s no reversing that. “The state should not be in the business of killing people,” Bisignano said during committee debate this afternoon.

Garrett considers the death penalty a deterrent and he said a wrongful conviction is a worthwhile trade off. “If we make a mistake now and then and, as I say, mistakes under current technology are miniscule and we can save some innocent women’s lives down the road, that’s where the trade off is,” Garrett said.

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has said he could support the death penalty on moral grounds. But Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison considers it impractical for several reasons. The drugs to administer a lethal injection are hard to find and Holt said the cost of sentencing someone to spend the rest of their life in prison is far less than the court costs associated with appeals to a death sentence and the expense of maintaining a death row in the state’s prison system.

Computer Basics Classes offered at Ottumwa Public Library

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OTTUMWA — The Ottumwa Public Library is happy to announce that they will be offering two free computer classes.

The first, Thursday, February 23rd at 10:30 am, will be Computer Basics.  It will teach the basic parts of the computer, how to minimize, restore, and close windows, and become more confident using a mouse.

The second class will be Thursday, March 2nd at 10:30 am and will be on Email Basics.  It will teach how to compose and send an email, log into email without assistance, attach a file to email and organize your email.

“We are so excited to be able to offer these classes.  We are utilizing laptops purchased with Legacy Foundation Bright Idea Grant funds and will be able to offer a quiet classroom setting for this instruction,” Sonja Ferrell, Ottumwa Public Library Director said.  “So much of our society relies on basic computer and internet knowledge today and it is necessary that we help educate our community with those skills.”

Participants are not required to attend both classes.  Space is limited so registration is required.  Please call 641-682-7563 to sign up.

Mahaska County Board of Supervisors Discusses Wind Turbines and Zoning

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors met yesterday morning and had a discussion about wind turbines and zoning within the county. Mahaska County resident Micah Van Mersbergen spoke with the board about MidAmerican Energy’s proposed $3.9 billion wind and solar energy project called Wind PRIME.

Van Mersbergen said that while no potential locations have been made official, he guessed that MidAmerican would be looking into Mahaska County as a candidate for some wind turbines, so he gathered feedback from residents of Cedar Township and Harrison Township on that possibility. He said that he didn’t hear from anyone who would either approve of them or be neutral to them.

County attorney Andrew Ritland chimed in regarding the possibility of creating a zoning board to regulate wind turbines. He said that Mahaska County is in the minority of counties that do not have a zoning board, and that the vast majority of counties who regulate wind turbine development do so through a full zoning board. Ritland said that one idea for the county to regulate wind mill turbines would be to implement exclusion zones of either 1,500 feet or 2,500 feet, preventing wind turbines from being developed within those distances of another structure to ensure no turbines were being built too close to people’s residences. He called the regulation of wind turbines a “balancing act” between tax revenue and the amount of development they want in the county. 

Ultimately, no action was taken, with board chair Mark Groenendyk saying he would like to see a more robust collection of community input before making a decision.

Jason Aldean Has Started Recording His 11th Studio Album

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Jason Aldean has announced that he has started recording his 11th studio album! He shared the news on social media and expressed his excitement to be working with the same group of musicians who have played on most of his albums.

“Today was the first day of recording the new album,” he shared on Instagram. “Always a blast when we start making new music together. Love all these guys who have played on pretty much everything with me since the beginning.”

Aldean’s previous album, the double album “Macon, Georgia,” was released in two parts in 2021 and 2022. The upcoming album has yet to be titled, but fans speculate that it may be named after his upcoming tour, “Highway Desperado,” which starts in July and runs until October.

Source: Country Now

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