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March 11 Eggs and Issues with Mahaska Health, EMA

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Mahaska Chamber put on another round of Eggs and Issues on Saturday morning with a panel full of members from Mahaska Health and the Mahaska County EMA on hand to answer questions from local citizens.

The panel was asked about some of the broader statistics from emergency services, such as the amount of 911 calls they respond to on a monthly basis and how much time Mahaska County residents should expect it to take for their 911 calls to be answered. It was said that Mahaska County emergency services go above and beyond the national standards.

The panel was also asked about the ongoing discussions surrounding which entity will be assuming control of the 911 services county-wide after the district court ruling that they could not be run under a county EMA levy. Local officials have expressed the desire to place the services under the control of a law enforcement agency with the Oskaloosa Police Department and the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Department as the two leading candidates. Sheriff Russ Van Renterghem said that he thought the Sheriff’s Department made the most sense because the transition would be at its simplest that way.

The final scheduled round of Eggs and Issues will happen on March 25 with local representatives from the state house and senate visiting Smokey Row in Oskaloosa. That information can be found at mahaskachamber.org.

Kane Brown’s Acting Debut In ‘Fire Country’ Due April 7

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Kane Brown the singer, the awards-show host – the actor? He’s already crushed it doing the first two – and now fans will get to see how he does as an actor.

“Acting has been a life-long dream of mine, and to make my debut on a hit series like “Fire Country” is such an honor,” Brown said in a statement. Obviously we’ve seen the young superstar rock the stage for years; he’s co-hosted – and will again – the CMT Music Awards with Kelsea Ballerini on April 2. But five days later, we’ll see how he does playing someone other than himself.

On the April 7 episode of the CBS show “Fire Country”, Brown plays the character of Robin, an “enigmatic, modern-day train hopper” who helps injured train patients at a crash scene. He adds that the character is someone who he is “excited for people to meet.”

Series creator and star Max Theriot says, “As soon as Kane stepped onto set, it felt like he had been a part of the “Fire Country” family from the beginning. I was really blown away by how natural and honest he is in each scene. To top it off, he’s just a wonderful person – kind, excited to learn, and fun to be around… dude is the real deal!” So, career goal achieved. Whether it’s a one-time deal like George Strait in “Pure Country,” or a frequent side-hustle like it is for Tim McGraw remains to be seen.

Source: People

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1965, the Statler Brothers recorded “Flowers On The Wall” at the Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville, a session originally for Johnny Cash who never appeared.
  • Today in 1967, Decca released Patsy Cline’s “Greatest Hits.”
  • Today in 1991, “My Cousin Vinny,” starring Joe Pesci and Ralph Macchio made its theater debut. Travis Tritt performed “Bible Belt.”
  • Today in 1999, Trisha Yearwood joined the Grand Ole Opry the same night singer and songwriter John Prine made his Opry debut.
  • Today in 1999, the Dixie Chicks’ “You Were Mine” reached the top of the Billboard country chart.
  • Today in 2001, Charles Pride received a Hall of Fame medallion during the first official function at the new Country Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville. Robyn Young accepted a medallion for his late father, Faron Young.
  • Today in 2003, the state of Texas observed Lee Ann Womack Day.
  • Today in 2009, Justin Moore sang “Small Town USA” during his Grand Ole Opry debut.
  • Today in 2013, at the Brisbane Convention Centre, Rascal Flatts made their Australian concert debut.
  • Today in 2015, Rascal Flatts dedicated “Bless The Broken Road” to Bristol Palin and Dakota Meyer during their show at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. When the song ended, Meyer gets down on one knee to propose to Palin, who said yes. The wedding was called off a week later, but the couple married in 2016. He filed for divorce in February 2018.
  • Today in 2017, the Maren Morris single, “I Could Use A Love Song,” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2017, Dolly Parton offered her vocal talents on the Sprout series, “Lily’s Driftwood Bay” – as the voice for Nolene, an animated chicken.
  • Today in 2017, Clay Walker, Steve Wariner and Crystal Gayle performed at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley to raise money for Anita Cochran in her battle with cancer. Also performing were Terri Clark, Pam Tillis, Bryan White, Wade Hayes, Suzy Bogguss, Mandy Barnett, Ty Herndon, The Lynns and Lorrie Morgan.

‘Cocaine cat’ escaped owner, will now live at Cincinnati Zoo

Posted on by Sam Parsons

CINCINNATI, OH (AP) — The Cincinnati Zoo has taken in an African serval cat after the animal was recovered from a wild adventure. The cat named Amiry was found with cocaine in its system after local animal control officials captured the cat in January from a tree. Animal experts say the cats should not be treated as normal house cats and that they require more specialized attention. Amiry escaped from his owner during a traffic stop, when the cat jumped from the car and into a tree. The cat’s story has gained attention online with social media users dubbing the cat “cocaine cat.”

DNR releases Iowa Drought Plan

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has finalized a drought plan for use by local, county, state agencies and governments in the event of droughts in the state.

The Iowa Drought Plan was developed in partnership with the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The plan aims to provide the state with an approach to prepare for, identify, respond to and recover from a drought.

“Just as we must be prepared for floods, tornadoes, and winter storms, we also must be prepared for the impacts of drought in Iowa,” said John Benson, director of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “The Iowa Drought Plan, the result of a collaboration between state agencies and a broad range of stakeholders throughout Iowa, is the blueprint we will use to ensure the state is able to address the challenges of drought preparedness, response and recovery.”

Droughts pose serious challenges to Iowa and many of its industries including agriculture and manufacturing, threatening the health of its residents and the state’s environment and economy. The Iowa Drought Plan will provide statewide drought condition evaluations and will give stakeholders and the public information on risk assessment and mitigation measures.

“This plan should provide a way to better communicate drought conditions to Iowans and allow for a consistent response across our state by multiple agencies,” said DNR Hydrology Resources Coordinator Tim Hall.

The plan designates five drought regions for the state, since different areas of the state vary in drought vulnerability due to groundwater resources and rainfall totals. Each region’s condition will be evaluated using four drought categories: Normal, drought watch, drought warning or drought emergency. Drought levels will be determined based on precipitation, the Standardized Precipitation Index, which is based on accumulated rainfall over time, the U.S. Drought Monitor and a standardized streamflow index, which compares current streamflow to the historical record.

“After three years of widespread drought conditions across the state, we have fortunately started to see improvements due to a more active weather pattern,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Because Iowa did not have a plan before the start of our current drought, the Iowa Drought Plan was developed to be forward-looking and aimed at improving and standardizing our response across agencies in state government. Iowa farmers and agricultural stakeholders were asked to provide feedback at several in-person and virtual meetings last year and we believe the Iowa Drought Plan encompasses their valuable input.”

The DNR, Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship make up the Drought Coordinating Team responsible for coordinating messaging on drought levels and conditions. The team will update the plan every five years.

More information and the full plan can be found online at IowaDNR.gov.

Eggs And Issues with Mahaska Health, EMA Tomorrow

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

Another round of Eggs and Issues from the Mahaska Chamber will be coming to Smokey Row in Oskaloosa tomorrow morning. Representatives from Mahaska Health and Mahaska County EMA will be present at the forum to answer questions from citizens from 8:30-9:30am.

This is the second-to-last Eggs and Issues currently planned by the Mahaska Chamber. The final forum will be on March 25 with state government lawmakers to be in attendance, including Iowa house representatives Helena Hayes and Barb Kniff-McCulla and Iowa senator Ken Rozenboom. The full schedule is available at mahaskachamber.org.

Destination Iowa Awards Grant to Southeast Iowa Sports Commission

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Southeast Iowa Sports Commission announced that they have been awarded a grant in the amount of $2.5 million from Iowa Economic Development’s Destination Iowa funding through the American Rescue Plan.

This large investment comes to Ottumwa for the development of the Ottumwa SportsPlex Development Project, and it covers approximately 23% of the estimated $10.7 million price tag.

The SportsPlex, in its proposed form, would include three full size basketball courts, four volleyball courts, 9v9 turf soccer field, a softball and baseball infield, two batting cages, a turf football field, concessions, offices, and the ability to host birthdays,  conferences, and events. More information on the plans can be found at https://www.ottumwasportsplex.com/plans 

Destination Iowa is a $100 million investment to bolster the quality of life in Iowa’s communities and attract visitors and new residents to the state. The new effort will provide grants to help communities move forward on transformational, shovel-ready attractions. Cities, counties, nonprofits and other organizations can apply for Destination Iowa grants from four separate funds: Economically Significant Development, Outdoor Recreation, Tourism Attraction and Creative Placemaking. More information on Destination Iowa can be found here.

Tim McGraw Records Very Special Duet

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Tim McGraw has duetted with many famous singers: Faith Hill, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kenny Chesney, Nelly – but his latest duet partner is someone music fans won’t know.

Michael Hugo is an average dad, living with his wife and two daughters in Florida. Last April the Hugo family received some bad news: Michael has Stage 4 glioblastoma – a diagnosis that most likely means he won’t live to see his 6 and 7-year-old daughters eventually get married. But Michael wanted his daughters to have a very special gift on their very special days – and he reached out to Tim McGraw for help – someone he knew could relate, as Tim’s dad Tug McGraw passed from the very same cancer.

Once Tim’s fans saw Mike’s video and tagged Tim in it, the singer eventually saw the request – and not only did he make it happen, he travelled to Florida to meet the family and make it happen in person. The request was a simple one: duet with Mike on the song “My Little Girl” – as a gift to his daughters on the day they wed, knowing he may well not be there in person. Tim, a father of three daughters himself, made it happen – and the family now not only has a forever gift for down the road, but memories of a country star who cared enough to bring that gift to life.

Source: WhiskeyRiff

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1973, Tammy Wynette’s “Till I Get It Right” topped the Billboard country singles chart.
  • Today in 1977, “The Best Of The Statler Brothers” album by Statler Brothers was certified gold.
  • Today in 1979, invited by Porter Wagoner, legendary R&B star James Brown played the Grand Ole Opry. His 17-minute set consisted of “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “Tennessee Waltz.” Some Opry members complained, but Barbara Mandrell said he should’ve been invited to perform five years earlier.
  • Today in 1981, “I Love A Rainy Night” single by Eddie Rabbitt was certified gold.
  • Today in 1992, Vince Gill’s “I Never Knew Lonely” album was released.
  • Today in 1992, Willie Nelson scored a platinum album with “Willie Nelson Sings Kristofferson” and a multi-platinum album with “Greatest Hits (And Some That Will Be).”
  • Today in 1993, k.d. lang’s album, “Ingénue,” was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1993, Travis Tritt’s “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” album was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1995, Aaron Tippin’s debut album, “You’ve Got To Stand For Something” went gold.
  • Today in 1995, Clint Black topped the country charts with “Wherever You Go.”
  • Today in 2000, Vince Gill and Amy Grant were married in a Nashville ceremony complete with bagpipe players.
  • Today in 2001, Diamond Rio’s “One More Day” reached #1 in Billboard.
  • Today in 2003, Dixie Chick Natalie Maines sparked a furor Stateside when she told a London concert crowd, “Just so you know, we’re ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas.” The insanity that followed coined the term “Dixie Chicked” as the band’s name essentially became a dirty word. CDs were burned, and their popularity dropped like a bomb.
  • Today in 2005, CMT debuted Jo Dee Messina’s “My Give A Damn’s Busted.”
  • Today in 2007, Trace Adkins’ “Ladies Love Country Boys” topped the Billboard country chart.
  • Today in 2010, Josh Turner’s album “Deep South” was released.
  • Today in 2014, Cole Swindell’s single, “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2015, Tim McGraw appeared on ABC’s “Repeat After Me,” where an off-camera comedian feeds him lines to spoof an unsuspecting medical aide. Quoting from “Live Like You Were Dying,” he tells the woman, “I’ve never been skydiving, or Rocky Mountain climbing, or bullriding, but I have practiced kissing on my elbow.”
  • Today in 2017, Michelle Wright performed a benefit concert for an animal shelter at the Capitol Theatre in Chatham, Ontario.

MEET THE H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: KELPIE

Posted on by Bob Ballard

This week’s H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week is “Kelpie”, a 6 year old female kitty who loves to look at the window, loves pets and loves to cuddle. Kelpie only has one eye, but she doesn’t let that get her down. She’s a loving kitty in search of a new home and would love to meet you!

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

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