TAG SEARCH RESULTS FOR: ""

COC Hosts Spare Some Time Bowling Fun-Raiser to Support Individuals with Disabilities

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — Christian Opportunity Center (COC) will host its upcoming fundraising event, the Spare Some Time Bowling Fun-Raiser, on Sunday, March 17, at Statesmen Lanes and Community Event Center in Oskaloosa. This event serves a dual purpose: raising funds to support individuals with disabilities in the Mahaska County area and fostering meaningful connections between individuals with disabilities and community members.

The Spare Some Time Bowling Event offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between individuals with disabilities and the community. Often, these connections may not naturally occur in day-to-day interactions. However, through shared experiences like bowling, individuals of all abilities have the chance to come together, build relationships, and create lasting friendships.

“At COC, we believe that everyone, regardless of ability, thrives in a supportive community,” said Amy Zuck, Public Information Director at COC. “The Spare Some Time Bowling Event isn’t just about raising funds; it’s about celebrating inclusion. It’s a chance for the community to connect with individuals with disabilities, discovering their unique talents and fostering friendships that may not naturally occur. This event embodies our commitment to community integration for the people that we support.”

In addition to fostering community connections, funds raised through the Spare Some Time Bowling Event will directly support COC’s mission of empowering individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential. These funds will help supplement our services and support by providing financial assistance for individuals to attend camps and trips they may not otherwise have access to. Additionally, funds will support spiritual services, including weekly bible studies and retreats, enriching the lives of those we serve on a spiritual level.

COC extends its gratitude to Tony Witt, the event sponsors, volunteers, and community partners whose support makes events like the Spare Some Time Bowling Event possible.

Event Details:

Date: March 17
Time: 2-4 pm
Location: Statesmen Lanes and Event Center
Address: 1700 A Ave E, Oskaloosa

For more information about the Spare Some Time Bowling Event, including sponsorship opportunities and how to get involved, please visit www.christianopportunity.org or contact Amy Zuck at azuck@christianopportunity.org or 641-673-9480, ext. 1105.

JIMMY BUFFETT TRIBUTE CONCERT TO FEATURE KENNY CHESNEY, ERIC CHURCH AND MORE

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Jimmy Buffett made almost as many friends as he did fans over his more than half a century playing music. Many of those friends – and fans – are expected to turn up for a tribute concert held for the late music legend.

“Keep The Party Going: A Tribute To Jimmy Buffett” will be a star studded affair with some of the biggest names in music turning up to play and share Buffett’s music. Country stars Eric Church, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown, Jake Owen and Brandi Carlile will be joined by music legends Paul McCartney, Jackson Brown, Sheryl Crow, Jon Bon Jovi, Pitbull, Jack Johnson and the Eagles, with Jimmy’s Coral Reefer Band taking the stage as well.

The concert will happen at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on April 11. Tickets go on sale on Friday (March 15) at 10AM PST via Ticketmaster.

Source: TasteOfCountry

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1961, Gene Autry’s expansion Los Angeles Angels dropped baseball player Charley Pride during spring training in Palm Springs after a two-week tryout.
  • Today in 1975, George jones and Tammy Wynette’s divorce was finalized. Wynette took custody of their only child, Tamala and kept their home on Franklin Road in Nashville.
  • Today in 1981, MCA released The Oak Ridge Boys’ “Elvira.”
  • Today in 1988, Randy Travis reach #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “Too Gone Too Long.”
  • Today in 1990, Mark Chestnutt began recording his first album “Too Cold At Home.”
  • Today in 1997, Trace Adkins won his first gold album with his debut, “Dreamin’ Out Loud.”
  • Today in 2001, Amy Grant gave birth to her daughter, Corrina Grant Gill at a Nashiville Hospital. She is the first child in Amy’s and Vince Gill’s marriage.
  • Today in 2008, Taylor Swift’s “Our Song” picked up a platinum single.
  • Today in 2010, Miranda Lambert’s “White Liar” earned a gold single.
  • Today in 2013, as part of the Outnumber Hunger Charity program, The Band Perry began appearing on boxes of Wheaties.
  • Today in 2015, Luke Bryan played his final spring break concert at Spinnaker in Panama City, Florida. The show and one staged the previous day drew a total of 400,000 fans.
  • Today in 2016, Kelsea Ballerini met Australian singer/songwriter Morgan Evans. They were engaged by the end of the year and married in 2017.
  • Today in 2017, Frankie Ballard married Christina Murphy at the Star Hill Ranch in Bee Cave, Texas.

Airbnb is banning the use of indoor security cameras in the platform’s listings worldwide

Posted on by Sam Parsons

NEW YORK (AP) — Airbnb said Monday that it’s banning the use of indoor security cameras in listings on its site around the world by the end of next month.

The San Francisco-based online rental platform said it is seeking to “simplify” its security-camera policy while prioritizing privacy.

“These changes were made in consultation with our guests, Hosts and privacy experts, and we’ll continue to seek feedback to help ensure our policies work for our global community,” Juniper Downs, Airbnb’s head of community policy and partnerships, said in a prepared statement.

Airbnb had allowed the use of indoor security cameras in common areas, as long as the locations of the cameras were disclosed on the listings page. Under the new policy, hosts will still be allowed to use doorbell cameras and noise-decibel monitors, which are only allowed in common spaces, as long as the location and presence of the devices are disclosed.

Airbnb expects the policy update to impact a small number of hosts because the majority of its listings do not report having indoor security cameras.

The policy change will take effect April 30.

In its fourth-quarter earnings report last month, Airbnb said its bookings and revenue rose, and the company said demand remains strong.

Iowa’s Unemployment Rate Remains at 3.0 Percent in January

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.0 percent in January, down from the 3.2 percent announced in December but unchanged from a revised December rate. The state’s jobless rate was 2.9 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent in January.

The total number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 50,900 in January, down 1,100 from revised December data. The total number of working Iowans decreased by 1,200 to 1,653,800. The labor force participation rate decreased to 67.3 percent from a revised December rate of 67.5 percent.

”January’s report was mixed. On the positive side it shows the total number of nonfarm jobs remains 12,700 above last year’s total, even after retail businesses pared 2,000 jobs following the holidays,” said Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “We also saw 2,300 people leave the workforce voluntarily in January. Given we have over 58,000 job openings currently in Iowa, it is important we retain the Iowans in the workforce and recruit those who have dropped out. We help Iowans find great career opportunities every day, and we encourage those who have been out of the workforce for a period of time to get in touch. We can help you find your next great career.”

The last five years of monthly labor force data (2019-2023) recently were revised as required by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. This “benchmarking” is the periodic process of re-estimating statistics as more complete data becomes available, such as updated data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Prior-year estimates for the Current Employment Statistics (CES) and Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) programs – key statistical measures of employment – are benchmarked annually. Revised data are incorporated in January employment statistics when they are released each March.

Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Employment

Iowa’s establishments shed 2,000 jobs to begin 2024, lowering total nonfarm employment to 1,596,800 jobs. This monthly decline was due to private service industries removing jobs in wholesale and retail trade along with professional and business services. These losses overshadowed small gains in goods production. Whereas private industries lost positions in January, government (as sector that includes workers at hospitals and schools as well as federal, state, and local government agencies) increased adding 300 jobs, mostly at state universities.

Construction added 600 jobs in January and has now reached an all-time high despite unusually snowy weather to start the new year. A combined 3,200 jobs have been gained in this industry since October. Leisure and hospitality advanced slightly (+500) and was partially lifted by small gains in both accommodations and food services. Other gains in January were light and included health care and social assistance (+800) and information (+300). Alternatively, trade and transportation shed a combined 3,200 jobs to lead all other sectors. Retail trade was responsible for most of the layoffs in January (-2,000) although both wholesale trade and transportation and warehousing also trended down. The only other major losses occurred in other services (-600) and professional, scientific, and technical services (-600).

Over the past twelve months, the state has gained 12,700 jobs. Among private services, education and health care has added the most jobs (+6,400).  Over half of the hires were related to health care and social assistance. Construction is now up 2,700 jobs annually, while manufacturing continues to trend up and has gained 2,100 jobs since last January. On the other hand, trade, transportation, and utilities shed the most jobs annually (-5,400) as transportation and warehousing fueled most of the decline (-3,600).

2024 Governor’s Volunteer Awards Accepting Nominations

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES — The Governor’s Volunteer Award (GVA) program provides an easy way to honor the dedicated people who volunteer their time and talent to help an agency or organization deliver on its mission. There is no competitive selection process at the state level to decide who does or does not get an award; however, nominations are reviewed and approved by the participating state agency or Volunteer Iowa. By submitting the information, the person completing the form is verifying that the individual or group listed is deserving of this honor.

Nonprofits, charitable organizations, and government entities (city, county, state, and federal) may recommend an individual volunteer or group of volunteers who directly assisted the organization with a project, event, or activity, for a Governor’s Volunteer Award. A small handling fee per award helps to cover the cost of printing certificates, postage for the invitations, mementos, ceremony materials and the online nomination system.

Guidelines (GVA Nominations Guidelines PDF Version)

Nominations may be submitted in the following categories:

  • Individual Governor’s Volunteer Award: one person providing outstanding volunteer service
  • Individual Length of Service Award: one person who has served multiple years. Awarded for increments of five years, e.g., 5, 10, 15, etc.
  • Group Governor’s Volunteer Award: two or more people who volunteer together as a team
  • Group Length of Service Award (groups who have served multiple years. Awarded for increments of five years, e.g., 5, 10, 15, etc.

Recipients are not required to live in Iowa but their service must have benefited an Iowa organization or community. Those previously honored with an Individual Award should not receive another but may be selected once every five years for a Length of Service Award.

Types of Service

Starting in 2021, Volunteer Iowa began collecting information to be able to recognize different types of service across the state. While not required as part of a nomination, nominators may select the following types of service for the GVAs:

  • Animal Welfare
  • Arts and Culture
  • Disaster Relief/Recovery: (e.g. COVID, natural disasters)
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Education
  • Environmental (e.g. cleanup, preservation/restoration)
  • Food Assistance
  • Future Ready Iowa
  • Health/Hospital
  • Housing
  • Mentoring
  • Senior Assistance
  • State Employees who volunteer
  • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics)
  • Youth who volunteer
  • Other

Submitting Recommendations

All information must be submitted online and approved by an official Governor’s Volunteer Awards coordinator. Award recipient information can be submitted using one of the following methods:

  • All organizations (including state government agencies) submit information, and the handling fee, directly through Volunteer Iowa. Organizations will be able to submit the handling fee online. Fill out the nomination form.
  • State agencies will submit nominations through the same online form. Invoicing will be handled separately.
  • Staff of state government agencies must submit nominations through their agency’s coordinator. A contact list is available at the bottom of this page.

Nominations are accepted from: City governments, community colleges, county governments, federal government units operating in Iowa, Iowa MENTOR certified programs, K-12 schools (public and parochial), national service programs operating in Iowa (AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Seniors), nonprofit and charitable organizations, private colleges and universities, non-state government organizations.

Submit Nominations

“Beacon of Hope Project” Soliciting Input from Community Youth

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The leaders of the Beacon of Hope Project in Oskaloosa are asking for community youth to provide their input.

The Beacon of Hope Project was announced recently as a gathering place for area youth at 121 North Market St in Oskaloosa. Building owner Keven Hempel says that the decision has been made to open up an opportunity for the youth of Oskaloosa and surrounding towns to have a say in designing the inside of the building. This input will contribute to the finishing of the design phase of part of the building. 

Oskaloosa area youth are invited to Penn Central Mall at 5pm this evening to discuss the project.

Carrie Underwood Has a Simple Rule for Artists

Posted on by Bob Ballard

You’ve probably heard someone cover a song, and thought, “They just can’t do it justice.”  But have you ever heard a singer live, who struggled to perform THEIR OWN SONG?  Carrie Underwood has.

Carrie told “Rolling Stone” that she takes pride in putting in the work on her vocals . . . because since she was a kid, she’s always been bothered by artists who don’t sound like how they’re supposed to sound.

She said, “[It’s] always so deflating.  I’d lose respect for them . . . I’d go to a concert . . . hear them drop keys, and I was like, ‘You can’t hit the notes!  Why’d you record them if you can’t sing them?’  That stuff is important to me.”

(Rolling Stone)

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1969, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs split up after 25 years as a bluegrass duo.
  • Today in 1989, Ronnie Milsap topped the country charts with “Don’t You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me?”
  • Today in 1992, the “No Fences” album by Garth Brooks was certified for sales of seven-million copies.
  • Today in 1994, Martina McBride made her “Tonight Show” debut.
  • Today in 1994, Neal McCoy scored his first number one single with “No Doubt About It.”
  • Today in 1999, Jo Dee Messina made her debut on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
  • Today in 2000, Theresa Crump married Joe Diffie at Nashville’s Opryland Hotel, with her pet Chihuahua, Lolo, serving as the ring bearer.
  • Today in 2001, “Doc,” starring Billy Ray Cyrus as Clint Cassidy, had its premiere on PAX TV.
  • Today in 2002, Pat Green was hospitalized in Brownsville, Texas after he was attacked by two men on a beach in South Padre.
  • Today in 2002, Tim McGraw’s single “The Cowboy In Me” took the top spot on both the “Billboard” and “Radio & Records'” country charts. With “Bring On The Rain,” his vocal collaboration with Jo Dee Messina at number one on “Billboard” the week before, this made Tim the first artist to have back-to-back singles at the top spot on the “Billboard” Hot country Singles Chart since electronic monitoring began.
  • Today in 2003, Dolly Parton was presented with the 2003 Governor’s Awards in the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award.
  • Today in 2003, at the second annual CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, and Shania Twain each got five nominations, and The Dixie Chicks, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, and Keith Urban each got four.
  • Today in 2004, Naomi, Wynonna, and Ashley Judd received the National Award at the Kentucky Governor’s Awards in the Arts ceremony.
  • Today in 2005, The Oak Ridge Boys performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” on ABC’s “Good Morning America” to help launch the National Anthem Project, an initiative to teach Americans the lyrics to the song.
  • Today in 2005, “Black Cloud,” a film written and directed by Rick Schroder opened, featuring Tim McGraw playing a sheriff.
  • Today in 2006, “Your Man” by Josh Turner hit the top of the charts.
  • Today in 2006, Don Williams performed his last Nashville concert. Keith Urban opened, and Williams was joined by Josh Turner for “Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good.”
  • Today in 2007, Jo Dee Messina sang “Heaven Was Needing a Hero” on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” in honor of 16-year-old Ransom Tipton-Smith, who lost his life in a car accident two years earlier.
  • Today in 2008, Clint Black released his first digital EP, “The Long Cool EP,” which featured his cover of The Hollies’ “Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress),” “The Strong One,” and his duet with wife Lisa, “You Still Get To Me.”
  • Today in 2008, Eddy Arnold’s wife, Sally Gayhart Arnold, passed away at a Nashville-area hospital. She had been admitted to the hospital a few days earlier with breathing difficulties. She was 87. At the time of her death Arnold was also in the hospital, recovering from hip replacement surgery he underwent a week earlier.
  • Today in 2009, Darius Rucker and Vic Chesnutt were among the performers a tribute concert honoring R.E.M. at Carnegie Hall in New York.
  • Today in 2010, Lady Antebellum played the second of a two-night stand at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The date was originally slated to be the trio’s headlining debut at the venue, but the demand for tickets to the show prompted a second show, scheduled for March 10th.
  • Today in 2011, Billy Ray Cyrus decided to try to reconcile his marriage with wife Tish, and filed papers to stop divorce proceedings.
  • Today in 2011, Jewel, who was five-months pregnant, was driving in Stephenville, Texas when her SUV was hit by a volunteer fire truck. The singer suffered minor injuries in the crash, and her unborn child was fine. Jewel credited her sturdy vehicle for keeping them safe.
  • Today in 2011, Craig Morgan performed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska at the start of a USO tour that visits six nations over the next week.
  • Today in 2013, Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift released “Highway Don’t Care,” which also features Keith Urban on guitar.
  • Today in 2015, Maren Morris wrote “My Church” and recorded the final vocals the same day in Los Angeles with songwriter/producer busbee.
  • Today in 2017, Dailey & Vincent joined the Grand Ole Opry.
  • Today in 2018, Tim McGraw collapsed on stage in Dublin, Ireland, after his performance of “Humble And Kind.” Wife Faith Hill later announced her husband was suffering from dehydration and the concert was cut short.
  • Today in 2019, the Whitney Houston single, “I Will Always Love You” – which was written and originally recorded by Dolly Parton – was certified eight-times platinum by the RIAA.

‘Oppenheimer’ crowned best picture at an Academy Awards shadowed by war

Posted on by Sam Parsons

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Oppenheimer,” a solemn three-hour biopic that became an unlikely billion-dollar box-office sensation, was crowed best picture at a 96th Academy Awards that doubled as a coronation for Christopher Nolan. The most closely watched contest of the Academy Awards went to Emma Stone, who won best best actress for her performance as Bella Baxter in “Poor Things.” Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy have won their first Oscars. Robert Downey Jr. won best supporting actor at the Academy Awards, notching his first Oscar and handing the 58-year-old actor a crowning moment in an up-and-down career. Protests over Israel’s war in Gaza snarled traffic around the Academy Awards on Sunday, slowing stars’ arrival at the red carpet and turning the Oscar spotlight toward the ongoing conflict.

NEWSLETTER

Stay updated, sign up for our newsletter.