Heartland Humane Society Celebrates “Dusty’s Big Dog Challenge”

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Sam Parsons

OTTUMWA – The Heartland Humane Society celebrated the success of the Ottumwa Community School District’s “Dusty’s Big Dog Challenge” this week.

The Ottumwa-based animal shelter says that they received more than $25,000 in donations during the fundraising event, which began in February in honor of Ottumwa superintendent Mike McGrory’s late dog Dusty.

The district-wide campaign sought to collect enough food and essential supplies to support the animal shelter for an entire year; the Heartland Humane Society says that it accomplished that goal, in addition to the money raised from donations, and that 140 animals were adopted into loving homes during the campaign.

Yesterday, the Heartland Humane Society presented McGrory with a plaque recognizing his role in the campaign.

Luke Combs Sends Third Grade Class A Record Player And Signed Vinyl

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Bob Ballard

As a musician, Luke Combs appreciates music, and understands those that do. When he caught wind of a TikTok video showing a third-grade class at Carmel Elementary in Maine listening to his music to help them focus during their writing time, the singer reached out. He sent the class and their teacher a record player, along with an autographed vinyl copy of his “The Way I Am” album. The teacher then posted a TikTok of the class singing along with their new gift.

@1234abcdxyz8 Replying to @KurtOzan251 @Luke Combs we can’t thank you enough!! My 3rd graders admire you! You have made some fans for life! 🩵 #lukecombs #countrymusic #teachersoftiktok @Luke Combs HQ @NICOLE COMBS ♬ original sound – Molly🍎

This day in Country Music History

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Bob Ballard

Today in 1941, Gene Autry records “You Are My Sunshine” at the CBS Studios in Hollywood
Today in 1977, “Lucille” by Kenny Rogers peaked at #5 on the pop singles chart and topped the U.K. singles chart.
Today in 1993, Aaron Tippin’s hit single, “Working Man’s PhD,” entered the country charts.
Today in 1994, Neal McCoy scored his second #1 hit with the single, “Wink.”
Today in 1996, Marty Stuart released his album, “Honky Tonkin’s What I Do Best.”
Today in 1997, Ty Herndon’s album, “Livin’ In A Moment,” was certified gold.
Today in 1997, CMA Entertainers of the Year, Brooks & Dunn, played a special show for their fan club at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. In keeping with tradition, both Kix and Ronnie stuck around to meet and sign autographs for attendees — even though there were over 2,000 of them. In typical fashion, the guys weren’t content with stopping until they’d taken care of everyone there. They started signing at 9 pm and wrapped things up at 5 am the following morning.
Today in 1998, a memorial for former Oak Ridge Boy Steve Sanders was held at the McKendree United Methodist Church in Nashville. Sanders had taken his own life a week earlier at his home in Cape Coral, Florida.
Today in 2011, Tim McGraw stopped his show at the Gorge Amphitheater in Washington to kick out a male audience member for mistreating a woman.
Today in 2012, Kip Moore’s “Beer Money” single hit the airwaves.
Today in 2013, Danielle Bradbery was crowned the winner of “The Voice” on NBC. A member of Blake Shelton’s team, she sang “I Want Crazy” with guest Hunter Hayes. Florida Georgia Line performed “Cruise” in a guest appearance with Nelly.
Today in 2015, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard hit number one on the Country album chart with Django & Jimmie, the final album recorded by Haggard before his death in April 2016

RV/Garage Fire in Kellogg Results in No Injuries

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Sam Parsons

KELLOGG – Several agencies responded to a structure fire in Kellogg yesterday that resulted in no injuries.

The Kellogg Fire Department says that they were called to the fire at 6:17pm on Tuesday, June 16, after a passerby reported heavy smoke coming from a property located at 7695 Highway 224 North, near Kellogg.

Upon arrival, firefighters found an RV fully engulfed in flames. The fire had also spread to a nearby garage. Fire crews immediately initiated an aggressive fire attack to prevent the fire from extending to the residence. Firefighters from the Kellogg, Baxter, and Laurel Fire Departments were on scene and worked together to successfully bring the fire under control and extinguish it before it could spread to the home.

Authorities say that no occupants were home when the fire started, and a thorough sweep of the residence confirmed that no individuals were inside and that the structure had not been affected by the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Kellogg, Baxter, and Laurel Fire Departments were also assisted by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office during the incident.

Pizza Hut, overtaken by the arrival of delivery culture, will be sold for $2.7 billion

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Sam Parsons

LOUISVILLE (AP) — Pizza Hut, the 68-year-old chain that has long struggled with growing competition and outdated restaurants, will be sold for $2.7 billion by parent company Yum Brands.

Yum Brands said Tuesday that the private equity firm LongRange Capital will buy Pizza Hut, excluding the mainland China business, for about $1.5 billion.

In mainland China, Pizza Hut will be purchased by Yum China Holdings Inc. for approximately $1.2 billion, the company said. China is Pizza Hut’s second-largest market outside the U.S., accounting for 19% of sales. Yum China Holdings Inc. spun off from Yum Brands and became an independent company in 2016.

Yum Brands, which also owns KFC and Taco Bell, began to explore its options for Pizza Hut in November. Last year, Yum Brands’ global sales rose 5% but Pizza Hut’s sales fell 2%.

In February, Yum Brands announced plans to close 250 U.S. Pizza Hut locations. Pizza Hut had 19,974 restaurants worldwide at the end of last year.

“Pizza Hut has long been the weak link in Yum’s portfolio,” Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, wrote Tuesday. “Despite efforts to revitalize the brand and shut underperforming locations, it has become increasingly clear that pushing the division back into growth will require a level of investment and patience that Yum is just not prepared to commit to.”

Pizza Hut was founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas, by two brothers who borrowed $600 from their mother to open the store. They chose the name because their sign only had room for eight letters.

Pizza Hut’s familiar red roof debuted in 1969 and by 1971 it was the top pizza chain in the world by sales. PepsiCo acquired Pizza Hut in 1977 but spun off its restaurant division — which became Yum Brands — in 1997.

By the 1980s, Domino’s was the fastest-growing U.S. pizza company, buoyed by its promise of 30-minute delivery. As pizza carryout and delivery grew in popularity, Pizza Hut was saddled with large, dine-in restaurants. In 2020, even as pizza delivery boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pizza Hut closed 300 U.S. restaurants.

The chain has been further pinched in recent years by the growth of DoorDash, Uber Eats and other restaurant delivery companies which marketed access to a slew of cuisines besides pizza.

U.S. pizza sales have slowed considerably since the pandemic, growing less than 1% in 2024 and falling less than 1% in 2025, according to Technomic, a restaurant consulting company. But Pizza Hut performed worse than average, with U.S. sales down 8.2% last year, Technomic said.

By selling Pizza Hut, Yum Brands can focus more on its brands with stronger sales, Yum CEO Chris Turner said.

“Under LongRange and Yum China, Pizza Hut will be well positioned for future growth with ownership that brings deep expertise in the restaurant industry,” Turner said in a statement.

Connecticut-based LongRange Capital was founded in 2019 by Bob Berlin, who previously engineered a turnaround at Arby’s when he led private equity investments at The Baupost Group. Berlin said Tuesday he looked forward to working with Pizza Hut’s executive team and franchisees “to drive its next phase of growth.”

“Pizza Hut is a beloved global brand with a rich heritage and a loyal customer base that few brands can match,” Berlin said in a statement.

Asked Tuesday if LongRange planned to close any Pizza Hut locations, the company said it had no comment beyond Berlin’s statement.

Yum Brands, based in Louisville, Kentucky, expects the sale in U.S. and China to close in the third quarter. The company’s stock rose nearly 2% Tuesday.

Learn to Hunt program opens registration for beginner fur harvesting workshops

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Iowa Trappers Association are partnering to offer beginner trapping workshops around the state starting in July. Workshops feature knowledge and skill building sessions with instructors that will teach the basics of trapping in Iowa.

“We’ve seen an increased interest in the number of participants who want to relearn these traditional, frontier skills, like trapping,” said Jamie Cook, program coordinator with the Iowa DNR. “We’ve held eight to 10 workshops around the state over the past few years and interest continues to grow. The same is true across the country.”

Workshops are currently scheduled for Elkader, Knoxville, Mason City, St. Charles, Ainsworth and Wellsburg. Participants will learn basic strategies for trapping such as proper equipment, trap placement, trapping regulations and steps for preparing hides for trade.

Courses are designed for participants of all ages. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited. For more information and to begin the registration process, visit https://license.gooutdoorsiowa.com/Event/EventsHome.aspx

The program is provided through a partnership with the Iowa DNR and Iowa Trappers Association. It is part of a national effort to recruit, retain and reactivate hunters, anglers and trappers due to the overall decline in hunting and outdoor recreation.

Frisian Farms, Sweet Doe Company Among 11 Iowa Dairy Farms to Receive Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grants

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Sam Parsons

LANSING — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that 11 Iowa dairy farms and businesses have been awarded Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grants. The announcement was made during a Dairy Month visit to Gav-n-view Farm near Lansing, one of this year’s grant recipients. The grant program is administered by Choose Iowa within the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

The Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grant Program offers competitive matching grants of up to $100,000 per project, with a one-to-one financial match required, to support on-farm dairy processing and labor-saving technologies. Eligible projects include investments in processing and packaging equipment, robotics, automated feeding systems, herd health monitoring technology, and other value-added innovations. The 11 projects announced today will receive a total of $614,620.35 in cost-share funding and leverage more than $1.27 million in total investment, helping dairy farmers improve efficiency, expand processing capacity, and bring more Iowa-made dairy products to market.

“Choose Iowa is creating new opportunities for farmers, food businesses, and consumers, and these Dairy Innovation Grants are a great example of that work in action,” said Secretary Naig. “Iowa consumers increasingly want to know where their food comes from and support local producers, and Choose Iowa is helping make those connections every day. These grants help dairy farmers add value to what they already do so well by expanding processing capacity, developing new products, and adopting technologies that improve efficiency. The result is more fresh, wholesome and nutritious Iowa-made dairy products on store shelves, stronger farm businesses, and more dollars staying in local communities.”

Since the program’s launch in 2024, 46 dairy projects have been awarded funding through the Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grant Program. Combined, these projects have leveraged approximately $7.6 million in total investment including private funds match, helping dairy producers expand processing capacity, adopt labor-saving technologies, strengthen herd management, and bring more Iowa-made dairy products to market.

“Iowa State Dairy Association is proud of the impact the Dairy Innovation Grant Program continues to have on Iowa’s dairy farmers and processors,” said Robert Horst, a dairy farmer from Bristow and President of the Iowa State Dairy Association. “This investment in Iowa’s dairy industry has demonstrated a meaningful return by supporting dairy farm families, encouraging innovation and growth, and providing Iowans with greater access to dairy products made right here in our state. It’s one of the few grant programs where Iowans can truly see, touch, and taste the results of the investment every day in their local communities.”

The Department received 40 project applications for this round of grant funding totaling more than $2.25 million in requests. The continued interest in these highly competitive grants reflects the growing momentum behind value-added dairy production in Iowa and the commitment of dairy producers to invest in innovation and growth. The grants are intended to support smaller Iowa dairy farms and processors with less than 50 employees as they pursue value-added opportunities and operational improvements.

2026 On-Farm Processing Projects:

Country View Dairy | Hawkeye | $72,050
Six-lane bottling machine with rotary filling and capping system with conveyor.
Anticipated Total Project Cost: $144,100

Sweet Doe Company | Keota | $2,071.90
Freeze dryer, freeze-dry tray stackers, ice cream maker and popsicle molds.
Anticipated Total Project Cost: $4,143.79

Frisian Farms Cheese | Leighton | $52,844
Automated cheese wheel cutter.
Anticipated Total Project Cost: $105,688

Dutch Girl Dairy, Inc. | Marion | $74,806.25
On-farm processing building complete with the necessary equipment and training to process Grade A raw milk into pasteurized dairy products for distribution to local consumers.
Anticipated Total Project Cost: $149,612.50

Moore Local | Maquoketa | $14,643.03
Milk transport equipment to move milk between the dairy farm and creamery.
Anticipated Total Project Cost: $29,286

2026 Labor-Saving Technology Projects:

Bonert and Kennedy Farm LLC | Epworth | $12,336.17
eSense activity monitoring collars and a supporting antenna system to reduce labor demands and improve herd management.
Anticipated Total Project Cost: $24,672.34

Vellema Dairy | Harris | $75,500
Double-seven parabone-style milking parlor.
Anticipated Total Project Cost: $182,848.66

Lango Dairy | Hopkinton | $100,000
Manure collectors, a feed pusher, automatic footbath, and related labor-saving improvements.
Anticipated Total Project Cost: $200,550

Gav-n-view Farm | Lansing | $40,000
MTech Robo Post Sprayer, a robotic teat disinfection system that will be integrated into a new milking parlor.
Anticipated Total Project Cost: $80,000

Dutchland Dairy | Rolfe | $94,869
Monitoring collars with pulsation monitoring systems.
Anticipated Total Project Cost: $189,738

Rolinda Acres Dairy | Waterville | $75,500
Progesterone testing technology to improve reproductive management.
Anticipated Total Project Cost: $164,544.93

Choose Iowa is the state’s signature branding and marketing program for Iowa grown, Iowa made and Iowa raised food, beverages, and ag products. The Choose Iowa program was launched by Secretary Naig and is administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Choose Iowa’s marketing and brand program, now with 350 statewide members, continues to build momentum and visibility. Questions about Choose Iowa and its member benefits, grants and programs can be emailed to ChooseIowaGrant@IowaAgriculture.gov. For more information about Choose Iowa, visit ChooseIowa.com.

Keota CSD Evaluating Facilities Improvement Plan

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Keota Community School District announced this week that they are evaluating a series of facility improvements ahead of a potential bond referendum on November 3 of this year.

The district says that the improvements are designed to address critical infrastructure needs, enhance student safety, modernize learning environments, and preserve their school facilities for years to come. The district added that their priorities have been identified through facility assessments, staff feedback, community meetings, and school board discussions, and that many of their systems are at end-of-life, and delaying improvements could increase long-term costs.

The Facilities Improvement Plan was broken down into 3 categories:

Safety and Security Enhancements
- Secure Entrances: Implementing controlled entry points and improved visitor management aligned with statewide best practices.
- Classroom Walls & Learning Spaces: Replacing temporary partitions with permanent walls to increase safety, reduce noise/distractions, and create better learning environments.
Infrastructure Improvements
- High School HVAC System: Replacing an outdated system to improve air quality, comfort, energy efficiency, and reliability.
- Elementary Water Line Replacement: Replacing deteriorating original lines to prevent future failures, avoid emergency repairs, and protect long-term operations.
- Windows & Doors: Upgrading windows and doors to enhance security, lower utility costs, and increase durability.
Modern Learning Environments
- Science Classroom Updates: Modernizing instructional spaces, equipment, and layouts to improve functionality and safety.
- Family & Consumer Science (FCS) Improvements: Upgrading equipment, learning environments, and workspaces to meet current curriculum requirements.

The district noted that these projects would have multiple funding sources, including PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy), SAVE (Statewide School Infrastructure Funding), and Bond Financing (Potential Voter-Approved Bond Funding). Project timelines would depend on board approval, funding authorization, and contractor availability.

Keota residents can learn more and provide feedback at Keota School District community meetings.

Kenny Chesney To Get Career-Spanning Country Hall Of Fame Exhibit

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Bob Ballard

Kenny Chesney is getting his own exhibit in the Country Music Hall of Fame. “Kenny Chesney: Living In Fast Forward” will be on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum from July 23 through June, 2027. The exhibit will feature artifacts from throughout Kenny’s life and career, including instruments, awards, photographs, handwritten materials, stage-worn clothing and personal memorabilia. Among the items on display will be Chesney’s Gibbs High School football jersey and varsity jacket, as well as the Fender Concord acoustic guitar he played during his college years at East Tennessee State University and after moving to Nashville. Admission to the exhibit is free for paying museum customers.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Bob Ballard

Today in 1975, J. Thomas found his way to the top of the Billboard country chart with one of country music’s longest song titles: “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song.”
Today in 1983, Bill Monroe was a guest at the White House, along with Frank Sinatra, as president Ronald Reagan recognized Monroe as the only living American credited with originating an American music form.
Today in 1992, the album, “No Fences,” by Garth Brooks was certified for multi-platinum sales of 8-million.
Today in 1993, Johnny Cash began four days of recording in producer Rick Rubin’s living room in Los Angeles, backed only by his own guitar. It marked the start of work on Cash’s “American Recordings” album.
Today in 1997, Lonestar’s “Crazy Nights” album was released.
Today in 1997, Ricochet released “Blink of An Eye” and Lila McCann released her debut album, “Lila.”
Today in 2000, the Grand Ole Opry radio show, carried since 1925 on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee, began webcasting the Opry program.
Today in 2001, the new $37-million Country Music Hall of Fame opened in downtown Nashville. On hand were Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Diamond Rio, Martina McBride, Bill Anderson and ribbon-cutters Charley Pride, Brenda Lee and Kitty Wells.
Today in 2002, Elvis Presley was back at #1 on the U.K. singles chart for the first time since shortly after his death in 1977. That means he broken the quarter-century-long stalemate with the Beatles for the most chart-topping singles in British history. The remix of his 1968 song, “A Little Less Conversation,” was also the first remix of any Elvis recording, which was sanctioned by his estate.
Today in 2005, Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying,” which was written by Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman, won Single Record and Song of the Year during the 40^th annual Academy of Country Music awards.
Today in 2006, Kenny Chesney kicked off a five-week run at Billboard #1 with his song, “Summertime.”
Today in 2010, Taylor Swift received the Hal David Starlight Award as the Songwriters Hall of Fame inducted David Foster, Jackie DeShannon, Leonard Cohen and Sunny Skylar.
Today in 2013, Thomas Rhett’s “It Goes Like This” video debuted on CMT, as did Zac Brown Band’s “Jump Right In.”

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