Joe Gibbs Racing announced Tuesday that X-FINITY Series driver Matt Tifft will undergo surgery for removal of a low-grade glioma in the brain. The slow-growing tumor was found recently during treatment and evaluation for a disc condition in his back. Tifft will undergo surgery and rehabilitation soon. Once cleared by physicians, he is expected to return to racing. David Ragan will drive the Number-18 Toyota in Friday night’s Subway Firecracker 250 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway. Tifft – who turned 20 on Sunda, has made six X-FINITY Series starts this season with a best finish of eighth twice, in back-to-back races at Talladega Superspeedway and Dover International Speedway. He’s also made three starts in the Camping World Truck Series.
Oskaloosa Softball Outlasts EBF To Improve Winning Streak To 10
The Oskaloosa and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont softball teams met for their annual non-conference matchup and as usual, the teams put on a classic performance. In the end of this one, however, Oskaloosa was able to get the win over the Rockets for the first time since 2012. The Indian seniors would lead the way on the night they celebrated Senior Night to get the 9-6 win.
The game was back and forth from the start as both offenses proved to be hot on a cool June night.
Oskaloosa would start sophomore Josie Bunnell in the pitching circle to give Kylee Silliman a rest in between conference starts. This being Bunnell’s second ever varsity start, there was little familiarity between the Rocket batters and Bunnell’s delivery, but it didn’t matter, as EBF would score quickly in the top of the 1st on an RBI double by Haegen Boyer.
In the bottom of the 1st, Osky would get right back at starter Randie Richmond and the Rockets by getting a couple of runners on for senior Alexis Vroegh. Vroegh would hit a fly ball to the wall in left field to plate two runs to give Osky the lead.
Both pitchers worked through quick second innings and that would bring the top of the Rocket order to the plate in the 3rd. The Osky lead would disappear in a flash as Richmond would hit a two-run infield single to give EBF a 3-2 lead. Oskaloosa would not be able to score in the bottom of the 3rd, and EBF got a couple more runs in the 4th to stretch their lead to 5-2.
The bottom of the 4th proved to be the big momentum swing in the game, as the Indians would get two clutch two-out hits. After an error allowed Ava VandeWall to reach base and senior Taylor Green bunted her into scoring position, Bunnell would help herself out by hitting her first extra base hit of the season, lacing a double over the right fielder’s head to knock in a run. Senior Kylee Silliman would follow her with her second home run of the season, a two-run bomb over the left field wall that would tie the game.
EBF would immediately retake the lead in the top of the 5th by taking advantage of some defensive misplays on the Indian infield to score one run to go ahead 6-5. Oskaloosa again would have the answer, as Alexis Westercamp would double to lead off the bottom of the 5th and would score on a fielding error. With two runners on and two-outs, Bunnell would come through again with her second double of the game and of the season, this one into the left-centerfield gap. The go-ahead run would score, but another potential run was cut down at the plate on a fantastic relay from the Rocket defense.
Bunnell would retire the Rocket batters in order in the top of the 6th, and Osky would tack on two more runs on RBI hits by Aubrey Miller and Ashley Kindley to take a 9-6 lead heading into the 7th. Oskaloosa would bring in senior Kylee Silliman to finish the game in the pitching circle, and she would pitch a scoreless inning to record the save.
With the win, Oskaloosa is now 23-3 on the season with the end of the year in sight. Regional play begins for the Indians on July 9th, so this is the best time of the year to be playing this kind of softball. EBF fell to 25-5, as the loss snapped a 14-game winning streak.
Oskaloosa is back in action on Wednesday night against Norwalk in the final conference matchup of the season. Osky clinched the outright Little Hawkeye Conference championship with their win over Newton on Monday, but they would love to keep this hot streak alive and improve their winning streak to 11 games.
You can hear that broadcast on 99.5 FM/740 AM KMZN, the KMZN mobile app, and radiokmzn.com with the pregame show beginning at 7:15 PM for the 7:30 first pitch in Oskaloosa.
ACLU Of Iowa Executive Director Jeremy Rosen resigns
(Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The director of the Iowa chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union hired just last year has abruptly resigned.
The Des Moines Register reports that Jeremy Rosen announced his resignation late Monday, calling it “difficult news.”
Rosen’s last day is Thursday. He was hired in January 2015 to replace Ben Stone, who had served as ACLU of Iowa’s director for 18 years until July 2014.
Before his stint as ACLU of Iowa’s director, Rosen worked as the advocacy director of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty in Washington, D.C.
Rosen gave no reason for his departure. A spokeswoman for ACLU of Iowa says the group’s executive committee had accepted Rosen’s resignation. She said she was unable to discuss details behind his resignation.
WAPELLO COUNTY CAR CHASE
At approximately 7:06 a.m., Tuesday June 28 th , 2016 a citizen reported hearing gunshots in the 7000
block of Cliffland Road just east of Ottumwa. The caller also reported a description of the vehicle
departing the area. While responding to the call a Wapello County Sheriff’s Deputy observed a vehicle
matching the description just south of Agency Iowa at which time the suspect vehicle began to elude
the following Deputy. The Deputy followed the vehicle back into Ottumwa from Agency and then back
east out of Ottumwa by way of Cliffland Road. The Deputy continued to follow the vehicle to just south
of the Des Moines River Bridge in Eldon when the vehicle crashed into the ditch. The suspect vehicle
was occupied by four subjects all of which exited the vehicle and continued to elude the Deputy on foot.
Assistance began to arrive by this time and three of the four subjects were taken into custody, with the
fourth still at large. No persons’ were injured at the 7000 block of Cliffland Road where the original call
began. Assisting the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office on this investigation was the Ottumwa Police
Dept., Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Fairfield Police Dept. Iowa State Patrol and the Eldon Fire
Dept. The matter remains under investigation and further charges are anticipated. Taken into custody
at this time and charged is Joshua Pierce, age 27 of Ottumwa charged with Possession, Receipt,
Transportation, or Dominion and Control of Firearms, Driving while Barred and Eluding Law
Enforcement. Carl Penelton, age 29 of Ottumwa is charged with Interference with Official Acts as was
a 17 yr old Juvenile charged with Interference with Official Acts and released to their parent.
This criminal charge is an accusation and the Defendant is presumed innocent until
and unless proven guilty.
Two Regular Won’t Be Returning To Nashville
Two of the regulars on the hit series Nashville won’t be returning for the show’s upcoming fifth season. According to the Hollywood reporter, Will Chase and Aubrey Peeples, who portray Luke Wheeler and Layla Grant have exited the series ahead of its debut on CMT.
Stewart’s Sonoma Victory Bumps Cup Series Win List To Eleven
With Tony Stewart’s victory Sunday in Sonoma, California, the list of Sprint Cup Series winners this season grows to eleven. If there are six more drivers who reach Victory Lane over the final ten regular-season races, then there’ll be one driver with a victory to his credit that will not get a spot on the 2016 Chase Grid – which will include only the sixteen top eligible drivers based primarily on race wins.
The lone remaining driver who won last year but is still without a victory in 2016 is Dale Earnhardt Junior … who will arrive at Daytona International Speedway later this week as defending winner of Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola.
Stewart’s the last driver to win back-to-back July races there, in 2005 and 2006.
Leighton Prepares For Independence Day Celebration
Following tradition, Leighton’s Independence Day Celebration will be the Friday before the 4th, which is July 1 this year. While it may hard to top last year’s celebration which was jointly celebrated with the 150th anniversary of the founding of Leighton, adding new features to what has been enjoyed in the past will make this a great day to celebrate our country’s independence and freedoms.
First of all, as with every good celebration, food will be a major part! The Leighton Lions will start serving a traditional sit-down meal at 5:00, with the ballpark concession stand also offering meals at this time. Additionally, there will be new vendors this year that will have food available during the entire evening. The parade will start at 7:30, led by the Color Guard and followed by all kinds interesting cars, tractors, floats, and groups. Before and after the parade, several free events for kids will be available, including inflatables, archery shooting, rope-making, and ball games.
After the parade, Leighton will be offering something for the first time—a free easy-listening band called “Six-Pool”. This 5-member group of instrumentalists and vocalists is from Mason City area, and will entertain with easy-listening classic tunes, both rock and country. So make sure you bring you lawn chairs and enjoy some familiar tunes in a small-town setting.
At 10:00, the signature event of the night will occur—FIREWORKS! Leighton is known for having one of the best displays in the area, with excellent viewing that allows you to be near the action. The same crew will be there as last year, and have some exciting spectacles for all of us to enjoy.
So, come to Leighton for a classic small-town celebration that involves both kids and adults as we start the weekend of celebrating our country’s independence!
June 28th: On This Day
On this day in 2000, Lee Ann Womack had the #1 single on the radio with “I Hope You Dance”. The song is off her album of the same name, which also hit number one. The song is considered a crossover hit and Womack’s signature song.
“I Hope You Dance” won the 2001 CMA, ACM, NSAI, ASCAP and BMI awards for Song of the Year. It also won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song and was nominated for Song of the Year as well.
The song has been Certified Double Platinum.
20th Annual Great Iowa Tractor Ride Stopping At North Mahaska High School
The 20th Annual Great Iowa Tractor Ride will be stopping at the North Mahaska High School at the North parking lot from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm today.
You can go out there and visit with the drivers, as well as enjoy cookies, drinks, and other treats courtesy of the high school. Donations go to the North Mahaska Senior class.
Check out some of the tractors below:
Man Accused Of Robbing Scotty McCreery Pleads Guilty
The 21-year-old man accused of robbing Scotty McCreery and his friends at gunpoint in 2014 has pleaded guilty to the charges. On Monday (6/27), Mikkail Jamal Shaw entered a guilty plea, but refused to reveal who his co-conspirators in the crime were. Shaw will be sentenced today (6/28) for multiple counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree kidnapping. According to Raleigh’s News & Observer, Scotty was not at the plea hearing on Monday, but his mother, Judy McCreery, was.
· McCreery described the incident in his recently released book, Go Big or Go Home: The Journey Toward the Dream, saying one of the robbers held a pistol to his head.