Keith Urban has found the top of the chart again this week with his single “Raise ‘Em Up,” featuring Eric Church.
The song raises his total of #1’s to eighteen. The song is Keith’s fourth #1 from his album Fuse, which also includes the chart-toppers “Little Bit of Everything, “We Were Us” and “Somewhere In My Car.”
Officials overseeing construction of a $1.8 billion fertilizer plant in southeast Iowa are defending their hiring practices amid criticism from labor leaders.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority says in a Tuesday release that Iowa Fertilizer President Shawn Rana met with labor leaders Friday.
Rana argued the company hired many local construction workers at the Wever plant site, noting a main on-site employer is an Iowa-based union contractor.
Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham organized the meeting between Rana and labor leaders, many of whom represent union workers, following a Capitol meeting where union organizers claimed plant officials were trying to hire workers outside of the region following layoffs in April.
Southeast Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council President Ryan Drew says he looks forward to continued communication with Iowa Fertilizer.
The Oskaloosa girls’ tennis team were in action at the Little Hawkeye Conference tournament in Pella yesterday. Grinnell was the team winner, while the Indians finished in 4th place. Bethany Rowley of Oskaloosa won the Flight 2 Singles Division and a couple of those wins came against girls that had beaten her earlier in the year. Kiara Peterson of Grinnell was undefeated until Rowley pulled the upset.
The Indians will go to Pella on Saturday to play Knoxville in the first round of the team regionals. You can view those full brackets on ighsau.org.
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union has released the brackets for the regional soccer play.
In Class 1A, #14 Fairfield drew Centerville at home in the first round in Region 6. Fairfield is 8-3 this year and beat Centerville 6-0 in their only meeting so far this season. Pella Christian and Chariton will play in Pella for the right to face the winner of that match. On the other side of that Region 6 bracket, Knoxville drew Bondurant-Farrar on the road, and the winner of that match will play either Clear Creek-Amana or Williamsburg. All first round games are on June 2nd.
In Class 2A Region 4, #9 Newton received a bye, and will play their first game against either Urbandale or Collins-Maxwell/Baxter on June 2nd at home.
In Class 2A Region 5, Oskaloosa drew Ottumwa in the first round, and the Indians were selected as the home team for the May 29th match. Osky beat Ottumwa in their first game of the year by a score of 6-0 in Oskaloosa. Ottumwa has only one win on the season. The winner of that game will face Pella, who is the #8 team in Class 2A. That will be in Pella. On the opposite side of the bracket, #13 Grinnell drew the bye, and will face either Carlisle or Indianola at home on the 2nd.
Finally, in Class 2A Region 7, Prairie City-Monroe is on the road to face South Tama/East Marshall on May 29th for the right to face #5 Cedar Rapids Xavier in a tough draw. Marion got the bye on the other side of the bracket and will face either Independence or Decorah.
You can view full brackets online at ighsau.org.
The Oskaloosa High School track and field teams were back in action on Monday night ahead of their state qualifying meet this Thursday.
The boys had a good meet at the Pella Co-Ed track meet, landing four wins en route to finishing second place. Pella was the team winner. Osky beat Norwalk by 12 points. BGM was a distant fourth, Pella Christian was tied with Knoxville for fifth, and the Pella JV finished in seventh.
Jack Moore continued to improve his personal best in the high jump, as he jumped 6 feet 1 inch on Monday in getting the win. Austin Reed got the win in the 400 meter hurdles at 60.29 seconds. The 1600 meter medley team of Dwayne Lipscomb, Max Johnson, Adam Carriker, and Skylar DeJong got the win with a time of 3:49.20, and the 4×400 meter relay team of Adam Carriker, Tucker Nunnikhoven, Austin Reed, and Bennett Spry got the win with a time of 3:39.00.
Osky’s girls were in action at the same meet and finished in third. Pella again ranaway with the win, finishing 62.5 points ahead of second place Grinnell. Oskaloosa was 40.5 points behind the Tigers in third. Newton was a more distant fourth, followed by BGM, Pella Christian, and Knoxville.
The girls were unable to get a win, but had four silver medal finishes. Shalandra Shilling finished second in the high jump, Brey Hill finished second in the 400 meters, Sienna DeJong finished second in the 1500 meter run, and the 4×400 meter relay team of Taylor Richardson, Cara Roquet, Julia Coniglio, and Brey Hill also finished in second.
The Osky track and field teams will be back in action this Thursday as they head back to Pella for the district meet to qualify for the state tournament. That meet is scheduled to start at 4 PM.
Today in 2010, it became official through a statement to People Magazine that Blake Shelton proposed to Miranda Lambert.
Miranda said, “He called my dad and got his blessing first. That was so southern and old-school and perfect.”
Tim McGraw is currently in the studio working on the follow up to his 2014 record ‘Sundown Heaven Town,’ and he tells CBS News exactly where he’s at in the album building process, “We started working on it a couple of weeks ago, so we’re right in the thick of it now… over the next couple of weeks I will be working in the studio a lot, putting a lot of touches on the record.”
Six employees were honored for their service to the Oskaloosa district upon their retirements. Honored were, Carolyn Wellings, Dorothy Mich (Meesh), Debra Sullivan, Shirley Ashman, Scottie Moore and Judy Mitchell. Prior to the meeting a reception was held in their honor.
District curriculum director Dr. Mary Cooksley made a presentation on the needs assessment. The assessment was based on feedback from students, parents, and teachers to ascertain school pride. The questions dealt with perceptions by teachers, students and parents. The data was close on most standards. Cooksley said there is room for improvement. She stated that the middle school data is not as reliable due to technological breakdowns, which allowed only nine students’ data to be recorded.
Cooksley said to remember it is perception data. There is also some data on bullying that she said the administrative team needs to look at and consider a direction to address.
Board members approved the applications from three foreign exchange students. The students are from Egypt, Italy and Thailand. They will attend Oskaloosa High School during the 2015-16 academic year.
Board members considered bids from CDW and SHI for the Chromebook project at the middle school. The board had estimated costs to be $215,000. SHI submitted a bid of $195,000. Technology director Shari Hankins-Barnhart investigated the company and asked the board to accept the bids and issue a contract for $195,500. The board approved the contract.
The board considered and approved the purchase of the Reading Wonders Curriculum for $170,000. Superintendent Russ Reiter said most if not all of the cost would be paid through categorical funding. The contract will be a six-year subscription to all the online tools. Board members and the superintendent said in meetings the elementary teachers were very supportive of the curriculum.
Superintendent Reiter requested an increase in the fees paid for full day and half-day substitute teachers for the 2015-16 year. Currently the district pays $105 for full day and $52.50 for half day. Reiter told board members that even with recent increases the past couple years the district still lags behind other districts. He said a higher level of pay is needed to attract the better instructors.
Reiter said some districts are paying $120 and $70, but recommended an increase to $110 and $65. Board president Carl Drost asked if the better move might be to increase to $120 and $70. Reiter said he wasn’t sure and the board settled on $115 and $70. Board member Tom Richardson abstained from the vote. He has a family member who substitutes in the district.
The board went into closed session for an employee evaluation at the request of the employee.
In other business:
Heard presentations from the district leadership team
Heard a presentation from the KinderPrep professional learning community
Approved three-year contract with Van Maanen Accounting firm in Pella to provide the annual district audit
Held public hearing on budget amendment for the 2014-15 school year and approved the amendment. No new tax dollars are needed for the amendment.
Set June 8 for a hearing on the sale of the student constructed house on South M Street
Approved the resignations of Scottie Moore and Casey Bisher
The Oskaloosa Fire Department was dispatched at 02:17 AM this morning for a structure fire at Evolutions at 208 ½ 1st Avenue East in Oskaloosa.
The fire was contained to the building of origin and floor of origin however heavy smoke and water damage to Swim Sports located below the fire floor has caused this business to be closed until further notice.
Smoke and water damage is also present in the True Value hardware store, Hospice of Mahaska County and Mid West One drive up bank. The bank was able to open for business. 49 firefighters from Oskaloosa, Pella, New Sharon, Cedar Township, Eddyville, and Montezuma fought the fire for about 6 hours.
The State Fire Marshal office was contacted to assist with the investigation which is still ongoing. The cause of the fire is suspicious and any criminal investigation will be handled by the Oskaloosa Police Department.
There is no danger to the public.
Today in 2013, The Eli Young Band received distinguished young alumni awards from the University of North Texas backstage at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
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