On December 22, 1998, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts honored Willie Nelson for his lifetime contributions to the arts. Nelson became the first primarily country performer so honored.
Here’s a video of Nelson performing Always on My Mind:
The Tenco 4-bay hydroponic greenhouse and the adjacent Multipurpose Facility for processing, grading, and packaging produce officially went “off the grid” on Monday afternoon.
A 74.88 kWh Solar System is now operational at these facilities in Wapello, County, which serves as an employment and training site for people with disabilities while producing an abundance of locally grown pesticide free produce for retail establishments in our region; in addition, a portion of the produce is gifted to the Southern Iowa Food Bank and Blessings Soup Kitchen.
The Solar System will produce 110,170 kWh’s annually which will cover 100{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b} of anticipated energy usage in these facilities. The solar panels remain under warranty for 25 years, but because there are no moving parts will most likely last 35-40 years.
The Tenco Hydroponic Greenhouse and Solar Complex is one of the recent projects funded through the Tenco Capital Campaign which winds down at the end of December, and is an exemplary project that combines “locally grown produce; supporting people with disabilities; and healing the planet” in the words of Kent Walker, Capital Campaign Chair.
On Wednesday, December 20, 2017, shortly after 7 PM, the Ottumwa Police Department received a report of a robbery that occurred at the BP Service Station located at 1301 N. Court.
The clerk reported that a male suspect entered the store claiming to have a weapon and demanded money.
The suspect stole an undermined amount of cash from the register and several cartons of cigarettes. The suspect had his identity concealed with the clothing he was wearing during the incident.
If anyone has information regarding this incident they are requested to contact the Ottumwa Police Department at 641-683- 0661.
Please note the following pursuant to recent Supreme Court rulings: “A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
On Friday, December 15th, 2017, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office Employees participated in a gift card give away.
For the 2nd year in a row, an anonymous donor generously provided funding for gift cards.
During the evening hours, Sheriff’s Office employees randomly chose shoppers at area businesses and handed them a $100 gift card. Twenty gift cards were provided to persons in Jasper County.
We would like to thank our donor for their generous giving during the holiday season. The recipients were very thankful for this kind gesture.
On a side note, the Sheriff’s Office staff was also on the receiving end of a little holiday spirit. After our shift of playing Santa Claus, several of us dined at a local restaurant. Much to our surprise, a very generous citizen anonymously picked up the tab for all of our meals! So we would also like to offer our appreciation to our benefactor!
The Mahaska Health Partnership (MHP) Board of Trustees announces Kevin DeRonde as Chief Executive Officer. DeRonde brings more than 15 years of healthcare business management and executive leadership experience to MHP. He is expected to join the organization on Feb. 19, 2018.
DeRonde is currently the CEO of Des Moines Orthopaedic Surgeons, P.C. (DMOS), the largest for-profit orthopaedic physician practice in Iowa. Since joining DMOS in 2012, he has provided leadership to support physicians in their business operations and growth in new services lines. He has also helped DMOS advance their presence in local and regional markets through benchmarking, innovation, business ventures, networking and best practices.
DeRonde has ties to MHP, serving as the Executive Director of Specialty Services and as a member of the Executive Team from April 2011 to November 2012. During his time with MHP, DeRonde helped drive growth through the recruitment of specialty physicians and by fostering collaboration between departments.
MHP Board of Trustees Chairman David Langkamp said the board unanimously chose DeRonde for the CEO position after a nation-wide search. “We’re very pleased with the leadership we received from Interim CEO Chris Jepsen, who will remain on the Executive Team.
“With Chris and Kevin working together, along with the rest of the Executive Team members, we feel that we have an unbeatable leadership team guiding the organization and we are so excited for what the future holds.”
Chief Medical Officer Tim Breon said he is thrilled to have DeRonde return to MHP. “Kevin brings passion, commitment and is a tireless worker. He has a strong desire to return to MHP and has a wonderful vision for our future as a county hospital serving our region,” Dr. Breon said.
DeRonde has a strong resume of healthcare business management, professional leadership, and has been recognized for building high performing, cohesive teams focused on delivering high quality, compassionate care. He has led strategic initiatives to improve financial operations and enhance employee and physician recruitment and engagement. In his previous management and executive roles at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., UnityPoint Des Moines, John Stoddard Cancer Center in Des Moines and MHP, DeRonde led numerous capital improvement projects.
“Mahaska Health Partnership is a vital part of this community, and I am so appreciative of the warm welcome that I’ve received from so many and really looking forward to working alongside this dedicated team,” DeRonde said. “I am proud to call Oskaloosa home and will do all that I can to make sure our community members continue to have access to the best possible care, right here close to home.”
DeRonde holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Masters of Healthcare Management (MHM) from Middle Tennessee State University. Prior to earning his Master’s Degrees and playing football in the NFL, DeRonde earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Iowa State University, completed the Pre-Optometry program and served as a team captain for the ISU football team.
DeRonde will be relocating to Oskaloosa with his wife, Tori, and their rescue dog, Blitz.
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, visit mahaskahealth.org.
DES MOINES – AFSCME Council 61 President Danny Homan issued the following statement following a town hall meeting with employees of the State Training School at Eldora:
“It has become clear to me that recent reports out of the State Training School at Eldora from Disability Rights Iowa (DRI) tell a one-sided story that disregards the employees who have dedicated their careers to dealing with some of the most difficult and vulnerable kids in Iowa. Employees unanimously confessed that their work environment has become significantly more dangerous in the past few years.
“The frequency of staff assaults, including stabbings and beatings, demonstrate why staff turnover has increased with Disability Rights Iowa’s witch hunts. DRI has emboldened the residents by teaching them that they are exempt from discipline in any form. Workers report that it is common for residents to physically or verbally abuse staff while taunting them with phrases like, ‘You’re not allowed to touch me, or I’ll call DRI.’ Resident escapes and police interventions have also increased, due to staff fearing that even trying to break up a riot will result in DRI intervention.
“Beyond the culture of insubordination that has been created, the attorneys who make up Disability Rights Iowa have actually made the residents less safe when staff don’t feel they have the ability to do their jobs. For example, there was an incident in which a teenager escaped, stole a car, drove to Ankeny, and stabbed someone in the neck. If the staff felt empowered to stop this teenager from escaping, this incident likely would not have occurred.
“We absolutely believe that safety and oversight is extremely important, especially when dealing with vulnerable populations. What is equally important is that a balance is struck so that employees feel confident in creating the safest possible environment for both the residents and themselves.”
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 61 represents 40,000 public employees in Iowa including law enforcement and correctional officers, firefighters, mental health workers, professional school staff, emergency responders, and many other workers. AFSCME Council 61 also represents home health care and child care providers across the state and private sector workers at Prairie Meadows, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Des Moines University, and ABM (Marshalltown).
On December 21, 1950, Hank Williams records Cold Cold Heart, Dear John, Just Waiting and Men With Broken Hearts during recording sessions at Castle Studio in Nashville.
Catch Hank Williams’ Cold Cold Heart below!
“I met the good people of KBOE/KMZN two weeks ago when I had severe conjunctivitis and look at me now! I am nearly all healed up and ready for my forever home. Head out to Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter to fill out an application and don’t forget to take a peek at the other wonderful pets available for adoption.”
Special thanks to our sponsors at Faux Paws Bakery for making Pet of the Week possible. Not only that, but thanks to them, we will be sending Henley’s adopters home with a $10 Faux Paws Certificate!
Kalie Shorr, Lindsay Ell and Kelleigh Bannen’s reinterpretation of Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” is necessary right now. The trio performed the song as part of CMT’s Next Women of Country event in Nashville on Nov. 7, and you get to enjoy the finished product forever.
Their stripped-down version of the song starts with Shorr on acoustic guitar and a slowed rhythmic singing style that puts the focus on Swift’s powerful lyrics. In comes Bannen on vocals and Ell on guitar. It’s magic.
“Lindsay Ell and Kelleigh Bannen are two of my favorite artists and they both bring something amazingly unique to the table,” Shorr says. “Lindsay is one of the best guitarists in country music and Kelleigh’s lower range is so unmistakably her. I’ve always loved the music they put out and bonding over the arrangement and performance of this was so fun!”
Clips of the women performing at CMT Women of Country event is interspersed with footage of them backstage getting ready. This performance kicked off the show. Afterward, nine new members were inducted into CMT Women of Country 2017 class, including Shorr.
See the video below!
A state audit shows the former city clerk of a tiny town in southeast Iowa made some questionable financial transactions. State Auditor Mary Mosiman says her office’s investigation of the City of Webster covered just over a two year period.
“The total impact to the city was $5,436,” Mosiman said. Around 90 people live in Webster. Lindsey Black was the city clerk for the Keokuk County town from December of 2014 through this past March. She resigned around the time the mayor of Webster started noticing some unusual payroll checks. Auditors found Black was paying herself more than her allotted salary.
“There was a little over $3,400 of improper payroll and $1,675 of improper reimbursements,” Mosiman said. According to Mosiman, it appears there was little oversight of Black’s work as the city clerk and she took advantage of the situation.
“Most cities do have a city clerk that handles all of the financial transactions, but we recommend that the city council on at least a periodic basis do some additional oversight…actually sit down with the city clerk and look at the invoices and they really should approve payroll each time payroll is to be authorized,” Mosiman said. “That’s one of their responsibilities.” Copies of the State Auditor’s report have been filed with the Division of Criminal Investigation, the Keokuk County Attorney’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office.
