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Highcock Resigns from William Penn Soccer Post

Posted on by Rick Watts

Jamee Highcock has resigned as Head Men’s and Women’s Soccer Coach at William Penn University.  Wade Steinlage, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications for the University, released the following statement last evening:

William Penn Athletics Director Nik Rule has announced that Jaymee Highcock has resigned as Head Men’s and Women’s Soccer Coach.

Highcock, who is leaving to pursue a position at another institution, has been at the helm of the best campaigns in Statesmen men’s soccer history.  He headed the men for five season and the women for three, combining for an overall mark of 78-68-7, including a 55-38-5 record as skipper for the men.

“The decision to leave is one that I have thought a great deal about,” Highcock said.  “It is the right time for me personally and for my family.  It was important to me to leave the programs in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so.”

“The quality of these squads, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level, whilst the structure of the soccer programs will ensure that the long-term future of the university remains a bright one,” Highcock added.

Highcock most recently led the men to their best campaign in program history as the Statesmen were 15-5-1, placed second in the Heart of America Athletic Conference standings, and qualified for the program’s first-ever national tournament.  This past fall, William Penn broke numerous school records, headlined by most wins and most goals.  Four players garnered all-Heart recognition (13 total in his tenure) and one was named an NAIA First-Team All-American, which is the first in school history.  William Penn was also ranked for the first time ever, doing so in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

On the women’s side, Highcock helped one player to All-America status, while two others were picked for all-Heart recognition.

Not only were the Statesmen successful on the pitch, but also in the classroom.  He assisted numerous individuals in collecting NAIA Scholar-Athlete and Heart Scholar-Athlete honors, while two men achieved CoSIDA Academic All-America status this past fall.

“I must pay tribute to Greg Hafner and Nik Rule; their faith and support has been essential,” Highcock said.  “They took a risk hiring me at a young age and have helped me grow as a coach, educator, and more importantly, as a person.  Words are not enough to express what they and this University have done for me.”

“As for my players and staff, past and present, I would like to thank them all for a staggering level of professional conduct and dedication that has helped to deliver so many memorable triumphs,” Highcock added.  “You have helped create some of the greatest memories and moments in my life.”

“Finally, to the alumni and support staff, thank you,” Highcock said.  “The support you have provided over the years has been truly humbling.  It has been an honor to be the head coach here at William Penn University.”

“Coach Highcock has been a phenomenal leader of our soccer programs,” Rule said.  “He has been effective in building and rebuilding, and has positioned both teams for consistent success.  The history made in the men’s program has positioned the team to be a respected program nationally.  He has also been a phenomenal teammate at our University and a great leader to our student-athletes.  We wish him the best and appreciate his commitment to WPU.”

Shelter director: Pets not at risk for coronavirus

Posted on by Rick Watts

Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter in Oskaloosa has closed its doors to the public.  Shelter Director Terry Gott explains why he made that call.

“We thought it would be the best decision with all this going on because we do have a lot of people that come here to adopt from some of these hotbed areas where they do have cases of coronavirus in their counties.”

Gott also told the No Coast Network that your pets can not catch COVID-19.

“I know that there’s a lot of people out there that think ‘Well, if people can get it, then animals can, too.’ But that’s not a fear.  I’ve been watching some of the reports and stuff and some of the research, and animals are not susceptible to getting this coronavirus.”

Gov. Reynolds issues another public health declaration

Posted on by Rick Watts

Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a new State Public Health Declaration to give relief to Iowans affected by the coronavirus concerns.  Among other things, Friday’s (3/20) declaration temporarily suspends collection of property taxes, some home evictions and certain regulation fees and penalties. It also allows bars and restaurants to sell unopened bottles of alcohol for consumption off premises. The declaration also allows public meetings and hearings to be held online…..and suspends certain regulations to ease the transportation of agricultural supplies and commodities, food, medical supplies, cleaning products and other goods on Iowa highways.  Governor Reynolds will talk about this new declaration at a 2:30pm news conference.  You can hear that news conference live on the No Coast Network.

What you need to know today about the virus outbreak

Posted on by Rick Watts

AP – The death toll from the global pandemic surpassed 10,000 people worldwide and the effects of a global economy grinding to a halt because of the pandemic were beginning to show, from millions of unsold flowers rotting in piles in Kenya to the slow emptying of the world’s skies.

The U.N. chief warned of a looming global recession “perhaps of record dimensions,” and California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the state’s 40 million residents to stay at home indefinitely and venture out only for essential jobs, groceries and some exercise.

Here are some of AP’s top stories Friday on the world’s coronavirus pandemic. Follow APNews.com/VirusOutbreak for updates through the day:

WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY:

—Members of President Donald Trump’s economic team convene Friday on Capitol Hill to launch negotiations with Senate Republicans and Democrats racing to draft a $1 trillion-plus economic rescue package amid the coronavirus outbreak.

— Republican Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Bur r sold as much as $1.7 million in stocks just before the market dropped in February amid fears about the virus epidemic.

— Newscasts bring word of “hot zones” and “lockdowns.” Conversations are littered with talk of “quarantines” and “isolation.” Leaders urge “social distancing.” In an instant, the pandemic has changed people’s vocabulary, just like everything else.

— Parents and authorities around the globe are s truggling to keep young people from gathering to help stop the spread of the virus.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover.

Here are the symptoms of the virus compared with the common flu.

One of the best ways to prevent spread of the virus is washing your hands with soap and water. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends first washing with warm or cold water and then lathering soap for 20 seconds to get it on the backs of hands, between fingers and under finger nails before rinsing off.

You should wash your phone, too. Here’s how.

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ONE NUMBER:

$79: The amount that one store was accused of selling one bottle of Purell hand sanitizer. That led to one of the more than 500 violations that New York City has given out to crack down on price gouging, which an AP survey finds has surged across the country because of the pandemic.

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IN OTHER NEWS:

PANDEMIC POT: Companies in California and elsewhere are reporting big jumps in marijuana deliveries and sales, as consumers stock up ahead of lockdowns or simply light up in search of relief during anxious times.

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The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Keokuk County closes offices to the public

Posted on by Rick Watts

Keokuk County is now closing its offices to the public until further notice.  If you’re planning to visit a county office, you’re asked to call first to see if the business can be handled over the phone or through e-mail.  Keokuk County employees will still be working.  A list of phone numbers for Keokuk County offices can be found at KBOE radio dot com and Radio KMZN dot com.

https://www.keokukcountyia.com/spaw/uploads/documents/News%20release.pdf

Bessy the Pointer Mix

Posted on by Rick Watts

This week’s H&S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week is Bessy, a 1 1/2 year old female Pointer mix.  She’s a very happy girl and loves to sit on laps and loves to give all kinds of love and kisses.  She’s now looking for that special someone who wants to spend the rest of forever with her.  Bessy is waiting for her spay but is considering applications for adoption NOW!!!  Call Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter at (641) 673-3991 for more information about Bessy or a wide variety of other loving and adoptable pets!

Penn Central Mall changes

Posted on by Rick Watts

There have been some changes at Penn Central Mall because of the coronavirus.  Mall manager Mike Gipple says some stores have cut back on their hours.

“Goodwill will be reducing its hours from 10 until 6 Monday through Saturday, Sunday 12 to 5.  Dollar General will be closing They are asking customers to reserve that first hour of the day for those people that are elderly and at risk for health issues. So I think that’s a good community-minded that company is taking.”

Meanwhile, Maurices clothing store is now closed, as the company has decided to close all of its stores in the US and Canada for at least two weeks.

Gipple says that while you can’t sit down and eat at the restaurants in the mall, you can still order carry-out from them.

“Mi Ranchito is going to do both lunch and dinner.  WanderLunch is running their normal hours, 11 to 2.  Pizza Ranch has decided to do reduced hours: 11 to 2 and then 4:30 to 7.”

Also at Penn Central Mall, the Ironside Axe Club and Old School Pinball and Arcade are both closed until April 2…and the Penn Centre Theatre will be closed until March 31.

Nine new coronavirus cases confirmed in Iowa

Posted on by Rick Watts

Iowa health officials have confirmed nine additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total Wednesday (3/18) to 38. The Iowa Department of Public Health says three of the cases are residents of Johnson County, two are from Polk County, two are from Dallas County and the last two are from Washington and Winneshiek counties. There are no reported cases in the No Coast Network listening area.

That news follows the announcement that employees at Iowa’s public universities may get an additional 80 hours of paid sick leave under an emergency measure to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Board of Regents President Mike Richards used his new emergency powers to authorize the universities and special schools to provide the extra leave.

Jobless claims jump by 70,000 as virus starts to take hold

Posted on by Rick Watts
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits surged last week by 70,000, indicating that the impact of the coronavirus was starting to be felt in rising layoffs in the job market.

The Labor Department reported Thursday that applications for benefits, a good proxy for layoffs, rose by 70,000 to a seasonally adjusted 281,000 last week.

Both the one-week rise and the total number of applications were far above the levels seen over the past year as the country’s unemployment rate fell to a half-century low of 3.5%.

Economists are predicting a surge in layoffs as efforts to contain the spreading coronavirus result in people losing jobs in a variety of industries from restaurants and bars to airlines and hotels.

There have been a number of states such as Ohio reporting huge jumps in unemployment applications already. The Trump administration and Congress are scrambling to produce a support package of around $1 trillion which would provide checks to Americans who have been affected by the virus and support for small businesses and big companies such as the airlines.

A proposal from Treasury has suggested spending $500 billion to provide checks for Americans who have suffered economic harm because of the virus.

Oskaloosa schools open Monday for students to retrieve items

Posted on by Rick Watts

Oskaloosa schools will be opening their doors on Monday, March 23 to allow parents and students to retrieve essential items from a student’s locker.  Only parents will be allowed in Oskaloosa Elementary School.  Monday’s hours for the Elementary School are Kindergarten from 9:30 to 10:30 am, First grade from 10:30 to 11:30, Second grade from 11:30am to 12:30pm, Third grade 12:30 to 1:30, Fourth grade 1:30 to 2:30 and Fifth grade from 2:30 to 3:30pm.  Times for Oskaloosa Middle School parents, guardians or students on Monday are Grade 6 from 9:30 to 11am, Grade 7 11am to 12:30pm and Grade 8 12:30 to 2pm.  And times for Oskaloosa High School parents, guardians and students are: Grade 9 from 9:30 to 11am, Grade 10 11am until 12:30pm, 11th Grade 12:30 until 2pm and Grade 12 2 to 3:30pm.  If you have more than one student in a school, pick the child’s grade level time that’s most convenient for you.

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