Oskaloosa Indians ranked 12th in class 3A

Posted on October 2, 2018 by Rick Watts

Moving up. Oskaloosa High’s football team is now 12^th in the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s RPI for Class 3A. The higher you are in the RPI, the better your chances are of getting into the playoffs. Another way to get into the playoffs, of course, is to win your district. The Indians can take a big step toward winning their district Friday night, when they host undefeated Pella, which is ninth in this week’s RPI. You can hear the Oskaloosa/Pella game Friday night on KMZN and the No Coast Network. Kickoff from Lacey Recreation Complex is at 7:30; our pregame coverage starts at 7:15.

In high school volleyball, Oskaloosa plays its final regular season road game tonight at Indianola. You can hear that game on KMZN and the No Coast Network. Pregame at 6:45, Erick Zamora has play-by-play at 7.

And the Oskaloosa cross country teams hope it will be dry today when they run at Centerville at Manhattan Golf Course. The Indians’ last two meets have been wiped out by bad weather.

Oskaloosa homecoming game was a victory

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Rick Watts

A happy Homecoming in Oskaloosa. The Indians football team won their fifth in a row Friday night, beating Newton 56-20 at Lacey Recreation Complex. Senior quarterback Cole Henry threw for 290 yards and four touchdowns and classmate Casey Hill ran for two scores and caught a touchdown pass. Osky’s defense also came up with three turnovers, including a 46 yard fumble return for a touchdown by Coy Snakenberg. The Indians have now won five in a row. They’ll host undefeated Pella Friday night in a game that could decide the Class 3A-District 7 championship. You can hear that game on KMZN and the No Coast Network Friday night.

Oskaloosa City Council meeting tonight

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Rick Watts

The Oskaloosa City Council will be busy tonight (10/1). During a study session at 5pm, the Council will discuss a bid that the Mahaska County Commission received for curbside recycling. Then at the Council’s regular meeting at 6pm, there will be a public hearing on a proposal to sell land the City owns at 207 North G Street to Wyndell Campbell so he can build retail and office space on that land. They will also consider approving a plan for a plat south of 15^th Avenue East between South 5^th Street and South 2^nd Street. The plat consists of 12 residential lots, four outlots and a public right of way.

October 1: On this day

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Rick Watts

On this day in 2007, Keith Urban was unhurt whe he skidded off his motorbike after a photographer followed him near his home in Sydney, Austalia. In a statement released by his publicists, Urban said the incident was “the result of one person’s desire to do his job and my desire to maintain my privacy.” Urban said he tried to avoid an oncoming car and dropped his bike and the photographer came to his assistance without taking photos.

It has been 1 year since the Las Vegas shooting that left 58 dead

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Rick Watts

A somber sunrise remembrance ceremony started Monday in Las Vegas with survivors , families of victims, first-responders and elected officials remembering the lives lost when one year ago when a gunman opened fire on a crowd attending an outdoor country music concert in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Several hundred people gathered at an outdoor amphitheater during an event that began with a prayer and words from Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. “Today we remember the unforgettable. Today, we comfort the inconsolable,” Sandoval said. “Today, we are reminded of the pain that never really goes away.” Among the attendees who are offering prayers, songs and speeches at the event was Mynda Smith. She remembered her sister, Nyesa Davis Tonks, who pronounced her name “Neesha” and was a 46-year-old single mother originally from the Salt Lake City area raising three boys in Las Vegas. Smith said her sister she was energetic, adventurous, a fan of all kinds of music. “I want to bring the message about living life to the fullest,” Smith said. “About how grateful we are for our community, the love and support that we got, and being ‘Vegas Strong.'”

The chief executive of MGM Resorts International is calling last year’s mass shooting in Las Vegas “an unforgettable act of terror.” Company chairman and CEO Jim Murren said in a statement Monday that the Oct. 1, 2017, shooting that killed 58 people and injured more than 850 was a “senseless act of evil.” MGM owns the Mandalay Bay hotel, where the gunman was when he opened fire into an outdoor concert crowd below on the Las Vegas Strip. Police and the FBI have not called the shooting a terrorist act or said the Mandalay Bay gunman was linked to a conspiracy. They say he acted alone. How the event is characterized is important for MGM Resorts because it wants to invoke a federal anti-terrorism law enacted after Sept. 11, 2001, in defense of negligence lawsuits alleging that the casino giant could have prevented the shooting. In his statement, Murren says that through unity and determination the Oct. 1 anniversary can become a day of healing and hope.

Iowa Secretary of State in Knoxville last Friday

Posted on October 1, 2018October 1, 2018 by Rick Watts

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate was in Knoxville Friday (9/28) for a round table discussion on being “Voter Ready” for the 2018 election. He said Iowa is among the top six US states for voter registration and voter participation. Some have claimed requiring photo ID would keep people from voting. Pate says that’s not the case. “What we’ve found is that elections have gone very smoothly. We had well over 40 special elections under this new law, with no glitches. The world didn’t come to an end. We had a major primary which, in that primary, we had a record number of absentee ballots cast. It was one of the voter turnouts for the Democrats with no major glitches and the voter ID, I think, does work.”

Pate adds Iowans are now able to register to vote online, but that doesn’t mean you can vote online.

September 28th: On this day

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Rick Watts

On this day in 1999, Greatest Hits, also titled Garth Brooks in…. The Life of Chris Gaines, was released in the US. It was part of the alter ego project of Garth Brooks, in which Brooks assumed the fictitious persona of alternative rock artist Chris Gaines. Originally, the album was intended to be the soundtrack for a movie called The Lamb that was to have stared Brooks as a rock star recalling the different periods of his life. This album was purposely released a year in advance from the scheduled film release date to pique interest in Brooks performing rock instead of country. The Lamb, however, was never filmed due to financial and management problems.

Update on proposed airport

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Rick Watts

There’s going to be a hearing in Pella next month on the proposed airport between Oskaloosa and Pella. The South Central Regional Airport Agency will meet October 29 to discuss plans to acquire the land for the airport. Local residents have opposed the airport, especially the possibility that eminent domain will be used to seize the land to build the airport. That public hearing will be at 6pm October 29 at the Pella Public Safety Complex at 614 Main Street in Pella.

Oskaloosa homecoming game tonight against Newton

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Rick Watts

Oskaloosa High’s football team goes for its fifth consecutive win tonight when they host Newton in the Homecoming game at Lacey Recreation Complex. Newton comes to town with a three game winning streak and an offense that’s not the spread offense that’s become the norm in high school football. Indians Coach Jake Jenkins explains. “It’s a power running attack; it’s smash mouth football. It’s something you don’t normally see. It’s almost like seeing the triple option for the first time. As a team, if you haven’t seen it, you have to prepare all week for something you’re just not familiar with and it adds an extra wrinkle and extra difficulty to the defensive game plans.”

You can hear Oskaloosa and Newton tonight on KMZN and the No Coast Network. Pregame show at 7:15; kickoff at 7:30. Our Game of the Week tonight on KBOE-FM has North Mahaska hosting Martensdale-St. Mary’s. That game kicks off at 7; Erick Zamora has pregame at 6:45.

Other high school football tonight: Sigourney-Keota hosts Van Buren, South Tama at Pella, Grinnell at Knoxville, Ottumwa at Johnston, PCM-Monroe at Saydel, Albia at Central Lee, EBF at Davis County, Pella Christian at Pleasantville, Lynnville-Sully hosts Central Decatur, Montezuma at Tri-County, Baxter at Twin Cedars and Belle Plaine at BGM.

Historical marker placed in Oskaloosa

Posted on September 28, 2018September 28, 2018 by Rick Watts

Part of Oskaloosa’s history was remembered Thursday. A historical marker was placed at what’s called Trolley Place—the former McGregor, Malcom and Fitch Buildings on High Avenue West in downtown Oskaloosa. Ann Brouwer, a member of the Historical Marker Committee, says the buildings hosted a number of different businesses over the years.

“There was undertaking, there was roller skating, there was beer, bars, meat, furniture, department stores. Did I mention the roller rink? So anything you can imagine was happening in these three buildings back in the day through the history. Even a college.” That was Oskaloosa Business College. The Oskaloosa Downtown Development Group purchased the buildings in 2008 and has been renovating them. Brouwer explains the importance of remembering these buildings’ past.

“We want to preserve this for generations to come, this amazing history of our community. That I feel if we don’t do it, it’s going to be lost forever.” Part of one of the buildings is now the site of Pizza Ranch in Oskaloosa. There are also apartments, with the remainder available for a business to move into.

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