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Lee Corso to retire from ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ after four-decade run

BRISTOL (AP) — Lee Corso’s nearly four-decade run on ESPN’s “College GameDay” is coming to an end.

Corso, the longtime ESPN broadcaster and folksy former coach widely known for his endearing expressions and elaborate headgear picks, is set to retire after a career with the show that began in 1987, ESPN announced Thursday. His final broadcast will be Aug. 30 — Week 1 of the 2025 college football season — and the network said additional programming to celebrate Corso is also planned.

“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and ‘College GameDay’ for nearly 40 years,” Corso said in a statement to ESPN. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”

Corso, who turns 90 in August, began his popular headgear segment in October 1996 at a game at Ohio State. Since then, he has gone 286-144 in 430 selections wearing everything from helmets and mascot heads to dressing up as the Fighting Irish leprechaun from Notre Dame, the Stanford tree and historic figures James Madison and Benjamin Franklin.

“Not so fast, my friend” is one of his most well-known comments and his good humor alongside Kirk Herbstreit, Rece Davis and Desmond Howard and many others going back more than three decades helped make Corso and the show a beloved staple for millions on college football Saturdays.

“Almost 30 years together. I have enjoyed sitting next to you, watching you do your thing,” Herbstreit said in a video on social media. “So much fun and so many great moments on the show and off the show. This is a celebration for everything you did. You’re an icon and once in a lifetime person. It has been a special time for all of us. You’ve earned this retirement.”

Corso’s career has lasted through a health scare in 2009, when he suffered a stroke that left him unable to speak for a while. He returned to “College GameDay ”later that year. Though he hasn’t joined his colleagues as much on the road in recent years, Corso was at the site of last year’s national title game between Ohio State and Notre Dame in Atlanta.

Corso was a college and pro football coach for 28 years before transitioning to broadcasting. He coached 15 years in college at Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois.

Iowa’s Labor Force Participation Holds Steady as 1,700 Iowans Enter the Workforce

DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s labor force participation rate held steady at 67.0 percent in March as 1,700 Iowans entered the labor force. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.4 percent in March, up slightly from 3.3 percent in February. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate increased to 4.2 percent in March.

The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,664,000 in March, up 400 from February and 2,400 higher than one year ago. The total number of unemployed Iowans increased to 58,600 in March from 57,300 in February.

“March’s report shows increased hiring in key industries such as construction, transportation, and healthcare, while other areas with more temporary workers pulled back,” said Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “There remains over 50,000 open jobs in Iowa, and the IowaWORKS career planners and Reemployment Case Management team can help Iowans who are looking for work find available jobs and learn how to best position themselves in a competitive job market.”

Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Employment

Job growth from Iowa firms in March was led primarily from the sectors of construction, education and health services, and trade, transportation and utilities, which collectively added 1,500 jobs. Overall, goods-producing industries increased slightly (+200), while government employment was little changed since February. Overall, Iowa firms shed 1,500 jobs in March, lowering total nonfarm employment to 1,592,300. This loss was largely attributed to private service industries lowering staffing levels. In the wake of the March report, Iowa firms have now shed 11,800 jobs over the past 12 months.

Jobs gains in March were led by construction (+500). This increase follows another small gain in February. Health care and social assistance was also up in March (+500) and was fueled by services for the elderly and disabled. This sector continues the trend upward and has gained jobs in six consecutive months, adding 3,900 jobs over that span. Transportation, warehousing, and utilities gained 400 jobs. Trucking and delivery industries were responsible for most of these jobs added. Administrative support and waste management pared 1,200 jobs in March to lead all private sectors, which fueled a combined loss of 2,000 jobs in professional and business services. Professional, scientific, and technical firms also shed 600 jobs. Leisure and hospitality lost 900 jobs. These losses were evenly split between recreational industries and accommodation and food services.

While trailing last year’s mark by 4,200, construction has added jobs in three of the last four months, gaining 1,300 jobs over that span. Health care and social assistance employers are up 5,900 jobs annually, and have continued to expand compared to last year’s mark. Manufacturing has shed the most jobs (-8,000) over the past 12 months, most of which stem from durable goods factories (-5,900). Professional and business services are also down since last year (-5,000), fueled by losses in administrative support and waste management.

EBF Band Receives Honor to Perform from Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra

EDDYVILLE — In 2016, the Ottumwa Chapter board of the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra pitched a new program that would evolve into the annual Ruth P. Seim Memorial Concert for a Cause, in which area school ensembles are invited to perform during intermission of the orchestra’s spring Masterworks concert in Ottumwa. 

This year’s invited guest is the Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Concert Band, directed by Dezirae Fairchild of Oskaloosa. The band will perform at the 2 p.m. April 27 concert in Ottumwa’s Bridge View Center. The band’s varied program, lasting about 10 minutes, will feature “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked,” “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” and the jazz standard, “In the Mood.” 

The Ottumwa Chapter board chooses each year’s spotlight ensemble. Fairchild, director of this year’s chosen band, also plays oboe with the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra and serves on the Ottumwa Chapter board. 

“The band is very deserving,” she noted. “Concert band is the foundation for the success of the Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont fine arts department. We have a rich history of success in our program, including our elementary and junior high bands. Our marching band and jazz band programs are well-known in this part of the state, in part because we have a supportive community, administration, and music booster program. Our students are in our band programs because they choose to be, and what they accomplish is pretty remarkable. What’s reassuring is to know that support for our program goes beyond our school district with organizations like the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra and the Ruth P. Seim Memorial Concert for a Cause – that’s the kind of support that keeps the arts alive and healthy across generations.”

Admission is $20 for adults and free for students, to help remove barriers for young people to attend. Fairchild adds, “This experience really is an excellent opportunity. This will be the first time hearing a live symphony orchestra for many of our students. Additionally, the band will receive 75% of all ticket sales at the concert, and 100% of all donations given to our program, so bring your friends and family, and congratulate our students on a job well done!”

Mock Accident at North Mahaska Highlights Bad Decisions

NEW SHARON – Students of North Mahaska High School witnessed the results of a bad decision Wednesday as members of the senior class and Erica Groom’s classes held a mock accident as sophomores, juniors and other seniors observed.

Groom and Mahaska County Sheriff Deputy Ben Johnston coordinated the event. The two were part of the event when they were students at North Mahaska. They put on the event to highlight the possible results of drunk driving and distracted driving. Two students “died” in the incident while others were injured or had life altering injuries.

“I’ve probably have done 20 or so of these plus the one I was in in high school,” said Johnston. “It is important for students to see this. I am glad to be a part of it.”

Once students had gathered, sound effects alerted the students to a crash, students came out of the pickup stumbling around as a 911 call went out. The incident was between a pickup and small car and included ejections from the vehicle. One student, Trenton Hol, was dead at the scene. Another, Moriah Stout would die at the hospital.

Senior Joel DeJong was the “driver” of the pickup and after a sobriety test was arrested by New Sharon Police officer Emily Lawler. He was handcuffed and placed into the back of the squad car. Later, he appeared in jail garb to speak about the choices he made to drive drunk and then text.

“It was fun acting out, but it got serious,” said DeJong. “Being cuffed was a bit scary.”

His mother Tonya was in the crowd and observed her son being arrested.

“It was difficult to watch,” said DeJong. “Just glad to see him afterward.”

Students also saw firefighters cutting open a car to get a person out and the funeral home placing the bodies into a body bag.

Students became emotional “at the funeral” as they read prepared comments about their boyfriend, classmates and friends. Tears fell as one by one they talked about what happened. Even though the incident was fake, the emotions were not.

“I just want to thank everyone involved and for their help,” said Groom. “The kids involved did a great job of keeping their “roles” quiet and not letting anyone outside our group know who was doing what and that helped make this event even more impactful. I look forward to making this a new tradition at North Mahaska and hope I can help make an impact on someone’s life to help save others’ lives. 

“Thank you to the administration and school board for approving us to do this extremely important even. Thank you to the all the volunteers, Ben Johnston and the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office; Don DeKock, Kevin Lamberson, Emily Lawler, New Sharon Fire and Ambulance crews, Outer Limits Truck Repair, Holland-Coble Funeral Home; Ms. Molly Ray for the make-up; Musco for printing our brochures; Ryan Groom for the crosses; Hy-Vee Floral for the casket arrangement; and anyone else I hope I’m not missing. This event could not have happened without all of you.”

As students were preparing to leave the site, a New Sharon firefighter shared in his 40-plus years of service he had gone on too many of incidents in which an impaired driver was involved. He too, teared up talking about seeing young people’s lives taken too soon.

As prom, graduation and summer approaches, it s hopeful this incident may help students rethink what they are doing if they are thinking of drinking and driving. No one died and no one was injured in this event, but the reality set home for many as they watched the events unfold.

Ag Day Field Trip for Mahaska County 3rd Graders Teaches Youth About Importance of Agriculture

By Sam Parsons

The Mahaska County Farm Bureau hosted their annual Ag Day field trip for Mahaska county 3rd graders yesterday at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds. The event aims to teach Mahaska county 3rd grade students how agriculture impacts their daily lives with various exhibits and activities.

Mahaska County Farm Bureau board member Mary Beth Jackson described some of the activities the kids were able to participate in.

Kids were also able to learn about welding through the use of graham crackers and icing; which, of course, they were able to eat afterwards.

Jackson said that the event was made possible through the efforts of the Farm Bureau collaborating with a few other local entities.

Approximately 275 third grade students made the trip to the fairgrounds yesterday, with 50 adults on hand to teach them how agriculture is relevant to their lives.

Actor Michelle Trachtenberg died of complications from diabetes, says NYC medical examiner

NEW YORK (AP) — Actor Michelle Trachtenberg died as a result of complications from diabetes, New York City’s medical examiner said Wednesday.

The office said in a statement that it amended the cause and manner of death for the 39-year-old New York City native following a review of laboratory test results.

Trachtenberg, who was known for “Gossip Girl,” ” Buffy the Vampire Slayer ” and “Harriet the Spy,” was found unconscious and unresponsive in her luxury apartment tower in Manhattan in February.

Officials at the time said no foul play was suspected, and the medical examiner’s office had listed her death as “undetermined.”

Trachtenberg’s family had objected to an autopsy, which the medical examiner’s office honored because there was no evidence of criminality.

Her representative didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Taylor Momsen and Blake Lively were among the celebrities who mourned Trachtenberg when her Feb. 26 death was announced.

Trachtenberg was 8 when she began playing Nona Mecklenberg on Nickelodeon’s “The Adventures of Pete & Pete” from 1994 to 1996 and then starred in the title role in the film adaptations of “Harriet the Spy” and “Inspector Gadget,” opposite Matthew Broderick.

In 2000 Trachtenberg joined the cast of “Buffy,” playing Dawn Summers, the younger sister of the title character played by Gellar between 2000 and 2003.

Trachtenberg went on to recurring roles on “Six Feet Under,” “Weeds” and “Gossip Girl,” where she played the gang’s scheming nemesis, Georgina Sparks. She was one of the original series’ stars to return for a pair of guest appearances in the 2021 “Gossip Girl” revival.

Trachtenberg’s later credits included the 2004 teen sex comedy “EuroTrip” and 2009’s “17 Again” with Zac Efron and Leslie Mann.

Weekly Fuel Report

DES MOINES — The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 9 cents, averaging $2.98 across Iowa according to AAA.

Crude Oil Summary

  • The price of global crude oil rose this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by $5.19 per barrel over last week, currently priced at $62.57.
  • Brent crude oil rose by $5.21 and is currently priced at $65.84.
  • One year ago, WTI crude sold for $86.15 and Brent crude was $91.29.

Motor Fuels

  • As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.98 across Iowa according to AAA.
    • Prices fell 9 cents from last week’s price and are down 34 cents from a year ago.
    • The national average on Wednesday was $3.17, down 7 cents from last week’s price.
  • Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 3 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.35.
    • One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.77 in Iowa.
    • The current Iowa diesel price is 24 cents lower than the national average of $3.59.
  • Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.
  • The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $2.02 for U87-E10, $2.31 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $2.24 for ULSD#2, $2.48 for ULSD#1, and $1.95 per gallon for E-70 prices.

Heating Fuels

  • Natural gas prices were down $.27 at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $3.27 MMbtu.
  • We will continue reporting retail heating oil and propane prices in Iowa in October.

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.

ISU Extension in Mahaska hosts Iowa Farmers Market Nutrition Program Training on April 30

OSKALOOSA — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Mahaska County is proud to announce a partnership with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) to host an Iowa Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) vendor training on April 30 at 9 am. This training is for fruit and vegetable growers, as well as honey producers, who sell their products at farmers markets, and is the initial step toward FMNP certification, a requirement for farmers who wish to accept FMNP vouchers.

The Iowa FMNP, administered by IDALS with support from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, is vital in supporting local farmers and providing access to fresh, locally grown produce for eligible seniors and WIC families. In 2024, over 14,000 seniors and 30,000 mothers and children in Iowa received FMNP vouchers, contributing to the certification of more than 600 farmers at 125 farmers markets and 100 farmstands. Certified farmers saw an average increase of $1,800 in sales through FMNP participation.
The training will take place at the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach office in Mahaska Coounty, located at 212 North I Street, Oskaloosa, on Wednesday April 30 at 9 am. Attendance is free, but preregistration is mandatory. For registration and further details, please contact Suzette Striegel by phone 641-673-5841 or email striegel@iastate.edu.
For regarding FMNP vendor certification, please contact IDALS at 515-725-1179 or FarmersMarket@IowaAgriculture.gov.

Students Build Future Through Construction Trades Program

OSKALOOSA, Iowa — Students in Oskaloosa High School’s Construction Trades program are putting the final touches on this year’s house, gaining hands-on experience in nearly every phase of home construction under the guidance of instructor Dave Bower.

“This is the stage I call the finishing touches,” Bower said. “We’re hanging interior doors, doing casing and base trim, installing cabinets—getting the inside wrapped up. Once the weather cooperates, we’ll move on to the siding and deck.”

This year’s home features a covered deck and a fireplace, additions not included in previous builds.

“We’re on a corner lot, so the covered deck will really add to the curb appeal,” Bower said. “And the fireplace—it just felt like the right fit. A couple of homes ago, we put one in, and it really brought the living room together.”

Each year, students construct a full-size home, participating in nearly every aspect of the build, from framing to electrical work, plumbing, and finish carpentry. They complete more than 75% of the work themselves while collaborating with licensed professionals for specialized tasks such as gas line installation and high-end shower finishes.

“They get to see and be involved in parts of the process that we don’t typically do ourselves,” Bower said. “This year, for example, our house foundation was delayed, so the students got to see firsthand how concrete work happens. When we have opportunities for them to experience aspects of the trade that are usually handled by contractors, we take it.”

For many students, the program serves as a launchpad for careers in the skilled trades. Senior Maddox Ashman, who works on electrical wiring for the house, plans to enter an electrical apprenticeship after graduation, working toward his journeyman and master electrician certifications.

“I’m working on light switches, outlets, lights—basically everything electrical in the house,” he said. “This project gives me a chance to learn the basics—what needs to go where for the light to turn on, how an outlet works. It’s hands-on learning, which is the best way to understand it.”

Second-year Construction Trades student Lukas Toubekis, who has taken on leadership roles such as setting trusses and leading job assignments, plans to study construction engineering at Iowa State University.

“The most enjoyable part is seeing the end result—what your work actually creates,” he said. “It’s kind of like being a foreman, but with a focus on how things are built, how much they cost, and all the little details that architects don’t always think about.”

Student Jaden DeRonde values the hands-on experience of the program.

“I enjoy it a lot—much more than my other classes,” he said. “It’s hands-on, and I’m a hands-on person.” Currently learning how to install cabinets, he has been involved in every stage of construction, from framing to roofing. After graduation, he plans to pursue a business degree before entering custom home construction.

“I don’t have an exact location in mind yet, but I want to start nearby and see where it takes me,” DeRonde shared.

For the first time, students also competed in a SkillsUSA construction competition and students brought home a Gold ranking. On April 11, students traveled to the Iowa State Fairgrounds to test their teamwork, safety, and construction skills in the TeamWorks competition. The team of four students will move on to the national competition in Georgia, this June.

“The students were judged on organization, safety, teamwork, and construction skills,” Bower said. “I picked students with different strengths—some in framing, one with electrical experience, another with plumbing—so together, they have a well-rounded skill set.”

Beyond competitions and construction skills, the program teaches problem-solving, time management, and responsibility. One student with an interest in HVAC took charge of installing a modern thermostat with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities.

“He took it upon himself to figure it out,” Bower said. “That’s what this program is all about—giving them the confidence to take on real projects.”

Since the program’s inception, students have built homes across Oskaloosa, many of which remain with their original owners.

“I can drive you to every house we’ve built,” Bower said. “What’s interesting is that people who buy them tend to stay in them. That tells me we’re doing something right.”

Looking ahead, the program has secured a lot in the Fox Run neighborhood for next year’s build, as available lots in the Marje II addition have been completed. Bower is already thinking about how to make the next project an even greater learning experience for his students.

“Our goal is always to give students as much hands-on experience as possible,” he said. “They’re not just learning construction—they’re building their future.”

Wink Martindale, the genial game show host and an early TV interviewer of Elvis Presley, dies at 91

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wink Martindale, the genial host of such hit game shows as “Gambit” and “Tic-Tac-Dough” who also did one of the first recorded television interviews with a young Elvis Presley, has died. He was 91.

Martindale died Tuesday at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, California, according to his publicist Brian Mayes. Martindale had been battling lymphoma for a year.

“He was doing pretty well up until a couple weeks ago,” Mayes said by phone from Nashville.

“Gambit” debuted on the same day in September 1972 as “The Price is Right” with Bob Barker and “The Joker’s Wild” with Jack Barry.

“From the day it hit the air, ‘Gambit’ spelled winner, and it taught me a basic tenant of any truly successful game show: KISS! Keep It Simple Stupid,” Martindale wrote in his 2000 memoir “Winking at Life.” “Like playing Old Maids as a kid, everybody knows how to play 21, i.e. blackjack.”

“Gambit” had been beating its competition on NBC and ABC for over two years. But a new show debuted in 1975 on NBC called “Wheel of Fortune.” By December 1976, “Gambit” was off the air and “Wheel of Fortune” became an institution that is still going strong today.

Martindale bounced back in 1978 with “Tic-Tac-Dough,” the classic X’s and O’s game on CBS that ran until 1985.

“Overnight I had gone from the outhouse to the penthouse,” he wrote.

He presided over the 88-game winning streak of Navy Lt. Thom McKee, who earned over $300,000 in cash and prizes that included eight cars, three sailboats and 16 vacation trips. At the time, McKee’s winnings were a record for a game show contestant.

“I love working with contestants, interacting with the audience and to a degree, watching lives change,” Martindale wrote. “Winning a lot of cash can cause that to happen.”

Martindale wrote that producer Dan Enright once told him that in the seven years he hosted “Tic-Tac-Dough” he gave away over $7 million in cash and prizes.

Martindale said his many years as a radio DJ were helpful to him as a game show host because radio calls for constant ad-libs and he learned to handle almost any situation in the spur of the moment. He estimated that he hosted nearly two dozen game shows during his career.

Martindale wrote in his memoir that the question he got asked most often was “Is Wink your real name?” The second was “How did you get into game shows?”

He got his nickname from a childhood friend. Martindale is no relation to University of Michigan defensive coordinator Don Martindale, whose college teammates nicknamed him Wink because of their shared last name.

Born Winston Conrad Martindale on Dec. 4, 1933, in Jackson, Tennessee, he loved radio since childhood and at age 6 would read aloud the contents of advertisements in Life magazine.

He began his career as a disc jockey at age 17 at WPLI in his hometown, earning $25 a week.

After moving to WTJS, he was hired away for double the salary by Jackson’s only other station, WDXI. He next hosted mornings at WHBQ in Memphis while attending Memphis State. He was married and the father of two girls when he graduated in 1957.

Martindale was in the studio, although not working on-air that night, when the first Presley record “That’s All Right” was played on WHBQ on July 8, 1954.

Martindale approached fellow DJ Dewey Phillips, who had given Presley an early break by playing his song, to ask him and Presley to do a joint interview on Martindale’s TV show “Top Ten Dance Party” in 1956. By then, Presley had become a major star and agreed to the appearance.

Martindale and Presley stayed in touch on occasion through the years, and in 1959 he did a trans-Atlantic telephone interview with Presley, who was in the Army in Germany. Martindale’s second wife, Sandy, briefly dated Presley after meeting him on the set of “G.I. Blues” in 1960.

In 1959, Martindale moved to Los Angeles to host a morning show on KHJ. That same year he reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with a cover version of “Deck of Cards,” which sold over 1 million copies. He performed the spoken word wartime story with religious overtones on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

“I could easily have thought, ’Wow, this is easy! I come out here, go on radio and TV, make a record and everybody wants to buy it!” he wrote. “Even if I entertained such thoughts, they soon dissipated. I learned in due time that what had happened to me was far from the ordinary.”

A year later he moved to the morning show at KRLA and to KFWB in 1962. Among his many other radio gigs were two separate stints at KMPC, owned by actor Gene Autry.

His first network hosting job was on NBC’s “What’s This Song?” where he was credited as Win Martindale from 1964-65.

He later hosted two Chuck Barris-produced shows on ABC: “Dream Girl ’67” and “How’s Your Mother-in-Law?” The latter lasted just 13 weeks before being canceled.

“I’ve jokingly said it came and went so fast, it seemed more like 13 minutes!” Martindale wrote, explaining that it was the worst show of his career.

Martindale later hosted a Las Vegas-based revival of “Gambit” from 1980-81.

He formed his own production company, Wink Martindale Enterprises, to develop and produce his own game shows. His first venture was “Headline Chasers,” a coproduction with Merv Griffin that debuted in 1985 and was canceled after one season. His next show, “Bumper Stumpers,” ran on U.S. and Canadian television from 1987-1990.

He hosted “Debt” from 1996-98 on Lifetime cable and “Instant Recall” on GSN in 2010.

Martindale returned to his radio roots in 2012 as host of the nationally syndicated “The 100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time.” In 2021, he hosted syndicated program “The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

In 2017, Martindale appeared in a KFC ad campaign with actor Rob Lowe.

He is survived by Sandy, his second wife of 49 years, and children Lisa, Madelyn ad Laura and numerous grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Wink Jr. Martindale’s children are from his first marriage which ended in divorce in 1972.

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