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OCSD Finance Director Announces Resignation

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA – The Finance Director for the Oskaloosa Community School District announced her resignation yesterday.

Sarah McGriff tendered her resignation effective on November 17, 2025, and in her resignation letter to the district, she cited what she described as “personal vendettas” and a “smear campaign” targeting district superintendent Mike Fisher as reasons behind her decision.

McGriff alleged that three members of the school board “have continued to spread misinformation to damage reputations and erode trust to advance their personal agendas,” and praised superintendent Fisher, calling him a “compassionate, moral, and faith-driven leader.” She went on to reference a state audit that she described as “wasteful” that was conducted “out of spite” by board president Kathy Butler: McGriff wrote that “the board president and her allies” initiated the audit as “a direct attack on the integrity of both Dr. Fisher and me.”

The district’s next school board meeting will be held on October 28.

Oskaloosa City Council Passes First Reading of Alternate Enforcement Action Ordinance

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa city council held a regular meeting last night and passed the first reading of an ordinance for “Alternate Enforcement Action,” allowing city police to issue civil “notices of violation” in place of traditional citations or municipal infractions. The change affects specific minor traffic and municipal violations and enables those who commit the violations to pay a set civil penalty directly to the city. City staff said that the goal behind the change is to streamline enforcement, reduce court caseloads, and offer a more efficient and cost-effective option for addressing minor offenses, and that the model they followed is based on similar ordinances currently in use in several nearby cities, including Ottumwa and Bloomfield. They added that civil penalties being remitted directly to the city rather than through the state court system could potentially increase the city’s general fund revenue.

Notices of Violation may be issued for violations of city ordinances, including but not limited to: minor traffic violations, animal leash law/animal at-large violations, open burning/garbage burning, nuisance animal noise, animal immunization violations, violations of dangerous dog ordinance, and nuisance sound amplification.

The first reading of the ordinance was passed unanimously by the council. Two more readings of the ordinance need to be conducted before it is officially added to the municipal code.

The council also evaluated City Manager Shawn Metcalf’s performance at the 6-month mark of his employment with the city. The council praised Metcalf for following up on promises made during the hiring process and agreed to raise his salary by $5,000 from $165,000 to $170,000.

The next regular meeting for the Oskaloosa city council will be held on November 3.

Indians Drop Road Contest at Marion

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa Indians remained winless on the season following a road trip to Marion that yielded a 21-13 defeat at the hands of the Wolves.

The game featured two offenses that had been struggling mightily on the season: Marion and Oskaloosa’s offenses had been shut out 7 combined times and had been averaging under 7 points per game over the previous month of action. Friday night’s contest began with both of those units continuing to search for answers, as no points were scored in the entire first half. The Wolves had been able to move the ball with some success, but their drives stalled in Oskaloosa territory when they entered it. The high point for the Indians defense came late in the 2nd quarter when junior defensive back Courtland Metier picked off Marion QB Lucas Stearns deep in Indians territory to prevent the Wolves from striking first.

When the second half began, the rain got started. After a dry first half, the second half was characterized by the onslaught of rain and slippery footballs. It was also characterized by a sudden explosion of action.

Oskaloosa’s Omar Garcia got the second half underway with a squib kick that the Indians were able to recover at the Marion 32 yard line after a member of the Wolves saw the ball ricochet off his chest plate. Two plays later, Osky QB Tyler Edgar scampered to the end zone from 27 yards out to put the Indians on the board with a 6-0 lead. On the extra point, Edgar served as the holder, and he got hit hard after kicker Ayden Plumb split the uprights. That resulted in a 15 yard personal foul penalty for Marion, which prompted a vocal response from a Marion player who was flagged for an additional 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that got him ejected from the game.

The 30 yards in penalties allowed Omar Garcia to kick the ball off from the Marion 30 yard line, prompting an onside kick attempt that he executed perfectly: Osky recovered the kick and scored 2 plays later, courtesy of a short TD run from senior Brock Beerbower. The PAT was blocked, and Osky’s lead stood at 13-0.

Unfortunately for Oskaloosa, Marion was able to reenter the game in a hurry. On their first offensive play of the 2nd half, they ran a trick play, pitching the ball to slot back Logan Hendricks, who then threw it deep to Matt Danninger, who was all alone past the Indians’ secondary and took it 84 yards to the end zone to cut the lead to 13-7. In the first 90 seconds of the second half, 20 points were scored by the two teams, after 0 points were scored in the first 2 quarters.

Marion maintained their momentum by locking down the Osky offense and striking again with a 24 yard touchdown run late in the 3rd quarter to take a 14-13 lead. The Indians appeared to be on their way to responding with a score when they embarked on a 13-play drive that began at the end of the 3rd quarter and bled into the 4th, but they were turned away on a 4th-and-2 rushing attempt at the Marion 26 yard line. Late in the 4th quarter, Marion put a dagger in Osky’s hopes with a 46-yard TD run to extend their lead to 8 points with under 2 1/2 minutes left. With the rainy conditions, getting the passing game down the field in such little time proved to be too big of a mountain to climb, and the final score was 21-13 in favor of the Wolves.

Oskaloosa (0-8) will travel to Clear Creek Amana on Friday night (10/24) to close out their season. The game will be broadcast on KBOE 104.9 FM and kboeradio.com starting at 7pm.

Iowa DOT getting equipment ready for winter work

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Dar Danielson (Radio Iowa)

October continues to remain unseasonably warm, but the Iowa DOT has started putting snow plows and salt spreaders on some trucks.

Winter Operations director Craig Bargfrede says they start their winter prep every year at this time. “We have to start installing the wedge tanks in the back of the truck that holds some of our liquid brine, installing the spreaders and what not on the back end of the truck, getting the plows out and getting them mounted. Making sure everything is set and ready to go,” Bargfrede says. They check all the controls to make sure the plows go up and down and the right amount of salt or salt brine is being spread.

Bargfrede says the big orange trucks are used year round, so they have to start getting some set up for winter operations. “We’re continuing to do summer time, fall maintenance activities, getting those projects wrapped up,” he says, “but yeah we still have to have a certain percentage of trucks ready to go should we get anything that we need to go out and do some application or do some plowing.”

Bargfrede has been overseeing winter operations for 12 years and says planning ahead is always the key.
“I think we got a good routine, yes. But you know, there’s always those crazy things that get tossed at you that make you kind of take a step back and go ‘hmm’, never had that happen before,” he says.

The wind storm last March in western Iowa that toppled power poles like dominoes is an example of Mother Nature throwing in something new.  “When we had to close I-29 down, that’s the first time in my career that I’ve had to close down the interstate because we had live power lines down across the interstate. So obviously that was a huge safety issue,” Bargfrede says.

The DOT hires a lot of part-time workers to help them handle winter operations and Bargfrede says they are still looking to fill the ranks. “So if anyone is interested in coming to work for us part time, contact the nearest DOT garage. Last I saw, would have been the end of last week, I think we had about 175 of those 630 positions that have been not filled. So we’re getting a good start,” he says.

The DOT has 1,072 full-time equipment operators, mechanics, and supervisors to go along with the temporary employees. The equipment fleet includes 910 trucks, 40 motor graders, 33 tow plows, and 10 heavy-duty, self-propelled snowblowers.

Oskaloosa City Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council has a regular meeting scheduled for tonight. The council will receive an update on their 28E agreement with Wastewater, as well as a monthly update on the YMCA Natatorium Completion project. They will also receive the Fiscal Year 2025 annual report on operations for each city department. 

Other items on the agenda include a public hearing for the adoption of the amended and restated City-Wide Housing Urban Revitalization Plan, a discussion regarding the replacement of the concrete walls surrounding the city square, and an evaluation of the City Manager’s performance and possible salary adjustment (from $165,000 to $170,000) as mandated by his employment contract with the city.

The meeting will begin at 6pm in the Oskaloosa City Hall council chambers.

World Food Prize Lecture to be Held at William Penn University

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA – World Food Prize Laureate Heidi Kuhn will be presenting the annual World Food Prize Laureate Lecture at William Penn University tomorrow. The presentation is set for Tuesday at 11:15am in the George Daily Auditorium in Oskaloosa, and is free and open to the public.

Kuhn began her career in journalism, and after surviving cancer she founded Roots of Peace in 1997, launching the “Mines to Vines” initiative to turn landmine-contaminated regions into vineyards and orchards. Her work has restored livelihoods for over one million farmers and families, planted more than seven million fruit trees across ten countries, and facilitated the removal of over 100,000 landmines and unexploded bombs.

William Penn has partnered with the World Food Prize Foundation since 2001 to host laureates and experts in food science and agricultural innovation. This year’s lecture will be hosted by Dr. James North, a biochemistry professor who has been a member of William Penn’s faculty since 2000.

Ace Frehley, Kiss’ original lead guitarist and founding member, dies at 74

Posted on by Sam Parsons

MORRISTOWN (AP) — Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and founding member of the glam rock band Kiss, who captivated audiences with his elaborate galactic makeup and smoking guitar, died Thursday. He was 74.

Frehley died peacefully surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey, following a recent fall, according to his agent.

Family members said in a statement that they are “completely devastated and heartbroken” but will cherish his laughter and celebrate the kindness he bestowed upon others.

Kiss, whose hits included “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” was known for its theatrical stage shows, with fire and fake blood spewing from the mouths of band members dressed in body armor, platform boots, wigs and signature black-and-white face paint.

Kiss’ original lineup included Frehley, singer-guitarist Paul Stanley, tongue-wagging bassist Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss. Frehley’s is the first death among the four founding members.

Band members took on the personas of comic book-style characters — Frehley was known as “Space Ace” and “The Spaceman.” The New York-born entertainer and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer often experimented with pyrotechnics, making his guitars glow, emit smoke and shoot rockets from the headstock.

“We are devastated by the passing of Ace Frehley,” Simmons and Stanley said in a joint statement. “He was an essential and irreplaceable rock soldier during some of the most formative foundational chapters of the band and its history. He is and will always be a part of KISS’s legacy.”

Born Paul Daniel Frehley, he grew up in a musical family and began playing guitar at age 13. Before joining Kiss, he played in local bands around New York City and was a roadie for Jimi Hendrix at age 18.

Kiss was especially popular in the mid-1970s, selling tens of millions of albums and licensing its iconic look to become a marketing marvel. “Beth” was its biggest commercial hit in the U.S., peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1976.

As the Kennedy Center’s new chairman, President Donald Trump named Kiss as one of this year’s honorees.

In 2024, the band sold their catalog, brand name and intellectual property to Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment Group in a deal estimated to be over $300 million.

Frehley frequently feuded with Stanley and Simmons through the years. He left the band in 1982, missing the years when they took off the makeup and had mixed success. Stanley later said they nearly replaced Frehley with Eddie Van Halen, but Vinnie Vincent assumed the lead guitar role.

Frehley performed both as a solo artist and with his band, Frehley’s Comet.

But he rejoined Kiss in the mid-1990s for a triumphant reunion and restoration of their original style that came after bands including Nirvana, Weezer and the Melvins had expressed affection for the band and paid them musical tributes.

He would leave again in 2002. When the original four entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, a dispute scrapped plans for them to perform. Simmons and Stanley objected to Criss and Frehley being inducted instead of then-guitarist Tommy Thayer and then-drummer Eric Singer.

Simmons told Rolling Stone magazine that year that Frehley and Criss “no longer deserve to wear the paint.” “The makeup is earned,” he added. “Just being there at the beginning is not enough.”

Frehley and Kiss also had a huge influence on the glammy style of 1980s so-called hair metal bands including Mötley Crüe and Poison.

“Ace, my brother, I surely cannot thank you enough for the years of great music, the many festivals we’ve done together and your lead guitar on Nothing But A Good Time,” Poison front man Bret Michaels said on Instagram.

Harder-edged bands like Metallica and Pantera were also fans, and even country superstar Garth Brooks joined the band members for a recording of their “Hard Luck Woman” on a 1994 compilation.

Frehley would appear occasionally with Kiss for shows in later years. A 2023 concert at Madison Square Garden was billed as the band’s last. While Stanley and Simmons said they would not tour again, they’ve been open to the possibility of more concerts, and they’ve stayed active promoting the group’s music and memorabilia.

Panel predicts Iowa tax revenue to fall 9% in FY26

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

A state panel is predicting state tax revenue will fall nine percent during the current state budget year compared to the 12-month period that ended June 30, 2025.

The group met today and reduced the tax estimate it released in March by another $375 million and cited factors like Iowa’s rising unemployment rate, falling soybean prices and the state income tax cut that took effect in January. Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference chairman Kraig Paulsen, the governor’s budget director, told reporters Republican lawmakers who passed the tax cuts planned for this, socking away $6 billion in unspent taxes over the past several years that can be tapped to balance the state budget.

“Is it the most comfortable spot? No,” Paulsen said, “but…the State of Iowa is in a good financial condition.”

Recent federal tax reductions are having an impact, too, since Iowa tax policies automatically adjust to mirror federal changes. Jennifer Acton, fiscal division director for the Legislative Services Agency, said declining consumer confidence could be concerning if trends continue. “Businesses appear more hesitant to hire and are leaving more jobs open due to softer sales and uncertainty,” Acton said during the group’s meeting. “…Meanwhile, manufacturing and finance, the two largest employer sectors in Iowa…have lost jobs over the past year.”

Former State Banking Superintendent Jeff Plagge, the other member of the panel, said there are some worrisome signals in the ag economy. “Grain producers are going to have a difficult year, as they did last year,” Plagge said.

The State Revenue Estimating Conference predicts Iowa tax revenue will “stabilize” and begin to grow in 2027 — if there’s no recession. Governor Reynolds, in a written statement, said now that Iowa’s 3.8% flat income tax is “fully implemented, Iowans have more of their own money than they did at this time last year” and that’s “just as it should be.”

Democrats like Representative Dave Jacoby of Coralville say the state’s finances are plummeting. “I think it’s plain to see that the Republicans have been squeezing the tax balloon for years,” Jacoby said, “and that balloon has finally popped.”

Senator Janet Petersen of Des Moines said the tax cuts have created “a billion dollar hole” in the state budget and state reserves will eventually run out. “This isn’t just a dip in revenues. This is a historic drop,” said Petersen, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Secretary Naig Announces Eight Additional Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Projects

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is beginning construction on eight additional abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation projects in southeast Iowa. The eight projects, which represent more than $5 million in combined investment by the Department, are expected to be complete by the end of 2026.

“The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is committed to working alongside our public and private partners to restore and protect our rich natural resources. Each abandoned mine land reclamation project reflects the state’s ongoing investment in conservation and is a visible sign of progress, producing cleaner water, healthier soil, and safer land for future generations,” said Secretary Naig. “These AML projects reduce hazards, improve wildlife habitat and create new opportunities for agriculture, conservation and recreation in Iowa.”

Coal mining began in Iowa as early as the 1840s with coal production peaking around 1917. Years later, the federal government enacted the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, which required companies to remove hazards and stabilize coal mines after they finished mining. This legislation paved the way for the Department’s AML program, which began in 1983. Iowa has more than 13,000 acres of AML sites located primarily in Davis, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Van Buren and Wapello counties.

AML sites may include dangerous piles, embankments, high walls, pit ponds and bare acidic soils that need to be graded and neutralized for reclamation. Funding for reclamations is made available through a partnership with the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) located in the United States Department of the Interior.

These eight projects are in addition to 10 others currently under construction. An additional 12 sites are in the design and planning phase. Approximately 122 projects have been completed during the past four decades, with a total investment of nearly $112 million dollars. There are approximately 138 sites awaiting reclamation.

Name of Project: Crozier Family

Location: Marion County

Construction Bid Awarded: September 2025

Anticipated Completion: December 2026

Approximate Cost: $463,090

Approximate Size: 16 acres

Partners: LT Leon and Associates, Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), OSMRE, Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Nail Excavating, Private Landowners

Details: The reclamation will involve the movement of approximately 125,000 cubic yards of earthwork and remediation of dangerous piles and embankments and dangerous high walls.

 

Name of Project: Feagins

Location: Marion County

Construction Bid Awarded: September 2025

Anticipated Completion: December 2026

Approximate Cost: $246,558

Approximate Size: 6 acres

Partners: Snyder and Associates, Pathfinders RC&D, Marion County, OSMRE, Cornerstone Excavating Inc., Private Landowners

Details: The reclamation will involve the movement of approximately 33,500 cubic yards of earthwork, highwall and dangerous piles and embankments.

 

Name of Project: Klootwyk

Location: Marion County

Construction Bid Awarded: September 2025

Anticipated Completion: December 2026

Approximate Cost: $2,180,969

Approximate Size: 99 acres

Partners: Trihydro Corporation, Pathfinders RC&D, OSMRE, Marion County SWCD, Nail Excavating, Private Landowners

Details: The reclamation will involve the movement of approximately 884,000 cubic yards of earthwork and remediation of dangerous piles and embankments, dangerous highwalls, spoil areas, dangerous pit ponds, and clogged stream lands.

 

Name of Project: North King

Location: Marion County

Construction Bid Awarded: September 2025

Anticipated Completion: December 2026

Approximate Cost: $1,125,267.25

Approximate Size: 55 acres

Partners: Trihydro Corporation, Pathfinders RC&D, OSMRE, Marion SWCD, Hammes Bulldozing Inc., Private Landowners

Details: The reclamation will involve the movement of approximately 424,000 cubic yards of earthwork and the remediation of dangerous piles and embankments, dangerous high walls, spoil areas, dangerous pit ponds, and clogged stream lands.

 

Name of Project: Vander Veer

Location: Marion County

Construction Bid Awarded: September 2025

Anticipated Completion: December 2026

Approximate Cost: $349,288

Approximate Size: 13 acres

Partners: Shive-Hattery, Inc., Pathfinders RC&D, OSMRE, Marion County SWCD, Stek Construction, Private Landowners

Details: The reclamation will involve the movement of approximately 88,000 cubic yards of earthwork and remediation of dangerous piles and embankments, dangerous high walls and spoil areas.

 

Name of Project: B Caves

Location: Van Buren County

Construction Bid Awarded: September 2025

Anticipated Completion: December 2026

Approximate Cost: $233,849

Approximate Size: 10.4 acres

Partners: French Reneker and Associates, Pathfinders RC&D, OSMRE, Van Buren County SWCD, Wilkinson Construction LLC., Private Landowners

Details: The reclamation will involve the movement of approximately 29,899 cubic yards of earthwork and remediation of clogged stream lands.

 

Name of Project: R Caves

Location: Van Buren County

Construction Bid Awarded: September 2025

Anticipated Completion: December 2026

Approximate Cost: $69,851

Approximate Size: 3.1 acres

Partners: French Reneker and Associates, Pathfinders RC&D, OSMRE, Van Buren County SWCD, Wilkinson Construction LLC., Private Landowners

Details: The reclamation will involve the movement of approximately 3,936 cubic yards of earthwork and remediation of clogged stream lands.

 

Name of Project: Taylor

Location: Wapello County

Construction Bid Awarded: September 2025

Anticipated Completion: December 2026

Approximate Cost: $358,000

Approximate Size: 9 acres

Partners: French Reneker and Associates, Pathfinders RC&D, OSMRE, Wapello County SWCD, Legacy Grading, Private Landowners

Details: The reclamation will involve the movement of approximately 18,000 cubic yards of earthwork and remediation of dangerous piles and embankments.

Hometown Heroes Named Home of 2025 Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin

Posted on by Sam Parsons

CLIVE — The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) has crowned Hometown Heroes of Grinnell as the winner of the 2025 Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest. Located at 908 Main Street in downtown Grinnell, Iowa, this sports-grill-style restaurant is a gathering spot for community, good food, and local pride.

Owner and executive chef Paul Durr said the recognition is both humbling and exciting for his team. “We’ve sold so many tenderloins since the contest started, it’s been incredible,” Durr said. “Our staff has worked so hard, and the community support has just blown us away. We’re so proud to win this award.”

Phil Carey, retired chef and culinary instructor and one of the judges in the 2025 contest, praised the winning tenderloin in strong terms: “Hometown Heroes was one of the first ones that we judged, and as we (the judging panel) left, we agreed that this one would be hard to beat. The pork was tender and juicy; it was evenly pounded and well-seasoned… the pork was the star of the show! It was made complete by being served hot on a toasted bun. It’s a great sandwich!”

Opened in 2019 and owned by Paul and Kalyn Durr, along with partners Shannon and Todd Reding, Hometown Heroes blends comfort food with hometown spirit. Paul serves as executive chef and director of operations, with Kalyn overseeing marketing. Alex Phillips is the general manager handling day-to-day operations. The restaurant is part of the Prairie Hospitality Group, which also owns Prairie Canary, a farm-to-table establishment in Grinnell.

More than just a place to eat, Hometown Heroes is designed with the local community in mind. Inside, one wall is dedicated to athletes from nearby high schools and colleges who now represent the region on bigger stages. Other walls pay tribute to first responders, military service members, and those who have served the community in various “hero” roles. The restaurant is casual and energetic with a menu that leans toward bar/family comfort food: wings, burgers, sandwiches, and of course, the now celebrated pork tenderloin.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association is thrilled to officially present the coveted Iowa’s Best Tenderloin Award for 2025 at Hometown Heroes today at noon! They will take home a $500 cash prize, a plaque, and a banner to showcase their achievement.

The 2025 runner-up is The 1854 in Gilbertville, Iowa. They’ll receive a $250 prize along with a plaque from the IPPA. Earlier this month, we also recognized several other outstanding finalists, who will receive top-five plaques in alphabetical order:

This tenderloin contest celebrates Iowa restaurants that feature hand-breaded or battered pork tenderloin as a staple on their menu. To qualify, establishments must be open year-round. Winners are unveiled every October in honor of National Pork Month, which pays tribute to the hard work and dedication of America’s pork producers.

Dairy Sweet in Dunlap was the 2024 winner, making it the first restaurant to win the title twice.

See the full list of past winners, dating back to 2003.

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