EDDYVILLE – Authorities are continuing to search for an Eddyville man who remains missing after his boat hit underwater concrete in the Des Moines River on Sunday.

The search for 47-year-old Waylon Straube of Eddyville continued for a fourth day yesterday, and area officials are now calling the search a recovery effort. Straube was one of two people thrown from a boat on the Des Moines River near the Bussey Bridge; the other, 50-year-old Rosanne Benda, was rescued shortly after the accident by other boaters. 

The recovery effort for Straube remains active.

OSKALOOSA, Iowa — Oskaloosa High School junior Linus Morrison is no stranger to local leadership, but this year he’s stepping onto a national stage. Recently selected as one of just 16 students nationwide to serve on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National Student Advisory Council, Morrison is now helping shape the future of high school athletics and activities across the country.

The NFHS, which governs most high school sports and activities nationwide, launched the student council just two years ago. Morrison is one of eight juniors selected for a one-year term. Eight sophomores were also chosen and will serve two-year terms, creating a rotating leadership model.

“This is the second year they’ve done it,” Morrison said. “They picked eight juniors and eight sophomores. I was one of the juniors who got picked, and I’ll serve for a year.”

The council gives students a voice in decisions traditionally made by adults, including updates to national rules and initiatives that impact student-athletes. The goal is to ensure students’ perspectives are heard, especially in areas like team culture, sportsmanship, and leadership development.

“In years past, they haven’t had a student board,” Morrison explained. “They’ve just had people working there trying to come up with ideas. So they came to us to see what we see in the classroom and in sports, and how to improve that.”

Council members offer input on everything from rule changes and coaching certification processes to educational resources for athletes facing team-related challenges.

“Sometimes, if a student has problems on a team, they have classes for them to take,” Morrison said. “They also have coaching tests and certification materials, and we get to weigh in on all that.”

Morrison’s first experience with the council was an intensive in-person session in Indianapolis, where all 16 student members met for the first time.

“We were one big group for 40 hours straight,” he said. “We really got to know each other fast. It kind of felt like a family.”

That sense of camaraderie is especially important considering the responsibility the students carry. Morrison and a fellow student from Chicago represent Section 4, which includes much of the Midwest. Altogether, the council advocates for millions of students across the U.S.

“I think the number was 12 million students,” Morrison said. “It’s a huge group to represent. There’s a lot of pressure, but I’m super fortunate to have this opportunity.”

Morrison’s path to the national council began with a summer leadership camp hosted by NFHS in July. Around 300 students attended to sharpen their leadership skills and learn more about student involvement in school activities.

“I really loved it,” he said. “I liked the connection I had with all the kids, and I thought, ‘Hey, I kind of want to lead next year.’”

He and a peer filled out a brief application, and soon after, Morrison was notified of his selection to the national council.

His one-year term runs from spring 2025 to spring 2026. In addition to in-person meetings in Indianapolis, the group connects monthly via Zoom to share updates and collaborate on key topics. He’ll return to Indianapolis in July for further work with the council.

While Morrison is still early in his term, he’s already focused on what he hopes to contribute.

“I want to grow on the leadership side of things,” he said. “A lot of what we do ties into athletics, and that’s a big part of who I am. I just want to help improve the student experience.”

He credits Oskaloosa High School for giving him the foundation to pursue opportunities like this.

“Osky has so many opportunities,” Morrison said. “Mrs. Gile does a great job of getting kids out there and showing who they want to be. And the school pushes kids to get involved. That’s a big deal.”

Morrison recognizes the contrast between his experience in a larger district like Oskaloosa and what might be available in smaller schools.

“In a smaller school, they might not have the same resources or connections,” he said. “I really believe Osky has a great culture of getting kids involved, both in the school and in the community.”

OSKALOOSA, Iowa – In a proud first for Oskaloosa Elementary School, and the State of Iowa, the student council has been recognized with a national Excellence Award for its commitment to school leadership and spirit, a distinction that places the young leaders in a class of their own as the only elementary school in Iowa to receive the honor.

The award, given by the American Student Council Association through the National Association of Elementary School Principals, celebrates the work of student councils that demonstrate exceptional leadership and school pride. For Oskaloosa Elementary, that recognition came in large part thanks to the school’s tour committee and kinder prep mentoring program.

“Our student council was selected for our school leadership and our school spirit,” said fifth-grader Gemma Lahner, president of the Oskaloosa Elementary Student Council. “We are leaders because we help out kinder preps and do different things around our school. I feel very proud of our student council for achieving this.”

School Counselor and Student Council Advisor Mrs. VanDerPol led the nomination effort, compiling months of documentation to showcase the students’ work. “It was a very long application process,” she said. “But I wanted to highlight the tour program and the Kinder Prep mentoring as examples of how these students go above and beyond. These students take initiative. They’re responsible. They’ve been a truly outstanding group to work with.”

VanDerPol added that Oskaloosa Elementary was the only school in Iowa selected for the award this year, making the recognition all the more special.

Among the standout initiatives was the student-led tour program, in which student council members guide new students, families, and staff through the building. Council Secretary Estelle Edwards, a fifth grader, said it’s her favorite part of being involved.

“I just have fun showing people around the school,” she said. “It’s nice to think they might start working here, or their kid might be coming here next year. We get our blazers and walk the visitors around. I do second-grade hallways, and my partner does first. We take turns.”

Estelle said the tours help visitors and new students feel more comfortable. “We usually tell them there are decorations above their classroom door, so they know where to go,” she explained. “That way, it’s not so scary on the first day.”

Students also lead reading and recess time with kinder preps, the school’s youngest learners, helping them build confidence and feel welcomed in their new environment.

Gemma said being part of the student council comes with clear expectations. “You have to be responsible, caring, helpful, and safe,” she said. “It means living up to the expectations of being a leader in our school.”

The tour committee has even hosted notable guests. “Last year, they gave a tour to the governor,” VanDerPol said. “They were so excited. They just do a wonderful job showing what’s going on in our school and setting an example for others.”

The Excellence Award is modeled after a similar national recognition given at the high school level, where Oskaloosa High School has earned Gold Council honors for more than a decade. Estelle said the elementary council members look up to their older peers and hope to follow in their footsteps.

“It’s really nice to see how much they [the high school students] do,” Estelle said. “A lot of times, they come up with their own ideas. I think that would be cool to do someday.”

For VanDerPol, the recognition is about more than a plaque or certificate, it’s a validation of student-led impact. “They work so hard and don’t need a lot of guidance,” she said. “If I ask them to give a tour at a certain time, they’re on it. No issues, no hesitation. These are great kids.”

As the first elementary school in Iowa to earn this national honor, Oskaloosa Elementary’s student council has set a new standard for what young leaders can achieve. Through their service, school pride, and initiative, they’ve proven that leadership isn’t about age, it’s about action.