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Central RED Launches Powerful Schedule for Spring 2024

Posted on by Sam Parsons

PELLA — Central RED Society offers an impressive schedule of programs for this spring that are open to the public. Details about each event are available at central.edu/red.

On Wednesday, Feb. 5, Jim Hibma will present “Crossroads of Pella.” The service started in 1983 during the farm crisis. Crossroads provides counseling, coat drives for families, English language learning and more. Funds raised from the Klompen Classic race are used to help local families in crisis. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. and program at noon, in the Dave and Ardie Sutphen Common Room, Graham Annex. Cost is $15.

On Thursday, Feb. 27, the public may take a walk back in time with Bruce Boertje, 1979 Central graduate and native of Pella. Boertje will give a history of some better-known businesses from the late 1940s into the 1970s. Businesses included car and implement dealerships, gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and more. He will compare the quantity and variety of businesses that Pella once had with today’s businesses and how the introduction of better roads, big box stores and the internet have impacted local businesses. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and program at 6 p.m., Annex. Cost is $20.

Central RED attendees can take another stroll through history with John Carter as he presents “Prohibition Stories from Fremont and Mahaska Counties,” Thursday, March 6. Prohibition was a controversial policy in the early 1900s that made the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages illegal. Iowa, along with Kansas and Maine, led the way for the passage of the 18th Amendment. Iowa had statewide prohibition in 1916, four years before the national policy of 1920. Carter will share stories from his father who ran a hotel and speakeasy during Prohibition. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. and program at noon, Annex. Cost is $15.

Conflicts over the control of territory have long been a prime cause of war in international politics. David Carter, professor in the department of political science, Washington University in St. Louis, will present “Territorial Disputes, Border Politics and Conflict in International Politics,” on Thursday, May 22. Countries in every region of the world are building walls and fencing their borders at an unprecedented rate. What drives these conflicts and wars? What can be done to help resolve them? What long-term consequences do these conflicts have? Learn the answers with this presentation that includes dinner at 5:30 p.m. and program at 6 p.m., Annex. Cost is $20, and a cash bar will be available.

Join Vern Cochran, plant supervisor, Missouri River Energies, as he presents “Red Rock Hydroelectric Project,” on Wednesday, June 4. As a 40-year industry veteran, Cochran will explain behind-the-scenes capabilities of the plant. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and program at 6 p.m., Annex. Cost is $20.

Register for individual events at central.edu/alumni/events. For more information contact Mary Benedict, director of engagement, at benedictm@central.edu or by phone at 641-628-7641.

The Central RED (Ready to Engage and Discover) Society is a volunteer-driven, lifelong learning and social organization with an abiding partnership with Central College alumni and friends who wish to share knowledge, talents and experiences. Membership is no longer required to attend Central RED classes.

Pekin School Board Announces Hiring of New Superintendent

Posted on by Sam Parsons

PACKWOOD — The Pekin Community School District Board of Education has named David Harper as the district’s next superintendent.

As chief operations officer in the Ottumwa CSD, Harper oversees human resources and district operations of the PK3-12 system. He manages the recruitment and hiring of both certified and non-certified staff, in addition to coordinating and executing facility improvement projects.

Harper began teaching at Pekin in 1998. He later became an assistant principal, principal, and shared superintendent for the district. As shared superintendent, he oversaw educational programming, curriculum and professional development, financial management, and ensured effective communication among all district community members.

Harper holds a bachelor’s degree in teaching from Buena Vista University and has more than two decades of experience in K-12 leadership and instruction.

“I am truly honored to be selected as the next superintendent of the Pekin Community School District,” said Harper. “I am excited to rejoin the Pekin family and look forward to working alongside the dedicated educators, students, and families.”

Board members worked with Grundmeyer Leader Services to conduct the search. Harper interviewed with stakeholder interview groups on Monday, January 27.

“The Pekin Board is excited to announce Dave Harper as the district’s next superintendent,” said board president J.J. Greiner. “Mr. Harper’s operational expertise and knowledge of the district will be great assets.”

Harper will officially begin leading the Pekin Community School District on July 1, 2025.

Chinese tech startup DeepSeek says it was hit with ‘large-scale malicious attacks’

Posted on by Sam Parsons

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chinese tech startup DeepSeek said it was hit by a cyber attack on Monday that disrupted users’ ability to register on the site.

The company, whose artificial intelligence chatbot has sent the tech world into a frenzy, said that it had suffered “large-scale malicious attacks” on its services. Registered users could log in normally, DeepSeek said.

DeepSeek began attracting more attention in the AI industry last month when it released a new AI model that it boasted was on par with similar models from U.S. companies such as ChatGPT maker OpenAI, and was more cost-effective in its use of expensive Nvidia chips to train the system on huge troves of data. The chatbot became more widely accessible when it appeared on Apple and Google app stores early this year.

By Monday, DeepSeek’s AI assistant had become the No. 1 downloaded free app on Apple’s iPhone store. The jump in popularity fueled debates over competition between the U.S. and China in developing AI technology. But some U.S. tech industry observers said they were worried about the idea that the Chinese startup has caught up with the American companies at the forefront of generative AI at a fraction of the cost.

DeepSeek was founded in Hangzhou, China in 2023. The company released its first AI large language model later that year.

Dozens of Iowa schools see high absence rates due to respiratory infections

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Natalie Krebs (Radio Iowa)

State health officials are seeing a significant jump in the number of schools reporting high absence rates due to illness.

Iowa Health and Human Services reports a boost statewide in respiratory virus infections like COVID-19, RSV, and the flu, as well as norovirus.

Addie Olson, spokesperson for the Polk County Health Department, says at least 14 schools in the Des Moines metro area reported high absence rates this month.

“Some of those schools have reported sick absence rates greater than 10-percent for two or three consecutive days,” Olson says, “and those extended absentee rates are a good indicator that there is a significant amount of illness spreading within the school.”

Olson says parents should keep kids home when they’re sick.

“We also are promoting things like practicing good hygiene, washing your hands really thoroughly before and after eating and using the restroom,” she says, “and staying up to date on vaccinations.”

State health officials reported last week that 73 schools statewide had absence rates of at least 10 percent for the prior week. That’s a significant jump from 11 schools in the week before.

Central College to Offer Free Tax Preparation Service

Posted on by Sam Parsons

PELLA — Central College accounting faculty and students will again provide free income tax preparation services for Marion County residents. This assistance is made possible through a grant from the Iowa Center for Economic Success, which Central has received for the past six years.

Students will prepare taxes on a volunteer basis under the supervision of Central’s accounting faculty through the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. The purpose of the program is to assist with free tax preparation services. VITA services are open to taxpayers who have less than $79,000 in annual income, live in rural areas, are elderly or have a disability, or have limited English proficiency. Those who do not meet these criteria are welcome to make an appointment to learn to prepare taxes on their own.

“The VITA program is a win-win for our students and the community,” says Maggie Fisher Schlerman, associate professor of accounting and a 2002 Central graduate. “Students engage with area residents gaining real-world experiences with tax preparation. These students plan to work in accounting, tax preparation and auditing fields. This volunteer program allows students to give their time and share their knowledge while helping others. In return, many deserving people can receive professional tax services at no cost.”

In addition to on-campus services, Central students and faculty will hold satellite drop-in clinics from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, and Saturday, March 1, at the Knoxville Public Library.

Appointments will be held in person during tax season at the Weller Center for Business and International Studies on Central’s campus. Appointments will be available from 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Appointments will not be held March 8-16 during spring break. The IRS will begin accepting tax returns Monday, Jan. 27.

To schedule an appointment, call or text 641-629-6729 or email centralcollegeVITA@central.edu.

Illinois Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Enticing an Ottumwa Minor

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES, Iowa – An Illinois man was sentenced on Friday, January 17, 2025, to 35 years in federal prison for enticement and attempted enticement of a minor and for committing an offense while a registered sex offender.

According to public court documents, in 2020, Anthony Alan Anderson, 40, while serving in the United States Air Force, was convicted via general court martial of two counts of attempting to commit a lewd act with a person he believed to be a child who had not attained the age of 16 years old. As a result of that conviction, Anderson was required to register as a sex offender in his state of residence. Anderson moved to Illinois in 2022.

From May to November 2023, Anderson, from his residence in Illinois, used text messaging and social-media applications to communicate with a 14-year-old child from Ottumwa, Iowa. During their communications, Anderson convinced the child to produce and send him child pornography. In September 2023, Anderson traveled from his home in Illinois to Ottumwa, where he picked the child up from her residence and took her to a hotel. There, he and the child engaged in sex acts. Anderson also captured child sexual abuse material of the child while in the hotel.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Anderson will be required to serve a ten‑year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Ottumwa Police Department with assistance from the Illinois State Police.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.

Oskaloosa Sweeps Pella Christian; Boys Snap 9-Game Losing Streak Against Eagles

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa Indians made the short drive to Pella Christian on Friday night for a Little Hawkeye Conference girls and boys basketball doubleheader. The night marked the start of the second half of the Indians’ conference schedule; both the girls and boys teams carried 1-5 conference records into the night’s action.

Girls Game

The girls game saw Oskaloosa come out somewhat flat to start. Pella Christian jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the first quarter with some success shooting the ball from the outside, while Oskaloosa wasn’t able to convert on their early opportunities.

However, things changed quickly in the second quarter as Oskaloosa began to hit the open shots they were given. Senior forward Hannah Nelson was the main beneficiary of the way the Eagles had planned their defense: the Eagles devoted heavy resources to slowing down senior Dasia Foster in the paint, which freed up quite a bit of space for Nelson to hit wide open shots, whether they were close-range or mid-range looks. Nelson scored a season-high 15 points on the night, making 7 field goals.

At halftime, the Indians led 26-22. But in the third quarter, the Eagles once again found their groove from downtown. Senior guard Faith Kacmarynski knocked down 4 of 6 three-point shot attempts and the Eagles shot 43.8% from downtown on the night after shooting just 27.2% from deep on the season prior to Friday night’s action. Pella Christian’s hot night of shooting gave them a 35-34 lead going into the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a tight finish.

That tight finish never came. Oskaloosa’s offense continued to maintain a good pace led by Nelson and Foster; Dasia Foster finished the night with a 14 point double-double despite all of the attention she was getting from Pella Christian’s inside defenders. Meanwhile, the Eagles finally cooled off in the three-point shooting department, which left their offense in a bad spot. They were never able to generate consistency with close-range shots due to the looming presence of Foster protecting the rim, and all of those factors led to the Eagles’ offense sputtering to the tune of only 4 points scored in the fourth quarter. Oskaloosa’s defense clamped down in crunch time while their offense was able to coast to the end, and by the time the final buzzer sounded, it was a 49-39 Oskaloosa win.

Boys Game

Oskaloosa’s boys entered Friday night’s tilt with Pella Christian eager for a chance to avenge their 59-42 loss to the Eagles earlier in the season.

And that is exactly what they did: the fireworks started early and stayed active all night long as Oskaloosa enjoyed their finest night of shooting of the season.

In the first half, sophomore guard Tommy North caught fire from beyond the arc, knocking down 5 triples on his way to 21 first half points. North’s three-point barrage led Oskaloosa to their most prolific half of offense this season: they scored 40 points in the first half of Friday night’s game, with Landon Romas, Heavon Knox, Xavier Edwards, and Tyler Edgar each chipping in points alongside North.

Meanwhile, Osky’s defense continued to play at the high level they had established in other recent games. The first time the Indians and Eagles faced each other this season, it was the Eagles who had a hot night of outside shooting; this time, the fortunes of the two teams reversed in that department, as Osky was not giving the Eagles any extra real estate outside of the three-point line while interior defenders such as Edwards and Ethan Stek locked down the paint. At halftime, the score was 40-18, and it looked like the Indians would emphatically bounce back from their earlier showing this season against Pella Christian.

Fortunately for Oskaloosa, nothing profound or unexpected happened in the second half to lead to an Eagle comeback. The Indians’ offense did just enough while their defense limited the Pella Christian attack until late in the game, and the end result was a 65-44 win for Oskaloosa. It was the first time Oskaloosa’s boys defeated Pella Christian since 2020, snapping a 9-game losing streak.

Oskaloosa will host Indianola on Tuesday night for their next conference doubleheader. Coverage will go live around 5:45pm on KBOE 104.9 FM and kboeradio.com.

The CIA believes COVID most likely originated from a lab but has low confidence in its own finding

Posted on by Sam Parsons

WASHINGTON (AP) — The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory, according to an assessment that points the finger at China even while acknowledging that the spy agency has “low confidence” in its own conclusion.

The finding is not the result of any new intelligence, and the report released Saturday was completed at the behest of the Biden administration and former CIA Director William Burns. It was declassified and released Saturday on the orders of President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the agency, John Ratcliffe, who was sworn in Thursday as director.

The nuanced finding suggests the agency believes the totality of evidence makes a lab origin more likely than a natural origin. But the agency’s assessment assigns a low degree of confidence to this conclusion, suggesting the evidence is deficient, inconclusive or contradictory.

“I had the opportunity on my first day to make public an assessment that actually took place in the Biden administration. So it can’t be accused of being political,” Ratcliffe told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” He said the CIA “has assessed that the most likely cause of this pandemic that has wrought so much devastation around the world was because of a lab-related incident in Wuhan. And so we will continue to investigate that moving forward.”

Earlier reports on the origins of COVID-19 have split over whether the coronavirus emerged from a Chinese lab, potentially by mistake, or whether it arose naturally. The new assessment is not likely to settle the debate. In fact, intelligence officials say it may never be resolved, due to a lack of cooperation from Chinese authorities.

The CIA “continues to assess that both research-related and natural origin scenarios of the COVID-19 pandemic remain plausible,” the agency wrote in a statement about its new assessment.

Instead of new evidence, the conclusion was based on fresh analyses of intelligence about the spread of the virus, its scientific properties and the work and conditions of China’s virology labs.

Lawmakers have pressured America’s spy agencies for more information about the origins of the virus, which led to lockdowns, economic upheaval and millions of deaths. It’s a question with significant domestic and geopolitical implications as the world continues to grapple with the pandemic’s legacy.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told “Fox News Sunday” it was important now “to make China pay for unleashing this plague on the world.” He mentioned imposing tariffs or passing legislation that would repeal China’s permanent most favored nation status.

Chinese authorities have dismissed speculation about COVID’s origins as unhelpful and motivated by politics. On Saturday, a spokesperson for China’s U.S. embassy said the CIA report has no credibility.

“We firmly oppose the politicization and stigmatization of the source of the virus, and once again call on everyone to respect science and stay away from conspiracy theories,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.

While the origin of the virus remains unknown, scientists think the most likely hypothesis is that it circulated in bats, like many coronaviruses, before infecting another species, probably racoon dogs, civet cats or bamboo rats. In turn, the infection spread to humans handling or butchering those animals at a market in Wuhan, where the first human cases appeared in late November 2019.

Some official investigations, however, have raised the the question of whether the virus escaped from a lab in Wuhan. Two years ago a report by the Energy Department concluded a lab leak was the most likely origin, though that report also expressed low confidence in the finding.

The same year then-FBI Director Christopher Wray said his agency believed the virus “most likely” spread after escaping from a lab.

Ratcliffe, who served as director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term, has said he favors the lab leak scenario, too.

“The lab leak is the only theory supported by science, intelligence, and common sense,” Ratcliffe said in 2023.

The CIA said it will continue to evaluate any new information that could change its assessment.

Iowa’s Labor Force Participation Rate Increases to 66.4 Percent in December

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES – Iowa’s labor force participation rate rose to 66.4 percent in December amid an influx of recent graduates entering the workforce, while the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.2 percent. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 4.1 percent in December.

“December’s report shows modest growth as a result of hiring across most parts of the Iowa economy, and employers added 4,000 jobs,” said Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “The increase in labor force participation was driven largely by college graduates who quickly decided to enter our workforce. With over 50,000 open jobs in Iowa, there is still an abundance of opportunities for graduates and other Iowans looking for their next job.”

The number of unemployed Iowans increased to 53,900 in December from 53,000 in November.

The total number of working Iowans rose to 1,635,500 in December. This figure is 2,700 higher than November and 19,500 lower than one year ago.

Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Employment

Businesses in Iowa added 4,000 jobs in December, raising total nonfarm employment to 1,606,200 jobs. This is the second-consecutive increase following a gain of 3,300 jobs in November. Service industries fueled the hiring and were led by gains in trade and transportation along with healthcare and social assistance. Goods-producing industries were little changed versus November as increases in construction were matched by losses in manufacturing. Private industries overall advanced by 2,300 jobs compared to November. Government (a sector that includes federal, state, and local political subdivisions, as well as schools, universities, and public hospitals) increased by 1,700 jobs in December. Most of this movement happened at the local level, with gains coming from local school districts and public administration (city government). Overall, December’s job increases have brought Iowa’s total nonfarm employment up 7,400 annually.

Construction added 800 jobs in December to lead all industries. This is the second consecutive increase for this sector, which now rests up slightly for the year. Accommodations and food services increased by 600 jobs and has added 2,300 jobs since July. Hotels and motels provided much of the increase this month. Health care and social assistance added 500 jobs to end the year. This sector has added the most jobs annually and has increased by 2,400 jobs since September. Trade and transportation combined for an increase of 600 jobs in December. Wholesale and retail trade were responsible for most of the jobs gained and fueled the first monthly increase for trade and transportation since July. Losses in December were led by manufacturing which shed 800 jobs to end the year. Durable goods factories pared most of the jobs this month (-700 jobs).

Compared to last year, health care and social assistance has gained 4,400 jobs to lead all private sectors. This increase fueled an overall gain of 6,100 jobs in education and health care services. Leisure and hospitality also increased by 6,100 jobs annually. Most of these gains were in accommodations and food services (+3,900 jobs). Conversely, manufacturing has shed 7,700 jobs over the past 12 months to lead all sectors. Nondurable goods factories are down 4,100 jobs while durable goods shops combined have pared 3,600 jobs.

Members of Iowa State Legislature Field Questions, Concerns at Coffee and Conversation

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Mahaska Chamber hosted its second Coffee and Conversation event of 2025 on Saturday morning at Smokey Row Coffee in Oskaloosa. Members of the Iowa state legislature were on hand to answer questions from Mahaska county residents on topics ranging from public school start dates to ranked choice voting to funding for cancer research. The lawmakers on hand included Iowa State Senators Ken Rozenboom and Adrian Dickey, as well as Iowa State House Representatives Helena Hayes and Barb Kniff-McCulla.

On the topic of school start dates, Senator Ken Rozenboom said that it’s a conversation that is had virtually every year, with schools on one side and tourism on the other.

One resident asked about a remark in Governor Kim Reynolds’ most recent State of the State address in which she pledged to spend $1 million to fund cancer research in the state of Iowa, referencing a recent study that placed Iowa at #2 in the country in cancer rate. Senator Adrian Dickey said that the $1 million is more likely to be a starting point, rather than a complete answer to the problem.

Other topics discussed included arts and culture, child care availability, and general thoughts on the upcoming legislative session.

The Mahaska Chamber’s next Coffee and Conversation will be held on February 8.

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