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Mahaska Health and William Penn University Promote Skin Cancer Awareness through Campus Event

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — Mahaska Health Oncology Care Team hosted a skin cancer prevention event last week at the William Penn University Campus Health Center. The event was a collaboration between the Mahaska Health Oncology Team, Family Medicine team, and the William Penn Athletic Department.

The Oncology Care Team at Mahaska Health hosts an annual event focused on raising awareness to reduce the number of cancer diagnoses in our community. This year, Mahaska Health partnered with William Penn University to provide students with important information on skin cancer prevention. The goal of this event was to promote actions that reduce the risk of developing skin cancer, while also increasing awareness of skin cancer risk factors, sun protection, and early warning signs of skin cancer. 

“This initiative reflects the strength of community partnerships in supporting student success beyond the classroom, providing students and faculty with valuable information on sun safety, cancer prevention, and overall wellness.” shared Abu Ibrahim, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine at William Penn. “We’re grateful to Mahaska Health for making this event possible.” 

The Mahaska Health team provided free educational materials, SPF appropriate sunscreen and lip balm, answered student questions, and offered insights into skin health and cancer risk. By partnering with local organizations like William Penn University, Mahaska Health continues its commitment to community wellness and empowering individuals to take care of their health.

As a recognized Iowa Center of Excellence in Surgical and Medical Oncology, Mahaska Health is committed to supporting our community’s health by providing expert preventative care directly to students.

The Mahaska Health William Penn University Clinic is located in the Penn Activities Center on William Penn’s main campus, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30am – 3:30pm. Call 641.676.7491 to schedule.

Mahaska County Board of Supervisors Approves FY 25/26 Budget

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting this morning and held a public hearing for their Fiscal Year 2025/26 Budget. No members of the public spoke during the hearing, and the budget was passed by the board unanimously.

The board also authorized the publication of a notice of intent to fill the County Auditor vacancy by appointment. The vacancy was left by former County Auditor Teri Rogers, who recently resigned from the position. The board set the date to publish the notice of intent for April 26, so that the board can make a decision on their appointee by May 5, and host a special meeting on May 12 to swear them in.

The next regular meeting for the Mahaska County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for May 5.

Oskaloosa City Council Appoints Mayor, Councilmember to SCRAA

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council hosted a regular meeting last night and held public hearings to certify their budget for the upcoming fiscal year and adopt that budget and its accompanying levying tax. The city’s budget includes just over $50 million in expenses compared to just under $41.9 million in revenues, and the approved tax levy was approximately $14.46 per $1,000 of valuation. That marks a decrease of roughly $.95 from last year’s levy.

The council also officially appointed Mayor David Krutzfeldt and Councilmember Bob Drost to the South Central Regional Airport Agency (SCRAA). The appointments are related to an amendment made to the 28E agreement between the cities of Pella and Oskaloosa back on December 16, 2024, which removed the Mahaska County member and revised the agreement to have three members from the city of Oskaloosa. Krutzfeldt and Drost were appointed to fill the remaining two vacancies, and they were approved on 5-2 and 4-2 votes, respectively, with councilmembers Ronda Almond and Lisa Ossian voting “no” on both.

Additionally, the council welcomed in a new police officer to the Oskaloosa Police Department: officer Isaac Nienkerk was sworn in to officially join the force.

And the council approved a resolution of support for the Oskaloosa Children’s Museum Project.

The next regular meeting for the Oskaloosa City Council is scheduled for May 5.

NASA’s Lucy spacecraft is speeding toward another close encounter with an asteroid

Posted on by Sam Parsons

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s Lucy spacecraft will swoop past a small asteroid this weekend as it makes its way to an even bigger prize: the unexplored swarms of asteroids out near Jupiter.

It will be the second asteroid encounter for Lucy, launched in 2021 on a quest that will take it to 11 space rocks. The close approaches should help scientists better understand our early solar system when planets were forming; asteroids are the ancient leftovers.

The upcoming flyby is a dress rehearsal for 2027 when Lucy reaches its first so-called Trojan asteroid near Jupiter.

Cranking up its three science instruments, the spacecraft on Sunday will observe the harmless asteroid known as Donaldjohanson. The encounter will take place 139 million miles (223 million kilometers) from Earth in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, so far away it will take 12 minutes for each bit of data to reach flight controllers in Colorado.

The paleontologist for whom the asteroid is named plans to be at spacecraft builder and operator Lockheed Martin’s Mission Control for all the action. He discovered the fossil Lucy in Ethiopia 50 years ago; the spacecraft is named after the famous human ancestor.

NASA’s Lucy will venture as close as 596 miles (960 kilometers) to this asteroid, an estimated 2 ½ miles (4 kilometers) in length but much shorter in width. Scientists should have a better idea of its size and shape following the brief visit. The spacecraft will zoom by at more than 30,000 mph (48,000 kph).

The asteroid is among countless fragments believed to have resulted from a major collision 150 million years ago.

“It’s not going to be a basic potato. We already know that,” said lead scientist Hal Levison of Southwest Research Institute.

Rather, Levison said the asteroid may resemble a bowling pin or even a snowman like Arrokoth, the Kuiper Belt object visited by NASA’s New Horizon spacecraft in 2019. The other possibility is that there are two elongated but separate asteroids far apart.

“We don’t know what to expect. That’s what makes this so cool,” he said.

There will be no communications with Lucy during the flyby as the spacecraft turns its antenna away from Earth in order to track the asteroid. Levison expects to have most of the science data within a day.

Lucy’s next stop — “the main event,” as Levison calls it — will be the Trojan asteroids that share Jupiter’s orbit around the sun. Swarms of Trojans precede and follow the solar system’s largest planet as it circles the sun. Lucy will visit eight of them from 2027 through 2033, some of them in pairs of two.

Lucy’s first asteroid flyby was in 2023 when it swept past little Dinkinesh, also in the main asteroid belt. The spacecraft discovered a mini moon around it.

Constitutional amendment would let children testify remotely in Iowa abuse case

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

Most members of the Iowa legislature have started the long process of a proposing a constitutional fix that would again let some child witnesses testify against an alleged abuser remotely.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird proposed the amendment after the Iowa Supreme Court ruled it is unconstitutional for children to testify against their accused abusers without facing them in person in court. Representative Steven Holt of Denison said the opinion offered no guidance on what options the courts could take so child abuse victims aren’t traumatized again, “which I think is most curious because they’ve left us with an interesting conundrum and we try to protect children.”

Representative Charley Thomson of Charles City is among the six lawmakers who voted against advancing the proposed constitutional amendment. “I don’t deny the problem that is sought to be addressed in this constitutional amendment,” Thomson says. “…The Supreme Court of the United State is in the process, I think, of revisiting what the standards are.”

Others, like Representative Ken Croken of Davenport, argue the legislature should pass a state law now to allow video testimony from children who are witnesses in abuse cases. “That would be immediate and effective while a federal reconsideration of Sixth Amendment rights and obligations is in review,” Croken said.

Representative Mark Thompson of Clarion, who supports the proposed amendment, said justice is not served when a victim is too intimidated to testify. “I’ve met various victims of horrible abuse over the past two years,” he said. “Their courage is beyond reproach and their courage is dampeneed when they are forced to face the person who allegedly abused them.”

The proposed amendment to Iowa’s Constitution says the right of an accused to confront a child under the age of 18 as well as witnesses with a mental illness or intellectual disability may be limited by law. That language has been approved by legislators this year and must again in 2027 or 2028 before voters could decide whether to add it to Iowa’s Constitution.

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

Posted on by Sam Parsons

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.

Oskaloosa High School Receives Grant Funding to Renovate Weight Room

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — A collaborative effort supported by generous contributions from multiple community partners is set to transform the Oskaloosa High School weight room into a safer, more functional training space for students and athletes across grade levels. The $170,000 modernization project has received major funding from the George Daily Family Trust ($55,000), Cargill Cares ($20,000), the Oskaloosa Booster Club ($15,000), and the Mahaska County Community Foundation ($7,500), reflecting a strong shared investment in student health, safety, and success.

“This grant will fund new flooring with inlaid platforms, 12 power racks, 12 dumbbell benches, 12 Olympic bars, three sets of plyometric boxes, new bumper plates, and a wall wrap on the south end of the building to brand the space with Oskaloosa pride,” said Brett Doud, Director of Human Performance. “The goal is for students to walk into a completely revamped facility when school resumes next fall.”

Oskaloosa Schools is seeking additional grant funding to complete the renovation.

Culture Shift and Student Growth

The renovation is part of a broader effort to enhance the school’s activities and overall school culture. Doud emphasized the importance of providing students with a high-quality training environment.

“We want our kids to feel excited and supported,” he said. “They’ll be walking into a first-class experience with top-tier equipment and an environment that’s both functional and inspiring.”

Usage of the weight room has increased significantly in recent years. Previously, fewer than 50 students trained in the facility on a weekly bases. Now, more than 300 students in grades 8-12 use the facility regularly.

“This is an increase from about 15-20% of our student athletes engaging in consistent training to about 80%,” Doud said. “Every day and every opportunity matters as we push toward our ultimate goal of developing lifetime wellness habits in all students who train in our facility. This investment shows not only the tremendous support we have from our school leaders but also our community and neighboring partners. We are so grateful and thankful for the support.”

Safety and Efficiency Improvements

Safety is a primary focus of the renovation. The current weight platforms, which are elevated 1-2 inches above the floor, pose tripping hazards and limit usable space. The new design will feature inlaid platforms flush with the floor, reducing risks and increasing efficiency.

“We’re working with 20-35 kids in the room at any given time,” Doud said. “The new layout will improve safety and functionality, making it easier for students to move freely around the room from one movement to the next.”

The improvements also align with the school’s core value of efficiency. A recent change allows students to train in the weight room during physical education classes, reducing the need for early morning or late-night workouts.

“There’s nothing efficient about a 12-hour day for a student trying to balance academics, athletics, nutrition, and rest,” Doud said. “This change helps prevent burnout while trying to create as much efficiency as we can in our student’s schedules with regard to weight training.”

The improvements extend beyond the high school. The goal is to repurpose the quality existing equipment within a middle school facility, providing younger students with better training opportunities.

“We’re saving eight power racks, along with multiple barbells, bumper plates, and two cable machines for the middle school,” Doud said. “Eventually, we would like to see dedicated weight rooms at both campuses in an effort to create functional training space for students in both buildings.”

Momentum for the Future

With renovations set for potential completion by late summer, Doud sees this investment as a catalyst for continued growth not only in Oskaloosa’s athletic programs but also in the classroom as students develop greater discipline and work habits.

“This is more than just a renovation; it’s a statement about the value we place on our students and their growth,” he said. “We’re building a culture of excellence, and this is one step toward helping our kids succeed.”

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

Posted on by Sam Parsons

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

Posted on by Sam Parsons

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

Posted on by Sam Parsons

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!”

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