PELLA — Central College will host four Scholar Day experiences for prospective students to earn top academic scholarships beyond financial aid awards at the time of admission, up to full tuition. Scholar Days will be Saturdays, Nov. 4, Nov. 11, Jan. 27 and Feb. 3.

Scholar Day at Central engages students in open-ended group challenges designed to showcase collaboration, creativity and communication. The group discussion will focus on the Apollo space project and NASA astronaut Raja Chari. During Scholar Day, students will also interview faculty members and meet potential classmates. A program is planned for parents or guardians while the students are in discussion.

Central creates an environment where students excel, offering more scholarships and awards to incoming students than ever before. New for the 2024-25 academic year, students can apply unlimited dual and AP enrollment credits and transfer up to 75 credit hours from other institutions toward their academic requirements for a bachelor’s degree.

“Central was the first private college in Iowa to address higher education affordability and transparency by reducing tuition by $20,000 four years ago,” says Chevy Freiburger, vice president for enrollment management and dean of admission. “The affordable tuition, along with donor-funded scholarships, helps to make a Central education accessible to all students. We are proud of our commitment to affordable higher education for all families, regardless of income and background.”

Central is generously supported by donors. In the past year, Central has experienced an increase in alumni and Central family donor participation. This has led to Central offering the most scholarships in the history of the college including 36 full-tuition scholarships. The growth in funding also has enabled Central to give every new incoming student a Journey Scholarship and keep it for each year they attend Central.

“Everything we do is intended to help our students,” says Sunny Gonzales Eighmy, vice president for advancement and a 1999 graduate of Central. “We are thankful to our generous donors who make scholarships available to our students. Donor-funded scholarships remove barriers and open access for everyone to a high-quality Central education. Our work focuses on people first. Once you’re in the Central family, you’re with us for life, doing a world of good near and far!”

Central continues to position its tuition and financial aid support to provide the greatest value and be accessible for every income level of prospective students. Tuition, housing and food for the 2024-25 academic year will remain the same as the current year.

Students who have been admitted to Central may register for a Scholar Day at central.edu/scholar-day.

OSKALOOSA — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Mahaska County office will host an Forest, Aquatic, and Right-of-Way Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. The program provided by the ISU Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) can be seen at office locations across Iowa.

The local attendance site is Mahaska County Extension office, 212 North I Street, Oskaloosa. Preregistration may be required and walk-ins on the day of the program will only be admitted if room allows. The course runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The registration fee is $45 on or before Oct. 11 and $55 after Oct. 11. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact Laura Ayala at the ISU Extension and Outreach Mahaska County office at 641-673-5841.

The course will provide continuing instruction credits for commercial and public pesticide applicators certified in categories 2 (Forest Pest Control), 5 (Aquatic Pest Control), and 6 (Right-of-Way Pest Control). Topics to be covered are: personal protective equipment and safe handling; storage of pesticides, including chemical security; and category-specific pests, pest management and pesticides.

Additional information and registration forms for this and other courses offered through the PSEP Program can be accessed at www.extension.iastate.edu/PSEP.

OTTUMWA — The city of Ottumwa announced that their city hall will be closed for a week later this month as they’ll be moving their operations to a new location while the city hall construction project gets underway.

City Hall will be closed the week of October 23 -27.  Services provided at City Hall will be extremely limited or halted that week as City Hall will be moving to its temporary offices during the city hall construction project.  This move is happening as part of the City Hall asbestos abatement, boiler replacement, HVAC improvements, and remodel of the first floor.

Offices found on the first and second floors of city hall will reopen to the public at the new location on Monday, October 30.  Construction of city hall is anticipated to take fifteen to eighteen months.  During this time city hall services will be provided from the second floor of the train depot at 210 W. Main St.

The Engineering department located on the third floor of city hall will not be moving at this time and will be accessible at the 4^th St. entrance. For those with ADA needs, please call their office at 641-683-0680 so they can assist you.

During the closure and move, the city asks the public to plan accordingly and to please allow City Depts. time to respond to requests as they adjust to the new location and get settled.