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Suspect in Ollie Charged with Murder After Discovery of Human Remains

Posted on by Sam Parsons

KEOKUK COUNTY, Iowa — On February 1, 2024, investigators with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Ottumwa Police Department, and Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at 21891 Highway 78 near Ollie. The search warrant was part of an effort to locate 40-year-old Craig Smith, who was reported missing on January 20, 2024.

During the search, investigators found the remains of an adult. The condition of the remains is preventing law enforcement from making a positive identification. Evidence and statements collected during the investigation have led investigators to tentatively identify the remains as those of Craig Smith. The State Anthropologist, the Office of the State Medical Examiner, and the DCI Crime Lab are working to make a positive identification.

This afternoon, DCI agents charged 44-year-old Jeffrey Gautreaux with Murder in the First Degree and Abuse of a Corpse. Gautreaux, who lived with his stepfather, 63-year-old Steven Grant, at the Ollie address, was arrested without incident at the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office on February 1. Gautreaux and Grant were initially charged with drug offenses. Grant has been released from custody.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the DCI at 515.725.6010 or at dciinfo@dps.state.ia.us.

Oskaloosa Main Street Celebrates a Successful 2023 Lighted Christmas Parade; 2024 Theme Announced

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — The 2023 Lighted Christmas Parade held in downtown Oskaloosa was a huge success. “The festive spirit and enthusiasm from the community made this year’s celebration truly special. The Dancing Lights, Oskaloosa City Band, and vibrant decorations created a magical atmosphere that brought people together in the heart of the town, our city square,” says Oskaloosa Main Street Director Angella Foster. More than 70 floats participated this year and over 17,500 people were in attendance. A study was conducted to estimate the economic impact of the parade, generating more than $350,000. This number is reflected through dining, lodging, travel expenses, and fuel dollars spent within the community during this one night. What a positive impact on our community.

Oskaloosa Main Street also unveiled their anticipated theme for the next parade. The most-voted theme for the 2024 Lighted Christmas parade is Twinkling Christmas. The Oskaloosa Main Street Lighted Christmas Parade is to be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 7 pm.  Bring your imagination to life at a chance to be judged the best by the end of the night.

The week long festivities leading up to the Lighted Christmas Parade include the Young Ambassador Contest, Window Decorating, Home Decorating contests, Gospel Christmas Concert, Merry Little Downtown Christmas, and much, much more.  We encourage all to invite family, friends, and visitors to make a trip to Oskaloosa.  Grab a cup of hot cocoa, apple cider, or a warm Christmas coffee at the local coffee shop; enter the holiday-decorated Alleys; visit the quaint little bookstore for a Christmas read; or shop unique stops along the square for the perfect Christmas gift.

As before, many events are held throughout Mahaska County in conjunction with the Lighted Parade.  As you begin plans for related activities, please contact the Main Street Office to have these events placed in the Holiday Happenings brochure.  Many volunteers are needed to make the event a success.  If you would like to be a part of the planning, contact the Main Street office of the Chamber at 641-672-2591 or email chamber@mahaskachamber.org.

Grammys 2024: From how to watch the music-filled show to who’s nominated, here’s what to know

Posted on by Sam Parsons

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The 2024 Grammy Awards are fast approaching — and it is never too early to plan your viewing experience.

The 66th Grammy Awards will take place Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Most of the awards are handed out before that during the Premiere Ceremony, which the Recording Academy will stream live ahead of the telecast, which starts at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Here’s what you need to know about the awards, including how to stream and where you can see music’s biggest stars walking the red carpet.

WHO’S HOSTING THE GRAMMYS?

The Grammy-nominated comedian Trevor Noah will once again host, marking his fourth consecutive year on the job.

Noah himself is up for a Grammy this year, receiving his second nomination for best comedy album.

He also recently won an Emmy, with his final season of “The Daily Show” taking home the award for outstanding talk series at the Jan. 15 show.

HOW CAN I WATCH THE GRAMMYS?

The main show will air live on CBS and Paramount+ beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern. Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers can watch live and on demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers won’t be able to stream the ceremony until the next day.

The Grammys can also be watched through live TV streaming services that include CBS in their lineup, like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and FuboTV.

WHO’S NOMINATED THIS YEAR?

SZA enters the Grammys with a leading nine nominations. “Kill Bill,” a revenge anthem cloaked in an R&B ballad, earned her nods for record of the year, song of the year, and best R&B performance. “SOS” is also up for album of the year and best progressive R&B album. The 2024 ceremony is the second time SZA has been nominated for record, album, and song in the same year.

Victoria Monét and Phoebe Bridgers have the second-most nominations, with seven. Six of Bridgers’ nods are with her band boygenius. Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Brandy Clark, Jon Batiste and producer Jack Antonoff also earned six.

Monét is the only leading nominee also up for best new artist, in a category that is rounded out by Gracie Abrams, Fred again.., Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Coco Jones, Noah Kahan and The War and Treaty.

WHO IS PERFORMING?

SZA is among the most recent Grammy performers announced, along with the first ever Grammys performance from Joni Mitchell. The 80-year-old folk-rock legend’s surprise live show at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival, her first full concert in 20 years, led to a release that is nominated for best folk album. Mitchell has won nine Grammys and a lifetime achievement award from the music academy, and many fans expected to never see her perform again after she had an aneurysm and other health complications in 2015.

Performers previously announced include Grammy winners and current nominees Eilish, Rodrigo, Dua Lipa, Burna Boy, Luke Combs, and Travis Scott.

Billy Joel, a five-time Grammy award winner and 23-time nominee, will also perform.

Eilish has seven Grammys and is up for six this year. Lipa and Rodrigo both have three Grammys; Lipa is nominated for two awards and Rodrigo is nominated for six.

Both Scott and Combs may become first-time winners; Scott has 10 career nominations to his name, while Combs has seven. Burna Boy won the award for best global music album in 2021 for “Twice As Tall”; he also has 10 career nominations.

HOW CAN I WATCH THE RED CARPET?

E! will broadcast its “Live from the Grammys Carpet” show, with a mix of fashion coverage and celebrity interviews.

The Associated Press will also stream a three-hour red carpet show with interviews and fashion footage. It will be streamed on YouTube, Twitter and the AP’s website.

WHAT’S NEW WITH THE GRAMMYS IN 2024?

In June, the Recording Academy announced that the Grammys would add three new categories: best pop dance recording, best African music performance and best alternative jazz album.

The best African music performance category will highlight “regional melodic, harmonic and rhythmic musical traditions,” according to a Recording Academy press release, including genres like Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Afro Pop, Afro-House, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz. Before the addition, those artists would compete in the best global music performance category, first introduced in 2022.

Another notable change: The Academy announced “only human creators” could win the music industry’s highest honor in a decision aimed at the use of artificial intelligence in popular music.

“Here’s the super easy, headline statement: AI, or music that contains AI-created elements is absolutely eligible for entry and for consideration for Grammy nomination. Period,” Recording Academy CEO and President Harvey Mason jr. told the AP at the time. “What’s not going to happen is we are not going to give a Grammy or Grammy nomination to the AI portion.”

Governor’s bill restricts gender changes on Iowa driver’s licenses

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

Governor Kim Reynolds has introduced a bill that would require the gender listed on an Iowa driver’s license or birth certificate to match the person’s gender at birth — preventing transgender residents from changing the gender listed on those IDs.

Reynolds said women and men have unique biological differences and the move will protect women’s health, safety, and privacy in spaces like rest rooms and domestic violence shelters. The bill also requires that when the state, schools or local government agencies collect health and crime data, it may only use male or female designations.

Similar laws have been passed in Montana and Tennessee. Florida officials implemented the policy on driver’s licenses last week.

One Iowa, a group that advocates for the rights of LGBTQ Iowans, says the governor’s bill would force transgender Iowans to out themselves when showing an I-D to do things like buy alcohol at a grocery store or vote. The executive director of Iowa Safe Schools says the bill makes it crystal clear that transgender people are not welcome in Iowa.

On Wednesday, a subcommittee in the Iowa House defeated a bill that would have removed protections against discrimination toward transgender Iowans from the state’s Civil Rights Act.

Cover Crops and Relay Intercropping – What’s the Difference? Workshop to be held February 21th in Oskaloosa

Posted on by Sam Parsons

AMES, Iowa – Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will host a cover crop and relay intercropping workshop on Wednesday, February 21st from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mahaska County Extension Office in Oskaloosa. We welcome farmers and landowners to attend these free workshops and join us for a complimentary meal.

Cover crops provide many benefits to farmers and landowners, including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression, reduced nutrient loads entering water bodies, increased organic matter in the soil, and forage for livestock. In a relay intercropping system, where three crops are grown in two years, the benefits include a marketable small grain cover crop and additional revenue for the farmer. Workshop attendees will have the opportunity to compare and contrast these two conservation practices, discuss new relay intercropping opportunities, ask questions, and share their experiences.

The workshop will be hosted by Dr. Matt Helmers, Iowa Nutrient Research Center director, Dr. Mark Licht, associate professor and extension cropping systems specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Dr. Jon Dahlem, Iowa State University postdoctoral research associate.

The event will be held at the Mahaska County Extension Office, 212 North I Street, Oskaloosa, IA and is free and open to farmers and landowners, though we require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. Attendees will enjoy a complimentary meal and be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Alena Whitaker at 515-294-2473 or ilf@iastate.edu.  Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.

Ongoing Investigation in Keokuk County

Posted on by Sam Parsons

KEOKUK COUNTY — Yesterday, investigators from the Division of Criminal Investigation, Ottumwa Police Department, and the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in the 2100 block of Highway 78 near Ollie.

This is an ongoing investigation. There is no known threat to the public related to this investigation.

Additional information will be released by the DCI at some point today.

Donations pour in to replace destroyed Jackie Robinson statue on his 105th birthday

Posted on by Sam Parsons

WICHITA (AP) — Donations poured in Wednesday to replace a destroyed statue of Jackie Robinson on what would have been the 105th birthday of the first player to break Major League Baseball’s color barrier.

Major League Baseball pledged support. And the total raised just through one online fundraiser surpassed $145,000, which is far in excess of the estimated $75,000 value of the bronze statue that was cut from its base last week at a park in Wichita, Kansas. Police are searching for those responsible.

Only the statue’s feet were left at McAdams Park, where about 600 children play in a youth baseball league called League 42, which is named after Robinson’ s uniform number with the Brooklyn Dodgers, with whom he broke the major leagues’ color barrier in 1947.

Fire crews found burned remnants of the statue Tuesday while responding to a trash can fire at another park about 7 miles (11.27 kilometers) away. A truck believed to be used in the theft previously was found abandoned, and police said the theft was captured on surveillance video.

Bob Lutz, executive director of the Little League nonprofit that commissioned the sculpture, said Wednesday in a message on X, formerly Twitter, that the MLB commissioner’s office and 30 clubs had committed funding toward the cost of replacing the statue and providing other support.

“Amazing, huh?” he said.

Lutz had said earlier that the money raised also could enhance some of its programming and facilities. In April, the group opened the Leslie Rudd Learning Center, which includes an indoor baseball facility and a learning lab.

“We’re not just baseball,” Lutz said. “We have after school education, enrichment and tutoring.”

One of the largest donations is a $10,000 pledge from an anonymous former Major League Baseball player who won a World Series. Wichita police Chief Joe Sullivan, who announced the donation over the weekend, has urged anyone involved in the theft to surrender and vowed that arrests were imminent.

“The community, along with the business community and the nation as a whole, have demonstrated an incredible outpouring of support,” Sullivan said in a statement Wednesday. “This effort highlights the kindness of the people and their determination to rebuild what was taken away from our community.”

Lutz, whose friend, the artist John Parsons, made the statue before his death, said the mold is still viable and anticipated that a replacement can be erected within a matter of months.

“We value what it represents,” he said. “It’s important that our 600 kids understand what it represents. And, we make every effort to educate our kids about the role that Jackie Robinson played in life and civil rights, his life beyond sports. He’s the absolute best role model you could imagine.”

League 42 drew attention to Robinson’s birthday Wednesday in a Facebook post, noting that “his legacy will hold up forever” and asking for donations.

Robinson played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers, paving the way for generations of Black American ballplayers. He’s considered not only a sports legend but also a civil rights icon. Robinson died in 1972.

Lutz said that the league appeals to “all kids, but especially to kids of color” and that the connection to Robinson resonated.

“We can’t imagine, being named League 42 without a Jackie Robinson statue in our park,” he said. “It was a no-brainer when we went about trying to name our league. And the name League 42 came up. It was like lightning and struck. We knew we had our name.”

Lawmakers say governor’s latest AEA plans needs work

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

Governor Kim Reynolds is urging legislators to advance her plan to overhaul the state’s Area Education Agencies.

“To stick our head in the sand and say: ‘Everything is perfect. I don’t want to change anything! We need more time.’ That’s ridiculous,” Reynolds said earlier today. “Businesses have to do this every day to survive. We need to start operating government in that manner because ultimately that is how the kids are going to get a quality education.”

Reynolds has said changes are necessary because test scores show students with disabilities aren’t being served well by the AEAs. The governor spoke with reporters just before hour-long hearings in the Iowa House and Senate on her bill. Key House Republicans say there’s still a need for more discussions before the bill is ready for a committee vote.

The bill did clear a Senate subcommittee, but Republican Senator Ken Rozenboom of Oskaloosa says legislators need to find answers to questions that have been raised.

“I’m not going to dissect the bill today. We’ve had discussions about it. We’ve heard pros and cons,” Rozenboom told reporters. “There are conceptual fundamental pieces of this that we need to address…and then we have to wrestle with the rollout and a timeline that, again, serves our children well.”

During the House subcommittee hearing, Okoboji Superintendent Todd Abrahamson said he supports giving school districts the federal, state and property tax money that’s currently being forwarded to the AEAs, so his district can hire its own staff.

“Change is good,” Abrahamson said. “We’ve already started to look at what we would do with the dollars — a special ed director, a speech therapist, a behavior psychologist so we could meet the needs every day in our district because those needs are not being met currently.”

Council Bluffs Superintendent Vicki Murrilo said the governor’s plan will transform an outdated system. “For the past seven years I have watched millions of flow through dollars from our district go directly to the AEAs without having a voice for how those dollars will be used to support the needs of our district,” Murillo said.

Waukee Superintendent Brad Buck, the former director of the Iowa Department of Education, told lawmakers the bill will create winners and losers. “It’s far more likely that larger districts will come out in better shape in this bill than smaller and especially rural districts,” Buck said.

Dan Daughton, a former principal and superintendent, is a lobbyist for the School Administrators of Iowa and Rural School Advocates of Iowa — groups that oppose the bill. “Right now districts are sharing school social workers with AEAs in order to provide mental health services for their children,” Daughton said. “That will go away with this bill as it is prohibited…Rural schools will be impacted, I think, more so than others….We couldn’t find mental health workers before we had this sharing agreement.”

Others who testified urged lawmakers to hit the pause button. Deb Davis, a member of the Johnston School Board, said if the bill is rushed through, there could be unintended consequences.

“I recommend taking the time needed to do an audit and study on the AEAs and invite superintendents and school districts to be a part of this process as this bill is formulated and tweaked,” Davis said.

Suzanne Costello of Kellogg is the parent of a child with learning disabilities including dyslexia who she said has been helped by the local AEA. She doubts small schools will be able to hire professional staff. “You’re going to take the person with the most special needs and you’re going to put them with somebody with a high school diploma who has very little education and skill sets and that’s what my kid’s going to get?” Costello said. “No way!”

Holly Messenger of West Des Moines told lawmakers she doubts her district could find the kind of experts the AEA provides to train teachers to help her son Kiran, who uses an eye-driven device to communicate.

“You are not going to be able to efficiently and economically get that level of collaboration with a cobbled together piecemeal fee-for-service approach,” she said, “and my son’s education will suffer because of it.”

Representatives of Iowans for Tax Relief, Americans for Prosperity and the Iowa Manufactured Housing Association urged legislators to ratify the governor’s changes, which would reduce property taxes by $33 million.

Central College Hosts Unique Black History Month Activities

Posted on by Sam Parsons

PELLA — Central College will celebrate Black History Month through a series of educational and service programs on campus throughout February.

Black History Month will kick off with “Dr. King on Our Campus: Community, Controversy, and How History Is Made.” Beth McMahon, associate professor of library science, and Lori Witt, Kenneth J. Weller Distinguished Professorship of the Liberal Arts and associate professor of history, will lead this program, 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, Boat-Moore-Weller rooms, Maytag Student Center.

“Liberation & Love: Spoke Word Poetry” with Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey will be 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8. He will share his life, lessons and love through his captivating, powerful poetry. Having grown up in the Midwest and traveled the country performing his work, he will bring his experiences to the stage in a way that helps all understand how liberation and love belong in our lives.

The Traveling True Black History Museum will bring a unique experience to Central and Pella titled “A Tribute to the African-American Journey.” The exhibit will feature over 1,000 artifacts including original documents from historical figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, President Barack Obama and other influential African-American leaders. The museum is meant to preserve the history and educate others about African-American contributions to the world. The exhibit will be open to the Central community and public 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, Boat-Moore-Weller rooms, Maytag Student Center.

The Civil Rights Transit Display will return to the Maytag atrium Feb. 12-16. The bus installation showcases inspirational civil rights stories such as Rosa Park’s historic protest.

The Zuzu African Acrobats will perform 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, in Douwstra Auditorium. Originating in Mombasa, Kenya, the Zuzu African Acrobats perform traditional acrobatics set to high-energy beats, all wrapped up in a cultural experience that is representative of the coastal regions of Kenya. The group has appeared on America’s Got Talent and performed at Superbowl LIII. The public is welcome to attend.

Martin Luther King Day activities at Central were canceled due to weather. Those programs have been scheduled throughout the semester. View the schedule.

Other activities for students include:

  • Service projects that support community nonprofits.
  • A Black History Month literature display in Geisler Library.
  • Celebrating Black historical figures and accomplishments with a cup of coffee from the Global Cafe at Geisler, throughout the week of Feb. 5-9.

Oskaloosa Police Department Shares 2023 City-Wide Crash Data

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa Police Department shared 2023 year-end car crash data for the city yesterday.

Police say that citywide crashes were down 21.8% last year from the 9-year average from 2014-2022, and down 25.3% from 2022 alone.

Crashes on A Avenue in particular saw a pronounced decrease. The Osky PD says that A Ave crashes were down 51.1% in 2023 compared to the 9-year average from 2014-2022.

And crashes on the E-W corridor were down 23.5% in 2023 compared to the previous 9-year average.

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