Pella City Council Discusses Community Center, Ambulance Services

Posted on July 20, 2023 by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Pella City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday and had policy and planning discussions on the Community Center and ambulance service.

In April, the council approved an architectural and engineering agreement with Schemmer, who gave an update to the council on the project, which is currently estimated to cost approximately $4.3 million after the city allocated $5.5 million for a base plan. The base plan includes mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrades, as well as improved accessibility, exterior improvements, renovations to reopen the community gym, and fire protection enhancements. No official action was taken regarding the Community Center at the meeting this week.

The council also discussed their ambulance service after it was proposed at a recent council meeting for the city to expand its ambulance service to surrounding rural communities, including the city of Leighton and several townships in the area. It was estimated at that meeting that it would require a subsidy of roughly $130,000 per year to serve the surrounding rural areas, who had offered to pay $36,000 per year over a three year term to start. City staff said that an advisory group has been formed in Marion County to make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors regarding an essential services tax, which would entail a $.75 tax levy that would assist in subsidizing the service expansion if it were approved by 60% of voters in a referendum. The advisory group has not yet targeted a date for a referendum, but city staff recommended March 5, 2024.

The next regular meeting with the Pella City Council will be held on August 1.

Iowa’s Newest Certified Site Recognized and Promoted by State Leaders

Posted on July 19, 2023July 20, 2023 by Sam Parsons

MAHASKA COUNTY — Oskaloosa and Mahaska County are one step closer to being home to several major employers, and the space is ready for development right now. The Mahaska Chamber & Development Group, the City of Oskaloosa, and the County of Mahaska partnered together to register the Oskaloosa Innovation Park as a Certified Site for the State of Iowa.

State officials celebrated the accomplishment Tuesday, and both IDEA and the Mahaska Chamber & Development Group immediately started work on promoting the certified site for development.

One notable trend in the site location industry is the growing requirement for readily available industrial sites primed for projects. Companies are consistently decreasing the timeframe for making location decisions and expediting the start of construction and project completion.

“Companies are making location decisions quickly, and the timeframe from start to finish has to be quick and efficient,” says Deann De Groot, Mahaska Chamber & Development Group Executive Director. “The certified site process ensures potential employers that these site-related details are resolved, and they won’t run into surprises. We also appreciate the willingness of the landowners of the property to see the community value in allowing this land to be developed to move the community forward with economic development.”

The State’s newest certified site is located in southeast Iowa on Highway 23. The 500-acre property is zoned general industrial and is ready for new businesses to buy and develop the land. It is the fifth-largest certified site in Iowa. The process started in 2020 and will be certified later this month. The area has access to a four-lane highway, an on-site railroad, and an airport.

“This is a project that is greatly needed. I appreciate everyone’s effort to make it happen,” says Mark Groenendyk, Mahaska County Supervisors Chairperson.

Another added benefit to this project is the recent announcement in June of more than $10 million from the RISE Local Development program to assist in constructing approximately 10,000 feet of new roads connecting Iowa 23 and U.S. 63 for the Oskaloosa Innovation Park. The grant will cover 65% of the cost of the streets for the Innovation Park.

“Partnerships are key in accomplishing projects that will grow our community,” says Oskaloosa Mayor David Krutzfeldt. “The recognition of this site elevates Oskaloosa and Mahaska County’s State and national profile. We wholeheartedly commit to embracing new businesses and inviting them to become part of our thriving and remarkable community.”

Iowa’s Certified Sites program considers national site location standards, the State’s natural assets, and the needs of key business sectors, including advanced manufacturing, finance and insurance, and biosciences. State officials say site certification has enabled Iowa communities to better compete for projects with development-ready sites. More than $1.3 billion in capital investment have already been built across the State due to this program.

No winner in Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing. Jackpot reaches $720 million

Posted on July 19, 2023 by Sam Parsons

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Mega Millions jackpot has risen to an estimated $720 million after no winning ticket was sold — again. It’s now one of two national lotteries with enormous jackpots but equally enormous odds against winning them.

No ticket for Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing matched the white balls 19, 22, 31, 37, 54 and the gold Mega Ball 18.

The new jackpot is Mega Millions’ fifth largest, the lottery said in a news release. On Monday, the nation’s other big lottery game — Powerball — also went without a winner, and its jackpot now stands at an estimated $1 billion, the third largest for that game.

For Mega Millions, the estimated $720 million jackpot in the next drawing would only be distributed to a winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take a cash payout, which for Friday night’s drawing is an estimated $369.6 million.

The largest Mega Millions jackpot was $1.537 billion won by an anonymous player in South Carolina on Oct. 23, 2018.

Despite the game’s long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, players continue to purchase tickets as the size of the grand prize grows.

The last time a Mega Millions player hit the top prize was April 18.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Pella woman wins $25,000 in Utah Scavenger Hunt

Posted on July 19, 2023 by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

An Iowan has found a hidden treasure in Utah.

Chelsea Gotta of Pella went to Utah three times before solving the riddles in a poem and finding the $25,000 prize.

The annual Utah Scavenger Hunt was first held in 2020. This year’s clues led Gotta to find the treasure box near the mountain hiking trail in a Bountiful, Utah. Bountiful is about 12 miles north of Salt Lake City.

The box was hidden for 51 days before Gotta found it. Gotta told KTVX in Salt Lake City she plans to sponsor a treasure hunt in Iowa.

Researchers Reveal County-Level Alzheimer’s Prevalence Estimates

Posted on July 19, 2023July 19, 2023 by Sam Parsons

AMSTERDAM — The first-ever county-level estimates of the prevalence of people with Alzheimer’s dementia — in all 3,142 United States counties — were released today at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® (AAIC®) 2023, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and online.

Researchers found the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s in the east and southeastern regions of the U.S. The data were simultaneously published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia®: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Kumar B. Rajan, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Rush Medical College, and colleagues, used cognitive data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP) and population estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics (NHCS) to estimate the prevalence of Alzheimer’s in adults 65 years and older in all U.S. counties.

In Iowa, the average Alzheimer’s prevalence rate in individuals age 65 and older is 11%. The highest rates occur the most in Iowa’s northwest counties including Monona county (12.6%) and Mitchell and Osceola counties (12.5%). However, the highest rate is found in the south-central county of Ringgold (12.9%).

Alzheimer’s prevalence rates in the top 10 Iowa counties with the highest number of individuals age 65 and older are estimated to be:

Polk (68,200) – 10.5%
Linn (38,000) – 10.8%
Scott (29,800) – 10.9%
Black Hawk (22,900) – 11.1%
Johnson (19,700) – 10.1%
Dubuque (18,200) – 11.1%
Pottawattamie (17,200) – 10.5%

Rajan and the team noted a combination of specific demographic characteristics that may explain the higher prevalence in these counties, including older average age and higher percentages of Black and Hispanic residents. For example, among residents age 65 years and older of the Bronx County in New York, 14% were 85 and older (compared to a national average of 12% of people 65 and older), 30.1% were African Americans and 46.9% were Hispanic Americans (compared to national averages of 9.4% and 8.8%, respectively).

Age is well-established as a primary risk factor for Alzheimer’s. According to Alzheimer’s Association 2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, older Black Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as older Whites, and older Hispanics are about one and one-half times as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as older Whites.

“These new estimates add more granular data to our understanding of Alzheimer’s prevalence across the country,” Rajan said. “This information, in addition to raising awareness of the Alzheimer’s crisis in specific communities, may help public health programs better allocate funding, staffing and other resources for caring for people with Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.”

“The estimates are based on cognitive and demographic characteristics,” Rajan added.

“Alzheimer’s dementia is a multifactorial disease involving several risk characteristics that interact with demographic risk factors and ultimately contribute to the prevalence.”

An estimated 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report. Based on previous projections, Facts and Figures shows the west and southwest regions of the U.S. will experience the largest percentage increase in people living with Alzheimer’s dementia between 2020 and 2025.

“Alzheimer’s prevalence estimates can help federal and state public health officials determine the burden on the health care system, and county-level estimates help us better understand and pinpoint areas of high risk and high need — where, for example, culturally-sensitive health support and caregiver training services are needed,” said Matthew Baumgart, Alzheimer’s Association vice president of health policy.

“As the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease increases, so does the need for a larger workforce that is trained in diagnosing, treating and caring for those living with the disease.”

“The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to advancing public policies at the state and federal level to address the needs of people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers,” Baumgart said.

New-Look Mahaska County YMCA Set to Open August 1

Posted on July 19, 2023 by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — Mahaska County is about to get healthier in mind, body and spirit. On August 1, 2023, the Mahaska County YMCA will open its doors at 1521 Green Street, Oskaloosa. The new state-of-the-art facility includes all new equipment, two racquetball courts, three group fitness studios, and an expanded gym space.

“We have worked through many unforeseen challenges in getting this built, said Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt. “Through it all I have been impressed with the persistence of our team as they insist on quality construction, the determination to work through challenges, and an unrelenting positive attitude toward getting to this time of opening. We also appreciate the members of the community who showed patience for the construction and encouragement to those of us working on it.”

Mike Foster, Mahaska County YMCA’s board president, says he is excited to finally see community members enjoy the facility. “There has been a lot of blood, sweat, and tears put into this facility, and we are honored by the continued support. We have been preparing for this for a long time and are excited to show the facility to our community. I also want to extend our sincere thanks to innumerable individual community members, local businesses, and community partners, particularly the City of Oskaloosa and the Oskaloosa Community School District, for their support of this project.”

Phase 1 was opened in September of 2021, including the Early Childhood center, daycare, preschool, OCSD preschool, SIEDA Head Start, etc.

Phase 2 includes the recreation and fitness facilities, community rooms, and child watch.

The YMCA will continue to offer aquatics programs at the 3rd Street facility.

The Y will be offering a discount throughout the month of August of up to $50 to all new members when they join using code NOJOINER. Visit here to join: https://www.mahaskaymca.org

The Mahaska County YMCA is opening thanks to numerous donations from community members as well as a variety of grants. Those who would like to contribute may still do so by visiting www.mahaskaymca.org or by visiting the Y after it opens on August 1, 2023.

It’s official: Taylor Swift has more No. 1 albums than any woman in history

Posted on July 18, 2023 by Sam Parsons

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Congratulations are in order for Taylor Swift and her loyal fans, known as Swifties. The pop star officially has more No. 1 albums than any woman in history.

“Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)”, released earlier this month, is the third in her endeavor to re-record her first six albums, instigated by music manager Scooter Braun’s sale of her early catalog. It has officially debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming her 12th album to reach the top spot.

Previously, Barbra Streisand held the record, with 11 No. 1 albums.

Swift ties Drake’s record of 12 No. 1 records, but sits just behind Jay-Z, who has 14 No. 1 albums to his name, and the Beatles, who have 19.

In addition to hitting this incredible milestone, Swift has 2023’s biggest album release to date, with 716,000 equivalent album units, according to Luminate. An impressive 506,600 are in traditional album sales (a combination of 410,000 physical and 96,600 digital sales.)

With those figures, Swift has dethroned country singer Morgan Wallen, whose album “One Thing at a Time” sold 501,000 units in its first week.

Judge puts Iowa’s new abortion restrictions on hold

Posted on July 18, 2023 by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

A ban on most abortions in Iowa is now on hold.

A Polk County district court judge has issued a temporary injunction that blocks enforcement of the abortion restrictions that Governor Reynolds signed into law Friday.

Sharon Wegner, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, which is representing two abortion providers challenging the law. “This decision was incredibly important because it means that, for now, abortion in Iowa remains safe and legal,” she said during an online news conference late this afternoon. “…We know Iowans stand with us in wanting to protect abortion rights and keep politicians out of doctor-patient decision making.”

The legislature met in a one-day special session last Tuesday and passed a bill to ban most abortions after cardiac activity can be detected, which is around the sixth week of pregnancy.
“This law bans abortion before many people know that they are pregnant,” Wegner said, “…and as such it violates the state constitution under the ‘undue burden’ standard that the Iowa Supreme Court has made clear is the governing standard for now.”

In a written statement, Governor Reynolds said the “abortion industry is trying to thwart the will of the people: who elected her and the Republican majorities in the legislature. Reynolds said she will fight this case “all the way to the Iowa Supreme Court,” where Reynolds said she expects “a decision that will finally provide justice for the unborn.”

Ruth Richardson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of North Central States, told reporters her staff made hundreds of phone calls late last week to reschedule abortion appointments.

“While we know that the state may seek an appeal, we are proud to resume services for our patients and provide patient outreach to help break through the manufactured chaos that is our new normal,” she said.

The injunction was issued Monday afternoon. Iowa law currently requires a 24 hour waiting period for abortions, so Wednesday is the earliest that elective abortions can be scheduled.

Polk County District Court Judge Joseph Seidlin said the ban on most abortions created “irreparable harm,” but his ruling also allows the Iowa Board of Medicine to start writing rules to enforce the ban. Seidlin wrote that there are “honorable and intelligent people…on both sides of this upsetting societal and constitutional dilemma.”

Roadway closure across Red Rock Dam July 26-28

Posted on July 18, 2023 by Sam Parsons

KNOXVILLE, Iowa –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, announces the full closure of Highway T15 across Red Rock Dam beginning July 26 and continuing through July 28, during which time a detour will be in place.

Additional partial and full road closures may be needed through 2024 for continued rehabilitation projects on the dam. For more information, please contact the US Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Red Rock at 641-828-7522 or via email at lakeredrock@usace.army.mil.

Oskaloosa City Council Approves Plan for New Recreation and Entertainment Facility

Posted on July 18, 2023 by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council held a regular meeting last night and approved the site plan for a new recreation and entertainment facility at the Gateway Commercial Park subdivision. The proposed 46,000 SF facility would be on a 3.4 acre site and is currently being referred to as the “Oskaloosa Entertainment Venue.” It would include a bar and grill, a restaurant with indoor/outdoor seating, a 3-screen movie theater with concessions, two tennis courts, four pickleball courts, and three golf simulators.

City staff said construction of the venue is expected to begin this fall and the current target for the opening of the venue is late 2024. The facility will be developed and managed by EVOLVE Hospitality, the same entity that manages the adjoining Fairfield Inn.

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