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Oskaloosa, New Sharon Enact Snow Emergency Measures

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The city of New Sharon announced that they are enacting their emergency snow ordinance today through Saturday morning if all of the roads have cleared by then.

The city of Oskaloosa announced a snow emergency parking ban going into effect tonight at 9pm and continuing until further notice. This means that inside city limits, Parking is prohibited on public streets, with vehicles parked on city streets during this time to be ticketed and/or towed at the owner’s expense. If you need to be on the road, follow emergency snow routes, which are designated by signs with a white snowflake on a blue field and will be given top priority in clearing accumulated snow. In addition, sidewalks are to be cleared of snow within 24 hours after the snow stops. Snow should not be blown, pushed, or placed upon a city street. This includes snow pushed by homeowners and snow removal contractors. For more info on Osky’s Snow Emergency Parking Ban, visit the Oskaloosa City website, oskaloosaiowa.org, or contact city hall.

Ottumwa City Council Holds Final Meeting of 2022

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Ottumwa City Council met last night for the final time in the year 2022 and held a public hearing on the City Hall Improvements Project. A remodel of city hall would entail replacing the boiler system, restoring restrooms, increasing energy efficiency, and improving accessibility, among other things. The project is expected to cost roughly $3.5 million, with funding coming from multiple sources. $700,000 was already approved from bond issuance and $890,000 from phase one ARPA funds was also allocated for it. Approximately $1.3 million in ARPA funds remains unallocated and could be used for the project, leaving roughly $690,000 remaining to be funded by revenue from franchise fees. The plans, specs, form of contract, and estimated cost of the project were approved unanimously.

The council also discussed the city’s agreement with the Heartland Humane Society. City Administrator Philip Rath talked about what changed this time around to help the shelter out.

The annual compensation comes out to just under $44,000, an increase from the previous figure of about $7,000. The agreement was approved unanimously.

Oskaloosa Boys Notch 1st Win of Season over Ottumwa

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa Indian boys basketball team was in action for the final time in the calendar year 2022 last night in a proximity war against the Ottumwa Bulldogs and they made the most of their time on the floor.

The Indians were firmly in control of the game in the first half. They jumped out to a 17-8 lead in the first quarter and the score was 38-20 at halftime. The Indians were filling it up from beyond the arc: junior guard Aidan Scholes and freshman point Max Roach combined for 7 triples in the first half and the Indians were enjoying more success on the boards than they have all season. Junior post player Gus Bunnell notched double digit rebounds on the night for the first time this season and despite the Indians being outsized by players like Allen Cook (6’7″), they were anticipating bounces well and winning the battle of the boards.

The time for celebrating had not yet arrived, however; the Indians, proven to be susceptible to cold quarters, came out flat to start the second half as the Bulldogs began the third quarter on an 18-3 run to make it 41-38. Cook and sophomore Trae Brown controlled the boards in the quarter as the Bulldogs found new life. The life would be ultimately be short-lived, however; a well-timed triple from Max Roach got the Indians the boost they needed entering the fourth quarter as the lead was at 46-41.

In the fourth, the Indians regained control of the game and their 2-3 zone defense finished strong. The Bulldogs were only able to muster 4 points in the quarter as the Indians put up 16, and they walked away with their first win of the season, 62-45.

The Indians (1-6) won’t play again until after winter break, when they will host the Pella Dutch on January 3.

Unofficial Stats – Oskaloosa

Aidan Scholes: 23 points, 4 rebounds

Max Roach: 21 points, 2 rebounds

Waylon Bolibaugh: 9 points, 6 rebounds

Gus Bunnell: 3 points, 10 rebounds

Carter Blanco: 3 points, 3 rebounds

Jakob Stek: 3 points

Brody Allman: 2 points

Unofficial Stats – Ottumwa

Allen Cook: 15 points, 5 rebounds

Rahsha Pope: 12 points, 2 rebounds

Trae Brown: 10 points, 7 rebounds

Kalib Campbell: 3 points

Carter Thompson: 2 points, 1 rebound

Luke Graeve: 2 points, 1 rebound

Bryant Wilson: 1 point

FTX founder agrees to extradition to US, attorney says

Posted on by Sam Parsons

NASSAU, BAHAMAS (AP) — Sam Bankman-Fried may be ready to come to the U.S. to face criminal charges related to the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX following a chaotic court appearance in the Bahamas. A lawyer for Bankman-Fried was quoted as saying Monday that the disgraced FTX founder has agreed to be extradited to the United States. A court hearing was stopped earlier in the day when his attorneys said it was premature for him to stand before the court. Jerone Roberts, a local defense attorney for Bankman-Fried, told The New York Times that lawyers will prepare the necessary documents for extradition. It was not immediately clear when extradition could occur.

Reynolds calls for end to national emergency over COVID

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

Governor Kim Reynolds and two dozen other Republican governors are urging President Biden to end the national public health emergency for COVID in April.

Ending the national public health emergency will mean emergency Medicaid insurance coverage for millions of Americans will end. In Iowa, Medicaid enrollment is 48% higher than before the pandemic. Reynolds and the other governors say some individuals are no longer eligible for Medicaid coverage under traditional rules, but the national public health emergency is keeping them in the program and that’s negatively impacting states’ budgets.

Reynolds ended her own statewide public health emergency in February and she says it’s time for the federal government to do the same.

President Trump declared COVID a national emergency in March of 2020. President Biden has extended the order through next month and is expected to extend it again through April. Reynolds and the 24 other GOP governors are asking Biden to let the pandemic declaration expire at that time.

Knoxville CSD to Begin Winter Break Early

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Knoxville School District announced that they will be starting their winter break early this week. There is now no school tomorrow (Wednesday 12/21) for the Knoxville School District, with winter break beginning at the conclusion of Tuesday night’s activities.

According to a statement released by the district, the break has been pushed up due to a combination of student and staff illness, with a higher than 10% illness rate at Northstar Elementary, and the expected inclement weather later this week. There will be no make-up day for Wednesday. School will resume on Thursday, January 5, 2023.

Oskaloosa City Council Meets for final time in 2022

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council met last night for the final time in the calendar year 2022. The council held a public hearing for an amendment to the FY2023 budget to add the expense of a new pump truck for the Oskaloosa Fire Department in the amount of $600,000. This amendment was approved.

The council also approved a contract amendment to the Wastewater Facility Plan Long-Term Improvement Project for Pre-Design of the Wastewater Treatment Facility with FOX Strand. FOX Strand requested an additional $1.4 million for predesign work for the facility, including developing a process model of the new Combined Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The 2nd readings of two ordinances were also conducted, which will impose no-parking restrictions on sections of North B Street and South B Street.

The Oskaloosa City Council will hold their next regular meeting on January 3, 2023.

Oskaloosa Basketball Weekend Recap: DCG, EBF Sweep Indians

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

Osky basketball was in action with a pair of girls and boys doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. The Indians faced stiff competition: Dallas Center-Grimes came to town on Friday with the #2 ranked girls team in the state and the defending state champion boys team, while Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont’s teams each boasted undefeated records.

The girls’ game against DCG saw the Indians hold their own for long stretches of time against the #2 team in the state. Osky trailed by just 1 after the conclusion of the first quarter and the score was 35-28 at half. DCG used overwhelming defense and quick passing to keep the Indians on their heels, but nonetheless a good shooting effort from Lydia Van Veldhuizen kept the Indians hanging with the Mustangs.

Unfortunately, the Indian offense unraveled in the third quarter. The Mustangs held the Indians to just 2 points in the frame and scored 13 of their own, and from there, they coasted to the finish line and secured a 64-42 victory. Despite the cold stretch in the third quarter, Osky battled with DCG in the other 3 frames and played their closest game against DCG since at least the 2013 season.

The boys game saw a similar story play out, but with a few new wrinkles. Osky startled DCG out of the gates by taking a 16-11 lead after the first quarter, but their cold quarter would come in the 2nd. DCG outscored Osky 22-3 in the second quarter to make the score 33-19 at half. The Indians would show quite a bit of life in the second half against the defending state champs, however; they outscored the Mustangs in quarters 3 and 4, 21-15 and 20-17, respectively, and were in the game in the final minute, but the Mustangs kept the Indians at arms’ length and ultimately prevailed 65-60. 4 Indians tallied double digit points in the game (Nathan Kelderman, Jakob Stek, Waylon Bolibaugh, and Max Roach).

On Saturday, the girls and boys of Osky battled for the Eddybylooska Trophy against the girls and boys of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, both of whom were undefeated going in. The EBF girls were the 5th ranked team in the most recent 2A rankings from the IGHSAU and used their size to compete with Dasia Foster in the post and outrebounded the Indians all night. Junior Aliya Wagamon had a brilliant performance with 19 points and 10 (unofficial) rebounds. The Rockets maintained control throughout the evening and defeated the Indians 62-42 despite a routine strong performance from Osky senior Presley Blommers (24 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals).

The boys game was a bit of a different story, though the final result was similar. Oskaloosa and EBF were evenly matched in the first half with Osky shooting the ball well and having success keeping the Rockets’ taller players from driving inside. The Indians held a slim 31-29 advantage midway through the contest.

The Rockets, however, would adjust well in the second half and began using their size to their advantage more effectively. Brooks Moore and Carsen Wade came alive in the second half and Jesse Cornelison set a career high in trips to the free throw line to give control of the game firmly to the Rockets as they pulled away in the 2nd half and took the game 72-52.

The Oskaloosa girls (3-4) do not have another game scheduled until after the holiday break. The Oskaloosa boys (0-6) play again tonight in a home tilt with Ottumwa.

Girls stats (Friday)

Boys stats (Friday)

Girls stats (Saturday)

Boys stats (Saturday)

Arctic air will blast much of US just before Christmas

Posted on by Sam Parsons

ATLANTA (AP) — Forecasters are warning of treacherous holiday travel and life-threatening cold for big parts of the nation, an arctic air mass blows into the already-frigid southern United States. In a special weather statement Sunday, the National Weather Service predicted “extreme and prolonged freezing conditions for southern Mississippi and southeast Louisiana.” The rare arctic air mass comes as an earlier storm system gradually winds down in the northeastern U.S., after burying parts of the region under two feet of snow. Utility companies brought in extra workers from other states but were hampered by slick roads and dangerous conditions.

After 2022 setbacks, Iowa Democratic Party’s chairman won’t seek another term

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

After significant setbacks in the 2022 election and the apparent loss of the lead-off spot for the Iowa Caucuses, the chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party is stepping down.

In early 2021, the Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee elected Ross Wilburn to lead the party through the 2022 campaign. Wilburn announced Saturday he will not seek another term. Wilburn said he has faith the party’s next chair “will lead Iowa Democrats through the challenges ahead.”

The November election saw Republicans gain seats in the state legislature. Republicans won every seat in Iowa’s congressional delegation and only one Democrat on the statewide ballot won — by a narrow margin.

Earlier this month, a panel of national Democrats voted to dethrone the Iowa Democratic Party’s Caucuses. The plan is to have South Carolina’s Primary go first in 2024, followed by four other states.

Wilburn, who’s been reelected to another term in the Iowa House, said he’ll join other Democrats in working to grow the party and support candidates who’ll fight for the ideas “a strong majority of Iowans support.”

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