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Pella Council Moves Forward with Timberview Development

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Pella city council met last night and held public hearings related to their proposed Timberview Urban Renewal Plan. According to the staff report, the development is intended to help facilitate additional housing in the city of Pella and has an estimated total value of $16.1 million, projected to result in approximately $296,000 in annual property tax revenues. City administrator Mike Nardini referenced a housing assessment done by Marion County as one of the key pieces of evidence that this additional housing was needed.

The council unanimously approved the Urban Renewal Plan, a five-year TIF extension agreement to ensure that the developer recoups their investment into public infrastructure, and a development agreement with Pella Timberview, LLC for phase 1 of the project, which will include 36 lots (12 attached zero threshold/patio type homes and 24 detached standard market rate units).

The next regular council meeting for the city of Pella will be held on December 6.

Iowa HS Volleyball All-District Teams Released; Osky’s Maleah Walker Makes the Cut

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Iowa Girls Coaches Association unveiled its all-district volleyball teams for the 2022 season. Here are the teams that featured players from our area:

Class 1A South Central

Alivia Ruble, Southeast Warren, 12th grade

Anna Weathers,  Ankeny Christian Academy, 10th grade

Carley Craighead, Ankeny Christian Academy, 10th grade

Jalayna Shipley, North Mahaska, 12th grade

Jalie Baumfalk,  Murray, 12th grade

Jayda Chew, Murray, 12th grade

Jillian French, Twin Cedars, 11th grade

Karagyn Minnaert, BGM Brooklyn, 10th grade

Katie Quick, Ankeny Christian Academy, 10th grade

Lexi Clendenen, Southeast Warren, 9th grade

Lydia Kern, Southeast Warren, 9th grade

Macey Nehring, Ankeny Christian Academy, 10th grade

Olivia Maddux, GMG Garwin, 10th grade

Rylee Dunkin, Twin Cedars, 12th grade

Sophie Lyle, Twin Cedars, 12th grade

Sydney Andersen, North Mahaska, 10th grade

Taylor Lumbard, Diagonal, 12th grade

Teryn Shields, Murray, 12th grade

Coach of the Year: Michele Quick, Ankeny Christian Academy

Class 1A Southeast

Abby Korschgen, Burlington Notre Dame, 12th grade

Bradie Buffington, Winfield Mount Union, 12th grade

Brooke Mueller, Holy Trinity Catholic, 12th grade

Brookelyn Hemsley,  Sigourney,  12th grade

Caitlin Jensen, North Cedar, 12th grade

Ella Kissel, WACO, 12th grade

Ellianna Manning, New London, 12th grade

Emily Hemphill, Wapello, 11th grade

Emma Nye, New London, 12th grade

Gabby Deery, Burlington Notre Dame, 12th grade

Grace Bean, Belle Plaine, 12th grade

Grace Coble, WACO, 12th grade

Janessa Blomme, HLV Victor, 12th grade

Keetyn Townsley, Winfield Mount Union, 12th grade

Mandy Chizek, Belle Plaine, 12th grade

Mary Kate Bendlage,Holy Trinity Catholic, 11th grade

Natalie Burden, New London, 12th grade

Presley Myers, Holy Trinity Catholic, 10th grade

Coach of the Year: Mike Davis, Burlington Notre Dame

Class 2A Central

Abby Teske, South Hardin, 10th grade

Ava Salvo, South Hardin, 10th grade

Chloe Huisman, Pella Christian, 10th grade

Danika Park, Pleasantville, 11th grade

Delainey Murphy, Grand View Christian, 11th grade

Ellie Anderson, South Hardin, 12th grade

Emily Goodner, Manson-NW Webster, 12th grade

Emily Roe, Pleasantville, 10th grade

Kelly DeMeulenaere, Grand View Christian, 12th grade

Kylie Hoben, Grand View Christian, 12th grade

Mersadez Richter, ACGC, 11th grade

Olivia Sturgis, Manson-NW Webster, 12th grade

Sydney Brandmeyer, Grand View Christian, 10th grade

Coach of the Year: Janessa Murphy, Grand View Christian

Class 2A Southeast

Abby Bence, West Burlington, 12th grade

Ava Czarnecki, Lisbon, 11th grade

Haley Steffener, Mediapolis, 11th grade

Hanna Wagenbach, Mediapolis, 11th grade

Iva Senio, West Branch, 12th grade

Kali Nelson, Lisbon, 12th grade

Kate Shafer, EBF, 10th grade

Madelynn Falco, West Branch, 10th grade

McKenna Marlow, West Burlington, 12th grade

Molly Shafer, EBF, 10th grade

Peyton Robinson, Lisbon, 12th grade

Reese Naeve, Regina Iowa City, 9th grade

Sophia Armstrong, West Burlington, 12th grade

Sydney Wagner, Regina Iowa City, 11th grade

Taylor Drayfalh, Wilton, 12th grade

Whitney Klyn, EBF, 12th grade

Coach of the Year: Gladys Genskow, EBF

Class 3A Southeast

Abby Matt, Van Meter, 12th grade

Ava Schubert, Assumption, 12th grade

Ava Shepard-Harris, Assumption, 12th grade

Avary Calonder, Tipton, 12th grade

Brooklyn Buysse, West Liberty, 12th grade

Dakota Mitchell, Mid-Prairie, 12th grade

Ella Groenewold, Mid-Prairie, 12th grade

Ellie Schubert, Assumption, 10th grade

Jovi Evans, Mid-Prairie, 12th grade

Landry Pacha, Mid-Prairie, 12th grade

Maggie Johnson, Assumption, 11th grade

Makayla Morrison, Central Lee, 12th grade

Monica Morales, West Liberty, 12th grade

Sophia Young, Davis County, 12th grade

Sophie Buysse, West Liberty, 12th grade

Sophie Waber, Albia, 12th grade

Coach of the Year: Sherry Evans, Mid-Prairie

Class 4A Southeast

Addy Janssen, Dallas Center-Grimes, 11th grade

Annalise Buxton, Burlington, 10th grade

Aspen Nelson, Indianola, 10th grade

Brittany Bacorn, Knoxville, 11th grade

Brynn Bishop, Indianola, 11th grade

Grace Dehmer, Norwalk, 11th grade

Katie Scheckel, Pella, 9th grade

Kaylee Koudelka, North Polk, 11th grade

Lauren McGriff, Carlisle, 12th grade

Makayla Howard, Clinton, 12th grade

Maleah Walker, Oskaloosa, 12th grade

Noelle Sutcliffe, Norwalk, 11th grade

Tiana Gehling, North Polk, 12th grade

Coach of the Year: Kent Halstead, Indianola

World Population hits 8 billion, creating many challenges

Posted on by Sam Parsons

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — The United Nations says the world’s population is reaching the 8 billion mark on Tuesday. The projection came in a U.N. report released in July that said much of the growth expected between now and 2050 is coming from just eight countries. Half of those are in sub-Saharan Africa: Nigeria, Congo, Ethiopia and Tanzania. The U.N. says that populations in the region are growing at 2.5% — more than three times the global average. Still, experts say the bigger threat to the environment is consumption, which is highest in developed countries not undergoing big population increases. The report also said that India is expected to overtake China next year as the world’s most populous country.

Corn harvest down to final 5%

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Dar Danielson (Radio Iowa)

The corn harvest is heading down the final stretch.

The U.S.D.A. report finds 95% of the corn had been combined by Sunday. That is 8 days ahead of last year and 12 days ahead of the average.

Farmers in northeast and south-central Iowa have the most work left — with more than 10 percent of their corn still in the fields.

The report found the soybean harvest was virtually complete at 97% two weeks ago.

Pella School Board Reviews Designs for Jefferson Intermediate/Middle School Project

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The Pella Community School Board met last night and received a presentation from Neumann Monson about the current state of their High School HVAC, Tennis Complex, and Early Childhood Center projects, and also reviewed possible designs for their planned project for the Jefferson Intermediate and Middle School complex.

The High School HVAC project is already substantially completed and after change orders, the budget for it came out to roughly $3.75 million; the Tennis Complex is slated to be completed in spring of 2023 and is projected to cost about $4.3 million; and the Early Childhood Center remains in the planning phase.

The Jefferson Intermediate and Middle School project is currently projected to cost roughly $22.5 million and entails the construction of a new building in between the schools that will support the 6th grade level as well as music classes, along with some renovations to both schools and the parking lots. No action was taken, but the next phase of the project will be design development, which is expected to be finished this year, with the aim for construction to be complete by September-October 2024.

The board also approved a new bus driver incentive program to implement a $2,000 bonus to new bus drivers with the school district who meet certain criteria. 

The Pella Community School Board will hold their next regular meeting on November 28.

North Mahaska Schools Evacuated

Posted on by Sam Parsons

NEW SHARON — Students, staff and faculty were evacuated just before school began Monday morning. Members of the New Sharon Fire Department and MidAmerican Energy responded to the call about 7:40 a.m.

Upon staff arrival at school Monday morning several staff members reported the scent of gas. MidAmerican Energy, New Sharon Fire Department, and Mahaska County 911 Center were immediately notified. Students and staff that had already arrived at school were evacuated to the bus garage. Arriving buses held students on the bus in a safe location.

At 7:54 a.m. a SwiftAlert notification was issued notifying parents and others of the situation and asking to keep students in vehicles and away from the building.

The resulting investigation by MidAmerican officials along with building maintenance found a pilot light on a stove in the kitchen that was causing the gas smell. The pilot light tubes have been replaced and the stove is now working properly.  MidAmerican Officials cleared the building for school to resume. SwiftAlerts were sent at 8:48 a.m. to allow students and staff to re-enter the building.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we have asked MidAmerican Energy to run a gas detection meter test early tomorrow morning,” said North Mahaska Elementary Principal and Superintendent Angela Livezey. “We know it is an inconvenience to have to evacuate the building. However, we assure you that we will err on the side of caution and follow our Emergency Response Protocols.”

North Mahaska quickly entered their emergency operations plan guidance and immediately responded. No injuries occurred due to the quick actions of North Mahaska staff members. Livezey credited the quick resolution to staff members knowing the procedures based on the district’s emergency plan.

“There was outstanding coordination with today's events between school officials and school staff, MidAmerican Energy, Mahaska County Law Enforcement, Mahaska County Emergency Management, and New Sharon Fire Department. Everyone responded promptly and did a great job of keeping students safe,” said Livezey.

Biden, Xi seek to ‘manage our differences’ in meeting

Posted on by Sam Parsons

NUSA DUA, Indonesia (AP) — President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are holding their first in-person meeting since the U.S. president took office nearly two years ago. The leaders are meeting Monday on the Indonesian island of Bali amid increasing tensions between the superpowers. Each one is competing for global influence. Both men entered the highly anticipated meeting with bolstered political standing at home. White House aides have repeatedly sought to play down any notion of conflict with China. But U.S.-China relations have become increasingly strained throughout Biden’s presidency.

Small Business Administration ask Iowans to buy local this holiday

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Matt Kelley (Radio Iowa)

While many Iowa retailers are already offering holiday-themed bargains, the Black Friday shopping blitz is two weeks from today, followed immediately by Small Business Saturday.

Jayne Armstrong, director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Iowa District Office, says 97% of Iowa’s businesses are small businesses and it’s vital for our economic livelihood to support them all year, not just on November 26th.

“It’s always important because it really is a significant sales period for a lot of small businesses, particularly our retailers, as we go into the holiday season,” Armstrong says, “but we still have a lot of small businesses that are struggling.” The worst of the pandemic may be behind us, but it left significant scars for some merchants which continue to need the routine patronage of Iowa consumers.

Armstrong says COVID taught many of us a lesson about how much we rely on the neighborhood mom-and-pop businesses.
“I really do think that America woke up,” Armstrong says. “When something’s not there that you’re used to and that a lot of people tend to take for granted, and then when we were shut down or businesses were struggling coming back, I think people kind of woke up to just how local all this is.”

She notes, there’s an obvious advantage for consumers to “Be Loyal, Buy Local,” instead of shopping online, since when you find and buy an item at a brick-and-mortar store, there’s no worry about it being delayed or lost during the shipping process.

Pella’s 2022-23 Tulip Queen Named

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

The city of Pella’s Tulip Time Queen and Royal Court were named at the Tulip Queen Announcement Party on Saturday.

Cheyne Plants was named Tulip Queen and Tatum Carlstone, Anna DeNooy, Avery Verhoef, and Ellie Wogen were named to the royal court.

In the spring, the queen and royal court will make approximately 30 appearances to promote Pella’s Tulip Festival, which is scheduled for May 4-6, 2023.

George Daily Youth Theater Announces 2023 Elementary School Play

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — George Daily Youth Theater announced the title of their upcoming 2023 elementary school play. It will be “We Are Monsters,” by Denver Casado and Betina Hershey, a play that was previously performed by George Daily Youth Theater in 2018.

All students in Kindergarten-5th grade, from any school district, are welcome to participate! Participation is registration-based, not audition-based. Everyone who registers will receive a part that gives them performing experience, whether it is their first time on stage or their twentieth. Auditions will be held on January 20, 2023. Registration will open next week at www.georgedaily.org, and there are scholarships available.

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