WASHINGTON (AP) — Looming over the Federal Reserve meeting that ends Wednesday is a question of intense interest: Just how high will the Fed’s inflation-fighters raise interest rates — and might they slow their rate hikes as soon as next month? The Fed is expected to announce a hefty three-quarter-point hike in its key short-term rate — its fourth straight — which will lead to still-higher loan rates for many businesses and consumers. What many Fed-watchers hope is that Chair Jerome Powell will hint at a news conference that the central bank may ease the pace of its hikes, perhaps to a half-point in December and two quarter-point hikes next year.
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Secretary Pate expanding post-election audits
Posted on by Sam Parsons
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is adding another layer of protection to Iowa’s electoral process by expanding post-election audits. All 99 counties will be required to conduct a hand count audit of two races following the November 2022 general election. Previously, they audited one race.
One randomly selected precinct in each county will hand count the votes for the Governor’s race to match with the ballot tabulators to ensure the accuracy of the vote. On November 9, the day after the election, Secretary Pate will announce an additional race in a randomly selected precinct in each county.
“This is being done to ensure Iowans of the integrity of the vote,” Secretary Pate said. “Our post-election audits consistently match the ballot tabulators perfectly. Adding another race to the process gives greater protection, transparency and security to the process. We want Iowans to know their vote counts.”
Every ballot tabulator in Iowa undergoes a public pre-election audit to ensure it will count votes accurately on Election Day. Post-election audits are mandatory in all 99 counties following each election.
For more information about election security in Iowa, visit the Secretary of State’s website at sos.iowa.gov. Information about casting your ballot is available at VoterReady.Iowa.gov.
Deadline for Mahaska Chamber Award Nominations is Friday
Posted on by Sam Parsons
OSKALOOSA — The Mahaska Chamber is still seeking nominations for various community awards and would like to remind citizens that the deadline to do so is this Friday (11/4).
Would you like to nominate a business or individual who has made a big difference in Mahaska County in the past year? Mahaska Chamber & Development Group will again be presenting several civic awards. You are urged to submit nominations for these awards. The categories are as follows:
Retail Business and Service Business of the Year (2 awards) – The most outstanding retail or service business in the Mahaska community during this past fiscal year must be in business for minimum of two years, demonstrate success, with evidence of commitment and contribution to the community.
Industry of the Year – The most outstanding industry in the Mahaska community during the year will have a stable employment history, will have been in business for minimum of two years, showing evidence of commitment and contribution to the community and a commitment to sound management practices.
Business Person of the Year – This individual will have demonstrated those qualities which have distinguished him/her in business: proven commitment and contribution to the community, a commitment to ethical business practices, recognized within their profession, a Mahaska County resident, a history of success in their business.
Citizen of the Year – This individual will have demonstrated outstanding involvement in and support of his/her community over an extended period of time.
Community Improvement Award – This commercial or industrial property will have made improvements which enhance the appearance and /or economic vitality of the Mahaska community through new development or through the redevelopment of an existing property.
Educator of the Year – This individual from a Mahaska County school will display a true passion and devotion to the betterment of students.
Student of the Year -This individual will be a graduating senior or college student from a school in Mahaska County who is well-rounded and displays exemplary leadership and service for the betterment of Mahaska County.
Up & Comer – This young individual or new business owner will be recognized for their dedicated commitment, passion and high standard of excellence while leading the charge in Mahaska County.
Chuck Russell Award – This person or project will be recognized for their dedicated commitment in preserving the rich heritage and history of Oskaloosa and Mahaska County.
To make any nominations or if you have an innovative idea for a “special award” for exceptional achievement in a category not mentioned, you are encouraged to phone 641-672-2591 or email ddegroot@mahaskachamber.org with “Mahaska Chamber Award” in the subject line to present the suggestion to the Chamber. Nominations must be received by Friday, November 4.
Pella City Council Approves Fiber Transport Network Project
Posted on by Sam Parsons
By Sam Parsons
The Pella City Council met last night and had several public hearings, including public hearings related to the Pella Main Street Market under construction. A development agreement was approved, which included the provision that the developer must finish work on the construction of the market by December 31st of this year.
The council also approved a contract for the Pella Fiber Transport Network West to Indianola Municipal Utilities (IMU), which would involve the construction of a fiber optic network to connect Pella to what is known as a Point of Presence (POP) at IMU.
The proposed construction entails a length of 42.6 miles and a contract with Kramer Service Group for the amount of roughly $1.8 million was approved. The city will split the cost with IMU. The project is expected to be completed by the end of September 2023.
The next regular Pella city council meeting is scheduled for November 15.
A Conversation with Jay Harms
Posted on by Sam Parsons
By Sam Parsons
After doing something for 45 years, it’s hard to imagine that deciding when to call it quits would be easy.
Oskaloosa legend and Iowa softball Hall of Famer Jay Harms announced his retirement last week after 45 years of coaching in Iowa, 37 of which were in Osky, and he said that this decision may have been a long time coming, but he knew it made sense to make it now.
“I think the last 3 years or so, I’ve kind of taken my time after each season to evaluate how things went and how much longer I really thought I had in the tank coaching girls softball,” Harms said. “We had a really good ballclub in 2021 and made a nice trip to the state tournament, and I thought we had a chance to do it again in 2022 so I thought maybe I’d go one more year and see what happens.”
A few different factors led to the Indians’ 2022 season not going as planned, but the incoming crop of young players led coach Harms to think that they deserved someone who would be locked into the future.
“We’ve got some good kids coming. I think there’s a very good 8th grade class coming in, and I think they need to have a new coach that’s maybe going to be there for them all 5 years, so I figured that this is probably a good time right now.”
45 years of coaching one sport gives one a lot to see and time to observe a lot of changes. Harms reflected on some of the changes that the sport of softball has undergone.
“For a long time, it was a pitcher’s game. You’d have a 1-0, 2-0 game, and if you got 3-4 hits in a game you were happy. Now, moving the mound back (from 38 feet) to 43, you’ve seen a lot more runs scored. It’s really a great game, and I just can’t believe how much faster and better the athletes are right now than what they were back in 1975.”
When asked about the year the Indians pulled through with a state championship victory in 2016, Harms applauded the level of commitment shown by the players.
“That was a group that was very committed. They were really, really bought into it and they were just very confident…that was a group that just gelled at the right time.”
“What a great feeling, you know,” he continued. “To win a state championship that year, for the community, for the kids…the pride and support we got after that state tournament was just unbelievable, and it’s something that I’ll never forget.”
Harms said that he’s had people reach out to him from all different periods of his coaching career congratulating him on his retirement.
“They’ve been tremendous,” he said. “Former athletes, umpires, coaches I’ve coached against…it’s just been really neat to see the texts and getting the phone calls I’ve gotten showing the support I’ve had as I’ve been a coach for the last 45 years.”
Harms reflected on more memories, discussed the community and its response in greater depth, and more in our full conversation, which you can download or listen to here.
Powerball prize soars to $1.2B after no winners found Monday
Posted on by Sam Parsons
DES MOINES, IA (AP) — There were no big treats from the Halloween night Powerball drawing, as none of the tickets sold matched all six numbers. The lack of a winner means the next drawing Wednesday night will be for a massive $1.2 billion jackpot. The winning numbers drawn Monday were: white balls 13, 19, 36, 39, 59 and the red power ball 13. The increased jackpot will be the 4th-largest in U.S. history. The biggest prize was a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot won by three ticketholders in 2016. Massive lottery jackpots have become more common in recent years as lottery officials have adjusted game rules and ticket prices to pump up the top prizes.
200,000 Iowans have already voted in 2022 General Election
Posted on by Sam Parsons
By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)
At least 200,000 Iowans have already cast votes in this year’s General Election.
The latest information on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website indicates county auditors have issued 273,000 absentee ballots and 199,358 were returned by mid-morning on Monday. That’s roughly a return rate of roughly 73%.
Here’s the party breakdown so far: about 55% of the early votes are from Democrats, 31% are from Republicans and most of the rest are from independents who list “no party” on their voter registration.
Fifty-two percent of the “early votes” so far were either cast in person at a county auditor’s office or satellite voting site — or voters used a designated drop box for their absentee ballot.
That means a little less than half of the early votes already cast in Iowa’s 2022 General Election were delivered to county auditors’ offices through the U.S. Mail. Iowa law now requires absentee ballots to be inside your county auditor’s office by 8 p.m. next Tuesday. Election officials say the window for mailing ballots is closing. Jennifer Garms is president of the Iowa State Association of County Auditors.
“Once again, I would just recommend that if you have the opportunity to bring it into the office, to do that route,” says Jennifer Garms, president of the Iowa State Association of County Auditors.
Postmarks and postal bar codes showing you mailed a ballot before Election Day no longer apply. Voters can check online at www.voterready.iowa.gov to see if their ballot has been received.
In-person early voting at county auditors’ offices and satellite voting locations continues through November 7th.
Knoxville Fire Dept. Rescues Man from Grain Bin
Posted on by Sam Parsons
KNOXVILLE, IA — Yesterday morning, Knoxville Rural Fire Department and Knoxville Fire Department were dispatched for a grain bin rescue. Departments used specialized grain bin rescue equipment to extricate the victim from the grain bin in approximately 2.5 hours. The victim was airlifted to a Des Moines area hospital for further evaluation.
Departments that assisted Pleasantville Fire Dept, Marion County Sheriffs Office, Marion County EMA, Mercy 2 helicopter, Smiths Fertilizer and Grain Company, along with neighboring farmers who brought equipment such as tractors and grain vacs.
Pella Ambulance and Indiana Township Fire and EMS were covering calls while crews were on scene
Osky PD Responds to Stabbing at William Penn
Posted on by Sam Parsons
OSKALOOSA — The Oskaloosa Police Department reports that on October 31, 2022, at approximately 12:34am, officers were dispatched to Eltse Hall, William Penn University, in response to a reported stabbing. Upon arrival, they found a male victim with a stab wound to the upper chest/lower neck area. He was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries and is expected to recover.
The initial investigation showed that an argument led to a physical altercation that occurred outside a dorm, leading to the stabbing. The suspect was still on-scene when officers arrived and was taken into custody without incident.
The suspect was identified as Zyrick Knight, 22, of Chicago, IL. Knight was lodged at the Mahaska County Jail for Attempted Murder, a class “B” felony.
Members of the Oskaloosa Police Department were assisted in this investigation by members of the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Department and the Mahaska County 911 Center.
Cover Crop Field Day to Be Held at Kielkopf Farm
Posted on by Sam Parsons
AMES, Iowa — Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will host a cover crop field day Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Kielkopf Farm near Fremont. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
Cover crops offer many benefits to farmers and landowners including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, and increased organic matter in the soil. When paired with no-tillage, additional benefits include increased water infiltration and reduced erosion during heavy rain events. This field day aims to equip attendees with best management practices for establishing and managing cover crops to maintain yields during the transition to a higher residue system of no-tillage and cover crops.
Iowa Learning Farms farmer partner John Kielkopf raises corn and soybeans with his father, Ron, in Keokuk and Wapello counties. They began to use no-till on their farm in the early 1990s when the first no-till drills were released. The use of long-term no-till has improved water infiltration in their fields.
“After a big rain, I can drive around and see the water standing in the planter wheel tracks in tilled fields, and can’t even see the planter tracks in no-till fields,” said Kielkopf. “I think this shows where the water is infiltrating.”
The Kielkopfs have also added cover crops to their system and attendees will be able to hear from John about what he found works and what doesn’t. Weather permitting, the field day will provide an opportunity to visit an aerially seeded field of winter cereal rye and winter camelina following corn and a field that will be custom drilled to winter cereal rye and red clover following soybean harvest.
Rebecca Vittetoe, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will discuss tips for successful spring cover crop management and planter adjustments for a higher residue system. Liz Ripley, Iowa Learning Farms conservation and cover crop outreach specialist, will share results from on-farm cover crop demonstration trials and resources available to help farmers and landowners make a successful transition to a cover crop and no-till system.
The field day be held at the Kielkopf Farm, 11753 W. Highway 149, Fremont, and will be held rain or shine.
The event is free and open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for Iowa State’s Prairie Strips honey.
Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
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