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Youth Outdoor Field Day to be Held at Russell Wildlife Area Next Weekend

OSKALOOSA — Generations have grown up loving the Youth Outdoor Field Day hosted by Mahaska County Conservation. This year, it’ll be held at the Russell Wildlife Area located just north of Oskaloosa at 2254 – 200th St., New Sharon, Iowa.  The event will begin at 8:00 am and end at 12:00 pm.  While your family is at the event, walk around the park and explore hands-on activities at your own pace. Kids who complete 10 activities will earn a Youth Outdoor Field Day water bottle!

Registrations can also be made at the event.

Outdoor activities include:

  • Fishing
  • Wildlife ID
  • Safety Trail
  • Bowfishing
  • Tree ID
  • Fossil Hunting
  • Atlatl Throwing
  • Trapping
  • Water Safety
  • K-9 Law Enforcement Demo
  • BARK Ranger
  • .22 Shooting
  • Leave No Trace
It’s a great way for the whole family to enjoy the outdoors. Don’t miss out!  If you have questions, contact Laura DeCook at (641)673-9327 or decook@mahaskacountyia.gov.

Gunfire Breaks Out in Ottumwa, Man Arrested

OTTUMWA – Authorities apprehended an Ottumwa man yesterday afternoon after gunfire broke out in the city.

The incident began at around 12:30pm in the 300 block of North Sheridan. Officers from the Ottumwa Police Department and the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office were already in the area when they heard the gunshots. Witnesses reported a vehicle fleeing the scene, and deputies were able to set up a traffic stop in the 100 block of North Moore, where they found the vehicle that was previously reported. Police say that they determined that two individuals exchanged gunfire in the incident, but nobody was injured as a result.

Authorities arrested 41-year-old Chad Levi Forrester of Ottumwa, and he now faces multiple felony charges, including Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Going Armed with Intent. He is also charged with Reckless Use of a Firearm, a simple misdemeanor.

Forrester is being held in the Wapello County Jail with no bond. The investigation into the incident is ongoing with the assistance of the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, and additional charges are pending.

Former Keokuk County Deputy Found Guilty of All Charges in Hayride Accident

OSKALOOSA – The former Keokuk County Sheriff’s deputy who was on trial for 13 counts of child endangerment in the aftermath of a 2023 hayride accident has been found guilty on all charges.

The accident occurred in October 2023. Daniel Brubaker was driving the truck, which was pulling a gooseneck trailer with 29 kids in it, while Heady was a passenger. Brubaker allegedly lost control of the truck, sending it into a ditch and throwing all 29 children from the ride. The accident sent 3 of the children to the hospital. 

In court, Brubaker admitted to drinking several alcoholic beverages before driving, and court documents also show that Heady was highly intoxicated at the time. Brubaker pleaded guilty to all 13 charges in July.

Heady’s trial began in Mahaska County last week, and the guilty verdicts were delivered by the jury on Tuesday. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird called the situation “truly heartbreaking” and thanked the Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations for their work in investigating the incident.

Heady’s sentencing is scheduled for October 17 at the Keokuk County Courthouse.

Powerball jackpot jumps to $1.7 billion after another night without a big winner

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Powerball jackpot has jumped to an eye-popping $1.7 billion, after yet another drawing passed without a big winner Wednesday.

The numbers selected were: 3, 16, 29, 61 and 69, with the Powerball number being 22.

Since May 31, there have been 41 straight drawings without a big winner.

The next drawing will be Saturday night, with the prize expected to be the third-largest in U.S. lottery history.

Powerball’s terrible odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes becoming ever larger as they repeatedly roll over when no one wins. Lottery officials note that the odds are far better for the game’s many smaller prizes. There are three drawings each week.

The estimated $1.4 billion jackpot from Wednesday night’s drawing would have been for a winner who had opted to receive 30 payments over 29 years through an annuity. Winners almost always choose the game’s cash option, which would have been an estimated $634.3 million.

Powerball tickets cost $2 and the game is offered in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Weekly Fuel Report

DES MOINES — The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 4 cents from last week’s price and is currently averaging $2.84 across Iowa according to AAA.

Crude Oil Summary

  • The price of global crude oil rose this week on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) by 10 cents per barrel over last week, and is currently priced at $64.03.
  • Brent crude oil fell by 17 cents and is currently priced at $67.64.
  • One year ago, WTI crude sold for $71.28 and Brent crude was $76.46.

Motor Fuels

  • As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.84 across Iowa according to AAA.
    • Prices fell 4 cents from last week’s price and are down 25 cents from a year ago.
    • The national average on Wednesday was $3.51, up 2 cents from last week’s price.
  • Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 2 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.51.
    • One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.44 in Iowa.
    • The current Iowa diesel price is 19 cents lower than the national average of $3.70.
  • The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $2.11 for U87-E10, $2.40 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $2.49 for ULSD#2, $2.82 for ULSD#1, and $2.19 per gallon for E-70 prices.

Heating Fuels

  • Natural gas prices were up 18 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $3.07 MMbtu.
  • We will continue reporting retail heating oil and propane prices in Iowa in October.

Tips for saving energy on the road or at home are available at energy.gov and fueleconomy.gov.

Mahaska County Conservation to Host “Protect Your Land’s Natural Heritage” Event

OSKALOOSA — On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, join Mahaska County Conservation at the Environmental Learning Center, at 2342 IA-92, Oskaloosa, to learn how to preserve the natural beauty of your land for future generations. This exciting event, featuring expert presentations and a guided nature tour, is free and open to everyone interested in better land stewardship.

Starting at 10:30 AM, attendees will hear from Ross Baxter, the Senior Protection Director and Counsel at the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Ross will share valuable insights on how to protect your land’s natural features while maximizing current tax benefits. Anyone looking to ensure their land remains a special place for years without making financial sacrifices will find this information beneficial.

Following Ross’s presentation, participants will enjoy a guided tour of the newly constructed oxbow wetland located on the floodplain of Caldwell Park. Brandon Iddings, the Senior Conservation Services Manager with the Iowa Soybean Association, will be on hand to reveal the secrets and benefits of these vital and fascinating wetlands.

To round out the day, attendees are invited to stay for a complimentary lunch where they can mingle with fellow landowners. Plus, you’ll have the chance to win one of two prairie pockets!

Please RSVP by September 4 for meal count by calling 641-673-3476 Extension 3 or emailing Brittany Phillips at Brittany.Phillips2@ia.nacdnet.net.

Two Fairfield Women Arrested, Dozens of Animals Rescued Following Animal Neglect Investigation

FAIRFIELD – Two Fairfield women were arrested and dozens of animals were rescued after a week-long investigation into animal neglect.

On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, the Fairfield Police Department received information regarding possible animal neglect occurring at a residence located in the 100 block of Cardinal Drive. The report indicated that a large number of animals were being kept in extremely poor and potentially dangerous living conditions.

Upon receiving this information, officers began an in-depth investigation, gathering statements, observations, and other evidence to determine the validity of the allegations. Based on the information collected, officers were able to establish probable cause and successfully apply for a search warrant for the property.

On September 2, 2025, the search warrant was executed by the Fairfield Police Department, with critical assistance from the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and the Fairfield Veterinary Clinic. When officers and animal welfare professionals entered the home, they discovered conditions that were neglectful, unsanitary, and hazardous to both the animals and anyone residing in or visiting the home.

Many animals were confined in overcrowded kennels, with several sharing small enclosures. The animals were found to be covered in feces and living in unsanitary conditions without adequate food, water, or proper care.

In total, 38 dogs, 10 cats, and 13 various small animals were safely removed from the residence and placed into the care of animal welfare organizations for treatment and rehabilitation.

44-year-old Ellen Marie Telleen and 26-year-old Krysta Marie Telleen were both taken into custody and they were each charged with 48 counts of animal neglect. Each charge of animal neglect is a simple misdemeanor. They were transported to the Jefferson County Correctional Facility where they were booked and then released after posting bond.

The Fairfield Police Department was assisted in the investigation by the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, Fairfield Veterinary Clinic, Animal Rescue League of Iowa, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Oskaloosa City Council to Support Development Agreement with One West, LLC

By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council held a regular meeting last night and officially approved a resolution supporting a development agreement with One West, LLC for an $11.2 million 3-story mixed-use development on a 3-acre site on Coal Mine Loop.

The project is set to include commercial space on the ground floor and residential apartments on the upper two floors.

The resolution had been tabled in the previous council meeting on August 4 due to a tied 3-3 vote. Council member Janet Hermsen, who had made one of the 3 “no” votes in that meeting, was absent from last night’s meeting.

Council members Lisa Ossian and Ronda Almond, who also voted “no” on August 4, attempted to remove the item from the agenda until a full council could vote on it; that motion was voted down, 3-2, and the resolution itself was approved 3-2, with council members Abu Ibrahim, Joe Caligiuri, and Andy Holmberg voting “yes” both times. Council member Bob Drost abstained from these votes.

During the discussion, Almond alleged that the developer behind the project gave her an unsolicited call, which turned into combative conversation.

The resolution is non-binding, but it provides support for the agreement and the proposed tax incentives for the developer. The official development agreement will be the subject of a public hearing at a later date.

House committee releases some Justice Department files in Epstein case, but most already public

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday publicly posted the files it has received from the Justice Department on the sex trafficking investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, responding to mounting pressure in Congress to force more disclosure in the case.

Still, the files mostly contain information that was already publicly known or available. The folders — posted on Google Drive — contained hundreds of image files of years-old court filings related to Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 as he faced charges for sexually abusing teenage girls, and Maxwell, who is serving a lengthy prison sentence for assisting him.

The files also included video appearing to be body cam footage from police searches as well as recordings and summaries of law enforcement interviews with victims detailing the abuse they said they suffered.

The committee’s release of the files showed how lawmakers are eager to act on the issue as they return to Washington after a monthlong break. They quickly revived a political clash that has flummoxed House Republican leadership and roiled President Donald Trump’s administration.

House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to quell an effort by Democrats and some Republicans to force a vote on a bill that would require the Justice Department to release all the information in the so-called Epstein files, with the exception of the victims’ personal information.

What’s in the released files

If the purpose of the release was to provide answers to a public still curious over the long concluded cases, the raw mechanics of the clunky rollout made that a challenge.

The committee at 6 p.m. released thousands of pages and videos via the cumbersome Google Drive, leaving it to readers and viewers to decipher new and interesting tidbits on their own.

The files released Tuesday included audio of an Epstein employee describing to a law enforcement official how “there were a lot of girls that were very, very young” visiting the home but couldn’t say for sure if they were minors.

Over the course of Epstein’s visits to the home, the man said, more than a dozen girls might visit, and he was charged with cleaning the room where Epstein had massages, twice daily.

Some pages were almost entirely redacted. Other documents related to Epstein’s Florida prosecution that led to a plea deal that has long been criticized as too lenient, including emails between the defense and prosecutors over the conditions of his probation after his conviction. Barbara Burns, a Palm Beach County prosecutor, expressed frustration as the defense pushed for fewer restrictions on their client: “I don’t know how to convey to him anymore than I already have that his client is a registered sex offender that was fortunate to get the deal of the century.”

Some of the interviews with officers from the Palm Beach Police Department date to 2005, according to timestamps read out by officials at the beginning of the files.

Most, if not all, of the text documents posted Tuesday had already been public. Notably, the probable cause affidavit and other records from the 2005 investigation into Epstein contained a notation indicating that they’d been previously released in a 2017 public records request. An internet search showed those files were posted to the website of the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office in July 2017.

Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, chided Republicans on the panel for releasing material that he said consisted almost entirely of already available information.

“The 33,000 pages of Epstein documents James Comer has decided to ‘release’ were already mostly public information. To the American people — don’t let this fool you,” Garcia said in a statement.

The disclosure also left open the question of why the Justice Department did not release the material directly to the public instead of operating through Capitol Hill.

Survivors meet with lawmakers

On Capitol Hill Tuesday, the House speaker and a bipartisan group of lawmakers met with survivors of abuse by Epstein and Maxwell.

“The objective here is not just to uncover, investigate the Epstein evils, but also to ensure that this never happens again and ultimately to find out why justice has been delayed for these ladies for so very long,” said Johnson, R-La., after he emerged from a two-hour meeting with six of the survivors.

“It is inexcusable. And it will stop now because the Congress is dialed in on this,” he added.

But there are still intense disagreements on how lawmakers should proceed. Johnson is pressing for the inquiry to be handled by the House Oversight Committee and supporting the committee as it releases its findings.

Push for disclosure continues

Meanwhile, Democrats and some Republicans were still trying to maneuver around Johnson’s control of the House floor to hold a vote on their bill to require the Justice Department to publicly release files. Democrats lined up in the House chamber Tuesday evening to sign a petition from Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, to force a vote. Three other Republicans also supported the maneuver, but Massie would need two more GOP lawmakers and every Democrat to be successful.

If Massie, who is pressing for the bill alongside Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., is able to force a vote — which could take weeks — the legislation would still need to pass the Senate and be signed into law by Trump.

The clash suggests little has changed in Congress since late July, when Johnson sent lawmakers home early in hopes of cooling the political battle over the Epstein case. Members of both parties remain dissatisfied and are demanding more details on the years-old investigation into Epstein, the wealthy and well-connected financier whose 2019 death has sparked wide-ranging conspiracy theories and speculation.

“We continue to bring the pressure. We’re not going to stop until we get justice for all of the survivors and the victims,” Garcia told reporters.

Annual pheasant survey shows Iowa’s population at 20 year high

DES MOINES — Iowa’s statewide pheasant population is at a 20-year high, and state wildlife experts are forecasting a banner year for hunters.

“The mild winter really put us over the top this year,” said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “Our adult hen survival was excellent; our adult rooster survival was excellent. That really drove the population increase.”

Bogenschutz coordinates the annual August roadside survey of small game populations, covering 225 30-mile routes. The 2025 survey counted more pheasants, quail, cottontail rabbits and partridge than last year. The survey results are available online by clicking the 100 Years of Pheasant Hunting graphic at www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey.

“Chick survival wasn’t as good as last year, but we had so many more nests that it offset the drop in the number of chicks per hen,” he said. Statewide, staff reported 1,038 pheasant broods, which is 338 more than last year.

“We had an early hatch which is good because the nesting season got wet later and that may have impacted chick survival or re-nesting efforts,” Bogenschutz said.

The statewide average of 28 birds per route is the highest since 2005. Regionally, the northwest region was the highest since 2005; northeast region was the highest since 1998; west central similar to last year; east central highest sense 2007; south central highest since 2017; and southeast, highest since 2020.

Bogenschutz said if hunter participation is similar to 2023, the pheasant harvest could be in the 600,000-700,000 range.

“Last year was a decent year for pheasant hunting. 2023 was a good year for pheasant hunting. This year could be excellent,” he said.

The Iowa DNR and Pheasants Forever are celebrating 100 years of pheasant hunting in the Hawkeye State. The first season was held Oct. 20-22, 1925, when 13 counties in north central Iowa were opened to pheasant hunting. Hunters were allowed a three-rooster limit, for a half-day of hunting. An estimated 75,000 hunters participated.

Hunters can commemorate the 100th anniversary by purchasing a hard card featuring Iowa Pheasants Forever Print of the Year. Pheasants Forever is offering commemorative apparel featuring both the 100 Years of Pheasant Hunting graphic and PF logo through an online, pop-up store. The store will be accepting apparel orders as the pheasant season approaches.

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