By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council held a regular meeting last night and honored a group of 7 first responders who assisted with a call on June 2, 2026.

Oskaloosa Fire Chief Scott Vaughan shared that on that day, a man had collapsed at the Oskaloosa Public Library. First responders arrived quickly and found the man unresponsive, and began administering life-saving assistance. The man was eventually transported via helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, where he received additional care. He survived the ordeal and is still recovering from the incident, but appeared at the meeting last night as the first responders were recognized with Heart Saver Hero awards from the American Heart Association.

The council also approved the purchase of a truck for the Parks Department for $80,000. The truck will be used for general park maintenance throughout the year, as well as for plowing and sanding operations during the winter.

The next regular meeting for the Oskaloosa City Council will be held on August 17.