Iowa once again leads the nation in the percentage of high school students who graduate.
Iowa Department of Education director, Ryan Wise, says 91.3-percent of students in the class of 2016 completed high school within four years in Iowa and a national report says that the best in the country. The 2016 graduation rate in Iowa was up three-tenths of a percent from the year before and is up three percentage points during the last six years.
The national graduation rate is about seven percent lower at 84.1-percent. New Jersey was the only other state to top 90 percent — at 90.1.
Wise says the graduation rate is just one measure of success as the state has work to do to ensure all the graduates are prepared to succeed beyond high school.
Hello, everyone! My name is Henley. I’m about 3 months old and came to Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter with severe conjunctivitis and an ulcer. I’m currently undergoing treatment, thanks to the diligent care ’round the clock from staff here, and I’m supposed to be all fixed up and ready to go to my fur-ever home in just a few weeks!
Special thanks to Faux Paws Bakery for making Pet of the Week possible. Thanks to them, my new family will get a $10 certificate to Faux Paws to shop in their Kitty Corner.
The Leighton Christmas Celebration will be Saturday evening, December 9, 2017. The Leighton Lions will sponsor a Freewill Donation Soup Supper from 5-7:00 PM at the Christian Reformed Church. Mobility Worldwide will have Open House at the manufacturing location at 2194 Eaton Ave. Proceeds from the Lions Soup Supper will be given to Mobility Worldwide, which manufactures hand-powered carts for use in third world countries. A live Nativity will be held in the SW corner of town. A Christmas Lighting contest is on display all evening.
Come see Leighton with our lights on!
The Bethesda House, located at 201 High Ave. East in Oskaloosa, invites the public to a special night of ministry with Stephanie & Robert Newton on the eve of Saturday, December 16.

MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS is celebrating its 44th anniversary (1974-2017) and will be in Oskaloosa, Iowa on Sunday, December 10th at Penn Central Mall. The general public is invited to experience this FREE concert featuring traditional Christmas carols played by an all tuba-euphonium choir at 3:30PM.
Low-brass and tuba players can register to perform at the December 10th concert the day of the event. Registration starts at 1PM in the center court. Practice is at 1:30PM in Suite 101 with the concert performance at 3:30PM in the center court on Sunday, December 10th at Penn Central Mall in Oskaloosa.
Come and enjoy the afternoon celebrating the “reason for the season”. We will have a variety of wonderful desserts and finger foods.
Who: Bev DeVries, a native Osky gal, will be the speaker. She will share some of her life’s most interesting events with us. She is the general manager of KCWN radio station in Pella. The McKay family from Fremont, Iowa, will spread the joy of Christmas with their musically talented family.
What: Christmas Tea by Oskaloosa Women’s Connection
When: Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 2:00 PM.
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 405 High Ave. E, Oskaloosa
Cost: $6.00
Please make reservations for dinner and free child care by Tuesday, December 5, by calling Twink at (641)673-7345 or Judy at 641-672-2313. If you need to cancel after having made a reservation, please call the same ladies by 9:00 AM on December 9.
By Emery Songer
KBOE/KMZN Sports Director
(OSKALOOSA, Iowa) – The basketball season is here and eight doubleheaders will be featured on Friday nights throughout the season as a part of the Game of the Week on 104.9 FM KBOE and kboeradio.com.
December 1st is when the action starts with Sigourney at English Valleys in a South Iowa Cedar League matchup.
The SICL will be featured several times throughout the season, including December 8th, when Montezuma travels to face North Mahaska.
The last doubleheader before the Christmas Break is Knoxville at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont in a matchup of South Central Conference foes.
After the new year, it’ll be right back to the SICL for BGM at Sigourney on January 5th.
The following week highlights a rivalry in the South Central Conference with EBF on the road to face Davis County.
January 19th will showcase two small schools in Keokuk County as Keota hosts Tri-County.
The rematch between North Mahaska and Montezuma will be on the air on January 26th in Monte.
Finally, EBF is at Lynnville-Sully in a non-conference doubleheader on February 2nd.
All games begin at 6 PM and the pregame show will start around 5:45 PM on 104.9 FM KBOE and kboeradio.com.
The Oskaloosa Eagles Aerie 276 will be holding a soup supper before the parade on Thursday, Nov. 30 from 4:30-7:30PM. Chili, corn bread, ham & potato soup, as well as homemade rolls will be available for $5.00 per bowl.
“Help us raise [money] for charity and enjoy a delicious meal!”
About the Oskaloosa Eagles “People Helping People”
The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international non-profit organization uniting fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice, and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope.