Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa City Council is moving forward with plans to improve a second round of business facades in the downtown Oskaloosa area. On April 15, the council unanimously voted to approve a resolution for preliminary approval of plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost for the project. Information provided at the […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Family and friends of Marquis Todd and Luke Vanhemert waited for word from the jury after closing arguments finished up Monday morning. The jury was given their instructions just before noon and moved to the deliberation room. After a week-long trial that was sometimes filled with emotional testimony, a jury of nine […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Despite being in her first year as Superintendent, Paula Wright is making it clear that she is not afraid of change. Wright was hired in April 2018, after then-Superintendent Russ Reiter accepted a Superintendent position in Independence, Iowa. Coming from the Chariton School District, where she had previously served as Superintendent, Wright […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Luke Vanhemert took the stand Friday morning to tell his side of the story of what happened on March 1, 2018. Vanhemert is charged with one count of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Marquis Todd, a William Penn University student. If convicted, Vanhemert faces a 50-year prison sentence. He has […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The DCI special agent in charge who interviewed Luke Vanhemert in the early morning hours of March 2, 2018, just hours after the death of Marquis Todd testified Thursday morning. Agent Don Schnitker headlined testimony for the State as they quickly wrapped up their side of the case. Schnitker briefly testified that […]
OSKALOOSA- The Oskaloosa School Board has approved the upcoming fiscal year’s budget, opting to maintain a level of consistency. The board, on April 9, held a public hearing in regards to the proposed budget, receiving no positive or negative feedback from the public regarding the proposed budget. Superintendent Paula Wright noted that the tax levy […]
Law Enforcement also recount early parts of investigation. Oskaloosa, Iowa – Two friends of Marquis Todd testified on Wednesday that they only had one thing in mind when they stopped by the residence of Luke Vanhemert on March 1, 2018: to see if he and his friends would pay for damages done to his car […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Two differing details of events on the evening of March 1, 2018, were shared with a jury panel of 10 women and four men Tuesday afternoon, as the trial of Luke Vanhemert began in Mahaska County District Court. Vanhemert is charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of William Penn University […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The presidential nominating season has fully kicked into swing, as US Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) became the first major declared presidential candidate to swing through Oskaloosa. Sanders spoke to a standing room only crowd of roughly 250 people at the Musco Technology Center on the William Penn University Campus. Starting off his […]
Oskaloosa- Approximately one week after hearing arguments on whether or not to move trial, Judge Myron Gookin has decided that an Oskaloosa mother facing murder charges cannot receive a fair retrial in Mahaska County. Gookin ruled that Alicia Ritenour’s request for a change of venue should be granted, in large part because of pre-trial publicity. […]
