Oskaloosa, Iowa – In 2018, New Sharon Mayor Dustin Hite was elected to the Iowa Legislature in House District 79, representing Oskaloosa, New Sharon, and Pella. The 2019 session of the Iowa Legislature recently ended in quick fashion. For Hite, that brought to a close his first year in Des Moines, affecting policy for the […]
By Randy Paulson and Zoe Seiler The town of Humeston, Iowa, straddles Highway 65 in the northwestern corner of Wayne County, less than a 30-minute drive from the Missouri border. Its population peaked in the 1920s at 1,214 people. Today, the southern Iowa town has only 494 people. “A lot of kids, when they graduate, […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Mahaska County Emergency Management has received another tool to ensure the safety of Mahaska County residents. At the most recent Emergency Management Commission meeting, EMA Director Jamey Robinson reported that his office had received several “bleed kits,” which he said can be utilized in a mass casualty/mass bleed event. Each kit is […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Charges of domestic abuse assault against a former Oskaloosa Police Officer have been formally dismissed. Janay Pritchett was arrested and charged on May 4, 2018, after an altercation between a former girlfriend at a residence in Oskaloosa. According to a motion to dismiss filed by Assistant Poweshiek County Attorney Timothy Dille on […]
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 […]
