By Hailey Brown (Oskaloosa, Iowa) – On Tuesday, May 8, the OCSD Board of Education voted for a change in plans regarding fifth-grade class sizes. Although originally planning for seven sections of students, board members changed their minds to institute eight sections of students instead after members had a discussion with the fifth-grade team and […]
By Hailey Brown (Oskaloosa, Iowa) – According to the United States Department of Agriculture, one-third of all agricultural output in the U.S. depends upon pollinators – birds, bats, bees, butterflies, and roughly 200,000 different species of animals that assist with transferring pollen from one flower to another. Without the assistance of pollinators, most plants cannot […]
By Hailey Brown Oskaloosa, Iowa – Prior to the hustle and bustle of the Oskaloosa City Council meeting on Monday, council members gathered in a study session to hear about the possibility of a new K-9 unit being purchased and trained by the Oskaloosa Police Department. During the study session, the council expressed support for […]
By Hailey Brown (OSKALOOSA, Iowa) – When Justin Scott gave the invocation at the Oskaloosa City Council meeting on Thursday, some stood and bowed their heads, as is traditionally done during invocation. Others instead chose to sit, observe, and later speak out against the decision to allow him to give the invocation. The reason for […]
By Hailey Brown (Oskaloosa, Iowa) – There are almost 1,500 veterans in Mahaska County. Nearly 500 of those veterans have secured benefits through the Mahaska County Veterans Affairs, according to the most recent VA report from 2014. Benefits received each year total more than $9 million, including about $5 million in compensation and pensions and […]
By Hailey Brown (Oskaloosa, Iowa) – The Oskaloosa City Council was able to make quick work of most of the agenda items during a regular meeting on Monday, June 5. A total of three items had one or more dissenting voter and two of those items focused on the use and sale of fireworks within […]
By Hailey Brown (Oskaloosa, Iowa) – School will soon be out for the summer, but the kitchen won’t be closing. That’s because the United Way Summer Lunch Program will return throughout June and July and the Oskaloosa Community School District recently approved for the program to use the cafeteria to prepare lunches. “We met with […]
By Hailey Brown (Oskaloosa, Iowa) – Continuing momentum to implement the Rental Housing Inspection Program, an ordinance was passed on Monday night to add Chapter 15.60 and to amend Chapter 15.04.150 in the Oskaloosa Municipal Code. This ordinance includes a requirement that all rental properties have the name and contact information of the landlord posted […]
By Hailey Brown (Oskaloosa, Iowa) – The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors again talked about the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, which has been a hot topic not only in Mahaska County but across the State of Iowa since the proposal overwhelmingly passed on a ballot in 2010. According to the proposal, the […]
by Hailey Brown Oskaloosa, Iowa – Oskaloosa City Council members voted 5-2 on Tuesday evening to approve and adopt a Rental Housing Inspection Program Administrative Policy. The program could be implemented as early as July 1, with inspections beginning in the fall. In the same action, the council voted to amend the 2017 fee schedule […]
