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Speed and Rural Roads Drive 2025 Traffic Fatalities in Iowa

Oskaloosa Police Officer monitors speed along Highway 163 in Oskaloosa. He recently pulled over a speeder doing 91 in a 65 mph speed zone.

As of mid-April 2025, Iowa has recorded 61 traffic fatalities — a troubling statistic that highlights ongoing road safety concerns across the state. A closer look at the numbers reveals that rural areas remain the most dangerous, with 41 of those deaths occurring outside of urban centers. Despite the perception that cities are riskier due […]

Behind the Headsets – The Vital Role of Local 911 Telecommunicators

Tisha Kelderman sits at her console this past week. She is the dispatcher who answered the phone during this authors heart attack, being that calm voice during a stressful time.

Oskaloosa – In the quiet hum of a dimly lit room inside the Mahaska County Law Enforcement Center, voices crackle through headsets. Monitors glow with incoming data. Phones ring without warning. For the community, emergencies start with a call. For telecommunicators — also known as dispatchers — that’s where the responsibility begins. Often unseen but […]

Oskaloosa Girls Golf Continues Progress in Match Against Pella

Oskaloosa Indians

PELLA — The Oskaloosa girls golf team continued its spring campaign with a dual meet against the Pella Dutch on Thursday at Pella Golf and Country Club. While the final scores favored the hosts, the evening was marked by ideal weather and signs of steady improvement from the Indians. Oskaloosa posted a varsity team score […]

Third Graders Explore Agriculture and Safety at Local Educational Events

Third grade students observe a pair of chickens during the Agriculture Education Day at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds. The event, supported by local FFA members and volunteers, gave students hands-on experiences with farm animals while learning where their food comes from. (Photo by Oskaloosa News)

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Hundreds of area third graders got hands-on exposure to Iowa’s farming roots and vital safety lessons during an educational event hosted at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds this week. With the support of local volunteers, FFA students, and organizations like Mahaska County Extension, the events highlighted how agriculture and safety education continue to […]

Oskaloosa School Board Meeting Addresses Budget Transparency, Leadership Hiring, and Facility Upgrades

The Oskaloosa School Board on April 14th, 2025.

OSKALOOSA — The Oskaloosa School Board met Monday, April 14, 2025, with a full agenda that included public comment on administrative hiring practices, consultant spending, and approval of significant facility upgrades. Several community members used the public comment period to call for greater transparency and accountability in school district decision-making, particularly in areas of fiscal […]

Oskaloosa School Board Tables Budget Amendment Amid Illness-Shortened Meeting

Oskaloosa Community School Board

Oskaloosa, Iowa — The Oskaloosa Community School District Board of Directors held a shortened meeting on Tuesday, April 8, after multiple staff members and a board member were unable to attend due to illness. In the interest of full transparency, the district notified the public in advance that several agenda items would be postponed until […]

$80,000 Grant Boosts All-Inclusive Nature Playscape in Mahaska County

Friends of Mahaska County Conservation

Oskaloosa, Iowa — A major boost for outdoor recreation and accessibility is on its way to Mahaska County, thanks to an $80,000 grant from the McWane Foundation. The funding will support construction of the Mahaska County Conservation All-Inclusive Nature Playscape and Community Area, with groundbreaking set for April 2025. The grant was awarded to Friends […]

Oskaloosa City Council Welcomes New City Manager, Approves Sewer Project and Rezoning

Oskaloosa City Hall

The Oskaloosa City Council met in regular session on Monday, April 7, addressing a full agenda that included infrastructure improvements, development plans, and community engagement efforts. The meeting opened with the formal swearing-in of Shawn Metcalf as the new city manager. Metcalf took the oath of office administered by Mayor David Krutzfeldt and expressed appreciation […]

Mahaska County Supervisors Tackle Road Vacations, Training Updates, and Law Enforcement Agreements

Mahaska County Courthouse

The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors met Monday morning, April 7, to address a range of items from public safety contracts to staff training compliance and quarterly financial reports. Supervisors approved claims for March totaling $1,602,029.72 and accepted meeting minutes from March 17 and March 31. A Carosh Compliance quarterly update highlighted that 90% of […]

Oskaloosa Golf Team Starts Strong with Impressive Season Opener

Oskaloosa Indians

DES MOINES – The Oskaloosa High School boys golf team kicked off their 2025 season with a strong showing at Woodland Hills Golf Course in Des Moines, finishing with a team score of 311. Linus Morrison led Oskaloosa with an impressive round of 74, closely followed by Marshall Seibert with a 76 and Jaden DeRonde […]

               

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