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 […]
by Senator Ken Rozenboom Getting close to wrapping up? We are now fourteen weeks into the 2025 legislative session. It was a busy debate week, with the Senate passing over 30 bills throughout the week. We covered a wide range of issues, including civics test requirements for high schoolers, interstate compacts for dietitians and respiratory […]
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, Iowa — Students in Oskaloosa High School’s Construction Trades program are putting the final touches on this year’s house, gaining hands-on experience in nearly every phase of home construction under the guidance of instructor Dave Bower. “This is the stage I call the finishing touches,” Bower said. “We’re hanging interior doors, doing casing and […]
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, 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
OSKALOOSA, Iowa – A group of Oskaloosa High School students stood at the front of the library, leading a lesson that could save lives. As part of the school’s Peer Helpers program, they spent the day teaching ninth graders about the dangers of drunk and distracted driving. “The goal is for each student to walk […]
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 […]
