Mahaska Now! – December 3rd, 2019
Local News
*This year’s 2019 Young Ambassador Princess is Leah Marie Scholtus, daughter of Emily and Cody Scholtus. The Young Ambassador Prince is Fitch Fee, son of Chris and Madison Fee.
*Senior Officer Nathan Johnson was recognized as Officer of the Year for the Oskaloosa Police Department at Monday’s city council meeting.
*The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors met on Monday morning, deciding to give county employees a 2.5% pay increase for the next fiscal year. The employees will then be responsible to pay more in for their healthcare costs.
State News
*Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced the second round of Employer Innovation Fund awardees. “Future Ready Iowa provides Iowans with life-changing opportunities while simultaneously helping employers grow their local workforce talent pipeline,” said Gov. Reynolds.
Locally, Mahaska County Hospital/Mahaska Health Partnership – Oskaloosa: This programming creates internships in high-demand areas of the hospital and supports tuition assistance to employees to obtain much-needed credentials in sonography, respiratory therapy, and paramedic training. Award total: $35,000
Central College – Pella: Central College will create and implement programming that supports traditional students seeking alternative career pathways to high-demand jobs. This program is designed to support the challenges young Iowans face transitioning into full-time employment and offers additional credit earning opportunities at the same time. Award total: $27,500
* Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Conditions. “Several days of unfavorable weather conditions kept many farmers out of the fields last week,” said Secretary Naig. “With corn and some soybeans still standing, this is the latest harvest since 2009, and farmers are anxious to finish up.”
*The Iowa Department of Public Safety made a special broadcast on Monday, saying that many of the legacy radio frequencies will become inoperable as of October 31st, 2020, as they continue the move to their new radio system. Point-to-Point and VLAW will remain unaffected.
*Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced that for the first time in state history, there are more than 2 million active voters in Iowa. 2,014,226 Iowans are registered to vote in the state. That is the most ever at the start of December prior to a general election.
National News
*In an op-ed on Tuesday, Iowa’s senior Senator Chuck Grassley said that the Pentagon is Wasting Too Man Tax Dollars. “Taxpayers have every right to expect the Pentagon to account for every penny. In the last fiscal year, Congress authorized more than $700 billion for the Defense Department. That’s why I’m disgusted the Pentagon once again flunked its most recent audit.”
*Montana Democratic Governor Steve Bullock suspended his presidential campaign. Bullock had visited Oskaloosa on July 19, 2019 – You can see his speech HERE – https://youtu.be/1h_Ny-4c5hU
*After a poor growing season for potatoes in the US and Canada, international growers and processors are shipping their products to ensure French fries and other popular potato products stay on the menu in North America during the winter.
Bloomberg reports that nearly 20% of the Canadian crop went unharvested this year. The US Department of Agriculture expects potato exports to drop 6.1% this year. Even in Idaho, the forecast is down 5.5% — all this while demand for French fries has never been higher.
*Seismic activity continues to keep scientists on edge in western states. Mount Rainier in Washington registered a 3.6 magnitude quake early Sunday afternoon, Seattle Times reports. It originated about a mile beneath the surface. Vibration was felt as far as 80 miles away. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, more than 12 small quakes, under 1.0 magnitude, had registered. Meanwhile: At least 15 small earthquakes shook Tennessee over the weekend. None of them registered above a 2.1 magnitude, though.
* Democrats are moving full-speed with the next phase of President Trump’s impeachment, with Jerry Nadler’s committee gearing up for another round of the three ring circus. But now some in The Swamp are suggesting a alternative, especially as public support slides—censure. Censuring Trump would let the Dems punish him without going all the way on impeachment, which is certain to fail in the Senate. It could also attract at least a few GOP votes. And it would put the whole matter to bed before voting begins in next year’s primaries. But one thing censuring the president would not do is satisfy the far left wackosphere, which demands blood.
* As Elizabeth Warren continues to deny that her kids received an elite education, evidence continues to mount that she’s a liar. The proverbial senator’s son Alex Warren spent the majority of his formative years at one of the country’s most elite private schools, the Haverford School, according to yearbooks obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. Tuition at the elite prep school runs $39,500 a year. That makes mom’s recent claim that “my kids went to public schools” a half-truth at best.
* Julia Roberts will be joining Michelle Obama and Jenna Bush Hager on a trip to Vietnam to spotlight girls’ education. The trio—along with some other “special guests”—will join forces with the Girls Opportunity Alliance to “meet with local girls’ education organizations and beneficiaries of programs that help adolescent girls reach their full potential through education.” The former first lady shared that some of the stories from the “incredible girls” they meet will air on the “Today” show.
International News
*US State Department congratulates European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, High Representative Josep Borrell, the new College of European Commissioners, and European Council President Charles Michel as they assume office.
The United States looks forward to working with this new leadership team, along with the European Parliament, its President David Sassoli, and the member states of the European Union, to advance our shared goals.
*Secretary of State Pompeo congratulated President-elect Luis Lacalle Pou and the people of Uruguay on holding successful Presidential elections on November 24. The United States and Uruguay enjoy a long-standing and mutually beneficial partnership that is testimony to our many shared democratic values and priorities.
*Two astronauts successfully fixed the $2 billion cosmic ray detector on board the International Space Station Monday, repairing coolant pumps for the device. The walk consisted of one astronaut each from the European Space Agency and NASA, and took six hours and two minutes to complete.
High School Sports
The Oskaloosa girls and boys basketball teams will travel to Fairfield on Tuesday night. The games will be live on the Indians Network – www.indiansnetwork.tv
College Sports
*Karmari Newman connected on seven three-pointers and the William Penn men’s basketball team pulled away after halftime for a 99-84 win over Clarke in Heart of America Athletic Conference action Monday. The Statesmen are now 10-1 on the season.
*The Statesmen women’s basketball team got the better of fellow top-25 program Clarke Monday, claiming a 69-62 victory in Heart of America Athletic Conference play.
#25 WPU (5-3, 3-2 Heart) dropped the 19th-ranked Pride (7-2, 3-2 Heart) with a 46.2%-39.3% shooting advantage. The visitors struggled in the early minutes, falling behind 13-6 midway through the first period. The deficit grew to as large as 10 at 23-13 in the opening seconds of the second quarter, but the Statesmen battled back and eventually drew even at 33-33 by halftime.
*Notching 54 points in two games last week, Central College men’s basketball guard Adam Flinn (junior, St. Louis, Mo., Lafayette HS) was named the American Rivers Conference player of the week Monday afternoon. He was also named the league’s male athlete of the week.
*The Central College men’s soccer team landed four players on the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region squads released Monday. Taylor Petkovich, Nick Ashton, Andrew Mathy, and Charlie Pritchard were all honored.
Weather
Tuesday is forecast to be sunny with a high of 47, while overnight it’s expected to be mostly clear and a low of 30. Wednesday looks to be nice again with a forecast high of 46 with mostly sunny skies. Wednesday night, we’ll see a low around 28.
Obituaries
*Perry Anderson, 69, of Oskaloosa, died Monday, December 2, 2019, at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa.
Celebrity Deaths
* Shelley Morrison has died. The actress, best known for her role as Rosario on “Will & Grace,” passed away from heart failure, according to her publicist. Shelley reportedly had a brief illness before her heart gave out at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She was 83.
* Pat Sullivan has died. The Auburn Heisman winner passed away after a battle with cancer. The university released a statement on Sunday, confirming the news. He was 69.
Upcoming Events
*The Oskaloosa Main Street Lighted Christmas Parade is December 7th, with the parade scheduled to take place at 7 pm.
*The Oskaloosa Public Library will host a book sale from December 2nd through December 7th in Room A/B on the third floor of the Library. There will also be CDs and DVDs, including audiobooks, for sale.
Day of the Year
Giving Tuesday
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
International Spirit of the Game Day
Let’s Hug Day
National Apple Pie Day
National Green Bean Casserole Day
Make a Gift Day
National-Roof-Over-Your-Head Day
World Trick Shot Day
On This Date
1910 – Neon lighting is first presented at the Paris Motor Show. The physicist Georges Claude developed the invention, passing electric current through inert gas in a vacuum tube. More than 150 color variations are possible using different combinations of gasses.
1967 – The first human heart transplant is successfully completed, though the success was short-lived. Lewis Washkansky received the heart of a 25-year-old donor who died in a car accident. The procedure occurred in Cape Town, South Africa. The technique had been proposed in the 1950s by American doctors, and though it had been tested on animals, it had not previously been done on a human. Washkansky died 18 years later from a weak immune system. However, the heart was fully functional until he died. The cause of death was ruled pneumonia. The basics of the surgery are still used in transplants today, and research has improved the drugs patients can take to boost their immune systems and prevent rejection of the new organ.
1979 – In Kenosha, the last Pacer is completed at the American Motors Corporation plant. It was a hit when it first arrived four years earlier, but enthusiasm for it quickly fizzled. By some standards it’s considered one of the worst cars of all time.
1989 – President Bush and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev issue separate statements following a summit in Malta that suggest the Cold War is coming to an official close. Following the years of work from Reagan, it was up to Bush to seal the deal. The president credited freedom reforms across the Soviet Empire with bringing the two nations closer together.
Celebrity Birthdays
Brendan Fraser – movie actor, “The Mummy”, “George of the Jungle” – 51
Julianne Moore – movie actress, “Hannibal”, “Boogie Nights” – 59
Ozzy Osbourne – metal singer – 71
