Skilled Care Unit Reopening in January Needs Nurses

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 at 9:53 am CDT

The Klein Center, Great River Health’s long-term care facility, will be re-opening their skilled care unit in January of 2024.  They are actively recruiting for registered nurses (RN) and certified nursing assistants (CNA) to staff this newly opened unit.

A job fair will be held on Thursday, December 14, from 2:30-6:30 p.m. and on Friday, December 15, from 7:30-11:30 a.m. at the Klein Center. RN’s and CNA’s interested in applying for a position are encouraged to attend this event. The event will consist of open interviews with hiring professionals, a tour of the facility and a chance to meet the Klein Center team.

“We are excited to be able to reopen our skilled care unit to meet the growing need for this service line in our community.  We’re looking for compassionate and dedicated professionals – whether you’re new or a seasoned RN or CNA, if you’re passionate about quality care, we want to meet you! The Klein Center is committed to fostering a positive and supportive work environment and we invite you to come and experience the Klein Center difference,” expressed Beth Fleming, Vice-President of Post-Acute Care and Administrator of the Klein Center.

Skilled care refers to skilled nursing or rehabilitation services, provided by licensed health professionals like nurses and physical therapists, ordered by a doctor. A skilled care unit provides 24-hour medical care and supervision for residents with chronic health conditions.

The Klein Center is located at 1307 S. Gear Avenue in West Burlington. For more information, please call 319-768-3768 or visit www.greatriverhealth.org/careers to apply.

Two Dead in Ottumwa House Fire

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 at 7:50 am CDT

The Ottumwa Fire Department was requested to fight a house fire on Woodland Avenue in Ottumwa on Saturday. Around 7:30pm, firefighters arrived on scene and fought the fire for about eight hours.

Some members of the household made it out safely. Two people were killed as a result. The names of the victims have not been released as of yet.

The State Fire Marshall has been requested to investigate the cause of the fire.

Sports, December 12th

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Basketball

Mt. Pleasant hit the road last night for a non-conference showdown against Benton. For the girls’ game, the #5 Bobcats’ press defense ushered Benton out to a 31 to 4 first quarter lead and Mckenna Kramer’s seven three-pointers helped seal a 71-20 win for Benton. Abby Carthey led the way for the Panthers, scoring 7 points and grabbing four rebounds. 

The boys’ game flipped the script with the Panthers sprinting out to a 40 to 19 lead at halftime due to tough defense and transition offense with the eventual final being 83-39. Head Coach Eric Rawson talked about his team’s complete effort. Three Panthers finished in double figures with Christian Stacy cashing in for a game high 25 points, Payton Hagans scoring 21 points, and Nate Stroud getting 10 points. Coach Rawson talked about Stacy’s performance after the game. 

Mt. Pleasant will travel to Washington for a conference matchup on Friday, December 15th, with the girls’ game scheduled to start at 6 pm. 

The Mediapolis girls’ team was led by Haley Steffener’s 24 points in their 86-31 victory over Louisa-Muscatine last night. The boys followed suit for the Bulldogs with an 80-53 win over the Falcons. 

New London will host Mediapolis tonight with the girls starting the night at 6 pm.

WACO will host Highland tonight with the girls playing at 6 pm and the boys’ game to follow. 

Van Buren County will take on Danville tonight with the girls going at 6 pm. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will take on Columbus on Friday with the girls playing at 6 pm. 

Central Lee will face off against West Burlington tonight with the girls starting the night at 6 pm. 

Holy Trinity Catholic will take on Burlington Notre Dame tonight with the girls playing at 6 pm. 

High School Wrestling

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union girls’ team will compete on Saturday, December 16th, at Cedar Rapids-Prairie. 

The WACO will compete on Saturday at Chariton. 

Mt. Pleasant will travel to Fort Madison on Thursday, December 14th, to compete in a dual. 

The New London boys’ team will compete at Pekin on Thursday in a dual. 

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will travel to Van Buren County on Thursday for a triangular. 

The WACO boys’ team will head to Mediapolis on Thursday to compete in a triangular. 

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant will take on Burlington on Friday, December 15th. 

Iowa High School Athletic Association

The IHSAA announced a partnership with RefReps yesterday to help provide officiating education content with a focus on school recruitment and training. RefReps offers online training for officials and courses for college and high school students aiming to become officials. Students in Iowa may be able to receive credits for taking RefReps courses through their schools. The courses for sports being offered are baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. 

The IHSAA will have 100 complimentary RefReps course seats for interested students this school year. To find out more about RefReps, follow this link: RefReps. 

College Football

Iowa State University will take on Memphis in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis on December 29th at 2:30 pm. The Cyclones defeated Memphis in the 2017 AutoZone Liberty Bowl 21-20. 

#20 Iowa will face off against #25 Tennessee in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on January 1st at noon. 

The Hawkeyes had four players named Associated Press (AP) All-American. Cooper DeJean notched two interceptions and five pass breakups. Sebastian Castro notched 61 tackles, one sack, and a team-high three interceptions. Tory Taylor, the 2023 Ray Guy Punter of the Year, averaged 47.9 yards per punt. Lastly, Jay Higgins led the Big Ten in tackles with 155. 

T.J. Tampa earned AP All-American after totaling 44 tackles, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups. 

College Basketball

The #4 Iowa women’s team will compete against Cleveland State on Saturday, December 16th, at 6 pm. 

The Iowa State women’s team will host Troy on Sunday, December 17th, at 12 pm. 

The Iowa State men’s team will take on Florida A&M on Sunday at 5 pm. 

The Iowa men’s team will look to get back in the win column on Saturday at 3:30 pm against Florida A&M. 

This Day in Sports History

1930 – Baseball Rules Committee greatly revises the rule book, a ball bouncing into stands is no longer a home run, now a double. 

1965 – Chicago halfback Gale Sayers tied the NFL record for most touchdowns in a game with six in a 61–20 victory over San Francisco 49ers at Wrigley Field. 

1987 – Mookie Blaylock sets an NCAA record of 13 steals in a game. 

Extension of Proclamation Good News for Farmers

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 at 6:25 am CDT

Governor Kim Reynolds signed an extension of the proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer, and manure.

The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through January 11, 2024. The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.

This proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code § 321.463 (6) (a) and (b), by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

 

Ottumwa Police Department Participate in “No Shave November” Raise Funds for Young Girl with Leukemia

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 at 6:13 am CDT
Every year members of the Ottumwa Police Department participate in No Shave November as part of a fundraiser. It is that time again. This year marked our 9th annual No Shave November event.
This was by far the biggest and best year to date. This year we were able to branch out into other communities and sponsors along with new sponsors in Ottumwa. Saturday morning we were able to present the family with a huge check in the amount of $6.635!
This year we raised funds for 4 year old Khinley. Below is a quick narrative about Khinley, her family and her story.
“Khinley Jo has a unique story that starts out with we thought she had allergies the beginning of June, and with two Dr. visits and some blood work June 28th 2023 we received the news that she has T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and upon her admission to Iowa stead Family children’s hospital they took a chest X-ray and found a mass/tumor the size of a football taking up the space in her chest over her right lung, and pushing on her heart.
Within 12 hours of being admitted to the pediatric oncology unit, she was rushed down to the PICU, because she could no longer keep her oxygen level up by herself, and they risked losing her airway and not being able to intubate her as the mass/tumor was laying over her airway, and if she stopped breathing the mass/tumor could crush her heart, the artery’s around it, and her collapse her right lung. The next 24 hrs. were the most nerve racking as the Drs. had a long road to figure out how to sedate her without making her too sleepy so her mass/tumor wouldn’t crush the vital organs.
Friday June 30th she underwent successful procedures and came out like the champion we know her to be. On top of getting a PICC line placed, and a lumbar puncture done, within a few hours they noticed her kidneys were failing and needed to be placed on dialysis, they kept her lightly sedated and put a dialysis catheter in and she received dialysis for 48 hrs. After we found the kidney failure we noticed her chest was swelling, and she ended up needing a chest tube as well, and then she spent over a week in the PICU and 4-5 weeks in the pediatric oncology unit at the university of Iowa.
They did her bone marrow aspiration a couple of weeks ago, and said it came back negative and that means we can start phase two of treatment because she is now in remission, but that doesn’t mean we are close to the end of treatments, they quoted us a 2 and a half year treatment plan for the cancer she has.
As of right now we go to the hospital/ clinic once a week for chemo, and then give chemo meds at home, some weeks we have to go Monday- Friday. I quit my job back in April after working for ORHC for 14 years to stay home with our kids, my husband Taylor Selix works at Cargill for 12 years, and just joined the Centerville Police Department as a reserve officer.
We have 4 kids Tucker – 16, Kharley- 11, Khinley-4, Maverick-2. Khinley has a Facebook group if you would like to join to keep up on updates for her. Khinley Jo’s Journey.”

Elva Marie Waters

By Allison Jacobs · Monday, December 11th, 2023 at 5:47 pm CDT

Elva Marie Waters, 89, of Fairfield passed away peacefully on November 14, 2023, at Lantern Park, Coralville, Iowa.

Elva, the daughter of Elsworth A. (Andy) Anderson and Martha Sodergren Anderson was born June 1, 1934, in Perry, Iowa.  Elva was raised in the Olds, Iowa community and graduated from Olds Consolidated High School.  She then attended college, graduating from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa with a degree in elementary education.  Elva started her teaching career in a rural one room schoolhouse.  She taught 2nd and 3rd grade at Van Allen Elementary in Mount Pleasant for many years as well as substitute teaching in numerous school districts including Fairfield.

Elva married Norman R. Waters of Crawfordsville, Iowa on October 10, 1958, in Olds.  They moved to Fairfield in 1960 where the raised their two children, JoEllyn Sue Waters Owens and Scott Richard Waters.

Elva loved life and fought through many injuries and illnesses throughout the years including several cancers and a car accident that resulted in multiple surgeries and many, many months in hospitals. She loved all animals, especially cats.  Family always came first!  She and Norman attended every event their children participated in and later made countless trips to Texas to see their granddaughter’s many dance recitals, ball games, orchestra and choir concerts, and cheerleading and dance team competitions.

Elva was preceded in death by her husband Norman on November 6, 2013, and a brother, John Robert Anderson.  Elva is survived by her daughter, JoEllyn S. Owens and her husband, Robert, of Wichita Falls, Texas, granddaughter Erin Meek and her husband, Colby, and great granddaughters Emalyn and Ellastyn Meek of Tolar, Texas, son, Scott R. Waters and his wife, Peggy, of Iowa City, Iowa, and her brother, Richard L. Anderson, and his wife Jean, as well as several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life is planned for June 1, 2024.  We will gather to commemorate her 90th birthday and do what she loved most, spend time with family and friends.  Final details will be shared as we get closer to the date.

Behner Funeral Home of Fairfield is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to Elva’s family by viewing her obituary at www.behnerfh.com.

Iowa State Fair Board Election Results

By Yorke Prough · Monday, December 11th, 2023 at 1:14 pm CDT

During the annual State Agricultural Convention, held December 10, 2024 in conjunction with the Association of Iowa Fairs Conference, elections were held for positions on the Iowa State Fair Board of Directors.

As outlined in Iowa Code, county fair delegates representing six geographic districts in Iowa elect two board members to serve two-year staggered terms on the Iowa State Fair Board. Directors re-elected by their districts are Alan Brown, Hampton (North Central); John Harms, Monticello (Northeast); C.W. Thomas, Guthrie Center (Southwest); Randy Brown, Osceola (South Central); Darwin Gaudian, Primghar (Northwest); and Curtis Claeys, Grand Mound (Southeast).
Board Officers re-elected for 2024 are as follows:
President: Darwin Gaudian, Primghar (Northwest)
Vice President: Curtis Claeys, Grand Mound (Southeast)
Treasurer: Deb Zumbach, Coggon (Northeast)
Jeremy Parsons, Des Moines, was re-appointed as Board Secretary.

Other Iowa State Fair Board Members include:
Tennie Carlson, Stratford (North Central); Gary Van Aernam, Exira (Southwest); Deb Zumbach, Coggon (Northeast); Jo Reynolds, Indianola (South Central); and Gary McConnell, Bloomfield (Southeast) and VerDon Schmidt, Everly (Northwest). Board Members by office held are Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (represented by Lt. Governor Adam Gregg); Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig (represented by Grant Menke); and Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen (represented by Andrea Welchans).

Christmas with the Governor

By Yorke Prough · Monday, December 11th, 2023 at 7:52 am CDT

Governor Kim Reynolds and First Gentleman Kevin Reynolds invite Iowans and their families to join them for Christmas at Terrace Hill on Sunday, December 17, from 1:00-3:00 pm.

Guests are encouraged to explore the historic property and enjoy several activities including photos with Santa Claus and the first family, ornament decorating, carolers, Christmas cookies and a letter-writing station to send correspondence to deployed Iowa National Guard service members.

At this year’s event, as an additional way to say “Thank You” to our men and women who are currently deployed, Terrace Hill will be collecting donations for deployed service members.

The event will conclude with Governor Reynolds reading No Company for Christmas, a story which centers around Terrace Hill and was written by local children’s author, Susan Maupin Schmid, with illustrations created by local artist, Tara Gartin.

Tickets are $25 per individual or $50 per household + processing fees and must be purchased in advance. To purchase tickets, call their office at 515-281-7205.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Terrace Hill Partnership, the non-profit organization that supports necessary conservation and restoration projects at Terrace Hill. Last year’s event raised over $5,000 that went toward the upkeep of the 154-year-old building and grounds.