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Volume 11, Number 18
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The Sun Covering New Sharon, Fremont and all of Mahaska County
Thursday, May 1, 2014
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nssun@iowatelecom.net
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641-637-4031
Storms Sweep Across Region By Ken Allsup, OskyNews.org and contributing writer to The Sun It had been in the forecast for days that the area was going to be threatened by severe weather. Sunday afternoon saw a line of strong and severe storms march their way across the state. Jeff Zogg, with the National Weather Service in Des Moines, took a tour of the damage in Oskaloosa Monday morning. “Based on the damage we’ve seen, it looks like it’s straight line wind damage. We’re not seeing anything that would be consistent with tornado damage,” said Zogg. Max winds speeds were estimated to be between 70 to 80 mph. The wind damage Sunday is a good reminder that even straight line winds are capable of doing substantial damage. The storm worked its way quickly into the county. At 3:06 p.m. we posted the Severe Storm Warning to our Facebook page. The warning indicated 60 mph wind gusts and potentially quarter size hail. Some residents have voiced their concerns over no storm sirens being activated. The storm as it was warned didn’t meet the guidelines set out for storm siren activation. “It was simply a fact that the storm came up so quick, by the time we got the data from the National Weather Service we were trying to get people [storm spotters] in,” said Oskaloosa Fire Chief Mark Neff. In a press release from last year, the Oskaloosa Fire Department shared what the criteria are for activating the outdoor alert sirens. The storm sirens are ultimately triggered from within the law center when alerted. The Outdoor warning sirens shall be sounded for a: A. Tornado Warning issued by the National Weather Service and/or B. Tornado or funnel cloud reported by a trained spotter. C. Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued by the National Weather Service or a report from a trained spotter that includes: -Wind 70mph or greater (whole trees blown down) and/or golf ball sized hail or larger (1.75 inch diameter or greater) Sirens are used to alert residents who are outdoors, Neff said. “The best thing for the inside would obviously be your NOAA weather radio,” Neff explained. With the sudden rush of the storm, even the fire station was without power, and coordinating the effort to track calls took a step back in time. Firefighters used large paper tablets to track the commotion. With power outages impacting the community, communications were a priority for Mahaska County Emergency Manager Jamey Robinson. To resolve the problem, Robinson had a mobile communications trailer delivered to the county from the Appanoose County Sheriff’s Department. The fire department also responded to a fire at Nickel Back, or the former Indian Kan Kontry building after the power had been restored shortly after 9pm. A downed power-line sent electricity into the metal roof of the building, eventually causing damage inside the structure. Neff said that crews got the fire knocked down quickly. Mahaska County Emergency Manager Jamey Robinson said that utilizing other methods of receiving severe weather alerts is a good idea.
Watoto Children’s Choir Travels From Africa To Inspire New Sharon And Pella
National Weather Service was in Oskaloosa Monday morning surveying the damage from storms that pushed through on Sunday [Ken Allsup, OskyNews.org].
On the Highway 63 bypass about 4 miles east of Eddyville, at the Chillicothe turn, a semi-tractor trailer was flipped due to the high wind storm Sunday afternoon [photo by Kathy Street].
N.M. Students Display Projects at the SICL Art Show Submitted North Mahaska Art Students, Alexys Adam (top) and Jacob Sampson (above) will be displaying their art at the 2014 South Iowa Cedar League Art Show. The SICL show will be hosted at the Lynnville-Sully Community School District on Thursday, May 1 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. North Mahaska’s Art show will be held on Tuesday, May 13 in the high school cafeteria and the art will be displayed during the Senior Show Case.
Submitted The Watoto Children’s Choir traveling from Africa kicked-off their six month U.S. tour in Argyle, Texas on Wednesday, Jan. 15, and are continuing their tour through the west coast—ending in Colorado on June 29. The tour makes a stop on Tuesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. in the Calvary Christian Reformed Church, Pella and then again in New Sharon on Wednesday, May 7 at the New Sharon Assembly of God Church, 208 E. Maple St. All performances are free and open to the public. The Watoto Children’s Choir acts as Watoto ambassadors to raise awareness about the plight of the orphaned and vulnerable children of Africa. Watoto is a holistic child-care solution initiated to serve the dire needs of Africa and her people. Each of the children in the choir has suffered the loss of one or both parents. They live in Watoto Children’s Villages where they receive the care and nurture they need to grow up as productive citizens of their own country. With vibrant, original African
EBF Mock Trial Competes In Burlington By Donna Bohlmann, TAG EBF The Eddyville-BlakesburgFremont High School Mock Trial team competed at Regionals in
A carport was found in neighbors yard in Searsboro [submitted]. Campers were also reported flipped in yards.
EBF 6th and Middle School Honor Band Earn Opportunity NOAA weather radios or even signing up for a free alert system from Mahaska County EMA that sends alerts directly to your mobile phone. You can text MCEMA to 888777 and you will be alerted to severe weather watches and warnings in your area. The Mahaska West building on the Mahaska Health Partnership campus was damaged in dramatic fashion by the winds. Emergency management helped to coordinate with Oskaloosa Fire, New Sharon Fire, and CERT to help remove
patient files and other valuable material from the building. The Mahaska West building is known to many local residents as the former Family Medical Clinic, but it now houses offices for: Home Health, Hospice, Public Health, Behavioral Health, Massage Therapy and Blue Zones. Those offices are being transferred into the main hospital building. There have been no reports of injury to anyone in the Oskaloosa area as a result of the storm.
By Director Dezirae Russell Members of the 6th grade and middle school EddyvilleBlakesburg-Fremont bands attended the annual Mt. Pleasant Honor band festival. Each year students are nominated based on their level of skill, lesson attendance, participation, and attitude. EBF is one of 15 schools in the southeast Iowa area that participates in this event. Students accepted are required to learn additional repertoire for the concert held in Mt. Pleasant. They attend an all-day rehearsal, and then perform that evening, prac-
music; dance routines; life-transforming stories, the tours is indicative of the new generation of leaders emerging out of Watoto. With its genuine appeal, accompanied by music and dance – an energetic fusion of contemporary gospel and traditional African rhythm – the globally acclaimed Watoto Children’s Choirs has traveled internationally since 1994 as ambassadors for the millions of children in Africa, orphaned as a result of HIV/ AIDS, war and poverty. Since its inception, 64 choirs have traveled globally, providing the children with a bigger worldview, an unusual opportunity they would otherwise never get. The choirs have been to Australia, Brazil, China, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, France and the U.S, among others. Their audiences have included royalty, presidents, ministers, and the ordinary person, capturing many hearts wherever they go. To preview a performance of the choir visit: www.watoto.com/thechoir.
ticing for hours with fellow musicians. Attending this honor band is a great way for students to represent our music department, while interacting and sharing skills with other musicians their age. The 6th grade band is made up of about 100 students, while the MS band estimates about 125. Pictured are (back row): Eric Schutt, Emma Mock, Jacob Fisher, Harrison Mock, Delanee VanZante, Adlynn Eveland; (front row): Addysin McCrea, Tara Diepius, Maggie Voyles, Gracie DeLaCruz, Shanna Fellows, and Emma Davis.
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Burlington. They competed against 15 teams from across Iowa-the 2nd largest regional competition in the state. They started out strong winning the Defense round, but failed to win their Prosecution round, which would have qualified them for state. Overall, the team worked well together and can compete as a team next year. The 2014 Mock Trial team includes: Courtney Durst, Zack Slack, Emma Haselhuhn, Hunter Kelderman, Devon Severson, Evan Heinle, Brianna VerSteegh, Allie Adams, Teri Jo Lane, Claire Jager, Cheyenna Fisher-Paralegal.
First Degree Robbery Charges Filed Against What Cheer Man By Ken Allsup, OskyNews.org and contributing writer to The Sun First Degree Robbery and Third Degree Burglary charges have been filed against David Allen Coe Taylor of What Cheer in connection with an incident at a rural Mahaska County residence on April 18th. According to affidavit’s filed by the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office, the above named individual is accused of stealing rolls of wire and scrap metal from the rural residence. Deputy Trevor Wells had been dispatched to the call, and in his affidavit alleges, On the above date time and location I was dispatched to the above location in reference to a burglary in progress. The victim was
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