News
Big win:
• Peace poster contest
Check out a photo and story on Osceola Lions Club peace poster contest on page 14. The winners were announced at Clarke Community Elementary School this week.
Central Decatur cruises past Clarke on senior night page 6 www.osceolaiowa.com
154 YEARS • NO. 1
OSCEOLA, IOWA 50213
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23
SINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢
Hatch makes campaign stop at Osceola train depot By BAILEY POOLMAN
OST staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com
Iowa Senator Jack Hatch (D) stopped by Osceola Depot during his rounds in southern Iowa Saturday and spoke to local citizens about his ideas for Iowa. Hatch, senator of Iowa’s 33rd district, is running for Iowa governor in the general election against incumbent Gov. Terry Branstad, as well as New Independent Party candidate Jim Hennager, Libertarian Lee Hieb and Iowa Party candidate Jonathan Narcisse. Hatch discussed his views to improve rural Iowa, as well as all communities across the state, by increasing early childhood education attendance and doling out money for communities to use where they need it, such as infrastructure. “Those communities who want to exOST photo by BAILEY POOLMAN pand in rural Iowa, we’re going to give Iowa Senator Jack Hatch speaks to a congregation of you the chance. We’re not going to give approximately 20 people at Osceola Depot Saturday up on you,” Hatch said. “I want to demorning. Hatch was visiting southern Iowa during his fend what rural Iowa will be.” gubernatorial campaign. The general election is Nov. 4.
Johnson to open JET Fitness Center By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
“A gym where training is free, because everyone deserves the tools to reach their goals!” This is the slogan for the new JET Fitness Center from owner and head trainer Shawn Johnson. JET stands for Johnson’s Elite Training. A unique aspect to the fitness center is members get a free 52-week training program, designed by John- Johnson son himself, tailored to have people reach their weight loss or general fitness goal. Johnson said it’s about teaching people how to reach their health and fitness aspirations effectively, even if all they want to do is work out on exercise equipment and not take a fitness class. “I want people to reach their goals. You just have to come in. I’ll do all the work for you because that’s what I do. You come in, you have to have the effort, but I’ll give you what you need as part of your membership,” he said. Working it out JET Fitness Center has been in the works for the past year and a-half. Johnson described the fitness center as a high-end fitness center with classes, boot camps, fitness area, locker rooms, members lounge area and ping pong table in the lounge. “Some opportunities kind of arose and I was really able to actually put it in SINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢
Copyright 2014
“I want people to reach their goals. You just have to come in. I’ll do all the work for you because that’s what I do. You come in, you have to have the effort, but I’ll give you what you need as part of your membership.” — Shawn Johnson
JET Fitness Center owner
action,” he said. The fitness center will be located across from the Mexican restaurant in the old clinic/antique building, Johnson said. The grand opening is tentatively planned in November. Classes There will be instructors who will help teach the classes, such as Zumba, yoga, hot yoga, suspension training and kickboxing. Johnson will continue to do the JETSTRONG boot camps. Classes are offered in 12week sessions. People will be able to mix and match classes each week to keep exercise interesting. For example, if a member signs up for four classes a week, he or she can choose what four classes to show up to. Please see JET FITNESS CENTER, Page 10
“Those communities who want to expand in rural Iowa, we’re going to give you the chance. We’re not going to give up on you. I want to defend what rural Iowa will be.” — Jack Hatch
Democratic governor candidate
growing, could grow. I mean, this is a community near 35, in the southern part of the state, that is the gateway to Iowa from the south. And, it has the history, it’s got the schools, the farming community is good,” Hatch said. “And, this is really kind of the bedrock Please see HATCH, Page 10
Inspiring young minds Brown shares stories of living, doing scientific research in India By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
How often are high school teenagers approached by doctoral students asking them questions about scientific techniques, research and analyses? Probably not very often. However, that’s the scenario Lillianne Brown found herself in when she spent two months in Chennai, India, this summer at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation as a 2014 Borlaug-Ruan intern, which was also in conjunction with the World Food Prize Foundation. “There were two people who were doing their PhD dissertation defense while I
was there, and they had no idea how to use a technique, and so it was really cool to be able to learn this technique, which is relatively simple to understand once you study it for awhile,” Brown said. “But, it was cool just to know that I’m doing the same work as PhD students, some stuff that people who are getting their PhD and don’t even know how to do.” Brown was the guest speaker at Clarke Community High School Wednesday, Oct. 15. The event was hosted by Osceola Big Chief FFA. OST photo by AMY HANSEN Lillianne Brown discusses the research she did this sumAccomplishments Brown, a senior at Iowa mer in Chennai, India, during a presentation at Clarke Community High School Wednesday, Oct. 15.
Please see BROWN, Page 10
OST photo by AMY HANSEN
Lillianne Brown, center, is pictured with members of Osceola Big Chief FFA in Clarke Community High School’s auditorium Wednesday, Oct. 15.
Index Obituary........................3 Editorial......................4,8 Church Directory..........9 Classifieds..................13
Hatch, formerly of Farmington, Conn., struggled with dyslexia as a child, and said he can relate to those kids who struggle in school and lack self-confidence. “I struggled. And, as every kid knows, when you struggle, it affects what you think of yourself, it affects your life. Just think what a fourth-, fifth-, sixth-grader has when they can’t meet those standards, and they start doubting themselves,” Hatch said. “Well, when people ask me if I’m for early childhood education, it’s a simple answer.” The first bill Hatch said he wants to introduce is a universal four-year-old education plan across Iowa. He also wants to improve the Iowa high school graduation rate. In terms of communities, Hatch said he wants to divide up money from Iowa Economic Development Authority, which grows businesses and workforce in Iowa, into four districts and let the smaller communities use the money as they see it’s needed. “It has communities that really are
Neighbors.....................5 Public Notices...... 11-12 Record..........................2 Sports........................ 6-7
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Don’t Forget Local editorials
Check out the local editorials “The Fry Times” and “Back in Time” on page 8.
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