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ALL-STATE:
• Holiday Brilliance
Osceola Chamber/Main Street’s annual Holiday Brilliance event is planned 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday Dec. 5. in Osceola. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the “Santa House” on the courthouse square from 5:30 to 8 p.m. There will also be a chili cook-off competition, which is a new event this year.
Three Mustangs earn INA all-state honors page 6
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154 YEARS • NO. 49
OSCEOLA, IOWA 50213
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013
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Both parties withdraw new motions in Lakeside lawsuit hearing By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa. com
During a Friday hearing at Clarke County Courthouse, Judge John D. Lloyd granted the withdrawal of two pending motions in the ongoing lawsuit of Wilson v. Lakeside Hotel and Casino. The lawsuit was filed by Gail Ann Wilson, a former guest service manager at Lakeside, against Bob
Thursby, the general manager of Lakeside, C a r o l Eckels, the human resources Thursby manager, Lakeside Hotel and Casino and Affinity Gaming, the parent company of Lakeside. According to court documents, there was a joint
motion from both parties to withdraw Lakeside’s request for a special protective order and Wilson’s request to reconsider the orders to file under seal and to challenge Lakeside’s confidentiality designations. The lawsuit filed in Clarke County alleges Thursby made inappropriate sexual comments to employees and patrons, and Eckels had inappropriate sexual relationships with her subordinates and gave them more favor-
able treatment. The lawsuit states Wilson, a Native American, was fired in November 2011 “because of her race, national origin, sex and because she complained about what she believed to be unlawful employment practices.” Thursby and Eckels have denied all of Wilson’s allegations in a legal response to the lawsuit. Friday findings Court documents released Friday state the
Lakeside defendants filed a motion for a special protective order in the lawsuit Oct. 7. Along with the special protective order, the defendants filed a motion to “file it under seal,” which was granted by the court later in October. On Oct. 21, Wilson resisted Lakeside’s motion for a special protective order and also filed a motion to reconsider the orders to file under seal and to challenge Lakeside’s confidentiality
designations. A court hearing was set for Friday for all of the motions to be heard. Lakeside requested the hearing be closed, and Wilson resisted that request. A letter was sent to Iowa Newspaper Association by Frank Harty, attorney for Wilson, from the office of Nyemaster Goode, P.C., in Des Moines. Please see LAWSUIT, Page 4
Reason for the season Clarke County Toys for Christmas program to help families in need By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
During the holiday season, it’s more important to give than to receive. Clarke County Toys for Christmas program is giving to those in need. “We try to have a coordinated program for this county,” said Dianne Riley, the program’s treasurer. How it began Clarke County Toys for Christmas first began in 1969 by Larry Van Werden, a local attorney who realized there were children who would not be having any Christmas presents. Since then, volunteers have organized and made the program an annual activity. Families who might need help with Christmas are identified by local organizations working together to have one program countywide. The program has no administrative costs. Riley said letters with applications were sent out to families that might
be in need this holiday season. Families may decide if they wish to participate. Children in the family need to be less than 16 years old. Each child will receive two items of clothing and two toys. Each family will receive a ham from Osceola Foods. There will also be food vouchers for families. Donating Churches, organizations and individuals donate cash or new toys and clothes for the program. They also adopt families and purchase the gifts for the children. If people want to donate to Toys for Christmas, they may donate cash, new toys and new items of clothing. Donations may be brought to the community center, which is located in Osceola Senior Center on the north side of the building. The donation period goes throughout December. “If they come in toward the end of December, then, of course, those would be used for the next year,” Riley said.
Council asks city staff to create proposal for urban-chicken ordinance
Donors to date This is a list of people, organizations and businesses that have donated to Clarke County Toys for Christmas program.
By AMY HANSEN
• Walmart Foundation • Sarah Hettinger • PEO Sorority • Jeannie Crittenden • Dorothy Jefferies • LaGuadalupana Mexican Store
OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
The urban-chicken issue will just have to roost for a little bit longer. The subject of people keeping chickens within city limits was on the agenda during a Nov. 19 Osceola City Council meeting, but the council decided to table the subject, for now. “If we approve this, somebody else is going to come in and bring donkeys to town, or whatever,” said Councilman Glenn Schaff. Original request During an Oct. 3 council meeting, there was a request
The Walmart Foundation has made a donation of $4,000 this year. “That’s wonderful,” Riley said. “We made an application this past summer for that.” Volunteering The program encourages volunteers to help wrap gifts. Wrapping will take place after Thanksgiving. Please see TOYS FOR CHRISTMAS, Page 4
to keep chickens at 306 N. Fillmore St. There is a city code regarding livestock. Part of the code says it is unlawful for a person to keep livestock, which includes chickens, within the city limits, except by written consent of the council. The council has debated the urban-chicken issue for the past couple of months. During the Nov. 19 council meeting, Ty Wheeler, city administrator/clerk, brought information on urban-chicken ordinances from cities across the country. Please see CHICKENS, Page 4
Tensions escalate during council meeting, mayor has to tell council they are out of order By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
Election season can be tense, but, sometimes, tensions spill over into postelection season. That happened during a Nov. 19 Osceola City Council meeting. During an interview with the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune, Ty Wheeler, city administrator/clerk, said there was concern with low-voter turnout in the Nov. 5 Osceola City Council and mayoral elections. Only 16 percent of the registered Osceola population voted in the election. Wheeler said he receives inquiries as to whether having two at-large and three ward seats on the city council is hindering voter turnout, and would it be better to have all at-large seats for SINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢
Copyright 2013
the entire city to vote on? “I deal with questions all the time ... I have heard this Wheeler after every election since I’ve been back,” Wheeler said. Answering the question Since the inquiries directly related to city affairs, Wheeler said he looked up the rules in the Iowa Code and found council members can’t take it upon themselves to change at-large and ward seats. It has to be done by a petition and voted on by the public in a special or general election. Wheeler said an example of a petition and special election is Clarke County’s May special election held in Osceola, Woodburn and
Murray about whether to repeal the local option sales tax, which helps fund Clarke County Reservoir Commission’s lake project. Once Wheeler found the information, he sent out a follow-up to council members to brief them on his findings and how to answer the question in case any of their constituents ask. “It was more of a FYI,” Wheeler said. What happened next However, tensions escalated over the issue during the council meeting. During council reports, Councilman Glenn Schaff questioned Wheeler about who asked him to look into the issue. Wheeler said he had several inquiries, and has gotten many inquiries throughout
Obituary........................3 Church Directory..........9 Classifieds..................13 Neighbors.....................5
Carissa Jacobsen pins a sergeant badge on her husband Curtus Jacobsen during an Osceola City Council meeting Nov. 19. Osceola Police Chief Marty Duffus said the police department recently started the process of promotion for an officer to become a sergeant. During the meeting, Duffus presented newly-promoted Jacobsen, who has been with the department for nine years and was the department’s drug-recognition expert. Jacobsen’s family attended the council meeting to see him get recognized. Many members of the police department also attended the meeting. Duffus said there’s a tradition in law enforcement where spouses pin badges on a graduating police officer at the law enforcement academy. It’s the same tradition during a promotion pinning.
Please see TENSION, Page 4
Index Public Notices............12 Record..........................2 Sports........................ 6-7
OST photo by AMY HANSEN
Special pinning:
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Clarke County Publishing offices will be closed today for Thanksgiving.
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