OST-6-30-2016

Page 1

News

SCC WIN:

• Closed for holiday

The offices of Clarke County Publishing will be closed Monday, July 4, for the national holiday.

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Clarke knocks off Knoxville

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page 6

156 YEARS • NO. 26

THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2016

OSCEOLA, IOWA 50213

OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa. com

Osceola City Council is pressing the pause button with the creation of a golf cart ordinance that permits them on city streets. During a June 21 meeting, council members had safety concerns about the possibility of golf carts everywhere — using them for everything but the purpose of getting to and from the golf course. “This ordinance, yes, would allow me to acquire a golf cart and drive it to Fareway,” said Ty Wheeler, city administrator/clerk. “I’m kind of disturbed about that,” said Councilman Dan Hooper, “because we have discussed our downtown square as a major safety hazard. People can’t see. We’ve had multiple discussions about safety, and now we’re trying to bring out golf carts that are harder to see, drive slower, and we may incorporate more than what we want to see. I’m more inclined to not have any golf carts on any streets.”

Original intent The council was adamant about sticking to the original intent of the ordinance, which was simply getting to and from the golf course. However, roads golf carts would be allowed on would be those with a speed limit of 25 mph. There was still some optimism between council members about the creation of an ordinance. “I don’t know. I think we’ll see some golf carts around. I don’t know if we’re going to see a ton. I don’t know if people are going to go out and buy a golf cart just to run around town on — maybe,” said Councilman Dennis Page.

1000 Jeffreys Drive, Osceola, Iowa (641) 342-2175 101 North Main, Osceola, Iowa (641) 342-2191 801 East Main, Lamoni, Iowa (641) 784-3120 809 North John Wayne Drive, Winterset, Iowa (515) 462-5090 Member FDIC • Equal Housing Lender

SINGLE COPY PRICE: $1.00

Council not ready to take final swing on new golf cart ordinance By AMY HANSEN

SM-CP2559620630

www.osceolaiowa.com

OST photo by BAILEY POOLMAN

Clarke County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Akers stands at attention to protect victims and first responders inside a residence hall room during a post-active shooter training held June 14-16 at Southwestern Community College in Creston. Creston and Red Oak fire departments and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office also attended the training held by Government Training Institute, an organization that holds a variety of tactical trainings across the country.

“THIS ordinance, yes, would allow me to acquire a golf cart and drive it to Fareway.”

__

TY WHEELER

City administrator/clerk

This golf cart issue stems from a few years ago when a person drove a golf cart four blocks home from the golf course. The person received a ticket from a state trooper. It should be noted Osceola Police Department has not written a ticket for a person driving a golf cart in town.

In such an ordinance If such an ordinance was going to be put on the books, the council would want certain requirements and restrictions. At the meeting, Wheeler addressed some of these, including: • The driver must be at least 18 years of age. • The driver must possess a valid driver’s license. • The driver shall adhere to all applicable rules to a driver in the state of Iowa when operating a golf cart. • The golf cart shall be equipped with the proper slow moving signage, flag and brakes. • The golf cart should be driven close to edge of street and operate single file. • The driver may only operate the golf cart between the hours of sunrise and sunset. City officials had also compiled a list of prohibited roads for the golf carts.

Table it At the end of the discussion, the idea for tabling the CARTS | 4

Clarke County Sheriff’s Office attends post-active shooter training By BAILEY POOLMAN

small town or a large agency like Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, they will occur, they can occur, and the expectation for police and fire is the same. Therefore, they should be trained up to the same level as any large-scale agency.” Creston and Red Oak fire departments and Clarke County and Montgomery County sheriff’s offices attended the class, which was a post-active shooter training course. The course focused on what happens after a suspect in a mass casualty event has been contained, and how local

OST staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com

Not for the first time, news about gun violence and shootings are plastered across television sets and computer screens in attempts to get the word out. The most recent incident in Orlando, Florida, is another example of this. In an attempt to stay relevant, two officers with Clarke County Sheriff’s Office participated alongside three other organizations to learn what to do after an incident occurs in order to help those involved. This three-day class was held by Government Training Institute (GTI), an organization based out of South Carolina and focused on training law enforcement, military personnel and other first responders how to react during certain situations. “If an incident happens, the quicker the response, the better off you are,” said Clarke County Sheriff Bill Kerns. “My frame of thought is, maybe we can minimize the casualties by having some guys trained that know how to enter a building, especially schools, to kind of know what to expect.” The class was held at Southwestern Community College in Creston June 14-16 through a Homeland Security grant. “Everything that they learn in this class can carry over to other responses, like how to build a response team, how to set up their priorities so that not only are they safe, but also the people that are helping them,” said Jo Duckworth, Union County Emergency Management Agency director. “It just helps with overall being prepared and being a professional.” “Unfortunately, active shooter incidents now can occur anywhere. We talked about this in class: we are not immune to them,” said Oscar Lizardi, Santa Ana, California, police officer and GTI instructor. “Whether you work in a

TRAINING | 4

OST photo by BAILEY POOLMAN

Creston Firefighter Lee Freeman, front left, helps Southwestern Community College employee and training victim Kysa Gordon, front right, during a post-active shooter training held June 14-16 at the college in Creston. In back from left are Creston Fire Chief Todd Jackson and college employee Caitlyn Lesan.

OST photos by BAILEY POOLMAN

Clarke County Hospital: Left, Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds gives a short speech during an open house of Clarke County Hospital’s new addition and expanded services Sunday

afternoon at the hospital in Osceola. The hospital has a new UnityPoint Clinic, more parking, larger gift shop and specialty clinic and new centralized main entrance. Approximately 250 people attended the open house, not including the 70 volunteers with Clarke County Hospital and UnityPoint Clinic. Right, Carole Petersen, front desk staff at Clarke County Hospital, welcomes people with a smile into the new main entrance and lobby area of the hospital during an open house held Sunday afternoon at the hospital in Osceola. The hospital added 63,000-square feet of additions and renovations, and provided tours to approximately 250 people during the open house. Also present during the open house were Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, Vice President of UnityPoint Clinic Operations Matthew Romanin and Osceola Mayor Thomas Kedley. SINGLE COPY PRICE: $1.00

Copyright 2016

Index Church Directory .........8 Classifieds ........... 10-11 Editorial ........................4 Neighbors ....................5

Obituary .......................3 Public Notices ....... 9-10 Record .........................2 Sports....................... 6-7

Don’t Forget

Weather Local 3-Day Forecast Thu

Fri

Sat

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85/61 T-storms developing in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the low 60s.

82/57 Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the upper 50s.

81/60 Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 60s.

Thursday activities

There will be no Thursday Night in the Park event this evening.

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