Susan Schade

Partygoers have the choice to wear a mask or not and no location for the events has set protocols for guests to follow.

After 56 years of service, building a new location for the church to meet, and raise a family Pastor DeBoef decided it was his time to retire.

Now, two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, a coffee house is experiencing the ripples of inflation and supply chain shortages.

Tests are sent off to the state lab and won't come back for a few days, and until then the hospital does not know what variant they are dealing with. Once they do know the staff says they are prepared to treat the illness.

The Bloomfield Police Department is increasing patrol while the holidays are here. One officer says in the past the extra officers on the road have helped protect drivers.

The child center in Fairfield is taking extra precautions for children who are not eligible for the vaccine.

The code is more specific when it comes to how different breeds and other animals should be taken care of during winter according to Preston Moore.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, a woman's vehicle crossed the center lane of the road and entered a ditch when it hit the tree.

With the high demand for shelter 200 additional volunteers and responders are being sent to the communities. Blood donations are also in high demand.

There were sixteen different booths students could visit to learn about different career paths. The eleventh-grade counselor said the Discovery Academy Fair is the first one they have ever had.

Gifts can be costly and the donations for Shop with a Cop this year were the most they have gotten. The amount for each of the students was $1,200.00 to spend for their families.

Last year, Music Director Nathaniel Orr received an email that his band was invited to perform at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony for the 80th Anniversary.

Sieda is the organization that funds the gift bags for the low-income elderly. In the first year, 150 bags were needed and now seven years later 330 gift bags will be given out to the elderly.

The story time activity was one that was moved outside allowing the good weather to be the place to sit and read a book according to Ferrell. Now there are other activated kids can look forward to; for example, the craft bag giveaways.

According to Lieutenant Jason Parmenter, if someone can see your package on your porch or through the window of our home, you could be at risk of your items being stolen.

Residents in Ottumwa can find many family-friendly things to do this holiday season. The new tradition is a weekend getaway in Ottumwa and the obvious reason is for people to come and shop locally.

Chronic wounds are serious for patients who are diabetic and if not treated can lead to limb-threatening infection according to Dr. Hicks.

The donations made right now leave the organization at 14% away from its goal of $50,000.

Kids can now visit Santa in Fairfield on Friday and Saturday Nights.

When it comes to how long your food can be left out on the table before you store it away, Newell says the time is limited; especially for items like pumpkin pie that should be kept cold.

Now students in the play will experience performing in front of a live audience since Covid hit, and for other students, this will be their first time performing in front of a crowd.

People in the Ottumwa Community had the opportunity to help out feeding others this Thanksgiving. Many people came out to help serve over one thousand meals.

Last year, the price for energy was low due to the reduced amount of demand in utilities. The average utility bill in Ottumwa is around $221.00 which is far less than the national average of $316.00.

All of the good stuff on Thanksgiving including turkey, dressing, and even fruit are all things your pet should not be eating off your table this Thanksgiving.

The garden was started to help those who deal with food insecurity. The goal of growing 200 lbs of produce was surpassed and they reached 2,500 lbs to help more people.

After serving the community the previous year with this ordering service, Chef Bob Newell decided to make it a tradition to help families and allow them to spend more time with their families.

2021 is now considered the highest single-year increase in travel since 2005 according to AAA.

A new report shows violations of the Raging River at Adventureland following the the fatal accident on July 3rd, 2021.

The toys parents will find are all new and not used. Everything is store-bought by volunteers at the church.

Fire Captain David Yeager with the Ottumwa Fire Department says now is a good time to check the batteries in your smoke detectors. He says the smoke detectors are the first line of defense of a fire and people’s safety.

While watching the competition on TV and meeting some of the women who competed, she knew one day she wanted to be competing just like the incredible, high-achieving women she watched growing up.

Something to keep in mind is children 5 to 11-years-old need to schedule an appointment. Kids ages 12-years-old and up do not.

There was music, prayer, and a moment of silence for those who did not make it home. Many spoke in remembrance of their time in the military at the event and hope others also remember the families who made the sacrifice.

The new coach hopes to build and youth program to help young athletes gain success in the sport.

OHS senior, Kiley Heller, was named first-team; Ella Allar, 11, and Rylea Hinebaugh, 9, were named to the second team; and Camdyn Crouse, 9, Brooklyn Beske, 12, and Kennedy Hugan, 12 were named honorable mention.

The cheerleaders were first worried about how much money they would raise but were happy knowing they raise more than they thought.

The auditorium was filled with people who knew Graber. Her family spoke as well as a former student with who Graber kept in touch with after graduation.

Until other providers get the vaccine, families can bring their children downtown to the clinic to get the shot.

They plan on adding two more classes for students who are interested in computer science and agriculture.

What people may not realize is every person you see working in the theater whether they are an actor on stage or behind the concession stand is a volunteer.

Ever since the program started 10 years ago, 160 leaders have graduated.

Due to the growth, she saw in the months from her opening Lancaster realized a second location was needed and that is where she houses the larger products of new and used furniture.

Beginning July 16, 2022, dialing 988 will route your call to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

The specialists were added to the faculty for the first time this year.

People of Bloomfield will start to see improvement in some buildings downtown.

The road to this achievement started when she was coaching at Ellsworth Community College and her team was playing against Indian Hills.

Deer are migrating right now due to mating season and the crops being cut for the year.

When it comes to being clean and making sure germs would not spread, VanWeelden says the staff also had to be trained with personal protective equipment and cleaning.

Kids take a hike to celebrate a goal they accomplished.

Indian Hills began their Women's Wrestling Program a year ago and are looking ahead to the future.