An Aussie Taste

   After countless hours of travel, most by plane, students from across the United States staggered off their final flight. Through tired eyes they took in their first sight of Australia. Rustic Pathways group leaders were there to greet their students and soon everyone was off and heading toward their first adventures.

   The students participating in the Golden Sands and Helping Hands program headed deep into the Glasshouse Mountains to settle into what would be called home for the next ten days. This group had a focus on service in the community and spent their second day at a local school. They worked with the Aussie kids in the classrooms and played games outside for hours. The day was ended with a hike up Mount Ngungun and gorgeous views of the Glasshouse Mountains. They also shopped local markets, camped at a outback farm and walked the famous Noosa beaches looking for koalas. 

   Another group had their full attention aimed at the waves. The group of kids in the Aussie Surf and Service program spent most days gaining valuable surfing knowledge from local surfers. They did leave the break long enough to camp on the worlds largest sand island, Fraser Island. Here the students spent sunrise and sunset on the gorgeous beaches after full days of culture immersion. They watched for migrating whales on a small boat with a biologist and sand boarded huge dunes. They also spent an evening with a local man of Aboriginal decent. They learned parts of the aboriginal history of the island and also spent time perfecting the art of the boomerangs throw. 

Of all the groups traveling through Australia one group got extremely up close and personal with some locals. The students in the ‘You a Roo and the Australia Zoo’ program spent their ten days delving into the workings of the Australia Zoo. They shadowed zookeepers and spent afternoons on animal encounters, including koalas, dingos, cheetahs and many other Australian favorites. 

    After ten days of exploring their corner of Australia the students met back at the Brisbane Airport. Bitter sweet goodbyes could be heard through the groups as some planned to head home and some moved on to their next adventure.

Ottumwa Courier Week 20

Features 

Wildwood and Agassiz Elementary School students participate in their end of the year field day Tuesday at Wildwood. The field day was organized for kindergarten and first grade students from the schools and was a reward for all their hard work throughout the year. The students made the rounds between 14 stations that were all set up with different activities including a bouncy house, basketball and a blow up slide.

Alyra Boomgarden, left, and Kelly Summers feed the ducks and other birds Thursday at the Ottumwa Park. Boomgarden is a big fan of the movie Fly Away Home and loves coming to the park to feed and talk to the ducks. “We don’t get out here as much as we would like,” Debbie Coop, another visiter to the park, said. “Its great to break up a day of errands though and the kids love it.” 

Justin Massey, a Market on Main employee, waters plants Wednesday as he sets up for the Ottumwa Farmers Market. The market had its grand opening last Saturday and will be open on Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Memorial Day 

Ottumwa VFW and American Legion members wait Monday for the Civil War Monument Dedication to begin. The dedication fittingly took place on Memorial day as many gathered in the Ottumwa Cemetery to remember those who have served and died. 

A crowd gathers around to pet horses Monday during a Civil War Monument Dedication at Ottumwa Cemetery. David Gordy, right, brings his horses to various community events and often lets people ride and pet the horses.

Ottumwa Courier Week 19

Iowa Thunder Ride 

Robert “Beagle” Beghtol, right, gives a sticker to a Christian Motorcyclists Association member Sunday after the group blessed his bike. The group had gathered to bless bikes before heading on a ride to Des Moines to attend Iowa Thunder, an event that was created to honor veterans of war.

Christian Motorcyclists Association members bless a bike Sunday before a group ride to Des Moines. The blessing is said with the idea to help protect the driver and any passengers from any dangers associated with the road.

     The sound of engines was in the air Sunday morning as a group of Christian Motorcyclist Association members, as well as family and friends, prepared for a group ride to Des Moines. 

    The trip was organized so the group could join with hundreds of other bikers for Iowa Thunder, an event created to honor military veterans. All the groups converged at a meeting place and paraded to the capital. There family members and friends of veterans spoke about their loved ones and the service they had provided for their country. A bell was rung for each veteran from Iowa that had been lost in the last year. 

    The event was created by a man named Rabbi 25 years ago. Twenty years before that Babbi’s grandfather was asked to honor a man he had served with overseas at the soldiers funeral and asked Rabbi to come with him. Rabbi said this experience taught him about respect and honor and inspired him to create the Iowa Thunder Ride. The event started with a focus on honoring Vietnam Veterans and has now branched out to honor veterans from all wars. 

    Jim Schaffner lead the riders from Ottumwa to Des Moines and picked up other bikers on the way. Schaffner and many of the other Christian Motorcyclist Association members have been making the ride for Iowa Thunder for may years. 

    “This ride means that our freedoms that we have in this country have been brought by the many lives that have been sacrificed and the freedoms we have to ride and to do many other things, ” Schaffner said.

Features/Sports

Michelle Rimato, right, shovels a hole to plant flowers in Friday at Horace Mann Elementary. The fifth grade students participated in the beautification day and learned about math and science in the process. The students used math by finding the parameters of the planting areas and science by learning about the plants they were using.

Junior player Papay Kruah fights for control of the ball Monday during the Ottumwa boys soccer game.

Luise Gladson poses for a portrait with her lilac bush Thursday at her home in Eldon. Gladson planted the lilac bush over 15 years ago and has tended to it ever since. “I was told to trim it down every year after it bloomed, I think thats why it’s grown so big,” Gladson said. “Over the years its become my pride and joy.” 

Ottumwa Christian School Graduation 

The Ottumwa Christian School seniors wait to enter the gym Saturday before their graduation ceremony began.

Richard Schlotter, left and Elijah Frederick joke around Saturday before their graduation ceremony began. Both Schlotter and Frederick plan to attend Indian Hills Community College to further their education. 

Monica Ruiz crosses the stage after receiving her diploma Saturday during the Ottumwa Christian School graduation. Ruiz plans to pursue a degree in nursing and join the Army to serve as a combat medic.

     Saturday was a special day for the four seniors graduating from Ottumwa Christian School. 

    This small graduating class is double the size of last years class and illustrates the small group learning style of the school. Family and friends of the students filled the gym and waited for the graduates to line up on the stage. 

    The graduates were joined on stage by Alan Menninga, Board Chairman, Pastor Richard Schlotter, and Principal Arnie Van Wardhuizen. Menninga welcomed the family and friends and introduced the four seniors to the audience and the Pastor Schlotter gave the keynote address. 

    “If there was ever a day to rejoice it would be today,” Schlotter said. “We just saw our kids grow up, achieve and mature.”

    Hannah Cavanaugh, one of the graduating students, gave the senior address. Cavanaugh attended the school for two years and said she grew to love everyone there. 

    “Many memories were made over the last two years,” Cavanaugh said with a laugh. “I will remember something about every one of you, but I will especially remember that the boys loved to play pranks on me.”

    Cavanaugh went on to tell stories about the students she was graduating with and tales of the achievements they have accomplished so far and what will be in their futures.

    These achievements could also be heard from the voices of family members of the graduating students. One by one each student had a member of their family come to the stage and told the audience about their graduate. From stories of epic star wars battles in the back yard as kids to blessings for the future, each speaker gave some insight into the lives of the students who are about to start a new chapter. 

Ottumwa Courier Week 18

Features/Sports

A horse and buggy is driven down Second Street Wednesday. The horse and buggy became the main mode of transpiration in the early 1800’s and can still be seen in use today by various groups of people.

Cardinal High School students line up Sunday before their graduation ceremony began. Each student carried or wore a variation of the class flower, a white carnations with red tips. 

Cardinal High School students listen to speakers Sunday during their graduation ceremony. The graduation robes worn by the seniors featured the class colors of red and silver. 

Kate Manary, right, plants a flower Tuesday outside the First Presbyterian Church. Church members, students and family members gathered to plant flowers as part of their beautification day. 

Indian Hills Community College students fight the wind to keep their caps on Thursday as they walked into the Hellyer Student Life Center for graduation.

Caroline Carlson serves the ball Saturday during a regional girls tennis match.

Ottumwa High School Springfest Concert 

Ottumwa High School symphony orchestra members preform Monday during the OHS Instrumental Springfest Concert. 

Ottumwa High School jazz band members preform Monday during the OHS Instrumental Springfest Concert.

Cellos sit in front of the Ottumwa High School Auditorium stage Monday after the OHS symphony orchestra preformed. 

Patty Babb, center, receives flowers from senior band members Monday after the OHS symphony orchestra preformed. Many of the students have had Babb as a teacher for up to eight years. 

     Seasoned musicians and first year students shared the stage Monday during the Ottumwa High School Instrumental Springfest Concert. 

    The event featured the OHS String Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Band and the Wind Ensemble and was the final concert for the school year.

    “I think that it is the most difficult concert of the year,” Patty Babb, the Orchestra  director, said. “We really focus on rhythm and counting by this time of year and the students can show their talents.”

    The music department at OHS continues to be popular with students year after year with around 150 participating in some aspect of the department. Many students choose to learn multiple instruments and will join the different groups to showcase that instrument, Babb said. It gives the students a chance to try a little bit of everything and then they can decide which one they are most passionate about. 

    Babb has been teaching for 31 years and moved from teaching middle school to high school six years ago. She has had a long relationship with many of the students, having taught some for eight years in a row. Many of these students were presented with various awards at the end of the concert. 

    “We like to recognize extra effort and do this with a point system throughout the year,” Babb said. “If they participate in various events throughout the year they earn points and work their way up to a letter award.”

    With one school year ending and seniors leaving the program it opens up positions for all the other interested students. New opportunities and experiences are presented to the students already in the program and the flow continues on.

     “We don’t want art programs to be pushed to the back burner, it needs to be kept in front and OHS does a great job at this and supporting the arts,” Babb said “It is so important for the future that kids become involved in the arts and stay involved.”

Ottumwa Courier Week 17

Features 

Jasmine Morine relaxes in the spring sunshine Friday on the steps of the Ottumwa Public Library. Todays high is 78 degrees with a 40 percent chance of rain later in the day and into the evening.

Ottumwa residents watch a storm roll over their neighborhood Sunday as the area was under a Tornado Warning. Wapello county was under a Tornado Warning twice Sunday according to the National Weather Service and residence heard sirens twice throughout the afternoon.

Ottumwa Courier Week 16

Features 

Liberty Elementary students and teachers release balloons Wednesday in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The students were asked to write down what makes them happy and attach it to the balloon.

A Chariton Valley Electric Coop worker demonstrates the power of an electrical line Thursday during the Monroe County agriculture day. The demonstration was used to teach the students about safety near electrical lines and what to do in cases of an emergency. 

A marshmallow lights on fire after toughing a high voltage power line Thursday during a safety demonstration. Tree branches, marshmallows and hot dogs were used to show the effects of touching an electrical wire.

Students look at drawings of farms and agriculture Thursday during the Monroe County agriculture day. Classes were asked to draw farm scenes and the art was judged to award prizes to the winning class. 

Lily Kester dressed as Theodor Geisel, better know as Dr. Seuss, during the Fifth Grade Wax Museum Friday at Horace Mann Elementary. The students were asked to complete a research paper about a famous person of their choice. They then dressed as the person they had chosen and presented interesting facts about the person to a crowd.

Ottumwa Courier Week 15

Iron Chef: Ottumwa High School

Jacqueline Victoria, left, and Denise Ramirez, Ottumwa High School students, prepare the main course dish Friday during the Iron Chef competition at Indian Hills Community College. The competition included high school students from area schools and featured three courses. 

An appetizer is prepared by Daylin Latham and Bradley Williams Friday during an Iron Chef competition. The meals prepared by the students are pre-planned and included local fresh foods. 

Local fresh cucumbers are prepared for a salsa. After the food was prepared it was judged by six professionals in the culinary field.  Debb Kent lead the Ottumwa team and has been teaching at the high school for 15 years. “This is a great venue for the kids to stretch themselves,” Kent said. “They all come away with something different and thats a fantastic thing.”

Features/Sports

Witches plot during a performance of Macbeth Thursday at St. John Auditorium at IHCC. Macbeth is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and tells a story of a man who receives a prophecy from witches that he will become the King of Scotland. 

Actors from Indian Hills Community College perform Macbeth Thursday at St. John Auditorium. The three days of performances included a free showing for high school students Friday afternoon.

Gaven Dostal returns the ball Tuesday during the Ottumwa boys tennis match.

Junior player Daylin Latham fights for control of the ball Tuesday during the Ottumwa girls soccers game.

Sophomore pitcher Kendle Schieber pitches the ball Tuesday during the IHCC women’s softball game against North Central Missouri College.

United States Trampoline and Tumbling Association State Meet

A participant in the United States Trampoline and Tumbling Association State Meet did her run during the power tumbling competition Sunday at the Bridge View Center. The competition included participants from ages two through twenty-six competing in 3,000 different events. 

A competitor waits for her next event to begin Sunday during the United States Trampoline and Tumbling Association State Meet. The events including tumbling, double-mini trampoline and trampoline.

Kaitlin Scott sticks her landing while competing in the power tumbling event Sunday at the Bridge View Center. Scott is part of Ottumwas Team Flip, who hosted the meet.

Tumblers wait for their turns Sunday during the USTA State Meet at the Bridge View Center.

    This weekend over a thousand athletes tumbled and bounced their way into the hearts of judges and a large audience during the United States Trampoline and Tumbling Association State Meet at the Bridge View Center.

    The Iowa USTA State Meet was hosted by Team Flip from Ottumwa and Iowa Falls T&T teams and brought 1,259 athletes from across the state to compete this weekend. Saturday and Sunday the athletes, ranging from ages two to twenty-six, competed in over 3,000 events as they fought for a place at the National Meet. This years National Competition will take place June 17th through 21st in Louisville, Kentucky. 

    The United States Trampoline and Tumbling Association was founded in 1971 by Larry Griswold and George Nissen (the founder of the trampoline). It stared with only 200 members that competed in tumbling, trampoline and the double-mini trampoline all of which were in one division. 

    Now the sport has grown exponentially and to accommodate this growth there are 15 divisions; nine for tumbling and six for double-mini and the trampoline. The USTA awards numerous scholarships to graduating seniors or to athletes that are still competing and continuing their education. 

    Ottumwas Team Flip had 20 athletes competing against 32 other teams from across the state. The meet has an event for every age group ad ranges from beginners to experts. 

    “Nobody has to sit out with this organization,” Vicky Wilson, the Iowa Falls T&T team advisor, said. “Everyone gets a chance to show their skills.”

Stormy Weather

An Ottumwa resident observes the damage to his home Sunday after a storm blew through his neighborhood on West Mary Street.

Ottumwa residents cover their roof with tarps Sunday after a storm caused damage to their home on West Mary Street.

Ottumwa residents clean up shingles from their yard that were blown off nearby roofs after a storm blew through the neighborhood on West Mary Street.

Ottumwa Courier Week 14

Easter Features

Brielle Williams, right,  holds onto a rabbit while shopping with her mom Kandi Tuesday at Orscheln Farm and Home. Kandi said at this time of year its important for people to know how to properly care for animals, like chicks and rabbits, that are frequently bought around Easter. “We have rabbits and other animals at home,” Kandi said. “We know how much love and care goes into keeping them happy and healthy.”

Robin Fine collects live chicks from a postal worker Tuesday at the Ottumwa Post Office. Any chicks used to stock a farm store must be purchased from a hatchery in that state and are shipped through the USPS. 

Robin Fine transfers chicks from their shipping box to the coops Tuesday at Orscheln Farm and Home. Fine said that all employees who care for the chicks during the season attended a chicken care seminar. This taught them how to care for the chicks while they are still in the store and how to teach new chicken owners what all they will need for the chicks in their new home. 

Orscheln Farm and Home have begun to stock their store with chicks and ducks as the spring season begins. The birds are brought in to fill various categories from meat birds to egg layers. Fine said that it is important that people buying chicks know how to properly care for them. “It is not just an easter present,” Fine said. “These are living animals and they need to be cared for throughout their lives.”

Kids participate in an egg roll competition Saturday on the American Gothic House lawn in Eldon. Families were invited to come and participate in easter themed events and make crafts. They also had the opportunity to dress up and pose in front of the house or take a photo with the easter bunny. 

The American Gothic House easter bunny waits for the next family to take a portrait with  Saturday during their Easter celebrations. Families visiting the American Gothic House had the opportunity to hunt for eggs, make crafts and compete in an egg roll race. 

Features/Sports

Cardinal High School and Elementary School students participate in a horse care demonstration Thursday during Agriculture Day. The event included various demonstrations from bee keeping to raising cattle. Students and community members volunteered to being in livestock and farm equipment for the day. 

Cardinal Elementary School second graders feed a goat Thursday during Agriculture Day. The students learned about farm life at various stations and were introduced to livestock including goats, cows, horses, farm birds and rabbits. Many of the older students who are involved in the Future Farmers of America program used the event to show off their year long projects. 

Lucas Lunsford, center, helps Wyatt Barwick, left, and Chase Spillmen dig a hole for a tree Thursday at Ottumwa Park. The planting was organized by Lunsford as his Eagle Scout project. “We are helping out the parks department,” Lunsford said. “They had lost a lot of trees from bugs and drought, so we are trying to restock the parks with trees.” The group of scouts planted 30 trees including oaks and crab apples.

Gaven Dostal returns the ball Thursday during the Ottumwa boys tennis match.

Ottumwa athlete attempts the high jump Tuesday during the Don Newell Invitational. 

Ottumwa Courier Week 13

Brush Fire

    Friday afternoon a large brush fire broke out near the Ottumwa Water Pollution Control Facility on the east side of town. 

    Both the Wapello County Rural Fire Department and Ottumwa Fire Department were called to the scene of the fire. The vacant land boarders a small neighborhood and a wildlife refuge area, no injuries or property damage was reported. 

    The firefighters worked to contain the fire around the edges to keep it from spreading and then focused on putting out the blaze in the middle. 

    “I’m thinking the advance has stopped, but the interior is continuing to burn,” Cheif Bryan Ziegler said. “We will be here as long as it takes to make sure the area is stable.”

Features 

Daniel Palmer, left, and Dayton Roberts raise the flag Thursday before school stared at Horce Mann Elementary. Palmer and Roberts are both in fourth grade and have had the duty of raising the flag each morning for the whole year before going in for breakfast. Along with raising the flag each day there are students responsible for crossing guard duty, while accompanied by an adult, and lowering and folding the flag at the end of each day.

Children in the crowd cover their ears as monster trucks crushed cars Saturday during the monster truck rally at the Bridge View Center. The show included the audience getting up close and personal with the trucks and meeting the drivers before the show. 

Roy Lake feeds bread to geese Wednesday at Ottumwa Park. Roy and his wife Linda have been coming to the park to feed geese and other animals for many years. “We come three or four times a week to feed the animals,” Roy said. “Linda really gets a kick out of it, we both have fun.” The couple is from Glenwood, Mo and comes to Ottumwa to shop, get dinner and stop by the park.

Pete Lind cares for plants Tuesday at the Centerville Greenhouses and Nursery. The company was bought by Pete’s grandfather in 1972 and continues to be run by family members. They provide wholesale plants to garden shops in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, as well as to the general public.

Ottumwa Courier Week 12

Features/Sports

Freshman infielder Sarah Wilson throws the ball to out a hitter Sunday during the IHCC women's softball game.

Alli Gooden, left, is helped by Bloomfeild Officer Buddy Harsh Wednesday while wearing impairment goggles at Davis County High School during the Time 2 Drive event. The event was aimed at teaching the students the dangers of driving while intoxicated and texting while driving. Students where field sobriety tested while wearing impairment goggles, which represent different levels of intoxication.

Community members gathered at the Quincy Place Mall Saturday to participate in the International Festival. The event included various booths from countries all around the world. Each booth gave a small taste of the culture in that country by showing traditional clothing, music and foods.

Sudden Impact performed their 2014 competition show for the students which included five songs with choreographed dances. The group is comprised of 38 singers and dancers, 20 band members and seven crew members. The group travels all over the state to compete in events throughout the year. 

The assembly started with two performances from the jazz band and wrapped up with a variety of songs and dance by the show choir Sudden Impact. The jazz band members meet three times a week and, along with accompanying the show choir, they compete in various competitions throughout the year. 

Area high school students participate in a trap shooting competition Saturday at the Ottumwa Izaak Walton League trap range. Eleven high schools and over 400 shooters registered for the competition. The event encouraged the learning of firearm safety, teamwork and self discipline.