Ottumwa artist Mika Sorak works on her sculpture "Blossom Tree" recently at Thymelyglass Studio near the Ottumwa Industrial Airport. Sorak is one of five area artists displaying sculptures at the first Ottumwa Sculpture Trail, unveiled Saturday at Bridge View Center.  

Photo by Melissa Palen

The Ottumwa Area Arts Council is hosting a reception on Saturday, September 4 from 5-7 p.m., at Bridge View Center to highlight a new public art initiative sponsored by the council and South Ottumwa Savings Bank. The Ottumwa Sculpture Trail will be officially unveiled during the free reception on the Bridge View Center patio.  The sculpture trail is a temporary public art program featuring outdoor sculptures by area artists that will be displayed on the Bridge View Center lawn near the Market Street bridge through July 2011. 
Beginning this summer, at least five sculptures will be selected annually and displayed at Bridge View Center. Artists receive a stipend to display their artwork and each sculpture is for sale. Pieces sold must remain on display through July. Any commissions will be used to support the ongoing effort to bring public art to Ottumwa.  
Featured artwork includes “Prayer In Flight” by Chris Bennett, Keosauqua; “Hope Springs” by Gail Chavenelle, Dubuque; “Create Peace For Yourself” by Ron Dinsdale, Huxley; “River’s Edge” by Steve Huffman, Ottumwa; and “Blossom Tree” by Mika Sorak, Ottumwa. 

Photo by Melissa Palen

The City of Ottumwa approved the creation of a sculpture trail this summer to promote and enhance the appreciation of the arts. According to Ottumwa Area Arts Council president Sarah Sels, the council had been asked to consider a public art project. “The Ottumwa Sculpture Trail will provide an opportunity for all Ottumwans to experience and appreciate the works of regional artists,” she said. “These sculptures will enhance the beauty of the river walk and be visible from many locations.” Special events will be held to promote public art throughout the year. 

Artist Mika Sorak pictured below with her completed sculpture "Blossom Tree."

Photo by Melissa Palen

City of Ottumwa departments and offices at City Hall, Ottumwa Cemetery, the Ottumwa Public Library, Ottumwa Water and Hydro, the Ottumwa / Wapello Recycling Center and Landfill will all be closed on Monday, September 6^th, in observance of Labor Day. 

Non-commercial trash and recycling will be postponed one day due to the holiday. Collections normally done on Monday, September 6^th will be picked up Tuesday the 7^th.  Bulky items and yard waste normally collected on Tuesdays will be picked up on Thursday, September 9^th.  Whaley Waste Rural Collection, normally done Tuesdays, will be postponed until Thursday, September 9^th, the week of Labor Day only.   

Ottumwa Transit Authority buses will not be operating on Labor Day, Monday, September 6^th.

Transit buses will resume regular routes and schedules on Tuesday, September 7^th. 
 
Wapello County Offices are also closed next Monday for Labor Day.

Labor Day weekend is the final weekend for the outdoor water park at the Beach Ottumwa.  The Beach is open Noon to 9 PM on Saturday and Sunday, September 4^th and 5^th, weather permitting.     

The Beach will be open on Labor Day, Noon to 6 PM for general swimers.  The Beach ends the season with the annual Dog Paddle, a fun event for dogs and their owners to swim together from from 6 to 8PM on Labor Day.  Dogs are only allowed in the wave pool.  All 4-legged guests must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older, be current on all vaccinations and on a leash at all times in the water park.    Admission to the Dog Paddle is one bag of pet food per dog.  The pet food is donated to the Heartland Humane Society.   Owners are reminded to please bring towels to dry your dog.

Crews at the Ottumwa, Calvary and Ottumwa Jewish Cemeteries will begin the annual fall clean up on Friday, October 1^st.   Families that wish to keep any tributes or memorial decorations need to remove those items from the cemetery prior to that date.  If a shepherd’s crook is used to hang an arrangement, families may leave the shepherd’s crook, but please remove the arrangement.  Cemetery personnel will remove all floral tributes, decorations and wreaths remaining after that date.  Fall and winter decorations can be placed after November 1^st.   

The Ottumwa, Calvary and Ottumwa Jewish Cemeteries are cleaned twice annually (spring and fall).  Residents with questions about the cemetery clean up or the requirements for memorial decorations can call 683-0687.

You’re invited to learn about new laws passed to make our communities and neighborhoods safer, including laws cracking down on sex offenders, preventing domestic violence murders, banning texting while driving and more.  We’d also like to hear your ideas for making Iowa smarter, safer and tougher on crime. 
 

Hosted by:

State Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield 

With special guest:

State Senator Steve Sodders of State Center,

a deputy with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office

Sunday hours at the Mahaska County Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will change this Sunday, Sept. 5, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today.

Location and new hours:

First Nazarene Church

(lower level of the church office building)

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (including Labor Day, Sept. 6)

Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sundays: 12 noon to 5 p.m.

FEMA officials also announced that the Mahaska County DRC will close permanently at 5 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 11.

Representatives from federal and voluntary agencies, including the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), will be available at all DRCs to answer questions and provide recovery information. Written materials about various assistance programs are also available to individuals and business owners. No cash, checks, debit cards or vouchers are distributed at DRCs. Centers are for the dissemination of information to assist in disaster recovery.

At the DRC, visitors may also:

• Get help completing applications for federal low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations
• Inquire about the status of applications for federal assistance
• Obtain referrals to voluntary organizations that may help with immediate unmet needs
• Learn cost-effective mitigation measures to reduce the impact of future disaster losses

SBA disaster loans cover costs of repair or replacement of damaged real estate, personal property and business assets not fully covered by insurance or other aid; and for small businesses, such loans cover working capital needs caused by the disaster.

Before visiting a DRC, the first step in the storm and flood recovery assistance process is to register with FEMA.

Applicants with damage from the disaster may register for assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov; or by calling toll-free, 800-621-FEMA(3362) or TTY, 800-462-7585 for the hearing- or speech-impaired. The numbers are available seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time, until further notice. You may also access disaster information and recovery resources directly from your smartphone at FEMA’s new mobile website at http://m.fema.gov/.

Receive up to the minute Iowa disaster recovery information by following us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion7 .

 United Way of Wapello County supporters will gather at Quincy Place Mall on Wednesday, September 8 to officially kickoff the 2010 Community Giving Campaign during the 11^th Annual Day of Caring.

Over 125 volunteers will spend the day volunteering at area non-profit organizations and learning about the important work being done in Wapello County.  Volunteers and other supporters will be treated to a complimentary pancake breakfast prepared by the Ottumwa Noon Kiwanis and sack lunch provided by area businesses. 

United Way works year-round to strengthen our communities and provide support for 15 Community Impact Partner Organizations and programs that will have the greatest impact on the lives of people in Wapello County.   United Way of Wapello County is working to Advance the Common Good by creating opportunities for a better quality of life for all by focusing on EDUCATION, INCOME AND HEALTH. Education is essential to getting and keeping a job with a livable wage and health benefits.  An income adequate to pay for today’s necessities and save for the future provides families some sense of financial stability.  Access to quality health care keeps children on track in school and adults productive at work.  Remove any one of these building blocks and the other two topple.

Working with many partners in our community, United Way of Wapello County’s goal is to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place.  

We invite you to be part of the change.  Together, united, we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow.  That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED.  To find out more, visit www.wapellocouw.org 

State Senators Becky Schmitz of Fairfield and Keith Kreiman of Bloomfield released details on how much Ottumwa schools can expect to receive in new federal funds to save education jobs. 

“To fight the recession, we have to keep investing in our children’s education,” Schmitz said.  “Rebuilding our economy means we must continue to prepare our young people for the jobs of the future. The new federal dollars are intended to protect this year’s students by preventing layoffs and helping districts rehire local teachers, classroom aides, counselors and librarians.  It would be a big mistake to put this money in the bank for next year instead in classrooms where it is needed now.”

Iowa will receive an estimated $96 million from the federal Education Jobs Act.  The nonpartisan Legislative Service Agency has estimated that the Ottumwa Community School District will receive approximately $911,275 and estimates that amount could potentially be used to hire 15 teachers based on last year's average teacher salary in the district.  The information is from the nonpartisan Iowa Legislative Service Agency. 

“This money will be released to local schools as soon as possible,” Kreiman said. “Reducing class sizes and providing learning opportunities for all of Iowa's children is critical to the future of our state. In the Legislature, Republicans and Democrats must continue to work together to protect and improve the education of our children and our future economic growth.”

City of Ottumwa departments and offices at City Hall, Ottumwa Cemetery, the Ottumwa Public Library, Ottumwa Water and Hydro, the Ottumwa / Wapello Recycling Center and Landfill will all be closed on Monday, September 6^th, in observance of Labor Day. 

Non-commercial trash and recycling will be postponed one day due to the holiday. Collections normally done on Monday, September 6^th will be picked up Tuesday the 7^th.  Bulky items and yard waste normally collected on Tuesdays will be picked up on Thursday, September 9^th.  Whaley Waste Rural Collection, normally done Tuesdays, will be postponed until Thursday, September 9^th, the week of Labor Day only.   

Ottumwa Transit Authority buses will not be operating on Labor Day, Monday, September 6^th.

Transit buses will resume regular routes and schedules on Tuesday, September 7^th. 
 
Wapello County Offices and Services are closed also on Monday, in observance of Labor Day.

Labor Day weekend is the final weekend for the outdoor water park at the Beach Ottumwa.  The Beach is open Noon to 9 PM on Saturday and Sunday, September 4^th and 5^th, weather permitting.     

The Beach will be open on Labor Day, Noon to 6 PM for general swimmers.  The Beach ends the season with the annual Dog Paddle, a fun event for dogs and their owners to swim together from from 6 to 8PM on Labor Day.  Dogs are only allowed in the wave pool.  All 4-legged guests must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older, be current on all vaccinations and on a leash at all times in the water park.    Admission to the Dog Paddle is one bag of pet food per dog.  The pet food is donated to the Heartland Humane Society.   Owners are reminded to please bring towels to dry your dog.