Jul

8

One-Tank Trips

July 8, 2008 | 4 Comments

Stuart made the first list of one-tank trips in the Des Moines Register today. Actually it was White Pole Road but close enough. Check out the story here.

Jul

3

Here Maren

July 3, 2008 | 2 Comments

Say hello to Nuke and Crash

Jul

2

Is Stuart a possible site for Microsoft?

July 2, 2008 | 8 Comments

I mentioned this back in February, but could Microsoft land in Stuart? They’re weighing a few options in the Des Moines area for a data farm where they’ll employ about 100 high-tech workers at an average salary of $70,000.

Wouldn’t this be a good thing for Stuart? What can we do to make this a possibility?

Jul

1

Butt out

July 1, 2008 | 26 Comments

At midnight last night the state-wide smoking ban took effect. What does that mean to you and me here in Stuart? Cleaner air when we go out in public? Sure. Better tasting food and drink? Possibly. Healthier living? Time will tell.

It also means just one more way of being told what we can and can’t do. I’ve mentioned (and ranted about) this before, but it bears repeating. I don’t smoke, but don’t tell me I don’t have the right to. I can carry a gun around, but I can’t smoke in a bar? That’s ridiculous. But I can still smoke at the casino because casinos make more money. And we don’t really care about the health of the casino workers, do we? Apparently not. Or at least not enough to outweigh the cashflow.

So when you come to the bar don’t blame me for taking away your rights. At least you can still smoke outside. Until next year when the state takes that away too.

Jun

20

Weekly Recap

June 20, 2008 | 8 Comments

The haters are back. This is the best news ever. Nothing else that happened this week can even compare.

Jun

15

Post-Good Egg Days thoughts

June 15, 2008 | 26 Comments

Stone Thro put on a helluva show Saturday night. The weather was perfect. The street dance was packed both inside and out. Karaoke had a great turnout on Friday night too. Thanks to Tom for sporting the Ruby’s duds.

It sounds like the carnival was ok maybe, or at least it was better than last year. Any thoughts?

I sure could have used a corn dog or a funnel cake this weekend.

I’m glad the weekend is over, but at the same time I can’t wait til next year. Thanks to everyone who helped organize all the events. Stuart is lucky to have the Good Eggs that we have.

***

ESPN.com writer Bill Simmons made a brief mention of Iowa 6-on-6 basketball is his NBA Finals Game 4 running diary. Check it out if you have a few minutes. The comment is at the 7:52 mark.

***

My basement is dry, the neighbor mowed his yard today for the 3rd time this year, and my new kittens haven’t torn my house up yet. Life is good. Until next time…

Jun

10

I must be getting old

June 10, 2008 | 3 Comments

It’s time for the West Central class of 1998 10 year reunion!

Here is the info…

Saturday July 26th
Social hour @ 3pm
Dinner @ 5pm

Menlo Community Building (park nearby for kids)

$10 per person or $20 per family
Meat, buns, paper goods, tea, and lemonade provided - Please bring a side dish or dessert.

Money to Elli Christensen by July 1st
905 Jefferson St. #1006
KC, MO 64105

Head to Ruby’s afterwards around 8 pm for live music with Brian Calek.

Please pass this information on, but let Elli (ellirc@gmail.com) know you got this info and who you are passing it to.

Jun

8

Area Police Troubles

June 8, 2008 | 7 Comments

Say what you want about the history of Stuart’s police department, at least things were never as bad as they are in Creston right now. True or not, it’s definitely a black eye on their department.

May

16

Weekly Recap

May 16, 2008 | 31 Comments

- Congrats to all the WCV seniors who will be graduating on Sunday. Good luck minimizing life’s downs and emphasizing the ups in your post-high school journeys.

- Is anyone as confused as I am when you see multiple candidates “Vote for So-and-so for sheriff” signs in someone’s yard? I understand showing your support for one sheriff candidate, but does it make sense to put both candidates’ signs in your yard? Which one are you supporting?

- It looks like some early work is starting on the Cultural Center formerly known as All Saints Church. This should be a very good addition to Stuart if it’s promoted correctly and so far signs are good.

Thank you to everyone who helped out at the bar during Dad’s recent stretch of health trouble. And a huge thanks to the Stuart Rescue Unit crews. These individuals are some of our best eggs. Thank you!

May

11

To Moms

May 11, 2008 | 3 Comments

This is for the mothers who have sat up
all night with sick toddlers in their arms,
wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer
wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying,
‘It’s okay honey, Mommy’s here.’

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end
soothing crying babies who can’t be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at
work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains
on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and
make cookies and sew Halloween costumes.

And all the mothers who DON’T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to
babies they’ll never see. And the mothers
who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art
collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns
on metal bleachers at baseball or soccer games instead
of watching from the warmth of their cars.
And that when their kids asked, ‘Did you see me, Mom?’
they could say, ‘Of course, I wouldn’t
have missed it for the world,’ and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids
in the grocery store and swat them in despair when
they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner.
And for all the mothers who count to ten instead,
but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with
their children and explained all about making
babies. And for all the (grand)mothers who
wanted to, but just couldn’t find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go
hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read ‘Goodnight,
Moon’ twice a night for a year. And then
read it again, ‘Just one more time.’

This is for all the mothers who taught
their children to tie their shoelaces before
they started school. And for all the mothers
who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons
to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns
automatically when a little voice calls ‘Mom?’
in a crowd, even though they know their
own offspring are at home — or even away
at college — or have their own families.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids
to school with stomach aches, assuring them
they’d be just FINE once they got there, only
to get calls from the school nurse an hour later
asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone
astray, who can’t find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they
bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of
recent school shootings, and the mothers
of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors,
and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs
in horror, hugging their child
who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their
children to be peaceful, and now pray
they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good mother anyway?
Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips?
The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and
sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart?
Is it the ache she feels when she
watches her son or daughter disappear
down the street, walking to school alone
for the very first time?

The jolt that takes her from sleep to
dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put
her hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

The panic, years later, that comes again
at 2 A.M. when she just wants to hear
their key in the door and know they
are safe again in her home?

Or the need to flee from wherever she is
and hug her child when she hears news
of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are
universal and so our thoughts are for
young mothers stumbling through diaper
changes and sleep deprivation….

And for mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all.

Happy Mother’s Day!

May

6

The Man, the Myth, the Legend

May 6, 2008 | 8 Comments

From the Greatest Sports Figures of Dallas County

Apr

25

Weekly Recap

April 25, 2008 | 18 Comments

- The Iowa State Fair announced their grandstand concert lineup. Cinderella, Warrant and Night Ranger?? Count me in!

- Like it or not, the ethanol plant may be coming through your land…or their water might be anyway. Should Xenia be allowed to initiate condemnation proceedings against landowners who refuse Xenia’s offer?

- Speaking of being told what to do, does the smoking ban taking effect July 1 bother anyone? I’m not really talking about the smoking aspect of it. I won’t really mind not being around the smoke. What bothers me is that if the governor can sign this and say it’s about saving lives (except for people who are gambling…screw them), what’s to stop the next bill from banning fast food? Should McDonald’s and Burger King get rid of the Big Mac and the Whopper? What about Casey’s pizza? Doesn’t eating fast food cause obesity which causes heart disease which causes death? It does just as much damage as second hand smoke does. While you’re at it, ban being in the sun. It causes skin cancer. Don’t tell us how to kill ourselves, Governor Culver. Or at least make everyone play (or die) by the same rules.

- Iowa has a history of stupid rules though. Did you know in Iowa a man with a mustache may never kiss a woman in public? Yep, it’s against the law. At least it’s not Denver though. There it’s against the law to lend your vacuum to your next-door neighbor. In Louisiana biting someone with your natural teeth is “simple assault,” while biting someone with your false teeth is “aggravated assault.” Does it matter if your teeth are in your mouth at the time?

Enough of the ranting for now. Don’t forget the Kenny Vanlandingham benefit tomorrow. Please take some time out of your day and show up. It’s for a great cause.

And come to Ruby’s for live music tonight and tomorrow night.

Apr

23

Extras Open Casting Call

April 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Peacock feature film

Greenfield
Sunday, April 27
Noon to 5pm
Chamber/Mainstreet office
201 South 1st Street

For more info on the roles and film, go to www.copelandcreative.com, click on “Peacock Casting.” All ages and types are welcome. We are particularly interested in adults, though there are specific scenes with children.

Apr

22

Today is…

April 22, 2008 | 3 Comments

…Earth Day. Go recycle something.

Today is also the 25th anniversary of War Games starring Matthew Broderick.

On today’s date in 1994 the world’s largest lollipop was made in Denmark. [Insert your own joke here.]

On tomorrow’s date in 1985 New Coke was introduced. It sucked. Regular Coke isn’t much better.

That’s all for now. I’ll post something again in another month or so.

Apr

11

Weekly Recap - National Title Editoin

April 11, 2008 | 5 Comments