Welcome to another edition of the mailbag where you will find some of the comments, questions and ideas sent recently by readers of this newsletter or our publications. They are edited for space and clarity.
“Good morning, Shane. So funny that you mentioned coffee cups today (Coffee cups, Jan. 7, 2025). While at a recent trip to Walgreen’s to look for something else, I purchased a Christmas clearance cup with a gold letter L on it for $1.19. Did I need another cup? Nope! But I didn’t have a cup with my initial on it yet.” - Lu Anne
You need a sweater with an L on it! Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated! - Shane
“I've had my cup for more than 30 years (Coffee cups, Jan. 7, 2025). A Prairie Home Companion, Garrison Keillor gave these cups out for those of us who contributed to the cause. This one changes when hot liquid is inside to reveal the Catchup Advisory Board, one of his many gigs, along with Guy Noire, private eye, etc. You might be too young to remember this radio show. I loved it each week!” - Steve
To be honest, I have not experienced it. But with the right cup of coffee, I might be up for giving it a listen. - Shane
“Why, yes, I have an eclectic coffee cup collection (Coffee cups, Jan. 7, 2025). Or, in my wife's terms, ‘You have quite an array of cups; do you drink from them all at the same time?’ In other words, too damn many that crowd the shelf. One from a topless donut shop from Maine with the logo worn off. One that is an MLB baseball giveaway, and I can’t recall the team, as the logo is also worn off. One from White Castle, a classic collection from the 1980s. One from the old Pershing Auditorium in Lincoln, Nebraska, that changes logos when filled with hot beverages. A Harlem Globetrotter gilded cup. An Amtrak mug that is a touch larger from our son, a regional manager. A classic Spencer's Gifts gift — ‘Damn, I'm Good.’ And one from the White House collection, a gift from a Secret Service agent buddy. While traveling? Whatever holds the most and fits in the RAV 4 cupholder.” - Rex
Wait a second. A topless donut shop in Maine? - Shane
“Hi, Shane. First time reaching out but have enjoyed the articles for a while. I wanted to respond to your coffee column (Coffee cups, Jan. 7, 2025). I have never drank a drop of coffee in my life. It’s a tool of the devil… plus I hated the smell as a kid so I never started. Coffee mugs rule, though, and they work well for hot chocolate and puns. That’s all I have, so I’ll end with a quote from the wise Lloyd Christmas: ‘Big gulps, huh? Alright. Well, see ya later!’ ” - Rick
Coffee isn’t so much a tool of the devil. It’s coffee creamer you have to worry about. - Shane
Thank you for reading.
Shane Goodman
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FROM KCCI: Former Ankeny Chamber of Commerce CEO arrested for theft, money laundering. ANKENY, Iowa — The former president and CEO of the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce has been arrested. Police say Melisa Cox stole more than $250,000 from the organization over three years. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: Woman found dead in Grimes backyard identified. GRIMES, Iowa — A woman who was found dead in a Grimes backyard Tuesday has been identified. Shortly before 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in the 700 block of SE Dovetail Road. ...READ MORE
FROM WOI: Gov. Reynolds proposes $1 million cancer research team. If approved, the proposal will allocate $1 million to establish a team dedicated to researching the factors that may play a role in cancer rates. ...READ MORE |
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Clear Mortgage meteorology
A warming trend continues today into Friday. Much colder air moves in Friday and into next week, as the coldest air of the season is on the way.
For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage. |
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| Read the latest CITYVIEW | | | PEOPLE & PETS
Wildlife rehabber
By Jackie Wilson
An abandoned nest of baby bunnies. An injured squirrel on the side of a road.
These are the subjects of some of the calls Melinda Austin fields from members of the public who are seeking advice on how to take care of these animals.
Austin is a wildlife rehabilitator for small animals. She is licensed by the DNR to assist with small mammals, such as squirrels, rabbits, fox, opossum and more that have been injured. She says the animals are protected by law. | | | READ MORE |
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Beyond T-shirts and ball caps. Vogue declared 2024 “a ravenous year for restaurant merch.” Restaurants and food and drink brands continue to produce merchandise like they were sports teams. Trendy tinned seafood brand Fishwife teamed up with boutique Lisa Says Gah to produce a $60 necklace for them. Coca Cola and Diet Coke co-branded shoes from footwear brand HeyDude. Salad-bar chain Sweetgreen dropped a nine-piece apparel collection featuring a tote bag, hoodie and even socks. The next chapter could bring brands and food even closer together. Companies that have already created signature looks and scents might turn their sights to developing branded tastes, a co-founder of food-culture marketing company Biite told Wall Street Journal.
The chief new concept officer news. Yum brand's Kentucky Fried Chicken has a long history of branding and rebranding itself. When fried things lost their cool with the thin people, and Kentucky seemed too Confederate for Yum's WOKE ambitions, they changed their name to KFC. Now that breasts and thighs and legs have lost value compared to "wings" of all backbone types, KFC needs a whole new brand. They opened their first Saucy by KFC store late in December in Orlando, selling 11 sauces with boneless chicken products and lots of tropical drinks. "Saucy is debuting with these 11 sauces, but we envision limited-edition sauces, trend-inspired sauces and sauces created in response to changing taste buds," KFC Chief New Concept Officer Christopher Poirier said in a press release. (Fox Business)
Thursday specials
• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) has jumbo (16-20/pound) shrimp on sale for $3.99/pound and organic grapefruit for $1/pound through Tuesday
• Sirloin steak dinners are featured specials today at Sully's Irish Pub (860 First St., West Des Moines), Front Row (9956 Swanson Blvd., Clive), and Winn’s Pizza and Steakhouse (122 W. Ashland Ave., Indianola)
• Thursday nights, Moroccan couscous — lemon chicken, beef keftas, five vegetables, harissa — are $17 at Purveyor (505 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines).
• Sprockets (2314 University Ave., Des Moines) offers a breaded pork tenderloin special on Thursdays for $9.99.
• Kids eat free at Scornovacca’s (1930 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) on Thursdays
• Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) offers $2 off all sushi on Thursdays
• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) has karaoke tonight from 6 p.m.
• ShortE's BBQ (8505 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) has $1 smoked wings Thursdays.
• It's prime rib night at Flying Mango (4345 Hickman Road).
• Westown Tap (3530 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines) offers all-you-can-eat boneless or bone-in wings $15 on Thursdays.
• Jordan Messerole plays HiFi Brew Lounge (103 SW 11th St., West Des Moines) tonight after 7.
• Bevy’s Tavern (1300 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special of beef stew and cornbread Thursdays for $13.
• Aldi stores have Mandarins on sale for $1/pound when you buy 3 pounds and on chicken breasts at $2.19/pound through Tuesday.
• Amruth Indian Grill (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive), a recent Tuesday Tout, offers an all-you-can-eat dosa (gram/rice flour crepes) buffet on Thursdays 5:30-9 p.m. $18.95. This locally owned store is the raj of south Indian cuisine and dosa is its prophet.
• Southridge Hy-Vee has a $10 steak dinner special on Thursdays with $1 going to Southside Cares.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
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The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Valley Junction Store
1. Bing’s
2. Hinge
3. Memory Lane
The 2025 Best Of Des Moines Poll is now closed. Results will be published in the February 2025 issue of CITYVIEW. |
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| Featured home for sale | | | |
$669,900 2806 N.E. Brentwood Circle Grimes, IA 50111
This luxurious walkout ranch boasts 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and an oversized 3-car garage with 3400 sq ft of living space. This modern home features 10' ceilings, hardwood floors, 2 electric fireplaces, central vac, irrigation system, wet bar, mud room, laundry room, walk-in pantry, covered deck, covered patio, and so much more. The expanded-depth garage has epoxy flooring.
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 6315 HICKMAN ROAD, DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-09-06
SALE PRICE: $1,700,000
SELLER: TKKT LLC
BUYER: TWIN OAKS RESIDENCES LLC
ACRES: 0.515
SQUARE FEET: 19,344 |
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Featured in the current
issue of Johnston Living magazine | | | Meet Olga Kline
A 43-year legacy of dedication
By Lindsey Giardino
After a 43-year career in teaching, including 39 years in Johnston, Olga Kline will retire at the end of this school year. Over her decades of service, Kline has left a mark on countless students and colleagues alike.
Although teaching was always her dream, Kline initially pursued other paths.
“I loved school and was fortunate to have great, supportive teachers,” Kline says.
“However, when I graduated from high school, there was an overload of teachers, so I decided to go into journalism.”
After a semester in college, concerns about job prospects in journalism led Kline to the business world. However, she soon realized it wasn’t the right fit. | | | READ MORE |
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FROM ESPN: Jack Hoffman, Nebraska fan known for 'The Run,' dies of cancer at 19. ... READ MORE
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Novak Djokovic Surpasses Roger Federer in Grand Slam Tennis Record. ... READ MORE
FROM Yahoo Sports: Nick Saban, Michael Vick, Urban Meyer headline College Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2025. ... READ MORE |
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1919: Prohibition is ratified by the states. The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, prohibiting the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes,” is ratified by the requisite number of states on January 16, 1919. The movement for the prohibition of alcohol began in the early 19th century, when Americans concerned about the adverse effects of drinking began forming temperance societies. ...READ MORE
1997: Bill Cosby’s son murdered along California interstate. On January 16, 1997, comedian and TV star Bill Cosby’s 27-year-old son Ennis Cosby is murdered after he stops to fix a flat tire along California’s Interstate 405 in Los Angeles. ... READ MORE
1945: Hitler descends into his bunker. Adolf Hitler takes to his underground bunker, where he remains for 105 days until he died by suicide. Hitler retired to his bunker after deciding to remain in Berlin for the last great siege of the war. Fifty-five feet under the chancellery (Hitler’s headquarters as chancellor), the shelter contained 18 small rooms and was fully self-sufficient, with its own water and electrical supply. ... READ MORE
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| Birthdays and notables | | | Happy Birthday Dan Juffer!
These celebrities were born on this date: A.J. Foyt, David Chokachi, Debbie Allen, Joe Flacco, John Carpenter, Jonathan Mangum, Josie Davis, Kate Moss, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nick Valensi, Renee Felice Smith, Richard T. Jones, Ronnie Milsap, Sade
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to the last riddle: Who invented fractions? KING HENRY THE 1/8. - Gail Tomlinson. Other answers from Carolyn Rogers and Rex Post.
Today's riddle: Who was the biggest jokester in George Washington’s army?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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