July 29 Daily Umbrella: 200 Ottumwa JBS employees to be deported after visas revoked; gardening as self-defense; bad bowler nick

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Good morning to you!

I spent way too much time on the living room floor in front of our Magnavox console TV set when I was a child, much like how kids today spend too much time on their phones. For me, it was an after-school ritual where I connected with “The Floppy Show,” “Speed Racer” and “The Electric Company.” Sometimes, my older brother would join. Other times, I would watch with friends. But, typically, I simply viewed the shows by myself for a couple of hours in peace and quiet before supper was served. This didn’t happen every day, mind you. I did have lawns to mow, football games to play and homework to do, but I was clearly fascinated with TV.

During that time, I was also introduced to a number of TV shows that were no longer airing in prime time but could be seen in syndication on weekday afternoons. I learned from Bobby what happens when you put too much soap in the washing machine on “The Brady Bunch.” I discovered how dangerous quicksand could be on “Gilligan’s Island.” And I came to know what a “cement pond” and the “fancy eating table” were from “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

But the one show I truly looked forward to was “Hogan’s Heroes.” Yes, this sitcom that was set in a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp in Nazi Germany during World War II doesn’t hardly seem like something that would catch the attention of a kid in the 1970s, but it sure did.

The show, which originally ran for six seasons, was about a group of Allied prisoners who use the POW camp as an operations base for sabotage and espionage activities directed against Nazi Germany. But, it was more than that. Somehow, the show’s creators took one of the world’s most serious of subjects and made it funny. The cast of heroes showed a dedication to their cause while we laughed at the incompetence of the German leaders. Hogan. LeBeau. Newkirk. Kinch. Carter. The show was clearly never made to entertain kids, but it did, at least this one.

One by one, the actors who portrayed the stars of the show met their own demise, including the aforementioned as well as the ones who played Klink, Schultz, Burkhalter and Hochstetter. (An interesting side note — these four actors who portrayed the German officers were all Jewish.)

The only remaining cast member who was still alive passed away recently. His name was Kenneth Washington, and he played U.S. Sergeant Richard Baker in season six, assuming the duties of Sergeant Kinchloe (Kinch) after Ivan Dixon left the series. Washington was 89.

I can’t help but wonder if any TV shows in the recent era would have the same impact on kids today as “Hogan’s Heroes” did on me and, likely, many of you. I can’t name one, certainly not from broadcast TV. How about you? Have a TV show that continues to connect with you, from past or present? Send me a note and let me know.

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305

See more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

News headlines

FROM KCCI: 200 Ottumwa JBS employees to be deported after visas revoked. More than 200 employees of an Ottumwa meat processing plant will be deported, the city's mayor says. The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1149 confirms that between 210 and 220 employees at Ottumwa's JBS plant were informed that their visas have been revoked and their employment terminated. A Local 1149 official said this is the largest termination of visa workers in his 23 years with the union. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Work begins on final phase of Fleur Drive reconstruction project. It has been five years since work started on the extensive reconstruction project taken on by the city for Fleur Drive. The roadway serves as a main artery, connecting the airport to downtown Des Moines. The project in total cost $23 million, but this final phase is only $700,000 of that. It is repaving work that is taking place on Fleur right by Des Moines Water Works Park and Grays Lake. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Man missing in Des Moines River at Prospect Park, search temporarily called off due to conditions. A 49-year-old man is missing in the Des Moines River after witnesses say he fell from a dock Sunday morning. The Des Moines Police Department said first responders were dispatched just after 9 a.m. to Prospect Park boat ramp at 1225 Prospect Rd after a man was reported to be in the river. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Israel’s leader claims no one in Gaza is starving. Data and witnesses disagree. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says no one in Gaza is starving: “There is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza. We enable humanitarian aid throughout the duration of the war to enter Gaza – otherwise, there would be no Gazans.” ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Gunman kills 4, including police officer, in shooting at New York City office tower. A man stalked through a Manhattan office tower firing a rifle Monday, killing four people, including a New York City police officer, and wounding a fifth before taking his own life, officials said. The shooting took place at a skyscraper that is home to the headquarters of both the NFL and Blackstone, one of the world’s largest investment firms, as well as other tenants. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: FedEx to cut 84 jobs in Cedar Rapids and Dubuque amid operational changes. A total of 84 FedEx employees in Cedar Rapids and in Dubuque's jobs are being cut due to changes in processes of how the company is picking up, transporting and delivering packages. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Another hot day today, then more storm chances tonight into Wednesday. Cooler weather follows.

For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage.

Pollen tracker

Tree pollen: None

Grass pollen: Moderate

Ragweed pollen: None

"All the tennis balls belong to us!"

I stumbled upon these Bernese mountain dogs acting as the official ball bouncers at Paws & Pints Dog Park in Des Moines. On a hot, sunny afternoon, they were taking their guarding duties very seriously. I half expected them to start charging for ball retrieval! — Photo by Paul Houston

The 2025 results: CITYVIEW's Best of Des Moines®

Best Local Margarita

1. Coa Cantina

2. Mi Mexico

3. Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

See all of the results

Tuesday touts
James Beard Media Awards this year were won by two books, a TV show, and a magazine story that also delighted us. (We love when that happens because it never does any more for our favorite movies on Oscar night or TV shows on the Emmys.)
~The best literary writing about food award went to "Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves" by Nicola Twilley (Penguin Press).
~National Geographic Channel's "World Eats Bread" won best Visual Media Series.
~The MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award went to “The City that Rice Built” by Jeff Gordinier and George McCalman and encouraged me to book travel back to Charleston, South Carolina.
~The New Yorker's “Padma Lakshmi Walks Into a Bar” by Helen Rosner won for best profile and ignited a new format for jokes.

Last weekend, Beth Howard's movie "Pieowa" won "Best Food Film" at the San Antonio Film Festival.

• Tuesday means Christopher's (2816 Beaver Ave., Des Moines) offers their legendary pan fried chicken.

Deals today
• Mickey's Irish Pub (50 S.E. Laurel St., Waukee) has a special $7 half-pound burger with a side all day Tuesday.

• Hy-Vee Market Grilles are running a breakfast special Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., of three choices of two eggs, two strips bacon, two sausage links, two pancakes or two slices toast for $5 through Aug. 3.

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $7 breakfasts and $8 burgers Tuesdays.

• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) offers a special smashburger with cheese, fries and a draft beer for $10 on Tuesdays.

• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a beef stroganoff special on Tuesdays, $14 including beverage.

• Felix & Oscar's is celebrating its 50th anniversary with buffets all July. $18 or two for $30. Kids $10, under 4 free. Tuesday is a taco bar.

• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) hosts 222 BBQ today from 5-9 p.m.

• Gateway Market will sample wine 4-6 p.m. for a free tasting on Tuesday.

• Red Robin stores are advertising a $10 cheeseburger with an "endless side" on Tuesdays.

• Jethro's Tuesday special is 2 pounds of bone-in smoked wings for the price of one.

• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) runs a Tuesday special pulled pork sandwich with fries and drink for $13.50 till Labor Day.

• Kids meals are half price till 2 p.m. today at Machine Shed (11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale).

• Taco Tuesday brings serious discounts to Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines), La Familia (1610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines), all Taco John’s, all Abelardo's, all Fernando’s, Malo (900 Mulberry St., Des Moines), Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines), Los Laureles (1518 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines), Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines), The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines), Gilroy's (1238 8th St., West Des Moines) and Faustino’s (4944 Franklin Ave., Des Moines).

• Today is beef and noodles day at Maxie's Supper Club (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines).

• Django (1420 Locust St., Des Moines) has happy hour all night Tuesdays. That means super deals on oysters, shrimp, duck frites, poutine, charcuterie, cheese boards, beers, wine and classic martinis.

• Sully's (806 First St., West Des Moines) has a burger basket special for $12 today.

• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) hosts a Tuesday Burger and Beer special - half-pound burger, chips and dip, with a tap beer of choice $15.

• The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has a tenderloin Tuesday special with BPT and fries for $10.

• Curbin Cuisine (1325 S.W. Oralabor Dr., Ankeny) offers cheeseburgers and fries for $7.99 on Tuesdays.

• G Mig's (128 5th St., Valley Junction) offers a Tuesday special 8-ounce sirloin, baked potato, mixed vegetables and garlic bread for 19.95.

• Haiku (1350 31st St., Des Moines) offers free fried tofu/miso with lunch entrees today.

• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth, Des Moines) has $10 burger and fries and a drink on Tuesdays.

• Hy-Vee Market Grilles are offering a tenderloin Tuesday special with potato salad for $7.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

Featured in the current issue of CITYVIEW

JOE'S NEIGHBORHOOD
Gardening as self-defense

By Joe Weeg

“Fill the bathtub with water,” my wife yells in a high crescendo while gesturing with her hands as if she is has me by the ears and is trying to shake some sense into me. Naturally, being a good husband, I treat this cry for help with all the love and all the care and all the kindness of a respectful relationship — I scoff.

Yup, scoffing — scornful mocking to be exact — is my go-to choice. Scoffing is probably not taught in pre-marriage courses these days. Too bad. Nothing shows good listening skills, compassion for your partner and loving communication like a well-placed scoff. It’s dismissive. It’s lazy. And its use is a guarantee that you are wrong. And your scoff will be resurrected for… let’s see, the next 32 years… as Exhibit 1, at your trial for being a dope. ...

Featured home for sale

Post listings here for $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.

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This beautifully maintained split-level 4-bedroom home nestled on just over 2 acres of quiet countryside, delivers the rare combination of space, privacy in a prime location just moments from town amenities. The upper level features a spacious living area with a large picture window that fills the room with natural light, along with an eat-in kitchen perfect for everyday dining. ....

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See more homes for sale

SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction

600 HOLCOMB AVE., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2025-03-18
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SELLER: JAKERS MARK 43 LLC
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More transactions

Featured in the current
issue of Indianola Living magazine

‘Flyin’ High in 2025’
Memorable moments await at the National Balloon Classic, through Aug. 2.

By Becky Kolosik

In 2024, the National Balloon Classic faced some challenges with unprecedented storms and rain. While several days of the event were cancelled, it didn’t dampen spirits or the competition. This year, the Classic is back — bigger and better than ever with more than 100 hot air balloons, skilled pilots from around the world and, of course, the roaring burners that create a whoosh that is both heard and felt. In this issue, you will meet pilots and volunteers and learn about organizations that play an integral role in launching this iconic event.

Reaching for the stars
When Landon Olson first stepped foot in a balloon basket at the age of 4, his parents, Bill and Kristin, sensed something special.

"When we saw the smile on his face and heard the excitement in his voice, we could see his passion for watching and chasing hot air balloons,” Bill says.

Sports headlines

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Ryne Sandberg, Hall of Famer Who Helped Restore Cubs' Glory, Dies at 65. Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman and third baseman for the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, died Monday, per the Cubs. He was 65. Sandberg was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2024, and though he was briefly cancer-free later that year, the disease came back. He threw out the first pitch before Chicago's home opener as recently as April. ... READ MORE

FROM ESPN: Man pleads guilty, sentenced to prison for stalking Caitlin Clark. A 55-year-old Texas man who told police he was in "an imaginary relationship" with WNBA star Caitlin Clark was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to stalking and harassing the Indiana Fever guard. ... READ MORE

FROM YAHOO SPORTS: Deion Sanders turns cancer diagnosis into a teaching moment: 'I depend on Depends.' For more than 40 years, Deion Sanders has embodied the concept of cool in American sports culture, a look-good, play-good mentality combined with a monumental ego. He’s one of the most colorful and talented players in football history … and now, he’s talking with pride, without shame, about wearing Depends. ... READ MORE

1909: General Motors buys Cadillac. On July 29, 1909, the newly formed General Motors Corporation (GM) acquires the country’s leading luxury automaker, the Cadillac Automobile Company, for $4.5 million. ... READ MORE

1921: Adolf Hitler becomes the leader of the Nazi Party. On July 29, 1921, Adolf Hitler becomes the leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ (Nazi) Party. Under Hitler, the Nazi Party grew into a mass movement and ruled Germany as a totalitarian state from 1933 to 1945. ... READ MORE

1958: NASA created. The U.S. Congress passes legislation establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a civilian agency responsible for coordinating America’s activities in space, on July 29, 1958. NASA has since sponsored space expeditions, both human and mechanical, that have yielded vital information about the solar system and universe. It has also launched numerous earth-orbiting satellites that have been instrumental in everything from weather forecasting to navigation to global communications. ... READ MORE

www.history.com

Birthdays and notables

These celebrities were born on this date: Gisele Bündchen, Judy Greer, Carlos Santana, Omar Epps, Julianne Hough, Frank Whaley, Sandra Oh, Elliott Yamin, John Francis Daley, John Lodge, Simon Rex, T. G. Sheppard, Dean Winters, Josh Holloway, Percy Daggs III

SUBMIT: Send your local birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

Morning chuckle

The answer to the last riddle: What kind of felines can bowl? ALLEY CATS! - Kris Laurson, Gail Tomlinson, Bill Snyder. Or, Bowl between the lions! - Irving Stone

Today's riddle:Why was the bad bowler nicknamed Lightning?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or CITYVIEW magazine, contact:

Aaron Burns
Advertising Sales Manager
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 330
Mobile: 712-310-3860
aaron@dmcityview.com

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