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Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025
Good morning to you! 

Jennifer Marlowe, the confident, beautiful, high-heeled receptionist at radio station WKRP in Cincinnati is no more. The actress who so powerfully portrayed her, Loni Anderson, died Sunday at age 79 at a Los Angeles hospital following a prolonged illness.

Anderson’s character in the hit TV comedy that aired from 1978 to 1982 was certainly a visual beauty who helped draw in viewers to the show — including this young kid — but she was more than a receptionist. In fact, she wasn’t much of what was defined back then as a receptionist at all. She didn’t take dictation, type letters, or make coffee. She explained in one episode, “I am a receptionist. Receptionists receive. They offer comfort, provide support, answer a few telephone calls. But they do not type, unless it’s for a very good cause.”

The show’s writers cleverly made Jennifer the beauty and the brains of the series, as she quietly kept the station afloat while patiently dealing with the incompetence of most of the staff, namely Mr. Carlson (station manager), Dr. Johnny Fever (DJ), Les Nessman (news reporter), Herb Tarlek (salesman) and Venus Flytrap (DJ). The only characters besides Jennifer who seemed competent — and who often sought out her advice — were Bailey Quarters (reporter) and Andy Travis (station director).

Jennifer and Bailey had a sort of Ginger-and-Mary-Ann relationship in the show, which seemed to work. And Jennifer and Andy — the male heartthrob of the series — maintained a professional bond.

“WKRP in Cincinnati” provided a glimpse inside the walls of a fledgling mid-market AM radio station that some heard but few saw, and Loni Anderson was an integral part of the staff mix. The role earned her two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.

Off the screen, Anderson was a fixture in tabloids, especially as part of a power couple with mega-star Burt Reynolds. The two married, but their divorce in 1994 led the Hollywood gossip talk, too.

Anderson told The Associated Press in 2021, “I think back to the beginning of our relationship, it was so, oh, gosh, tabloidy. We were just a spectacle all the time. And it was hard to have a relationship in that atmosphere. And somehow, we did it through many ups and downs.”

Anderson also had small parts in “S.W.A.T.,” “Police Woman” and, later, “Easy Street,” as well as several made-for-TV movies. But she will forever be known as Jennifer Marlowe, and her death may inspire those of us who remember “WKRP in Cincinnati,” and those who have never seen it, to seek it out.

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

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

See more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

 
News headlines

FROM KCCI: Man arrested for threatening West Des Moines 4th of July parade. West Des Moines police have arrested a man they say threatened to "plow into" the city's Independence Day parade and the officers helping with traffic control. Police say Ascher Urquhart-McDonald, of Ankeny, called Westcom Dispatch around 7 p.m. on July 3, which was during the West Des Moines parade. That's when he made threats toward the parade and the officers. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Family sues Roblox after Iowa girl’s kidnapping and sexual abuse. A lawsuit against the popular gaming platform Roblox alleges it didn’t do enough to protect a 13-year-old Iowa girl from an adult predator she met while on the game, which led to her being kidnapped, sexually abused, and trafficked. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Scientists reveal findings on rising nitrate levels in central Iowa water quality report. A highly anticipated central Iowa water quality report shows that many of the threats to Polk County's water system stem from human activities.
The Polk County Board of Supervisors released the Central Iowa Source Water Resource Assessment (CISWRA) at its meeting in July. The report — which was formally accepted by the supervisors last month — identifies agricultural pollution. Particularly, runoff from fertilizers and manure is one of the primary contributors to nitrate contamination. 
... READ MORE

 

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: How Russia reins in the internet by blocking websites and isolating it from the rest of the world. YouTube videos that won’t load. A visit to a popular independent media website that produces only a blank page. Cellphone internet connections that are down for hours or days. Going online in Russia can be frustrating, complicated and even dangerous. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Texas and California joust for political advantage, with Trump power and US House majority in play. The nation’s two most populous states — California and Texas — grappled for political advantage in advance of 2026 elections that could reorder the balance of power in Washington and threaten President Donald Trump’s agenda at the midpoint of his second term. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Gov. Reynolds celebrates SNAP waivers approval in Washington, D.C. Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday joined a news conference in Washington, D.C., to praise the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Trump administration for allowing Iowa to restrict certain foods under a federal aid program and implement an alternative summer nutrition program for children. ... READ MORE

 

Clear Mortgage meteorology

A warming trend this week. Best rain chances come Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Getting hot Friday and Saturday with heat indices near 100 degrees F.

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
 
The 2025 results: CITYVIEW's Best of Des Moines®
 
Best Local Trivia Night
 
1. Doc’s Lounge
 
2. The Hall
 
3. Lynn’s on Merle Hay
 
See all of the results
 
 

Tuesday Touts

Istanbul Cafe & Bakery is alone at the top of a list of metro restaurants for lamb, seen in several forms on this grilled meats platter.

The best way to seek out a great BBQ experience is to seek out a wood pile.

This one is found at Flying Mango, a lifestyle paragon in Des Moines with a customer base from all over the world. It is also a good sign when the smoker is outdoors, especially with mesquite for fuel. Not that anyone is Des Moines is still burning it. Read lots more about Iowa BBQ in a feature story in the August CITYVIEW. 

Deals today
• Eastside Eddie's (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) has a Tuesday special cheeseburger with fries, tots or salad and a drink for $10.

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

• 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.

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. Because tonight is an Indiana WNBA game night, the West Des Moines Jethro's has a "Fever Reliever" special of any two appetizers on the Happy Hour menu and two pints of domestic beer for $22.

• 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.), Gilroy's (1238 Eighth 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 Drive, Ankeny) offers cheeseburgers and fries for $7.99 on Tuesdays.

• G Mig’s (128 Fifth 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
 

FEATURE STORY
2025 CHOICE Awards

By Jim Duncan

Inspired by Japan’s Living National Treasures, the idea for CITYVIEW’s CHOICE awards originated 11 years ago. The Japanese program honors “preservers of important intangible cultural properties.” In the years after World War II, anxiety arose in Japan that their unique cultural traditions — noh, kabuki, origami, kumi, sumo, teapot ceramics, noodle making — might be swamped by the conquering Western culture. By honoring revered exemplars of those arts, they preserved them and made them important to a new generation.

Our intention at CITYVIEW was to do something similar for Iowa’s venerable, living food treasures. That evolved into a hall of fame for people and institutions that bestow a singular quality and identity on our city and state. CITYVIEW’s Hall of Iowa Culinary Excellence (CHOICE) awards began when locals rued the passing of two of the most memorable food icons in Iowa history. The Younkers Tea Room was lost in a fire, and Dahl’s stores were sold or closed. ...

 
Read more
 
Featured home for sale
 
Post listings here for $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.
 
$419,500

12373 Hazelwood Court
Clive, IA 50325

This renovated 2-story single family home is nestled into the heart of a quiet Clive neighborhood with close proximity to countless amenities, Wellington Ridge Park, and even the Greenbelt Goats at Campbell Recreation Area. Along with its fully-fenced backyard, this home offers ample living space with 4 bedrooms throughout, an additional office/flex room, and plenty of space for storage and future expansion with more than 1,200 square feet of unfinished space in the lower level. ...

  
See the listing here.
 
See more homes for sale
 
SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction
 
1454 SECOND AVE., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2025-03-24
SALE PRICE: $420,000
SELLER: CAVAN INC
BUYER: DANG, DUY
ACRES: 0.444
SQUARE FEET: 7,500
 
More transactions
 
Featured in the current
issue of West Des Moines/Jordan Creek Living magazine
 

Dream yards
Residents share how they make the best of their outdoor spaces.

By Jackie Wilson

Give 10 people the blank slate of a spacious yard, and you are likely to see those yards evolve into 10 different visions. Some will be a fenced-in oasis for dogs and kids to run, roll and play. Others will have pools and fire pits for summer fun. A few may even feature makeshift ballfields, sledding hills, playgrounds, ponds. And most all will provide a scenic setting for enjoying sunrises and sunsets. Whatever the vision, area residents share how their outdoor spaces have become their dream yards.

Chaos garden
When Scott and Michale Hansen moved into their West Des Moines home, the new development only included one tree and had no landscaping on the properties.

The couple previously lived in Ames in a 1920s home with numerous mature trees. They had a blank slate to make the backyard their own and wanted to add several elements to their yard. It was important to include native plants and drought-tolerant landscaping but without an over-crowded feel of too many plants. ...

 
Read more
 
Sports headlines
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Texas high schooler sets 800-Meter Under-18 world record, qualifies for World Championships. In a few short weeks, Cooper Lutkenhaus will be beginning his junior year at Northwest High School in suburban Fort Worth. Just a few weeks into his semester, he'll be flying across the world to Tokyo to compete for the United States in the World Athletics Championships, after qualifying with a record-shattering performance at Sunday's USA Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. ... READ MORE
 
FROM ESPN: Cleveland Browns sign fifth QB in Tyler Huntley. The Cleveland Browns are signing quarterback Tyler Huntley, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday, adding depth with multiple passers nursing injuries. Cleveland is holding a quarterback competition among four players: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. However, all but Flacco have recently been sidelined because of injuries. ... READ MORE
 
FROM YAHOO SPORTS: Texas claims No. 1 spot over Ohio State in preseason Top 25. The start of the 2025 college football season is less than three weeks away, and on Monday, the USA Today Coaches Poll was released featuring Arch Manning and Texas at No. 1 and Ohio State, the reigning national champions, at No. 2. ... READ MORE
 

1944: Hundreds of Jews are freed from forced labor in Warsaw. On August 5, 1944, Polish insurgents liberate a German forced-labor camp in Warsaw, freeing 348 Jewish prisoners, who join in a general uprising against the German occupiers of the city.  ... READ MORE

1948: Vicki Draves and Sammy Lee become the first Asian American Olympic gold medalists. On August 5, 1948, American diver Sammy Lee takes gold at the London Olympics, just two days after his good friend and fellow diver Vicki Draves won her own gold. They are the first Asian Americans to win Olympic gold medals for the United States. ... READ MORE

1963: Nuclear Test Ban Treaty signed. Representatives of the United States, the Soviet Union and Great Britain sign the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which prohibited the testing of nuclear weapons in outer space, underwater, or in the atmosphere. The treaty was hailed as an important first step toward the control of nuclear weapons. ... READ MORE

 www.history.com

 
Birthdays and notables
 

These celebrities were born on this date: Wi Ha-joon, Olivia Holt, Josie Totah, Jesse Williams, James Gunn, Mark Strong, Elle McKinnon

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

 
Morning chuckle

The answer to the last riddle:  How many sports magazines to you have to buy to get free athletic footwear? TEN ISSUES! (Tennis Shoes!) Or, A Brookfull! - Irving Stone.

Today's riddle: What is the most depressing thing about tennis?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

 

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Ankeny, Altoona or Bondurant Living magazines, contact:

Angela Ossian
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 307
Mobile: 515-979-5585
angela@iowalivingmagazines.com

 

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