Oct. 24 Daily Umbrella: DM high school student deported; the Hesitant Traveler’s Travel Guide; why are ghosts always drunk?

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Friday, Oct. 23, 2025

Good morning to you!

Welcome to the Friday 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.

“One of my biggest hits was three blind mice (Costume Creations, North Polk Living, October 2025). We dressed in black head to toe, found white canes really cheap, and had mouse ears. We were the cat's meow! Our secretary dressed as the farmer’s wife. Hands down, we were the most creative!” - Julie

A perfect threesome idea. I prefer The Three Stooges, but I like your creativity. - Shane

“Oh, my goodness, yes to this message (Those who read and those who don’t, Oct. 14, 2025)! Reading expands imagination, creativity, knowledge, and builds empathy. And we’re entering prime reading season weather wise! So many great books!” - Kara

More reading of books and less time on social media would make this world a better place, in my opinion. - Shane

“Lock them down to one area so everybody knows where it is and will be (The remote control, Oct. 16, 2025). Or, as a friend did years ago, use one big pizza board (not a bread board). Always keep all remotes in one location. Add GPS trackers for each device. Have more children to change the devices. Just like in the 1950s and 1960s for remotes/clickers or channel changers. Dad hollered, children moved.”- Rex

Or, as Bill Murray asked in “Scrooged,” have you tried staples?” - Shane

“Did you check the diaper bag or toybox or anywhere else Cal might have left it (The remote control, Oct. 16, 2025)? Must be your first grandchild. Rookie!” - Jeff

I think my wife hid the remote so I would stop streaming the old “Hogan’s Heroes” shows. - Shane

“Well, they certainly didn't put 10K hours into their study (10,000-Hour Rule, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025). I certainly agree that maybe 10K seems excessive, but as technology and we as people evolve, we find better methods for portions of a task to improve the results so the more time spent the better your method and efficiency and effectiveness should be. Practice does make perfect but an old high school coach would never let me forget the six P’s: Proper Planning Prevents Pi$$ Poor Performance.” - Scott

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

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

See more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

FROM KCCI: ICE detained Des Moines high school student during routine immigration check-in, advocates say. Immigration advocates say a Des Moines high school student was detained and deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a check-in. The Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (Iowa MMJ) provided a news release Thursday morning in which it says a high school student was detained at the federal building in downtown Des Moines during an immigration check-in on Sept. 30. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Hinterland festival expanding to 4 days. The wildly popular Hinterland Music Festival is expanding in 2026, adding another day. Festival organizers made the announcement Thursday afternoon, saying the 11th edition of the festival will be held between Thursday, July 30th, through Sunday, August 2nd. Hinterland will also be using a new ticket purchasing system, Fair AXS, designed to make sure tickets aren’t all bought up by bots and resold for higher prices. Hinterland is the first music festival using the system. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Van driver life-flighted after Tama County crash with dump truck, sheriff says. The driver of a cargo van was life-flighted from the scene of a crash that closed part of westbound Highway 30 between Marshalltown and Tama for over three hours Thursday, according to the Tama County Sheriff's Office. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Trump says he’s ending trade talks with Canada over TV ads. President Donald Trump said late Thursday that he was ending “all trade negotiations” with Canada because of a television ad opposing U.S. tariffs that he said misstated the facts and called “egregious behavior” aimed at influencing U.S. court decisions. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Sports betting is a booming business. The FBI’s NBA probe is putting it in the spotlight. The stunning indictment that led to the arrest of more than 30 people, including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and other NBA figures, on charges of illegal sports betting has drawn new scrutiny of the booming business of professional sports gambling across the U.S. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Nov. 4 election brings 55 bond proposals across Iowa. Voters have seen 18 of them before. "Bond referendum" is a fancy way of saying a local government body is asking voters to fund a big item. A new building, upgrades to facilities, or other things.There are 55 proposals going before voters on Nov. 4 for a total of $1.6 billion, according to Iowans for Tax Relief. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Mild October weather through the weekend with small rain chances Saturday and Sunday. Breezy conditions with better rain chances Monday and Tuesday.

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

Pollen tracker

Tree pollen: Low

Grass pollen: Low

Ragweed pollen: Low

Mold: Low

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

Best Local Place for Cosmetic Surgery

1. Des Moines Plastic Surgery

2. Koch & Carlisle Plastic Surgery & Spa

3. The Iowa Clinic

See all of the results

Steakhouse news
Road trip? “Delish” named Archie’s Waeside in Le Mars Iowa’s best “under-the-radar steakhouse.” Good choice. They age their steaks, raise their own vegetables on premises and make their own corned beef for their relish tray. Pilot clubs meet there from all over the Midwest. (Le Mars is wealthy enough to support a great steakhouse and its own airport.) Owners Bob Rand and Lorrie Luense also were jointly named Iowa Restaurant Association's Restaurateur of the Year.

Historian/chef George Formaro announced a Nov. 7 dinner at Rinehart Room that "reinterprets classic steak house menus:" lobster sundaes, cauliflower cheese soup, skirt steak Caesar salad, teres major steak with robuchon potatoes, oysters and Hollandaise, plus dessert. $98, reservations 515-288-0268.

Haiku announced that yesterday was their last day of operation. The place will be closed until new owners come aboard.

Weekend deals
• Prime & Providence has a new Sunday dinner for two special that includes three courses. Entrée choices are ribeye or filet mignon with choice of two sides. $99.

• Irina’s (650 Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines) offers an all-you-can-eat surf and turf special Friday and Saturday that includes slow roasted beef with chimichurri and demiglace, snow crab legs, loaded whipped potato, lobster bisque, corn on the cob, hush puppies, coleslaw and mussels in Chardonnay. $59.

• ShortE's BBQ (8805 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) offers 20% discounts to first responders and military on Friday and Saturday. They have a Friday special pulled pork sandwich, fries and fountain drink for $12.

• Cousin's Maine Lobster will park their truck at Firetrucker Brewery, Ankeny, on Saturday, noon to 8 p.m., and at Lowes Home Improvement, Jordan Creek, on Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Amruth (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive) has 20 dishes on their new Saturday and Sunday buffet, noon to 4 p.m.. Of course, there will be dosas.

• Aldi stores haves sales through Tuesday on caramel apples at $2.99/three-pack, Driscoll raspberries at $1.99/basket and St. Louis ribs at $2.39/pound.

• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) has a meat loaf with mashed potatoes and gravy Friday special, $13.50.

• Hy-Vee Market Grilles offer a Friday special chicken enchilada with rice dinner for $8. They do rib dinners Saturday and Sunday for $15.

• Waterfront stores' Saturday special includes cocktail shrimp or raw oysters on the half shell for half price until 4 p.m.

• Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) does Saturday and Sunday brunch buffets for $24.99 for adults. Kids 6 and younger eat free.

• Eastside Eddie's (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) has a Friday special chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy for $10.

• Rube's steakhouses offer a prime sirloin special on Sundays only, $29.

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $9 Philly cheesesteaks or hot honey chicken plus $8 biscuit and gravy breakfasts on Fridays.

• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) offers walleye or steak dinner specials tonight and karaoke after 9 p.m. They have a ten for $10 wings deal on Sundays.

• Friday is Soul Food day at Joppa Experience (1829 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) with fried chicken and oxtail stew joining the usual menu.

• Jethro's Sunday special is papa cheeseburgers and side for $9.95. Today they have BBQ melt and side deal for $9.95.

• G Mig's has Friday prime rib dinners for $29.75 or scallops and shrimp prima vera with fettucine and garlic bread for $25.95. Saturday's special is Georgie's spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread for $18.50.

• Django (1420 Locust St., Des Moines) offers a Sunday supper with a roasted half chicken as the main course. The meal includes house salad with red onion, apple, Roquefort, and candied walnuts; fresh baguette with whipped butter; roasted fingerling potatoes with fresh herbs; and sautéed haricot verts with caramelized onions and lardons. $30

• Table 128 (220 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) features a Saturday tasting menu for $58.

• Heavenly Asian (225 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has an all-day Friday sale on orange chicken served with soup, crab Rangoon, egg roll and rice, $14, available for dine-in and phone carry-out.

• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a $40 prime rib dinner special Friday and Saturday.

• Court Avenue Brewing Company (309 Court Ave., Des Moines) hosts Saturday and Sunday breakfast buffets for $23.99.

• Maxie's Supper Club's (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines) Friday special is chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes - $16.95 all day. They also have prime rib dinners on Friday and Saturday for dinner only, $30-38.

• Fareways have specials through Saturday on red or green grapes at $1.88/pound, boneless USDA Choice arm roast (pot roast) at $6.99/pound, eggplant at 88 cents/pound and fresh lake trout at $5.99/pound.

• Price Choppers have sales on jumbo red, green or black grapes at $1.99/pound, Russet potatoes at $2.99/10-pound bag, honey crisp apples at 99 cents/pound, and tilapia frozen filets at $4.99/pound through Monday.

• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) has sales on 100% grass fed boneless ribeyes at $19.99/pound, on jumbo (16-20) shrimp at $5.99/pound, raspberries or blackberries at two for $5, and honey crisp apples at $1.49/pound. The store is also promoting exotic fruits as Halloween giveaways with mangosteens, rambutans, kiwano melons, finger limes and Buddha hands.

• Hy-Vee stores have sales on Dole raspberries or blackberries at $2.49/package, jumbo fresh muffins at $5.49/four pack and Hy-Vee apple cider at $6.99/gallon through Monday.

Music
John Krantz Trio plays Louie's Wine Dive (4040 University Ave., Des Moines) on Sunday at 5 p.m... El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill on EP True has live music from The Juan and Only on Friday from 6 p.m... Willie James Shay plays Sonny’s Pizza Bistro Friday at 5:30 p.m... Jake & TK play Kelly's Little Nipper at 7 p.m. Friday... Brian Congdon will be at Caffrey’s Irish Pub, Waukee at 5 p.m. Fred Gazzo Quintet plays Anna Dolce Ristorante, WDM at 6 p.m. Saturday... David Watson is at Winterset Cidery Sunday at 2 p.m... Willie Shay plays Simon’s at 7 p.m. Friday... Lauren Vilmain/Nick Ruckert Duo plays Louie’s Wine Dive at 5 p.m. Sunday... Bob Pace & The Power play Mickey’s Irish Pub, Waukee at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

Featured in the current issue of CITYVIEW

JOE'S NEIGHBORHOOD
The Hesitant Traveler’s Travel Guide

By Joe Weeg

“Let’s go to Vienna!” “Let’s go to Sarajevo!” “Let’s go to Belfast!”… says my wife.

And my go-to response? The very first loving words out of my mouth? Are…

“NOOOOOOOOO WAY!”

You see, my wife wants to see the world. I get it. We spent all our working years and kid-raising years never leaving Iowa (except for her stint with the UN in The Hague — which counts for something, doesn’t it?). Now that we are old, she wants to make up for lost time by going to see museums and castles and cafes and vineyards and mountains and oceans and the Eiffel Tower sparkle with lights.

Nope. Not for me. ...

Featured home for sale

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

$725,000

1824 N.W. 151st Court
Clive, IA 50325

This stunning home features a beautifully landscaped backyard offering privacy and outdoor enjoyment. Step inside the grand two-story entry with an elegant staircase and flow into the spacious main level designed for everyday living and entertaining. The kitchen boasts abundant cabinetry, granite countertops, a center island, and both a formal dining room and cozy breakfast niche. ...

See the listing here.

See more homes for sale

SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction

224 FIFTH ST., WEST DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2025-05-28
SALE PRICE: $292,000
SELLER: PEC PROPERTIES LLC
BUYER: CUTLER PROPERTIES LC
ACRES: 0.127
SQUARE FEET: 8,199

More transactions

Featured in the current
issue of Altoona Living magazine

Costume creations
Residents share how they add their own touches to Halloween garbs.

By Sean Dengler

When it comes to Halloween, some people like to pull out all the stops. They turn their yards into haunted or cartoon landscapes. They carve pumpkins, bob for apples, and offer the best treats to their trick-or-treaters. And, they put their energy and holiday spirit into making sure their costumes — or their kids’ — make others “ooh” and “aah” … and perhaps shudder.

Letting the creativity flow
Creating costumes as a family started for Jessica Heitman with her firstborn.

“It all started when I had my first daughter, and she is 11,” she says. “She would've been about 10 months old for her first Halloween. I just saw something online, and I decided that I wanted to try my hand at it. Her first costume was a hand-sewn penguin costume, made out of fleece. My second daughter, who is 8 … wore the same costume for her first Halloween.” ...

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: NBA’s Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier indicted in mob-linked gambling investigation. In an announcement that rocked the NBA, federal authorities on Thursday unveiled indictments and arrests as part of what FBI director Kash Patel called “a wide-sweeping criminal enterprise that envelops both the NBA and La Cosa Nostra.” Among the accused: Basketball Hall of Famer and current Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones. ... READ MORE

FROM ESPN: Vikings hopeful McCarthy back for Week 9 after blowout loss. The Minnesota Vikings appear to be clearing the way for J.J. McCarthy to return as their starting quarterback next week after a six-week recovery from a high right ankle sprain. ... READ MORE

FROM YAHOO SPORTS: MLB World Series 2025: How to watch the Fall Classic between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays with Hulu + Live TV. The MLB playoffs represented two ends of the baseball spectrum this season: on the National League side, the Los Angeles Dodgers sailed through the playoffs, losing just one game in the process. The reigning World Series champs swept the Milwaukee Brewers in four games in the NLCS, clinching their World Series berth. Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays had an uphill battle at the start of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners, losing their first two home games before winning the series in seven games to clinch the American League pennant. And now, the Fall Classic between the Dodgers and Blue Jays is here. Which way will it go? A clean sweep in four? A seven-game tiebreak? (Something in between?) We'll find out when the action begins on Friday, Oct. 24. ... READ MORE

1901: First barrel ride down Niagara Falls. On Oct. 24, 1901, a 63-year-old schoolteacher named Annie Edson Taylor becomes the first person to successfully take the plunge over Niagara Falls in a barrel. ... READ MORE

1945: The United Nations is born. On Oct. 24, 1945, the United Nations Charter, which was adopted and signed on June 26, 1945, is now effective and ready to be enforced. ... READ MORE

1951: President Truman declares war with Germany is officially over. On Oct. 24, 1951, President Harry Truman finally proclaims that the nation’s war with Germany, begun in 1941, is officially over. Fighting had ended in the spring of 1945. ... READ MORE

www.history.com

Birthdays and notables

Happy birthday, Sammy Jordan and Amelia Lewton today and Michael Gartner Saturday!

These celebrities were born on this date: Kevin Kline, Drake, BD Wong, F. Murray Abraham, Bill Wyman, Shenae Grimes-Beech, Casey Wilson, Eliza Taylor, Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, Ashton Sanders, Doug Davidson, Zahn McClarnon, Hudson Yang, Jaylen Brown, Kyla Ross

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

The answer to the last riddle: Why did the belt go to jail? Because it "buckled" under peer pressure and committed a crime! - Carolyn Rogers. Or, Because he held up a pair of pants! - Gail Tomlinson. Or, to get locked up! - Irving Stone.

Today's riddle: Why are ghosts always drunk?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or the Winterset Living magazines, contact:

Kristine McDonald
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 321
Mobile: C: 515-975-3543
kristine@iowalivingmagazines.com

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