Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y W E E K LY
STORY COUNTY
INSIDE: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • COMMUNITY NEWS V O L U M E 9 , I S S U E 4 0 • W E D N E S D A Y, J A N U A R Y 4 , 2 017
Placement auditions for Ames Children’s Choirs Placement auditions for the spring season of the Ames Children’s Choirs will be Jan. 4 to 8 in Ames. The program will be accepting singers ages 7 to 18 with treble voices into all three choirs at this time. Rehearsals resume on Jan. 9 and 10. All singers will participate in the Spring Concert on Sunday, May 14, 2017, in addition to other performance opportunities. auditions for the 2017-18 season will be held for all three choirs in May and June. For the placement audition, singers may sing a folk or patriotic song but are welcome to audition without a prepared song. No previous experience or vocal training is required for participation in the choirs, only the ability to match pitch and maintain a melody and the desire and commitment to
participate in a choral ensemble of excellence. A tuition fee will be assessed to cover the cost of facilities, instruction, music, and administration. Young singers in central Iowa are invited to visit the Ames Children’s Choirs during the month of January by attending open rehearsals at the Collegiate United Methodist Church Annex Auditorium, 130 S. Sheldon Ave., in Ames. Prep Choir (ages 7 to 8) will rehearse from 4:30 to 5:25 p.m. on Mondays; Chorale (ages 9 to 11) will rehearse from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. on Mondays; and Concert Choir (ages 12 to 18) will rehearse from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. Please call Shon Stephenson at (515) 290-1422 to receive more information about the program and/or to arrange for a specific audition time.
Members of the Ames Children’s Choirs.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Page 2 • Story County Sun • Wednesday, January 4, 2017
STORY COUNTY
The Story County Sun is published weekly on Wednesdays by GateHouse Media, at 317 Fifth St., Ames, IA, 50010. (515) 233-3299 Mary Beth Scott, sales manager, (515) 663-6951, MScott@amestrib.com. Ali Eernisse, RE Weekly, (515) 663-6956, AEernisse@amestrib.com. Megan Wolff, content coordinator, (515) 663-6920, news@midiowasun.com.
Publisher: Scott Anderson Advertising Director: John Greving
© Copyright 2017
PEOPLE
St. Andrews adopts families for Christmas Committed to making a difference in our community, St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 209 Colorado St., Ames has been a helping hand in many ways this year. A six-year partnership with Edwards Elementary School has provided volunteer manpower for monthly food pickup in Des Moines and weekly
packing of 50 Back Pack Buddy bags for weekend meals. Members of the congregation donate classroom snacks throughout the year, and for the holidays, St. Andrews adopted two families who were in need of a little assistance this season, to make their Christmas a little brighter.
Serving as “Secret Santas” were Mary Johnson, Pastor Beth Bachman Caufield and Madelyn Caufield. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Story County Sun • Wednesday, January 4, 2017 • Page 3
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Jan. 4
Drumming group: “Drum Up Spirit!” Drumming Circle at Unity Church of Ames is changing the meeting times to the First Wednesday of each month beginning Jan. 4. They will meet from 6 to 6:45 p.m. at the church sanctuary, 226 Ninth St. There will be extra drums, so please join us, bring a drum and bring a friend!
Jan. 5
SCARC meeting: The Story County Amateur Radio Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. in the in North Conference Rooms
A and B on the first floor of Mary Greeley Medical Center. Skip Walter, AD0H, will provide the presentation, entitled “Introduction to Amateur Radio Contesting.” Parking is available near the north entrance. This meeting is free and open to the public. Cyclone Club Luncheon: The luncheon is open to the public and allows an opportunity to ask questions, meet Iowa State head coaches and win prize drawings. Featured speaker is volleyball head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch; emceed by Voice of the Cyclones John Walters. An optional lunch, catered by Hy-Vee, available for $12. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5 at the Alumni Center, Reiman
Ballroom.
Jan. 6
Fellows celebration with Mrs. Carol Page: Students, families, staff, and community members are all welcome to celebrate Carol Page and her time at Fellows Elementary. Join us from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, at Fellows. There will be crafts, a popcorn bar, a DJ, photo props and more. Wear your tennis shoes (or at least socks) for dancing in the Fellows gym.
Jan. 7
Family movies in the Gardens: Head to Reiman
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From left, Annika and Kaija Rice, Masie Runyon and Abby Frescoln.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
St. Andrews youth shop for Beloit Children’s Home Mentoring Services St. Andrews youth, wanting to use their talents and resources to be “Jesus’ hands and feet” in the community, explored ways they could make an impact. Selecting Beloit Children’s Home Mentoring Services as their project, the
youth researched appropriate tools, games and activities that would create a safe and comfortable space for the mentor/child interaction and added their findings to the list given by Beloit staff. To fund the project they
planned, shopped, baked and hosted several bake sales during the fall. After raising more than $400, with their list in hand, four of the youth went on a shopping trip recently, just in time for Christmas giving.
Gardens for a warm, cozy place to entertain the kids for a few hours with a movie at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. This week’s movie is “Finding Nemo.” Movie snacks including popcorn, candy and soda will be available for purchase. All children under 17 will be admitted free. General public adults pay admission: $8 for adults and $7 for seniors 65+; member adults admitted free. No preregistration required.
Jan. 9
AWC meeting: The January general meeting of Ames Woman’s Club will be at 1:30 p.m. on Monday Jan. 9 at the Clubhouse, 106 S. Dakota Ave. Program will be “Update on Emergency Residence Shelter ” with Vic Moss as speaker. For more information call 292-4259
Jan. 11
Reiman Gardens free admission: It’s important to make the beauty & educational value of Reiman Gardens as available as possible to all. On the second Wednesday of every month, all guests may visit Reiman Gardens free of charge. The Gardens will still maintain its standard hours from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
Page 4 • Story County Sun • Wednesday, January 4, 2017
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Nevada High School Ag Mechanics students who toured the Vetter Case IH Nevada location were, from left, Scott McDaniel of Vetter, Emilio Saldana, Peyton Schiller, Austin Carolus, Andrew Brower, Loren Hoskins, Bretton Sporrer, Ben Toot, Jacob Badger, Chance Steffes, Aiden Alderson, Connor MacVey, Craige Ernsperger, Dylan Sporrer, Max Hovar, Gunner Lyon, Cameron Groat, and Steve Mumm of Vetter Equipment. Not pictured: Kevin Cooper, Nevada High School ag ed instructor. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Vetter Case IH technician Mark Stoneking demonstrates tractor analysis utilizing a laptop hooked up to a Case IH 380 CVT tractor. Students were able to witness the multitude of system checks. Students pictured front to back, Gunner Lyon, Emilio Saldana, Chance Steffes, Austin Carolus, Peyton Schiller and Craige Ernsperger. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Nevada ag mechanics tours Vetter Case IH Kevin Cooper’s ag mechanics class traveled to Vetter Equipment Company to be enlightened about career opportunities with Case IH and Vetter
Equipmenton Tuesday, Dec. 6. Steve Mumm, director of personnel recruitment and training, articulated the career opportunities that
Vetter has to offer in its 14 stores. Compensation for tuition is an exciting incentive that Vetter is offering for students pursuing a
career as an ag equipment technician. Vetter will now make the student loan payments if the graduated technician works for Vetter. Mumm also explained careers involving being an equipment technician, precision agriculture, sales, accounting, parts, transport, and equipment servicing. The students were provided with a tour of the entire facility including a demonstration of tractor analysis using a laptop which interprets all components within the tractor. Scott McDaniel, Nevada location service manager assisted with the tour and responded to student questions. Mr. Cooper accompanied the students and drove the bus, too.
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Story County Sun • Wednesday, January 4, 2017 • Page 9
Always something going on at ACTORS: ‘Theater for a New Millennium’
ACTORS 61 st season, “Theater for a New Millennium,” is a departure from typical past seasons because all the shows being presented this year were written since the turn of the 21 st century. Stan Rabe was vice president for artistic affairs when the shows for this season were being selected. “The previous season, the 60th, was a look-back, because it was a milestone season. We’re excited to leap into the new millennium in Season 61,” Rabe said. The play selection committee members read over 50 scripts before selecting the five for this season. Included are two musicals, two comedies, and a drama to appeal to a wide range of audiences. Some of the titles may be familiar to audiences; most will not be. The play selection committee saw this as an opportunity to introduce our audiences to shows that have received critical acclaim, but that have not been widely performed. ACTORS opened the season in September with the delightful musical “[title of show].” Yes, that’s the actual name of the show, which should give a hint that this was not your typical musical. A talented cast consisting of Jay Jacobson, Clayton Johnson, Sydney Marian Allen, Maureen Hanzel, and Chris Truckenmiller beautifully performed a play about two guys writing a play about two guys writing a play. Rabe explained, “They’re writing these songs for characters, and then they become the characters, and then they become
themselves.” The second show of the season was November, an outrageous comedy by David Mamet. “November” opened on Broadway in 2008. Laurie Metcalf received a Tony Award nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance. The ACTORS production of this political satire had the audiences laughing uproariously. The cast consisted of Michael Porche as hapless President Charles Smith, Don Kom as his beleaguered Chief of Staff, Janielle Rollins as his speechwriter, Joey Leinen as “Turkey Guy,” and David Detlefs as Chief Dwight Grackle. “Messiah on the Frigidaire,” a heartwarming southern comedy, will open Jan. 27, 2017. When an image of Jesus appears on a refrigerator in a trailer park in Elroy, S.C., the small town is thrust into the evangelical spotlight. As the humble trailer park is turned into a mecca for miracle seekers, soul searchers, and disciples with a decidedly political agenda, the three main characters undergo an evolution in their relationships with each other. The ordeal is not only funny, but also thought-provoking. Melissa Krepfle portrays Lou Ann Hightower, with Wesley Tener cast as her husband, Dwayne Hightower. Abbey Weimann plays their friend, Betsy Gridley. The cast is rounded out by Ben Smith, Alex Colby, Libby Holland, Evan Detlefs, and Dan Heck. “Other Desert Cities” (March 31 to April 9, 2017) is a gritty drama that takes
Actors from “Messiah on the Frigidaire”: Wesley Tener, Melissa Krepfle and Abbey Weimann. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Actors from “[title of show]”: Maureen Henzel, Clayton Johnson, Sydney Allen and Jay Jacobson. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
place at a family Christmas gathering in Palm Springs. Daughter Brooke returns home after six years in New York and announces her intention to publish a memoir that recounts a pivotal and tragic event in the family’s history. This sets off a chain of events that will forever change the family dynamic. The story is emotional, honest, and painful, yet laced with humor and wit. Other Desert Cities premiered off-Broadway in January 2011, where it was named Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play by the Outer Critics Circle. It transferred to Broadway in November 2011. This production received five Tony nominations. Judith Light won for Best Featured Actress in a Play. ACTORS Season 61 closes in June with a blockbuster musical comedy,
“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” based on the 1988 comedy film of the same name. The musical opened on Broadway in March 2006 starring John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz, Sherie Rene Scott, and Joanna Gleason. The show was nominated for 11 Tony Awards and 10 Drama Desk Awards. This musical, set on the French Riviera, follows a suave and debonair British con artist who takes a small time American grifter under his wing. This sexy and irreverent farce features a delightfully jazzy score and will keep you guessing until the end. Don’t miss the remaining three shows. Tickets for Messiah on the Frigidaire are on sale on-line at actorsinc.org or at our ticket outlet, Ali Cakes, 300 Main St., Ames. If you are interested in getting involved, go to actorsinc.org for audition and volunteer information.
Actors from “November”: Michael Porche, Joey Leinen and Don Kom. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Dining
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Page 10 • Story County Sun • Wednesday, January 4, 2017
On Dec. 1, the Ames Area Conservative Breakfast met at the Pizza Ranch in Ames to share breakfast and bring toys for the “Toys for Tots” program. It was a huge success with many toys donated. There are two different photos, depending who was taking the picture. A few members had to leave early to go to work but we appreciate all who came and all who donated. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
From left, Susan Shierholz, John Shierholz, April Ranck, Peg Ragner and Andrew Allen. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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Rotary Club of Ames donates to YSS The Rotary Club of Ames generously contributed $5,160 to YSS in December to support families participating in the organization’s Family Development and Self-Sufficiency (FaDDS), Healthy Futures and Stork’s Nest
programs. More than 100 families received totes this holiday season filled with basic household supplies and personal hygiene items. The Rotary Club has supported this activity since 2012.
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Story County Sun • Wednesday, January 4, 2017 • Page 11
Goats gobble Christmas trees for good cause While most folks are winding down their holiday celebrations, the goats of Ames company Goats On The Go eagerly await their own seasonal feast — discarded Christmas trees. Better yet, your discarded Christmas trees. If the thought of eating prickly, piney Christmas trees doesn’t exactly whet your appetite, consider that these are brush goats, used throughout the growing season as a sustainable means of controlling weeds and brush on customers’ properties. And, they haven’t had their favorite foods since
the grazing season ended in mid-October. So willing are the goats to eat the trees’ needles and bark, in fact, that Goats On The Go is hosting an event to help you dispose of your Christmas tree. Dubbed “Goats On The Snow,” this free event on Saturday, Jan. 7 promises to brighten even this joyless final act of the Christmas season. Event-goers can leave their Christmas trees to be fed to the goats throughout the winter, watch the herd in action, and donate to a good cause. All proceeds from the event will go to the “Kid for a
Kid” program of His Hands for Haiti, an organization that donates goats to needy children there. Goat ownership teaches children about responsibility and provides much needed income for their families. “Goats On The Snow” is a cooperative effort between Goats On The Go, LC and Steenhoek Environmental, an Ames-based company that handles landscape waste and produces high-quality compost. Chad Steenhoek, co-owner of both
companies, says the enterprises complement each other perfectly, even though the connection might not be obvious. “It’s the perfect match,” Steenheok said. “The goats eat weeds and brush in the summer, reducing the need for chemicals and machinery. “The woody branches and trunks they don’t eat can be disposed of here at Steenhoek Environmental, made into wood chips, and combined with the goats’
manure to produce the best compost in Iowa.” So why Christmas trees? According to Steenhoek, they serve as a readily available dietary supplement when the goats most need it. “Goats do best with variety in their diets, but during the winter all they usually get is hay,” he said. “The trees are also a natural dewormer, so we don’t have to use much medicine to
fight internal parasites. “And,” quips Steenhoek, “what’s cuter than a goat eating a Christmas tree?” “Goats On The Snow” will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 7 at Steenhoek Environmental, 3892 N. 50th Ave., Ames. No trees will be accepted once the event ends, and trees must be free of decoration and flocking. More is available at GoatsOnTheGo.com.
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Page 12 • Story County Sun • Wednesday, January 4, 2017
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