Siouxland Life - April 2017

How do you get rid of those pests?

The eagle soars over Siouxland

The color of the year is…

A GUIDE FOR LIVING IN SIOUXLAND

THINK: HOME GIVING YOUR HOUSE A SENSE OF STYLE

THE SEASON OF EAR INFECTIONS

APRIL 2017

SIOUXLAND LIFE IS ON THE WEB! VISIT WWW.SIOUXCITYJOURNAL.COM/SIOUXLANDLIFE

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At Mercy we listen to more than just your heart.

For questions on the surgeries we perform or to schedule an appointment with Mercy Cardiothoracic Surgeons, call 712.294.7000.

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April 2017

Siouxland Life

CONTENTS April

2017

We were inspired by the Siouxland Home Show to begin thinking about those projects we want to accomplish this year. What’s on your to-do list? A new kitchen? An outdoor entertaining area?

A pest-free home? We’ve got plenty of ideas and the people who can help make them happen.

Sit back and see if you can’t find inspiration, too. Think: Home.

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LANDSCAPING You can bust the bank on a great backyard.

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ON THE COVER Brent and Shari Hansen sit in their hearth room, the busiest place in their 5-year-old home in Correctionville, Iowa. The area stands just between the kitchen and the living room.

KITCHEN MAGIC The kitchen is now the home’s magnet, drawing family members for food, fun and free time.

Photograph by Jim Lee

FEATURES 4 THINK: HOME roots 16 THINK: HOME hot colors 18 THINK: HOME sweat equity 21 THINK: HOME relax 24 THINK: HOME landscaping 26 THINK: HOME rooftops 28 THINK: HOME centerpiece 30 THINK: HOME stop pests

34 36 38 40 41 44 47

THINK: HOME doors, doors, doors THINK: HOME outdoor spaces THINK: HOME basements THINK: HOME soil samples HEALTH ear infections ADVICE medical answers PARTING SHOT

PUBLISHER Steve Griffith EDITOR Bruce Miller EDITORIAL Dolly A. Butz, Tim Gallagher, Earl Horlyk, Lindsey Nelson PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Hynds, Jim Lee, Justin Wan ADVERTISING SALES Nancy Todd ADVERTISING DESIGN Kayla Fleming PAGE DESIGN Lacey Hoopengardner, April Burford, Sara Harvey ©2017 The Sioux City Journal. Siouxland Life is published monthly by The Sioux City Journal.

For advertising information, please call (712) 224-6281. For editorial information, please call (712) 293-4218.

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THOSE PESTS How do you deal with those natural intruders?

With the help of a professional who can help root out the problem.

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APRIL 2017

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THINK: HOME roots

Brent and Shari Hansen sit in their hearth room, the busiest place in their 5-year-old home in Correctionville, Iowa. The area stands just between the kitchen and the living room.

COUPLE TAKES ‘CORRECT’ APPROACH FOR HOMETOWN

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Hansens return to Correctionville to be around family, school Text by T im Gallagher | Photographs by Jim Lee

CORRECTIONVILLE, Iowa | Tucked away in an area south and east of River Valley High School there’s a street named, like many streets, for a child of its developer.

Brent and Shari Hansen have a home on Megans Way, in their hometown, Correctionville.

“We started building in the spring of 2012 and moved here in November 2012,” Shari said.

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The cul-de-sac at that time featured another five homes or so. Since then, more have been added to the block. Another 8-10 lots remain, meaning a community that’s on the move could add to its housing stock.

There are factors contributing to optimism in Correctionville: No. 1: By 2018, U.S. Highway 20 will be four-laned across Iowa, one of the last stretches of the remaining twolane highway is being addressed currently, right around Correctionville.

A four-lane thoroughfare will ease

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transportation in Iowa, and may help lead to business expansion efforts at key sites in Northwest Iowa, locations like Correctionville, which is positioned at the junction of highways 31 and 20.

No. 2: River Valley High School eyes a $2.3 million addition, which will see the construction of a new junior high gymnasium, concession stand area and middle school science classroom, the latest in a series of building projects at the school, which, next year, will see the addition of sixth-graders to the student body.

The entry way in Hansens’ home.

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FOR SALE: The Home Builders Association of Greater Siouxland’s Project Home, 742 Brentwood St. (Woodbury Heights).

This home will feature 1514 sq. ft. with 3 bedrooms, a master bedroom with master bath and large walk-in closet, living room with vaulted ceiling, safe room in the basement, and a 2 stall garage.

Contact the Home Builder’s Association if you’re interested in purchasing this home. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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712-255-3852

The fireplace in the hearth room in the home of Brent and Shari Hansen in Correctionville, Iowa, shares a wall with the great room, or living room, shown through the doorway on the right side of this photo.

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April 2017

Siouxland Life

No. 3: A new municipal swimming pool is currently under construction, south of River Valley High, between Megans Way and the school.

Those three efforts don’t take into account ongoing improvements at Little Sioux Park, a camping/recreational mecca of sorts that seems to be full throughout the summer, offering visitors the chance to fish and relax just off the picturesque Little Sioux River.

“There’s also a commercial development effort that’s underway, near the new Dollar General store,” said Brent Hansen, who, for 20 years, has worked for FNB Bank in town, now serving as vice president and branch manager.

When he’s not working or tending to family duties, Hansen is working for all-things-Correctionville, serving on the city council, the Wolverine Booster Club, the Correctionville Golf Course, which he serves as president, and as a member of the Correctionville Health Care Corporation board of directors.

Every step of the way, he’s supported by the former Shari Wright, his high school sweetheart and fellow member of the Eastwood High School Class of 1991. Shari, who has earned her doctorate in curriculum and instruction, has worked for five years for Northwest AEA, serving school districts from Griswold, in southwest Iowa, to GeorgeLittle Rock, in the far northwest corner of the state.

The Hansens lived in Remsen for a

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One tough little conversation does you a world of good.

In April we celebrate National Health Care Decisions Day. It’s a day to remind all people, regardless of age, the importance of having your wishes in writing, through an advance directive or other sources.

Go to www.hospiceofsiouxland.com and click on the Advanced Directives tab for more information.

When time is short, we fill that time with life.

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The stairs lead to three bedrooms on the second floor.

The home was built in 2012.

few years after college, as Shari taught at Remsen-Union and Brent served a bank in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota.

When the chance arose to move back home, they took it. And they’ve been in Correctionville ever since.

“The main reason we moved back was because of family,” Brent said.

“Shari’s mom lives in town and my parents live in town. We wanted our kids to grow up around family. We also wanted our children to be in a smaller school, that’s a part of it. We felt the educational system was pretty solid.”

The same term – solid – applies to the five-bedroom home the couple designed and had built, an effort directed by their general contracting consultant, Jeremy Sitzmann, of Le Mars, Iowa.

When asked about their favorite room of the home that covers 5,200 square feet, Shari quickly mentioned the kitchen and hearth area. Just beyond the kitchen island and its seats are two comfortable chairs positioned before a fireplace topped by a TV. The hearth area is mere feet from the

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THINK: HOME roots

dining area. Through one doorway, one enters the spectacular living room; through another doorway, one enters the formal dining room.

“We’re in the hearth area and the kitchen more than any other space in the house,” she said. “We use it all the time. The kids like to sit here and watch TV.” The Hansen children are Parker, 18, a freshman at Western Iowa Tech Community College; Bryar, 16, a junior at River Valley High School; and Avree, 12, a seventh-grader at River Valley Middle School.

Flooring in the kitchen/hearth area is bamboo, a material Shari said is becoming more commonplace, preferred by homeowners for its durability.

“It’s the most durable thing for dogs and kids,” Brent said.

“And we chose the dark color because of the dogs and the kids,” Shari noted.

The living room, or the great room, is a sight with its 20-foot ceiling and massive windows that look out upon a north deck that runs all along this room and the breakfast nook, just off the kitchen. “Greige” is the dominant color, which comes from the stone family of colors, Shari said. Accents of cranberry – a dark red – highlight the great room in artwork and other decor.

“We painted the whole house ourselves,” said Brent, who recalled building scaffold units to raise him to the ceiling. The whole family, including children and grandparents, contributed to the painting project.

Just off the great room are both the den, which is used by Brent almost daily, and the master bed and bath.

Three bedrooms are on the second floor. Daughter Bryar’s room has a family heirloom, a rocking chair inherited

by Shari’s grandmother, Maxine Wright.

Shari found the chair, refinished it for a 4-H project when she was a teen. The effort generated a Grand Champion purple ribbon and sent Shari to the Iowa State Fair.

She also refinished a trunk that an aunt of her grandmother, Marjorie Harm, brought from Germany more than a century ago. That trunk, which also earned Shari a trip to the Iowa State Fair, now sits in the basement.

The fully finished basement, which has a full bar and TV room for entertaining, has a ceiling height of 9 feet.

A portion of the basement is decked out in black and gold, the colors for the Hansen teams, the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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A bedroom in the Hansens’ home.The five-bedroom home features 5,200 square feet of living space.

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The living room, or great room, features colors from the stone family and a cranberry-red hue.

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2945 Hamilton Blvd minervas.net 712-277-0800 A bathroom in the Hansens’ home. The Hansens, natives of Correctionville, built the home on Megans Way in 2012.

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think: home roots

Above: Shari and Brent Hansen stand in their living room. Right: The home’s formal dining room.

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Part of the basement is devoted to a full exercise room, one featuring free weights and an elliptical, all resting atop foam flooring, the type you’d find in a fitness facility. Bibs from races Shari has run are pinned to a bulletin board on one wall. Another wall has a line of trophies, most of them for Brent’s success on the golf course. He’s won the Correctionville Men’s Golf Tournament nine times.

“When we finished the basement in our other home, we did do an exercise room,” Shari said, indicating that decision led to this one.

Both the basement and the garage feature in-floor heat, an amenity the family notices each time they head downstairs.

The living room in the home of Brent and Shari Hansen.

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THINK: HOME roots

The Hansens’ home in Correctionville, Iowa, is one of several on a relatively newer cul-de-sac, Megans Way. Below: The home’s kitchen.

“I’m so glad, because it always feels warmer down here,” Shari said.

Megans Way has a warmth about it as well, a street that teems with children, showing its mix of young families, growing families and retirees, all enjoying life on a cul-de-sac tucked into the southeast corner of Correctionville.

“We built in town as our kids were involved in many school activities,” Shari said, “so we liked that convenience. Plus, it’s really nice to have neighbors and a sense of community for our kids.”

The Hansens, while building their family, their professional lives and community interests, remarked that, physically, they haven’t moved far from where they came.

“We grew up across the street from each other,” Brent said with a smile.

“Just two blocks away from here.”

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Remodeling Savvy: innovationS in Paint Significant innovations in paint over the past 20 years have led to fascinating interior and exterior applications. Today home owners can use paint to generate solar power, light up a hallway, waterproof a basement and even draw on the walls with no fear.

Although they have not gained significant popularity due to the cost of production, plastic paint containers that feature twist-off lids, side handles, and easy-pour spouts give consumers a more convenient and less messy way to get the job done.

If you’re thinking about painting your home, knowing what’s new in paint technology may be helpful in deciding how to move forward with your next project. Here are just a few new and innovative products to keep in mind while you plan:

Heat-Sensitive and Solar Power Paints

Keep it Green with Low- or No-VOC Paint Today’s biggest trend is the increased availability of low- or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint choices. Just about every major paint manufacturer has at least one line now. These paints protect consumers from a number of health issues associated with VOCs, and contributes to improved indoor environmental quality, which is one key goal of the green building and remodeling movement.

Paint that Stays Durable and Clean Driven by consumer demand, manufacturers of interior and exterior paints have developed paints that are easy to apply, durable and cinch to clean. One uses ceramic technology to create a paint extremely resistant to stains and scuffs, and washes well without damage to quality or appearance over time.

User-Friendly Containers

Paint that detects and reacts to changes in temperature has been around for a while, but interest in its varied applications is growing. This paint may be used in color-changing interior wall designs, where one or more elements of the motif appear or disappear according to the temperature in the room, or applied on kitchen or bathroom surfaces as a temperature gauge. The paint is also being tested to determine whether it can be used to improve energy efficiency as well -- absorbing heat during winter and deflecting sunlight in warm weather.

Whiteboard Paint Whiteboard paint entered the scene a little over 10 years ago, but is still relatively new to consumers. Several manufacturers now produce a unique wall coating that turns any flat surface into an erasable whiteboard. It’s a great feature to include in children’s playrooms, offices and kitchens.

Paint has come a long way over the years. It can be used to simply spruce up your home with a touch of color or you can take it to the next level, using it to create savvy, green and cost-effective design elements throughout your home. The choice is up to you.

For more tips on painting or home maintenance contact your local paint store or paint contractor.

You can find them here at www.siouxlandhba. com/members/cat/painters-paint-retailers/.

Paint that Lights Up a Room - Literally Researchers recently developed and patented a new type of paint that will one day enable home owners to paint lights onto walls and other parts of the home. This new electroluminescent coating technology turns commonly used metal, plastic and wood surfaces into lamps when the paint is energized with an electrical current. One future use of the product could come in handy for those interested in universal design: a painted white hand rail that illuminates at night, lighting your way in the dark.

Todd Hagaman President

Todd Hagaman Construction

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712-255-3852 siouxlandhba.com APRIL 2017

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THINK: HOME

hot colors

COLOR BLAST: CASTING A ‘SHADOW’ WITH

c

A NUANCED NEUTRAL

Text by Earl Horlyk | Photographs by Tim Hynds

Call it elusive, enigmatic and a master of ambiance.

Some say it will ebb and flow with one’s surroundings while others contend it brings light to life. Whether rich or royal, cool or majestic, it will allow you to indulge your mysterious side.

Just going by the description listed above, are we talking about a new luxury car, an expensive perfume or a character from a John le Carre spy novel?

Actually, it’s none of the above.

Sioux City Paint and Decorating’s Jim Wolcott said this is how Benjamin Moore is promoting Shadow, the company’s 2017 “Color of the Year.”

“It is fun seeing all of the adjectives that can be used in describing a color,” he said, dipping a brush inside a can of paint. “To my eye, Shadow has a nice plum or purplish hue to it. I like it a lot.”

Every year, the Benjamin Moore Color Studio takes cues from architecture, fashion, textiles, home furnishings and the arts when forecasting its annual color trends.

Wolcott said that’s understandable because richness and nuance can be added to a room with just a splash of color.

“The most economical way of updating a space is to paint it,” he said.

Above: The color “Shadow” is mixed into a paint can at Sioux City Paint and Decorating in Sioux City, Iowa. Shadow, a deep purple color, is the Benjamin Moore Paint Company’s 2017 color of the year. Left: Jim Wolcott, store owner, displays a sample of the color.

PURPLE REIGN Looking through color charts, Wolcott said Shadow pairs perfectly with rich hardwood floors. During different times of the day, the color can look like a rich amethyst and at other times, it will have tints of a light lilac grey.

“It’s a versatile color,” he noted. “You won’t get bored by it.”

‘POP’ CULTURE Other trending colors for the year include ones with evocative names such as Pink Bliss; Iceberg (grey with a tinge of blue); and Wet Concrete (a brownish-grey mix).

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Wolcott calls such colors a nuanced shade of neutral.

“Wall colors shouldn’t make a room ‘pop,’” he noted. “Instead, your art and

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furnishings should take center stage.”

This is one of the reasons why Wolcott said accent walls have fallen out of favor.

“People found that rooms with accent walls were hard to decorate,” he said.

“Plus having one wall an entirely different color made things look less harmonious.”

SEEING THE LIGHT Wolcott said customers are sometimes leery about choosing a darker color like Shadow.

“Some people are afraid to go too dark because they assume it will make their room look smaller,” he said, shaking his head. “If chosen correctly, a dark color can actually give a recessive shadowing impact, allowing brightly colored art work to really stand out.”

Indeed, Wolcott said Shadow would look stunning in a room full of natural light.

KEEP IT SLEEK AND TIMELESS At its best, Wolcott said, a wall color should be enjoyed for many years.

“Nobody wants rooms to look dated,” he said. “A rich neutral will stick around for a while.”

The color of a wall should be chosen to put a spotlight on furniture and accessories.

“Wall color should never overwhelm a room,” Wolcott said. “Instead, it should complement it.”

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April 2017

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THINK: HOME sweat

equity

HABITAT HOUSE BLESSES IRETON FAMILY

i

Text and photos by Tim Gallagher

IRETON, Iowa | The Siouxland Home Show can be hailed for an old residence receiving new life – and touching four lives – just west of downtown Ireton.

So says Sioux County Director of Siouxland Habitat for Humanity Kurt Franje, who recalled manning the booth for his organization at the 2015 Siouxland Home Show at the Sioux City Convention Center.

“I was in our booth and a guy from the Boyden-Hull School District came up and asked, ‘Do you take donated houses?’”

Franje said.

The man was part of a family who

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planned to build a new home on their farmstead near Boyden, Iowa. They hadn’t yet begun the building process.

The man simply wanted to know what they might do with the old three-bedroom, two-story structure.

Two weeks later, Franje learned of a family who had a vacant lot in Ireton.

The family, which also had adjacent property, wanted to sell the lot at a very reasonable price.

“In the fall of 2015, the homeowner from Boyden asked me again if our organization might be serious in taking their home for the Sioux County Siouxland Habitat for Humanity,” Franje said.

Franje had another call to make: To

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Orville Vant Hul, president of Berghorst & Son, Inc., a house-moving firm from Hull, Iowa. Vant Hul told Franje the lot in Ireton would work for the rural residence near Boyden. It seemed a match was being made for the first Siouxland Habitat for Humanity home in Ireton.

Now, all that was needed was a future homeowner who met the qualifications and would commit to 350 hours of work in renovating the residence once it was put in place.

Enter Brandi Adams, a mother of three, who works two jobs and lives with her mother in Ireton. Adams learned of the program and applied through Habitat for Humanity. She was selected for

Brandi Adams nails a piece of siding into place. The home should be ready for Adams and her three children to occupy by the end of April.

Kurt Franje and Brandi Adams hang siding at the Habitat for Humanity home Adams and her family will soon have in Ireton, Iowa.

the home and is currently in the midst of her 350-hour commitment. She and Franje spent a recent March day siding the home.

“It’s very exciting as we get closer to completion,” said Adams, the mother of three children, ages 16, 13 and 9. “It’s a blessing for our family.”

With Habitat’s Home Ownership Program, the organization can sell the home to Adams through an affordable, no-interest mortgage. Adams will then make mortgage payments back to Habit, which enables the group to continue to build more homes and assist more families.

Franje lauded the efforts of several Siouxland and Sioux County contractors

This Sioux County Siouxland Habitat for Humanity home is the first project for the organization in Ireton, Iowa. The group averages building 1.25 homes in Sioux County per year.

who have helped the project along through a mix of donated or discounted labor and materials. Several volunteers have also pitched in, including Adams’ oldest child, son Dylan Adams, who just turned 16.

“You have to be 16 in order to be able to help,” Franje said.

The organization in Sioux County, he remarked, has built or renovated three homes in Sioux Center, two homes in Rock Valley and one apiece in Alton, Orange City, and, now, Ireton. He said the plan is to have the home ready for the

Adams family by the end of April.

The home features three bedrooms upstairs, along with a full kitchen, dining and living room area. There are two bathrooms upstairs as well, both of which have been gutted and will be made anew.

Brandi Adams said her plan is to someday in the near future add egress windows to the basement, thus allowing her to open up the lower level for a bedroom. The basement, at this point, remains unfinished.

The home, which has 1,636 square feet of living space, was moved in

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THINK: HOME sweat

equity

Above: Kurt Franje and Brandi Adams hang siding at the home. Right: Brandi Adams stands in her kitchen.

mid-August, two weeks after the hole was dug and the basement poured. Adams laughed and said people in Ireton told her that her house was “on its way to Ireton” before she could see it.

“We are grateful for all the work that has been done and for the contractors who are so generous,” Franje said, adding that a fourth Sioux Center home under the Sioux County Siouxland Habitat for Humanity umbrella is awaiting a qualifying resident or family. The home, which was moved into place in December, is up on beams, awaiting its basement to be dug.

Adams listened as Franje described that project and then continued to hammer pieces of siding into place. “This is the first time in my life I’ve put up siding,” she said. “All of this has been a great learning experience.”

Later this spring, the project should become a great living experience for her family.

“It was God’s timing,” Franje said.

Timing that began in 2015 at the Siouxland Home Show.

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THINK: HOME

relax Karen Jauer tests out a spacesaving infrared sauna.

INFRARED SAUNAS HAVE

HEALTH BENEFITS

k

Text and photo by Dolly A. Butz

Karen Jauer would love to have an Essential Mate – the compact version of the Health Mate infrared sauna – set up in her living room in front of the TV. The space-saving cedar wood unit offers the same benefits as a full-sized infrared sauna.

Jauer, owner of InfraRed Saunas of Siouxland in Hinton, Iowa, keeps her Health Mate infrared sauna designed for a corner space in a spare bedroom. She said customers also put the saunas in basements, family rooms, workout rooms and garages. She said cedar is the ideal material because it protect against mold, mildew and bacteria.

Unlike traditional steam saunas, where the air temperature must be more than 200 degrees F, infrared saunas are more bearable for people, operating at temperatures between 100 and 140 degrees F. Jauer said it’s not only better for your body, but it also costs much less to operate – around 10 cents every 20 to 30 minutes.

“It’s like the sunshine,” she said of the infrared rays. “When it penetrates in, it opens up the veins and arteries so your blood is flowing easier. Your sinuses open up so you can breathe.”

Unlike a conventional sauna, which heats around you and causes your blood pressure to rise, Jauer said Health Mate saunas, which are handcrafted, use infrared rays to directly warm your body. She said infrared sauna therapy may ease a slew of health problems from arthritis to depression to high blood pressure.

“My husband has high blood pressure. It’ll bring

it down 20 or 30 points,” she said. “It’s opening up everything and it’s letting the blood flow easier.”

Jauer said she even takes her 9-month-old grandson into the sauna with her. She said the soothing atmosphere does wonders for a fussy baby.

“Maybe they have congestion. You put them in the sauna and it clears that out and opens up the sinuses,” she said. “They relax and go to sleep or play.”

Jauer said the saunas are delivered to customers’ homes in boxes. Assembling the pieces, she said, is easy because they just snap together. Plug it in, adjust the touch sensor controls located on both the inside and outside of the sauna – which features glass panes to look out – and you’re ready to go.

The temperature in the sauna can reach up 170 degrees, which Jauer said won’t harm you. She prefers to set hers at 145 degrees maximum and sit for 30 minutes. She likes to use the chromotherapy feature, which produces a specific color or cycles the colors of the visible spectrum.

“In the morning, I like to use the red. Red and orange give you energy. At night, I like the green – it’s a relaxing soothing color,” she said. “Each color does something different.”

Add a few drops of essential oil to a ceramic cup attached to the inside of the sauna to make the space even more calming. Jauer uses a vinyl seat cushion on the cedar bench for comfort and for cleanliness.

“If you do get a stain on it, you just sand it off,” she said.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

WHAT IS COLOR THERAPY? Color therapy is a form of holistic healing that uses colored light to affect a person’s physical and psychological functions.

• Blue: Calming, lowers blood pressure, decreases respiration, induces sleep; eases symptoms of pain, anxiety and depression, cools inflammation, lowers fevers.

• Green: Soothing, relaxing; helps depression, anxiety and nervousness; helps you feel grounded and calm.

• Violet: Suppresses appetite, reduces migraines, creates a peaceful environment.

• Pink: Relaxes muscles, relieves tension, soothing.

• Yellow: Energizes, relieves depression, improves memory, stimulates appetite, makes a person feel spiritually grounded.

• Orange: Energizes; stimulates appetite, the digestive system and mental activity; and induces cheerful emotions.

• Red: Stimulates brain wave activity, helps those with chronic hypertension, activates collagen cells and promotes faster healing.

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April 2017

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THINK: HOME

landscaping

PROVIDED PHOTOS Retaining walls and landscaping by Lawn Pros is shown in the Wynstone community in Jefferson, South Dakota.

CONSIDER INVESTING SOME

GREEN

IN YOUR LANDSCAPING TO INCREASE YOUR HOME’S WORTH

i

Text by D olly A. Butz

If you want to turn your backyard into an oasis as seen on HGTV, be prepared to spend some money.

Mike Lutt, owner of Country Nursery Inc. in Wayne, Nebraska, said that makeover could cost anywhere from $1,000 to more than $200,000 depending on your wants, needs and square footage. The average cost of an outdoor patio is $12,000 to 15,000.

“People are going from wooden decks and synthetic Terex decking to a raised 24

APRIL 2017

paver patio for the same cost,” said Lutt, who said multi-level raised paver patios allow homeowners to incorporate more elements and designs into their outdoor spaces. “It used to be just slapped up against the house. Now, they bring it out further.”

Lutt said there are benefits to using VERSA-LOK retaining walls, made of high-strength, low-absorption concrete, and Willow Creek Paving Stones, composed of high-strength aggregates. He said these materials don’t have to be stained or sealed as wood does, and they

SIOUXLAND LIFE

don’t fade.

He said homeowners also have more flexibility in creating the outdoor living area of their dreams. Those areas are equipped with outdoor kitchens, bars, grills and even wood fired pizza ovens.

Lutt said he has even added a fire feature to a covered outdoor area.

“We take their ideas and our ideas and try to put them together,” Lutt said of the design process.

Steve Leininger, production manager at Lawn Pros in Sioux City, echoed the popularity of paver patios and fire pits. He said

A patio and fire pit created by Lawn Pros is shown in the Wynstone community in Jefferson, South Dakota.

water features, such as rock fountains, are more trendy than ponds simply because they require less maintenance.

“Using the water where it’s hidden instead of having an actual body of water – those have been pretty popular,” he said.

Although landscaping is generally the last thing that’s addressed when it comes to the construction of a new home, Leininger said investing 5 percent of your home’s value in landscaping can yield a return on investment of as much as 150 percent.

Retaining walls are must-haves for

Sioux City’s sloped properties, but Leininger said many are failing around the city. He said any retaining wall over 4 feet tall requires geogrid, a type of netting that reinforces the soil and stabilizes the wall.

Most retaining walls are made of concrete block, according to Leininger. He said he only does one or two jobs a year with railroad ties, which were popular in the past.

Depending on conditions, railroad ties can last up to 30 years. If a concrete block retaining wall is installed correctly,

Leininger said it could last more than 50 years. But just like anything, eventually he said it will break down.

“If you go to Morningside where all the slopes are, some of those walls are really old and a lot of them are in good shape,” he said.

When it comes to working with a landscaping company, especially when building a retaining wall, Leininger said it’s a good idea to ask a lot of questions and understand what you’re getting into.

He said a retaining wall alone could cost as much as $5,000.

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25

THINK: HOME

rooftops

Charese Yanney of Guarantee Roofing shows off roofing materials in Sioux City

RAISING THE ROOF DESIGNER SHINGLES CAPTURE OLD WORLD

g

CHARM AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE

Text by E arl Horlyk | Photographs by Justin Wan

Guarantee Roofing, Siding & Insulation Co.’s Charese Yanney has never been afraid of scaling great heights.

After all, she still remembers accompanying her grandfather (and Guarantee founder) Mose Yanney on a job site.

“I was 5 years old when I climbed that roof,” Yanney said. “That was the first of many, I might add.”

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She isn’t kidding.

Yanney has been involved with the 91-year-old business for more than 30 years.

“There aren’t that many locally owned businesses that have been around so many years,” she noted.

“That’s why I’m so proud of Guarantee.”

This also makes Yanney the perfect person to ask about trends in roofing.

For instance, have you ever heard of designer shingles?

SIOUXLAND LIFE

“Designer shingles are premium asphalt shingles that look like slate or rugged wood shakes but can be installed at a fraction of the cost,” she said, showing a sampling of GAF Sienna shingles inside her showroom at 2005 E. Fourth St. “This provides an old world elegance that works well with houses with steep roofs.”

In addition, the unique diamond shape of the Sienna is designed to complement virtually any exterior color scheme.

Yet Yanney is quick to point out that the shingles are as durable as they are attractive.

“In the Midwest, we become accustomed to all types of weather,” she said.

“From blistering hot summers to snowy winters, you want your shingles to maintain their color and avoid cracking and splitting.”

You also want the shingles to stay in place, even in windy conditions.

“The Sienna stays in place with Dura Grip adhesive seals,” Yanney said. “That means the shingles are guaranteed to withstand winds of up to 130 mph.”

“In that wind, you may have to worry about the house falling down before the shingles blowing away,” she added.

Over the years, Yanney has seen shingle technology that prevents roofs from leaking while allowing houses to become more energy-efficient.

“Technology has really changed the roofing business,” she said. “There are many new products that can really add value and beauty to your home.”

Still, some things never change.

Even though she fell off a ladder last year, Yanney is still willing to climb on a roof when the mood suits her.

“In the roofing business, you have to enjoy being outside and you can’t be afraid of heights,” she said. “Luckily, neither have been an issue for me.”

Charese Yanney of Guarantee Roofing shows off a new line of designer shingle that mimics the look of slate but is sold for a fraction of the cost.

Samples of roofing materials are seen at Guarantee Roofing’s 2005 East Fourth St. showroom.

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27

THINK: HOME

centerpiece

KITCHEN DESIGNS BECOME MORE FUNCTIONAL AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY

t

Text by E arl Horlyk | Photographs by Tim Hynds

The kitchen used to be simply a room where a person would cook.

Nowadays, it is also the gathering place for family and friends, the study space for homework-minded kids and a space where we recharge our phones.

As Breezy Struthers Drake says, “The kitchen is the hub of every home.”

An interior designer for Modern Kitchen Designs, she says kitchens are part-living room, part-dining room and part-prep station.

CREATING THE HIGH-FUNCTIONING KITCHEN “My clients expect more and more function from their kitchens,” Struthers Drake says. “They also expect function even when space is at a premium.”

This is a common problem in the Midwest, where homes tend to be older.

“Kitchens used to be separated by walls and people used to have to eat in a dining room,” Struthers Drake says.

“Today, we like eat-in kitchens that are open to the rest of the house.”

Removing a wall is often a way to gain more space. Another way to improve flow is by creating tuck-away storage.

“People have more appliances but we want to store them away when they’re not in use,” Struthers Drake says. “Creating more areas for storage is an important way to maximize the way a room functions.”

BETTER MATERIAL, MORE BLING According to Struthers Drake, clients are more knowledgeable when it comes to trends.

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“Websites like Pinterest and Houzz. com have been helpful in that respect,” she says. “So have cable TV networks like HGTV.” “If people see Chip and Joanna Gaines (the popular husband-and-wife team from HGTV’s ‘Fixer Upper’) do something, I’ll hear about it immediately,” Struthers Drake says with a smile.

To be honest, she’s fine with that.

“People want their kitchens to express their personalities,” Struthers Drake says.

“Nobody wants a cookie-cutter approach to design.”

Many clients want a butcher-block work station as long as it doesn’t make their kitchen look like a butcher shop.

This is why Struthers Drake recommends using exotic material like zebrawood as a way to increase the “wow” factor.

Likewise, a colorful backsplash can add a bit of bling to a kitchen or new hardware can help re-energize cabinetry.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ROOM IN THE HOUSE However, Struthers Drake says the best approach is to go toward a timeless design.

“You want a room that won’t look dated five years from now,” she says. “You can add splashes of color but you want a design that will last.”

After all, a kitchen isn’t just a kitchen anymore.

“A kitchen is where you store your coats and shoes, hang up your kid’s artwork and you play on the Internet,” Struthers Drake says. “Plus it’s also the room where your family spends most of its quality time.

“There is no more important room in your house than the kitchen.”

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Breezy Struthers Drake talks about the popularity of butcher block tables that use exotic wood species, including zebrawood, left, and wenge at Modern Kitchen Design in Sioux City. INSET: Breezy Struthers Drake talks about the popularity of butcher block tables that use exotic wood species, including zebrawood, left, and wenge.

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29

THINK: HOME

stop pests

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS &

UNINVITED GUESTS

i

Text by L indsay Nelson

It’s an unsettling feeling when pests invade your home.

When should you say when?

“Everyone has different limits when it comes to pests in or around their home,” says Mark Schilling, regional manager of Olson’s Pest Technicians. “Some people call after seeing a few spiders and then there are people who call for help after attempts to take care of the situation on their own.”

A common insect that makes its appearance in the spring is the boxelder bug. The black-and-red bug doesn’t bite or sting, but can stain your indoor and

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APRIL 2017

outdoor furniture with its droppings.

These bugs like to stay warm and flock to the sunny side of

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your home during the summer months. You’ll also find them in the warmer parts of your home when it starts to get chilly. Pay attention to the corners of your basements and doorways, says Schilling. The pests enter homes through cracks or crevices in walls, doors, and under windows.

Seal these entry points to protect your home from insect invaders.

Other springtime pests you’re likely to see are various types of spiders. These creepy-crawlies usually enter your home through open windows, doors or cracks in the walls of your home. If you see an increase in spiders or spider webs after sealing any entry points and using a residential insecticide, Schillings advises

JOURNAL PHOTO BY TIM HYNDS

An opening between the roof and a exterior wall is shown on a home in Sioux City’s north side as All-Pro Pest Management works to bat-proof the home Wednesday, March 23, 2011. Bats can inter a home through space as small as a quarter-inch wide.

being proactive.

“The longer you wait to treat a pest issue, the more difficult it is to take care of them,” says Schilling.

When dealing with infestations on your own, Schilling warns that the danger “comes when the instructions of store-bought sprays aren’t followed.”

“We spray in restaurants, hospitals and day cares,” says Schilling. “We know how to regulate chemicals for safe human interaction.

Food-driven bugs, like ants or fruit

flies, congregate in kitchens and bathrooms. Keeping these spaces clean will help control these pests.

Another more serious pest problem common to the area is bat infestations says Schilling. Bats make their way into homes through roof lines or where soffit lines meet roof lines. You’re likely to find them in attics.

Bat urine can ruin flooring, insulation and wood.

Urine and droppings on attic floors may seep into ceilings of living areas, causing wood to become brittle.

Remember, bats carry diseases so leave the professionals

to deal with them.

When it comes to your yard, the problem you don’t want to deal with is moles or voles.

“Moles make their appearance in early spring time,” Schilling says. A mole tunnels underground, lifting the soil upward, leaving mounds dispersed throughout your yard.

Voles tend to show up just as the snow is melting and tunnel under the snow packed in winter. “You’ll notice runs in your yard after the snow melts,” says Schilling.

To deal with these furry foes, Schilling finds the main tunnels and baits them.

“These guys can cause so much damage so quickly.” Schilling warns that if the issue isn’t quickly addressed, there may be an increase in babies in August.

“Being proactive is key.”

Photos provided by Olson’s Pest Technicians, Inc.

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APRIL 2017

SIOUXLAND LIFE

Have a question?

Ask A Professional!

Home Improvement and Your Back So, your home is starting to look its age, you’re outgrowing it, or you’re just looking to update it a little (that orange shag carpet isn’t quite so groovy anymore). Guess it’s time to renovate! While it’s easy to get caught up on the details like color palettes and budgets, there’s something else that needs to be considered: Your body.

In addition to wearing protective gear like safety glasses and steel-toe boots, are you remembering to take measures to protect your joints, neck, and spine? If not, you’re putting yourself at risk for torn ligaments, aching muscles, a herniated disc, or worse.

Use extra safety precautions when attempting these jobs.

• Repairing or laying a new roof • Installing drywall or bathroom fixtures • Painting or installing ceiling fixtures • Laying floors or building a deck Before undertaking that big home renovation project, make sure you start out with a visit to MultiCare. Regular treatments can help prevent injuries from occurring in the first place by strengthening the spine and increasing flexibility.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

APRIL 2017

33

THINK: HOME

doors, doors, doors

EXTENDING

THE LIFE OF YOUR GARAGE DOOR

d

Text by L indsey Nelson

Do you know how many times you used your garage door today?

Day’s Door Company CEO Mike Holder does and the number is growing fast.

“These days a garage door is used more than a front door. It gets a lot of use.”

Holder has a counter to track the number of times he and his family open and close their garage door.

A residential garage door has a minimum lifespan of 10,000 open-and-close cycles. “The length depends on how often the garage door is used and how maintained it is,” says Holder.

Day’s Door recommends an annual tune-up to get the most out of your garage door, but there are simple ways to care for your garage door on your own.

LUBRICATION EQUIPMENT ANNUALLY “Most people don’t realize they’re suppose to lubricate their garage door hardware,” says Holder. Holder recommends lubricating garage door rollers annually with any standard garage door lubricant.

If your garage door is making irregular, squeaking sounds, there may be too much friction. “It’s hard on your gears when your equipment isn’t properly lubricated,” says Holder.

SERVICE TENSION SPRINGS “Your garage door springs are arguably the most important and most dangerous part of your garage door,” says Holder. “Making sure your springs have the right tension is important, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a do-ityourself project, especially if you have an older garage door.”

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APRIL 2017

If your springs are squeaky, “it doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem,” Holder says. “Spray noisy springs with a garage door lubricant. If the noise persists, call a garage door professional.”

CHECK YOUR CABLES Worn or frayed cables can easily break. “Visually inspect the cables that attach the spring system to the bottom brackets on both sides of the door,” Holder says. If they are damaged, contact a professional to replace them before they snap.

CHECK YOUR SAFETY SENSORS If your garage door safety sensors aren’t at the top of their game, Holder says it is usually an easy fix. “If people call about their sensors not working correctly, we recommend making sure they’re clean of any dust or debris before we make a house call. Sometimes it’s just a matter of cleaning off the lenses.”

Since 1993, all openers manufactured in the United States must include a second safety reversing featuring, such as photoelectric eyes. “These should not be installed higher than six inches above the garage floor,” Holder says. “If the eyes are installed higher than six inches, a person or pet could get under the beam without being detected.”

MAN THE MANUAL “Keep the owner’s manual for your door and opener hanging near the door for easy reference. Every model of door and opener has specific safety instructions unique to that model,” Holder recommends.

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APRIL 2017

35

THINK: HOME

outdoor spaces

PROVIDED PHOTOS

A trail camera set up by Tim Petersen, of rural Correctionville, Iowa, captured this image of bald eagles in his field south of the Woodbury County community.

SIGN OF THE TIMES:

EAGLES ARE LANDING

c

Correctionville farmer captures images with field camera Text by Tim Gallagher

CORRECTIONVILLE, Iowa | Tim Petersen wasn’t sure what he was seeing.

So, he went back. The second time, he took his trail camera.

What Petersen recorded was eyepopping: A group of bald eagles feeding in his field eight miles south of Correctionville.

Three like that, even two, decades ago a sight like wouldn’t have been probable, maybe not possible. Bald

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APRIL 2017

eagles were endangered, their numbers had dwindled to mere thousands, thanks to the lethal effects of the pesticide DDT, which has since been outlawed.

“I’ve been here almost 30 years and back then it was uncommon to see one bald eagle,” said Dawn Snyder, education program director at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. “We’re seeing many more in the last five to 10 years.”

Petersen checked on cows he had on pasture in his harvested cornfield.

While he’s seen bald eagles on his land

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in the past, he’d never seen this many.

He wondered if they might have been feeding on an animal that had been struck by a vehicle in the roadway and then was either thrown into the field, or crawled into the field to die.

Petersen wasn’t exactly right, but he was close.

“One of our cows was going to have twin calves in late March, but she aborted them in early February in the field,” said Petersen. “Eagles do venture out here away from the Little Sioux River, searching for rabbits and things like that on the road. They can see all around themselves and they can smell anything. All it takes is one eagle to

find something and they’ll gather.”

One eagle found the aborted calves and began feeding. It attracted a crowd.

Petersen, who doesn’t hunt, uses a trail camera to record deer, beaver and more. In early February, his trail camera recorded these eagles in his field.

“The first bald eagle I saw came when I was in Boy Scouts,” he said. “I was probably 14 or 15 years old and I’m 66 now. I remember coming home and my mom had a book of birds. We looked it up and I know I saw a juvenile bald eagle then. It was 30 years before I saw another one. It was great to see them.”

Most bald eagles Petersen has seen remain relatively close to the Little Sioux River, where they nest. Snyder said eagles have nests along the Big Sioux River and the Missouri River, too.

“This winter has been mild for the most part, and the rivers haven’t been frozen,” she said. “We don’t see them here on a daily basis, but if you travel south you can see them at Snyder Bend, near Brown’s Lake and at Onawa and Decatur, Nebraska. If you drive up Highway 12 to Akron, you might see 20 or more along the river.”

Bald eagles begin reproducing at age 5; the white feathers being a symbol of maturity. Eagles mate for life and often lay one to three eggs each annually, nearly always in the late winter/early spring. The camera set up to watch the nest of bald eagles at Decorah, Iowa, has become a sensation in recent years.

“Millions of viewers of the Decorah eagles have become fans,” Snyder said. “It’s been fun for people to see the mom and dad trade shifts to incubate and bring food to the nest. I’ve heard where there is so much steaming of the video that it can shut down (Internet) systems in some schools. The tech support people say, ‘You have to stop watching the live eagles.’”

Bald eagles, Snyder said, can

live 20 to 30 years in the wild, up to 50 years in captivity. Their numbers continue to be monitored and, while they’re not listed on the Federal Endangered Species Act, our national bird remains protected by state and federal laws.

“You can’t shoot or hunt them,” said Snyder. “Their populations are more

A trail camera set up by Tim Petersen, of rural Correctionville, Iowa, captured this image of bald eagles in his field south of the Woodbury County community.

stable in Iowa now and throughout the U.S.”

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37

THINK: HOME basements

TIPS FOR COZY BASEMENTS AND LOWER LEVELS

i

Text by C athy Hobbs

In many homes, basements and lower levels often feel cold and uninviting, but that doesn’t always have to be the case.

What many people often overlook or ignore is the fact that a lower level is usable space.

Especially during a time when people are looking to maximize how they use their home, using all aspects of a living space is key. Whether a basement or lower level, there are a number of ways that to add warmth and appeal to make the space more inviting and appealing, and as a result, more usable.

Here are some top Design Recipes tips to make lower level spaces attractive and special.

• Treat your lower level as part of your home. So often a basement or lower level is used or perceived as storage.

• Create functional spaces. One technique is to incorporate zones that allow for various levels of activity — for example a play zone, entertainment zone, or game zone.

A lower level bar and game table creates a warm and inviting space.

• Think about the entire family. Many homeowners wish to use a lower level as a family room, so creating an environment to appeal to the whole family is important.

• Pre-plan. From creating a potential floor plan layout to selection of colors, preplanning can play a key potential role in ones success.

• Focus on color. The proper color section can have a huge impact on your space. If a lower level or basement doesn’t get much light, be sure to go bold and bright.

• Add soft elements such as area rugs and toss pillows to your space. This will help prevent the space from feeling too cold.

• Incorporate extra lighting. Lighting is key when it comes to lower levels,

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Soft elements such as wall-to-wall carpeting and upholstered furniture help make this lower level family room cozy.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

Soft, lighter colors help brighten this finished basement space.

which often don’t get much natural light.

• Don’t forget to provide comfortable seating.

If a space is comfortable and inviting, the more you and your family will want to use it.

• Avoid overcrowding your lower level or basement. Less is more.

• Begin by selecting your largest pieces first, then be sure to add attractive finishing touches such as artwork and accessories.

The same basement, furnished and inviting.

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39

THINK: HOME

soil samples Sand often is added to clay soils to help drainage, but it doesn’t work, says soil expert Steven Zien, who cites sand grains’ size as a problem. Instead, use aged compost.

CLAY SOIL

w

NEEDS COMPOST, NOT SAND Text by Debbie Arrington | Photograph by Lezlie Sterling

WHEN IT COMES TO improving clay soil, sand is not the answer.

“What do contractors make when they mix clay and sand? Concrete,” said Sacramento soil expert Steven Zien of Living Resources Co. “Adding sand in an attempt to improve drainage and improve the texture of a clay soil is not recommended, not only for the reason mentioned in the previous statement, but you would have to add huge amounts of sand to make even a small change in the soil’s texture.”

How much sand? Zien cites a study by North Carolina State University cooperative extension: “Any mixture less than 70 percent sand in 30 percent clay actually packs more densely that straight clay.

This makes a readily compactable soil that isn’t fun to garden in. Add a bit of water and make your own bricks.”

Zien’s comments came in reaction to the recent advice of a longtime nursery expert lamenting the loss of droughttolerant plants getting too much rain in heavy clay soil and wishing she had improved her garden’s drainage – with sand.

It’s a common myth, Zien said, and one that persists. Sandy soils are quick draining, so adding sand to clay to improve drainage would seem to make sense.

The problem comes from particle size.

Clay is made of teeny grains, while sand is made of comparatively big blocks. If a sand particle was the size of a basketball, a clay particle would look like the head of a pin.

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APRIL 2017

When sand and clay are combined, clay fills in all the spaces around the sand particles – like concrete. That clogs the soil’s pores and prevents essential air pockets that allow plant roots to “breathe” – and good drainage.

Instead, add organic material such as well-aged compost. That feeds the soil and gives it room to breathe.

Not all organic amendments are equal, observed retired soil scientist Mike Singer, who taught soil science and researched soil at UC Davis for 36 years.

His comments were sparked by another recent soil-related story, “How to build better soil? Stop treating it like dirt.”

“I think too much is made of organic matter in general and soil additives specifically,” Singer said. “Organic matter is good stuff, but adding rice hulls to soil can be a disaster. The carbon/nitrogen ratio is such that any available nitrogen will be tied up by microorganisms long before your garden plants can get it.

“The same is true for redwood compost,” he added. “Some organic materials like rice hulls may help to ‘fluff up’ or loosen compacted soil when worked into the ground, but they have little in the way of nutrient value for garden plants.”

Peat moss, sawdust and large wood chips also make poor amendments to clay soil.

Gary Rannefeld, a retired farmer from Dixon, echoed Singer’s comments. In particular, Rannefeld sees no need for agricultural lime as an amendment for Northern California gardeners.

“In my experience in Northern

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California, the use of lime is mostly misguided and largely a waste of money,” Rannefeld said.

Before making any changes to your soil, it’s best to understand what it needs – and doesn’t need. Do a soil test to determine its makeup.

Rannefeld had his soil tested; that small expense saved him lots of money, he said.

“My 700 acres were spread among soils that ranged from very good agricultural soils to others that left a lot to be desired,” he said. “What I learned: None of the soils needed any additional potassium. Using a fertilizer/amendment with any potassium was just money that would be wasted. (Also), none of the soils needed any additional magnesium (another common amendment).”

Besides soil testing, Singer suggested also looking up your own landscape’s soil survey information. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service offers an online “web soil survey” that pinpoints soil types in 95 percent of the nation. Likewise, UC Davis has a Soil Web app developed by the university’s California Soil Research Lab. Via its cooperative extension and master gardeners program, University of California also offers detailed advice on managing clay soil, available online.

Said Singer, “Information is power and knowing more about the soil in your garden can help a person be a better soil manager and gardener.”

HEALTH ear

infections

Reason Ford, an otolaryngologist, talks about ear infections during an interview at Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants in Dakota Dunes.

EAR INFECTIONS

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ARE A CHRONIC NUISANCE FOR SOME CHILDREN Text by Dolly A. Butz Photograph by Justin Wan

NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. | Acute otitis media – a painful ear infection of the middle ear – is relatively rare in adults, but common in children.

Reason Ford, an otolaryngologist with Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants in Dakota Dunes, said most children will have their first ear infection before their first birthday. Behind well-child exams, he said ear infections are the leading reason for children to visit a pediatrician.

“If you do not have an infection within the first year, your risk of having a recurrent problem with ear infections goes down significantly,” he said. “Some

kids just have propensity – maybe it’s anatomy, allergies, contacts or things like that.”

Ford said teething can be mistaken for acute otitis media, as both produce symptoms that include crankiness, pulling at the ears and low grade fever.

“It can be difficult for pediatricians to really separate those two,” he said.

The majority of cases of acute otitis media start as viral infections of the upper respiratory tract. Ford said one of the risk factors for ear infection is attending day care, where respiratory infections are frequently spread.

Bacterial overgrowth or viruses cause pus and mucus to accumulate behind the eardrum, blocking the Eustachian

tube – an auditory tube that equalizes the middle ear space. Each infection can increase the risk of future complications, including conductive hearing loss, mastoiditis, an infection that affects the mastoid bone behind the ear; and cholesteatoma, abnormal skin growth in the middle ear behind the eardrum.

“With kids, the Eustachian tube is smaller, it’s less ridged and the orientation is more horizontal in plane than vertical. As such, it doesn’t open and close passively. Those are the three main contributing factors to kids having problems,” Ford said.

If the middle ear space isn’t equalized, Ford said it becomes like a “hollow ball.”

He said the body recognizes this closed

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41

Here Comes

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The Guide

Jaicee Post, DDS

Wheelock, Bursick & Post Dentistry 4100 Morningside Ave, Sioux City I 712.274.2038 or 800.728.2038

slim roast Coffee Linda Fetterman

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42

April 2017

Siouxland Life

Sunday, October 8, 2017 Stoney Creek Inn & Conference Center Downtown Sioux City

cavity and absorbs the nitrogen, creating a vacuum that pulls fluid in.

“The ears technically do not make fluid,” he said. “A common misconception is that the Eustachian tube or (pressure equalizer) tubes that we put in are meant to drain the ears. It’s not actually true.

They’re meant to equalize the middle ear space and allow air back and forth.”

Ford said ear infections are treated with oral antibiotics before pressure equalizer tubes are considered. A young child may be a candidate for ear tubes if he or she has had three ear infections in a six-month period or four infections over the course of 12 months with the fourth infection occurring within the last month.

“If it’s taken a long time to clear an infection with antibiotics or the kids are just extremely sick, maybe we go in and put in tubes a little bit sooner,” he said.

Ford said placing ear tubes is the most common surgery done in the United States. It takes just two to three minutes to place the ear tubes, which are left in for six to 18 months.

After the procedure, Ford said children don’t feel the tubes, which are made of a type of plastic, in their ears and the expectation is that they will develop fewer ear infections because of them. Water restrictions, however, must be adhered to.

Ford said splashing here and there is OK, but he said water under pressure must be avoided in the external auditory canal.

If an ear infection does occur, Ford said the child will be running around as if nothing is wrong because they won’t have fever or pain. He said the infection needs to be treated with antibiotic ear drops.

“The sign of infection after tubes is not ornery, cranky, fever, pain – it’s drainage,” he said. “It’s essentially an abscess behind the tympanic membrane and that is painful for kids. Because we put a tube in there, you don’t have pressure. It just runs out. It’s yellow, green and runny – like you’d see from nose or the eyes.”

Around age 5, Ford said children outgrow needing ear tubes.

“If a 6-year-old is still having problems with the ears, I need a better explanation. Something else might be going on,” he said.

Ford said a large adenoid pad could be blocking the Eustachian tube or cigarette smoke, allergens and dust could be inflaming it.

“We try to avoid just dropping tubes into a 6-year-old without addressing the other reasons because tubes typically last 6 to 18 months. If we haven’t taken care the underlying problem, they’re just going to happen again,” he said of ear infections.

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APRIL 2017

43

ADVICE Medical

Answers

‘DOC, I’VE GOT A QUESTION …’ answers to your medical questions

MEET THE DOC Dr. Katie Savio is a resident at the Siouxland Medical Education Foundation. She is a Fremont, Nebraska, native who attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for her undergraduate degree.

She then attended the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania. Katie enjoys playing volleyball, softball, cooking and spending time with her family.

How do you avoid…and treat…black toenails that runners sometimes get?

Black toenails in runners are usually caused by blood blisters beneath the nail, typically caused by the toes repeatedly hitting the front of the shoe. A key way to avoid this problem is to make sure you are wearing the correct size running shoe and that there is some space between the end of your toes and the front of the shoe. It’s also helpful to go shopping for new shoes at the end of the day, not the morning, because your feet swell during the day.

So if you buy shoes in the morning, they won’t fit well by the end of the day (or by the end of your run) and result in more friction between your toes and the shoe. Other helpful prevention strategies are to wear wicking socks and keep your toenails trimmed. The preferred treatment of these black toenails if you get them is to leave them alone as long as the pain is manageable. A doctor can put a hole in the nail to relieve pressure if the pain is too great. Do not try to pull the nail off; it will fall off on its own once new nail has grown in. If there is increased swelling, redness, or drainage, you need to see your doctor as these could be signs of infection.

What causes pins and needles pain in your foot, other than diabetes?

Should I be concerned?

A pins-and-needles sensation is typically indicative of a nerve-related issue. When present in your feet, there are many potential causes. As you noted, a very common cause is diabetic neuropathy. Uncontrolled blood sugars in diabetics can lead to nerve damage (as well as several other problems) which affects the feet first.

Other causes can be anything from a different walking pattern leading to nerve irritation or compression (seen sometimes when there is an injury or arthritis, for example), a vitamin deficiency or an underlying chronic illness and several things in between. If this has been a persistent issue for you, you should see your doctor for further discussion of your symptoms and/or workup if indicated.

What does blood in the urine mean?

Blood in your urine, or hematuria, can have many different causes. These causes range from simple and benign causes all the way to potentially very serious. Hematuria is divided into two broad categories, macroscopic (visible to the naked eye) and microscopic (apparent under microscopy). Common causes include infection, kidney stones, trauma, exercise, cystitis and urethritis. In women, menstruation can cause blood in the urine. In men, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is another possibility. Drugs including pyridium, phenytoin, rifampin, and nitrofurantoin can all cause the urine to appear orange/red and cause patients to mistakenly believe they have blood in their urine. Ingestion of beets is another cause of reddish colored urine

that can be misleading. While all these causes are relatively benign, unfortunately hematuria can also be a sign of cancer anywhere along the renal system. For this reason, it is important that you see your doctor to discuss your symptoms and whether you require a further workup for this issue.

Why does it hurt when I hit my funny bone?

Your funny bone is otherwise known as the medial epicondyle of the humerus (the bone in your upper arm). The ulnar nerve runs along the epicondyle; it runs close to the skin and is only covered by a small amount of soft tissue.

So a direct blow results to the “funny bone� causes your nerve to be irritated.

This causes the pain you feel and sometimes an electric shock type feeling and/ or numbness/tingling in the fourth and fifth fingers of your hand.

WHAT KINDS OF HEALTH QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE? Submit your questions and they may be used in this monthly feature. Write to Siouxland Life at 515 Pavonia St., Sioux City, Iowa 51102.

We provide expert Orthopedic care so you can enjoy your life!

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To schedule an appointment, please call 888-331-5890.

No physician referral is needed unless required by insurance.

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APRIL 2017

45

We can provide health care & compassion in the home.

Call today and let us help.

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Home Healthcare Available.

Wheelock, Bursick & Post Dentistry 4100 Morningside Ave, Sioux City I 712.274.2038 or 800.728.2038

To advertise on this page call Nancy Todd at 712.224.628 or email nancy.gevik@lee.net

46

April 2017

Siouxland Life

Jaicee Post, DDS

PARTING SHOT By

Bruce Miller

THE TAX MAN COMETH

t

The best thing about death is you no longer have to do taxes.

Every year I vow to use one of the 27 receipt organization systems I’ve bought.

I make a good attempt in January and February. Then, somewhere around March I get tired of sorting bank statements, bills and checks and start throwing everything in a shopping bag.

By May, I’ve lost the original shopping bag and decide to start a new one.

In July, I make a halfhearted attempt to sort the receipts in the second bag and start searching for the organization systems that were left in a third shopping bag back in January.

By October, I’m determined to change course and get a new system – one that involves an app and requires scanning everything I remotely buy.

Over Christmas break, I run into that first shopping bag and realize I’m going to dread February.

Sure enough, when my tax preparer sends a “worksheet” I know I’m going to have a lot of sleepless nights and a living room floor littered with every receipt that didn’t get thrown away.

Usually, I vow to do it on a night when there’s good TV that doesn’t require much attention (in other words: an awards show). I start by sorting the stuff into categories: House, car, entertainment, utilities, clothes, medical and miscellaneous.

While figuring what qualifies as a deduction, I get a good idea of the year I’ve had.

Frequently, I realize I’ve gotten far too many new pairs of shoes and I like eating at Red Robin.

Last year, for example, was a good one for the folks at the Apple store. (I don’t

think you can write off broken or lost cords. But I’ve got the receipts.)

I’ve also got physical proof I’m a hypochondriac, I don’t like shopping around for the cheapest gas in town and I spend far too much time buying junk online.

I also treat my car better than most people treat their children.

Once I’ve amassed all the proof I can find, I make lists for each of the categories I’ve deemed tax-worthy. Adding up the columns should be easy – if you can find the calculator you supposedly have or know how to use the phone one without absent-mindedly adding zeroes.

Convinced no machine does it as well as I do, I check their work by using my first-grade math skills. I carry so many “ones” and “twos” I begin to think I’m ready for a CPA exam.

Then, armed with all these numbers, I make my master list, insert the numbers on the tax guy’s worksheet and realize he’s counting things I’m not.

I go back to the mass of receipts, look for the missing ones.

And then I pray.

When all of the paperwork is done and shipped off, I have fantasies of refunds and exotic trips. I have no idea how much I’ll get back, so I think Powerball big and mentally start remodeling projects.

By the time I’m ready to go out and look for the materials, I usually get a call from Ryan (that’s the tax guy’s name), asking more questions than a health care provider.

“I’m not so sure you’ll get anything back,” he says in the kind of monotone you know is masking a deep cackle. “But, we’ll run the numbers and see.”

Sure enough, when the paperwork returns, I’m writing checks – to the federal government, the state government and Ryan.

That refund bubble bursts and I’m left thinking, “What went wrong?” Quickly, I search for my tax organization system and vow to do a better job the next year.

Certainly, that’s the key. Had I kept an eye on all those receipts – or shoe purchases – I might be contemplating the next refund on a beach.

Where shoes are optional.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

APRIL 2017

47

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