1
Accident doesn’t define WITCC student
Coping with loss late in life requires talking support
MRSA may lead to bigger medical problems
A GUIDE FOR LIVING IN SIOUXLAND
INSIDER’S VIEW
GO INSIDE THE TYSON TO SEE WHAT MAKES IT TICK
REDECORATING RESULTS WORTH THE TIME
MARCH 2012
SIOUXLAND LIFE IS ON THE WEB! VISIT WWW.SIOUXCITYJOURNAL.COM/SIOUXLANDLIFE
2
for a dazzling smile... good dental hygiene is the key, brush & floss after every meal! We offer the latest dental treatment & preventative care for kids
New patients are welcomed!
DOUGLAS A. WHEELOCK, DDS, PC BRIAN B. BURSICK, DDS LAURA E. GIESE, DDS 4100 Morningside Ave. • Sioux City, IA 51106 Phone 712-274-2038 Fax 712-274-0648 2
MARCH 2012
SIOUXLAND LIFE
3
CONTENTS
March 2012
8 BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
The stairway at PLaN Architecture’s new office space is the first hint that these designers think outside the box.
22 ON THE COVER Elton John raved about the Tyson Events Center. You will, too. This month we go behind the scenes and learn its secrets. FEATURES 4 Feature home: Interior decorating 8 Office space architecture 12 Snow sport equipment 14 Collection: Music memorabilia 18 Student overcomes obstacles 21 Out & About 22 Tyson: Committee members 24 Tyson: Changeover 26 Tyson: Food prep 27 Tyson: Center food 28 Q&A: Tracy Lund, security
30 32 33 35 36 37 38 40 42 45 47
Tyson: Musketeers clubhouse Tyson: Sports Tyson: Dressing rooms Tyson: Lost and found Tyson: Suites Tyson: Hits and misses Tyson: Tickets Coping with loss of spouse MRSA leads to bigger problems Medical answers from the doctor Parting shot: Where magic happened
12
SNOW SPORTS Sleds, tubes and boards are essential extreme gear snow equipment.
PUBLISHER Steve Griffith EDITOR Bruce Miller EDITORIAL Dolly A. Butz, Joanne Fox, Tim Gallagher, Earl Horlyk, Nick Hytrek, Laura Johnson, John Quinlan PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Hynds, Jim Lee PRESENTATION EDITOR Amy Hynds ADVERTISING SALES Nancy Gevik ADVERTISING DESIGN Stacy Pajl, Jill Bisenius ©2012 The Sioux City Journal. Siouxland Life is published monthly by The Sioux City Journal. For advertising information, please call (712) 224-6275. For editorial information, please call (712) 293-4218.
14
MUSIC MEMORABILIA Packages of 45-rpm record adapters are just part of Ed Westberg’s music collection.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
3
4
HEALTH cancer
talk
REDECORATING TAKES TIME, BUT RESULTS ARE WORTH IT
d
DESPITE HOW TELEVISION SHOWS portray it, redecorating cannot be accomplished in a half-hour. Instead, as one Sioux City couple discovered, it takes shopping at several stores and road trips to Sioux Falls and Omaha over four months before finding the right style and design for one’s home. Sometimes it’s easier to be content with furniture that has stood the test of time, still serviceable after 25, maybe 30 4
MARCH 2012
years of use. After all, quality couches, chairs and tables are not mattresses. But no matter how well-loved wicker furniture, white leather sofas and slender slatted chairs may be, after a quarter of a century, it’s time for an update, especially when that furniture looks out of place in a condo – built just five years ago – overlooking a golf course. Interior designer Stephanie Maurer met the Sioux City couple at Gabberts
SIOUXLAND LIFE
Design Studio & Fine Furnishings, 415 Fourth St. “Having recently relocated from Texas, the gentleman was familiar with Gabberts, which has had showrooms in Dallas and Fort Worth for many years,” she explained. “The lady of the house was interested to see what Gabberts had to offer, as she had never been there.” Maurer showed the couple around the Sioux City Gabberts and began to learn
5
Interior designer Stephanie Maurer, below, brings warmth into a home with high ceilings by emphasizing color. The dining room, left, living room and dining nook have coordinating rugs that help divide the spaces in the open floor plan.
G
Text by Joanne Fox Photographs by Jim Lee
the goals they had for their home. “They needed the home to function easily for entertaining as well as for their busy everyday activities,” she said. “Their condo has an open floor plan and is beautifully situated on a golf course with fairway views. They really wanted to maximize their enjoyment of the golf course vista, keeping window treatments to a minimum and inviting the outdoors in.”
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
5
6
Below No matter how well-loved wicker furniture may be, it no longer is fashionable in most homes and was replaced with a more suitable dining option. Right Although this white leather set had worn well, interior designer Stephanie Maurer with Gabberts Design Studio & Fine Furnishings suggested creating cozy comfort with richer tones. Top far right The previous dining room set was replaced by a Tuscany style one which was heavier and darker. Bottom far right The view into the living area prior to the redecorating shows the back side of the white leather sofa. (Submitted photos)
Before
Despite the 10-foot high ceilings, Maurer was focused on creating cozy comfort in a rectangular area that included a living room, kitchen and formal dining rooms, plus a kitchen bar area. “Our first steps were to walk through Gabberts and see what style and comfort the couple was searching for,” she explained. “The lady of the house fell in love with a red-striped, textured chair and we decided to build the rest of the furniture around that.” Maurer followed up the showroom tour with a house call to assess her clients’ needs more accurately. “That’s when we really started to nail down what we wanted to accomplish with the decor,” she said. “We were able to collaborate to come up with mutual solutions that met and exceeded their expectations for their home.” In the case of the Sioux City couple’s condo, Maurer noted the homeowners wanted to create a more cohesive look and a warmer, more grounded ambiance. “The end result is a harmonious home with spaces that flow easily from kitchen to great room to dining area,” she said. Starting with that specific red-striped chair, Maurer warmed the color palette with reds, russets and chocolate brown hues, using color to highlight the focal fireplace wall, which included a large screen television. “We then introduced furniture more 6
MARCH 2012
After The dining nook in the home decorated by interior designer Stephanie Maurer uses a warm color palette and area rug to set off the space.
in keeping with the scale of the rooms,” she said. “The sofa is a dark leather and has a huge ottoman. Even though your eye may be drawn to the fireplace, its mantel is only about four inches, so we
SIOUXLAND LIFE
decided to not ‘decorate’ it, as we did other areas.” Maurer coordinated fabric and leather choices to unify the spaces while delineating the separate functions of each
7
area. “So the dining room set is a Tuscany style, very heavy and dark and ‘distressed,’ meaning the wood has been hand-planed and rubbed so as to add character to the finish,” she said. “The large chairs, some with upholstery and some not, accent the lushness of the table.” Although the floor plan is completely open, there’s no confusion about what each area represents, Maurer pointed out. “We used three coordinated area rugs with some similar colors, patterns to tie it all together,” she said. “But the choice of the furniture and space around them also makes each area unique.” Maurer and the homeowners did not opt to purchase all of the furniture from a single company. “We actually used six different manufacturers, even though the styles are similar,” Maurer said. “Then, we added accessories to accent the large pieces. Our goal was to have something in every area that people would talk about.” Maurer incorporated the couple’s existing artwork and collectibles – including a grandfather clock from 1980 – into the updated design scheme. “We went with a lot of browns because in my 15 years as a designer, that color is never out of style,” she said. “Burgundies and greens come and go. Brown is timeless.” SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
7
8
ARCHITECTURE Office
space Nathan Kalaher, Lisa Kalaher and Paul Martin Jr. are shown in front of their offices at PLaN Architecture’s new office space in Sioux City. The offices feature exposed framing walls at the front.
Above Nathan Kalaher stands in a stairway at PLaN Architecture’s new office space in Sioux City. Right Staff desks and workspace is shown at PLaN Architecture’s new office.
8
MARCH 2012
SIOUXLAND LIFE
9
BARRIERS OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN BREAKING DOWN THE
w
WHEN IT COMES TO architectural design, Nathan Kalaher is all about breaking down barriers ... literally. Walking into the second floor loft space that he shares with PLaN Architecture partners, wife Lisa Kalaher and Paul Martin Jr., one notices the wood which frames the office space. None of the partners’ offices is encumbered by walls. “This is what works best for our business,” Kalaher said, explaining the deliberately unfinished look of the office. “I need to able to communicate with my
Text by Earl Horlyk | Photographs by Tim Hynds
partners and the architectures constantly. Walls would just get in the way.” He smiles while leaning into the wood posts that separate his wife’s office and the firm’s central space. “Plus with no walls, it’s cool to pretend we all have X-ray vision,” Kalaher said with a laugh. The lead designer for ISU Design West, Kalaher had previously renovated an 1890s-era steam plant in Sioux City’s Historic Fourth Street District, creating 7,000 square feet of studio and classroom space for the Iowa State University
College of Design. Taking what was previously an unoccupied building that had been home for an auto garage, Kalaher envisioned the 255 Fifth St. offices for PLaN Architecture to be both funky and functional. The firm’s reception area displays a sleek, clean and modern aesthetic while exposed wood and duct work offers an urban, visual pop of energy. Paintings are on display throughout the office space (even PLaN Architecture’s employee lunch space and restrooms boast artwork) and furnishings
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
9
10
Nathan Kalaher talks in a conference room at PLaN Architecture’s new office space in Sioux City .
reflect individuality. “I think these tulip chairs came from the garage of Paul’s aunt,” Kalaher said, pointing to a pair of 1960s seats occupying space next to his desk. Yet Kalaher knows PLaN Architecture’s space may be used as a template for offices designed for many of its clients. Focusing on innovation and sustainability, the firm’s services include commercial design, renovation of historic buildings, education facilities, site design and residential design. “I guess you can call our offices a ‘guinea pig’ space,” Kalaher said, jokingly. “We can test out all of our crazy ideas to see if they work before trying them out on our clients.” But many of the his clients are totally into PLaN Architecture’s “crazy” ideas. Looking out the wide windows in the firm’s spacious conference room, Kalaher pointed out the many buildings he and his partner are currently renovating in Sioux City’s downtown district. “The reason our offices are on the second floor is we wanted a bird’s eye view of the work we’re currently doing,” he explained. “It’s cool seeing everything fall into place.” Using words like “sleek” and “industrial” in describing his office’s aesthetic, 10
MARCH 2012
A reception area at PLaN Architecture’s new office space in Sioux City.
Kalaher said it’s a perfect fit for his needs. “In the age of social media and networking, the world’s becoming flatter,” he explained. “As more and more of our work is being done electronically, the concept of what an office should look like is truly evolving.” Listening to the buzz of activity occurring inside his office, Kalaher reflected for a moment.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
“When a client walks through our doors, I think they immediately see what we’re all about,” he said. “And, hopefully, they will see what we can do for them.” Even if it means breaking down some walls in order to do so? “C’mon, I love our offices,” he said, grinning. “We don’t even need doors. We can just walk through a wall.”
11
Make Your Old Cabinets
NEW AGAIN
Get the stylish update you want without the mess of a lengthy renovation. Refacing transforms your kitchen or bath with gorgeous new cabinet doors, drawer fronts and hardware. Most kitchens can be refaced in just a few days. Choose from a variety of colors and finishes to get the kitchen you’ve always pictured, faster and easier than you ever thought possible!
Call today for a FREE in-home design consultation:
605-338-9915 5005 S. Western Ave, Suite #160 Sioux Falls, SD 57108 http://www.granitetransformations.com/siouxfalls/
AFFORDABLE ELEGANCE • Transform the look of your kitchen or bathroom • Choose from a wide selection of colors and finishes • Increase the value of your home
©2012 Granite Transformations. *Some restrictions may apply. Loans provided by EnerBank USA (1245 E. Brickyard Rd. Suite 640, Salt Lake City, UT 84106) on approved credit, for a limited time. Repayment terms vary from 3 to 6 months.subject to change.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
11
12
FITNESS Snow
sports
Nick Redmond, Sioux City, sails over a ramp while snowboarding at Grandview Park.
GOING TO THE
‘EXTREME’ WITH SNOW SPORT EQUIPMENT
e
Text by Earl Horlyk Photographs by Jim Lee
Travis Helt arranges sleds at Scheels Sporting Goods at Southern Hills Mall.
12
MARCH 2012
SIOUXLAND LIFE
EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS he’ll never be like two-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White, there’s nothing Brad Lepper loves to do more than snowboarding. If money was plentiful, the 25-yearold said he’d love to snowboard on the steep slopes of Beaver Creek or Vail, Colo. But as the water ski shop manager at Sioux City’s Scheels All Sport, Lepper is equally as content to grab some friends, jump in a pickup truck, find a big hill outside of town and snowboard an afternoon away. “There’s nothing better than going fast in the snow,” he said with a smile. “It’s awesome!” An experienced snowboarder for the past seven winters, Lepper said he initially got into the sport through his love of water skiing and wakeboarding. “A lotta guys move from wakeboarding to snowboarding or they move from skateboarding to snowboarding,” he
13
explained. “They discover they need that same adrenaline rush all year ’round.” That’s why Lepper is happy that Scheels sells colorful snowboards that will suit the needs of extreme athletes, extreme athlete wannabes and everybody in between. “On the slopes, I’ve seen snowboarders as young as six and as old as 60,” he said. “You never know who you’re gonna meet up with because everybody wants the chance to play in the snow.” Travis Helt, Scheels’ sport and game manager, agrees, adding that snowboards, toboggans and sleds are always perennial big sellers. Grabbing a Flexible Flyer Snow Screamer off a top shelf, he shows off the sled’s slick and shiny bottom that encourages high speed. “Get this baby on a big hill and you’ll be flying,” Helt said, smiling. “This is so cool.” A husband and a dad, Helt said sleds are lighter weight and much more durable than the wood and plastic contraption he had as a kid. Also lighter and more durable are Scheels’ large selection of inflatable snow tubes. “Remember when kids used to slide down hills in an old inner tube?” he asked, holding up a Rush Snow tube, complete with a hard bottom and tow ring. “Guess you can call this the state-ofthe-art version of an old tire.” Asked to explain the enduring appeal of snow sports and equipment, Helt said accessibility is key. “You don’t need any special training in order to sled,” he said with a shrug. “All you need is a sled, a big hill and the ability to hold on tight, then, boom, you’re a sledder.” Even more than that, Helt said snow sports are often looked upon as activities the entire family can take part in. “When it’s cold, families hibernate in their homes,” he said. “Sledding, skiing, snowshoeing and snowboarding give them a chance to get some fresh air and have fun as a family.” Well, winter also gives Lepper a chance to be creative while snowboarding. “Shaun White really changed the way people look at snowboarding,” he allows. “Once you become more experienced, you learn to do a few tricks in the snow.” Checking out a multi-colored snowboard hanging on a wall, Lepper said, “I may not be able to do a half-pipe like he does but I’ve been known to attempt a rail-jam if the mood suits me.”
An avid snowboarder, Scheels water ski shop manager Brad Lepper said high-end snowboards can easily cost more than $400 but are a must for adrenalinecharged athletes.
Accepting f f O e new clients t Wri Time We can file tax Tax ess! returns in 50 states Str Electronic filing Brian L. Jensen, CPA Brent A. Jensen, CPA
& ASSOCIATES, P.C . CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND CONSULTANTS
4240 Hickory Lane • 255-3450
Accounting & Consulting, Taxation, Financial Planning And Business Consulting
Doesn't your home deserve
Comfort Series® Vinyl Windows & Patio Doors? See your local building supply retailer for Gerkin products, or call Gerkin for the dealer nearest you.
Vinyl windows designed for new construction & replacement are guaranteed for as long as you own your home.
(402) 494-6000 or 1-800-475-5061 South Sioux City, NE www.gerkin.com • gerkin@gerkin.com
Concrete floors offer…
Performance | Efficiency | Safety | Beauty The best option after your basement floods. Grinding, polishing, staining, dyeing floors, color chip flooring or even customize a pattern. Contact us today for a free quote. Our services are affordable and cost effective.
PO Box 4543 Sioux City, IA 51104 712-255-0013 office Owner Curt Van Wyk
curt@diamondfloorsolutions.com
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
13
14
COLLECTION Music
memorabilia
COLLECTION GROWS FROM NEVER THROWING ANYTHING AWAY
e
Text by Joanne Fox | Photographs by Tim Hynds
ED WESTBERG STARTED HIS extensive collection of music, media and merchandise on a simple premise. “My family never, ever threw anything away,” he said with a laugh. From items that reflect the almost100-year heritage of his family farm to Elvis memorabilia, the Beresford, S.D., native has collected enough items to fill a building the size of a three-car garage on his property. However, the focus of the collection is
14
MARCH 2012
all things musical. Westberg estimated when he started cataloguing his records in 1996, his collection numbered 15,000. Today, he reported 58,398 records in all sizes and shapes. “They’re all entered in my computer,” Westberg said. “I may not be able to find a record if you ask me and even if it’s catalogued, it might not be on one of my shelves, but in a box in storage. But if I’ve got it, I’ll find it for you in less than five minutes.”
SIOUXLAND LIFE
Q. When did you start seriously collecting, rather than just saving and never throwing anything away? A. Probably the late 1980s. My wife Mary Ann and I had started picking up Roseville Pottery and somehow, we both decided to start collecting records. Q. What motivated that decision? A. My interest in music. I had been storing records I had purchased in our basement. Q. Why build a small house for the
15
Far left Ed Westberg is shown with a portion of his music collection which is housed in a former chicken house at his rural Beresford, S.D., home. Above Elvis items are shown as a part of Ed Westberg’s music collection. Left A Vogue Picture Disk record is shown with a children’s record.
collection? A. When my dad died in 1996, we tore down a number of buildings. Originally it was the house my dad lived in that was turned into a chicken coop when it got old. We just decided to replace it with this building. Q. Where did you come up with all of the shelving to display the items? A. Most of the time, places that went out of business. When the Ben Franklin store closed, I got a lot of display cases and shelving. Also, a drug store was getting new shelves. There’s a sorting case I got for $10 from the post office when they remodeled. Nobody wanted it
because it was so incredibly heavy. Q. Although it’s clear that music from the golden age of rock ’n’ roll is predominant, you’ve got a lot of personal stuff. A. We found a picture of my greatgrandparents in a closet that’s in almost perfect condition. I have their marriage certificate from 1869 and my greatgrandfather’s citizenship papers from 1871. I think people appreciate that kind of history. Q. It seems the memories are most important in your museum. A. Somewhat. I have the train set on display that I played with as a little
DO YOU COLLECT? What kinds of things do you have around the house either gathering dust, in plastic bins or on display for all to see? We’d love to feature your personal collection. Call Joanne Fox at 293-4247 or email jfox@siouxcityjournal.com. boy. I also have all of my report cards from school. But I also picked up an odd leather carving that was mailed with a one-cent stamp. And I found a Sioux City Corn Palace coin from 1888. So, it’s a mix. Q. What’s something you consider out-of-the-ordinary for your collection? A. I saved a hospital bill from 1971
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
15
16
World Class Care Patients – like Bill – believe in us!
was knowledgeable and “ Everyone caring. The June E. Nylen Cancer
Center takes a back seat to no one! – Bill Stewart, Sioux City
”
Sioux City, IA • 712.252.0088 www.nylencancercenter.com
Summer Is Just Around The Corner Breast Augmentation Breast Lift Breast Reduction Ultrasonic Liposuction for Body Contouring Abdominoplasty Fraxel Laser for Skin Resurfacing (no downtime) Harmony Laser for hair removal, treatment of brown and age spots, spider veins, tattoo removal
Am Board of Plastic Surgery and Am Board of Surgery,
Am Board of Plastic Surgery.
612 Sioux Point Road • Dakota Dunes, SD 605-232-9720 • 1-888-719-9720
911 E. 20th St. • Sioux Falls, SD • 1-800-666-3349
www.plasticsurgeryassociatesofsd.com
VAUGHN H. MEYER, MD, FACS** L. PATRICK MILLER, MD* • J. ANTHONY BREIT, M.D.** Am Board of Plastic Surgery and Am Board of Surgery,
16
MARCH 2012
SIOUXLAND LIFE
Am Board of Plastic Surgery.
A Sun Records pressing of Carl Perkins’ Blue Suede Shoes is part of Ed Westberg’s music collection.
when I had pericarditis. Ten days in the hospital cost $360. Use of the ER was $8. The entire bill was $597.01. I also have the bill for the first television set my folks purchased in 1955 for $300. That was a lot of money back then. Q. You have plenty of Elvis items. What’s that about? A. The first time I heard Elvis sing was on the radio, when my sister and I were washing eggs in the basement of our house. I started playing the guitar because I wanted to be Elvis. I have 141 legitimate Presley records and four bootleg copies. They look like the real thing, but they aren’t. You have to look pretty closely to tell the difference. Q. You’re a musician? A. I started performing with my friend, Clarence “Tubby” Carlson, in 1967. He was the drummer and I was the guitar player and vocalist. We played until he died in 2010. I’ve always sang at nursing homes and for funerals. I like the early days of country, but I also appreciate Dvorak’s New World Symphony. Q. What’s the oldest record you have? A. I have a 1901 record of the funeral service of President McKinley. Q. How do you get all of this stuff? A. I go to a lot of auctions. People give it to me. It’s not unusual for me to come home and find a box of records on my door step. I’m pretty easy to buy for for Christmas. Q. Has anyone ever asked to buy an item from your collection? A. A couple called me from Phoenix and said a friend of theirs had a stroke and had been trying to find a song he heard during the Korean War: “10,000 Miles.” Well, I had it. Dinah Shore recorded it. I asked for a dollar and they said that wasn’t enough so they gave me a bit more. Now, I’m not in the business of selling, but that was a special situation. Q. Any thought to quit collecting? A. I’m 68. I’ve tried to quit. Maybe someday.
17
ONE DAY YOU’RE LIVING LIFE. THE NEXT YOU COULD BE FIGHTING FOR IT.
HeartHeart attacks happen Luke’soffers offersimmediate, immediate, attacks happen fast. St. 24/7 heart heart care care Heart attacks happenfast. fast. St. St. Luke’s Luke’s offers immediate, 24/724/7 withthe thelatest latest diagnostics and treatment. with the with diagnostics and Teaming with with the latest diagnostics and treatment. treatment. Teaming Teaming with the the respected physicians of Cardiovascular Associates, St. Luke’s get back respected physicians of Cardiovascular St.youLuke’s helps you physicians of Cardiovascular Associates, Associates, St. Luke’s helps helps to family, friends and everything that matters to your heart. friends and and everything that matters to your to your heart. get backtotofamily, family, friends everything that matters
Your Your heart heart hospital hospital For the life For the life of of Siouxland. Siouxland.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
17
18
HEALTH Accident
recovery Thomas Meyer, a Western Iowa Tech Community College student, works with a wind turbine simulator during class. Meyer will graduate from the program in May.
DRUNK DRIVING
ACCIDENT DOESN’T DEFINE
WITCC STUDENT
j
Text and photographs by Joanne Fox
JUST OVER SIX YEARS ago, Thomas Meyer lay in a hospital bed – comatose and blind in one eye – after being hit by a drunk driver. This May the 36-year-old will graduate from the Wind Turbine Maintenance program at Western Iowa Tech Community College, a testament to overcoming adversity. Meyer, the father of five, enrolled in WITCC’s two-year program because he needed something that would produce the quickest results for the money. “Wind Turbine seemed the best route and even a place where I could do more with it in the future if I chose,” he said. “I also have a sibling who does cell phone 18
MARCH 2012
tower work, so I was familiar with this type of work.” Meyer added with a laugh, “And I’m not afraid of heights.” There were many reasons that led Meyer to college later in life. “I struggled as a youth with lack of direction and good parental role models,” he confessed. “I was raised in foster care mostly. And when my mother died when I was 14 years old, I went to live with an aunt and uncle. My uncle planted the seed of responsibility for the first time in my life.” But in his 20s, Meyer made a number of poor choices and ended up in trouble with the law.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
“After having a few children and a lot of going nowhere fast, I decided I wanted more,” he said. “FIMCO gave me my first break. I learned a trade and a sense of pride from there. About that same time, I met (WITCC industrial technology and welding instructor) Bill Berens.” Then came October 2005. While on his motorcycle in Morningside, Meyer was struck after a drunk driver ran a stop sign. “I had a fracture in the skull, swelling, a subdermal hematoma and two collapsed lungs,” he said. “I spent a month in a coma and about three months total in the hospital getting everything back to ‘normal,’ although I did have some
19
At right, Chad Plante, Western Iowa Tech Community College instructor in the Wind Turbine Maintenance program, lectures during class. Thomas Meyer, directly in front of Plante, is a class member, who returned to school after being hit by a drunk driver six years ago.
permanent damage, including blindness in my right eye.” Meyer marveled that he didn’t die that night. “If it wasn’t for the First Responders being so close to my accident, I don’t think I would have survived,” he said. “I’ve often thought God was watching out for me.” The accident became the turning point for Meyer’s determination, drive and discipline. “It really became a point where I strived on proving to myself and others that I can get through this accident and persevere,” he said. “It set a drive in me that I was just beginning to find in myself, but it further enhanced my need to do something more with my life.” Meyer went on to another welding job at Load King, but decided to move to a maintenance position. Then, the recession came and Meyer was laid off. “I took another job, but I knew I could not keep going this way without an education,” he said. “I needed to feel I could do college, even though I was anxious about it. I knew I had to do it. And all the while, Bill Berens was there for me.” Married with four daughters and one son, Meyer is not the traditional college student by any means. “I think guys like me may get forgotten about,” he mused. “I have to work a full-time job at FIMCO while I go to school full time, as well as help raise a family.” Meyer was recently awarded a WITCC scholarship to continue his education. “I think a lot of times when we think of scholarship recipients, we think of young, single college students with
straight A’s and maybe a part time job,” he said. “I am glad that WITCC thinks out of the box and really helps families that truly struggle.” In Meyer’s eyes, the scholarship award was more than just a hand-out to him personally; it was a hand-up. “The scholarship goes further than
just the student, but also to their families,” he said. “If I can have the opportunity to provide a better life for my family, it’s all I am looking for.” Meyer credited his wife Laura with supporting him through his accident, recovery and college studies. “She has been there for me for better for worse, for richer for poorer, up, down, right, left, through thick and through thin,” he said with a grin. “She is definitely my grounding point.” Meyer also hopes his drive and determination to succeed will serve as a role model for his children. “It’s hard for me to listen to people who whine they can’t do this or that,” he said. “I set the bar high enough that I want my kids to work hard to achieve their goals, like I did.” Even though the accident is years in the past, Meyer sports scars on his forehead from the incident. “I lost the peripheral and depth vision in my eye, but I am able to drive a car, as long as I have two mirrors,” he said. “Even with the coma and hematoma, I don’t need to see a doctor with any regularity.” He paused. “It took that accident to define my future.”
Rehab
After Surgery Our program is specifically designed to help residents return home!
Come see how our facility can meet your need for a quality lifestyle.
3501 Dakota Ave. • South Sioux City, NE 402-494-4273 SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
19
20
Introducing Non-Invasive CoolScultping™ by Zeltiq Zeltiq™ CoolSculpting is a non-invasive sculpting procedure that utilizes precisely controlled cooling to remove fat. This method is designed to only kill fat cells without injury to the skin or other tissue that results from more invasive procedures such as liposuction. During the Zeltiq procedure, a non-invasive applicator is applied to the skin surface to deliver precisely controlled cooling to target and eliminate fat cells in specific areas of the body. As they are exposed to precise cooling, the fat cells begin a process of natural cell removal that is painless, non-invasive and allows you to return immediately to normal activity. Call today and start your Zeltiq treatments soon!
{FREE} SPECIAL OFFER
Buy 3, get 4th
Zeltiq Treatment Areas EEXPIRES X P I R E S 04/30/12 03/31/12
HURRY! OFFER GOOD FOR FIRST 20 CLIENTS ONLY!
605 235 1630 In Dakota Dunes: 383 West Steamboat Drive, Suite 103 | www.lazaderm.com
20
MARCH 2012
LD_Zeltiq_SCJfull.indd 1
SIOUXLAND LIFE
12/12/11 11:21 AM
21
SNAP SHOTS Fundraisers a guide for living in siouxland
Find it here
Directly delivered in your sioux city Journal, at each advertiser’s business, on the web at siouxcityjournal.com/ siouxlandlife and at these locations: sioux city
Alzheimer’s Association Americinn Bacon creek convenience Best Western Billy Boy Bomgaars - 1732 Hamilton Burger King - All locations Bus Depot Buzz’z café candlewick Apts. castle on the Hill Apartments chamber of commerce Dairy Queen - Riverside Downtown Partners Fareway - All locations Furniture 4 Less Gateway Airport Holiday Village Horizon Restaurant Hy-Vee - All locations indian Hills Pharmacy KFc - All locations Knoepfler chevrolet Kryger Glass Kum & Go - 1373 Pierce Kum & Go - Riverside Ladies Workout Express Lakeport Laundry Laurence’s Leeds Food N Fuel Leeds Pharmacy Lewis & clark interpretive center Maggie’s Mini Mart s.c. community Health center s.c. convention center sam’s Mini Mart senior center sgt. Floyd Boat singing Hills secondhand smoke signals thinker toys thompson Dean Drug tyson Event center/Gateway Arena Western iowa tech
SUNRISE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY HOLIDAY CONCERT DONOR RECEPTION
Mort Zenor, Lorrie Stedman and Dick Keith attend the donor reception prior to the annual holiday concert at Sunrise Retirement Community.
OUT & ABOUT Submitted photographs
soutH sioux city
Hy-Vee Murphy’s Automotive Repair
DAKotA DuNEs Village square
LEMARs
LeMars optometric center
NoRtH sioux city Freeway Express Goode to Go Pronto Red carpet inn & suites
sERGEANt BLuFF
Fareway sioux Gateway Airport
SUNRISE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY HOLIDAY CONCERT DONOR RECEPTION Bev Zenor, Jack Bernstein and Lorrie Stedman attend the donor reception prior to the annual holiday concert at Sunrise Retirement Community.
SUNRISE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY HOLIDAY CONCERT DONOR RECEPTION Jack and Janice Bristow attend the donor reception prior to the annual holiday concert at Sunrise Retirement Community.
YOUR PICTURE HERE Have a fundraiser or event that should be featured in this section? Call (712) 293-4234 or e-mail ahynds@siouxcityjournal.com.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
21
22
TYSON EVENTS CENTER
Committee Members
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
TYSON EVEN TS C
c
Text by Dolly A. Butz
CHOOSING A COMFY LONGLASTING seat was just one of the many decisions the Tyson Events Center Executive Committee made as it sought to open the doors to an entertainment and sporting venue in December 2003 unlike TYSON anything downtown Sioux City EVENTS had ever known before. CENTER The Executive Committee, composed of city leadFUN FACTS ers and volunteers, was n Over 100,000 created in 2001 and met bricks were laid to weekly for more than construct much of three years to overthe building’s see the design and enclosure system. construction of the n There are more than 10,000-seat facility 1 million linear feet of that was completed wiring in the events center. on time and on budget. n The large trusses that “It was one support the roof are 188 of the greatest feet, 6 inches long and are accomplish14 feet tall. ments in n Each truss weighs 30 tons, Sioux City’s which is more than 20 cars. history, I n Over 80,000 square feet of believe,” concrete was used in the construction of the events center. n There are 259 doors in the facility. n It took 3,500 gallons of paint to cover the events center. Seven colors were used. n The arena bowl duct work is 80 inches in diameter which is large enough to allow Michael Jordan to walk upright through the HVAC system.
22
MARCH 2012
PLEASED WIT H
SIOUXLAND LIFE
Paul Eckert
Craig Berenstein
Marty Dougherty
City Manager Paul Eckert said of the Tyson Events Center. “Unique to this deal was extraordinary participation of a wide variety of people.” Members of the Executive Committee included labor, business, design, engineering and facilities operations representatives. “It really was a collaborative effort between everybody on that committee, city staff, the volunteers and the members of the Convention Center Board,” said City Economic Development Director Marty Dougherty. “You just couldn’t do something like this without an awful lot of people in the community working very hard.” SEAT SITUATION Craig Berenstein, who sat on the Executive Committee and began his first term as mayor in 2002, remembered discussions about the width of the seats. Comfort was an issue, as well as space. “We were trying to get to what promoters would consider a 10,000seat venue. If we went too wide it was going to reduce the capacity and have an impact on the seating size of the facility,” Berenstein recalled. Today, the seats in the main bowl
Dave Bernstein
Bev Wharton
range from 19 to 21 inches in width. Choosing the color of the seats posed another dilemma, according to Dougherty, who served as mayor during the funding and construction phases of the project and chaired the Executive Committee. Maroon was a contender for the venue’s main bowl seats, but Dougherty said the committee concluded that the color was too close to that of the seats in the Sioux City Auditorium, now the Long Lines Family Rec Center. “We had some lively debates about what it should be,” he said. “I think it turned out right.” Eckert, also a member of the Executive Committee, recalled city officials sparring over whether the seats should be yellow or maroon. “There was some strong difference of opinion on that and lots of other elements,” he said. “This again is a reflection of the fact that it was a great committee. There were lots of different views and perspectives.” Eckert said tensions became so heated over the seat color that some City Council members were ready to walk out of the room.
23
S CENTER “I said, ‘Make them green,’” he said. And so they did.
INVESTMENT PAYS OFF Eight years after the Tyson Events Center’s dedication, committee members continue to see the work they put into the $53 million project pay off. The state-of-the-art venue sold out six shows in calendar year 2011 – the largest number of sellouts since it opened. Eckert said feedback from performers across the country has been positive. “Our staff, the labor crews, the technical crews and the leadership, have just done an outstanding job in establishing a far-reaching, positive reputation,” he said. Briar Cliff University President Beverly Wharton said she has enjoyed attending numerous events at the facility with her family. “I have enjoyed that facility from a whole variety of perspectives,” she said. “I’ve always viewed that to be a very wonderful addition to our community.” Wharton chaired the Steering Committee which was responsible for securing a $21 million grant in Vision Iowa funding for the project, as well as several million dollars in naming gifts and donations from area businesses and families. Eckert said Sioux City’s legislative advocacy was responsible for the establishment of Vision Iowa – a state program which helps fund the construction of recreational, cultural, educational and entertainment facilities to improve the quality of life in Iowa. The state legislature appropriated $300 million over 20 years to the
OUTCOME
program. Bonds were issued to finance projects, which would be paid back with gaming revenues. “The program we helped establish was the largest source of funding for the facility,” Eckert said. BUILDING ADAPTS FOR EVENTS The 10,000-seat Tyson Event Center, which was designed by firms Ellerbe Becket of Kansas City and FEH Associates Inc. of Sioux City, is equipped with a full-size ice hockey rink surrounded by a U-shaped seating bowl. The stage can be placed at the open end of the seating bowl or at the center of the floor to accommodate performers, who have included the likes of Elton John, Reba McEntire and Aerosmith. The venue’s exterior is composed of tinted green glass and metal. At the south entrance, a tile mosaic with waterfall depicts the Missouri River and Loess Hills. “Generally the building has served the community very well,” said local concert promoter Dave Bernstein, a member of the Executive Committee. “It’s aesthetically very pleasing.” Although the building can accommodate a hockey game of 2,000 people or a concert of up to 10,000 people, Bernstein said city leaders need to devise a plan to add an additional 1,000 to 2,000 seats if the Tyson Events Center is to remain competitive in the future with Sioux Falls. Sioux City’s neighbor to the north is
planning a $115 million, 12,000seat events center in 2014. “I think the city right now should be hiring whoever can think far enough out of the box to come up with a way to add 1,000 to 2,000 seats to that building and come up with at least a plan that they can put on the shelf and a budget for it in case we need to do that down the road,” Bernstein said. Eckert said city leaders are “brainstorming” about the Tyson Events Center’s future, but an effort to come up with an expansion plan is not officially organized. “These things are built for 40 to 50 years, so you should be looking at how you can improve and expand it,” he said. Eckert said Tyson Events Center employees told him they wish the facility was a bit larger and that access points were more efficient for show setup. If he could go back and change anything, Dougherty considers increasing storage, adding more suites – for which there is a waiting list – and making improvements to entry points. Berenstein said he never before considered making modifications to the facility. The end result, he said, has achieved the quality of life and economic impacts the Executive Committee envisioned. “We had six sellout shows in 2011, and I think that fact alone speaks volumes to the importance and the credibility of the project,” he said.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
23
24
TYSON EVENTS CENTER
Changeover
TYSON
TAKES DOWN, BUILDS UP – OFTEN IN COURSE OF A DAY Text by Tim Gallagher | Photographs by Tim Hynds
THERE ARE DATES WHEN staff at the Tyson Events Center are tested and stretched. And then there is March 2010, a month that’s legendary. If any one month shows what is humanly possible in striking and re-setting a venue, it occurred at the Tyson Events Center in March 2010. The month marched in like a lion; marched out like one, too. Here’s how the curtains opened and closed that month: On March 8, the popular NAIA Division II Women’s National Basketball Championship began its 32-team, 9-day run, attracting 5,000
Workers use an overhead projector to help them paint a Musketeers hockey logo at center ice at the Tyson Events Center.
24
MARCH 2012
SIOUXLAND LIFE
fans. When it ended, the Tyson Events Center basketball playing floor was picked up and replaced by ice in time for Sioux City Musketeers games on March 19 and 20. Keep in mind, it generally takes three 8-hour and one 12-hour day to spray, freeze, paint and temper 116,000 gallons of water for your standard United States Hockey League ice sheet. Larry the Cable Guy needed a venue for his 6,000 fans on March 21. “We put the floor over the ice,” said Aran Rush, executive director for Sioux City’s events & facilities department.
25
One day later, Larry the Cable Guy’s stage and more were carted off to make way for another Musketeers hockey game on March 23. The Stone Temple Pilots played a concert on March 24, attracting 3,000 fans who took to the open floor for this event. A Jason Aldean concert the next night welcomed 6,000 fans, many of whom sat in seats placed on the floor. After a March 26 Musketeers game, the Sioux City Bandits football team played indoors. The next night? The Harlem Globetrotters tipped off atop the 224-piece basketball court. (Each piece of the court measures 4-feet by 8-feet. Each weighs 80 pounds. They lock into place.) “That was four days of events, each of which involved an all-night changeover,” said Glenn Walinski, facility manager. “We do love the work, but we also don’t mind if it’s spread out over time a little.” “We did take Monday (March 28) off,” said Rush, laughing at the memory. “The number of people we put through the Tyson Events Center in that time frame (a week) might approach 25,000.” People equal revenue in this business. And people build a site’s – and a city’s – reputation. A crummy venue – just once
– can set back the effort. “Each opportunity comes at once one at a time,” Rush said. “At the time we were asking, ‘Can we handle this?’ And, there was never a hesitation. It was the busiest week we ever had.” The ice alone might break the backs of some staffs. The typical paying customer takes in a rodeo one night, enjoying the bucking bulls of Barnes Rodeo along with a Coke and popcorn. That same fan returns later in the week for a Sioux City Musketeers game, not realizing everything that took place to get the ice arena back. Fifty-five trucks of dirt, for example, were hauled in and leveled for the rodeo on Jan. 20-21. At midnight on Jan. 21, just hours after the last bull threw his cowboy, a contractor hired by Barnes began hauling dirt away. “We spent the whole following day (Jan. 22) cleaning and brush scrubbing the floor with soap and water to remove all the traces of dirt,” Walinski said. The glass was then put in place for the hockey arena before the floor was scrubbed again, finally setting the stage for a lengthy ice-making process that involves intricate temperature control
Workers spread dirt on the arena floor at the Tyson Events Center to prepare the arena for the Rawhide Bullfighting Challenge.
and a mix of hose spraying and misting to create a perfect sheet of ice measuring three-quarters of an inch to one inch. Part of the process involves allowing the ice to dry so lines may be painted. Musketeers’ and sponsors’ logos represent even more intricate work, a chilly paint-by-numbers task involving a projector and Sharpie markers for the outlines. Once the painting is done, the ice rink is flooded again, until 1/8 of an inch of water stands atop the sheet. The Zamboni adds hot water, which freezes faster and doesn’t put as much air in the sheet as a hose. “We’ll then get the Musketeers out to skate for practice, or someone to skate on the ice, which tempers the sheet,” Walinski said. Finally, a fraction of an inch is cut from the ice. Hot water again is added to fill in any cracks. For many events atop the ice, a protective barrier called Ice-Pro projects the ice from the floor. NAIA and high school Substate games, for example, are played atop a layer of Ice-Pro beneath which stands the ice. Removing it? That’s a four-hour process involving a heat exchanger, a diversion of Glycol and a constant temperature of 43 degrees. It’s complicated, but a task the Tyson Events Center crew has down like much else – down to a science. Bill Julius, holding the nozzle, leads a Tyson Events Center crew, while spraying water on the floor of the events center to make an ice sheet for hockey games.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
25
26
TYSON EVENTS CENTER
Food
NOT YOUR ORDINARY
CONCESSION STAND
GRUB Text by Earl Horlyk | Photographs by Tim Hynds
MARK WISNIEWSKI HAS A secret weapon when it comes to keeping the Tyson Events Center Italian Nachos crispy: deep-fried strips of wontons. “Regular nacho chips would go limp under all of that meat, mozzarella and marinara sauce,” he explained. “Yet wontons seem to hold on to their crunchiness.” South-of-the-Border arena food with both Italian and Asian influences may seem strange but it’s part of Wisniewski’s job to think outside of the box. As general manager of Distinctive Gourmet, which holds the food and beverage contract with the Tyson, the Sioux City Convention Center, the Orpheum Theatre, among other city facilities, he’s constantly reinterpreting concession stand grub. For instance, a hot beef sandwich at the Tyson is made with slivered slices of beef brisket, served in artisan bread, accompanied by house-made kettle chips. And Wisniewski continues to tinker with the crust composition of the Tyson’s buffalo chicken and Stilton cheese pizza. “We’re constantly bringing in new foods and making our existing menu items even better,” he said. Joining Wisniewski in the Tyson’s “test” kitchen is Distinctive Gourmet’s Executive Chef Alan Clark. “People who attend events at the Tyson want variety and our menus reflect that,” Clark said. Among such concession stand favorites as burgers and dogs are decidedly upscale items like Italian Treasures Shrimp (lightly battered shrimp stuffed 26
MARCH 2012
BY THE NUMBERS Since it open in 2003, Tyson Events Center vendors have been taking a tally of the foods served to guests:
107,000 bags of popcorn (that amounts to 546 miles of popcorn)
113,000 hot dogs served (or approximately 32 heads of steer)
189,000 servings of 32 ounce
fountain soft drinks (that’s about 47,000 cups of sugar)
Top Distinctive gourmet chef Chad Peterson, left, executive chef Alan Clark and director Mark Wisniewski show off some of the food available at the Tyson Events Center concessions. Above A plate of Italian nachos, made using sausage and wonton wrappers.
with Italian cheeses) and specialty pizzas. But that’s not to say they skimp on the old reliables. “Hot dogs and spicy brats are always big sellers,” Wiesniewski said, holding up a Chicago Hot Dog, a grilled, all-beef frankfurter, served with tomatoes, pickle relish, pepperonicinis and plenty of celery salt. “And so is the popcorn,” he said, adding that the Tyson pops its corn
SIOUXLAND LIFE
exclusively using coconut oil for patrons who may have peanut allergies. Wiesniewski said he often draws culinary inspirations by paying attention to national trends (“Expect to see more organic foods in the coming year as well as more locally grown produce”) yet he notices distinct differences in the facilities that he manages. “Since the Tyson hosts a wide variety of attractions, we have more freedom to try new things,” he said. “That’s different than Lewis & Clark Park where Sioux City Explorers fans prefer a more limited menu.” Despite that, Wisnieswski said he loves to test the boundaries of event center food. “We’re offering food that might be served at big city restaurants but we’re providing it for all of our guests,” he said, smiling. “It’s fun knowing that we’re expanding the palate of our community.”
27
TYSON EVENTS CENTER
Food
WHAT’S COOKIN’ AT TYSON EVENTS CENTER Text by Tim Gallagher | Photograph by Tim Hynds
FEW STAFFS WILL SERVE more diners in March than those who prep food for Distinctive Gourmet at the Sioux City Convention Center. Why? The 2012 NAIA Division II Women’s National Basketball Championship returns to the Tyson Events Center. “We served 4,500 a year ago,” says Bob Dowd, sous chef for Distinctive Gourmet, the entity that prepares and serves those dining at the Sioux City Convention Center, the Orpheum Theatre, the IBP Ice Center and more. While much of the food you see at the Tyson Events Center is prepared at the nearby Convention Center kitchen facility, there are many food items prepared at the Tyson. “With the NAIA, we’ll do our cooking over at the Tyson,” says Dowd, a six-year veteran with Distinctive Gourmet. “The Tyson has two oven units and, with remodeling here at the Convention Center, it has freed up a third oven unit for over there. They’re going to get a steamer,
A smoked beef brisket sandwich with house made kettle chips.
too.” Fajitas, a taco bar and a smoked beef brisket have all gone over well for basketball fans at the Tyson, says Dowd. He planned to stick with those items while changing his game plan in other menu offerings. “We’re planning on trying a Chipotle honey-braised beef short rip, which is super tender and super flavorful,” he says. When the NAIA Division II Women’s National Volleyball Championship was hosted here, Dowd and staff featured lots of desserts from Wells’ Dairy in nearby Le Mars, Iowa. They’ll do it again for the basketball classic. “It’s cheaper for us, plus it gives us a chance to showcase a local company,” he says. While the basketball tournament makes March hectic for Tyson food prep, it doesn’t match the October pace. That’s when Distinctive Gourmet pros serve diners at the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner, the Bishop’s Dinner for the Diocese of Sioux City and two Women’s Night Out celebrations that welcome 1,500 diners on consecutive evenings. Oh, and there are the concerts popping up frequently, with fans and performers alike that must be fed. While fans often get the standard concession fare, performers submit requests or select from special menus prepared by Distinctive Gourmet. Those meals are often made during the night of a concert and trucked over in insulated “hot boxes” before being served backstage. The ride from the Sioux City Convention Center to the Tyson Events Center takes 3-4 minutes. Dowd notes many performers, their bands and stage crews opt for vegetarian and vegan offerings. Rapper T-Pain’s menu, for example, contained five vegetarian plates. “Really, the only thing that sticks out are the number of vegan meals,” Dowd says. “We use different grains (like) quinoa, which is a small grain that’s been around forever. It’s got the highest protein content of any grain.”
A FEW FOOD FLOPS If you’re looking for a churro on the Tyson Events Center menu, chances are you’re alone in the desire to scarf down a deep-fried Mexican doughnut. The churro is one of the food mistakes made by the Tyson, according to Distinctive Gourmet general manager Mark Wisniewski, but it’s far from being the only one. Add fresh fruit cups to the list of Tyson concession stand non-starters. “People say they want healthier options,” Wisniewski reasoned, “but healthy foods very seldom work well in convention centers.” Apparently, neither do expensive alcoholic drinks. “Our South of the Border Grande Margarita was delicious,” Wiesniewski admitted, “but at $20, it was overpriced.” At least, event-goers could appreciate the festive colors of a mixed drink. That wasn’t the case with the Tyson’s most infamous food flop: the “Whiteout” pizza. “The ‘Whiteout’ pizza was served with a white, Alfredo sauce, along with a green pesto,” Wisniewski remembered. “The problem is the pesto ended up turning the chicken green.” “No matter how you spin it,” he added with a smile, “nobody wants to eat green chicken.” Performers like tofu and whole-grain brown rice, too. Dowd recalls serving Amaranth Cakes, which feature the Amaranth grain and a little whole wheat flour served with sautéed portabella mushrooms. “With Tim McGraw, we served a highend Albacore grilled salmon with a basil pesto sauce,” he said. “And they always want fresh vegetables, ranging from broccoli and asparagus to zucchini and cauliflower. “A good majority of performers on the road eat healthy,” he adds. “And everything must be fresh, which we would do anyway.” The food prep for acts at the Tyson doesn’t stop once the concert ends. Dowd notes the staff often has to make omelettes to order in the morning as the crew hits the road for another concert city. “I’ve heard from more than one person that people on the concert circuit like the food here,” Dowd says.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
27
28
PROFILE Q&A
“During events we have people on the floor, who are roamers. We have people on the concourse. We are visible.”
28
MARCH 2012
SIOUXLAND LIFE
29
20 QUESTIONS with a security worker
Tracy Lund
Text by Nick Hytrek | Photographs by Jim Lee
What does it take to work security at a Tyson Events Center activity? Tracy Lund, who’s also a bouncer at bars on Historic Fourth Street and works at Boys and Girls Home, talked with Nick Hytrek. 1. How does one get hired to work security at the Tyson Events Center? You have to apply at City Hall. You go through the city and apply through the city. They check you out and give you an interview. 2. Why did you want to work security here? I’ve been to a lot of the shows, concerts that have been here. I had never been in that kind of security and wanted to give it a try. I’m going on five years now. 3. What kind of training does security at Tyson receive? The city of Sioux City and Tyson Events Center will put you through all types of scenarios and videos, your CPR and all that stuff, too. We have classes we have to go to, too. 4. How is security different from the ushers and others working during the events? Our shirts are black. We’re all positioned in certain positions. Of course, we’ve got our radios and all that good stuff on, too. I think we’re pretty much noticed because we’re everywhere. 5. What experience is helpful for working security? Good experience could be any type of security work. Communications is a big thing for anybody working with the public. 6. What events do you cover? I cover just about every type of event I’ve been able to attend. I’ve done everything from concerts to bull riding to hockey. 7. Are there certain types of events at which you’re more likely to have problems with the crowd?
I think concerts are your biggest ones. That has the largest number of people, and alcohol is sold. 8. Aside from that, what makes an event hard to work? The most difficult thing is a concert because of the large number of people that you have to walk through. If there’s a problem on the floor, you have to try to get through the crowd. 9. What are you watching for during an event? It depends on the event. If it’s hockey or a football game, it’s vulgar behavior and obscene language. We just try to make sure people are following the rules of the Tyson Center. 10. How visible are you during an event? Are you out in the crowd or up above? During events we have people on the floor, who are roamers. We have people on the concourse. We are visible. 11. How many of you work an event? If we have a concert, you may be looking at 40-plus. Hockey or football games, maybe eight to 10. 12. What’s the most common situation you respond to? I’d have to say the most common thing is people arguing, somebody upset with someone sitting behind them. 13. How does the security staff respond to a situation? The first thing I probably want to do is get the person away from the situation in which they’re involved. 14. What’s the best way to diffuse a potentially physical confrontation? I approach them slowly and let them know who I am. If they start getting
vulgar or threatening to me, you want to have somebody with you. I talk to them as politely as I can. 15. Do you have many situations that you respond to that become physical? Once in a while. Not very often. 16. What’s the most common outcome to situations you respond to? Usually we can diffuse the situation. Generally, people want to work with you because they don’t want to leave. If possible, we can separate them and seat them in different areas. 17. How big a role does alcohol play in these situations? Alcohol has the biggest play during concerts because of the large numbers of people and they’re bunched up. 18. Have you ever gotten hit or assaulted when responding to a situation? I have one time by someone who was asked to leave because he was threatening our security. 19. How do you remain calm and resist the urge to beat the crap out of them? That’s just something that comes with having experience. If I get to the point where I need to leave, I’ll ask someone with me to take over. I would exit the situation and let someone else handle it. 20. What’s the most challenging part of the job? The most challenging part of security would be dealing with large numbers of people. When you’re working with 8,000 people, it takes 40 of us. Getting from one place to another can be an issue.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
29
30
TYSON EVENTS CENTER
Musketeers Clubhouse
MUSKETEERS’ CLUBHOUSE
LEADS THE LEAGUE Text by Tim Gallagher Photographs by Jim Lee
ADAM WADDELL’S CAREER SONG could be the Johnny Cash hit, “I’ve Been Everywhere.” “This is the fourth league I have worked in and the sixth team I’ve worked for,” says Waddell, equipment manager for the Sioux City Musketeers. When it comes to the Musketeers’ clubhouse and locker facility within the Tyson Events Center, Waddell’s praise lights the lamp, as they say. “I’ve been in at least 100 facilities. There are some nice and some not nice. I remember one team dressing in a portable trailer,” he says. The Musketeers dress in a circular room plush with emerald green carpet, a big screen TV and a white board allowing Coach Brett Larson to cover each pregame detail before his captive audience. “Nobody hides in a round locker room,” says Waddell, the man responsible for laundering and setting each jersey just so in the spacious wooden player lockers. “You look everyone in the eye, dead in the face.” Locker facilities in Fargo, N.D., and Pittsburgh, Pa., are just like it. There is one rule: No stepping on the Musketeer logo that’s emblazoned in the carpet at the center of the room. A mandatory $50 fine is levied upon any player who missteps that way. “You don’t step on that logo out of respect and what this organization is all about,” he says. A member of the organization gets that message immediately upon entering the clubhouse. Just 20 steps from the Tyson Events Center ice you walk through a doorway. Just to the left is Coach Larson’s office. Staring you in the face is a Musketeer logo and this saying, “It’s a privilege to be here.” Other printed plates remind players of their place here, their mission here. They’re placed in spots around the modern weight facility, the separate dressing room (called the dry-change area) and the shower. “You hear, you forget. You see, you remember. You do, 30
MARCH 2012
Above Coach Brett Larson talks to his players in the Musketeers locker room at the Tyson Events Center prior to hockey action. Left Weight and exercise room inside Sioux City Musketeers locker room at the Tyson Events Center features 10 new spin bikes to help players work the lactic acid from their legs after a game.
you understand,” is one reminder from Confucius. Ten new spin bikes have a room just off the round locker facility. Players go in shifts of two after each game, spinning to work the lactic acid from their legs, allowing them to hit the ice fresh the following night. Just feet from the bikes are weights, big screen TVs and a glassed-in room featuring two hot/cold tubs and training tables for the athletic trainers to help players work out the aches and pains. “They re-did the locker area last year and added a sauna,” Waddell says. “We never had a sauna before.” The dry-change area featuring smaller stalls for each Musketeer allows players to change from their street clothes (they always arrive on game day in slacks, suit
SIOUXLAND LIFE
coats and ties) to Under Armour, the material they wear beneath their equipment. Waddell places each player’s equipment and jersey in the rounded locker area. Picture a clock with a player’s stall at each hour of the day. All the jerseys are hung in the same manner, with the back of the jersey directed at the center of the room. The skates on one half of the “clock” point one way; all skates on the other half of the “clock” point the opposite direction. Each player has shower sandals bearing his jersey number. And each player has a nameplate above his locker which shows his name, number and hometown. The hometown addition is a conversation starter for newcomers and a source of pride for each man, naturally. “We are in the Top Three in the league (United States Hockey League) for facilities,” Larson says. “Having this allows us to recruit better players. The league itself has some very high standards.” “It is a privilege,” the sign reads.
31
outdoor
living
Between the dry locker area and the rounded locker are two signs, facing one another in a bright yellow hall. The U.S.H.L. teams standings comprise one of the signs, a daily reminder of where the Musketeers are in this battle for postseason play. The other sign is elaborate, detailing when and where each past Sioux City Musketeer played college hockey and/or the National Hockey League. Since 1992, the sign shows 34 Sioux City Musketeers have been drafted by organizations in the N.H.L. Rotislav Klesla was the fourth overall pick in the 2000 draft. Three Musketeer alums were drafted by N.H.L. teams in 2010. Nearby is another sign, another reminder of each young man’s place in this competitive world. “Learn as a student, develop as an athlete,” it reads. “Grow as an individual.”
at its best
Free Outdoor Estimates 322 West 7th Street | Sioux City, IA 51103 712-258-3388 | www.foulkbros.net
bland is a choice
Reinvent Your Kitchen
Designer Jamie Miller will work closely with you to create the kitchen or bath that works for you!
Check out our new gourmet food and spice shop! Premium ingredients for high quality taste.
Jamie Miller, AKBD Designer 715 East Ninth Street South Sioux City, NE 68776
402-494-5411
405 Wesley Parkway 712.258.7790 405 Wesley Parkway • Sioux City, IA www.palmercandy.com 712.258.7790 • www.palmercandy.com SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
31
32
TYSON EVENTS CENTER
Sports
SPORTS HELP
KEEPAT THE LIGHTS ON TYSON EVENTS CENTER Text by Dolly A. Butz | Photograph by Jim Lee
FROM THE ROOMINESS OF the concourse to a state-of-the-art locker room, Sioux City Musketeers Executive Vice President Rich Zaber calls the Tyson Events Center a “fantastic facility” for hockey. According to Zaber, the building is the perfect place for the team to practice and compete in and a great space for more than 200 NHL and college coaches to scout players annually at the Fall Classic. “It’s just ideal for them,” he said. “They say it’s a great place for hockey.” Erika Newton, Convention Bureau manager, said the building’s size makes it feel full when a large number of people are attending an event, which she said creates a high-energy level perfect for sporting events. “It’s not such a massive, huge building that it feels empty,” she said. “It’s easy to get the number of people in the doors enough to make it feel like there’s something special going on.” IDEAL SIZE FOR NAIA TOURNAMENT This March, the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship will celebrate its 15th year in Sioux City. The tournament made its debut at the Sioux City Auditorium in 1998. Since 2004, the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship has been held at the Tyson Events Center. Tom Padgett, Sioux City mayor pro tem and this year’s NAIA TournaTom Padgett ment director, said NAIA championship officials “really liked” the Municipal Auditorium as a venue. After the Tyson Events Center was built, they liked that facility even 32
MARCH 2012
The Sioux City Musketeers locker room is in the top three in the league allowing the Musketeers to recruit better players. The team logo on the carpet is not to be stepped upon. Players are “fined” for doing so.
better, according to Padgett. “It’s a nice size without being huge,” he said of the building. “They like the fact that it can hold enough people – 5,000 to 6,000 – that they can do well at the gate, but also, when the finals are televised, that it won’t look like 1,500 people sitting in a 10,000-seat arena.” SPORTS KEEP THE LIGHTS ON The presence of the Sioux City Musketeers hockey team and the Sioux City Bandits football team help keep the doors open at the Tyson Events Center, according to Newton. “Those two teams are vitally important to the building because they fill a lot of days that otherwise the building would just be sitting here dark and unused,” she said. “They get people into the
SIOUXLAND LIFE
building and get people exposed to the Tyson Events Center, possibly encouraging them to come back to another event later.” Newton said the Tyson Events Center also makes revenue by selling concessions to fans during the games. Hosting tournaments like the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship further benefit the Tyson financially and the entire community as players and fans spend money at restaurants, hotels and stores around the city. “It’s not an event that the city is going to make $100,000 out of as a city entity, but if we can turn $1.5 million over in the community that’s certainly a winner for the citizens of Sioux City,” Padgett said.
33
TYSON EVENTS CENTER
Dressing Rooms
DRESSING ROOMS
Cowboys Clint Spooner, Dusty Green and Tyler Croxell get ready in a dressing room at the Tyson Events Center as they prepare for the Rawhide Bull Riding Challenge.
FIT THE NEEDS
OF THE PERFORMERS
Text by Joanne Fox Photograph by Jim Lee
MOVIES PORTRAY THE DRESSING rooms of stars – who gaze at their countenances in oversize mirrors – with rows of lights, scads of flowers, piles of costumes. The holding rooms for performers at the Tyson Events Center are far more utilitarian. In fact on this January day, there was plastic taped on the carpet, left over to protect the floor from the dirt tracked in from the Monster Truck races and other stick-to-the-bottom-of-yourboot stuff from the Barnes Pro Rodeo Championship. Whether it be the entourage of superstar Elton John or singular comedian Larry the Cable Guy, the 10 potential dressing rooms in the lower level of the Tyson have to fit the needs of the performer, explained Glenn Walinski, the center’s manager. “We have to know the size of every room, every door, how many outlets, how many mirrors, and a host of other particulars for each act,” he said. “There’s no one size fits all when it comes to the dressing rooms.” So there are no surprises, acts provide the Tyson staff with a “rider” to their contract. “There are times when the act will need a specific power requirement,” Walinski acknowledged. “Or they may need a free-standing mirror or a special type of table. Free standing, comfortable furniture is requested a lot. Elton John asked for live plants. It looked like an arboretum downstairs.” “This is when you hear about special water or food,” noted Erika Newton, Convention Bureau manager. “In fact a lot of the needs of the performers will fall under the catering area for Distinctive Gourmet.” For example, Elton John’s rider asked
for a number of cans of Coke and Diet Coke ... and 14 pizzas. “Sometimes I’m amazed at how much food is requested,” Newton said. “But you have to remember, that (the 14 pizzas) is not for the artist. It’s for everyone associated with the show.” It’s not often, but there are times when the performer will ask for something not easily found in Siouxland. “Distinctive Gourmet staff have been known to get something from Omaha if it’s not traditionally carried in this area,” Newton said. “If we can’t get our hands on the item, we will offer an alternative,” Walinski added. “Most artists will accept our offering, but it really depends on the individual and how important that item is.” “Often times it’s not so much the artist who’s so particular, it’s a staff member, who is trying to carry out the requests of the artist,” Newton pointed out. “Typically, we don’t interact directly with the artists on their needs. But we understand the need for consistency for them, so we try our best to accommodate their requests.” It isn’t always about accoutrements or food for the performers. Sometimes it’s health care needs. “Aerosmith requested a doctor because one of the performers needed a doctor to administer an allergy shot at a specific time,” Walinski said. “When the Stone Temple Pilots were here, lead singer Scott Weiland, was in rehab,” Newton said. “There were strict orders to have no alcohol and no tobacco anywhere in the backstage area.” One room does have the “celebrity”
feeling and that’s the room with mirrors along one side of the wall. “We do consider this the star dressing room, but not so much because of the mirrors,” Walinski clarified. “This room allows the performer to come right from the bus into the Tyson without being seen. It also is the closest to the arena floor, so it is a good ‘holding’ area.” And yes, the mirrored room was the room Elton John hung out in prior to wowing the sold-out crowd in the arena. “We’ve noticed the bigger the artist, like Elton John, the more streamlined their production goes,” Newton said. “The lesser-known artists are still working through the production process.” Some performers hole up in the dressing room areas, while others go in search of others. “Reba (McEntire) ate in the catering area and Taylor Swift spent time outside her dressing room,” Walinski recalled. “Larry the Cable Guy would wander all over. Bill Engvall to some extent. Ron White a bit less and Jeff Foxworthy not at all,” Newton said. While most of us sit in the stands, Walinski and Newton get to rub elbows with the stars. “Two of the nicest people to work with were Taylor Swift and Elton John,” Newton said. “She was just always gracious and Elton John was too, plus he smelled good. We gave his son a Musketeer jersey which he really appreciated.” “I’d say helping put together Elton John’s show was a highlight for me,” Walinski said. “He was both polite and professional.”
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
33
34
ask a professional Q: Someone told me physical therapy can
help. Is that true?
A:
Absolutely! The belief that physical therapy is only for post-surgery and injuries is a huge misnomer! Physical therapy is not just for recovery, it’s also great for proactively maintaining strength, flexibility, and providing stabilization. During the remainder of your pregnancy, your body will be releasing hormones to loosen ligaments in your body to prepare for Dr. Joel delivery. If you keep the muscles surrounding Pistello, DC those joints toned and trained well, you can hopefully avoid any pain that usually causes! We encourage patients, when appropriate, to incorporate physical therapy into their prenatal and post-pregnancy care.
Q: What about chiropractic care? Will it hurt the baby?
A:
Another great point! Many women have found relief to their lower back pain and have had easier deliveries by receiving chiropractic care throughout their pregnancy. Scientific studies have found that spinal manipulation carries no increased risk to the mother or baby. Chiropractic care, like physical therapy, is also helpful after delivery as your body starts to tighten up those loose ligaments that developed during your pregnancy. It is important to make sure your joints are aligned before your muscles return back to their pre-pregnancy state.
If you find stretching and exercising isn’t enough to help with your low back pain during pregnancy, come and see us at Multicare Health Clinic.
The right team. The right care. MultiCare.
Call 276-4325 today for an appointment
3930 Stadium Drive. (Between Wal-Mart & Explorer Stadium)
34
MARCH 2012
SIOUXLAND LIFE
35
TYSON EVENTS CENTER
Lost and Found
A TREASURE TROVE
Melissa Lanzourakis, group sales manager at the Tyson Events Center, looks though lost and found items at the events center. Lost and found items range from clothing to iPods to volunteer fire department pagers.
OF WHAT’S LEFT BEHIND AT THE TYSON Text by Earl Horlyk Photograph by Tim Hynds
IF YOU’VE LEFT YOUR glittery Barbie doll, Melissa Lanzourakis wants to hear from you. Lanzourakis, the Tyson Events Center’s group sales manager, is also the keeper of the facility’s lost and found box. Inside is a treasure trove of items which includes keys, caps, driver’s licenses, shoes, even a child’s toy. “It’s always fascinating to see what people leave or forget after an event,” Lanzourakis said, digging through the box. “For instance, who takes their shoes off during a show and who leaves the Tyson without having them on.” Following every event, the Tyson’s janitorial staff conducts a sweep of the facilities. Items discovered while cleaning floors, aisles and seats are collected and taken to Lanzourakis’ office. Items can be missing for days before concertgoers realize they’re missing. Owners can call or stop by the Tyson to pick up what they’ve left behind. The most common lost item are eyeglasses and Lanzourakis has at least 20 of them. When a wallet is left behind, Tyson staff will check for identification and try to make contact with its owner. They will do likewise with driver’s licenses. “If someone loses a cellphone, they will often call their number,” Lanzourakis said. “If we hear the phone ring, then we’ll pick it up.” Scooping up more owner-less items, she discovers stuff like binoculars, iPods and brand new cameras. “Some of this stuff is quite expensive,” Lanzourakis admitted. “For the past year
or so, we’ve kept a woman’s watch which has been appraised for more than $200. I’m sure whoever lost it would love to get it back.” Over the years, Lanzourakis has noticed different events bring in different lost items. Sports fans, perhaps understandably, leave behind sports-related apparel such as team insignia caps, T-shirts and jackets. Following a rodeo or bull-riding event, cowboy hats and boots frequently fill the Tyson’s lost and found. And after concerts featuring Nelly and Sugarland, all manner of items may turn up. “We’ll find regular lost clothing items such as shoes or unusual stuff like bras
and panties left behind,” Lanzourakis said, smiling. Clothing items, especially after general admission concerts, often turn up soaked in beer. Such items can’t be reclaimed and are discarded by Tyson staff. Other clothing items that can be repurposed are sometimes donated to local charities like Goodwill Industries. Eyeglasses are often donated to the local Lion’s Club. As she combs through the coats, jackets and shoes that fill the lost and found box, Lanzourakis can’t help but shrug. “It’s hard to imagine a person who could come to the Tyson wearing shoes,” she said, picking up a right side pair of pumps, “and leave here with just one on.”
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
35
36
TYSON EVENTS CENTER
Suites
OWNERS
SWEETEN UP THEIR TYSON EVENTS CENTER
SUITES Text by Laura Johnson Photographs by Tim Hynds
BY NO MEANS WOULD Shennen Saltzman consider himself an interior designer. He is, after all, vice chairman of Pioneer Bank. Yet somehow, when the Tyson Events Center opened, the job of designing the interior of his company’s Tyson Events Center suite fell into his lap. “I don’t know how I was put in charge of it,” Saltzman confided. But when it came to the actual design, he took the job seriously. “We took it from a customer’s angle first and then employees’ and families’,” he explained. “To see how we could make it comfortable while being able to enjoy the venue.” Suite No. 27, which Pioneer Bank owns with Long Lines, is just the place to schmooze clients and hang out with family and friends. Boasting a very open feeling, the room features a granitetopped island and plenty of space to spread out. To accent the large slate floor, Saltzman used a dark varnish on the cabinets. “It paired nicely with the natural colors of the floor and light granite tops,” he said.
Suite No. 28, held by Concrete Specialties, is shown at the Tyson Events Center.
One of Saltzman’s favorite things about the venue is getting to know his neighbors. “Everybody is so nice up there. You get to know everyone on your side,” Saltzman said. “But as close as you are to them you’re still very much in your own little space - you’re still in your own world.” Once an owner purchases a suite, he or she has complete control over its look. “As long as what they do is up to fire and safety codes, we really have no say in it,” said Erika Newton, convention bureau manager. “Sure, we want to be informed when they are about to do things but we really have nothing to do with it.” Recently, Suite No. 4, held by Ideal Wheels and 4th Street Sports Grill, was updated to include an animated sports theme paired with elegant cabinetry. As Newton explained, there really is no wrong way to decorate. “Every suite has a different feel,” she said. “Some chose to keep it the same and some completely renovated. A lot have brought in personalized touches like photos, which are fun to see.” Ten years ago when the building was
still a shell, Ryan Callahan was there. As a contractor for Concrete Specialties, he knew his company would have to do something to spice up its suite. “We were one of the original owners and so we invested a decent amount of money into our place,” Callahan said of Suite No. 28. “It’s very nice and includes custom cabinetry and a fridge and everything.” While many suites (including Pioneer Bank and Ideal Wheels) have TVs, Concrete Specialties’ does not, although Callahan is considering bringing one up himself. “It’d be nice to be able to watch an important basketball or football game as well when we’re there,” Callahan said. As far as shows are concerned, Callahan said the Elton John and Cher concerts stick out in his mind most. “But you know, they’ve all been good,” he said. “I’ve never thought ‘What a waste to have this place.’ Everything I’ve experienced in that suite has been great.” One day Concrete Specialties will probably renovate again, but, for now, Callahan said, they are happy with it the way it is. Far left Ideal Wheels and 4th Street Sports Grill hold Suite No. 3. which was recently updated to include an animated sports theme. Left Suite No. 27, held by Pioneer Bank and Long Lines, has a granite-topped island and plenty of space to schmooze clients and hang out with family and friends.
36
MARCH 2012
SIOUXLAND LIFE
37
TYSON EVENTS CENTER
Hits and Misses
THUMBS UP FOR ELTON, NELLY, BIG BEER AND MONSTER DOGS! Text by John Quinlan | Photograph by Jim Lee
ELTON JOHN. NEIL DIAMOND. Aerosmith. Nelly. Big beer and monster dogs. Big hot dogs, that is. Those are just some of the hits at the Tyson Events Center during its 10-year history. The misses? They include $20 Margaritas and really slow ticket sales for some acts, some of which never even appeared, bowing out of their previously announced engagements due to “scheduling conflicts” or some such thing. Such is the view of three in the know: Aran Rush, executive director of the city’s Events Facilities Department; Erika Newton, Convention Bureau manager; and Rush’s predecessor, Dennis Gann, who retired in 2008. Rush and Newton both cited the Elton John concert last May as a game-changer for Tyson. “The Elton John concert we had been working on for several years, and we actually had confirmation of the event a year in advance,” Rush said. Then, three months later, just before the announced ticket sale, Elton pulled out, saying he didn’t want to do the date. “And we had everything ready to go. Everything was locked and loaded,” Rush said. “Then when he had the faux pas with the weather (a canceled date in Wisconsin that had to be rescheduled), they came back to us and said, ‘Hey, he doesn’t want to do just one date there, but because you guys were ready to go, would you like to do the date as well?’ It’s 15 days! And we said, absolutely, and jumped on it. “We were able to pull it off only because we had done all the pre-work. But it was pretty hectic. I think 14 days out, we announced. Ten days out, we went on sale. And it essentially sold out in four minutes.” Gann, in a 2008 retirement interview with the Sioux City Journal, said the two biggest stars he landed during his run with the city were Neil Diamond and
John Mellencamp. The misses, the ones he wanted but got away, were The Eagles and TSO (Trans-Siberian Orchestra). His biggest thrill? “I think when I was standing backstage and watching Aerosmith perform and watching the kids go crazy,” he said. Aerosmith was the first rock group to perform at the Tyson on May 12, 2004. The highlight of his career, though, was working with city leaders and his board to design and build the Tyson Events Center. “One of the biggest successes we had was that we had six sold-out shows in 2011, which is more sold-out shows than we had the first year the building was open, which doesn’t often happen,” Newton said. “A lot of times, buildings will go through that honeymoon period where they sell tons of tickets to just about everything. And we did have that with the Tyson in 2004. But then in 2011, we just had some really good hits as far as the content that we were bringing in that just seemed to appeal to a really wide number of ticket buyers.” Selling out the Tyson in 2011 were superstar Elton John, country stars Sugarland, Lady Antebellum and Tim McGraw, comedian Jeff Dunham and the Blizzard Music Tour 5.0 which featured urban/rap artists Nelly, 3OH!3, Cali Swag District and Sick Puppies. When urban-focused artists are packaged together for a tour, their show can be a big hit, Newton said. “We’ve had a tough time with some of the artists that are more urban in nature,” she said. And by tough time, she meant slow ticket sales. “We want to have more of those artists in Sioux City because we think there’s an audience for that type of artist. “We’re also looking at ways to bring more of an Hispanic-focused entertainment and Latin-focused entertainment into our buildings.” A Grammy Award-winning Latin
Elton John performs in concert at the Tyson Events Center May 3, 2011.
band, Los Tigres Del Norte, had a successful concert at the Convention Center last year. So an effort is being made to book such acts in other city venues, like the Orpheum and Tyson. And while country shows are always successful at the Tyson, a major effort is taken every year to get a good entertainment mix, with comedy, rock, adult contemporary, urban and Latin acts being booked along with the sporting events, circuses, rodeos and Monster Truck shows that always bring in their fans. “One thing we hear across the country is that every single building is having a tough time getting rock,” she noted. Some events like the CNOS Basketball Classic and the NAIA tournaments may not turn a huge profit for the building, Newton said, but they do bring in a lot of money for area businesses, hotels, restaurants and retail outlets. Jukebox Jams, one oldies show that didn’t sell a lot of tickets last year at the Tyson, might have done better at a smaller venue like the Orpheum, Rush said. “The perceived value of the show was not the same in the promoter’s mind as in the consumer’s mind,” he noted. Consumers also gave a resounding yawn to the Tyson’s $20 Margarita promotion. “We tried it. We pushed it. It didn’t sell,” Rush said. “So we moved on and we’re going to continue to try new products and keep the products that people like. Big beers and big dogs are pretty popular right now. We had some big successes last year, and one of the ones that stands out was, people really took to big cans of beer.”
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
37
38
TYSON EVENTS CENTER
Tickets
BOX OFFICE LINES FADE AS
ONLINE TICKET PURCHASES PREVAIL Text by John Quinlan | Photograph by Tim Hynds
THE DAYS FOR LONG lines in front of the Tyson Events Center are long gone. But it isn’t that people have stopped going to the shows. Six sell-outs at Tyson last year are proof of that. The thing is, most people are buying their tickets elsewhere. “The box office really isn’t as relevant as it used to be, with all of the online ticketing that takes place,” said Erika Newton, Sioux City convention bureau manager who handles all ticketing and promotions at the Tyson. “When we had Elton John here in May, we actually put out a lot of messaging encouraging people to purchase online versus standing in line at the box office.” It’s a matter of speed. The online process is so much faster than standing in the traditional line that you could be the first person in line at the box office and still lose the closer seats to online Ticketmaster buyers. The city has a contract with Ticketmaster for all ticketing, and buying online gives you the best access to the best inventory, Newton said. There are still people who camp out overnight in front of the building, like back in July when folks set up camp a couple of days before the tickets to the Reba McEntire show went on sale. It’s the experience, the socialization that these ticket-seekers want. But they are fewer in number each year. And contrary to what some may believe, there are no front-row seats reserved for sale at the box office, she noted. If you really want the best seats, you might want to join a fan club. Fan clubs have been on the rise in recent years, offering some of the best seats to fans willing to pay the membership dues. “A lot of fan clubs for the different artists hold tickets back for their fan club members before the tickets go on sale,” Newton said. “They may, according to their artist rider, ask for the first two rows to be held for their fan club members. And the fan club members are usually given access to purchase tickets before the general public.” TICKET HOLDS Not all tickets go on sale opening day. A certain number are held back for 38
MARCH 2012
Erika Newton, ticket and promotions manager for the Sioux City Convention Bureau, holds a sleeve of tickets at the Tyson Events Center box office.
ADA purposes, ADA being the Americans with Disabilities Act. People needing wheelchair-accessible seats must order them over the phone. So seats are held back for each event. Other seats are held, usually for the artist, who has a technical rider that will specify how many tickets to hold back and in what section. Often the holds are for the production. “The artist may want 40 tickets to use at their discretion, so that if they wanted to give 20 tickets to a local friend of theirs or some person they meet earlier in the day, they have the opportunity to do that,” Newton said. “And if we don’t know exactly what the production setup is going to be, sometimes they’ll put a certain number of tickets on hold for production requirements until they actually get the stage moved in and they can see what tickets they have available and what tickets they don’t have available once the stage is in and the seats in place. “That’s why an event will sell out and then later on, like a couple days, sometimes the day of the event, tickets open up because the artist has gotten into town and decided, ‘Hey, I don’t need
SIOUXLAND LIFE
these 40 tickets after all. Go ahead and leave them.’ Then we have 40 tickets that we can sell to the public. But they always have to be held until someone gives us permission to release them.” RELOCATIONS Sometimes, for any number of reasons, after the show is already on sale, something changes. Maybe the stage is enlarged or the technical equipment moved, taking away previously sold seats. This leaves ticket-holders in a bind when they show up for seats that are no longer there. But in recent years at the Tyson, an effort has been made to improve the handling of these tickets, Newton said. No longer are the ticket holders told to get back in line at the box office to get their new seats. Instead, Tyson employees are placed in the lobby near the ticket-takers to offer immediate assistance, offering pre-printed tickets for seat locations that are usually much better than the ones they initially purchased. “So they are happy and they go off on their way and it’s a better customer experience for everybody,” she said, noting that many feel like lottery winners.
39
Make It Your Way
Build Your Dream Home! Make your home more energy efficient and save on energy costs! We’d be happy to arrange a demonstration of a new OPTIMA system.
Call today
Klein Insulation Inc.
Member
800-515-5691 or 712-540-5691 Locally owned since 1994 Northwest Iowa Dealer BIBS (Blow In Blanket System)
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
39
40
HEALTH Death
of Spouse
Brenda Zahnley, director of bereavement services at Christy-Smith Funeral Home, helps survivors deal with the death of a loved one.
TALKING, SUPPORT KEY IN
COPING WITH LOSS LATE IN LIFE
Text by Dolly A. Butz | Photograph by Tim Hynds 40
MARCH 2012
SIOUXLAND LIFE
c
COPING WITH THE DEATH of a spouse is never easy at any age, but the loss can be especially difficult for those in their golden years. Brenda Zahnley, director of bereavement services at Christy-Smith Funeral Home, said the spouse left behind may face economical, environmental and social changes while going through the grieving process. She explained that surviving spouse may need to find a new mode of transportation if the partner did the driving. The death of a spouse can also mean the loss of an income. “A big part of them dies when their spouse dies,” Zahnley said. “Some of them met when they were 15, 16 years old, and they’ve been married for a long
41
“It’s trying to readjust and reengage in life again. They have to figure out, ‘Who am I?’ and ‘How am I going to move forward in my life again?’” BRENDA ZAHNLEY Christy-Smith Funeral Home
period of time. That’s a real lifestyle change.” After spending 40, 50 or 60 years with a significant other, feelings of loneliness and loss can overwhelm the surviving spouse. “It’s trying to readjust and reengage in life again,” Zahnley said. “They have to figure out, ‘Who am I?’ and ‘How am I going to move forward in my life again?’” FEELINGS ARE NORMAL Feeling depressed, empty, shocked and angry are normal feelings associated with the loss of a spouse, Zahnley said. Some people may wonder how they’re going to go on without their spouse or find purpose in their lives again. A strong faith and a support system – someone they can talk with about their late husband or wife – are key in moving forward, according to Zahnley. Sometimes, she said, adult children won’t mention a deceased parent’s name because they don’t want their mother or father to feel bad. “That’s the worst thing they could do,” she said. “The person needs to talk about it. They need to reminisce. They need to acknowledge the pain.”
May to September at the Christy-Smith Family Resource Center, 1819 Morningside Ave. A similar group called “Grief Relief” meets at the McCulloch Chapel in Moville on the third Wednesday of each month from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Zahnley presents a 30-minute program at each meeting. Past topics have included “The Healing Power of Humor,” “Get Out of Your Rocker and Rock ’n’ Roll into the New Year” and “Making Gratitude Your Best Friend.” Participants express their thoughts in small groups and gather for coffee and
fellowship afterward. “That just gives people an opportunity to share and connect,” Zahnley said. “It’s very non-threatening. We don’t ask them to tell their story. We always acknowledge the new people and welcome them.” The Christy-Smith Family Resource Center also has an extensive grief library to help people understand the grieving process. Books can be checked out or purchased.
PROGRAM HELPS Christy-Smith offers “A Step Beyond,” an upbeat, social support group that Zahnley said tries to help people move beyond the raw pain, live again and find laughter in their lives. The median age of participants is 75 years old. Some have recently lost a spouse, while others have been widowed for more than a year. “They might feel like, ‘All I do is cry, so I don’t want to be in a group. I’m embarrassed,’” Zahnley said. “It might take them a while to join our group, but it’s open any time they want to come.” “A Step Beyond” meets the second Tuesday of each month at 3:30 p.m. from October to April and at 6:30 p.m. from SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
41
42
HEALTH MRSA
MRSA COULD LEAD TO
BIGGER PROBLEMS Text by Dolly A. Butz | Photograph by Dolly A. Butz and JupiterImages
THE PRESENCE OF A boil on the body should not be taken lightly, according to Dr. Bertha Ayi. Leaving it untreated, she said, could result in serious health consequences, even death. “If you have a boil, don’t just lance it at home and forget about it,” said Ayi, medical director of Mercy Infectious Disease & Epidemiology Center – Sioux City. “See a physician and take a culture to see if it’s (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), because it can progress.” According to Ayi, studies have show that 50 percent of patients suffering from boils who visit emergency rooms nationwide have Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In October 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study outlining the full extent of MRSA infection in the U.S. population. That study noted that in one year, MRSA infections killed more people than Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Soon after the CDC report, MRSA made national headlines when several U.S. schools closed their doors when students died or became seriously ill from MRSA infection. Four years after the study was released, Ayi said MRSA is present in Sioux City and around the country. “Am I seeing more cases?” she said. “I’ve seen more cases in the past than now. I may not be seeing as much because other physicians are getting more comfortable treating it.” BRANCHING OUT Staphylococcus aureus, the cause of common boils, has been around a long time, according to Ayi.
42
MARCH 2012
SIOUXLAND LIFE
Today MRSA is common in places where there is overcrowding, such as prisons. Ayi said MRSA is also prevalent among the homeless, who may leave wounds untreated. Athletes participating in football and wrestling are at a higher risk of contracting MRSA, according to Ayi, because of the nearly constant skin-toskin contact required in the sport. “Among athletes, if somebody carries it on their skin they can pass it on without necessarily having an open wound,” she said.
Bertha Ayi, medical director of Mercy Infectious Disease & Epidemiology Center – Sioux City.
But over the years, she said the bacteria has become resistant to Methicillin, an antibiotic commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections. Hence Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA. Ayi said MRSA used to be found only in hospitals, but from 1995 to 1998 doctors began seeing healthy, young children, who had had no contact with the health care system, developing severe pneumonia and brain infections. “They died within three to four days. It was due to the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus,” she said. “The thought was that over time (MRSA) acquire certain characteristics that allow them to get into the environment and cause infections in previously healthy young people.”
THE ENTRY POINT Cuts, scrapes and scratches allow bacteria to enter the skin, according to Ayi, leading to infection It’s important to clean and disinfect cuts and scrapes and cover them with bandages or sterile dressings. If the wound becomes infected and a boil develops, Ayi said the patient should seek treatment from a medical professional immediately. Ayi explained that a boil has blood flowing around it, meaning that the infection could spread into the blood stream leading to sepsis, a potentially fatal illness where the blood stream is overwhelmed by bacteria. Those suffering from MRSA, Ayi said, could also develop infections of the brain and spinal cord, as well as necrotizing pneumonia - where the pieces of the lung are literally eaten away by the bacteria. One of her patients, Ayi said, had a small MRSA infection on his thigh that spread into his femur bone. “It can get into any tissue – feet, ankle joints,” she said. “Some times people will have joint replacement. It’s a pretty bad infection to acquire.”
43
The Home Builders Association of Greater Siouxland promotes the professionalism of the building industry through educational programs and activities for the membership and the communities we serve. 3900 Stadium Dr., Sioux City, IA 712-255-3852 www.hbags.com email: hbasooland@siouxlan.net
THE
Washing hands well and covering all wounds are key to preventing the spread of MRSA, according to Ayi. “If somebody has MRSA we go in there with gloves, gowns and we dispose of their bodily fluids very well,” she said. “We don’t go in there with our bare fingers and try to examine the wounds. We make sure we’re protected.” An athletic team in the midst of a MRSA outbreak, Ayi said, can attempt to “decolonize” the bacteria by putting cream in their nostrils, by avoiding sharing towels and clothing, and by washing with an antiseptic solution. She said athletes with active lesions should refrain from participating in the sport. TREATMENT VARIES How to treat MRSA, depends on the severity of the infection, according to Ayi. She said a current patient has a MRSA infection in her elbow. The woman was taking antibiotics in pill form, but it didn’t cure her infection. Now, Ayi said she is receiving antibiotics intravenously. “Intravenous antibiotics – usually people are a lot sicker,” she said. “Maybe it involves their lungs or spinal cord or you can tell based on clinical judgment that it could aggressively progress to a more severe disease.” Ayi advises those who have previously suffered from MRSA tell their physicians whenever they go to a clinic or hospital for medical care. “The care providers can think about it and put it in their differential diagnosis,” she said.
POWER
To BE ENERGY EFFICIENT SooNER
MidAmerican Energy Company’s EnergyAdvantage® Financing program helps put energy efficiency, and lower energy bills, into the hands of Iowa residential customers sooner. The EnergyAdvantage Financing program, in partnership with First American Bank, is designed to provide qualifying customers access to competitive, fixed-interest rates or six months same-as-cash financing when they meet First American Bank’s credit requirements and purchase and install new energy-efficient equipment. Contact MidAmerican Energy for more information about applying for EnergyAdvantage Financing, and which equipment and windows qualify.
800-894-9599 www.MIDAMERICANENERGY.com SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
43
HO
44
Diagnostic Eye Clinic
Let’s be
. Dr
Clear
Be
th
Br Dr. Beth Bruening is your ue nin t g, Op hthalmologis choice for experience in eye care. Now offering retinal clinics.
Call 605-217-4500
BRUENING
Emphasis on spEcializEd carE for:
Dry Eye • Diabetes Glaucoma • Allergies Macular Degeneration Cataracts & Laser Vision Correction
Dr. Ferguson
EYE SPECIALISTS www.brueningeye.com
Have you been told you have Cataracts?
Sioux City’s Most Experienced Cataract Surgery Team 712-239-3937 800-334-2015 4405 Hamilton Blvd
Dr. Laura Giese Now Accepting New Patients Wheelock & Bursick General Dentistry The Friendliest Staff in Town
712-274-2038 or 800-728-2038 4100 Morningside Ave. Suite B,
Across From McDonald’s
44
MARCH 2012
SIOUXLAND LIFE
317 Dakota Dunes Blvd. Suite J • 605-232-6900
SMILE! Lilly Family Dentistry is happy to announce the newest member of our team! Dr. Jenny Gotch D.D.S.
2100 Indian Hills Dr. • Sioux City, IA • 712-239-5125
To advertise here call Nancy Gevik at 712.224.6281 or email nancy.gevik@lee.net
45
ADVICE Medical
Answers
‘DOC, I’VE GOT A QUESTION …’
MEET THE DOC Dr. Bill Dorwart is a second-year Family Medicine resident at Siouxland Medical Education Foundation. He grew up in Sidney, Neb., went to medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and has numerous family members in Siouxland.
answers to your medical questions
In church, I’ll often get near someone who starts to cough and sneeze. We “share the peace” but I’m afraid I’m going to share something more. Could I get sick just from shaking hands? In general, shaking hands alone will not not get you sick even though it may result in the transmission of some germs from person to person. The reason it will not get you sick is that there are not any true points of entry for the germs on your hands. Viruses and bacteria need to settle in on a mucus membrane such as the nasal passages, the mouth or the eyes. Conveniently enough for the germs we touch our hands to our faces about one time every three minutes and then the germs get a free ride to places that they can infect. That is no reason to not to shake hands, but it is a reason to be more conscious of your own hand hygiene and more mindful of how often you touch your face. This should allow you to avoid shunning your fellow churchgoers and continue to “share the peace.” Just keep in mind that hand washing is very important to avoid illness as we come in contact with a large number of surfaces where viruses and bacteria can survive in addition to other people’s hands and you should take advantage of every opportunity you get for hand washing with soap and water or hand sanitizer. Happy shaking …
Why does it seem so difficult as we age to lose weight? It seems I can look at food and gain.
Weight loss at any age comes down to a simple formula: take in fewer calories and burn more. Based on records from the CDC the
average male in the US is 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighs 190 pounds, while the average female is 5 foot 4 inches and weighs 164 pounds, and both males and females get less than 20 minutes a day of physical activity. Based on those numbers the average male needs about 2,300 calories per day and the average female needs about 2,000 calories per day just to maintain their current weight. To put that into different terms one pound is equal to 3,500 calories. So if you want to follow a very reasonable weight loss goal of losing one pound per week, then you will have to take in 500 fewer calories per day while making no changes to your physical activity. The best way to cut that 500 calories is to simply look at the nutrition labels on everything you eat or drink before you put it in your mouth and pay attention to the calories and the serving sizes. You will probably be surprised how many calories are in some of the things or eat or drink every day. Then next step is then to pick and choose where to trim that 500 calories from your diet and if you are adding some additional physical activity on every day you should find an extra boost to your weight loss. Keep in mind that losing weight is a situation where slow and steady wins the race and that you need to set reasonable goals to avoid frustration. Happy calorie cutting …
Do generic drugs differ greatly
from the brand-name ones? Could you ever need the brandname type? Generic drugs are not like generic cereals or canned goods where they are close but not quite the same, they must contain the same active ingredient as the brand name. Generic drugs must have that same active ingredient with the same dose, strength, route of administration, safety, effectiveness and intended use as the brand name drug. Additionally, generic drugs must meet the same strenuous FDA standards as the brand name. There are three main areas where generic and brand name drugs differ. The first difference comes in the inactive ingredients used to make the pills, these can be ingredients such as the dyes, fillers, preservatives and stabilizers and when you change those often time there will be changes in the color or shape of the pill itself. The second difference is in the names and that isn’t truly a difference as the generic drugs are listed by the active ingredient of the brand name drug. For example, Lipitor is a the brand name of major cholesterol drug that everyone has heard of. However, the name of the active ingredient in Lipitor is Atorvastatin (a-tore-va-sta-tin) and that is the name that you will find the generic version being sold as. The last difference is in the cost, and this can be substantial. With the name brand pill the company that created
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
45
46
Expert Dermatology Care
HAVE A QUESTION? Do you have a medical question you’d like answered in this column? Send it to bmiller@siouxcityjournal.com with “Doc, I’ve Got a Question” in the subject line.
Midlands Clinic is committed to providing high quality, cost effective diagnostic medical, surgical & cosmetic treatment of the skin and nails.
Treatments For & Specialty Services Include: • Skin Cancer • Chemical Peels • Acne/Rosacea • Latisse • Dry Skin/Eczema • Juvederm • Psoriasis • Botox • Warts
must increase the price to cover the costs of the research and development of the drug, the costs of clinical testing to ensure it is safe and effective and the cost of marketing it and then of course they also want to make a profit on it. After all that is done and the drug is on the market for years the drug will come off its patent and generic drug manufacturers can then produce it and sell it at a lower price since they don’t have to worry about as many additional costs. In the end there really is a reason to go with the brand name if there is a generic version available. There are some types of drugs where there are no generics available and unfortunately you may be stuck paying a higher price for those drugs if you need them. That being said when it comes to medications it pays to be a savvy shopper. Happy ACME med shopping …
EmErgEncy PrEParEdnEss at HomE America is more “connected” now than ever before, with on-demand access to information and just about anything you want delivered to your front door overnight. But recent natural disasters around the world have shown that even in this modern age, you and your family need to be prepared to survive on your own after an emergency. It may take days or even weeks for emergency and relief workers to get to everyone impacted by a disaster. And basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may not be restored to service for a lengthy period of time. Every family needs to keep on hand enough food, water and other necessary supplies to sustain themselves until help arrives or you can safely leave the area and get to a shelter. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a website, www.ready.gov, with information on how to be prepared for both natural and man-made disasters. FEMA recommends putting together a basic emergency supply kit and keeping it in your home in an easily accessible location. The items that should be included 46
MARCH 2012
in the kit are: • A three-day supply of food and water, including at least one gallon of water per person per day and non-perishable food items • A hand-crank or battery-operated radio and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio with tone alert • A first-aid kit • A cell phone with chargers, an inverter or a solar charger • Dust masks, plastic sheeting and duct tape in case of a chemical event that contaminates the air • Items for personal sanitation such as moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties • Tools and supplies including a flashlight, a can opener, a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, extra batteries and a whistle to signal for help • Maps of the local area Other items you may want to keep with your kit include prescription medications; food or supplies for infants or pets; copies of important family documents such as
SIOUXLAND LIFE
insurance policies, medical histories, bank and financial records, and passports; cash and/or traveler’s checks; extra clothing, blankets or towels; a fire extinguisher and matches; and personal hygiene items. A disaster can strike without warning, and the best way to protect your family is to be prepared. These tips, along with additional information available on www. ready.gov, are a good start to make sure your family is safe and comfortable following an emergency situation. For more tips for your home, visit the National Association of Home Builders at www.nahb.org. For a list of local Home Builders Association members go to www.hbags.com
Bob Wilcke President Bob Wilcke Construction
712-255-3852 www.hbags.com
47
PARTING SHOT By
Bruce Miller
THE PLACE WHERE MAGIC HAPPENED WHENEVER I PASS BY the Municipal Auditorium on my way admitted, “We may not be any good, but at least we put on a to an event at the Tyson Events Center my heart pounds a little clean show.” faster. Everyone didn’t follow his lead: George Carlin shared the It’s like seeing an old girlfriend on the street and not saying seven words you can’t say on television. Rob Zombie got womhello. I feel guilty. en in the audience to take off their tops. And why not? For more than two decades, I had an affair Sitting in the top reaches of the building, I got to see plenty with that building. Countless nights each month, I’d be there – good and bad. Once a singer berated me between songs befor some event – from earsplitting rock concerts to blood-letcause he didn’t think I was fair to him in the newspaper. (Histing Musketeers games. tory, however, has proven me right.) The place was so “intimate” (an industry term for “small”), The Home Show was staged there for many years and, at you felt like you were on stage with the main attraction. one of them, I climbed into a four-seasons shower and experiIt was so compact I remember a circus performer worrying enced “spring rain,” “winter snow,” “fall breezes” and “summer that he couldn’t be shot out of a cannon because he’d probably heat.” It was an interesting invention but I doubt my willingend up in someone’s lap. ness to take a shower in public sold any of the environmental The lower level frequently smelled like animals because, home “spas.” well, that’s where they put them when the circus came to I met Batman at the auditorium (the “real” Batman – Adam town. Elephants frolicked where pancake dinners also were West), shared laughs with Mary Chapin Carpenter and climbed staged. the oh-so-steep stairs The building had to the Musketeers hit-and-miss acouslocker room where tics, too. And if you I waited to talk with happened to get near Tom Jones. When he smokers, it was alemerged – looking evmost a sure bet you ery bit like he did on were going to strip his weekly television before you got in your show – I asked why house at night. he smelled so good. When plays were “It’s the soap, luv,” he performed on the said, without divulgstage, a thin layer of ing a product name. some cardboard-like “It’s always the soap.” substance went over And then he raved the ice sheet. By the about the Sioux City second act, your feet crowd. were so cold a doctor Gene Autry did, could amputate and too. Even though I you wouldn’t feel a never saw him perthing. form, I talked to him The stage (now in California one the home to the Long summer. “I loved Lines climbing wall) Sioux City,” he said, a Tom Jones, center, poses with Marcia Poole and Bruce Miller back stage in the early 1980s at the Sioux City was so big it could whistle accenting the Municipal Auditorium. (Submitted photo) hold Alice Cooper, “S.” “We played that Victor the Wrestling place a lot and they Bear and Dolly Parton with equal aplomb. always cheered when I sang their song.” That song, of course, Beyonce sang there where she was part of Destiny’s Child. helped make Gene a rich man. KISS – with and without makeup – did, too. I judged “Sioux City Sue” competitions there, too, and sat in Sawyer Brown was in Sioux City so often its members probthe audience for many River-Cade queen coronations. ably could have voted in local elections. I saw the Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, every bad ’80s rock group, Every leading female vocalist in country music played the Grammy winners and has-beens. place (I know; I went backstage and talked to most of them). Olympic gold medalists walked on the stage. High school And when Barbara Mandrell came to the Auditorium, she athletes played on the floor and walked across the stage at was shocked by the small size of the crowd. “But that’s not gograduation. It was the perfect place for just about everything. ing to keep me from putting on a good show,” she said. (She And now, it serves a new purpose. The Tyson Events Center – handed me an autographed tambourine and, apparently, exas much as I enjoy it – isn’t like my first love, the Auditorium. pected me to help her out.) And that’s OK. Sometimes distance does make the heart Slim Whitman gave it his all, too. And Boxcar Willie grow fonder.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
MARCH 2012
47
48
free screening {For All New Patients}
855 348 3467
we make
short work
of varicose veins. Long gone are the days when varicose vein removal involved painful stripping and surgery. Today, Physicians Vein Clinics offer a variety of non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment options designed to keep your downtime down. Our free screening will help you determine which type of procedure is right for you, and whether or not your insurance will cover the costs (most plans do). What are you waiting for?
855-348-3467 [85 Leg Veins] » www.physiciansveinclinics.com Two great locations! 383 West Steamboat Drive, Suite 103, Dakota Dunes, SD 57049 » 605-232-3737 » 605-275-6398 [Fax] 5009 South Louise Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57108 » 605-274-0217 [Phone] » 605-275-6398 [Fax]
pvc_shorts_feb12.indd 1
2/9/12 8:10 AM