Siouxland Life Magazine - October 2012

Do you live in a barn?

It could be great

Hooters is for more than just food

Books, books and more books fill medical students’ lives

A GUIDE FOR LIVING IN SIOUXLAND

Behind

the

BEFORE THE

VOTING MEET THE PEOPLE WHO HELP MAKE ELECTIONS RUN

HOUSEKEEPING HELP

FOLLOW BRUCE MILLER’S SIMPLE TIPS FOR EASIER CLEANING

SIOUXLAND LIFE

OCTOBER 2012 October 2012

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

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Breast Cancer

STARTS SMALL It can start as tiny as a flower seed, but the longer breast cancer has to develop, the harder it is to fight. That’s why yearly mammograms are a must. At St. Luke’s, we want to catch cancer early and provide the best care and tools possible. Our comprehensive imaging services include digital mammography, ultrasound including breast, CT, bone density, general xray and MRI including breast MRI. Talk to your doctor about scheduling your appointment today.

A screening mammogram may be covered under your Medicare Part B Plan.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR BREAST HEALTH SERVICES, call St. Luke’s Imaging and Breast Screening Center at

(712) 277-2030

Imaging and Breast Screening Center

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October 2012

SIOUXLAND LIFE

CONTENTS October

2012

Behind the

What does it take to stage a political campaign? More than you think. This month we talk to people in all areas of an election to fill you in on the work needed to run a campaign and an election. You’ll meet students who are friends (but political opposites), discover how new media is playing a role and learn the secrets to election success.

ON THE COVER It takes considerable thought to cast a vote. But what about preparing for an election? Ballots are already ready. Photo by Tim Hynds FEATURES 4 Feature home: Barn raising 8 Collection: A hoot of a collection 10 BEHIND THE VOTE: Educating students 12 BEHIND THE VOTE: Memorabilia 16 BEHIND THE VOTE: Fred Grandy 20 BEHIND THE VOTE: Sign making 23 BEHIND THE VOTE: “Other” races 26 BEHIND THE VOTE: 20 Questions 28 BEHIND THE VOTE: Rivals, friends

30 BEHIND THE VOTE: Age of Twitter 32 BEHIND THE VOTE: Graphic sense 35 BEHIND THE VOTE: In league 36 BEHIND THE VOTE: Door to door 39 BEHIND THE VOTE: War chests 42 BEHIND THE VOTE: Voting stations 44 HEALTH: Books, books, books 45 HEALTH: Phone nurses 46 Doc, I’ve Got a Question 47 Parting Shot

16 CHANGING FRED

Former Iowa Congressman Fred Grandy said there were specific reasons why he left politics. This month, he reflects on his career and his new life.

PUBLISHER Steve Griffith EDITOR Bruce Miller EDITORIAL Joanne Fox, Dolly Butz, Tim Gallagher, Earl Horlyk, Nick Hytrek, John Quinlan PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Hynds, Jim Lee, Laura Wehde DESIGN Kathryn Sesser 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.

CORRECTION: Plain, clear glass provides 47 percent UV protection, regular framing acrylic 65 percent and conservation glass or conservation acrylic 99 percent. The information was incorrect in a story headlined “There’s More to Framing than Meets the Eye” on page 10 of the September 2012 edition of Siouxland Life.

32 GRAPHIC DISPLAY

Do you know why Barack Obama got a bump in the last election? Graphic design, according to a Morningside College expert.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

October 2012

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HOME changing

a barn

CARNES COUPLE DON’T LIVE IN A BARN;

THEY PLAY THERE

c

Text by Joanne Fox | Photographs by Laura Wehde

CARNES, IOWA | MOST FOLKS LIKE TO brag about their house.

Scott and Deb VanDenBerg like to show-off their barn.

“We do not have a finished basement 4

October 2012

with a family room, but we do have a barn,” she pointed out.

When the VanDenBergs bought their place in December 2001, the barn was already fixed up for entertaining.

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“The people we bought it from had their own band, so, there was a stage,” Scott said. “We have been told that it was a venue for all types of musical events, from dances to Johnny Cash

;

E

Above: Scott and Debra VanDenBerg are owners of The Wagon Wheel Ranch, a home off Highway 60 near Carnes, Iowa, in Sioux County. Top left: The 37’ x 55’, two-leveled barn of Scott and Debra VanDenBerg is lined with memories and love from wall to wall. Top right: Scott and Debra VanBenBerg took time in recreating an oldtime bar, shown here, right down to the correct hardware on the cabinets and other decorations. Bottom right: The Wagon Wheel Ranch is the home of Scott and Debra VanDenBerg, off Highway 60 near Carnes, Iowa. Far right: It’s not called The Wagon Wheel Ranch for nothing. Wagon wheel decor is everywhere.

look-alike contests.”

The previous owners lined many of the walls with carpet and had the barn arranged to display antique collections and train memorabilia and all sorts of stuff.

“Apparently, there was so much stuff that when their property was sold on auction, it was a three-day sale,” Scott said “The more space you have, the more stuff you accumulate and we are feeling that

we could have enough stuff of our own for a two-day sale.”

Following the sale, the 37-foot x 55foot, two-level barn was clear for Scott and Deb to make it their own space.

“When you have a space like the barn, friends and family also have a tendency to contribute to the decor,” Deb said. “It is lined with memories and love from wall to wall.

When you enter the food room, (the first room on the north side), you see a big square buffet table.

“That serving table was already there when we bought the place, along with the carpet-lined walls,” Deb said.

Antique cupboards hang on the west wall of that room.

“We were lucky enough to get them out of the family farm house that was my first home,” Deb said. “My grandma used those cupboards and then my mom and dad lived in that house and raised their family. That house was the first home for my brother and his wife and he refinished them nearly 30 years ago. The house is no longer occupied but I have a treasure that has the imprint of every member of my family on it.”

There is a large, antique stove in that room that Deb purchased at an auction for a quarter.

“Don’t think anyone else wanted to haul it away,” she said.

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Large old horseshoeshaped booths are in the lower level of the barn, a gift to the VanDenBergs from a friend in Ireton, Iowa who was remodeling her bar.

The middle room houses the most sentimental piece in the barn.

“We had a bar built in that is made out of stall doors from my dad’s horse barn,” Deb said. “When we started that demolition process, I walked through that barn with tears in my eyes scavenging the most random items.”

Scott was kind enough to oblige his wife when she begged to keep some of the stall doors.

“I had no idea what I was going to do with them at the time,” she confessed.

“Inspiration finally struck and we used them as a base for the bar and kept one fully intact to slide shut at the access to the back of the bar.”

The top of the bar is covered with family pictures that have been copied in sepia tones and then covered with layers of polyurethane.

“We also provided a home for an antique Coke machine that my dad had in his trucking business from the time I was a little girl,” Deb said of Phil Groetken’s Truck Service. “We can safely say it is over 50 years old. We rent a fountain pop dispenser for behind the bar from Chesterman Company in Sioux City every year and the delivery men are always impressed with the old Coke machine.”

Three large old horseshoe-shaped booths are in the lower level of the barn.

“They were a gift from a friend from Ireton who was remodeling a bar that she owned there,” Scott said.

The walls of the “stage” are lined with Deb’s record albums from the days of vinyl.

“Guests always have fun looking at the labels,” she said. “There is also a large collection of 78s that belonged to my mom and a few 45s thrown in for good measure.”

These days the stage has been converted into a playground for the couple’s granddaughters instead of a music venue 6

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Top: Scott and Debra VanDenBerg don’t live in the barn. They live a house adjacent to the barn, but still decorated in the style reflected in the name of their acerage, The Wagon Wheel Ranch. Bottom: A vintage Dale Evans holstered gun is shown in the bunkhouse, a small shed decorated with vintage family heirlooms.

for performers.

“The little girls can pound the keyboard real good for a 4-year-old and 2-year-old,” Deb said.

The loft of the barn houses even more fun with a second bar, rescued from an establishment in Craig, Iowa, four years ago, after the structure suffered fire damage.

“We had to let it sit outside for two years, the aroma of smoke was so strong in it,” Scott pointed out. “Then, we powerwashed it to make sure we got the smell out.”

“A feat of engineering enabled by some strong young men got the bar upstairs and it is a beautiful piece of furniture that I wish could tell me stories of its history,” Deb said.

Evidence abounds that Deb comes

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from a family of savers.

“Against one wall hangs a large tarp that was hand-painted by a friend in South Dakota,” she said. “That tarp was made as a cover for an actual covered wagon that was used in many parades during the year of the South Dakota Centennial (1989). We lived in South Dakota for many years and moved back to Iowa in 2000.”

The barn and other buildings occupy about three acres. The VanDenBergs have three acres of pasture to the west of the buildings.

“We do not farm any ground,” Deb clarified. “Although every year, I make a feeble attempt to have a garden.”

If you can count them as livestock, the VanDenBergs have three American Quarter Horses and one miniature horse in the family.

“We also have two small dogs, Boo and Tess who are kind enough to let us live in their house with them,” Deb quipped.

“For real family, we are the proud parents of two adult daughters, Emma and Abby. Emma and her husband Ben live in Hawarden, Iowa, and are the parents of their own two daughters, Norah and Ruby.

Daughter Abby is an attorney in Sioux Falls, S.D.” Located just off Highway 60, the homestead is called the Wagon Wheel Ranch.

Wagon wheels can be found everywhere.

“We knew we had to live here the first time we looked at the place,” Deb said.

“My parents had a set of wagon wheel furniture that they owned long before they had me. We were lucky enough to gain possession of the furniture when we dispersed my parents’ treasures. It was all meant to be.”

Of course, the VanDenBergs don’t live in the barn. They just play there.

“Our home is also filled with many family heirlooms and collectibles,” Deb said. “All treasures.”

ask a professional Q: Doctor, it’s great the kids are back to school, but yesterday I went to move Suzie’s backpack and it felt like a 20-pound bowling ball! Is it safe for them to be constantly carrying so much weight?

A: At first, I wanted to give this answer a quick strike and

proclaim, “No!”, but the reality is that it’s safe as long as you follow two simple rules: don’t lean forward to support Dr. Joel the weight, and wear both shoulder straps.

Pistello, DC Rule #1 is easy to correct and follow if your child’s backpack is worn with the bottom no more than 4” below the waist. Keeping the backpack higher makes the weight easier to carry.

Additionally, make sure that the backpack doesn’t weigh more than 10% of their body weight. Both of these rules keep them from leaning forward to support their backpack.

Rule #2 keeps the weight distributed evenly, and keeps the spine from having to uncomfortably bend and stretch muscles on one side, which can create spinal pain and dysfunction, which is a big “No-No” at such a young age.

If you are interested in more tips about safe backpack use, we’ve posted some more tips from the ACA on our Facebook page. In most cases, following these two simples steps can keep your children’s spines pain free.

Q: My hands and other joints can “feel” the weather changes even before they happen! What’s going on here?!

A: While studies are conflicting on the accuracy of our joints as human barometers, in the clinic we notice an increase in joint pain cases, especially knees and hands, before and after a large weather change. Regardless of the reasons behind it, as the fall weather changes are quickly approaching, I wanted to go over a few quick treatments to help ease those joint aches and pains. If the always steadfast icing and rest doesn’t seem to help, you can always get over to a local drugstore and grab a Paraffin wax bath. It heats evenly and safely, and has been shown in a number of our patients to ease aches and pains. Plus, they are reasonably priced, depending on the model. If that doesn’t work, talk to your healthcare practitioner about getting out those joint aches and pains.

Finally, if a joint is red, swollen, and inflamed, be sure to have it checked. Achy, non-swollen joints that don’t get better after a day or two deserve the same treatment. Arthritis and other joint-related conditions are much easier to treat if caught early.

Call 276-4325 today for an appointment

3930 Stadium Drive. (Between Wal-Mart & Explorer Stadium)

SIOUXLAND LIFE

October 2012

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COLLECTION it’s

a Hoot

THERE’S MORE TO HOOTERS

THAN GOOD FOOD Text by

Joanne Fox | Photographs

by Laura

Wehde

Top: Greg Newell of Sioux City shows one of his shirts from his Hooters T-shirt collection. Right: A Hard Rock Cage T-shirt from Moscow is one of 171 in Greg Newell’s collection. Far right: A map showing Hooters restaurants that Greg Newell of Sioux City has visited.

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GREG NEWELL PROCLAIMS TO be “delightfully tacky, yet unrefined.”

Yes, that’s the national slogan of Hooters and Newell collects the T-shirts.

Right now, Newell has 171 Hooters shirts, in addition to 65 Hard Rock Café shirts and 23 other Tshirts from a variety of places and establishments.

The shirts hang in a six-foot long closet, packed as tightly as sardines.

But ask Newell about them, and he can tell you a tale about how, when and where each was acquired.

Q. When did you start collecting the shirts?

A. I got my first in 2002 in Schaumburg, Ill. My son was playing hockey there and we were staying in a hotel across the street from a Hooters. I thought I’d get a shirt as a

October 2012

SIOUXLAND LIFE

souvenir. Then, with all the hockey games I was going to, I started to pick one up on every trip. So, I guess hockey started this.

Q. How much did you spend on the first one?

A. I’m not sure, but I guess it was probably about $12.

Q. What’s the most you’ve ever spent on a Hooters shirt?

A. $30 on one in Winnipeg, Canada. But everything was pricier there.

They were selling pitchers of beer for $25. Not that I drink, but I did notice. And I did spend about $20 on one in Montreal when my grandson was playing hockey in Lake Placid. It was close enough for me to drive to.

Q. It sounds like you’re willing to go out of your way to buy these shirts.

A. It’s become a quest. I decided to go to Memphis – partly because

I’ve never been there – and ended up traveling to Horn Lake, Miss. and Little Rock, Ark. I also got shirts in New Orleans, and then I hopped in the car and drove to Baton Rouge.

The next day I drove to Gulfport and Biloxi, Miss., and then to Mobile, Ala. Actually, the trips were enjoyable because one of my favorite places to eat is a Waffle House and they’re all over the South.

Q. But the shirts all look the same.

A. Each shirt has the name of its location on it, so they may look the same, but are very different. When I was in Mobile, the (Hooters) manager sent me about 10 miles south to pick up shirt from Daphne, Ala. From Daphne, I was sent to Gulf Shores, Ala., home of the smallest Hooters on record. Once there, the manager asked if I planned to go

to Pensacola, Fla. It’s only 40 miles from there, so away I went. That afternoon, I was standing on the boardwalk at the Hooters in Pensacola Beach, Fla. Another time, I was in Newport, Ky., and I couldn’t find the Hooters restaurant. I finally stopped a mailman and asked him. The restaurant was on a barge on the Ohio River.

Q. So, the appeal is the memories?

A. Tons of good memories. I don’t like T-shirts with sayings on them. Also, I prefer white shirts. I have two cats and the dark ones really show the cat hair.

Q. What about price?

A. I get a lot of shirts as gifts or people just buy them outright for me.

Q. Who’s your best supplier?

A. My son Cameron and my daughter Courtney. When Cam was in the Marines, he was stationed in three different countries, but he traveled to 18 different countries. My Moscow Hard Rock T-shirt has the hammer and sickle and the Jerusalem T-shirt has words in English, Arabic and Hebrew. Cam got me T-shirt that says “MSG Moscow. Only the bold brave the cold.” That’s because the average temperate was 17 degrees below zero in the winter. That one is a Marine security shirt.

Q. What size shirt do you wear?

A. Large. One time though, my son went to Oktoberfest in Munich and brought me back a T-shirt, size small. I had to give it to my grandson.

Q. Do you collect other shirts?

A. I have shirts from the Hard Rock Café, Planet Hollywood, others from my son from places he was stationed while in the Marines. One shirt I bought in Memphis was from Pig on Beale. I bought it just because the food was so good and on the back it says, “Pork with an attitude.” Another one is from Hillbilly Hotdogs, which was featured on (the TV show) “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” The food was outstanding.

Q. Do you wear the shirts?

A. I probably wear the same shirt once every nine months. I have lined up in the closet and whichever is next, I take it. But sitting in the closet that long, they will get dusty, so I may have to wash it before I wear it.

Q. What one shirt would you still like to add to the collection?

A. I want one from South Dallas because it’s the biggest Hooters. I’d like to get one from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I would also like one from Galveston, Texas.

Q. Which one is your favorite?

A. I don’t have a favorite. Whichever comes up next, I wear it. I don’t move them around and say, “Oh, I’m wearing this one today.”

Q. Some people are offended by Hooters. Does that bother you?

A. No. One of the Hooters T-shirts says, “More than a mouthful.” Actually, the shirt that seems to offend people the most was from Fat Ho Burgers in Waco, Texas. It says on the back, “You are what you eat.” I also have a Fighting Sioux shirt from the University of North Dakota, which some people view as politically incorrect. I bought it just for that reason and I happen to like their hockey team at UND. Q. What is about Hooters that appeals to you?

The waitresses? The food?

A. I don’t care about the waitresses. I’m OK with the food. Most of the time, I just go into the place, buy the shirt and go.

Q. How do you keep them all straight?

A. I have them all listed so I know what I do and don’t have. Also, my insurance agent requires it.

Q. Do you collect anything else?

A. Old music, 1955 to about 1985 and I put them on CDs. Q. Any thought to ever stopping the collection?

A. No. There are so many Hooters and so little time.

outdoor

living at its best

Free Outdoor Estimates 322 West 7th Street | Sioux City, IA 51103 712-258-3388 | www.foulkbros.net SIOUXLAND LIFE

October 2012

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e h t d n i h e

B

Soon, the debates, the speeches and the campaigning will be over. But who really makes election day tick? This month, we go behind the scenes to look at the precinct workers, experts and, yes, politicians, who have been there and know how to do that. Behind the Vote, you'll find plenty of people eager to make a difference in the way their country is run.

STUDENTS READY TO

ROCK THEIR VOTE

w

Text by Joanne Fox | Photographs by Tim Hynds

WAYNE, NEB. | TEACHER JOSHUA JOHNSON IS passionate about the right to vote. He passes that enthusiasm on to his students.

“The students learn early and often that voting is a privilege!” he insisted. “Not every person in the world has the ability to vote. This is one chance to voice your opinion. The kids seem to believe that. They start to believe their vote DOES matter.”

But even with that belief, Johnson sees disgruntled opinions about elections, campaigning, and/or government in general.

“They sound like every other adult I talk to,” he said. “They are confused, angry, and disgusted at times at our nation’s leaders.

Johnson, entering his 12th year at Wayne Community Schools, expressed his surprise at how invested the students are each year in politics.

Student Kimberly Zuniga works on a politics quiz during teacher Josh Johnson’s civics class Aug. 30 at Wayne High School in Wayne, Neb.

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“A few are borderline experts but a lot of them know a lot about what is going on,” he said. “Technology really allows us to get a better handle on the current events.”

Almost daily, Johnson and his government class are looking at polls, headlines and the conventions.

“Students, in general, are becoming more interested every day, especially my students,” he said. “They are seniors and some of the things discussed affects them. They want to know what is going on.”

Days after school started, Johnson’s senior government class was looking at a website that posed a political quiz to determine if one was Democrat, Republican or something else.

Lydia Pflanz, 17, was not surprised to discover she was a Democrat.

“I knew what my beliefs were before the quiz, so I knew my answers would show that,” said Pflanz, too young to vote in this election, but one who supports Barack Obama.

Ramsey Jorgensen, 17, was not surprised to learn he leaned conservatively.

“Both my parents, my older brothers and older sister are all Republicans,” said Jorgensen, also not old enough to vote, but would vote for Mitt Romney.

However, Codi Reinert, 18, had no sense of what would surface after entering his answers.

“It says I’m a Libertarian,” said Reinert, who is eligible to vote, but isn’t sure if he will.

“I’ve noticed many seniors who believe in less government,” Johnson said of the Libertarian stance. “In fact, last year, we had a big contingent of students who supported Ron Paul.”

Johnson felt getting into the political scene is vital for all Americans.

“Sitting back and doing nothing can NOT be an option,” he said. “I think sometimes our 30-somethings should take a key from some of our younger people and get involved. I had six students become delegates to the local convention this year. I have had other students run for college leadership roles. But the most important thing is my students know how to vote and most of them do vote. The only way to change things in our country is to get off the couch and do something. Complaining gets us nowhere, action gets us everywhere.”

Johnson, the first recipient of the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Civic Recognition Award, has always been intrigued with civics.

“I have always loved history and politics,” the 1996 Laurel-Concord High

Teacher Josh Johnson works with students, from left, Jackson Robertson, Codi Reinert and Lydia Pflanz during his civics class Aug. 30, at Wayne High School in Wayne Neb. Johnson, the first recipient of the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Civic Recognition Award, has always been intrigued with civics.

School grad said. “Ever since I was a little kid I have loved the subject. My high school history teacher, Jim Clark, was the best! He, and a few other teachers, really made me want to be a teacher. The subject matter was something I was just born with, I guess.”

Johnson predicted this November’s election might see more voters.

“Nebraska always has a pretty good turnout and Wayne is no different,” he said. “I think turnout this presidential election will be up. People are getting very passionate about their candidates, whoever that is. This is also a tough time. People want us to turn this thing around.”

The biggest change in this and the last election, Johnson noted, is the ability of individuals to gather information.

“This is the YouTube/Facebook generation and it is turning into the YouTube/Facebook election,” he said. “If a candidate can win that vote, they have a leg up for the White House.”

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POLITICAL

Behind the

RELICS BRING HISTORY

ALIVE

p

Text and photographs by John Quinlan

POLITICAL POSTERS ADORN GREG Guelcher’s office at Morningside College, but the names on them are more likely to be President William McKinley or William Lloyd Harding, onetime Iowa governor from Sioux City, and not the current crop of political candidates.

Not that those signs won’t end up in his collection, too.

But collecting campaign memorabilia seems like the perfect hobby for a history professor, particularly one as politically involved as Sioux City’s Guelcher, who also happens to be chairman of the Woodbury County Democratic Party.

“It really brings history alive, not just for me, but for my students,” he said of his collection, which started with a Richard Nixon button when he was 5 years old. “I have dozens and dozens of trays of pretty much every candidate, every political issue you can think of, and I share those with my students.

“I teach a class in 20th century world history and every day I can bring in a tray of pins dealing with some aspect of the period we are discussing.

I pass them around and students comment on them and it really helps bring the history alive in a way the textbook can’t.”

Guelcher figures he has several thousand campaign pins in his collection, dating back as far as 1834, which are mostly confined to a room in his home.

“There are some candidates I particularly like, Top: Grace Linden, curator of the Sioux City Public Museum archives, holds a political ribbon from the William McKinley presidential campaign of 1896. The museum holds thousands of pieces of political and election literature. Bottom: Political memorabilia collector Greg Guelcher displays part of his collection in his Sioux City home. A history professor at Morningside College, he finds that campaign buttons help bring history alive to himself and his students.

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particularly the Iowa candidates like Henry A. Wallace, who was FDR’s vice president when he ran as a third-party candidate on the Progressive Party ticket in 1948. I have a lot of Henry A. Wallace for President items.

Guelcher has few big pieces, preferring the easy-to collect (and less expensive) campaign pins. But he couldn’t resist larger items like a Wallace poster – and a six-pack of Gold Water with the slogan “The Right Drink for the Conservative Taste.” When Barry Goldwater was running against President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, a pop manufacturer produced both Gold Water and Johnson Juice. “And I guess you could buy the drink you preferred to indicate your preference for the candidate,” he said.

“That’s quite a bit rare for some reason. Maybe Gold Water tasted better,” he said.

He has yet to locate any Johnson Juice. But some day, he hopes to find a bottle at some flea market or antique store or maybe on eBay, which is a godsend to all such collectors.

Guelcher also has some Billy Beer, brewed

by President Jimmy Carter’s colorful brother. “It wasn’t all that good,” he said.

Another novel item is a portable seat-and cane combo made in the name of a doctor/crusader named Francis Townsend who came up with a plan to take care of the elderly, sort of a precursor to Social Security, and was politically active nationally from the 1930s through the 1950s. The seat/cane contraption was advertising for a 1939

Matt Anderson, exhibits preparator for the Sioux City Public Museum, holds a box of political memorabilia from the museum archives relating to William L. Harding of Sioux City, who was Iowa governor from 1917 to 1921.

This exhibit on politics on display at the Sioux City Public Museum represents but a fraction of the political and election memorabilia to be found in the museum archives.

MEMORABILIA COLLECTED AT SIOUX CITY PUBLIC MUSEUM A treasure trove of campaign memorabilia can be found at the Sioux City Public Museum, 607 Fourth St., both in the archives and on display.

“We have all kinds of things. There’s flyers and bumper stickers, brochures, a lot from (former Congressman) Berkley Bedell but all different areas of state, local, federal people who were campaigning,” said Grace Linden, museum curator. “It’s whatever people donate.”

In addition to a separate file with newspaper clippings, the archives hold paper campaign literature dating back to the early days of Sioux City, like a satin ribbon heralding the ticket of William McKinley and Garrett Hobart for president and vice president, respectively, in 1896. They won.

“This one’s 1921, Vote for George Lewis and F.A. McCormick for School Director,” she said. “And here’s a Lyndon Johnson pennant, ‘Hello from Lyndon,’ along with a little invitation to come to a salute to women convention goers by Mrs. Margaret Price, the vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee in New Jersey. So people here in Sioux City would have gotten this invitation. The honorary chairman was Mrs. Lyndon Johnson.”

Trays of campaign buttons can also be found on shelves at the museum, nothing too big, said Matt Anderson, exhibits preparator.

“We’ve got quite a bit of William Lloyd Harding, which must be because he was from Sioux City and was the governor of Iowa,” he said. “We have things like Benjamin Harrison in the 1890s.”

A small display in the public section of the museum holds some Harding memorabilia, along with items from the Wiley Mayne and Berkley Bedell campaigns. Both were Siouxland Congressmen.

Visitors are interested in how political memorabilia has developed and changed over time, but really the changes haven’t amounted to much, Anderson said “The bumper stickers and the pins and the T-shirts and things that have been around in the post-World War II era have been pretty consistent,” he said. “But really, you had a lot of that kind of stuff going back to the late 1800s. It just hasn’t changed that much.” – JOHN QUINLAN

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convention in Indianapolis. Townsend and his supporters held national conventions throughout this period.

“A lot of historians say that Townsend’s plan is what helped prompt Social Security which was actually passed under Roosevelt. Townsend’s basic idea was to give $200 a month to seniors, with the stipulation that they spend it within the month. He said that would take care of seniors and it would also provide jobs for unemployed workers,” he said.

Guelcher grew up in a very politically active, “Rockefeller Republican” family in Cleveland, Ohio, and recalled working on the Nixon campaign when he was a boy, passing out pins and literature on street corners.

“I started pinning them to my shirt and just kind of fell in love with the hobby,” he said.

He has too many favorite pieces of memorabilia to single out one.

“But perhaps one of the items I’m most proud of is a most recent item,” Guelcher said. “I have pins from the 2008 campaign, one signed by President Obama and one signed by Michelle Obama. President Obama does not sign a lot of stuff, period.

Particularly, he doesn’t sign pins. But I was

WHY

able to catch him in the primary campaign.”

Iowans are lucky that the state’s firstin-the-nation caucuses draw all of the candidates to this area, he noted.

“I have signed campaign posters from most of the Republican and Democratic candidates who ran for president in 2004 and 2008, for instance. We have great access to the candidates, and we should take advantage of that,” he said. “I encourage my students at Morningside to go to all of the events, no matter what side of the political fence they lie on because this is such a great, unique opportunity.”

A true political junkie, Guelcher flocks to all the GOP events, too.

Among the more popular items with his students and himself are the often amusing anti-pins. “They’re the pins that attack the candidates. They’re often very creative with word play and imagery,” he said.

He pointed to a tray of anti-Roosevelt pins, attacking President Franklin Delano Roosevelt with such pithy expressions as “NO CROWN FOR ROOSEVELT,” “NO THIRD TERM,” “WASHINGTON WOULDN’T, GRANT COULDN’T, ROOSEVELT SHOULDN’T” or simply “NO!,” all of

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which knocked FDR for running for third and fourth terms. Some of the pins also carried slightly risqué references, like “NO MAN IS GOOD 3 TIMES” or “NO MAN IS GOOD THREE TIMES IN SUCCESSION” or “TWO TIMES IS ENOUGH FOR ANY MAN.” George Washington is probably the only president in U.S. history not subject to the scurrilous personal attacks which were so common in the days after he left office. “Every campaign after that had mud-slinging,” he said. “And we even had presidents in the 19th century who were accused of murder. It got that bad.”

What has changed today is the accessibility of negative messages, particularly through social media, he noted.

“You can get caught in a self-replicating loop. You can cut yourself off from the need to consider other viewpoints by specifically targeting the information sources that only already tell you what you want to hear,” he said. “And that, I think, has made it seem as if campaigns are even nastier today.”

One last tip: If you collect political memorabilia like Billy Beer, drain the cans or they will rust out, even if this may cause you to sample some awful-tasting stuff, he said.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

October 2012

15

TALKING POLITICS WITH

Behind the

FRED GRANDY

AKA ‘GOPHER,’ CONGRESSMAN, CEO AND TALK SHOW HOST

r

Text by John Quinlan

RIDING THE HIGH OF A SUCCESSFUL acting career that gave him millions of fans as “Gopher” the affable purser for eight years on the hit TV show, “The Love Boat,” Fred Grandy shocked a lot of people when the show ended and he packed his bags, left Hollywood and returned home to his native Sioux City to run for Congress.

But the 1986 move didn’t faze his captain. When Gavin McLeod (aka “Captain Stubing”) learned Fred was leaving town, he whipped out his checkbook and made Grandy’s first campaign contribution.

What followed was another successful eight-year run as a U.S. Congressman for the 6th District that became the 5th district three terms in.

“As I look back on it, I probably didn’t know any better,” Grandy said of his sudden decision to enter the world of politics.

Grandy also learned quickly that there is life after politics. He recently joined the Center for Security Policy, a Washington, D.C., think tank that focuses on national security issues, the latest stop on a post-political career that saw him serve for six years as president and CEO of Goodwill, then return to politics and entertainment as a political commentator on radio and TV in Washington for many years.

He got into politics because he was persuaded to do so by some friends with whom he had grown up. And 16

October 2012

the more he got into it, the more he liked it. “Had I been forewarned and possibly forearmed, I might have disarmed and never run,” he said in a phone interview.

“Of course, political races are much more bloodsport than they were when I was first running; but nobody who gets into a political contest really understands the first time what a titanic effort this is and the kind of cost it is to you personally – and in some cases, financially and professionally.”

Grandy noted that his first job out of college (Harvard) was working as a staffer for longtime Iowa Rep. Wiley Mayne of Sioux City. It gave him a taste of politics. What Fred he saw was someGrandy what off-putting. “I spent a year in Washington doing the kind of low-level constituent stuff that junior staff members do and, if anything, that is for others to propelled me into show business,” he decide, he noted. said, noting that he preferred a differThe work was not what he imagined ent kind of acting than he saw on the it to be. floor of the House.

“I had no idea that the process was so lugubrious and frustrating, and this MAKING A DIFFERENCE? was before the kind of gridlock that we’re But the second time around, when he looking at now,” he said. “Nor did I have decided to make a run for office, Iowa was any idea that it would take the kinds of going through some pretty severe ecoastronomical sums of money to first get nomic contractions. “There was a lot of into office and then so stay there.” hurt out there,” Grandy said, “and I kind of Pre-election, Grandy always thought beguiled myself into thinking that somethe real perks of getting elected to Conhow I could make things better.” gress would involve being on the floor of Whether he accomplished any of that the House, debating and discussing the

SIOUXLAND LIFE



GARY ANDERSON, SIOUX CITY JOURNAL

great issues of the day.

“But for me, the real job satisfaction was coming home and having my town meetings and helping people with the kind of constituent services that could actually make a difference in their lives,” he said “This could be something as mundane as helping somebody get a Social Security check that somehow had been lost in the pipeline to some farmer that was warring with the AFCS over deficiency payments, straightening out those kinds of bureaucratic entanglements.”

And this was the work mostly done by his capable staff, he noted, though he would get feedback while touring the district and speaking at town meetings in such places as Arthur and Odebolt.

“That, to me, was the real return investment,” he said.

Several careers down the road, Grandy said he doesn’t miss those days, at least not enough to return to politics.

Could he have survived four terms in today’s toxic Congressional environment?

Considering how well he got along with folks on both sides of the aisle during his Congressional days, especially on the Ag Committee, Grandy said he isn’t sure.

GETTING ALONG “On the Ag Committee, your politics didn’t break down between right and left or R and D, it was the northern soybean guys versus the southern soybean guys. To get the votes you needed in committee, you had to make some deals. And to me, that was a very valuable experience,” he said.

Today, as a commentator, Grandy admits to being much more partisan than he ever was as a Congressman. As a civilian, he doesn’t have to compromise.

“The level of our problems have gotten to a point where it’s damn difficult to compromise because people on the left and people on the right, in order to reach a compromise, essentially have to sacrifice not just some provisions of a piece of legislation but actual values that underpin their entire ideology,” he said. “And that’s what this election is about. It’s really about what the role of government should be, So it doesn’t surprise me that there is not as much compromise. But what disappoints me is that I don’t think either side really understands the magnitude of the problem. And unless or until they do, they’re not going to get much done.”

Fred Grandy, right, campaigns for Congress in October 1986, with support from then-Sen. Robert Dole, at left.

One thing Grandy finds lacking in today’s political arena is a sense of humor, something he was always able to plumb during his days as a legislator.

“We took our work seriously, but not always ourselves. Now it seems just the opposite is true. There’s no room for even the slightest offhand remark that is meant as a jest, and yet because they take themselves so seriously, they take the work less so, because it doesn’t get done.”

Grandy said he always viewed his time in Congress as a temporary assignment that would end someday.

That day came when he challenged then- (and now again) Gov. Terry Branstad in the Republican primary and lost.

Rather than insinuate himself again into the good graces of the party, he decided to re-enter civilian life.

“You know, the best politicians are the ones that enter the business and then leave the business with their heads held high,” he said. “And I haven’t regretted that decision once.”

 SIOUXLAND LIFE

October 2012

17

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CIVILIAN LIFE Even in Congress, Grandy considered himself a civilian. His colleagues talked about the perks of office – travel and the prestige that comes from being a member of Congress. He, however, had had plenty of that as a cast member of “The Love Boat.”

“You’re talking to me about prestige and travel? I mean I get more done because I used to be Gopher on ‘The Love Boat’ when I’m talking to an Israeli defense minister or some constituent,” he said. “My life didn’t change that much.”

His six subsequent years as Goodwill’s president and CEO let him accomplish what he wanted to in the way of management and reorganization changes.

Having done some teaching at the University of Maryland, he then decided to go back to school and get his master’s degree in Shakespearean studies from George Washington University.

“But once 9/11 happened, I didn’t want to get back into public office. I did want to find some kind of public service or public voice, and that’s when the radio job materialized,” he said.

Grandy occasionally subbed for a radio talk show host on WMAL Radio in Washington, and when the Gulf War started and the station decided to offer 24/7 war coverage, a full time opportunity came up when he took over the

morning show, beginning a whole new career that lasted another eight years.

He briefly discussed the circumstances that led to his departure from WMAL in March of 2011 when he took a “very contrary position with my management over the whole question of how much we as a country had to pay attention to the efforts of the Muslim Brotherhood to kind of infiltrate just about every institution in this country.”

Grandy said he and his wife Catherine, who was working with him on this project, ran afoul of management by talking about Radical Islam.

“You never like to give up something you like doing, but the purpose of me

being on the radio and having a public voice through the microphone is to be able to tell people what you think is the truth,” he said. “And when I was told there were certain things that I couldn’t say any more and the ways I could say them, I felt my whole purpose was severely compromised. I don’t regret leaving.”

So now he works behind the scenes on national security and counter-terrorism issues.

“I don’t really feel the need to get back on the air,” he said. “But if I found the right venue, sure. I’m a great believer in the wisdom of Satchel Paige. He said, ‘Don’t look back ’cause something might be gaining on you.’”

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A VOTING

Behind the



g

Text by Tim Gallagher



Photographs by Jim Lee

GENE JOHNSON IS A SIGN-MAKER, not a king-maker.

“My father ran for school board once, in the late 1970s, I think,” says Johnson, a printer of political signs for four decades at Record Printing & Copy Center in Sioux City. “We made signs for his campaign.”

Eugene Johnson didn’t win. Heck, there’s a strong chance his own wife, Miriam Johnson, didn’t vote for him.

“I know my mom refused to sign his petition,” says son Gene Johnson, laughing. “My dad’s two best friends were on opposite sides of the teachers’ negotiations. My mom asked him, ‘Why would you want to get involved in that?’”

The late Eugene Johnson probably couldn’t help himself. He’d been elbow deep in elections, printing campaign signs since 1948, the year Harry S Truman famously defeated Thomas Dewey in the presidential race, despite the Chicago Tribune’s front page banner headline that erroneously trumpeted, “Dewey Defeats Truman.”

Eugene Johnson, a combat engineer officer serving overseas during World War II, served as a printing foreman for the Daily Livestock Record, a publication produced during the boom days of the Sioux City Stockyards. Following his return to military service for the Korean War, Johnson came back to Sioux City and started Johnson-Severide Printing Company in Morningside.

The business became Record Printing Company in 1969. Gene Johnson bought it in 1983.

“We have a busy time each election with signs and ballots,” says Johnson, who still reports to work each day despite having sold his ownership interest to Jeff Vlaanderen. “I still come to work. I can’t break the habit.”

Part of that habit involves meeting with candidates frequently, and advising them on what works – and what doesn’t – when it comes to putting a sign on Gene Johnson of Record Printing & Copy Center in Sioux City, has a large collection of campaign signs, fruits of a 42-year career in the business.

20

October 2012

SIOUXLAND LIFE

NG ‘RECORD’ TO RUN ON

 someone’s yard, business or farmstead.

“If you’re not trying to win a graphic arts award, my opinion is to go with the functionality of having your name appear as big, as black and as bold as you can get it,” Johnson says. “I’ve done this for 42 years.”

Johnson keeps examples of signs he’s done through the years, many of them appearing on Carolina 6-point railroad board. The heavier stock gave way to plastic signs that decorate yards these days.

Candidates for city posts often order 500 to 1,000 signs. Former U.S. Rep. Berkley Bedell used to order up to 8,000 signs.

The Iowa Great Lakes Democrat often went with a patriotic color scheme of red, white and blue. Only Bedell’s heart logo showed in red.

The company also dabbles in neon pink, a color used for the tickets to President Barack Obama’s political rally at Morningside College on Sept. 1. Record Printing & Copy Center printed those tickets.

“They came to us at 9 a.m. with an order for tickets,” Johnson says. “We had them done by 2 p.m.”

Does Johnson display yard signs at his house? He does, but he does so with a caveat.

“I stay neutral on yard signs in my yard,” he says, noting he won’t show favoritism to any political party. He will favor his business interest, though.

“I only display signs we have printed,” he adds. “I had 72 signs in my yard once during the 1990s.”

Record P ri of Sioux nting Cit printed c y has ampaign signs sin ce Trum an defeated Dewey



Gene Johnson of Record Printing & Copy Center in Sioux City has a large collection of campaign signs. He’s printed signs for 42 years.

“We have a busy time each election with signs and ballots. I still come to work. I can’t break the habit.”

GENE JOHNSON Record Printing & Copy Center

 SIOUXLAND LIFE

October 2012

21

Home Grown & Proud to Live & Work in Siouxland

LAURA E. GIESE, DDS

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DOUGLAS A. WHEELOCK, DDS, PC

Dr. Laura Giese was born and raised in Sioux City , growing up in the Morningside Area. She attended Heelan High School and graduated in 2000. She then went on to spend the next 8 years at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, receiving her undergraduate degree in Biology in 2004 and her Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree in 2008. In July of 2008, she joined Wheelock and Bursick Dentistry as an associate.

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October 2012

SIOUXLAND LIFE

Behind the

WHAT ABOUT THOSE RACES

METROCREATIVE PHOTO Commissioners have some input into the (Farm Service Agency) conservation requirements for the farm program and administer a large fund for the conservation of soil in Woodbury County.



YOU NEVER HEARD OF?

k

Text by Dolly A. Butz

KEN GARD, A RURAL SIOUX CITY farmer, is one of the few people who will have his name on the election ballot twice this November.

Gard, a Woodbury County Township trustee and Soil and Water Conservation District commissioner, is seeking reelection to both non-partisan offices.

As a township trustee, Gard makes sure that the cemeteries in the Township of Concord, Iowa, are maintained and that the Lawton, Iowa, fire department is funded.

“If there’s an argument with the farmers about who should maintain a fence or repair it we have to go deal with that,” he said.

Although some townships, Gard said, have a hard time finding individuals to

PAT GILL

TOM ULLRICH SIOUXLAND LIFE

October 2012

23

“I’m a firm believer that we should try to keep the soil we have so there’s something there for our grandkids or great-grandkids. Some days it’s not a popular attitude to have.”

KEN GARD, a rural Sioux City farmer

 run for election, he said his has not.

“You’ll see some out in the rural areas that are vacant,” he said. “It’s a little more important job than people think because township trustees handle taxes for certain things.”

Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill said interest in township trustees is often lax.

“Usually we have a really difficult time filling a slate. A lot of those are filled by write-ins,” he said.

Sometimes, Gill said there will be a tie vote, which the Woodbury County Supervisors will break by drawing a name out of a hat.

The competition for a seat on the Woodbury County Soil and Water Conservation District isn’t much more competitive, according to Gard, although he does recall one year when four people ran for three positions.

Commissioners, he said, have some input into the (Farm Service Agency)

conservation requirements for the farm program and administer a large fund for the conservation of soil in Woodbury County.

“I’m a firm believer that we should try to keep the soil we have so there’s something there for our grandkids or greatgrandkids,” Gard said. “Some days it’s not a popular attitude to have.”

Tom Ullrich has been on the Woodbury County Extension Council for 10 years and is seeking another term this fall in the non-partisan race.

The former farmer, 4-H member and Sloan mayor of eight years learned that there was an open seat on the ninemember council while he was serving as Woodbury County Fair horse superintendent. He decided to run for it.

Ullrich was nominated for the position in August and then subsequently elected a couple of months later.

“I like what (Woodbury County)

Extension is doing. We’re one of the best kept secrets,” he said. “Since my director (Sherry McGill) has taken over, we’ve already started a plan of advertisement because half of the people don’t know what we’re here for.”

As a member of the council, Ullrich said he works to form partnerships and relationships with other businesses and agencies in effort to provide service-based learning for the community that includes the popular Master Gardener program.

“Agriculture was the initial reason for our being and now it’s so much more diverse,” he said. “I’m still learning about programs we offer.”

Although Ullrich has thoroughly enjoyed his time on the council, he said sometimes it’s tough to recruit candidates.

“If there’s three or four seats, (the nominating committee) tries to get two people running for each seat,” he said.

“It’s not the easiest recruiting.”

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October 2012

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October 2012

25

9/17/12 4:55 PM

Behind the

“It’s pretty hectic and can get pretty stressful. You’ve deployed people into 44 precincts and trained them all and they can come up with different scenarios.

There’s a new one every year.”

Woodbury County elections official Pat Gill is shown with a voting booth in Sioux City in August. Early voting for the general election started Sept. 27.

26

October 2012

SIOUXLAND LIFE

20 QUESTIONS with Woodbury County elections official

Pat Gill

Photographs by Jim Lee | Text by Nick Hytek



The busiest person on Election Day isn’t necessarily a candidate, but Pat Gill, Woodbury County Auditor and Recorder and Commissioner of Elections. Nick Hytrek got the scoop from the man behind the ballots.

1. When does your office start preparing for Election Day? Jan. 1 probably. After every election cycle, we start preparing for the next one.

2. What is Election Day like in your office?

It’s pretty hectic and can get pretty stressful. You’ve deployed people into 44 precincts and trained them all and they can come up with different scenarios.

There’s a new one every year. It’s a long day. We have to be there by 6 a.m., then have the media with us until 10 or 11 o’clock at night.

3. How many election workers are on duty that day?

It’s over 200, about 220.

4. What’s the most common Election Day issue you deal with?

In the morning, it’s just getting the machines to come up and work. During the day, we get calls about people electioneering.

5. How far ahead of the election are the ballots printed?

We have to have them done 40 days prior to the election.

6. Who decides how the names appear on the ballot?

It’s by code section. In nonpartisan races, we do a rotation. In partisan races, it’s up to the county auditor to decide. In Woodbury County we will continue the tradition: in gubernatorial elections, the Republican Party appears first and in presidential elections the Democratic Party appears on top.

In most counties, whatever party the county auditor belongs to, that’s which party appears first.

7. How are the ballots secured after you receive them from the printer?

We’ve kind of created an absentee precinct up at the old Eagles Club building. They’re locked up there and nobody

has access to them unless one of our staff members is present.

polling place. We’ll do whatever the Legislature tells us to do.

8. What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in administering elections in your 16 years in office?

14. Have you ever seen a case of dead people casting ballots in Woodbury County?

The biggest change is the amount of absentee voting that takes place. In 2008, we had almost 20,000 people vote before the election, and that’s about half of the 45,000 total votes.

9. What’s next in voting technology?

The biggest thing is for overseas voters and the military. They’re constantly trying to improve that. They’re trying to figure out the best way to do that.

10. How long would it take to figure the results if ballots were all counted by hand rather than scanning them?

No, we’ve never had that. Every Friday, the recorder’s office brings over the death certificates and we cross their voter registration off right away.

15. Are there other voting shenanigans you’ve had to deal with?

It’s a felony to commit voter fraud, and that’s the biggest safeguard to the system.

It’s difficult to get people to vote in the first place, let alone commit fraud.

16. What is the penalty for voter fraud?

It’s a Class D felony. Up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

It would be days. People think you can do recounts by hand very quickly. It’s a very inefficient and inaccurate way of getting it done.

11. Are there voters who still don’t trust the accuracy of the electronic ballot readers?

Most people accept those results. I think the big thing is that those votes are on paper, and you can go back and check those ballots.

12. What safeguards against voter fraud are in place?

The biggest thing people don’t really get a true picture of is every name that appears on the voter registry is verified. If we aren’t able to verify it, what appears by their name is “pending,” and that person is required to show an ID before being allowed to vote.

13. Do you think all voters should have to show ID to vote?

It’s not really something that we deal with. Vicki Ritz was here (in the election office) 32 years and never had a complaint that someone impersonated them at the

17. What percentage of eligible Woodbury County residents is registered to vote?

It’s over 85 percent, I think. The state of Iowa does have a high registration rate compared to the rest of the states. In 2008, the Census Bureau estimated that 76 percent of eligible Iowans were registered to vote.

18. What does your office do to increase that number?

We work with different groups that come in and ask about voter registration.

We also work with high school government teachers to get their seniors registered to vote.

19. What’s your prediction for voter turnout in Woodbury County this year?

Probably about 80 percent of registered voters.

20. With all the work leading up to the election, when do you find time to vote?

I’m usually one of the first ones to cast a ballot on the day absentee ballots are available.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

October 2012

27

Behind the

Morningside College student Sarah Swan, left, is head of the college Republican club, and Emily Greenlee is the head of the college Democratic club.



BEST FRIENDS BECOME RIVALS AS PRESIDENTIAL RACE HEATS UP

a

Text by Earl Horlyk



Photograph by Jim Lee

AS HISTORY/EDUCATION DOUBLE majors who love country line dancing and University of Nebraska Cornhuskers football games, Morningside College juniors Sarah Swan and Emily Greenlee have a lot in common.

“We hit it off right away,” Greenlee, a Lincoln, Neb., native said of her best friend, the South Sioux City-born Swan.

“As soon as I saw the Cornhuskers blanket in her dorm room, it was love at first sight.”

Yet, for all of their similarities, the two have one major difference.

The 21-year-old Greenlee is a Democrat while the 20-year-old Swan is a Republican.

“When people find out we’re on the 28

October 2012

opposite ends of the political spectrum, they ask why aren’t we tearing each other’s hair out,” Swan said with a shrug.

“There’s plenty of things to talk about than politics,” Greenlee interjected.

Well, that would be easier to believe if Greenlee and Swan weren’t in charge of, respectively, Morningside’s College Democrats and Republican clubs, and if it wasn’t the middle of the election season.

“Morningside really doesn’t have too many political activists,” Swan admitted.

“Let’s just put it this way,” Greenlee allowed. “There are more students watching (MTV’s) ‘Jersey Shore’ than watching the news.”

That certainly isn’t true of Greenlee, who became politically aware in high school.

“I had a really good high school government teacher who encouraged me

SIOUXLAND LIFE

to get involved,” she said. “At the time, I didn’t know what party to belong to but, increasingly, it became clear I was a liberal Democrat.”

Which meant for some lively conversations between Greenlee and her parents, who are both conservatives.

“I share my parents’ views on fiscal matters,” she noted. “But on social issues, I’m quite liberal.”

Of specific importance to Greenlee are issues pertaining to women’s reproductive rights and gay marriage.

“I have many gay friends,” she explained. “I know that the Democratic Party has more to offer them than the Republicans.”

Like Greenlee, Swan also became aware of politics, via her high school government class.

But unlike her friend, Swan’s parents shared her party affiliation.

“In fact, I might even be more conservative than my parents in certain matters,” she admitted.

Yet Swan doesn’t want to hit anyone over the head with a political agenda and tends to keep her conservative opinions to herself.

“I refuse to get into a heated political discussion at a party,” she said. “If a person has a beer in his hand, it’s not the right place for a debate.”

Instead, the right places for debate might be on YouTube, where both Swan and Greenlee watched speeches from the Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention.

“As full-time college students with jobs and a lot of responsibilities, it’s tough being in front of a TV set when stuff is going live,” Greenlee explained.

“That’s why YouTube is important since we can watch it after the fact.”

Greenlee was impressed by DNC speeches made by First Lady Michelle Obama and former President Bill Clinton.

Swan said she was especially tickled by the controversial speech given by actor Clint Eastwood at the RNC. “There’s a bunch of people who didn’t like it but I thought it was hilarious,” she admitted. “In fact, I ‘Facebook’ed it to all of my friends.”

Though Greenlee and Swan may be on opposing sides when it comes to politics, the two realize they’re very much alike.

Both love the music of country stars Eric Church, Garth Brooks and Rodney Atkins. And they both want to become high school government teachers after they graduate.

“It was inside a high school classroom that I first became aware of politics,” Greenlee said. “I want to share that passion with a younger generation of voters.”

“People ask how Emily and I can stay friends,” Swan said. “They don’t understand that it’s not important who you vote for. The more important thing is that you’re voting for issues that are important to you.”

“You gotta take responsibilities,” Greenlee added in agreement. “If you don’t vote, you’re not taking responsibility.”

Asked if she’d remain friends with Greenlee if Obama wins re-election, Swan smiled and said, “Absolutely, it may be going in that direction.”

As for Greenlee, she still has mixed feelings about the possibility of a Mitt Romney presidency.

“Personally, I may leave the country in protest if that happens,” she said jokingly. “But I’ll always be friends with Sarah.”

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Behind the

POLITICS IN THE AGE OF TWITTER

w

Text by Earl Horlyk

 Photographs by Laura Wehde

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WHEN THE president comes to town and you have only a few days’ notice?

That’s exactly what happened when President Barack Obama made a campaign stop on the Morningside College campus Sept. 1.

With less than 72 hours notice, Patrick Blaine utilized social media to get the word out.

A Morningside College modern language professor, Blaine handles the Facebook account for the Woodbury County Democrats.

“Presidential schedules are always in a state of flux,” Blaine said. “We never 30

October 2012

have much advance notice before a candidate heads into town.”

Alerting local politicos and activists through such tried-and-true means as mailed invitations isn’t always feasible in the ever-changing world of modern campaigning.

“Social media allows us to provide news and information to our followers immediately,” Blaine said. “That’s very important in the weeks leading up to the election.”

While Blaine is in charge of the Democrats’ Facebook page, volunteer Dianne McTeer has been handling the party’s Twitter account since April.

“I may not be the most expert Tweeter,” McTeer admitted, “but I think it’s an awesome way to get news.”

In addition to updates of a candidate’s

SIOUXLAND LIFE

schedule, Blaine said social media also provides a means to combat controversy.

“We’re living in time of a 24-hour news cycle,” he said. “If there’s a controversy with lots of misinformation, we want to diffuse it as quickly as possible.”

According to Blaine, social media tools may provide voters with some relief from information fatigue.

“Everybody is inundated with phone calls and (political) brochures in the mail, whether you like it or not,” he admitted.

“But a person chooses to become a friend on Facebook or follow our Twitter feed.

If you don’t, you won’t receive any information from us.”

“With social media, we’re only interacting with people who want to interact with us,” Blaine added.

In fact, Blaine credits Obama’s 2008

Left: Iowa Speaker of the House Chris Rants sits in his ‘command center’ in his home where he uses social media to keep in touch with his constituents. Right: Diane McTeer, of Smithland, volunteers her time to tweet for the Woodbury County Democrats.

presidential campaign for establishing social media as a way for candidates to campaign.

“It was very successful for Obama,” he noted, “and other politicians quickly followed suit.”

One of the earliest converts to social media campaigning was Christopher Rants, a former Speaker of House and a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1992 to 2011.

A Sioux City resident, Rants utilized Twitter extensively during his unsuccessful bid to become the Republican nominee for governor.

“This is the first place I go to when I want to find out what’s going on,” Rants said, pointing to his Smartphone. “If you’re a politician who isn’t utilizing social media as a way to stay connected with your constituents, you’re making a critical mistake.”

Rants said he utilized social media to communicate with his known constituency as well as potentially attracting a younger, more tech-savvy audience.

“The chief advantage (of social media) is that it’s free,” he explained. “Printing

and mailing out campaign literature costs money. Signing up for a Twitter account does not.”

Rants also said he can cross-link information that will drive traffic from his web page to Facebook and Twitter.

Echoing a sentiment shared by Blaine, he said social media allows him to focus his message specifically on people who want to hear from him.

“Some people don’t appreciate junk mail in their mailbox,” Rant said. “Tweets only go to people who want to follow me.”

Especially when he was running for governor, Rants utilized social media to soften his image.

“I had a reputation for being a serious policy wonk,” he admitted. “By tweeting about my golf game or my kids allowed people to see a different side of me.”

Yet Rants says politicians can take this too far.

“You really need to think before you tweet or retweet something,” he advises.

“Once it’s on the Internet, it’s there forever.”

Still, Rants said social media is here to stay.

“Facebook and Twitter will never take the place of person-to-person campaigning,” he said, “but they are definitely important ways to stay connected to constituents.”

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

Behind the





POLITICIANS

BRAND CAMPAIGNS LIKE PRODUCTS

b

Text and photograph by Dolly A. Butz

BRANDING IS AT THE HEART OF political campaigns, and there’s one candidate who has been more successful at it than any other, according to John Kolbo, head of graphic design at Morningside College.

President Barack Obama’s logo, a blue “O” with a red and white striped curve crossing through it, Kolbo said, gives the appearance of a sun rising on the horizon: The dawn of a new day or a better future.

The logo has become one of the most recognizable political brand logos in history.

“Designers all over just think that he’s probably done a better job of branding than even consumer products that we use because the recognition is almost instantaneous,” Kolbo said.

Because his brand logo is so well known, Obama can get away with printing his name in small type on his campaign signs or omitting it altogether, according to Kolbo, who has worked as a designer and art director for the past 30 years.

Political campaigns, he said, make conscious decisions to make their logos appeal to a certain group of people or demographic.

He recalled seeing Obama’s “O” logo plastered all over the walls of a Kansas

32

October 2012

SIOUXLAND LIFE

City jazz club in 2008.

“I was amazed by how in so many areas I would see this brand, especially in energetic places,” he said.

For his current campaign, Obama has added serifs, or little tails, to his “2012” Gotham font. Kolbo explained that Gotham is an urban, contemporary, geometric font that appeals to a younger audience. He said the serifs add stability.

“What that does is it broadens his appeal to a little bit more of a traditional audience,” he said.

Obama’s logo, Kolbo said, also bares a striking resemblance to that of the soft drink Pepsi.

“It’s got the same curve, and the Pepsi can is blue. So is his logo,” Kolbo explained. “Pepsi’s whole slogan since the 1960s has been the new generation. Pepsi has branded itself as sweeter, more youthful, more energetic than Coke.”

Republican Mitt Romney’s curvy red, white and blue “R,” likely represents ribbons, but Kolbo said it has received criticism for its similarity to the Aquafresh toothpaste logo.

The font Romney utilizes for the other letters in his name is “Trajan,” a Roman font. Kolbo said it is one of the oldest fonts in the history of type.

“This type of font was used on Trajan’s column, an old Roman marker that marked Roman victories,” he said. “It’s also a font that’s used on government

buildings.”

The “Believe in America” slogan below Romney’s name, Kolbo said should sound familiar.

Sen. John Kerry’s August 2004 crosscountry campaign tour was dubbed “Believe in America.” Kerry, a Democrat from Massachusetts, failed to defeat then-president George W. Bush.

Will Obama’s edge over Romney in branding-focused logo design win him votes in the election?

Kolbo said it might if the voter doesn’t know where the candidates stand on the issues and casts his or her vote purely on emotion.

“All of this branding reinforces the base (Obama) already has and will bring in a lot of new youthful voters,” he said.

Morningside College graphic design professor John Kolbo compares President Barack Obama’s logo, left, with Republican challenger Mitt Romney’s, right. Kolbo gives Obama the edge over Romney when it comes to overall design and branding power.

winner when critiquing Vilsack and King’s campaign signs.

Vilsack’s feature a red background with her name in white and three stars.

King’s name is printed in large white letters against a blue background. The word “congress” in red sits underneath it.

“This is just getting the name out there stuff,” Kolbo said. “I think both of these are bold and confident.”



LOCAL RACES The campaign signs of congressional and state house candidates aren’t as sophisticated as those of presidential candidates, according to Kolbo.

They have less money to spend on branding. And some candidates such as Kristie Vilsack, D-Ames, and her opponent Steve King, R-Kiron, already have name recognition, Kolbo said.

Vilsack, the former first-lady of Iowa, is hoping to upset King, a five-time senator, in Iowa’s newly redrawn 4th Congressional District.

Kolbo couldn’t distinguish a clear



SIOUXLAND LIFE



October 2012

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Mary Jane Wille, 92, of Sioux City, joined the League of Women Voters more than a half-century ago. Voting rights were stressed in her home, as her mother attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago as a delegate in 1940.

Behind the

 

LONGTIME ‘LEAGUE’ MEMBER

TAKES VOTING TO

m

Text and photograph by Tim Gallagher

MARY JANE WILLE COULDN’T HELP but be civic-minded. She couldn’t help but get involved. She came by her political activity honestly.

“I recall that when I was 4 or 5 years old, my mom went to town to get her hair cut and she came home with it in a bob,” says Wille, 92. “I think being able to vote maybe led her to be more independent.”

Just two decades after women earned the right to vote, Wille’s mother, the late Beulah Henney, traveled to Chicago to the 1940 Democratic National Convention. She went there as a delegate.

“I also had an uncle in Congress, Dr. C.W. Henney, who was a member of the House of Representatives from Portage, Wis.,” Wille says.

Dr. Henney, a Democrat, was raised at Dunlap, Iowa. Wille’s mother, who had been a teacher before she began raising her family, served as co-chair of the Crawford county Democrats.

Wille, a 1937 graduate of Denison High School, worked in the Farm Security Administration office after high school, soon transferring to an FSA site in Ida Grove, Iowa. She and Carl Wille of Carroll, Iowa, wed in 1941, and he was soon off to serve the U.S. Army in World War II. The couple returned to Carroll after the war, and would move to Sioux City in

HEART

1965. They raised two children.

Wille, who missed her first chance to vote in a Presidential election by three weeks, cast her first vote in the nation’s top race in 1944, casting a ballot for Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She’s not missed an election since.

“I joined the League of Women Voters in Carroll over 50 years ago,” she says. “We had a class about government and people were asked to start a League (chapter) and I joined.”

Wille has been involved ever since.

She’s also been inclined to tackle issuesoriented affairs, researching and visiting with locals who may be impacted by legislation.

“We campaigned for a change in how judges were elected in the 1950s,” she says.

She helped being a lengthy study of Perry Creek flood control in the 1980s, if not before. With the work of the League of Women Voters before it, the city council in Sioux City voted to approve the Perry Creek Task Force to keep pushing for state and federal recognition of the matter.

Work ramped up after a devastating flood of Perry Creek in Sioux City during May 1990. The flood-control effort, pushed along by Sen. Tom Harkin, ramped toward completion when Harkin announced on July 9, 2008, that $3.8 million had been secured to help finish

the effort.

The funds were used to help raise portions of the project to meet a revised definition of the 100-year flood.

“I have been working with Siouxlanders on the Perry Creek project since 1985 and know it will not only help prevent floods, but it will open a considerable area of Sioux City to improvements and economic development,” Harkin said at the time.

And while the League of Women Voters is often associated with sponsorship of political debates, the Perry Creek project is the type of “nuts and bolts” work that always appealed to this League member.

Wille never held a League position on voter service, but she has helped to register voters and has worked on Election Day at various poll sites in Sioux City.

A registered Democrat, Wille is devout when it comes to reading and researching all candidates. She insists on voting for the person, not necessarily the party.

That mindset is in line with the League of Women Voters, an organization formed by women – for women – shortly after U.S. women earned the right to vote in 1920 with the passing of the 19th Amendment.

“Women could now vote,” Wille says, “and the thought was they must be educated to vote.”

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October 2012

35

Behind the

ASKING FOR VOTES,

ONE DOOR AT A

g

Text by Earl Horlyk



Photographs by Tim Hynds

GOING DOOR TO DOOR IN ORDER to meet upwards of 27,000 constituents.

That’s what Al Sturgeon did during a political career that included three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives and two terms in the Iowa Senate.

Diligently going door-to-door and introducing himself to potential voters earned Sturgeon – a Democrat who represented Sioux Cityans in the northern, western and eastern part of town between 1980 and 1994 – the nickname of “King of the Doorknockers.”

“I loved it,” the Sioux City attorney remembered with a smile. “Nothing is more basic than touching base with your 36

October 2012

constituents right at their front door.”

In the months leading up to an election, Sturgeon said he would begin his mid-afternoon schedule by arming himself with brochures and voter registration forms.

Then, he would knock on doors until sunset.

“From September to election day in November, I was very focused,” Sturgeon recalled. “Even though Daylight Savings Time would kill ya in October, you knew you could make up the difference by doorknocking all day on Saturday and Sunday.”

An activity like going door-to-door – asking individuals for their votes – is what experts call “retail” politics.

That’s different than “wholesale” politics, which is when a message is

SIOUXLAND LIFE

presented to the masses, as in the purchase of TV, radio and newspaper advertisements.

“As important as advertising is to politics,” Sturgeon contends, “retail campaigning can make or break a candidate, especially at the local level.”

It’s especially true this year, he said, since TV space will be monopolized by the presidential campaigns.

“The local guys won’t have a way to get their message out because the airwaves are being flooded by spots for Obama and Romney,” Sturgeon said.

This is why Sturgeon advises candidates to hit the streets ... literally.

“It may seem old-fashioned but there’s no better way to campaign,” he noted.

Greg Hoversten agrees with

Left: Former state Rep. Greg Hoversten is shown at his house with the materials that he used to hand out when he went politicking door-to-door. Far left: Former Sioux City politician Al Sturgeon displays some of the materials he used when campaigning door-to-door. Bottom left: Sturgeon displays some of the materials he used when campaigning door-to-door.

EHDE, LAURA W Y IT SIOUX C L A N R U JO

, 

A TIME

Sturgeon on the value of door-to-door campaigning.

A Republican who represented Sioux City’s west side, Hoversten knocked on nearly 15,000 doors when he was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2000-2002.

“I printed up 15,000 door-knocking brochures and only have a handful left over,” he said. “That’s how I know how many doors I knocked.”

A Sioux City physician whose campaign literature said “This doctor makes house calls,” Hoversten credits this personal approach to campaigning as being the “deciding factor” in his race.

“I was pretty much an unknown quantity,” he admitted. “By election time, people remembered that I was the guy who knocked on their door.”

Like Sturgeon, Hoversten spent his weeknights going door-to-door and, on the weekends, devoting his entire day engaging his constituents.

“Some people may have found knocking on the door of a complete stranger to be intimidating,” Hoversten said, shaking his head. “It wasn’t for me because I’ve always been pretty outgoing.”

Growing up in Sioux City’s west side made it easier, he said, since many people knew Hoversten’s family.

“A lot of people knew my dad Bernie when he was a fireman,” Hoversten said with a laugh.

“My dad is kind of a crusty guy so I’d say, yes, we’re related but I take after my mom.”

An experienced marathoner, Hoversten said it wasn’t a physical hardship, walking up and down the streets of his district.

“If the houses were close together, I’d walk,” he said.

“If the houses were spread far apart, I’d take my bike.”

According to Hoversten, both his shoes and his bike got quite a workout.

“Oh, it was a lot of fun,” he insisted.

Did Hoversten ever receive a bad reaction when knocking on a door?

“No,” he said. “It might be a Midwestern thing but if you take the time to go to a person’s front door, they’re going to treat you like company.”

“The person may be a Democrat with no intention of voting for you,” Hoversten continued. “But they appreciate you’ve taken the time to see them.”

Sturgeon agrees, adding that such unexpected visits are remembered long after the fact.

“Some politicians will never show up on a constituent’s doorstep,” he said. “Being the politician who does go door-todoor really makes a huge difference.”

Even though it’s been 18 years since he’s held elected office, Sturgeon still keeps a few pieces of his old doorknocking material tucked away inside a drawer in his downtown law office.

Looking at one of his earliest brochures, Sturgeon can’t help but chuckle at the sight of his younger self.

“This was apparently taken during my Gabe Kaplan in ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’ years,” he said, jokingly in reference to an 1980s-era Afro. “That was never a good look.”

Yet Sturgeon retains happy memories of his days as a legislator.

“It was always an honor, representing my district,” he said. “Whether it was at the statehouse or in their house, it was always an honor to serve them.”

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October 2012

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CANDIDATES BUILD – THEN DIP INTO – WAR CHESTS

o

Text by Tim Gallagher



Photographs by Tim Hynds

ORANGE CITY, IOWA | THE FIRST 1,000 attendees at a campaign rally for Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney were to get blue foam baseball gloves in a “Mitts for Mitt” gimmick.

President Barack Obama, while campaigning at Morningside College in Sioux City, looked out on supporters holding giant O-B-A-M-A letters said he – along with voters – has tired of hearing, “I’m Barack Obama and I paid for this message.”

However, mitts and ads likely won’t cease as two candidates – and the two big political parties – slug it out and spend it out on the way to another November general election.

Obama raised more than $114 million in August alone, while Romney brought in just over $111 million. August marked the third straight month the former Massachusetts governor raised more than $100 million.

While a healthy (or unhealthy?) portion of money raised will go toward TV ad buys in battleground states like Iowa and Florida, there are other ways candidates spend cash. As Romney handed out 1,000 Mitts in Orange City, Obama had T-shirts featuring his logo inside the “o” in the word, “Forward.”

Both camps are also jet-setting across the country, pressing the flesh and shaking hands with tens of thousands of voters from New Hampshire to Colorado,

President Barack Obama speaks on Sept. 1. at Morningside College. Top: His supporters hold signs as the President speaks.

Florida to Nevada.

Speeches in Sioux City and a quick stop at a place like Bob Roe’s Point After could be the President’s version of what a local candidate does on a weekly basis.

The Sioux City stop was Obama’s 10th Iowa visit this year.

Woodbury County Supervisor Mark Monson does his share of advertising on TV, radio and in the newspaper. He also

Mitt Romney campaigns in Orange City, Iowa, on Sept.

7. Latino voters are expected to play a pivotal role in the November elections.

Mark Monson

SIOUXLAND LIFE

goes door-to-door and attends as many meetings and community events as possible. It’s his way of maximizing personal contact with voters.

Monson, a Democrat and two-term member of the board of October 2012

39

supervisors, says door-to-door involves little to no cost. However, he has to pick and choose.

“You can’t knock on the doors of 103,000 people, so you target based on past voting,” said Monson, who is being challenged by Republican Dick Salem. “I’ve gone to doors and found we have a segment of the people who don’t follow politics and maybe aren’t sure there’s an (local) election coming.

“Making the connection may spur them to vote; and, two, gives them a recognition of he candidate.”

Linda Holub Republican Linda Holub, a candidate challenging incumbent Democrat Jackie Smith for a seat on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors, agreed with Monson’s door-to-door assessment.

“We must reach a lot of people,” said Holub. “You have to door-knock. I believe it does work. You are humanized, not just a name on a postcard.”

This year, in fact, such hand-to-hand political combat may be more essential.

The cheaper alternatives locally are emphasized in a general election year when big political givers are solicited

Audience members wave signs and foam “Mitts for Mitt” prior to a rally for GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.

multiple times. After all, those may be the people filling those Obama and Romney war chests.

“It’s harder to raise money locally during a presidential election year,” Holub said. “You must be careful with the money you do raise.”

Monson found himself attending 10 parades in Woodbury County this year.

He handed out “lucky” medallions in some parades, Monson Post-It notes in others. Will they work? He’s not sure.

“You’re never quite sure what works,” Monson said.

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going down.

“The cost of the campaign has doubled since 2008,” he said.

Each Presidential race, it seems, establishes new benchmarks for campaign spending, whether or not Political Action Committees or Super-Pacs are reigned in somehow.

And much of that spending in 2012 will occur in 10 key states where neither Obama nor Romney seem to have a significant advantage. That’s why you’ll see signs of the times – literally – for both camps all the way to Election Day. coupon

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

October 2012

41

Behind the

Bette Still, pictured at the Woodbury County Courthouse, is a longtime election precinct worker.

‘DON’T COMPLAIN IF YOU DON’T VOTE!’ LONGTIME VOTING STATION ATTENDANT SPEAKS HER MIND

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

b

Text by Joanne Fox



Photograph by Jim Lee

BETTE STILL IS NO-NONSENSE WHEN it comes to the right to vote.

“Don’t complain if you don’t vote!” insisted the longtime voting station attendant.

Still came on as a voting booth worker after she retired 12 years ago.

“My neighbor was involved and she got me interested,” she recalled.

Somewhat interested in politics and a strong believer in community involvement, Still was also looking for a way to make some extra money.

“I like doing temp secretarial work and so on – jobs and hours that fit me,” she said. “I didn’t want to work a full time job as I want to travel, mostly to see my children, grandchildren and great-granddaughter, none of whom live around here.”

Just because you’ve voted or gotten good grades in civics classes doesn’t automatically qualify you to man a voting booth.

“We have training before all elections for all workers and chairpersons – of which I am chairperson at the East Middle School precinct,” Still said. “(Woodbury County Treasurer) Pat Gill’s office provides great training sessions. He has a fantastic office staff who work diligently and always have our supplies ready and up-to-date for the elections.”

careful that the voting machine and our records match. Sometimes interference from poll watchers can pose a problem.”

Voting station workers are to be set up and ready for voters by 7 a.m., meaning Still arrives at 6 a.m. to set up and continues working after the polls close.

“Some people think it is funny to vote for a write-in that is a cartoon character,” she said. “This can keep us at the polling place late as every write-in vote has to be documented. That isn’t too funny for us.”

Over the years, voting itself has changed, Still pointed out.

“We have had various rule changes from the state office and new machines have been added to make voting more efficient and easier for the voters,” she said. “Also, not having to use a driver’s license or ID unless we question the voter

For her investment of time as chairperson, Still receives $9 per hour.

“The best part of the job is getting to know and work with some very nice people,” she said. “My ‘crew’ at elections is wonderful. I couldn’t get along without them.”

Marlene Welding, Dolores Livengood, and Barb Montgomery have worked with Still for many elections.

“They know what needs to be done and I am so grateful to them for making my job easier,” she said. “I thank others who have worked with us, also. General election days can be busy and hectic at times so I am happy to have them with me. We have also had some great high school students working with us. It is great to see their dedication and involvement.”

But it’s no easy “plunk,” Still clarified.

“There is a lot to watch out for and, like life, everything can happen at once,” she said. “For example, some say registration can be trying if the voter comes in late or doesn’t have the proper or legal documents with them. We have to be

if they are not in our registry books.”

Light conversation with the workers is OK, Still noted, but trying to plug or campaign for your party or candidate is frowned on.

“But partisan talk has not been a problem at our precinct,” she said. “If someone should start, all we do is politely tell them we can’t allow it and people have been very cooperative.”

In essence, the voting process is about as customer-friendly as it gets, Still said.

“Satellite voting or early absentee voting is a great advantage opportunity for everyone,” she said. “Absentee voting is wonderful for handicapped people who want to vote and either weather or other reasons keep them going to the polls.

The satellite voting gives everyone a chance to vote at various locations in the city and the parking is good. It is great for people who have to travel on election day and for those whose work schedules may interfere with voting. No excuses!

Absentee and satellite voting present everyone with a chance to vote. This is our duty.”

SIOUXLAND LIFE

October 2012

43

HEALTH all

those books

BUY THE BOOKS? THEY’RE A LIFELONG RESOURCE FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS

e

Text and photographs by Dolly A. Butz

EMILY SWALVE HAS DREAMED OF BECOMING A NURSE ever since she was a little girl.

The 20-year-old from Estherville, Iowa, said she became interested in the profession after her older sister was hospitalized at Shriners Hospital.

“I’ve wanted to become a nurse for a long time,” said Swalve, who is in her first-semester of nursing at St. Luke’s College.

Swalve needed to purchase more than books, notebooks and pens to get ready for school.

A stethoscope, lab coat, bandages and scissor was on her list, along with a towering stack of 14 books, a set of royal blue scrubs and a patch and pin that identify her as a nursing student.

Swalve estimated that she spent about $1,600 on first-semester necessities at the college’s bookstore. She bought everything but an optional penlight used for checking pupils.

“I still haven’t even had to use it,” she Laura Mischke said of her stethoscope.

“You will,” retorted Laura Mischke, department chair of St. Luke’s College’s library, which runs the bookstore at 2616 Pierce St. Although the book and supply list for nursing students may seem excessive, Mischke said the cost is comparable to what a student at a liberal arts college might spend. The difference, she said, is that nursing students buy the books and items they’ll use throughout the program up front, not by semester as a typical college student would.

“The students have to buy a lot of books, but those books they use throughout,” she said.

The items on radiology and respiratory care students’ lists don’t differ too much from those required for the nursing program. Those students also need books, a stethoscope and the proper medical attire.

Mischke said radiology students also have to purchase an X-ray marker set, which consists of magnetic markers that help differentiate left and right X-rays.

“They have their initials on them, so they can keep them throughout their career if they don’t lose them,” she said.

Nursing students have the most books, followed by radiology and respiratory care students.

Mischke said general education classes such as English, anatomy or microbiology will add additional books to all of

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

First-year nursing student Emily Swalve stands next to a stack of textbooks and other supplies she had to buy for class at St. Luke’s College’s bookstore.

the programs.

Carrying 50-plus pounds of hardcover books, Mischke said, may require the help of a friend or several trips from the bookstore to the car. To make it easier for the students, she said staff place books in a box with handles.

Swalve has no more than two classes a day, so she said she doesn’t have to carry her entire load of books at one time.

“I either keep them in my car or at home,” she said. “I usually keep them in my car so I don’t forget them.”

When they no longer need a book, Mischke said students can sell them directly to other students or back to the bookstore. Certain books, she said, students retain for use on the job. A copy of each textbook sold by the bookstore, she said, is also available at the college’s library.

HEALTH on

the phone

PHONE NURSES ANSWER MEDICAL

QUESTIONS Text and photographs by Dolly A. Butz

Amber Neal and two other phone nurses field hundreds of calls per day in their cubicles at the Family Health Care of Siouxland Morningside Clinic.

They answer questions about everything from dog bites to baby bottles to vaccines in a room tucked away behind closed doors.

“It’s a fun position,” said Neal, who has worked as a registered nurse for 13 years.

“We get some crazy phone calls and some serious ones.”

Administrator Melisa Schager said the clinic’s 18 nurses rotate positions, giving everyone a chance to work on the floor or field patient phone calls. She said nurses working the phones, who also handle doctor referrals, prescripMelisa Schager tion refills and follow-up visit phone calls, allow nurses on the floor to provide patients with their full, undivided attention.

“A lot of the patients we get phone calls from are non-compliant patients who don’t want to come in,” she said. “We find out if they can be treated without coming in.”

Since she cannot physically examine the patient or see signs of weakness or fatigue, Neal said she has to be on her game when it comes to her communication skills.

“If it’s a phone call and you’re triaging, you’re going to ask a lot more questions,” she said. “Typically you’re asking the same questions on the phone as in the exam room. You may have to dig a little deeper.”

Schager said the nurses follow a list of protocols set by the clinic’s physicians to determine whether the patient can be treated by phone, needs to come to the office or should go to the emergency room.

If the situation doesn’t fit the protocols,

Amber Neal, a registered nurse, checks her computer in a conference room that is used to train phone nurses at the Family Health Care of Siouxland Morningside Clinic. The clinic has 18 nurses who rotate working on the floor and answering patient phone calls.

she said the phone nurse consults with a physician.

Neal said she can tell when a consumer product recall or a new health recommendation has gained media attention.

The phone lines will light up, and patients will asked her to prove or debunk the information.

“People will read things on the Internet and it’s absolutely false,” she said. “You have to go though the facts with them.”

MY NURSE SEES STEADY CALL VOLUME Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 22 registered nurses answer medical questions from across Iowa via phone in a spacious office in the Mid American Energy Building in downtown Sioux City.

My Nurse is a health information service sponsored by Iowa Health System and its affiliates which include St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center. It provides physician after-hours services for a number of clinics and providers across the state.

Licensed nurse practitioners on staff also make follow-up calls to patients who have been discharged from any of the Iowa Health System affiliates.

“We just handle a variety of general health questions, as well as assessment of systems from referral to an appropriate level of care,” said Ann Schauer, manager of My Nurse. “That’s our main goal. We cannot diagnose.”

My Nurse also provides referrals to physicians and services available within Iowa Health System and the community such as support groups and clinics, according to Schauer.

“Sometimes we get a patient who calls and we do an

assessment and we say, ‘You need to see a provider within four hours.’ And they don’t even have a family doctor,” she said.

“We haven’t done them a service. We need to provide them with a physician referral or maybe to an urgent care clinic so they can seek the care that they need.”

Schauer said My Nurse nurses answer roughly 350 calls a day. From January through June of this year they fielded more than 61,000 calls.

“We have a lot of parents that call in with children with fevers. ‘At what point do I need to take my child in to be seen?’” she said.

For adults, Schauer said questions about abdominal pain, colds and influenza are common.

“It depends on the season, right now we have sprained ankles and then obviously in the wintertime we get the influx of the influenza calls,” she said.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

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45

ADVICE Medical

Answers

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

Is there any way to get rid of those “floaters” that seem to pass over my eyes?

Floaters can represent many things, but an important one is retinal detachment.

The retina is a liner on the back of the eye that is full of nerves. This symptom is something that needs to be addressed by your doctor or ophthalmologist with a full eye exam to see if you are a candidate for treatment.

Floaters or visual loss can also represent many other things that need to be evaluated by your doctor including migraine, seizure, lack of blood flow, clot and swelling in the eye.

For the last week, I’ve sneezed three or four times after I’ve gotten up. Is this allergies? Or something else?

Tis the season for allergies. You may be suffering from seasonal allergies which include sneezing, itchy or red eyes, runny or stuffy nose and/or sore throat.

There are many symptomatic remedies for seasonal allergies. Some people find benefits from taking an antihistamine daily – but many times the side effect is drowsiness. You can use nasal saline spray to help remove the pollen in your nose. You can also get a steroid nose spray from you physician that you use daily – just understand that those can take a few days to start working.

Decongestants do work with a stuffy nose, but if you have high blood pressure it is best to avoid decongestants.

You should only use decongestant nose sprays for three days as longer use can lead to rebound swelling.

Lastly, really severe allergies may require allergy shots weekly or monthly.

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October 2012

How do you deal with a child who’s anxious about going to school? It has gotten to the point where my daughter doesn’t want to go. I’ve tried talking to her, but she’ll say she’s sick and, since I can’t say she’s faking, I let her stay home.

Is there anything I can do?

Sounds like a type of school phobia. I would first talk to her teacher and see if there is anything going on at school such as trouble with school work, friends or bullying. If she rides the bus or walks to school, that could be an area of anxiety for her, also. Also consider what potential gain she may be getting from staying at home (i.e. Internet access, video games, movies, snacks, etc.). A regular routine can be helpful, also. Make sure she has everything ready to go for school and her favorite breakfast before heading out the door.

In regards to the tummy ache, make sure she is eating regular meals and having regular bowel movements.

Irregularity can cause a lot of abdominal distress in a youngster. A good way to try to control this would be to have her try and go to the bathroom each morning when she wakes up.

If you find nothing that helps, then you could bring her into the doctor to have an encouraging talk about school.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

MEET THE DOC Dr. Jennifer Haden is a resident physician at the Siouxland Medical Education Foundation, a family medical residency program.

She grew up on her family farm in Northwest Iowa where they raised corn, soybeans, hogs and cattle. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa and her medical degree from Des Moines University.

She and her husband reside near Sioux City.

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

What ear protection should I wear at a concert? After it’s over, I can barely hear people talking and my ears seem clogged for a good day.

The “loudness” of sound is measured in decibels (dB).

For example, a whisper in a quiet library at 6 feet is 30 dB. A jackhammer at 50 feet is 95 dB. Sustained exposure from 90 to 95 dB can result in hearing loss. A hand drill is 98 dB and a motorcycle can be 100 dB. Pain can result at sounds greater than 125 dB and the loudest recommended exposure with hearing protection is 140 dB because even short term exposure can cause permanent damage. A 12-gauge shot gun is 165 dB. A loud rock concert is 115 dB (but generally concerts are 90 to 100 dB). It is recommended to wear ear plugs at concerts. Custom-fit plugs are preferable but basic foam ear plugs also do a great job of blocking decibels. The reason you have a muffled sense of hearing after a concert is because you have suffered some short term damage. The loudness affects the tiny hair cells in your ears that help you hear; with multiple exposures of over 85 dB your hearing loss can be permanent.

Advice: wear your ear plugs!

PARTING SHOT By

Bruce Miller

BRUCE’S HELPFUL HOUSEHOLD HINTS Heloise passed the torch to her daughter; Mary Ellen found greener pastures and Martha Stewart is too busy building an empire to give you household hints that really help. But, fear not, loyal reader. I’m here for you. Follow my simple tips and you’ll never have to worry about housekeeping again!

1. Light bulbs: A 40-watt bulb makes your house look cleaner than a 200-watt one. Change ‘em.

2. Oven cleaning: If you set your oven to “self-clean” before you go to bed, you’ll be up all night worrying if the house will burn down. Do it during the daytime... when you can call the fire department.

3. Halloween: The entire month of September, ignore the cobwebs. In October, you can call them decorations!

4. Vinegar: The stuff cleans better than anything in your cupboard but it smells like you’re dyeing Easter eggs. Go easy on the vinegar.

5. Toilet paper: You can never have enough. Trust me. When company comes, you’ll think they’re stealing rolls.

6. Towels: You could keep the washing machine going 24 hours a day and never get all the towels clean. Assign each person a towel, then you won’t feel like you’re the towel boy at a spa.

7. Rethink those hardwood floors: Sure, they’re gorgeous. Yes, they add to the re-sale of your home. But have you ever tried cleaning them? A nightmare.

And if you’ve ever wondered where dust

bunnies go, you’ll find out. Carpeting hides a multitude of sins.

8. Always have candy on hand: No matter how bad your cooking (or your hosting skills), guests will forgive just about anything if you serve them chocolate. Or liquor.

9. Forget washing windows: Sure, they look great when they’re clean but they’ll just get spotted the next time it rains. Unless, of course, you’ve been through a summer of drought.

10. The best recipes: Your mother’s specialties are easy to find. They’re in the cookbook with the most food stains.

11. Dirty dishes multiply in the night: Wake up tomorrow and you’ll see. They’re like rabbits.

12. Never admit you’re home: When telemarketers call, pretend you’re the help. If you can do it with an accent, they’ll think you’re rich!

13. Leftovers: Rethink that “cook on Sunday, eat all week” concept. By Thursday you won’t be able to bear the sight of that weekend casserole. Just eat out.

14. Making the bed: Unless you’re in a competition or company is coming, think twice about making the bed every morning. If you do it, you’ll realize “scatter” pillows are a nuisance, not the finishing touch on your decorating.

15. Coasters: Put them everywhere.

Guests will think you actually care about rings on your tables.

16. Candles: Yup. Get ‘em. Light ‘em, too. You’d be amazed at the response they get. (And you don’t have to race through the house with air freshener before the relatives come over.)

17. Plants: This is another “rethink.”

They take work and plastic ones look plastic – and need dusting. Better? Buy a $5 bundle of flowers at the grocery store, stick ‘em in a vase and people will think you care about your home.

18. Remote controls: Find a nesting place for all your remotes. Then you won’t have to tear the house apart looking for them. I once had to go through the garbage just to turn on the TV. (And, yes, I had thrown it away.)

19. Drapes: They may see like a big expense initially but they earn their keep back many times over. See No. 9.

20. Just plunk: If you’re worried that your friends will judge your homemaking skills, you need different friends. Besides, once you crack the liquor, they’ll even forget why they came over.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

October 2012

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Reflect your own personal style.

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