Along Our Way
It's amazing that, later in your adult years, you could go back to a restaurant you first experienced 40 years ago, and 1) find it still in existence, and 2) realize it's even better than you remembered it. That's how it was for us on a recent trip to Kansas City when we had lunch at the legendary Arthur Bryant's Barbeque Restaurant at 18th & Brooklyn Avenue in the heart of the city. The noted foodwriter Calvin Trillin, writing in Playboy magazine, once called Arthur Bryant's ''the single best restaurant in the world.'' The barbeque, says our columnist Chuck Offenburger, ''is probably the best I’ve eaten.''
[FOR THE STORY & THE PHOTOS
IN LARGER FORMAT, CLICK HERE.]
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A conversation
with the Offenburgers
Chuck Offenburger was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins follicular lymphoma cancer on July 10, 2009, had six months of chemotherapy & started a maintenance program. Carla Offenburger underwent surgery on April 26, 2010, for removal of a jaw tumor which was found to contain adenoid cystic carcinoma cancer. She underwent six weeks of follow-up radiation in June and July, 2010. Since then she has returned to good health, but she continues to have close medical observation. Two days after Carla finished radiation, Chuck noticed a pain in his left hip, and within days, a small mass near his tailbone was diagnosed as more aggressive large-cell lymphoma. In the fall of 2010, he underwent intensive chemotherapy, and had a stem cells transplant in November, with follow-up radiation in January, 2011. Since then he's been doing well, too, but continues to have regular check-ups. We post updates frequently here, including brief insights from Chuck, Carla and at least one of you readers.
“Chuck, in the past year, I’ve seen you with long hair, no hair and now this short hair. This is best.”
FOR THE LATEST UPDATE,
CLICK HERE.
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WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THE
BLACK & WHITE SADDLE SHOES?
CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY OF OUR FARM IN GREENE COUNTY, IOWA.
Here's looking at life
at Simple Serenity Farm
The Offenburger siblings always get together sometime after the Christmas season to eat, laugh and catch up on news in our families. This year's gathering was on Sunday, March 25, at Beverly Offenburger Watson's condo in Johnston on the edge of Des Moines.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS & PHOTOS IN LARGER FORMAT.
CLICK HERE FOR EARLIER REPORTS IN THIS SERIES.
Chuck Offenburger's
latest book on sports
legend Gary Thompson
''GARY THOMPSON: All-American'' is the new, 352-page biography of one of the state's genuine sports icons. From 1950-'53 Gary Thompson led the Roland Rockets to high school sports glory in basketball and baseball, giant-killers from one of Iowa's small schools. Then he led the Cyclones at Iowa State from 1953-'57, becoming the college's first two-sport All-American. He's had major success in broadcasting and business, from his home base in Ames. And he and his wife Janet have a family as solid as they come. "I'm the luckiest guy around," Thompson says.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
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Our Partners & Patrons
Iowa Hall of Pride
Sam's Barber Shop
Douglas T. Bates III, Attorney
KMA Radio's ''Chuck & Don Show''
The Monks of New Melleray Abbey
RELATED LINKS
About Offenburger.com
Biographies
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Chuck Offenburger's columns
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Carla Offenburger's columns
Carla's book reviews
Guest Columns
Life at Offenburgers'
Simple Serenity Farm
--2003-2005
--2006-Now
Our Iowa News Digest
Along Our Way
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| POGGENSEE'S POSTCARDS
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Photographer Don Poggensee
took high-powered lenses out
recently for a close-up look
at nature during springtime
Pictures by Iowa photographer Don Poggensee |
COMING UP IN IOWA
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We recommend the following, if you want to experience this state at
its best!
May 26: First ever ''Iowa Bicycle Festival,'' 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Jefferson. Bicycle parade & shows including RAGBRAI team buses, competitions, games, seminars, bicycling apparel fashion show, juried art show with bicycling theme & more. For all the details, click here.
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THE CONTINUOUS
IOWA CAUCUS
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We've been thinking about younger Iowans who are doing big things. Which of these well-known Iowans, 30-ish and just older, would you most enjoy getting to know better?
[SEE PAST RESULTS]
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We Offenburgers
endorse & support
Christie Vilsack for
the U.S. Congress
AMES, IOWA
July 19, 2011
Christie Vilsack, a Democrat and the former first lady of Iowa, today announced her candidacy for U.S. Congress in Iowa's newly-drawn 4th district, which covers roughly the northwest fourth of the state and then some - and includes Greene County, where we Offenburgers live. She will oppose Republican Steve King. We have already endorsed Vilsack's candidacy, and in special coverage here, we tell you why. Plus we offer some very insightful reading about Congressman King, his background and political outlook. You may want to get involved in what will be a very fun race!
TO CONTINUE READING, CLICK HERE.
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| | A new point of inspiration in Kansas City |  |  Our friends the Teusches, of Jefferson, who are devoted and active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, took us Offenburgers along last week for a public tour of the spectacular new Mormon Temple that is about to be dedicated in the northern part of the Kansas City metro area. The Teusches, left to right, are Jim, daughters Beth and Claire, and Nancy. The 3-story, 32,000-square foot holy place is the center piece of an 8-acre property. The front tower soars 151 feet to the top of the ''Angel Moroni'' statue. The Temple has been open for free tours in April, with about 5,000 people per day going through it. The last tours will be this Saturday, April 28. Then the Temple will be closed, cleaned and opened for dedication on May 6. From then on, only Mormons will have access to the building. They use it for prayer, meditation, baptisms, weddings and other rites of the church. Photos inside the Temple are not allowed on the tours, but take it from us - it is one of the most beautifully-furnished and decorated buildings in the region. You can learn more about the Kansas City Temple by clicking here. |
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| | | Out in Greene County, Iowa |  Is it possible that Steve King has worn out
his welcome with many Iowa Republicans?
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER
April 25, 2012
JEFFERSON, IOWA
Our columnist, who is supporting King’s Democratic opponent Christie Vilsack in the race for the U.S. House in Iowa’s new Fourth Congressional District, sees some “problems” King could have in his own party. The Congressman has been around a long time, naturally has some political baggage by now, and a lot of Republicans are favoring term limits. Plus, the Republicans in the eastern two-thirds of the new district aren’t as conservative as those who’ve supported King in the west. It’s stacking up as a wild race, one that should be fun to watch – fun to get involved in, too. [READ MORE] |
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| | My View from the Porch |  Greene County Med Center celebrates 75 years, including welcoming home its 15,500 babies!
By CARLA OFFENBURGER
March 12, 2012
JEFFERSON, IOWA
The idea for the “Welcome Home, Baby” reception was “born” from discussions on how to best portray the history of the medical center from its very beginning, going back to late 1937. It seemed natural to honor those who got their start here. It’s a fun and unique way to pay tribute to our past, and all those who were a part of it. Several other special events are happening to help celebrate the 75th anniversary, too. [READ MORE] |
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Featured Partner & Patron
The panel of regulars in the discussions at Sam's Barber Shop are (left to right standing) Sam The Barber Kauffman, Kathleen Parris, Nancy Olsen, Chuck Offenburger and (in the chair) Dale Edwards. | Sam's Barber Shop
''Where you get your ears lowered and your eyebrows raised!''
226 Broadway
Audubon, Iowa 50025
(712) 563-2130
loisam@mchsi.com
For 30 years, Sam's Barber Shop has served as Chuck Offenburger's ''sample precinct,'' where he can go find out what ''real people'' are thinking about issues great and small. Those visits produce columns Offenburger calls ''The Barber Poll.''
Sam Kauffman's shop has become a hangout of politicians, philosophers and loafers, both male and female. Presidential candidate Gary Hart once promised that if he got elected, Sam would be the White House barber. It never happened. But the growing fame of the shop probably helped launch Sam in local politics. He's in his 16th year as mayor of Audubon, his 51st year in his current shop and his 55th year of barbering. Fine haircuts are only $9.65, advice is free and Sam's wife Lois' pickles - the perennial winners of the blue ribbon at the Audubon County Fair - are priceless.
The periodic barber shop discussions have a panel of regulars including the barber, medical office worker Kathleen Parris, retired farmer Dale Edwards and former gift shop owner Nancy Olsen, now a homemaker. The opinions of people getting haircuts and other visitors are generally tolerated, too.
Nancy Olsen, Dale Edwards, Kathleen Parris, Sam Kauffman
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