Along Our Way
Randy Bunkers, co-owner with his wife Phyllis of the Bunkers Dunkers Bakery on the east side of the courthouse square in our county seat town of Jefferson, has just turned 60 years old. On Saturday, January 14, the Bunkerses celebrated with free ''donut holes'' – the little balls punched out of their famous glazed donuts – and free coffee for much of the morning, and the place was packed. Everybody was telling their favorite ''Bunkers Dunkers'' stories.
[FOR A STORY & THE PHOTOS IN
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
We've had very little snow so far this winter. Saturday morning, January 14, brought a reminder of just how pretty a light snow can be. Just over an inch fell in the wee hours, and the countryside was beautiful at wake-up time.
Click here for larger format
Earlier photos 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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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
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--2003-2005
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Our Iowa News Digest
Along Our Way
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| POGGENSEE'S POSTCARDS
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Hear a ''tooting whistle''
sound outdoors now?
You might just answer,
''Say what, saw-whet?''
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!
February 4: The 35th annual ''BRR'' (Bike Ride to Rippey) sponsored by the Perry Chamber of Commerce. Registration in downtown Perry from 7 a.m., bike ride starts 10 a.m. with cannon salute from ''Dawson Artillery.'' BRR happens regardless of weather. For details, click here.
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THE CONTINUOUS
IOWA CAUCUS
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It's a new year with new newsmakers. Which of the following odd couples would you most like to sit with for a cup of coffee & a long chat?
[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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| | Like a white ribbon across the countryside |  | | Here's a view on Saturday, January 21, of the snow-covered Raccoon River Valley Trail going north out of our town of Cooper in west central Iowa. There's been so little snow cover so far this winter that a good number of bicyclists have had several days good riding in November, December and now January. It's a beautiful time of year for a ride or walk on the trail, because with the foliage gone, you get views from the trail that you never notice in the other seasons. |
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| | | Out in Greene County, Iowa |  Trouble is stirring in the Greene County GOP;
some are saying our columnist is the problem
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER
January 16, 2012
COOPER, IOWA
The county party leaders say there is a firm rule that if you are on the Central Committee, you have to support the nominees of the Republican Party. The columnist is a member of the Central Committee and, in fact, just got re-elected. He also has been very open, for nearly a year, that he is endorsing and supporting the candidacy of Democrat Christie Vilsack for the U.S. House. Vilsack, as most readers know, has been our friend for decades. The party officials said they would consider removing our writer from the Central Committee at its meeting in Jefferson January 19. He responded that he would be “vigorously resisting.” We’ve got comments here from Vilsack, as well as Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn. No word yet from Republican Congressman Steve King. UPDATE: In a sidebar within this story, we report that the central committee discussed the matter for 45 minutes at its meeting, but delayed a vote until its February meeting. [READ MORE] |
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| | Guest Column |  The editor of Storm Lake Times has a colorful analysis of Chuck Offenburger’s political fuss
By Art Cullen
January 28, 2012
STORM LAKE, IOWA
The northwest Iowa newspaperman seems to be enjoying the dispute in which the Greene County Republican Central Committee is considering giving our columnist Offenburger the boot, for supporting Democrat Christie Vilsack in her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. ''Everyone should know that when something is on Offenburger’s mind, he tends to speak it in public,'' the editor wrote. He predicts ''the Jefferson honchos'' are trying to figure out a way to ''excise this ingrown toenail.'' Offenburger said this is the first time he has ever been called that! [READ MORE]
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Featured Partner & Patron
| The Iowa Hall of Pride
This $12.5-million interactive museum on the edge of downtown Des Moines uses fantastic video, technology, art and research to showcase Iowa's schools, communities and their heroes.
You can do what Chuck and Carla Offenburger are shown doing here - seeing how they measure up to the life-size statue of the University of Iowa's 1939 football Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick, a native of Adel. |
Whether you live in Iowa or are traveling through, one new attraction that is a ''must'' is the Iowa Hall of Pride, which is located across the street west from Wells Fargo Arena in the Iowa Events Center complex on the north edge of downtown Des Moines. The Hall of Pride was envisioned and created by the Iowa High School Athletic Association, which sanctions boys prep sports in the state. But this facility is about a whole lot more than just boys' athletics. It is an excellent, entertaining portrayal of the whole Iowa high school experience, celebrating the accomplishments of our young people in academics, music, drama, debate, leadership and, yes, in sports, too.
You'll see the life-size bronze statues of several of our greatest athletes - football star Nile Kinnick of Adel, wrestler Dan Gable of Waterloo West, basketball star Gary Thompson of Roland, and Iowa's fastest track athlete ever Clyde Duncan, of Des Moines North. There is a startlingly life-like wax statue of piano great Roger Williams, a native of Des Moines, sitting at a golden Steinway Piano, which plays his greatest hits at your request, including his famous ''Autumn Leaves.'' The facility also includes a ''Hall of Heroes,'' in which the stories of many of the state's best-known, highest-achieving citizens are told in video, displays, personal interviews and testimonials - among them Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug, opera star Simon Estes, actor John Wayne, actress Donna Reed, scientists George Washington Carver and James Van Allen, and astronaut Peggy Whitson.
The 23-by-12-foot stained glass window at the entrance of the Iowa Hall of Pride portrays all the activities of the Iowa high school experience - and is believed to be the largest work of stained glass in the state.
Amazing memorabilia from high school girls' basketall. |
There are also more than 200 video interviews – broken into crisp topical segments of a few minutes each - with coaches, teachers, star players in girls' and boys' sports, top performers in the arts, referees, familiar media personalities, leaders of business and government. A new addition is a riveting 20-minute conversation with Brandon Routh, 28, the Norwalk native talking about how he played the super star in the recent hit movie ''Superman Returns,'' and how his acting career has also taken flight. Plus, the Iowa Hall of Pride experience isn't just about watching games - you can play, too - seeing just how good you are at shooting baskets, officiating a virtual wrestling match, singing with the All-State Chorus, and doing play-by-play broadcasting of a big football game. Best of all, you'll go home with long list of stories you'll want to share with friends and family. And you'll have a whole new appreciation for Iowa and the opportunities available here for both young and old.
The Iowa Hall of Pride, next door to Wells Fargo Arena. |
The Iowa Hall of Pride was a decade in planning and development. In that time, new computer technology became available, allowing the facility to be drastically changed from the original concept of static displays and seldom-changing compilations of records, to what it became - engaging, ever-changing, constantly-updated presentations of information, video, music and action. Major funding came from the state's Vision Iowa Program, the Iowa High School Athletic Association, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, the Iowa Farm Bureau and many other donors, including contributions as small as $5 from an elderly fan of Iowa's high school activities.
26,000 square feet, 220 video interviews, 150 computers - and a million stories!
Click here to read Chuck Offenburger's column about when the Iowa Hall of Pride was first opening in February 2005.
Click here to read Offenburger's most recent column about the Iowa Hall of Pride, in June 2007.
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Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sundays by appointment only. Details: (515) 280-8969. Closed major holidays. Admission: $5 for adults, Iowa Farm Bureau members free, and the fee for Iowa students K-12 is generously paid by Musco Lighting, Oskaloosa, Iowa. |
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