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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Along Our Way
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| POGGENSEE'S POSTCARDS
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The 32nd annual Winter Games
at the University of Okoboji
were held Jan. 27-29 in
mild weather & little snow'
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.
February 18: One of Iowa's greatest adventurers, Charlie Wittmack, two-time climber of Mount Everest and World Triathlete, speaks at banquet of Raccoon River Valley Trail Association, at Panorama National Resort & Convention Center. Public can buy tickets. For details, click here.
February 15-18: High school state wrestling tournaments at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. On 15th, it's state duals tournament. On 16-18th, it's the individual state tournament. For lots of information, click here.
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THE CONTINUOUS
IOWA CAUCUS
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So, whenever it is that Terry Branstad gives up the Iowa governorship, which of these five next-generation Republicans would you say is most likely to be his successor?
[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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| | Kyle Munson & his genuine Iowa barn |  |  Kyle Munson, the Iowa columnist for the Des Moines Register, is taking a ''99-county tour'' of the state right now. On Monday, January 30, he stopped to see us Offenburgers at our Simple Serenity Farm near Cooper in Greene County, the 36th county he's visited on his tour. To commemorate his visit, we had a special gift ready for him, our 112-year-old barn. Actually, last summer we gave it to Carla Offenburger's sister Chris Woods, of Des Moines, for her 50th birthday, but she re-gifted it to Carla on her recent birthday. We decided to give it to columnist Munson, since his wife Ann Sobiech Munson is an architect and she'll probably know what to do with it. ''I've just got to figure out how to get it out of here, right?'' said the columnist. Right, we said. We took Munson on a walk on the nearby Raccoon River Valley Trail, then he took us to dinner at the fine Casa de Oro restaurant in Jefferson. |
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| | | Out in Greene County, Iowa |  A farewell to state GOP chair Matt Strawn, as
we wonder what his quitting really means
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER
February 2, 2012
COOPER, IOWA
There is no question that Strawn had become very popular among most Republicans across the state, as he rebuilt party organizations that had been a shambles. There is also no question that he took a lot of heat over the foul-ups in the vote reporting procedures during the Iowa Precinct Caucuses, and also for his confusing announcements of the caucus results. But it’s hard not to figure that there must be other factors involved, too. This much we know: A young Republican who has been a rising star in Iowa politics – and national politics too – announced his resignation Tuesday, and we’re still bummed about it. PLUS: Check the sidebar in this story about how right here in Greene County, we’ve got the Republican and Democratic Central Committees working together on a project! It’s politics the way it ought to be! [READ MORE] |
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| | My View from the Porch |  When confronted by a puzzling Bible verse,
she realized its meaning in four true stories
By CARLA OFFENBURGER
February 1, 2012
JEFFERSON, IOWA
On “Laity Sunday” at her church, our columnist was asked to give the sermon. She pulled out a Bible passage, one in which the apostle John starts off, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning….” She said it is a passage that has always confused her, even intimidated her. But when she studied it this time, she thought of specific things that she’d heard or experienced recently. And suddenly she had one of those “aha” moments – and John’s message not only came clear, it came to life. [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 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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