Daily Umbrella Dec.15: 2 Iowa National Guard soldiers and interpreter killed; Mahomes Has Torn ACL; what’s the difference betwee

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Monday, Dec. 15, 2025

Good morning to you!

Imagine if Jolly Old St. Nick decided he would wait a day or two beyond Christmas Eve before delivering presents this year. Doing all those deliveries is an unpleasant task, and he really doesn’t see the need to have them out on Christmas Eve anyway. There is no real reward or penalty for Santa to get the gifts out on time, and he has a tough time saying no.

Seems crazy, doesn't it? But, believe it or not, those are the reasons many of us don’t meet deadlines, at least according to Audrey Reille, an education administration coach who penned a column on the subject. She says, when people tell her about their time management struggles, they often blame themselves for their lack of organization or discipline, or they blame other people for the interruptions they create — or both. She says four emotional reasons, conscious or not, are why we continue to do things the same way. And, here they are:

Task avoidance. Reille says people procrastinate on tasks because they expect them to be unpleasant. They rationalize why it is OK to work on them later to help alleviate their guilt, but their reasons to push back the projects are just excuses. The longer they wait, the more resistant they become. To address this, she says, instead of focusing on the pain associated with doing the task, we should ask ourselves how we will feel if we do it and how we will feel if we don’t. It is important to become consciously aware that doing the task won’t be difficult and feeling accomplished is priceless, whereas feeling regret, guilt and pressure is draining and destructive.

We don’t see the purpose. If the task seems like a waste of time to us, it can be difficult to motivate ourselves to get it done, according to Reille. Meanwhile, the task is still required, and we have to do it. She says to recognize that how we handle the project determines how we will be perceived. This is an opportunity to show that we are reliable and are not someone people have to send reminders to and get frustrated with.

No stick, no carrot. Sometimes we procrastinate because there are no rewards for doing the right thing and no punishments if we don’t. So, we choose to focus on what is easy or simply in front of us at that moment. Reille says we need to create our own sticks or carrots and hold ourselves accountable. We need to think of the consequences of our actions — or lack thereof.

Inability to say no. Some of us can’t say no and chronically over-commit. The desire to please everyone backfires when we can’t deliver and creates more disappointment than if we had said no in the first place. Reille says we must realize when we make a commitment we don’t keep, we create a crisis for the people counting on us. She says people will be much happier with us if they can count on us and that we need to learn to tactfully say no.

After all, if Santa Claus can meet his deadlines, can’t we? Have a magnificent Monday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

Read more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

FROM KCCI: Iowans honor veterans during annual Wreaths Across America ceremony. Dozens gathered at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery for the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony to honor the fallen, with this year’s wreath-laying carrying extra weight as the first since the death of longtime organizer and veteran advocate Patrick Palmersheim. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: One person injured, several pets lost during house fire in Knoxville. One person were injured and several pets were lost during a Sunday afternoon house fire in Knoxville. The Knoxville FD says crews were dispatched to the 1300 block of S. Lincoln around 3:40 p.m. on reports of a residential fire. Additional fire assignment was requested after crews enroute identified a large black column of smoke. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: 2 Iowa National Guard soldiers and interpreter killed, 3 more injured in attack in Syria. A lone ISIS gunman ambushed Iowa National Guard soldiers early Saturday morning in Palmyra, Syria, killing two and wounding three, according to IANG Major General Stephen Osborn. A U.S. civilian interpreter was also killed in the attack. Osborn said one of the injured Guard soldiers is being treated at base, and two are stable in critical condition at a hospital in Amman, Jordan. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Mass shooting at Jewish event on Bondi Beach follows rising antisemitism in Australia. At least 11 people were killed Sunday in an attack on a Hannukah celebration at a popular Sydney beach and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was quick to call it an act of antisemitic terrorism. Antisemitism has been on the rise in Australia, fueled in part by Israel’s war in Gaza, even as local Jewish groups have decried the lack of support from authorities. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Authorities say they will release person of interest detained in Brown University shooting. A person of interest detained after a Brown University shooting that killed two students and injured nine will be released after law enforcement authorities determined there was no basis to keep the individual in custody, officials said Sunday night. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Iowa man killed during snowy crash in Crawford County. The Iowa State Patrol says snowy roads contributed to a crash that killed a western Iowa man Saturday. The Iowa State Patrol reports the two-vehicle crash occurred Saturday around 1:15 p.m. along Boyer Boulevard, north of G Avenue. Authorities says a maroon Chevy pickup was traveling south on Boyer Boulevard while a silver Chevy pickup was traveling north on Boyer Boulevard. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

We start a warmup today that will take us through the week. Rain or a light mix are possible late Wednesday into Thursday. Odds of a white Christmas are diminishing.

For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage.

The 2025 results: CITYVIEW's Best of Des Moines®

Best Local Bank

1. West Bank

2. Bankers Trust

3. Compass Mortgage, a Fortress Bank Company

See all of the results

Back to the Biz
Already hurting from coffee tariffs and Ozempic-type drugs turning people off junk foods, JM Smucker analysts explained their latest bad sales report as having much to do with customers turning away from upscale doggie snacks.

Waterfront’s December report refers to Alaskan king crab as being in “limited supply” and with “extremely high pricing” this year, but snow crab as being of “great quality and available in large quantities.” We have noticed a price differential between those types of crab is almost triple.

Deals today
• Hy-Vee Market Grilles offer pulled pork stuffed baked potatoes on Mondays in December for $8.

• It's catfish night at Waterfront stores. Dinners cooked any way you like it, $19.99.

• Kids eat free on Monday at Curbin' Cuisine (1325 S.W. Oralabor Road, Suite 200, Ankeny).

• It's Meat Loaf Monday at Mickey's in Yale and hot beef sandwich day at Pelican Post.

• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) Monday special is three for $25 on all appetizers.

• Bubba (200 10th St., Des Moines) has a Monday night sirloin dinner special for $20.

• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers a "Monday grind" special grinder and fries basket for $9.50.

• Monday brings prime rib specials to both Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) and Christopher's (2816 Beaver Ave., Des Moines).

• Trostel's Greeenbriar (Merle Hay Road, Johnston) has a Monday burger with a side and beer deal for $14.

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) has $8 omelets and $10 hot beef sandwiches or Mexican bowls on Mondays.

• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a chicken de Burgo special on Mondays before 4 p.m., $14 including beverage.

• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) hosts Shelby Smokehouse Soul Food on Mondays, 5-9 p.m.

• G Mig's (126 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has $11 smashburgers today with a side.

• The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll, Des Moines) has a Monday special Graziano grinder with a side for $12.

• The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines) offers a Monday special double smashburger and shoestring fries, $12.

• Bad Dog Burgers include three 1/3-pound patties, six pieces of bacon, choice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion for $10.95 on Mondays at Kathy’s East 14th Street Tavern (3418 E. 14th St., Des Moines).

• Jethro's have a Monday chicken tenders and fries special, $9.95.

• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) has specials on chicken Parmesan and lasagna today, $15 with garlic bread and salad.

• Eastside Eddie’s (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) Monday special is a burger with domestic beer, soft drink or well drink for $10.

• Centro (1003 Locust St., Des Moines) offers half-price pizza and Peronis on Monday.

• Who's on First (810 E. First St., Ankeny) has steak night on Monday, and it's an 8-ounce filet with salad, mashed potatoes and beans for $22.95

• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special today on hot beef sandwiches, $10.95 all day.

• Tito’s Lounge (3916 Urbandale Drive, Urbandale) offers all-you-can-eat wings Mondays.

• Johnny's Hall of Fame (302 Court Ave., Des Moines) has $12 burger baskets on Mondays and Fridays.

• Urban Cellars (640 S. 50th St., West Des Moines) offers $60 wine dinners for two on Mondays including two entrees with soup or salad, a dessert and a bottle on wine.

• Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road) has a burger basket with fries deal Mondays for $9.

• Red Lobster's Monday special is lobster and shrimp scampi with a side for $20.

• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) has a Monday special homemade tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwich for $12.50.

• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a Monday steak night special, sirloins and truffle fries for $18.

• Price Chopper delis offer two-piece, bone-in fried chicken dinners, with two sides and a roll, for $6 on Mondays.

• Fareways have specials through Saturday on bone-in rib roast at $17.99/pound, sweet potatoes at 58 cents/pound and mandarins at $3.88/3-pound bag.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

Featured in the current issue of CITYVIEW

ART NEWS
2025 – ‘It was a very good year’

By Jim Duncan

DMMO’s “The Cunning Little Vixen” with Oyoram’s scenery

The year 2025 was a very good one for Des Moines’ art scene. The news poured sweet and clear. Oyoram, the French-Israeli genius who now headquarters in Sherman Hill, installed “TimePiece” on the north façe of the Fitch Building. Transforming itself 24 times a day, his 3D led clock dazzles the western Gateway like a star cluster guiding wise men to Des Moines while inspiring the question: If an international artist associated with luxury brands like Tiffany and the Louis Vuitton-Moet-Hennesy empire found his way here, are the city’s possibilities not legion? ...

Featured home for sale

Post listings here for $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.

$774,900

4635 173rd St.
Urbandale, IA 50323

Welcome home to the Hinsdale plan by KRM, where craftsmanship meets elegance. Perfectly situated in the highly desirable Biltmore Proper community. Inside, the home offers an impressive 1,904 square feet on the main level with 1,224 square feet finished living space below. The great room captivates with a dramatic stone fireplace stretching to the vaulted ceiling, while expansive fixed windows bathe the interior in natural light. ...

See the listing here.

See more homes for sale

SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction

8980 HICKMAN ROAD, CLIVE
SALE DATE: 2025-07-23
SALE PRICE: $600,000
SELLER: ECHQ LLC
BUYER: PARK PLACE INVESTMENTS LLC
ACRES: 1.256
SQUARE FEET: 14,022

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Featured in the current
issue of Clive Living magazine

Meet Dylan Martin
Carrying on a love of teaching

By Rachel Harrington

Dylan Martin grew up in Temecula, California, and his mother was a teacher. After high school, he earned his degree from Graceland University in Iowa. When his mom began wrapping up her career as a teacher in Allen, Texas, Martin was also living in Texas and decided to work as a substitute teacher to determine how he liked it.

“I really enjoyed the students at the school,” he recalls. “I got my certification to be able to teach. In Texas. It was different than here. Texas Teachers of Tomorrow is an alternative education route, and I was able to do all my classes through them.” Martin taught in Texas from 2020 until 2023 when he moved back to Iowa. ...

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Patrick Mahomes has torn ACL in his left knee, Chiefs ‘exploring surgical options.' Patrick Mahomes has torn the ACL in his left knee. The Chiefs announced the diagnosis hours after Sunday’s game. Mahomes had an MRI after suffering the injury late in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Chargers. The two-time MVP was injured on a first-and-10 play when he rolled to his left and threw the ball away. Los Angeles defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand grabbed Mahomes’s legs, and his left knee appeared to buckle. He remained down for several minutes before being helped from the field, then to the locker room. ... READ MORE

FROM ESPN: Canucks' Zeev Buium says he wasn't misled by Wild prior to trade. Zeev Buium was the Minnesota Wild's defenseman of the future until they made him the centerpiece of the Quinn Hughes trade last Friday, shipping the 20-year-old in a package to the Vancouver Canucks for their star captain. Buium said he doesn't feel he was misled about his status with the Wild before the trade. ... READ MORE

FROM YAHOO SPORTS: Merrill Kelly reportedly returns to Diamondbacks on two-year, $40 million deal. Merrill Kelly has no ill will toward the Arizona Diamondbacks. Months after the team traded him to the Texas Rangers, Kelly reportedly returned to his former franchise, agreeing to a two-year, $40 million deal to re-join Arizona, per multiple reports. ... READ MORE

1791: Bill of Rights is finally ratified. Following ratification by the state of Virginia, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, become the law of the land. ... READ MORE

1973: The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses. On December 15, 1973, at a time when society often still views gay people as deviants, the American Psychiatric Association reverses a century-old decision, issuing a resolution stating that homosexuality it neither a mental illness nor a sickness. To underline the point, the association removes homosexuality from its influential reference tool, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. ... READ MORE

2011: U.S. declared an end to the War in Iraq. In a ceremony held in Baghdad on Dec. 15, 2011, the war that began in 2003 with the American-led invasion of Iraq officially comes to an end. But violence continued and in fact worsened over the subsequent years. The withdrawal of American troops had been a priority of President Barack Obama, but by the time he left office the United States would again be conducting military operations in Iraq. ... READ MORE

www.history.com

Birthdays and notables

These celebrities were born on this date: Alana Haim, Don Johnson, John Lee Hancock, Julie Taymor, Maude Apatow, Michelle Dockery Reginald Hudlin, Adam Brody, Donna Brazile, Garrett Wang, Geoff Stults

SUBMIT: Send your local birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to the last riddle: What did the wise men say after they offered up their gifts of gold and frankincense? "Wait, there's myrrh..." - Bill Snyder, Gail Tomlinson. Other answers from Scott Holmgren, Rex Post

Today's riddle: What’s the difference between the regular alphabet and the Christmas alphabet?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Guthrie Center Times, Panora Times, Lake Panorama Times and Guthrie County Times Vedette, contact:

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