DU May 27: Urbandale sinkhole remains; Heinz glass ketchup bottles back; baker’s favorite flower?

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Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Good morning to you!

If you spent any time outdoors over Memorial Day weekend, chances are you ended up in a lawn chair. Somewhere between the hot dogs and warm lemonade, maybe your mind drifted back to the lawn chairs of your youth — those glorious thrones of summer.

Today’s lawn chairs come with cup holders, weatherproof cushions and enough reclining positions to qualify as orthopedic equipment. But old-school lawn chairs had personality. Real personality.

They squeaked. They pinched fingers. They folded at the worst possible moments and occasionally launched unsuspecting relatives backward into the grass. Somehow, though, they survived decades of backyard cookouts, graduation parties and neighborhood gossip sessions.

People have been lounging outdoors since the days of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, but the modern lawn chair took off in the mid-19th century when the Industrial Revolution made mass production possible. For the first time, relaxing outside no longer required dragging dining room furniture into the yard.

The mid-20th century was the golden age of aluminum, vinyl and plastic. Lawn furniture became lighter, brighter and impossible to ignore. Tubular aluminum chairs with colorful woven straps appeared everywhere — backyard barbecues, Little League games and driveways across America. They were durable, surprisingly comfortable and fully capable of branding a checkerboard pattern onto the backs of your legs after a long afternoon.

My dad had wooden lawn chairs. They handled the weather well and folded for storage, but they weighed about the same as a compact tractor. Eventually, those gave way to folding metal chairs with woven fabric seats. They were lighter, but by July they could reach surface temperatures normally associated with volcanic activity. We still have a kid-sized chair in that style from Jolene’s childhood. She refuses to part with it. Honestly, I get it.

Like most people, we now own a small mountain of those “bag chairs” that fold into pull-string sleeves. Or at least they’re supposed to slide into the sleeves. They’re lightweight, easy to carry and somehow multiply in the garage when nobody is looking. I have no idea where ours came from. I also have no idea where half of them disappeared to. Still, for all their convenience, modern lawn chairs are missing something.

The old chairs were more than furniture. They were front-row seats to American life — witnesses to family reunions, fireworks, mosquito bites, overcooked hamburgers and stories told long after sunset. Modern chairs may be more comfortable, but the old ones had grit, character and just enough danger to keep summer interesting.

Have a watchful Wednesday, and thank you for reading.

Shane Goodman

President and 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: Sinkhole in Urbandale remains; city awaits site plan. The sinkhole near an Urbandale apartment complex, which KCCI first showed you more than a month ago, is still there. On April 11, this big hole started to appear near the Westpointe Apartments in Urbandale, north of Hickman Road. KCCI Investigates finds it looks nearly the same in size and condition. The road into the apartment parking lot remains fully blocked off. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Water main break forces early dismissal at Des Moines school. A Des Moines elementary school is cutting the day short due to a water main break nearby. Amanda Lewis, Communications Officer for Des Moines Public Schools, said Phillips Elementary at 1701 Lay Street will dismiss at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Students are being served lunch before they are sent home. Parents were notified about the issue shortly after 11 a.m. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Toddler airlifted to hospital after being found 'unresponsive' in Stuart pond. The Stuart Police Department is investigating after a two-year-old child was found unresponsive in a pond Tuesday afternoon. After receiving a 911 call around 4:30 p.m., first responders were dispatched to a pond near Union Estates in the 600 block of South Adair Street. Upon arrival, life-saving measures were immediately performed on the child. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Israel says it killed new Hamas military leader in Gaza. Israel said Wednesday it targeted and killed the new leader of Hamas’ military wing during airstrikes in Gaza City less than two weeks after killing his predecessor. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz and the Israeli military said the strikes, which were carried out on Tuesday, killed Mohammed Odeh. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Paxton dominates Cornyn in Texas US Senate runoff, the latest sign of Trump’s hold on GOP. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, easily defeating four-term Sen. John Cornyn in the latest contest where President Donald Trump sought to oust an incumbent he saw as insufficiently loyal. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Names released of 2 killed in Sunday UTV rollover crash. The Iowa State Patrol say a 4-year-old and a 61-year-old both died from an all-terrain vehicle crash Sunday afternoon. Officials say Lon Bennett, 61, and Harold Bennett, 4, both from Wheatland, died after the UTV left a trail near Calamus. ... READ MORE

Wednesday, May 27

Hot

High: 89

Low: 64

Rain chance: 30%

Thursday, May 28

Some clouds
High: 85
Low: 63
Rain chance: 20%

Friday, May 29

Some clouds
High: 83
Low: 62
Rain chance: 20%

The 2026 results: CITYVIEW's Best of Des Moines®

Best Local Phone Repair Shop
1. Mobile Spot
2. CPR Cell Phone Repair
3. uBreakiFix

See all of the results

Woebegone Wednesday
Heinz glass ketchup bottles ("the Anticipation bottles") are headed back to stores for the first time in nearly 10 years. The returning classic will be sold only at Walmarts.

Mahalo's Coffee and Mini Donuts announced it is closing at the end of the month.

Bathrooms at Lauridsen Skatepark are closed indefinitely after people caused $10,000 in vandalism damage.

Deals today
• Wednesday is biryani day with two for $20 at Desi Bites (3828 100th St.,, Urbandale.

• Marianna's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) offers steak asada tacos for $2 Wednesdays.

• Talk Shop Lounge (3357 St. Charles Road, St. Charles) has a rib dinner deal Mondays, half slabs for $12, full racks $16.

• The False Nine Social Club (206 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has hamburgers for $7 on Wednesdays. They will be showing the Crystal Palace-Vallecono UEFA Conference League Championship today at 2 p.m.

• B&B Grocery, Meat and Deli (2001 S.E. Sixth St., Des Moines) has Philly cheesesteak on special today.

• Waveland Cafe (4708 University Ave., Des Moines) offers a wiener Wednesday special today.

• Today is fried chicken day at Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni).

• Wednesdays are Chicago Italian beef sandwich day at Graziano Brothers (1601 S. Union St., Des Moines).

• AJ's (Prairie Meadows) has a new early bird menu on Wednesday and Thursday from 4-6 p.m. Half-pound burgers with frites $15, pasta and chicken dinners, $20-22, seafood and steak dinners $27-30. Prime rib dinners for $30 all night.

• Hy-Vees offer second sushi rolls for half price on Wednesdays.

• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University, West Des Moine) offers Walleye Wednesday with dinners $21.

• Jack’s Place (6112 S.W. Ninth, Des Moines) has 10 wings for $10 Wednesdays.

• Wednesday at Short E's BBQ (8805 Chambray Blvd., Johnston) the special is ribs - $15 full racks, $10 half racks and $5 off rib dinners.

• Whatcha Smokin? (Highway 17, Luther) has a brisket burnt ends special on Wednesdays.

• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers any burger with a side for $10 on Wednesdays.

• Exile (1514 Walnut St., Des Moines) offers a $12 burger basket with fries and a beer on Wednesdays.

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $8 French toast or pancake breakfasts and $2 tacos, $9 wraps and $10 half pounds of wings on Wednesdays.

• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a chicken Madeira special on Wednesdays before 4 p.m., $15 including beverage.

• Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines) offers 10 wings for $10 on Wednesdays and steak night, too.

• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) has a $10 classic burger and beer all day.

• Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) has all you can eat fried chicken dinners on Wednesdays, $23.99 after 5 p.m.

• Wednesdays bring steak night to Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines). Steaks are cooked to order with salad, potato and bread, $14.99.

• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) offers hot beef sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy for $11.50 on Wednesday. It's also hot beef sandwich day at Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave.) where the gravy is made with pan drippings.

• Wine bottles are half price on Wednesdays at Trostel's Greenbriar (5910 Merle Hay Road, Johnston), Table 128 (220 S.W. Ninth, Des Moines) and The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines).

• G Mig's (128 Fifth St., Valley Junction) offers a Wednesday special Tuscan beef tips, plus salad and garlic bread for $19.25.

• Barntown's (9500 S.E. University Ave., West Des Moines) Wednesday specials are a pound of chicken tenders with fries and two sauces for $11.99, plus $13 core pitchers of beer.

• Wednesday is Biryani Festival at Chowrastha (5910 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines). Buy two and a third is free.

•  The Station (3124 Ingersoll, Des Moines) have specials on tacos today.

• Village Inns offer free pie with entrees on Wednesdays.

• It's lasagna day at Maxie's Supper Club (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines) and breaded pork tenderloin day at Eastside Eddie's (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines).

• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) offers $5 off pizza on Wednesdays.

• Kwik Stars' Wednesday special is eight pieces of fried chicken for $10. Their fried chicken is ridiculously good for a convenience store.

• On Wednesdays, flatbreads are $10 at Tito's Lounge (3916 N.W. Urbandale Drive, Urbandale).

• Jethro's have $9.95 breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches, including a side of choice, on Wednesdays.

• The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has a Wednesday special of chopped cheeseburger with a side for $12.

• Price Choppers have sales through Monday on frozen tilapia fillets at $4.99/pound, mandarins at $3.99/3-pound bag and pineapples at $2.49.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

Featured in the current issue of West Des Moines/Jordan Creek Living magazine.

Meet Debra Herring
Teaching life skills to junior high students

By Jackie Wilson

After 24 years of teaching junior high students — and following a second career — Debra Herring is retiring at the end of the school year.

Herring teaches family and consumer sciences at Indian Hills Junior High and taught at Stilwell Junior High. FCS consists of a 12-week rotation with other life skills units, such as technology education and financial literacy.

She teaches students to sew by hand and with a sewing machine. Cooking is a popular lab, with students making cookies, tortilla pizzas and pancakes from scratch. Teaching kids to measure and follow directions in a recipe translates to other skills needed as adults.
“It’s a life skill. When filling out a job application, you need to follow instructions,” she explains. ...

Featured home for sale

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

$413,990
2372 S.E. Billings Place
West Des Moines, IA 50265

The open-concept living, kitchen, and dining areas flow seamlessly, while all bedrooms are upstairs for added privacy. Just inside the front door is a versatile flex room — ideal for a home office, playroom, or formal dining. A guest bath and staircase connect the main and upper levels. The living room features an electric fireplace and large windows for abundant natural light. The adjacent dining area has sliding glass doors, and the kitchen offers white cabinetry, a large walk-in pantry, stainless steel appliances, and a spacious island perfect for casual dining. ...

See the listing here.

See more homes for sale

SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction

1711 S.W. PLAZA PARKWAY, ANKENY
SALE DATE: 2025-11-18
SALE PRICE: $2,125,000
SELLER: CEE 3 LLC
BUYER: 1711 PARTNERS LLC
ACRES: 0.985
SQUARE FEET: 8,112

More transactions

FROM ESPN: Chiefs' Travis Kelce purchases minority stake in Guardians. Travis Kelce is adding a new title to his burgeoning business portfolio: Major League Baseball owner. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is joining the Cleveland Guardians ownership group as a minority investor, he told ESPN on Wednesday, purchasing a stake in the team he grew up watching and reconnecting with the game he once believed offered the clearest path to a professional sports career. ... READ MORE

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Three takeaways from Oklahoma City’s impressive bounce-back win to take 3–2 lead. Tuesday's result provided a stark reminder to the NBA: The Thunder are still the champions for a reason. Two nights after a rough 21-point road loss in which their offense went completely cold, Oklahoma City dusted itself off and put together an impressive two-way performance to beat the Spurs 127–114, with reigning two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way. He was aided by an impressive set of performances by the deep cast of contributors with which general manager Sam Presti has surrounded him. ... READ MORE

FROM YAHOO SPORTS: Rangers drop 8 runs on Astros immediately after no-hitter in historic response not seen in MLB since 1905. The Texas Rangers responded perfectly after finding themselves on the wrong side of a no-hitter. The Rangers, after the Houston Astros completed a combined no-hitter against them on Monday, erupted at the start of Tuesday’s contest. The Rangers scored eight runs in the first inning of the game at Globe Life Field. That was more than enough to lead them to a 10-7 win. ... READ MORE

1897: “Dracula” goes on sale in London. According to the Daily News of London, the first copies of the classic vampire novel Dracula, by Irish writer Bram Stoker, go on sale on May 27, 1897. … READ MORE

1937: Golden Gate Bridge opens. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, a stunning technological and artistic achievement, opens to the public after five years of construction. On opening day—“Pedestrian Day”—some 200,000 bridge walkers marveled at the 4,200-foot-long suspension bridge, which spans the Golden Gate Strait at the entrance to San Francisco Bay and connects San Francisco and Marin County. The next day, on May 28, the Golden Gate Bridge opened to vehicular traffic. … READ MORE

1949: Marilyn Monroe poses for “red velvet” nude photo session. On May 27, 1949, unemployed 22-year-old model-actress Marilyn Monroe receives $50 for posing nude for a Los Angeles photographer against a red velvet backdrop. The picture will go on to become the most famous calendar photo in history and the principal attraction in the first issue of Playboy magazine. It will also risk destroying Monroe’s budding movie career. … READ MORE

www.history.com

Birthdays and notables

Happy birthday, Jeff Pitts!

These celebrities were born on this date: Zach Herron, Lily-Rose Depp, Chris Colfer, Andre 3000, Jamie Oliver, Paul Bettany, Ben Feldman, Roberto Soldado, João Cancelo, Daniel Jones, Jack McBrayer, Shanola Hampton

The answer to the last riddle: What’s a flower’s favorite type of story? A BUDDING ROMANCE! Or, A Nursery Rhyme! - Brent Hoover

Today's riddle: What is a baker’s favorite type of flower?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or the Grimes/Dallas Center, North Polk or Adel Living magazines, contact:

Dan Juffer
Senior Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 303
Mobile: 515-371-2290
dan.juffer@dmcityview.com

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