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Good morning to you! 
Friday, Oct. 23, 2026

Welcome to the Friday mailbag where you will find some of the comments, questions and ideas sent recently by readers of this newsletter or our publications. They are edited for space and clarity.

“Good evening, Shane. My name is Kaden, and I am the chair of the fall blood drive at North Polk High School. I just read your column in the North Polk Living magazine. I think you have a really good message, and I would like to share an opportunity to donate with you. Our chapter of the National Honor Society is hosting a blood drive Wednesday Nov. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at our school (13930 N.E. Sixth St., Alleman, IA 50007), and would love to see you there. Here is the link to our signup. You as well as any friends or associates are welcome to come. Please let me know if you have any questions.” - Kaden

I have it on my calendar and plan to be there. Thanks for the invite, Kaden, and keep up the great work. - Shane

“I read your welcome greeting (Urbandale Living, October 2026). It reminded me of how I find it difficult to thoughtfully vote on the 17 judges listed on my ballot. Do you have any suggestions on how to learn about them? I am surprised that I never see any data made available for the public to read and then make thoughtful decisions, ‘I have a friend named Beverly, I like her, I think I will vote for judge Beverly.’ ” - Gary

Well, Gary, if you are really interested, you can peruse this website: https://www.iowabar.org/?pg=JudicialEvaluations. And then you can scratch your head and vote for Beverly. - Shane

“Years ago I lived in Pella. I had just gotten home from my day job and was getting ready for my night job. I heard a knock at the door (Halloween candy, Oct. 19, 2026). I forgot it was Halloween and had no candy or even any change to give out. I gave the kid a potato. He probably is still wondering who does such a thing.” - John

It’s not often that a reader’s comments make me laugh out loud for a lengthy period, but I did after reading this. And I am buying a bag of potatoes. - Shane

“Good morning, Shane. I have a contrary view of pickup cargo movements appropriate for this season — leaves (That’s not going anywhere, Oct. 20, 2026). We no longer can burn our leaves, and they technically need to be in biodegradable bags we have to purchase, so some folks with pickups take their leaves for a midnight ride. In my case, a pickup load of leaves was covered with a tarp. At O'God thirty when I got off work, I'd take them for a short ride outside of town. When the coast was clear, I'd remove the tarp, and as I proceeded down the highway, the nutrient rich debris fertilized the ditches. Today, I no longer have a pickup, but the HOA chops the leaves up, which, in reality, is what I should have been doing all along.” - John

Well, at least you weren’t dumping a refrigerator or burning tires. - Shane

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks 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: Trump visits Sioux City to back Iowa candidates and promote agricultural policies. President Donald Trump visited Sioux City to rally support for Republican candidates Ashley Hinson and Zach Lahn ahead of the November midterm elections, while addressing issues important to Iowa’s agricultural community. During the rally, Trump announced plans to boost diesel production and reiterated his intent to pass year-round E-15 ethanol sales. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Iowa father appeals 55-year sentence for baby’s beating death at taxpayers’ expense. The Central Iowa father who admitted to beating his 2-month-old daughter to death last summer is appealing his sentence to the Iowa Supreme Court. On October 9, Dylan James Brown, of Grimes, was sentenced to 55 years for crimes connected to the incident, with a minimum of 35 years served before he is eligible to go before the parole board. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Suspects in custody after alleged gun deal goes bad at Altoona Walmart. Two suspects are in custody after an alleged illegal firearm sale went bad at the Altoona Walmart, leading to a pursuit Thursday afternoon. The Altoona Police Department said officers were dispatched shortly after 2 p.m. to the Interstate 80 westbound ramp at Hubbell Avenue to a report of shots fired between two vehicles. Witnesses reportedly told police that one vehicle had fled the scene. ... READ MORE

 
 

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Israel orders closure of the West Bank after soldiers kill 2 Palestinians behind an alleged attack. Israeli soldiers shot and killed two Palestinians who the military said had launched an attack near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Friday morning. At least five people were injured, including some critically. The deadly shooting is likely to further add to political tensions and mounting security concerns ahead of Israel’s key parliamentary election next week. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Taxpayers are funding private school tuition. It's helping classical Christian schools expand. Keith Castello spends a lot of time praying about available real estate. Driving in his white pickup under a glaring Texas sun, the classical Christian school administrator points out empty office parks, a shopping mall, and an old church — all locations he is scouting for new Christian schools. Demand is booming, he says. And part of that demand comes from a new state incentive: taxpayer money for kids who attend Christian schools. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Man driving nearly 100-year-old vehicle killed in Iowa crash. Iowa State Patrol says a Des Moines man has died after crashing the 1928 Ford Model A that he was driving. According to a crash report, Robert Stuart Fogle, 74, was traveling west on Popcorn Road near 10th Street in Decatur County Wednesday afternoon when he lost control of the nearly 100-year-old vehicle. State patrol says the Model A went into a ditch and hit a concrete culvert. Fogle died at the scene. ... READ MORE

 
 
Weather forecast
Friday, Oct. 23
 
Some clouds move in
High: 77
Low: 57
Rain chance: 0%
Saturday, Oct. 24
 

Warm and breezy
High: 76
Low: 56
Rain chance: 0%

Sunday, Oct. 25
 

Cooling trend ahead
High: 74
Low: 53
Rain chance: 20%

 
 
Allergy alert
 
Today: 3 low-medium range
 
Top allergens:
Ragweed
 
 
The 2026 results: CITYVIEW's Best of Des Moines®
 
 
Best Local Place to Get Your Nails Done
1. 4 Seasons Nails & Spa
2. Oscar Nail Bar
3. East Village Spa
 
 
See all of the results
 
 

Statistics
Detroit, Cleveland and Birmingham are the three most expensive cities in America as far as the percentage of income one spends on groceries. Fremont, San Jose and San Francisco are the least expensive. This comes from Wallet Hub whose study of 100 largest cities somehow omitted Des Moines.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources field offices in 2025 conducted around 750 inspections of facilities with manure management plans. Fifty resulted in violation notices, including manure application issues. (Axios)

Global Greens Market sold $550,000 of the leafy green lenga lenga during last year's growing season. It tastes like spinach but is amaranth genetically. Find them Saturday till 1 p.m. at the International Farmers Market at MLK and Carpenter. 

Weekend deals
• Irina's Steak & Seafood (650 S. Prairie View Drive, Unit 100, West Des Moines) has a Sunday special beef stroganoff with potatoes, salad and two glasses of wine for $33.
 
• Hy-Vees offer fish and chips for $5.99 Fridays, whole smoked chickens for $8.99 Saturdays and eight legs buckets of fried chicken Sundays. 
 
• AJ's at Prairie Meadows has a new all-you-can-eat prime rib and crab legs buffet from 4 p.m. Fridays. 
 
• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University Ave., West Des Moines) offers fish fry lunch specials $16.49-$21 including a pint or two shrimp Fridays. Saturdays feature $33 12-ounce prime rib dinners. 
 
• High Life Lounge (200 Second St., Des Moines) has a Friday special fish fry for $11.99.
 
• Amruth Indian Grill (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive) offers mandi rice on Fridays, with chicken, paneer and vegan choices. 
 
• Exile offers half-priced kids meals on Fridays. 
 
• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) has $6 buckets of eight pieces of baked chicken on Fridays. 
 
• Desi Bites (1475 S.E. Bishop Drive, Waukee) has weekend specials on nine biryanis and five pulavs. 
 
• Tacos Mariana's (1305 University Ave., Des Moines) offers green enchiladas combos for $10 Fridays and Saturdays and four shrimp tacos for $12 Sundays.
 
• Talk Shop Lounge (3357 St. Charles Road, St. Charles) has a steak dinner deal Friday $16. 
 
• The False Nine Social Club (206 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has wings on sale Fridays for $8.
 
• Waveland Cafe (4708 University Ave., Des Moines) offers Buffalo chicken salad sandwich specials today.  
 
• Friday lunch special is $12 Italian beef with fries and soda, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Striking Sparrow (1930 S.E. Sixth St., Des Moines).
 
• Sale Barn Cafe (Lamoni) is offering chicken fried steak specials today.
 
• Machine Shed (11151 Hickman, Urbandale) offers smoked prime rib on Saturday only. Whatcha Smokin? (Luther) offers smoked Dino beef ribs on Saturday only. 
 
• AYCE spaghetti is today's special at Crouse Cafe (115 E. Salem, Indianola). Saturday's will be coconut shrimp and Sunday's is fried chicken.
 
• Saturday is wine sampling day at Graziano Brothers.
 
• ShortE's BBQ (8805 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) offers  "kids eat free" deals on Friday and Saturday.
 
• Waterfront stores' Saturday special includes cocktail shrimp or raw oysters on the half shell for half price until 4 p.m.
 
• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University, West Des Moines) offers Surf and Turf specials Fridays and $33 prime rib dinners Saturdays.
 
• Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) does Saturday and Sunday brunch buffets for $24.99 for adults. Kids 6 and younger eat free.
 
• Rube's steakhouses offer a prime sirloin special on Sundays only, $29.
 
• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $9 Philly cheesesteaks or hot honey chicken plus $8 biscuit and gravy breakfasts on Fridays.
 
• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) offers walleye or steak dinner specials tonight and karaoke after 9 p.m. They have a 10 for $10 wings deal on Sundays. 
 
•  Jethro's Sunday special is burger baskets with fries for $9.95. Fridays they have Texas Dip - chopped Texas brisket with sauteed onions, Swiss cheese on a hoagie with fries and BBQJus. $13.95. 
 
• Heavenly Asian (225 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has an all-day Friday sale on orange chicken served with soup, crab Rangoon, egg roll and rice, $14, available for dine-in and phone carry-out.
 
• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a $40 prime rib dinner special Friday and Saturday. 
 
• Court Avenue Brewing Company (309 Court Ave., Des Moines) hosts Saturday and Sunday breakfast buffets for $23.99.
 
• It's French dip Friday at Club 2000 (420 Indianola Road, Des Moines).
 
• Paula's (Elm at Sixth, Valley Junction) has a Friday special Rachel (turkey Reuben) with fries for $14.

• Price Choppers have sales through Tuesday on chicken legs at $1.49/pound, raspberries at $2.50/basket and russet potatoes at $2.99/10-pound bag.

• Aldi stores have sales through Tuesday on raspberries at $1.49/basket, St. Louis ribs at $2.49/pound and caramel apples at $2.99/three-pack.

• Fresh Thyme (2800 University Ave., West Des Moines) is running sales through Tuesday on red grapes at $.99/pound and Bartlett pears at $.99/pound; and through Sunday on King crab clusters at $29.99/pound.

• Fareways have specials through Saturday on Iowa pork chops at $1.99/pound, hotdog or burger buns at $.99/eight and fresh lake trout for $6.99/pound.

• Hy-Vee has specials through Monday on Hy-Vee yogurt at 48 cents, Hy Chi dinners with two apps and two entrees at $9.99, and various flower bouquets at $4.99.

Dinner with a show
Taylor King plays Kelly's Little Nipper at 7 p.m. Friday… El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill on EP True has live music from The Juan and Only on Friday from 6 p.m... Willie Shay plays Simon’s at 7 p.m. Friday... Ryne Doughty plays Winterset Cidery Sunday at 2 p.m… Fred Gazzo Quintet  plays at Anna Dolce at 6:30 p.m. Saturday... 1964, a Beatles tribute, plays at The Ingersoll at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

 
 
Exclusively in Altoona Living magazine at www.iowalivingmagazines.com.
 

A pint with a purpose
Local blood donors roll up their sleeves to help save lives.

By Sean Dengler

A single blood donation takes only a short amount of time, but its impact can last much longer. Across generations, families and individuals continue to donate blood because they know their contribution could help someone they may never meet. It could even save a life. For some local donors, that simple act has become a lasting commitment to helping others.

Consistency a priority
Donating blood for the first time made sense to Craig Ruegsegger.

“It just seemed like a good thing to do,” he said. “My employer at the time, WHO Radio, had an in-house blood drive, and people were signing up for that. It seemed like a good thing to do for the community.”

A desire to do the right thing, along with having good veins, has led Ruegsegger to donate a lot of blood. ...

 
Read more
 
Featured home for sale
 
Post listings here for only $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.
 
$875,000
499 N.E. Ninth St.
Polk City, IA 50226
 
With over 4,200 square feet of finished living space, this two-story home blends style, comfort, and functionality. The main level features an open-concept layout with a spacious living area, dedicated office, and bright sunroom, perfect for everyday living and entertaining. ...
 
See the listing here.
 
See more homes for sale
 
SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction
 
3708 75TH ST., URBANDALE
DATE: 2026-05-13
SALE PRICE: $390,000
SELLER: 75TH STREET PROPERTIES LLC
BUYER: WALFORD PROPERTIES LLC
ACRES: 0.220
SQUARE FEET: 2,780
 
More transactions
 
 
Sports headlines
FROM ESPN: Bears' Santos gets redemption with game-sealing FG after 'annoying' miss vs. Pats. Bears kicker Cairo Santos walked away from Chicago's 30-24 win over the New England Patriots on Thursday night a savior after booting a career-long 58-yard field goal to seal the victory. But it was the miss he had one drive prior that dampened his demeanor postgame. "The misses annoy me," Santos said. ... READ MORE
 
FROM CBS SPORTS: On the biggest stage, Junior Caminero and Jackson Chourio are emerging as national superstars. World Series discussions often center around the superstars -- especially if there are those easy ones we can call "future Hall of Famers." Two years ago, when the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees faced off, there were at least five active players that fit the bill and probably a few more with a decent chance. This time around, the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays don't have any surefire Hall of Famers. ... READ MORE
 
FROM YAHOO SPORTS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finishes with 17 points in Thunder home opener, ending 141-game streak of 20 points. Just two games into the 2026 season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's long-running scoring streak has come to an end. The Oklahoma City Thunder point guard scored 17 points in the team's home opener on Thursday, though the Thunder held on for a 96-84 win. The performance broke an NBA record 141-game streak of Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 20 or more points in a game. ... READ MORE
 

1850: The first National Women’s Rights Convention begins. Suffragist organizers hold the first-ever National Women’s Rights Convention in Worcester, Massachusetts on Oct. 23, 1850. … READ MORE

1958: Boris Pasternak wins Nobel Prize for “Dr. Zhivago,” later forced to refuse the honor. On Oct. 23, 1958, Boris Pasternak is awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for Doctor Zhivago, his romantic novel set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution. The book was banned in the Soviet Union, and the Soviet government forced the author to renounce the honor. … READ MORE

1993: Toronto Blue Jay Joe Carter wins World Series with ninth-inning home run. On Oct. 23, 1993, Toronto Blue Jay Joe Carter wins the World Series for his team by whacking a ninth-inning home run over the SkyDome’s left-field wall. It was the first time the World Series had ended with a home run since Pittsburgh’s Bill Mazeroski homered to break a 9-9 tie with the Yankees in the seventh game of the 1960 series, and it was the first time in baseball history that a team won the championship with a come-from-behind home run.  … READ MORE

www.history.com

 
Birthdays and notables
 
Happy birthday this weekend to Jacque Lewton, Amelia Lewton, Sammy Jordan and Steve Jordan!

These celebrities were born on this date: Ryan Reynolds, Dwight Yoakam, Ang Lee, Amandla Stenberg, Sam Raimi, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Emilia Clarke, Margaret Qualley, Jessica Stroup, Briana Evigan, Masiela Lusha, Robert Trujillo, Chris Weitz, Dianne Reeves, Jon Huertas, Matt Shultz
 
Historical birthdays
1762: Samuel Morey was an American inventor, who worked on early internal combustion engines and was a pioneer in steamships who accumulated a total of 20 patents.
 
1869: John William Heisman was an American sportsman, writer, and actor. He was a player and coach of American football, baseball, and basketball, and served as the head football coach at Oberlin College.
 
Morning chuckle

The answer to the last riddle: Why did the burglar steal a bath? He wanted to make a clean getaway (or he wanted to come clean)! - Judy Anderson, Wendy DenAdel, Gail Tomlinson, Sharon Hill Watkins. Or, Because it had a ring in it! -Anne Lentz. Other answers: Bill Snyder.

Today's riddle: What happened when the phone was dropped in the bath?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com BY NOON to be sure your answer gets included!

 

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella, CITYVIEW, SENIORVIEW, HOMEVIEW, Explore DM or Relish DM, contact:

Mary Fowler
Account Executive
515-953-4822 x311
c: 641-485-0555
mary@dmcityview.com

 

 

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