Remember the role of Fathers

 Sunday is Father's Day. 

I am not a father, so feel free to dismiss my opinion as something I don't know. 

However, I had a father. I miss him dearly every day. 

I have several friends who are fathers. I am a man. There are other people's children I have cared for in my life. I think those facts should get my foot in the door to comment on the way fathers and males are looked at these days. 

In an ideal world, as God intended, every child would have a mother and a father. 

This is not in any way an attack on single-parent homes or any other non-traditional parent/child dynamic. As long as you love the child you're bringing up, and treat them right, I'm good. 

But, regardless of these, there is still a role for fathers and their role has too often been discounted by society as of late. 

I recently attended a Marion County quarterly connect meeting about child care. This is not an attack on organizer Carla Eysink, but it was concerning that all but maybe four of us out of around 30 attendants were male. 

Fathers have just as significant a role in a child's life as any mother. Or, at least they should be. Child care is as much their responsibility as a mother's. 

That did not seem to be reflected at this meeting, led by a group of taxpayer-funded "experts" who seemed to have forgotten that fact as well. Most discussion was geared toward what a struggle it can be for moms. 

There may not have been any intentional dismissal of dads. They likely do work with more moms than dads, but it seems like if we should be funding anything as taxpayers - regarding parenting - it should be promoting more nuclear families. 

Or, at the very least, encouraging more males who make babies to truly be fathers. 

If there is to be a discussion about child care, its accessibility, costs, etc., let's bring all parents in on it. While it is traditional for the man to go to work to provide for the family, while the mom stays at home, that is not - and should not - always be the case. 

Children are supposed to be the responsibility of two parents. If there's going to be an Iowa Women's Foundation geared at helping females deal with these issues, there should be one for men as well. 

Fathers can struggle with these costs. Fathers may be looking for answers regarding the safety of their children while they fulfill other duties. 

Reinforcing the idea that dads should be equally as loving, equally as responsible for the financial and emotional support of a child should be something we do as a society. After all, the basic building block of society is the family and we should keep as many families with a mom and dad in a functional, healthy relationship, together as possible. 

It's not just about dads loving their children, but a reminder that children should be seen by men as just as much a blessing as women see them. Of course there is a responsibility for a man who creates a baby, he should be accountable, but we should focus on educating these young men - who don't realize it - that a child is much more than a financial obligation, or something you can leave with your baby mama and forget about. 

America needs strong fathers, just as much as it needs strong mothers. 

As a childless man, it saddens me that I haven't had the chance to do all those "dad" things so many others have taken for granted, or just thrown away. 

Feel grateful for your children and be proud of being a dad. If you're fortunate enough to still have him, be thankful for every single moment you get to spend with him. 

Take care of yourself and thank you for reading. 

Differing opinions at Knoxville School Board meeting

Note: I wrote this for www.marioncountytribune.com, but the site is having difficulties. Thought I'd share here, as I haven't for a while. 

Knoxville School Board President Marty Duffy called for a special meeting to be held at 6 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2. Board Vice President Larissa Van Donselaar was unable to attend, due to a previously planned vacation. Cheri Gerdes expressed her disapproval of the way the meeting was called.

“As a board member, I wasn’t consulted at all about this time or this date,” Gerdes said. Neither were board members Dave Smith or Larry Scott. “Give me a few more extra days to rearrange my schedule.” She added that, for the subject of the meeting, every board member should be at the table.

That subject was the climate and culture of the school buildings. Duffy was led to believe that building administrators have not been accessible, due to too many meetings. He opened the board’s discussion by saying that there should be no more meetings – including those for professional development. Iowa law requires schools to provide professional development for teachers.

Moreover, Duffy was concerned that teachers – especially older teachers – do not feel valued. He gave building principals five questions to ask their staffs and report back on responses in February.

“Education today is enormously stressful. If we don’t take care of ourselves, no one else is going to,” Duffy said. Apparently, the board as a whole had not discussed climate and culture prior to this meeting.

“We have not chatted about this,” Gerdes said. “The board has not discussed this at all.”

Duffy said he did not realize the board room would have so many people in attendance. He just wanted to have a talk with administrators. The board president added that he intended to be punitive with his opening monologue and that he wanted to ensure that the atmosphere in which school employees work and Knoxville children learn was the best it could be.

Gerdes said that begins at the top, where the board of elected representatives for the district sit. If the climate is not right, it’s the board’s fault.

“I think you should be worried about us,” Gerdes said. “We’re a team, Marty.”

Duffy opened the floor to discussion. Northstar Elementary Principal John Keitges said he believes the climate and culture in his building is great.

“Culture and climate, I think, is tremendous,” Keitges said. He went on to say that meetings are held to discuss ways to improve learning, explore opportunities for collaboration and discuss concerns teachers may have about students. There are bad things that can happen at Northstar on a daily basis, and there are limits to how the staff can handle it. Meetings also allow staff to share frustrations and work them out. But overall, Keitges said, “I have zero concerns for culture and climate.”

Gerdes added that, since being notified about the meeting (Iowa law requires at least 24 hours’ public notice.) she had spoken with members of the community, including students. She heard no negative feedback regarding the climate and culture of the school buildings.

“If there’s any indication, the children are happy shows we must be doing something right,” Gerdes said.

Upon receiving the agenda for the meeting, the Tribune reached out to Knoxville Education Association (teachers’ union) spokesman Matt Heston. When asked if those in the union, and the bargaining unit overall, were happy, Heston replied, “The KEA is encouraged that the board is talking with the administrators about climate and culture within our schools.” He did not specify what changes he would like to see. Not all teachers are members of the KEA. As Iowa is a right-to-work state, union membership is not required to be part of the bargaining unit covered by KEA’s negotiations with the board.

Heston was also in attendance at the meeting. When the discussion turned to the possibility of a survey being distributed to gauge the climate and culture of the buildings, Heston said he hears the negative. He also believes that the most honest survey results would come from anonymity. Staff may fear reprisal if they express opinions unpopular with administrators and the board.

“My perception on the whole is that things seem to be going in the right direction,” Scott, a former teacher, said. “Things are going kind of like the way I’d like to see it go.” He added that there are a “few rough spots” that should be addressed.

One concern Smith mentioned was a lack of “space” at West Elementary. When children have an outburst, it can make others in the room uncomfortable. Smith, another former teacher, echoed the opinion that older teachers do not feel valued.

“As an older teacher, they tend to speak out more,” Smith said. “For that reason, I think they get targeted.” He believes the frustration is widespread, about “three-quarters”.

Business Manager Craig Mobley said that 57 percent of teachers in the district are in the bottom lane of the salary schedule. The organization of the salary schedule puts certified staff in different lanes, based upon their level of education. Each year, their loyalty and longevity are rewarded with pay increases. Teachers who work in Knoxville longer are paid more. Discussion turned whether or not the board should search for more teachers with Master’s degrees. Superintendent Cassi Pearson reported that the average number of years current teachers have worked in Knoxville is 13.

Duffy had stated earlier in the meeting that Pearson had told him a firm could handle a survey for $10,000. Pearson clarified by saying that a district in which she had worked previously spent around that sum several years ago. Costs may vary.

“I’m sick to death of paying professionals when we have professionals,” Scott said.

Duffy said he just wanted to start the conversation. He wants things to improve to better serve children with special needs.

Following the meeting, Keitges said he believes in his building – and the district – children’s needs are always first, followed by the system and then the staff. At Northstar, there is a strong culture with a staff that values professional development because they are lifelong learners.

“I think it is a small number of staff that don’t like their job on a daily basis,” Keitges said. He admits everyone has bad days. He sees his role as one to guide and trust them to do what’s best while providing appropriate support.

The Tribune will have a separate story regarding how the district handles challenging children, including the restrictions placed upon teachers by the Iowa Legislature.

The ten worst Presidents

President's Day was earlier this week, and I put up a Facebook post, offering up my ten favorite and my ten least favorite Presidents in the history of our magnificent country.

An old friend of mine from high school, challenged me to expound on my reasons for my rankings in a blog post. It sounded like a good idea, so here we go. I have to keep these pithy to (hopefully) hold your interest. 

Here are my least favorite, with 10 being slightly less intolerable to the utter worst President in the history of the United States. 

10. Harry S. Truman - First of all, he fell into the role after the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I am bothered by the fact he gave the order to drop the nukes on Japan. Yes, it helped end World War II, but he still nuked a country. It couldn't have been an easy decision and chances are anyone in his position would have done the same thing at the time. But I also take exception with his decision to nuke Japan, while choosing to only contain the Soviet Union and usher in the Cold War. That, and he was a big supporter of big government regulations. 

9. Jimmy Carter - Mr. One-Term, worst American economy, gas pump line and energy crisis personified. He was just an utter failure as President, though I have much respect for Carter as a man and all of the work he has done for Habitat For Humanity and other charities. 

8. William Howard Taft - I don't like the fact he was one of the first to use his power to prop up foreign nations. He was big on propping up Latin America and tariffs. 

7. Andrew Johnson - Johnson took over when Abe Lincoln was killed. Lincoln recognized the need for freedom for everyone, which is one of the many reasons he went through with the Civil War. However, Lincoln also knew that the North and South needed each other to be the more perfect union America was intended to be. Therefore, I believe had he not been killed, he would have worked to bring the South back into the fold without the vindictiveness Johnson showed. That, and Johnson was the first President to be impeached. 

6. John Quincy Adams - This is perhaps the earliest example of the swamp we know today. I have a great deal of respect for his opposition to slavery, but clearly he was also one of the first career politicians and one who benefited from his father's legacy. That, and his contested election tainted his presidency. 

5. Bill Clinton - Another impeached President. As disgraceful as his presidency was, full of accusations of sexual misconduct and other accusations regarding how he got to where he was, it is what he has done after he got out of office that really bothers me. The Clinton Foundation, in my opinion, is corrupt and was intended as nothing more than a money launderer for making Bill and Hillary richer while selling favors from the top levels of the United States government. 

4. Franklin Delano Roosevelt - The New Deal and his three terms in office are both as anti-American as one can imagine. I don't like his radical ideas of socialism and wealth redistribution that both parties seem to embrace today. His thought that government can solve all of the country's woes just emboldened those who don't appreciate America's fundamental values of freedom, capitalism and independence. 

3. Woodrow Wilson - The original progressive who wanted to thoroughly expand government into every aspect of American lives. He did lead the country through World War I and signed the act of Congress that gave women the right to vote (which he opposed women's suffrage for many years prior to that until it became more popular in his party) but he also formed the League of Nations - a predecessor to the disastrous United Nations of today - the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve. Both put America on a path to an economy weakened by regulations and devalued currency. 

2. Lyndon Johnson - Not only was the man a big racist, but he also oversaw the creation of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. These three unsustainable programs have become a massive burden to taxpayers and health providers, while providing very little relief and support to those who utilize them. Restrictions placed on patients who are enrolled in these government health care programs provide added inconvenience to those who are already struggling. Providers are not fully reimbursed for the true costs of their services utilized by patients on these programs either. None of these messes would have been created without the man who took over for the assassinated John F. Kennedy.

1. Barack Obama - Obama is the worst President this country has ever known. I could write a few posts explaining my reasons, but I'll give you the wide view. First off, he doubled our nations debt in eight years. The media gave him a pass at every would-be scandal, including attempts to undermine the Second Amendment by smuggling guns to Mexico through Fast and Furious, delivering billions of dollars in cash to Iran in the dead of night, failing to stand behind the youth of Iran when they revolted against the Mullahs who rule that country, his close relationship to Russia, his Marxist viewpoint, his devotion to a minister who uttered the phrase "GD America", his work to skirt American law by willingly allowing his Secretary of State to use an unsecured server, Obamacare...I could go on, but you get the point. He was a terrible President, I'm glad much of his legacy has been erased and I wish him the best in his true aspirations of a career in Hollywood.

Part two of this, in which I explain my choices for the best Presidents ever, will be coming soon. 

Take care of yourself and thank you for reading. 

Dad, watch my heartbeat

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller recently had a surrogate announce that he would not defend the state's "fetal heartbeat law", signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. In the letter, signed by Solicitor General Jeffrey S. Thompson, it is stated:

"Pursuant to Iowa Code section 13.3, Attorney General Tom Miller has

disqualified himself from representing the state in litigation challenging the recently

enacted Senate File 359, the fetal heartbeat bill. The disqualification is based on the

Attorney General's determination that he could not zealously assert the state's position

because of his core belief that the statute, if upheld, would undermine rights and

protections for women."

This was not always Miller's stance. In 1990, he sought the Democratic nomination for Governor, to challenge incumbent Terry Branstad. 

According to a May 28, 1990, New York Times story, the fact that Miller was then pro-life was a cause of concern for Iowa Democrats. 

"The National Abortion Rights Action League has jumped into the Iowa governor's race with a vengeance, vowing to defeat Attorney General Tom Miller, one of three major candidates for the Democratic nomination and the only one who opposes abortion," wrote Robin Toner. 

During that gubernatorial primary, Miller was facing banker John Chrystal and then-Speaker of the House Don Avenson. Both of these men had professed their support for "a woman's right to abortion." 

The Abortion Rights Action League endorsed Avenson, who went on to secure the party's nomination. Avenson lost to Branstad in the general election. 

Ever since this loss, Miller has changed his tune on abortion and has aligned with his party to be "pro-choice". Miller is also up for reelection in November. If reelected, it will be for his 10th non-consecutive term in office. I don't know if his change of heart will impact anyone's vote, but I just wanted to let you know. 

Iowa law requires the Attorney General to offer a qualified alternative if he or she is disqualified from defending the state in a case. Miller has endorsed the Thomas More Society to fulfill this role. 

This law firm has previously offered its services to defend the law pro bono. Chuck Hurley, with the Family Leader , told me that the firm sent a letter to Rep. Steve King's office indicating that it would be willing to fight for this law, all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Martin Tannen is the lead attorney on this case, someone whom Hurley deems "a trustworthy guy." 

While Iowa's new abortion restrictions have reignited the embers of a fire that will likely never be fully extinguished, it serves as a good time to have an open discussion about abortion. 

Years ago, I wrote a column saying there are three people who should be represented in the discussion of any abortion. Obviously, the mother, the unborn child and the father. The argument for paternal rights has not always been strongly presented. 

Dara Purvis wrote in a 2015 Penn State Law article that discussed this issue. It stemmed from the new topic of IVF and embryos, and whether or not men who donated sperm to them had any rights to it. Purvis writes that many of the legal arguments for fathers' rights have stemmed from a man trying to have dominion over a woman. 

"The (Supreme) Court has never ignored or rejected male expectational parental interests altogether.
Second, abortion decisions make clear that the pregnant woman’s bodily autonomy is the dispositive
concern in an abortion decision, and trumps any expectational father’s claims," Purvis wrote.

She went on to write that, "In 2005, an NYU professor published an op-ed in the New York Times
arguing that '[i]f a father is willing to legally commit to raising a child with no help from the mother he should be able to obtain an injunction against the abortion of the fetus he helped create,' but immediately faced vehement public criticism.25 In the 2009-10 legislative session, about a dozen Ohio state legislators sponsored a bill that required a doctor to secure written informed consent from the father of a fetus before terminating a woman’s pregnancy, making the first violation a misdemeanor and subsequent violations felonies. The bill, however, never progressed out of committee."

So, do fathers matter?

In Hurley's opinion, the worldview that led to the Roe vs. Wade decision was very anti-man. He believes the whole abortion mentality is very feminist and not too concerned about men.

"I think we've probably erred in not saying that more," Hurley said. He added that when men have petitioned the courts to speak up on behalf of their unborn children, they have been ignored or their cases removed from consideration.

"The judges and the culture have both said this is about a woman and her doctor," Hurley said. Logical arguments can be made regarding a father being involved in the discussion, but as Hurley said, "Logic does not prevail."

Numerous cases have stated that abortion is a fundamental right - one which only adheres to the mother, not the father.

In my opinion, fathers should have equal rights to their unborn children. Can a woman produce a baby on her own? Obviously not, so should she be the only one who decides whether or not the child should be born?

I'm not unsympathetic to the struggles pregnancy can bring a woman. It can create challenges for their personal and professional lives, they incur additional medical expenses, they may face societal scrutiny, they face financial challenges of missing work due to a birth, their bodies go through changes from which they may never recover - and I'm sure many more issues arise that I did not name.

But do all of these challenges trump a child's right to live? Do any of them trump a father's right to say, "I want my child."

Don't get me wrong, I realize there are many men who fail to live up to their obligations. In my opinion, the Iowa Legislature got it wrong when it chose to punish the doctor who performs an abortion even after a heartbeat is discovered. They should focus legislation on holding men accountable for their sex lives.

If you impregnate a woman - whether she be your wife, girlfriend, one-night-stand, whatever - you need to be a big boy and do what you can to provide for the child you produced. If you're man enough to engage in intercourse with a woman, you need to be man enough to be a father. Financially, emotionally and in every other sense.

Too many absent fathers have led to too many problems in our state, and our country. It needs to stop. The responsibility of birth control is a two-way street, and there are many ways for one to prevent a pregnancy.

Guys, let's wear protection if you're not ready to be a dad. Girls, birth control is not entirely your responsibility, just as the future of the life growing inside of you should not be solely your decision.

Take care of yourself and thank you for reading.

American Priorities

  I enjoy professional sports as much as the next guy. I've been a fan of the National Football League for most of my life. I'm even willing to look past a lot of the nonsense, drama, etc., that is all too often associated with the league these days.

  In this day and age when much of the talk around professional football involves players kneeling during the National Anthem, it's hard not to make one think about the priority and importance we give these men who have athletic talent. Though many of us find the anthem protests disrespectful and inappropriate, there are many other things done that demonstrate how skewed our priorities are.

  Listening to "Football Night in America" tonight, I heard mention that a player who has already missed a few games this season was reported to have a sore foot. Said player, in just the few hours between the end of the game and the beginning of "Football Night" had already had an x-ray and received a diagnosis. Because his foot was sore.

  This just left me wondering, if the person involved was an American veteran, would he or she have had an x-ray so quickly? How long would he or she have to wait to be seen? If we're going to put this level of importance on the health of one group of Americans, shouldn't it be those willing to fight and die to protect our nation and our freedom?

   I know the reasons why; the player is a multi-millionaire athlete playing in a multi-billion-dollar business on a team that has invested a large sum of money in his ability to play to make millions in ticket, merchandise and other sales. This is not a knock on capitalism. I love capitalism, it is truly the best economic system known to man. But it just seems to me that adjustments should be made when it comes to providing health care.

   The topic of veterans' health care pops in and out of the media quite often. Myself, I don't think it remains there as much as it should. When my journalism career was full-time, I spent a great deal of time and effort covering veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs. What became clear to me is that the VA, despite having several good people with great intentions working within the system, is too bloated a bureaucracy to truly serve vets and our country.

   A recurring theme I often heard when covering the VA was that its goal is to put more of its allocated dollars into veterans' health care. It is my opinion that the American health care system, as well as every veteran, would be better off if the VA's focused was on helping vets in other ways, while putting the bulk of veterans' health care back into the private sector. We could save billions by eliminating the overhead and bureaucracy of the VA if we just let vets choose which doctors they see where.

  The value of one's life should not depend on who is paying that person, or the role you play in the world. The professional athlete has seemingly unlimited access to the necessary healthcare to not only survive, but thrive within his or her industry. Why wouldn't we, as taxpayers, want the same thing for those who fight for us?

  While a team's ownership, or the league, have invested in the professional athlete to get the best performance out of them, we have done the same thing. We have invested in our national defense, the technology, the equipment and the training of our service members. My hunch - which I have neither investigated nor confirmed - is that we do care for these men and women while they are still actively enlisted, but why should that change when they leave? Do professional athletes lose their outstanding health care when they retire?

    I really don't know the answer to that. I just know how ridiculous and shameful it seems to me that there are waiting lists - including secret waiting lists created by bureaucrats to protect their own interests - for our warriors doing actual battle to protect us while a guy who can run fast in meaningless competitions can see top doctors on the spur of the moment.

   Take care of yourself and thank you for reading.
 

My friend Perry Bell

There are just certain special people in the world that you are grateful you had the chance to meet. I had not only had the pleasure of meeting one of them, I had the privilege of working alongside him for over a decade.

Perry Bell was born in West Virginia, but his true hometown is Knoxville, Iowa. A standout athlete in wrestling and football - including contributions to the team's last undefeated season in 1975 - Perry went on to college across the Des Moines River to Pella's Central College. There, he continued to wrestle and do what he does best - make people smile and feel good about themselves.

Perry Bell is pictured interviewing
Knoxville football coach Eric Kellar.

After college, Perry chose to stay in Knoxville and tell the stories of Marion County athletes. For over 30 years, he has continued to do so for newspapers in Knoxville and Pella.

"A commitment of over 30 years to the communities in Marion County is telling," Iowa High School Athletic Association Spokesperson Bud Legg said. "One doesn’t stay that long unless they genuinely care for the people." 

Of all people, Legg should know. He and Perry have been acquainted for over 20 years, including the 16 1/2 Legg has been with the IHSAA.

It's easy for one to get to know leaders of the boys' high school sports agency when you're responsible for covering six schools. Perry routinely covers Knoxville, Pella, Pella Christian, Melcher-Dallas, Twin Cedars and Pleasantville sports. Each sports season offers the opportunity to cover at least two to three teams per school. The athletes at these schools, over the decades, have made numerous trips to the postseason - with Perry Bell in attendance at as many games, matches, meets, etc., as he possibly can.

Juggling all of these communities and sports cannot be an easy task for anyone, but Perry has found a way. As a testament to his fame - but moreover, his dedication to the young people of Marion County - nary a sporting event passes in which he does not take a few moments to speak to officials and other adults whom he has covered in the past.

They remember him, and he remembers them, as well as the school they attended. This man has too many "buddies" to count.

Each season, Perry takes part in the Iowa Newspaper Association's All-State Selections Committees. Oftentimes, he leads the room full of sportswriters to help narrow down and determine who truly are the best of the best in Iowa high school athletics.

"He is always reliable and prompt with media requests for our state events and informs me of various little insights on the teams he covers and that I can share with other media," Legg said. "His soft-spoken and hardworking ethic makes him popular not only with us but his colleagues. His reporting mirrors his personality – honest, positive, straight-forward."

Marion County has been blessed with countless talented athletes over the past 30-plus years. Perry fights for each and every one of them to get the honors they deserve, all the while not being bullish. He respects the talent of all Iowa high school athletes and has the eyes and ears to recognize who truly deserves the honor. Nevertheless, there are many athletes who have gone on to bigger and better things with Perry's support - including several current Iowa Hawkeyes.

"His professional and ethical manner  in which he covers his teams and individuals is at the top of the list in his profession," Legg added. "He does not dally in opinion on social media/Twitter about things he may disagree with, rather he picks up the phone or sees me in person to express his concerns. I have never seen in bring an undue amount of attention to himself. Rather his story and words are his bond with coaches, athletes and schools. What higher compliment can you give a writer?"

Perry Bell is pictured on the sidelines of Knoxville's historic
Ken Locke Stadium. 

When it comes to honoring athletes, Perry recognizes that there is more to the quality of the individual than an ability to run, catch or hit. The content of a student-athlete's character is just as, if not more, important to Perry when offering his support. This is further evidenced as he is one of the founders of the IHSAA's Ed Thomas Award, given to the athlete who exemplifies all of the qualities you'd want a young man graduating high school to display.

Covering sports for six high schools in community newspapers would be enough of a challenge for any sports writer, but one cannot overlook that Perry continues to cover sports at his Alma mater, Central College, and the "Sprint Car Capital of the World", the Knoxville Raceway.

He's never said it, but it's been my observation that he sees covering the college and the raceway as further opportunities to make friends. Walking through a Central crowd, or the pits of Knoxville Raceway with Perry is like hanging out with a true celebrity.

Everyone knows him. Everyone likes him. Everyone wants to shake his hand, and he does. What is most striking is joining him during the Knoxville Nationals, when the pits are full of drivers - drivers who have literally raced around the world and amassed legions of fans - who walk up to Perry with a smile, greet him by name and shake his hand like an old friend. Granted, Knoxville Raceway is the Mecca of sprint car racing, but how many local, community sports writers have been able to cultivate relationships like that with people they see maybe twice a year?

Perry is a standout professionally because of his big heart, but it is his life away from the job that truly captures what a special person he is. Besides being a tremendous friend, he is a loving husband to Lisa; brother to Kathy; "Papa" to his Little Bear, Jasmine, along with fellow grandchildren Abigail, Caitlin and Madison. Sitting across a room from him, seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter coming from him when he is interacting with all of them provided only a small taste of what I am sure is a life away from the ink that is full of love and joy.

The number of lives Perry has touched is as immeasurable as the impact he has had on Iowa athletics. All I know is that it is a blessing to call him my friend, and I'm sure there are many more who feel the same way.

Increased loads decrease road life

On Sept. 18, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation that lifted weight restrictions for truck traffic on roads in the state to make it easier for farmers to transport corn, soybeans, hay, straw, and silage. The weight limit on Iowa roads for a semi truck is 80,000 pounds. With the proclamation, the restriction is now at 90,000 pounds.
Over the past several years, we in Iowa have been hearing about the deterioration of our roads and bridges. It was only July when the Iowa Department of Transportation released a map detailing the poor condition of most of Iowa's bridges. A national research group has said Iowa has some of the worst rural roads in the nation.
This made me want to find out if there is a correlation between heavy truck loads and the condition of our rural roads. I sought out Marion County Engineer Tyler Christian, who had plenty of answers.
"Any increased loading on county roads is just going to accelerate the deterioration of the pavement," Christian said.
Putting load restrictions on roads dates back to the 1960s, when the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) devised a way to calculate load limits. What resulted was the establishment of the Equivalent Single Axle Loads (ESAL) system, to provide a standard for nationwide load limits.
An 80,000-pound load on five axles is typically 2.39 ESALs per axle. The 90,000-pound load on the same number of axles is 3.8-4.0. While the number of ESALs may increase only slightly, the actual damage done to the road can increase by 60-70 percent, according to Christian.

“That can always vary, too,” Christian said. “The damage done to the pavement increases significantly more than a linear factor than what the load increases.” 

To put it simply, the heavier loads decrease the life of a road's pavement. Trucks within the usual weight limit already put a strain on highways, as a single 80,000-pound truck traveling over a highway once causes the same amount of damage to the pavement as 800 passenger vehicles. 

Trucks are something county engineers have just dealt with, as it is also very important to Iowa's economy to allow the easy transportation of goods - including harvested crops. Other states are looking into increasing their load limits, but the difference here is that Iowa roads have not been designed to handle the heavier loads. 

The number of miles of road a jurisdiction is responsible for can affect every aspect of design and maintenance. For instance, Christian's Secondary Road Department is responsible for 850 miles of road within Marion County's borders. Because of the volume of miles to be maintained, county roads cannot be built to the same standards as interstate highways. 

Funding for county roads comes primarily from the State's Road Use Tax. This tax was increased in 2015 by 10 cents, much to the chagrin of many Iowans. Of the amount of tax collected at the state level, 24 percent is allocated to counties. It remains the largest source of funding for counties, who also receive a small amount of property tax collected from properties not within an incorporated city's borders. The fund this money goes into is known as the Rural Services Basic Fund. 

"I think the formula they have in place now works well," Christian said. 

In all, Christian's budget is around $7 million. However, there are still many Marion County roads that rely on gravel. Each year, $1.5 million is budgeted to meet gravel needs. 

"Heavy trucks absolutely play a factor in how much rock we purchase," Christian said. The County has a rock report, which tracks how much is used on a certain road over time. There are definitely parts of the county that have required more rock than others. 

"Traffic volume is our baseline, and we adjust from there," Christian said. Roads can also be affected by drainage, soil conditions, heavy trucks and other factors. 

Damage by heavy trucks is easier to locate on gravel roads, versus pavement. Pavement issues can take years to surface. Typically, the County likes to get 40-50 years of life out of pavement if it can. 

Christian added that, beyond being secure in the fact that ESALs increase and damage is done, it is difficult to quantify how much damage heavy loads cause. There is no way to really tell what kind of an effect the weight restriction being lifted will have, but there is no doubt that the governor's decision will negatively impact rural Iowa roads. 

Friday nights on a sideline

There are truly only a few life experiences that are as grand as spending a Friday night on the sideline of a high school football game.

Autumn in Iowa often provides the perfect weather for the opening week. Whether there is still a faint notion of summer's humidity holding on in the air or a cool breeze to let you know that winter is well on its way, the air is always comforting as it enters your lungs. It is often complemented with the sweet smells of barbecued treats and popcorn wafting out to welcome spectators to the night's event.

As you approach stadium, there are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles - and many others without current blood ties to the team - all decked out in sweatshirts and caps in their team's colors. You walk among them and all of you watch out for the children running to chase their friends. They simply still have the energy and innocence to express their excitement for the evening that we older folks don't.

The reasons behind the adults' fandom can vary. Maybe they've got someone special on the team, in the band or cheering on the sidelines. Maybe they are just filled with community pride, or a desire to see a great display of sportsmanship. Maybe they have had their time on the field and are trying to relive their glory days. All that matters is that they are there to support the young people.

As a reporter, stepping onto that sideline is always a fantastic feeling. Your position for the evening might be separated from the fans, by and large, but you're never above or distanced from the crowd. Not when you're covering one of your home teams.

Your team - including the players, coaches, managers, trainers, etc. - soon join you on the sidelines. From the moment the ball is kicked off, you're right there with them. Not just physically, but emotionally.

You feel the joy of every big gain. You feel the pain of the powerful tackles. Your hope floats along with the ball as it soars through the air after leaving the quarterback's hands. When that receiver catches the ball - whether he gets a long run afterward or not - your fist pumps along with the boys in uniform alongside you.

The game of football always has its ups and downs. Sometimes there are those games you know you're going to win or you know you're going to lose. But there is always the thrill of the game, the joy of being there and watching these young people grow and mature regardless of the outcome.

It's those tight games that especially get you. You look at the young faces on the sidelines and see these kids' passions hanging on every down. Your focus may shift to a coach's face and soon discover that there is no difference between what they are going through and what their players are.

Sometimes you're going through it as well and you don't take as many opportunities to be the observer you are supposed to be. In my opinion, those are the games that bring out the best in a sports reporter. There are few answers to seek nor perspectives to gain because you already know them. The more time you spend on a sideline with a specific team, the easier it is to share these feelings.

With darkness surrounding the beacon of light the stadium has become under the lights, the chill of the fall always takes hold. Always.

The teams have shaken hands and retired to either end of the field for their respective coach's post-game talk. Behind you, those rambunctious little ones have given up the fight and are lost in dreamland on a parent's shoulder. Those sporting the hometown gear, depending on the outcome, are either jubilant or morose. But they are all beaming with pride for what their young people have done over four quarters.

When the coaches have had their say, the players make their way to mingle with the crowd or choose to head for the locker room to whatever Friday night plans they may have.

The end of the night means one less week in an already short season, but many more memories made to cherish and stories to be shared for the next week in coffee shops, homes and other gathering places as the countdown begins to next Friday's kickoff.

Prop A expected to bring new tennis courts

An already unique Sept. 12 school election ballot will present Knoxville School District voters another question that will have an impact throughout the city.

The question, known as Prop A, will be a paragraph on the ballot asking voters to increase the current Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) by 67 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation. As it stands, the district’s overall levy is expected to decrease by 80 cents per $1,000 due to retiring debt. Even if voters approve the 67-cent increase in the PPEL, property taxes are expected to see a net reduction of 13 cents per $1,000.

Going off the tax rolls is debt related to the district’s management fund. This fund was used to pay the costs for early retirement of dozens of district employees within the last five years. The early retirement packages were offered to try to lower the district’s general fund expenses.

The PPEL increase, if approved, would be in place for the next six years. Knoxville Schools Superintendent Cassi Pearson said the district is asking for the increase to help fund eight new tennis courts and a basketball court across the street from Knoxville High School.

This is the current site of the Knoxville Skate Park, next to the Recreation Center. The district is working with the City of Knoxville on this project. Currently, the district utilizes the tennis courts at Young’s Park, owned by the City.

The Young’s Park courts have been in disrepair for years. The soil conditions and lack of drainage have plagued the ability to keep the courts in the proper condition to be utilized for both high school athletics and independent recreation. If voters approve the PPEL and the new courts are built, the new courts will also be accessible to the public.

Though the current skate park would be removed, a new and improved skate park – as well as other amenities – would be built at Young’s Park. The City would pay for this project.

Pearson believes moving the courts next to the high school would be much more advantageous than their current location. Being near the high school, its facilities could be utilized to host more tournaments and events. This includes the South Central Conference Tournament. PE classes and Recreation Center programs will also be able to utilize the new courts.

If voters approve the levy increase, construction would begin in March or April. The goal is to have the courts open and available for use by June 1, 2018. Pearson reports that the soil on the proposed site has already been tested, and they have indicated that it will not have the same issues as the land at Young’s Park.

The current PPEL is 67 cents. This fund can only be used for buildings and buses. It cannot be used for salaries or supplies.

If the new courts are built, the maintenance agreement between the City and school district indicates that the City will maintain the courts after the district pays for construction. Pearson added that the courts themselves would be made of a material with a longer shelf life and may not require the level of maintenance and expense of the current courts.

She is excited at the prospect of adding these new amenities to Knoxville to promote a healthy lifestyle. The new basketball court could also enhance the community in new ways.

Prop A needs only 50 percent plus 1 vote to be approved. The ballot language does not specifically state what the proceeds from the levy will be used for. It is this project, and Prop A is the only yes-no question on the ballot. 

That old hymnal

In one of my previous posts, I mentioned the Avery United Methodist Church.
This is the church my late mother grew up in. We averaged maybe 19 people a week when we regularly attended in my childhood. Mom taught Sunday School at the church for many years, including many as a child herself, teaching those younger than she was.
The Avery church has never really left my mind. I had another reminder of it come across me at work last week.
The church, like many others, had a revolving door of ministers. It was often a training ground for young ministers and a pasture on the way to retirement for others. One of the young pastors I'd known and formed a bond with came to my workplace the other day. Not to see me, but seeking a service my work provides.
I have begun to realize that, while life can throw these blasts from the past at you, it's nothing compared to the impact the music can have.
In addition to the sermon, each week at the Avery church, someone would choose the songs we would sing during the service. Though we had a rotation of leaders, and three hymnals to choose from, we most often would choose music from the same one. Quite often, we would choose songs that we all knew best.
Not every week, but I would say at least once a month, our small congregation would sing "Amazing Grace", "In the Garden", and "The Old Rugged Cross."
We never really followed recommendations from the United Methodist Church organization or any other outside leadership group. We chose songs that we knew, songs that we enjoyed and songs that we, even as small as our congregation was, could truly harmonize on and feel we were truly praising the Lord as best we could.
Of course, any joyful noise made to glorify God pleases Him, but there was always just something about singing songs we knew that made it that much better. To me, anyway.
As I grew older and learned how to play the trumpet, I was never really interested in playing the songs they taught us at school. I wanted to learn how to play these hymns that I'd been singing for years. There was a time I could play some of them pretty well.
Time marched on, and even though I left the Avery church, it and its music, has never left me. I can still sing every verse, word for word, of "In the Garden" and "Amazing Grace." I'm glad I can, because, much like my congregation of old, I believe these songs truly capture the message God wants us to remember. He's there for us, and it is only through His grace that we will be saved. I really don't know if we need three hymnals' worth of songs to get that message across.
My church today, when I am able to attend, often has songs predetermined by the United Methodist calendar. It makes me sad, to be honest, because I miss the songs I know and love. That, and I just don't know the lyrics and melodies of most of them. We don't sing any of them often enough for me to get to know them.
I am reassured each time I sing in the shower, or sing my wife to sleep, that there are things that are always going to be with me. God's grace and mercy will be, as will those tunes that remind me of that, as well as my old home.
Take care of yourself and thank you for reading.

Pleasantville Pig Out 2017

This past weekend, I had the honor and privilege of serving as a judge for the Pleasantville Pig Out's barbecue contest.

Pleasantville, Iowa, is the third-largest community in Marion County, and it is everything that a small town should be. There's little crime, good schools, a wonderful coffee house, a great restaurant and much more. For the many years that I've had the pleasure of visiting and getting to know the people of that community, there is no more appropriate name than Pleasantville.

The Pig Out was spearheaded by former Recreation Director Brandon Bingham, and his wife, Angel. That was seven years ago, and the two are still very much involved in the event. Neither will take much credit, and they certainly would not be able to have made the event what it is without the help of many others. In my opinion, I believe the Pig Out would be successful if they were unable to contribute, but it just wouldn't be the same. They do this while running a successful business, Bing Bang Media.

For each Pig Out, I have served as a barbecue contest judge. When I refer to this as an honor and a privilege, it's not an exaggeration. The ability of a community of around 1,700 to host many times that one weekend a year is remarkable.

The 2017 Pig Out welcomed 10 cookers participating in the barbecue contest. Each year, contestants submit entries in the categories of pork, ribs, beef, poultry and one dubbed "wild card." The wild card category has produced many interesting - and delicious - entries over the years, including cake and alligator meat. Even for standard barbecue categories, each of the others has produced creative - and again, delicious - entries.

Beyond the food, the Pig Out also includes a car show. I didn't count, but I believe there were around 150 classic and modern day automotive wonders, filling nearly every street around the town's square this year.

Those are just two of the main components of the event that contribute to the atmosphere of what a small-town festival should be. Every sense was touched by this year's event. The sunshine and warm temperatures were perfect. Along with the smell of the barbecue and the sight of the cars, the sounds of children playing could routinely be heard. Little League ballplayers constantly called out to peddle their bottles of water. All of them seemed to beam with just as much community pride as the adults of Pleasantville.

From my vantage point, looking out the window during our judging procedure, the line to the food was consistently full for nearly two hours. Saying it was a long line presents a connotation of negativity that didn't seem to exist. No one seemed unhappy, as they know that the barbecue is always worth the wait.

For me, a visit to Pleasantville - even when there is no barbecue involved - is always worth the trip.

Boyhood home still resonates

Avery. 
It is a tiny village six miles east of what many others would consider a tiny village known as Albia. I lived in Avery for about eight years of my childhood, but it is truly where I grew up. 
The simple boyhood privileges of whiling away the daylight traversing the sparsely-graveled roads on my bike created memories for me that have already seemed to have lasted a lifetime. There was literally only one paved road that ran through Avery, and all the further it went was to Albia. Pavement ended at a set of railroad tracks on the eastern outskirts of our town. 
I had the pleasure of growing up there from the late 1980s through the early 1990s. In those days, everyone at least knew who their neighbors were, even if they did not socialize together. You were able to use the names of every home's occupant as a point on the map. 
"Don't ride past Gene's house" would be an occasional request on particularly hot days. "You know where June lives? Those people live just a few houses down" was another to help someone who may be unfamiliar with the area. 
There was always the fear of strangers coming to town with bad intentions, but it just didn't happen. Even if it did, the people of Avery were so close-knit that if anyone looked out their front window and spotted some shenanigans, they were not afraid to come out and try to put a stop to it themselves. Or, at the very least, gather enough information to pass on to authorities. 

When we were kids, we never really wanted to spend much time outside. Home video game systems were slowly starting to develop a few years before we moved out, which reduced some of the time we spent outside. But for the most part, if we weren't riding bikes, we'd be looking for other chums in town to meet to put a baseball or football game together. 

Summers were meant for being outside, enjoying your freedom from school and homework. We had all school year to waste our days inside a stuffy classroom No one wanted to go in until we were told, and even then, we fought the requests as long and as hard as we could. 
Avery still exists, though the number of people who continue to be there - who were when I was a kid - continues to dwindle. It still has the charm, though my last few visits haven't seen kids riding their bikes. I can only pray that they continue to do so, and they haven't all been sucked in to video games and other indoor entertainment. 
Even if no kids continue to live in Avery, that does not change the fact that simple, small town life can be inspirational. It can help one develop a sense of, and an appreciation for community. I know it did with me. 
I believe that, in today's world, we need a greater sense of community to try to bring us back to some common ground and maintain us as the UNITED States of America. My goal with this blog will be to try to look at different things that go on in our world, and bring them back to how it will affect our small towns and families - both of which are basic building blocks of community. 
I hope you will join me on this journey and find what I share to be worthwhile. Take care of yourself and thank you for reading. 
An old friend who inspired me to try blogging