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October 05, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Cars in the City

Polaris Ranger Trail Boss

This month’s Cars in the City isn’t exactly a car. It’s a Polaris Ranger Crew NorthStar Trail Boss, a UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle). UTVs are mostly for off-road use, but that may soon change. As of July 2022, Iowa law says UTV and ATVs can now be driven in town,

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October 05, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Your View

Your View

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October 05, 2022 by Beckham Miller in People & Pets

Cuteness overload

One Thursday evening at the Valley Junction farmers market in West Des Moines, people of all ages circled around two balls of curly fur with wagging tails. As I clamored to see the spectacle, there sat Reese and Wrigley, two dogs soaking up all the attention. Reese, with his curly

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October 05, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Walks of Life

A new look

A fresh coat of paint here, a demolished wall there. Through remodels big and small, local residents are changing their homes and loving where they live. Of course, it’s one thing to read about home improvement projects, but it’s another to see it with your own eyes. To view before and

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October 05, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Your Neighbors

Advocacy as a way of life

Isabel Martinez Santos serves as a bi-lingual Department of Justice representative and co-director of the legal clinic at the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence. But, she said, “I am more than my work.” Her mother, fleeing violence and seeking safety and a better future, immigrated to the United States from

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October 05, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Duffy

Duffy’s View

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October 05, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Film Previews

Film Previews

“Till” PG-13 | 130 minutes Director: Chinonye Chukwu Stars: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison “Till” focuses on the 1955 killing of a Black teenager as well as his mother’s subsequent efforts to publicize the case and get justice for her son.  “Till” takes its inspiration from the real-life story

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October 05, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Lunch With...

Paul Willis at Zanzibar

Paul Willis is a Cerro Gordo County pig farmer who has been as successful as anyone in the world for upgrading the taste of pork. He is farmer No. 1 for Niman Ranch Pork, the company he has run since it was created. He was in town last month for

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October 05, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Collections & Hobbies

Escaramuza Quetzalli

You’ve probably heard of horseback riding, but hidden in the heart of Des Moines is an equestrian sport of a different kind. A newly formed drill team called Escaramuza Quetzalli is both breaking barriers and upholding cultural tradition. Charrería is recognized as the national sport of Mexico, evolving from herding

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October 05, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Sound Circuit

Terre Gibson

As Terre Gibson strums his bass guitar to “Kiss” by Prince — a favorite song by one of his musical idols — he insists on allowing the other musicians to shine, as he’s “not trying to be the star.”   However, Gibson, with a classically trained piano background, knows his

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