Posted May 05, 2021in Your Neighbors
Why does Tina Powell own two houseboats? This is a reasonable question, according to Powell, who readily admits that possessing a pair of floating homes wasn’t the original idea. Instead, refurbishing a fixer-upper was her plan, but the best-laid plans usually require super-human patience. After hours of hard labor in
Read More →Aquarium supervisor at Blank Park Zoo helps to combat Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. “Big Momma” was a 330-year-old underwater giant coral mound. It thrived for centuries near Fort Lauderdale, and the record-setting giant was legendary for its longevity. But the mass of coral suddenly succumbed — in less than
Read More →“I’m a dedicated and fun-loving mom,” beams Jennifer Glissman, 32. But then she pauses and steadies herself as her smile fades. Life hasn’t always allowed her to like who she is. “I was abused as a child,” she explains. “I was fed alcohol and drugs starting as an 8-year-old.” At
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Posted February 03, 2021in Your Neighbors
“There was an old lady who swallowed a fly….” How did Emily Tinsman get to be singing these lyrics while kicking off a summer reading series for kids? The same way she came to be opening Iowa’s senate session last January at the capitol by singing the national anthem. “One
Read More →Brett Hopper joined the Navy for two simple reasons: “to serve his country and see the world.” Originally from Altoona, the 2016 graduate of Southeast Polk High School went on to earn his degree from Iowa State in political science. After finishing in Ames in December of 2019, Hopper was
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Posted December 02, 2020in Your Neighbors
No one named Duncan has lived there in nearly three decades, but neighbors still refer to Jenifer Owenson’s 83-year-old Waterbury abode as “The Duncan House.” The home was built by the family of arguably the best football player in Iowa history, Randy Duncan. It has seen its share of changes
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Posted November 04, 2020in Your Neighbors
Shelly Reed Thieman penned her first poetry verses for a fifth-grade Haiku contest. She won. The self-described “young and snappy grandmother of three girls” recently won another poetry competition. This time the recognition came for her words in the “Anniversary” category, celebrating The Iowa Poetry Association’s 75 years of publishing
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Posted September 02, 2020in Your Neighbors
If you’re in northwest Des Moines and somewhere near Beaverdale or Drake University, and if you happen to see a flaming hula hoop spinning around a performer who is being cheered on by her neighbors while they snap photos, then you will have met Jessica Short — also known as
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Posted August 05, 2020in Your Neighbors
As she pulled and pushed and worked the lawnmower through the rougher-than-usual grass, Johanna Hayes felt her chest tighten and her heart race. She should have been hot, but instead she felt a cold sweat. “I must be really out of shape,” she scolded herself as she stopped to rest.
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Posted July 01, 2020in Your Neighbors
“Someone on our street…has been playing the bagpipes lately, and I love it!” writes one northwest Des Moines neighbor on an online community forum. “…I heard her practicing, (too)…” types another interested ear in the area. “I’m not sure who it is,” responds a third, “but it’s greatly appreciated!! Very
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