Publisher

Experience Iowa life

9/3/2025

You work all week. You are tired. And you just want some rest. I am right there with you. But, before you know it, years go by and you realize how little of this great Iowa life you have experienced. Going to shows at our amazing art galleries. Experiencing local theatre. Catching live music. Watching our local sports teams compete. And partaking in the many unique community festivals.

The good news is, it’s not too late. The great news is, we created a bucket list for you in this month’s cover story — our annual Fall Arts and Entertainment Guide. We have been compiling this list of things to do for several decades, and we look forward to it each time. Because, like you, we want to experience more of Iowa life, too. We can rest later.

Roll on down the highway

In my past jobs, I frequently traveled the many highways of our great state, usually with the goal of getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible. Even when traveling for personal reasons, the goal was typically the same. Today, I drive on Iowa Highway 44 multiple times per week between our offices in Johnston and Guthrie Center. In doing so, I have now learned to appreciate the views of the change of seasons, the new construction and the historical markers. And, I often wondered about the history of this relatively short highway and how it has changed. For those of you who don’t know, Iowa Highway 44 begins at its junction with U.S. Highway 30 four miles northeast of Logan and ends at an interchange with Iowa Highway 141 at Grimes. Along the way, there are many stories. I asked columnist Joe Weeg, who pens the Joe’s Neighborhood column each month in these pages, to explore the 56-year-old highway and introduce us to the many people who call the area home. He did, and I enjoyed it immensely. I think you will, too.

The brand

You may have heard that a plumber’s home has leaky pipes, as the plumber is too busy working on customers’ projects. That rings true in our business as well. We help many businesses with their marketing and branding, and we often overlook our own. This is why this month’s feature story in the CITYVIEW business journal is so important. In it, we share the story of three local businesses and how the owners value their branding efforts and continually promote them. We can all learn from their experiences.

You will find these stories and more in the September issue of CITYVIEW. Have a great month, and thanks for reading. ♦