K-GEEZ!!!

Today I learned that generation Y has become somewhat of a concern for the automobile industry. Though no immediate crisis is eminent, Automakers are keeping a close eye. “Gen Yers” now the biggest generation in U.S. history, are trending away from viewing automobiles as “status symbols.” This, in addition to Baby Boomers turning 65 next year where car purchase age drops-off sharply, has manufacturers raising an eyebrow.

The article shows “Motorists aged 21 to 30 now account for 14% miles driven, down from 21% in 1995.” As a result, I wonder if advertisers can change that over the next decade?

Hours before what was to be a glorious day for thoroughbred racing, tragedy struck Suffolk Downs. A barn fire took the lives of 15 horses, 13 thoroughbreds and two saddle horses. Only the remains of the barn are now visible, as arson officials sort through the remnants for clues. A jockey, Albert Ramos could only watch as workers cleaned up the area. “That’s my best friends…I love horses and want to cry.”

Though heaters were present at the ends of the barn, the fire is believed to have been centered. Fire chief, Jim Connery, “the fire is definitely suspicious.”

Armed assailants gave Barney Joseph Jr what his father never received,  a second chance at life.  Last night around  8:30 pm, two masked men entered BJ’s Drug, 450 Stanley Street.  A minute later, without incident the pair made off with close to $400.

Though having a pistol handy, the local shopkeeper choose not to employ it. When asked why he made the decision he replied, “…I’d rather part with my money than my life.” A solemn reminder  of Joseph’s father, Barney Joseph Sr.,  who lost his life at that very store 25 years earlier. The senior Joseph murdered resisting a similar robbery.

A two car collision has left one dead and several others injured. Police say that Moyer Quick, age 65 of South Sioux, his wife Dorothy, and Maxine Steuerwald, 43 from Lawton, were traveling westbound on Hwy. 20 two miles east of Sioux City. Quick attepted to pass a vehicle driven by Randy Radin, 17 also of Sioux City, when his rear end struck Radin.

The impact sent both vehicles into the ditch. Quick’s vehicle rolled once. Radin is currently listed in “critical” condition with a fractured skull and internal injuries, while Mrs. Quick and Mrs. Steuerwald are listed in “good” and “fair” condition respectfully.

A local town got an unexpected “fill up” recently when an Texaco gasoline truck overturned in their community. Two blocks of sewer lines, 48th Street and Correctionville Road, were flooded with the spilled gas. This prompting local authorities to reroute traffic and evacuate four families.

Fire Chief Charles Hochandel was quoted at the scene saying, “The firemen followed catastrophe and hazmat procedures set up beforehand for just such an occurrence.” His statement in response to citizen concern of visible gas on the towns streets and in ditches. The tireless effort of those responding led to a swift containment meanwhile, with no serious concern present after only a couple of hours.

With summer vacation just around the corner, East High is having major control problems due to student unrest. False alarms were sounded three times last Wednesday as disgruntled students protested the suspension of five fellow classmates. The five, who had been caught smoking marijuana in the schools parking lot, each had received a weeks dismissal.

After learning that 10 upperclassmen where responsible for the false alarms, principle Laura Vibelius swiftly dealt a week suspension to each of the perpetrators involved. Additionally, a food fight broke out Tuesday closing the cafeteria and prompting Vibelius to issue a statement in which she denied seeing any continuation of these “incidents” in the near future.

Local firefighter Bob Harwood is resting comfortably at St. Lukes Hospital after breaking his leg saving a cat. The curious kitty, belonging to twins Suzanne and Samantha Decker, found itself stranded in a tree at 102 11th avenue.

Witnesses say Harwood scaled 50 feet up the oak tree for the rescue. However, a mere 15 feet from the ground, dead limbs on the tree could no longer hold and Harwood plummeted to the ground breaking his left leg.

Charlie and Kim Decker, parents of the twin girls whose mischievous feline scaled the tree, said their daughters calico was doing just fine, after landing on Harwood.

Hallelujah, football season is once again upon us. Unfortunately, it isn’t all good for the New York Jets. Ines Sainz has replaced the F* bombs on HBO’s “Hard Knocks/ New York Jets” as the teams number one controversy with her accusations of sexual misconduct by Jet’s coaches and players.

First and foremost, I do not condone their behave at all. Notwithstanding, I do feel that Ms. Ines, a reporter for the Mexican television station TV Azteca, should present herself as a professional if she wishes to be viewed as one.

During an interview on the Joy Behar show, Ines was quoted as saying, “…I always focus on doing my job professionally….” However, after googling Ms. Ines I found zero professional pictures of her. In fact, of the nearly 60,000 pics offered 80% are of Ms. Ines in scantily clad outfits, bikinis, or naked.

Likewise, Ms. Ines the self proclaimed, “hottest reporter in Mexico,” once even wore a wedding gown to interview Tom Brady in hopes of purposing to the Patriots quarterback.

Granted I’m all for women’s rights, but if I walked into a woman’s locker room wearing a Chip&Dales outfit I’m pretty sure no one would take me seriously. Respect is earned, not given. If you want to be taken seriously Ms. Ines, lose the hooker boots and booty shorts and try asking ESPN’s Hannah Storm for some advice.

As I jog, music from my IPod blares into my ears. Each song drowns out the sound of dead leaves and dirt rustling beneath my feet. I cross one of the many wooden bridges along the trail and gaze upon the calm still waters of the lake.

I smile to myself, as I see what appears to be a small family of turtles popping their heads up near the waters edge. Each one looking at me, as if to say, “slow down and lower the music buddy.” My lungs gasp for breath, as my strong quick strides turn to hesitant steps. A nearby park bench offers me solace from the aches of my run, as I take a moment to absorb all that is Moorehead Park.

Listed as one of only 75, “watchable wildlife areas,” in Iowa , Moorehead Park is where I go to get away. When I moved here during the winter of 2006, Moorehead Park was where I went sledding for the first time. The long steep hill provided me hours of entertainment. That is, until I realized that a novice shouldn’t try the slope from the top. My head still hurts thinking about that crash.

Having been the initial site, of what is now Ida Grove, Moorehead Park’s rich abundance of history is evident. With “ruts from the early stagecoach still obvious near the old (now refurbished) stagecoach inn.” The original hand-hewn stagecoach barn and its wood pegged timbers still stand nearby. Local caretakers recount stories of secret rooms, packed with provisions where women and children hid for days at a time, due to Indian invasions. Additionally, the original Grant Center Schoolhouse has been relocated to Moorehead’s 258 acres.

A quick peak inside this schoolhouse and one would assume they’ve been thrust back in time. As flickering kerosene lamps illuminate the room, a rustic black pot-bellied stove provides just enough heat to keep my chills at bay. I chuckle at the sight of an old wind-up phonograph (thinking back to our earlier class discussion about technology) and marvel at the 38 starred flag, which dangles from the rafters above.

Returning this past Labor Day, the piercing cries from the locusts overwhelmed my senses. I decided to walk along one of the parks many nature trails; finding serenity in everything from a lonely fawn sheepishly delighting in a patch of grass to an old solemn horse post drenched with thick green moss. As I came upon Moorehead’s 12acre lake I watched as two black billed swans sailed across the waters surface. Neither acknowledging my stare.

I watched as a few fishermen tried their luck from the docks. Their empty pails a sharp contrast to reports of largemouth bass, catfish, and bluegill haunting the depths. Perhaps, the scream of children at Moorehead’s family playground scared even the hungriest of fish.

All in all, I’ve found that Moorehead has a lot more to offer than I had ever imagined. Having grown up in Southern California, I never realized what “stopping to smell the roses,” was really all about. I just hope that after years of smog and pollution I can still sense what’s right under my nose.

Though, not exactly front page news, I recently spied an article on a political debate involving Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. The article wasn’t so much about what was said, but what wasn’t said. Brewer, no stranger to prime time television, spent approximately the first 16 seconds of her time in awkward silence. After fumbling for a few more seconds , with an occasional stutter,  she delivered a vague and seemingly unprepared performance.

The aftermath of her “humanness” as she put it opened the floodgates for  bloggers who attacked everything from her outfit to her wrinkled appearance. After a little research, I found that her approval rating had dropped 4% in the hours following the event. Many today feel that the Kennedy era was built on charm, good-looks, and charisma rather than overall qualification. However, in Brewer’s case the opposite seems to be the reality.

Perhaps, future candidates should take notice of Governor Brewer’s stumble.  Simply utilizing mass media isn’t enough, one must prepare and understand it as well.