Thomas Ritchie is a storyteller at heart. As a child, like many of us, he idolized his grandfather and wanted to be a farmer but ended up far from it. When college came around he studied mass communication at Mount Marty in Yankton South Dakota. He then worked in journalism for 25 years and worked in news rooms. He worked a very interesting job for these years and he spoke of some of his most interesting news stories he had to write about. One was a visit to a nursing home where he needed to interview a centenarian. When Richie asked the man what the secret to his longevity was, the man answered, “smoking cigars and having lots of sex.” He has even been in the same room with most presidential candidates during his time as a journalist.

Now Ritchie works in corporate marketing, not the sexiest sounding job out there. To describe his role he said he is a “strategic digital marketing generalist.” His day to day is a hybrid style where he has the ability to work a few days in the office and a few days at home. When he first started his job and asked about working a few days from home they thought he was crazy. Now post pandemic Ritchie got what he hoped for as people worked from home for one and a half years and businesses got the picture of what it would look like for their employees to be hybrid. 

Ritchies corporation is the Great West Casualty Company which is a trucking insurance company. His role in the company as a strategic digital marketing generalist is to create things to drive people to their website or call to buy their insurance. He says that it’s a “big climb to get people to the website.” This is where his skills in storytelling come in. He must compel others through writing to use the insurance they are selling. 

Journalism is just not the same anymore there is not as much opportunity in it as there is in marketing. This is why Ritchie finds himself where he is now as a journalist turned marker. Currently Ritchie would choose marketing over journalism because journalism not the same anymore. Journalism is now consumed by the media and there are a million biased voices speaking. Media is more opinion based now. Media used to be more for communication now there is so much more wavering away from just the facts and observations. Because of this Ritchie said that “Media consumption is very splintered.”

After Ritchies many years of experience in the workforce and given his perspective, he gives us these inspiring words of parting advice. He says to learn to be really good at one thing first then develop skills around that. Also take risks, learn how to use social media well and finally, be confident in what you do. 

To begin the report there are words to the shareholders about what Target is doing now and what Target aimes to do in the future. With strategies, teamwork and discipline there is continuous growth in many business markets. The report also recognizes that all of the recent growth has not been steady in that the years of the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 there was a massive spike in growth rates. The team was able to deal with this because the fundamentals of the team were set. This shows the importance of vigorous investment the team. In 2022 with the unnatural year and the large shifts in the way people buy, still Target grew by more than $3 billion. Now Target is $30 billion larger than it was in 2019.

Next there is talk about the trust and loyalty customers have in Target. “A significant part of this growth has been driven by traffic. Last year’s traffic gain of 2.1% marked the sixth straight year of growth in this
key metric.” It shows that as needs of customers changes Target is still the place to go to have their needs met. also target is flexible in what they products they provide and this focus consistently brings growth.

Then there is more about the growth Target has seen and that the trajectory for Target’s future is bright. In the report it states, “We expect these advances in efficiency to result in $2 to $3 billion in savings in the years ahead.” The team will be focusing on the fundamentals to make this happen.

More of what works is support of the team as a whole as they are the heart. Investment in expansion plans as well as digital expansion. Delivering a steady flow of interests, and delivering affordable joy. Target is going through an unpredictable landscape and many challenges are to be faced but they are optimistic as a team and what they represent.

I walked into the Krone Center on a busy Monday afternoon in hopes to interview a few people who could spare a moment. Firstly I interviewed Skyler, someone who works through the Krone Center for Morningside University. She was very talkative with me which was very helpful. I asked her what she was doing and she told me that she was looking through the library archives at yearbook photos from 2003 so that she could promote the alumni milestone tent. She was sad that she couldn’t find anything relevant.

In the middle of the conversation Skyler exclaimed that she had just found a terrifying photo of Montee the Mustang. The look on her face was very amusing to say the least. Skyler had a Stanley cup with the Morningside logo on it so I snapped a photo. She was gifted it by Garrett a student that won it by doing a panel. Skyler at last said she liked her job though she was having a hard time finding anything. Skyler did say that “this is very convenient that the library has all the yearbooks archived online,” otherwise she would have many books to look through and might not like her job so much.

Next I slipped into Stacy Hays office and I asked her what her biggest accomplishment of the day was and she said “still staying positive after having her whole day blocked,” she even had her lunch while meeting with a student. She had cold cauliflower soup which she said wasn’t actually bad cold because it was one of those soups that can be cold and still good. It was a homemade soup and she had pumpkin seeds and homemade croutons to garnish. She gave me her favorite quote I needed for the scavenger hunt which was, “you must be the change you want to see in the world.” I asked her why it was her favorite and she said, “for me I find motivation in it, you must lead by example if you want others to change.” she left me with a her quote. She was happy to help me in my hunt.

Almost 91-year-old Connie Wimer went skydiving on September 10th to support Above + Beyond Cancer. Within the past month, 18 Central Iowa business leaders philanthropy, health, government and more tandem parachuted. Because of this more than $123,000 has been raised to support cancer survivors, families and caretakers. Connie was quoted in the article written by Nicole Grundmeier. The quote stated this strong inspiration,

“Every time you take a risk of any kind, you grow stronger and more confident – therefore more comfortable taking the next risk,” Connie Wimer gives the advice.

Then the article changes pase and asks a question which I think is a good use of space as it causes the reader to do some self reflection. The question is,

“How can women get started taking risks if they’ve never taken risks previously? How do you personally distinguish between a calculated risk and a foolish one?“

The news article is now changing into a self reflection page and encourages women to take more calculate risks and in return become more fearless and resilient. The risk that is foolish is one taken without any knowledge about the risk itself. Risks need to be thought out and taken often to build strength.

The ending paragraph I love because it shoots to inspire women to take risks. When Connie was asked to skydive for a charity and immediately said yes we wonder how she acquired such assertion and confidence. She said that it comes from taking lots of risks throughout her lifetime and most of them turned out and the ones that did not she learned from.

“Statistically, I think skydiving is relatively safe – maybe safer than driving on the interstate?” we are left with this ending quote that throws a big call to action at the readers which I liked because the reading is not like stagnant water leaving us dull and empty. The article flows from action into a to call to action and one feels good after reading the inspiring story. It also leaves one with hope for the long future ahead of them as Connie Wimer accomplished this great feat as an almost 91 year old. Connie being one of the first women to pave the way for women in leadership roles in Iowa. She leads the way for others to take risks.

Casey Kruger worked all summer, late May until early August, as a server at a restaurant named Ollie & Hobbes. Some odd week in July Casey served three British tables in one week. He thought it was strange and wondered if there was some kind of convention going on. He thought it was strange that of all places they were in Omaha Nebraska. With the last British table he served he asked them why they were in Nebraska and he found out that they were visiting a medical center known for specializations.

“The couple came across the world,” Casey pointed out. “It was cool because it opened my view, I forget there is more than corn here,” Casey said. When ask what his favorite part of his job was Casey exclaimed “the instant money,” he gets cash in his pocket at the end of each night from receiving tips which he really likes.

Instead of using pen and paper like most places Casey used a tablet which made his job easier he thinks. It’s a craft kitchen and it was easy for Casey to know the menu because of the tablets. He found this job after his mom recommended it to him and he applied for it on indeed. He it technically still employed so he can work for holiday breaks or anytime he likes to go home and he can make more of the “instant money.”

Two men wearing ski masks robbed a store at 450 Stanley Street last night and they were armed. Barney Joseph Jr. 43 years old the owner was held at gunpoint by one robber and the other robber emptied the cash register. The time was approximately 8:30pm. The men left in a car that was parked with the motor running on the curb.

Joseph had a pistol under the counter but decided not to use it. The robbery was over in less than a minute. The reasons he did not resist are attributed because more than 25 years ago Joseph’s father was held at gunpoint and resisted and was shot to death. Joseph had this in mind when he did not resist. Because after all ones life is not worth $382.65.

According to the SIOUX CITY JOURNAL, Police released video footage Monday of a high school band director getting tased after he refused to have his band stop playing. The high school football game in Birmingham Alabama had gotten over and the band directors of each team were prompted by police to conclude their playing. The home team stopped and the opposing team continued. The director ended up in prison later that night. The altercation occurred at the end of the Thursday football game between Minor High School and Jackson-Olin High School.

There was an over exaggeration of power. The video shows officers approach Minor band director Johnny Mims as the band plays in the stands after the game. Mims was asked several times to stop his band but refused. Mims continues to direct the band and replies to the officer, “get out of my face.” He tells the officers, “We’re fixing to go. This is their last song.”

There should be no debate whether Mims was right or wrong in continuing to play. The taser simply should never have been drawn in front of his students. The altercation grasped attention on a national level as there was an alarming abuse of power. The situation should have been deescalated but instead a man was unable to practice his civil rights.

SIOUX CITY JOURNAL

Our world is increasingly having a higher number of people living with memory issues such as dementia. Dr. Mario Mendez was asked this question, the natural wonder of “am I losing it?” memory that is. Dr. Mario Mendez, director of behavioral neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at U.C.L.A. explains it this way in a New York Times article. Memory changes, he says.

In a study of nearly 50,000 people, researchers found that short term memory peaks around age 25. “But starting in your fifties,” Dr. Mendez said, “the part of your brain in charge of memory is less efficient.” This is significant because there is an increasing number of people living with dementia in the United States as the demographic of people becomes older.

“Dementia is a disease of the mind that affects every day activities and the ability to perform daily activities,” the World Health Organization explains. The World Health Organization expands on the subject and says that there are currently more than 55 million people worldwide that have dementia every year there are nearly 10 million more cases. Dementia is also the 7th leading cause of death and is one of the major causes of dependency and disability in older adults.

Medical News Today explains that “sedentary habits can increase the risk of dementia.” When you sit for more than ten hours a day you increase the risk of dementia the studies have shown. Sedentary lifestyles also increase the risk for diabetes. Being sedentary also increases the risk for cardiovascular issues as well.

A lifestyle that is full of activity will lead to lower blood pressure. Health of the cardiovascular system is linked to lower risks of dementia. Though the world is aging because people are living longer, we know of ways that we can help our loved ones continue to be autonomous and independent. Daily walks and hobbies like horseback riding and golfing are all ways of staying mentally sharp. So whether you are young or old knowing what dementia is and how to combat it are valuable pieces of applicable information. 

Wednesday September 13th commenced an event that aims to connect Siouxland, A story that the Sioux City Journal covers. Celebrate Siouxland is the Latin American festival event that has many opportunities for connections of all ages. A Mexican bingo night was held Wednesday the 13th, a parade will be held Friday the 15th down Dakota Avenue. A Unity in Action staff member, Olga Guevara, said that “There will be bands, floats and participation from many South Sioux City businesses during the parade.” To top it all off there will be on Sunday the 17th a grand closing of the festivities at the Jeffrey Dible Soccer Complex.

The grand closing is a family festival at its core. The family festival is really an opportunity to connect those latin and otherwise non-latin folks. This event will coordinate live music, cultural latin dances, kids zones, arts and crafts, as well as many food trucks taking the opportunity to share their cuisine with the crowds.

All in all this festival gets us out of our comfort zones. Out of our bubbles. Into the streets. Something we all must do to be neighborly. There is the chance for stories to be told, food to be shared and livelihoods to be upheld.

How do we discuss memory issues with a doctor when memory is the issue? This is a question that is being asked by many. Dr. Mario Mendez was asked this question, the natural wonder of “am I losing it?” memory that is. Dr. Mario Mendez, director of behavioral neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at U.C.L.A. explains it this way. Memory changes, he says.

In a study of nearly 50,000 people, researchers found that short term memory peaks around age 25. “But starting in your fifties,” Dr. Mendez said, “the part of your brain in charge of memory is less efficient.”  

Understanding the normal and abnormal characteristics of memory is essential if you want to understand cognitive change. Some people have memory issues at different parts of their life. 48,537 online participants have been analyzed through IQ tests and memory tests. Being less on top of things is different from impairment. However thousands of Americans are living with dementia every day and just don’t know it. 

The sharpness of the mind is like a blade. It needs to be sharpened as it is used.

Forgetting someone’s name or your dorm keys is many times seen as an inconvenient malfunction of the brain. It is simply not. There is so much information being input every day that forgetting is just a natural function of the brain. The brain can only hold so much information some must be dumped.

THERE ARE WAYS TO STAY SHARP

Even though memory changes through life inevitably, there is still good reason to work to keep a sharp memory. Instead of novel tricks like reciting the alphabet to remember a name there are a few core lifestyle changes that can be intergrated. Such as limiting multi-tasking, lowering stress, and sleeping well are all key factors

So to answer the question: How do we discuss memory issues with a doctor when memory is the issue? Don’t be afraid to reach out. To anyone.