Central Iowa's Thursday Morning Essentials: State Fair entertainment, Best Doggy Daycare, swans and more.

Good Thursday morning to you!

I am 5 foot, 9 inches tall — or 5 foot, 9 inches short, if you prefer. It literally depends on your point of view. My wife had insisted on the latter, despite me explaining that I didn’t consider myself short. Then she joined me on a visit to my hometown of Algona and met many of my friends. “You’re right,” she then noted. “You’re not short, not around here anyway.” This is likely one of the reasons I enjoy having the state wrestling tournament in Des Moines this time of year. I am joined by “my people” — Iowans with thick necks and cauliflower ears who are just the right height.

See you at Wells Fargo Arena, and, as always, thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman

President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com

Under the Umbrella

Celeste Tilton, our creative services director, has worked for Big Green Umbrella Media for 13 years. Celeste puts the creative touch on all of our publications, so we keep her busy! She graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications (for those keeping track, that’s two Cyclones so far “Under the Umbrella”) and began her career at the Ames Tribune. Celeste resides in Des Moines with her husband and son. They enjoy traveling — her favorite trip was a cruise through the Bahamas — and spending time outdoors, especially exploring and walking with her dog. Her growler collection has surpassed 115, and she has a row of gnomes on her desk, apparently just because “they are cute.”

Des Moines Weather

High of 19. Low 0. Mostly cloudy again today. It's warming up! And the warm up continues! We've made it above zero and will soon be above freezing!

A.M. Headlines

FROM KCCI: MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center closes its dedicated COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit

DES MOINES, Iowa — MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center has closed its dedicated COVID-19 intensive care unit citing a decrease in hospitalizations. "Our ICU counts came to a point where we felt we didn't need to keep a closed off unit," said Dr. Ravi Vemuri, Infection Prevention Officer for MercyOne Des Moines and West Des Moines. … READ MORE FROM KCCI

FROM WHO-TV 13: Police: Davenport Man Arrested on Suspicion of Killing Mom

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport man has been arrested on suspicion of killing his mother, police there said. Police were called to the PR Masonry Apartments in Davenport late Tuesday afternoon to check on the welfare of a person, the Quad-City Times reported. Arriving officers found the body of 77-year-old Dianna Rupp inside one of the units, police said. Police have not said how she died. … READ MORE FROM WHO-TV

FROM WOI-DT Local 5: R&B group Boyz II Men coming to 2021 Iowa State Fair

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa State Fair is giving you a dose of the 90s, as R&B groups Boys II Men and Bell Biv DeVoe plan to take the grandstand at the 2021 Iowa State Fair.
The group will perform at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 15 at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand. … READ MORE FROM WOI-DT Local 5

The Best Of Des Moines 2021

Nearly 14,000 votes were cast in the 2021 CITYVIEW Best Of Des Moines readers’ poll. CITYVIEW readers have voted:

Best Local Doggy Daycare/Boarding

1. Dogwoods Lodge
2. Downtown Doggy Daycare
3. Ankeny Bark Avenue

Find all the Best Of Des Moines 2021 winners in February’s CITYVIEW!

[...]

Personalities

Rencontrer Allison Klein: Making French fun for Ankeny students

Allison Klein has been teaching French at Northview Middle School for the last six years, and she currently has a class of French 2 students at Centennial High School, too. She came to teaching after a first career in marketing. “I love teaching French because learning about languages and other cultures has always been a passion of mine, and I enjoy being able to share my passion for French, culture and travel with my students every day.” Though teaching can have its challenges, like making sure she meets the needs of every learner, time spent lesson planning, and keeping students' interest, she wouldn't change it. The greatest reward is the connections she makes with students and families. She has a unique opportunity to do so, as Klein leads French students on a yearly cultural trip to Quebec — the highlight of her summer.

[...]

Things To Do

Thursday, Feb. 18
SPAY-GHETTI & NO-BALLS DINNER
At: OPA! Italian and Greek
Info: ARL-Iowa.org/spayghetti.
An evening of food and friends with the Animal Rescue League celebrating Spay & Neuter Month. Enjoy a spaghetti marinara dinner to benefit the ARL’s community programs like spaying, neutering and helping to humanely address the overpopulation of cats and dogs.
P.S.: A second night of Spay-ghetti fun is set for Sunday, Feb. 21 at Scornovacca’s Italian Ristorante.

P.S.: Good luck to the grapplers competing at the IOWA HIGH SCHOOL STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS at Wells Fargo Arena this weekend. And after you are done on the podium... bon appétit. Info: www.iowaeventscenter.com

Jobs

Place your help wanted ad here for FREE! Email to pat@dmcityview.com. And ask us about upgrading your FREE ad with a display ad in any of our publications.

RESIDENTIAL JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIANS ...

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OFFICE COORDINATOR AND/OR BOOKKEEPER ...

PART TIME RECEPTIONIST ...

POLICE OFFICERS ...

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GARAGE DOOR INSTALLERS ...

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OPTIMAE LIFE SERVICES ...

See all jobs listings

Snapshot

Chris Duree captured this photo below the Lake Panorama dam on some open water in the Middle Raccoon River this week in sub-zero temps. “The experience was incredible — although bone-chilling. I had been trying to capture the swans for quite awhile.”

Want to see your photo included in the Daily Umbrella? Send your Snapshots to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com, and maybe it will be chosen!

Digital Editions

Iowa Living magazines are published each month and mailed to every household in the communities of Johnston, Urbandale, Grimes, Dallas Center, Clive, Norwalk, Adel, De Soto, Minburn, Waukee, Winterset, Indianola, Altoona, Bondurant, Ankeny, Polk City, Sheldahl, Elkhart and Alleman, as well as the Jordan Creek neighborhood of West Des Moines. Each edition, as well as the archives, may be viewed at www.iowalivingmagazines.com. View a sample digital edition from this week here.

Poll of the Week

How many miles are on your vehicle right now?

Less than 50,000
50,001 - 100,000
100,001 - 150,000
150,001 - 200,000
More than 200,000

Vote here

Where are you working mostly?

From home - 50%
At the office - 30%
On job sites - 11%
A mix - 9%

Morning Chuckle

A SKELETON WALKS INTO A BAR AND TELLS THE BARTENDER, "GIVE ME A DRINK... AND BRING A MOP."

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