Siouxland Magazine - May 2019

STARTING CONVERSATIONS
ART ISSUE 20
19
Volume 1, Issue 3

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Welcome to Siouxland Magazine
Siouxland Magazine | art Issue / 3
Owners | Becca Feauto and Stacie Anderson
It’s in these pages that we hope to educate and inspire, even more importantly, to create a community
that thrives on connecting with one another. At our core, we all want to connect. When we seek to
understand, by listening more intently, we find that our relationships deepen and our community
strengthens as a result. With our appreciation for the power of connection through meaningful
conversations, it only made sense to name our business Empowering Conversations.
It all starts with a conversation; with a desire to learn; to see things from another perspective; to seek
truth. The truth is, we have more in common than we have differences. Well, maybe it would be
more accurate to say, what brings us together is stronger than anything that divides us.
We would never want to marginalize our differences. We love the words of Audre Lorde, “It is not our
differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” We
are unique in vast and complicated ways. It’s our hope that we can come together with our unique
strengths, perspectives and ideas to build a community with a powerful narrative of “us.”
Through this humble publication, we will start having conversations. This is an ambitious and beautifully
optimistic attempt to shine light on all the things that make our community strong, but also discuss,
in a productive and compassionate manner, the challenges we face.
We are doing our small part in building a cohesive community by creating conversations that
refocus our attention on our similarities. We are bringing people together; replacing judgment with
understanding. Perspective is powerful.
We’ll continue unfolding our vision for this magazine over the next several issues, but now we
want to hear from you. At Siouxland Magazine, we feel it is imperative to understand what the
community wants and needs. Share your vision and dreams for Siouxland.
We want you to lean into the conversation and participate in the discussion.
E m p o w e r i n g
Conversations, LLC
siouxlandmagazine.com

creation
Create + Innovation = Creation...............................................................................8
ARTists Have a New Home in Siouxland.........................................10
Gallery 103................................................................................................................................12
Siouxland Artists...................................................................................................................14
Photography as Art.........................................................................................................16
We’re Launching a Podcast..................................................................................17
Sculpt Siouxland Celebration..........................................................................18
All My Relations....................................................................................................................19
10 Under 40...............................................................................................................................21
Converse
22
(In)voluntary poverty & the pursuit of purpose.......................22
Community Conversations.....................................................................................24
Maslow Inspired Job Perks............................................................................27
Inspire
Grow
Surviving Life, One Minute at a Time......................................................28
Worth The Wait: The Story of Marto Brewing.......................32
An Interview with an Artist.......................................................................................34
Downtown is Where It’s At..................................................................................36
Sioux City Scoop.................................................................................................................37
The Gift of the Power to Choose..................................................................39
Creating Better Versions of Ourselves................................................40
Putting a New Swing on Corporate Connections........41
As oxygen is to the body, so imagination is to the soul.
– Don Jones

You’re an artist man. Your job is to break through barriers.
Not accept blame and bow and say “Thank you. I’m a loser. I’ll go away now.”
You want to be really great?
Then have the courage to fail BIG & stick around.
Make them wonder why you’re still smiling.
– Quote from Elizabethtown
Balance
explore
Siouxland Magazine | art Issue / 5
Cultivating Your Life: From Darkness to Light.................42
The Gut-Brain Connection..................................................................................44
Amber’s Top 5 favorite Fruits.....................................................................46
Seasonal Summer Sweets!.......................................................................................49
Herbal Medicine for Any Season...............................................................50
Stronger Teens, Body and Mind: Pass it On.............................52
Let Yourself Go Wild with Native Plants.............................................56
Hook, Line, and Sinker........................................................................................................60
PlantgGrowgShare....................................................................................................62
Siouxland Cyclists Take to the Trails...........................................................65
enjoy
At our core, we all want to connect. When we seek
to understand by listening more intently, we find that our
relationships deepen and our community strengthens as
a result. That’s what our Siouxland Magazine is all about!
We can’t wait to talk to you and truly connect with you and
your audience. If you’re interested in learning more about
how to advertise with us, download the media kit on our
website at siouxlandmagazine.com. Always feel free to
reach out to us via phone or email.
Shahi Palace: A Royal Experience........................................................66
New Stage Players Penguin Project.........................................................68
Yard of the Month.............................................................................................................70
July 19, 1989: A Day of Miracles......................................................................71
Calendar..................................................................................................................................................72
Explorers Baseball.....................................................................................................................73
We promise to not disappoint. We’re creating a
magazine you won’t want to put down.
Want to be included in our August issue?
Contact us soon!
Deadline to reserve space is July 8th!
Media Kit at siouxlandmagazine.com
Siouxland Magazine Launch Party
June 27th, Marto Brewery Co., on Historic 4th Street,
4:30 pm ribbon cutting, 5:00-7:00 pm launch party.
10 Under 40
Application available online July 1, 2019 at
siouxlandmagazine.com.
On the Cover
Mural by Jenna Brownlee, from Des Moines, Iowa
located at 1021 on Historic 4th Street.

Frisco
Uptown
Metro
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Outdoor Living Porch & Patio Furniture!
In-stock or custom order options • Inside all HOM Furniture showrooms • homfurniture.com

Editors Note
Siouxland Magazine | art Issue / 7
Art is so important to me. Perhaps not in the way you
may think. As a photographer, creative director and
copywriter, I see art in everything I do whether it be
visual images, seeing the product before it even
exists or telling stories. They are all art.
Art, in my opinion, is the backbone to a healthy
mental balance. Now, I don’t really believe in
balance, except when it comes to art and working
out. I know when I am missing one or the other
because I tend to get cranky. I need a creative
release, allowing all that has been in my mind and
body to let out its huge roar and pour out of me.
Most days it’s not even planned. It starts as a short
moment, to write something down, I want to make
sure I don’t forget and before you know it, I’ve
outlined a whole 12 chapter book!
Same goes with being outside and in nature, taking
in a long walk or run, observing the scenery and
seeing the art around me. Art is an essential part
of me, what I do everyday. It makes me happy and
cheers me up when I am feeling sad.
Art is messy, but then again, so is life.
Can we learn to embrace the chaos? Can we dance in the
space of possibilities, even if for only a moment?
Our intention with this publication is to invite you to
consider other perspectives, as well as lean into the
conversation.
Whether you consider yourself left-brained, analytical and
methodical in your thinking, or right-brained, creative and
artistic, could you benefit from exposing yourself to the
other side?
After all, the two sides are sharing space inside your head.
I’ve come to understand that my frustration with one
disposition or the other at a given time has really been
a lack of appreciation. When stepping back to see the
bigger picture, it becomes clear what that “side” brings to
the table.
In this issue, we are focusing on the arts and all that it
offers to humanity. At times, I’ve witnessed the dismissal
of its importance. Yes, it can be messy, chaotic and even
unknown in its course. But it is what gives way to something
new and innovative. Can we sit in awe of the messy creative
process and delight in what it gives birth to?
Thank you to those that dare to see further, that explore
the unknown, that share their gift with us all.
Siouxland Magazine is owned and published by Empowering Conversations, LLC. All materials contained in this magazine (including text, content, and
photographs) are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published, broadcast or
modified in any way without the prior written consent of Empowering Conversations, LLC or in the case of third party materials, the owner of that content.
You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of this content.

creation
evolvement
process
vision
Create + Innovation = Creation
By Todd Behrens
Are you creative? Creative is simply defined as
being “marked by the ability or power to create.”
So, guess what? You’re creative. We all are. We
all have the ability to create things. The question
is whether what we create is closer to being a
masterpiece than it is a disaster.
When many of us think of creativity in its purest form, we
think of the arts: composers and musicians, painters and
sculptors, and novelists and poets. Those who are the
most successful in these pursuits seem to have an innate
talent that the rest of us simply don’t have. We often
decide that since we aren’t as talented as someone else,
we shouldn’t waste our time trying. But that decision
misses two key points.
The first is that the definition of creativity does not
mention the immense amount of work, of trial and
error, and overcoming obstacles that is required for any
composer, artist or novelist to succeed. And the second
is that the benefit of exploring your creativity in the arts
is not that you will leave your day job or become an
international sensation; it’s that you will work on your
“ability or power to create” something that neither you
nor the rest of the world has ever heard, seen or read.
Art classes are frequently thought of as great experiences
for our children and grandchildren. The Sioux City Art
Center offers a wide variety of classes for children—
weekend workshops, seasonal classes or summer art
camp. Even as they learn how to use colors and lines or
how to add new and strange materials to their drawings
or sculptures, students are also learning to tackle two of
the most stressful decisions anyone can face, “How do I
start when faced with something that is blank and when
do I know I am finished?” Along the way, they face a series
of decisions that are, at heart, about identifying problems
and coming up with solutions. These are the basics of
creativity. The confidence to tackle something new and
challenging will carry children throughout their lives.
The arts are how we as individuals
build on our education and experiences
to find the best of who we are.

imagination
exploration
possibilities
inspiration
Students participating at art camp.
How do I start when faced with something that is
blank and when do I know I am finished?
But what about you? Is there value for adults with little or
no prior training in art to enroll in a class or workshop?
Absolutely! Studies repeatedly show that exposure to art
and art instruction open up new ways of seeing the world
and therefore provide a stronger feeling of connection to
your community and the wider world around you. Increased
exposure to the arts among young people has been linked
to the development of greater empathy and compassion,
increased confidence to set more demanding personal
goals and a wider openness to innovative ideas. Certainly,
you’re not too old to expose yourself to new things, right?
You can check out all of the Art Center’s classes and activities
by following the Education tab at www.siouxcityartcenter.
org. And look for even more offerings this fall!
Todd Behrens is the Curator at the Sioux City Art Center.
Photos courtesy of the Sioux City Art Center.

Siouxland Magazine | creation / 10
ARTists Have a New Home in Siouxland
By Mary Sterk
Art can bring a community together, like it did with these
18 artists, and it continues to do so within Siouxland.
Gallery 103 opened its doors to the public on April 26th,
2019. It displays the work of 18 artists, some of whom
have working studios in the space as well. Gallery 103
is the only art gallery of its kind in Siouxland - featuring
a wide array of painting, sculpture, mixed media, prints
and jewelry. Open from 10-1 on Saturdays, art lovers
can peruse the gallery, and take a circular walk thru the
studio spaces as they take in the color and texture of the
local art. Gallery 103 is also partnering with Downtown
Live (formerly Friday’s On The Promenade) to be
open during the live musical performances six Friday
evenings in June and July, creating a unique downtown
experience of music and art.
Most of the artists were formerly located within
individual studio spaces at the Benson Building or the
Commerce Building, both of which displaced the artists
when the spaces were slated for renovations. Amidst
the upheaval, a new idea sparked to have one collective
space housing the groups together. The artists banded
together to determine what their ideal location,
structure, and artistic goals were.
After many meetings and group discussions,
the space at the Ho-Chunk building was
selected to begin the new venture. 18
creative minds began to move in and
personalize the space and their studios at
the beginning of the year - reinventing the
white walls of a medical clinic into a colorful
and elegant artistic feast for the eyes.
It’s more than just a pretty picture on a wall. Access to
original art can spur a ripple effect of creativity and vision
that creates growth and propels people forward. In adults
and children alike, being able to see artists working in
their studios sparks the imagination and opens up new
ways of thinking. It encourages collaboration and lifts
people’s spirits. The artists of Gallery 103 are excited
about the impact of our work within the community,
and appreciate those who support them by buying and
proudly displaying their local art.
It’s time for you to visit Gallery 103!
Mary Sterk, artist represented by Gallery 103.
Gallery 103 grand opening night, photo credit Becca Feauto.

Siouxland Magazine | creation / 11

Siouxland Magazine | creation / 12
Gallery 103 Artists
Rick Baker
Paula Crandell
Brian Joel Damon
Paige DeGroot
Mike Frizzell
Karen Emenhiser Harris
Debra D Knealing
Susan McCulley
Terri McGaffin
Ann Marie McTaggart
Meghan O’Connor
Jean-Guy Richard
Austin Rodriguez
Susie Rodriguez
Frank Salazar
Shannon Sargent
Pauline Sensenig
Mary Sterk
Mary Sterk
I think a creative approach to our world
is critical because that is how we all keep
evolving and growing. Original creative
thought takes possibility and shapes it into
reality. Being a financial planner and an artist gives
me a unique perspective on that. In the finance world my brain
is all logic, sequence and numbers. As an artist it is all color,
creativity and chaos. The space where the two sides of my
brain intersect, where creativity meets logic, is where I believe
that strategy is born.
Susie Rodriguez
An artist has been given a special gifting from God to create
beauty in an otherwise dark world. Art can make your spirit
dance or calm you into a peaceful state. It is a powerful influence
in our lives. My hope is that everyone will allow themselves to
enjoy exploring the arts, for they will be richer for it. Everyone
has the ability to be creative. Without it, we deny ourselves and
the world infinite possibilities.
Paula
Crandell
Art
You are my
escape, my
challenge, my being.
You gently pull me into my paintings,
coaxing me to release my moods,
my thoughts, my feelings.
You force me to be brave, for
displaying my private self found in
colors, shapes and lines to unknown
viewers, brings fear of rejection and
desire for acceptance.
You are a powerful force in my life.
You subdue, excite, bring a tear to
my eye, a smile to my face.
You set a mood, make a statement,
evoke opinion, foster discussion, and
stir viewers to action.
You are the heart of being.
Susan McCulley
Creativity is more than just thinking outside
the box. Creativity is allowing ourselves to
be true to what inspires us, without fear of
judgment, and in turn helps us to accept
others for their thoughts and ideas. Often times
without realizing it, we are influenced by people
and/or things around us. If our world was based on one
person’s concepts, it would not allow for individual growth, and
imagine the opportunities that would have been lost if someone
hadn’t asked “what if......?”
Brian Joel Damon
Art creates a heartbeat where none exists
by profoundly impacting human existence,
human experience, human development,
while gently nurturing the human soul.

Meghan O’Connor
I see art, both making it and viewing it, as an opportunity for connecting with others.
It allows us to share our observations, and what it means to exist as humans in
contemporary culture. Viewing artwork, making artwork, and teaching these processes
to others is an avenue for shared experiences, whether it is through a connection with the
imagery, or through learning about the process of making.
Siouxland Magazine | creation / 13
Susie Rodriguez
An artist has been given a
special gifting from God to
create beauty in an otherwise
dark world. Art can make your
spirit dance or calm you into a
peaceful state. It is a powerful influence
in our lives. My hope is that everyone will allow
themselves to enjoy exploring the arts, for they
will be richer for it. Everyone has the ability to
be creative. Without it, we deny ourselves and
the world infinite possibilities.
Paula Sensenig
Creative people have a history
of solving problems.
Paula Bosco
Damon
“ART-ICULATING Power of
Art”
Omnipresent, art and its power
over humanity flow boundlessly among
all geographies, cultures, socio-economic
strata and religions. Manifesting in a
limitless sundry of natural and contrived
media, by its very own communal nature,
art never ceases to cross borders and
break down walls.
Rather, art plies pathways to and from
known and unknown regions of our
exterior and interior lives. Art with all its
forms and faculties has the power to cast
enormous light on the most dismal of
circumstances.
Not a perfect equalizer, art’s dual nature
has the potential to delight and frighten,
calm and agitate, stick to your boots and
fly off the handle. Yet, in every tongue, art
remains a one and only love and favorite
friend.
Ann Marie McTaggart
I attempt to give to the inanimate object of the canvas a vitality and a message. My usual
icon is the bird form. For myself as an artist, I have found that the bird image symbolizes
a true spirituality. These icons could be anyone of us, male or female, young or old.
There are many issues that both celebrate and identify our human persona. We are all
assimilations of our relationships and situations. I can only say that my life has been a journey
of enlightenment, both as an oncology nurse and an artist. I only hope to present through my art
a realism which is honest. My vision is for the viewer as well as myself to identify the inner strengths
that we all possess with the reassurance of our humanity.

Siouxland Magazine | creation / 14
Siouxland Artists watch fellow member Debra Knealing demonstrate her favorite resin techniques.
Siouxland Artists – Actively Promoting Art & Artists for 75 Years
By Glenda Drennen
How do SA members encourage individuals
to grow as artists?
Our membership is a diverse group of individuals
at different skill levels, working in a wide range
of mediums and styles. In spite of the diversity,
Beth
we recognize that the elements and principles of
design are common to all creative artistic efforts. We
learn from each other by sharing, inspiration, and
mentoring. Freely sharing ideas and techniques is
inspiring and empowering.
teacher/artist. Prizes are awarded, and artists benefit from
personal feedback from the juror about their entry. This
show is open to the public.
SA members often choose to display their work at other local
and area art shows, such as Artsplash, Latham Park, and other
local and area art shows.
Part of each meeting is devoted to feedback from
fellow artists on work in progress or a finished work
of art.
We regularly invite regional or area artists to
introduce and demonstrate new art forms, styles,
and techniques.
What are some community events and
activities where the public can meet SA
members and see their work?
Many of our members display their work at the SA
Holiday Show each fall where they enjoy discussing
their work, the creative process, and inspiration for
their work with visitors.
Members also have the option of submitting work
to a competition, adjudicated by a professional
Siouxland Artists booth at Art Splash 2018.

Siouxland Magazine | creation / 15
An art demonstration at one of the Siouxland Artists meetings.
What are some community events and activities
where the public can meet SA members and see
their work?
Many of our members display their work at the SA Holiday
Show each fall where they enjoy discussing their work, the
creative process, and inspiration for their work with visitors.
Members also have the option of submitting work to a
competition, adjudicated by a professional teacher/artist.
Prizes are awarded, and artists benefit from personal
feedback from the juror about their entry. This show is
open to the public.
SA members often choose to display their work at other
local and area art shows, such as Artsplash, Latham Park,
and other local and area art shows.
Other SA Activities
Each spring SA members benefit from a day-long retreat
where artists work side-by-side, share ideas and inspiration,
and take turns demonstrating special techniques to the
group.
Meeting Information
Time – First Tuesday of the month at 5:30PM
Place – St. Mark Lutheran Church, 5200 Glenn Ave,
Sioux City, IA
Enjoy speakers, demonstrations, and sharing artwork
Refreshments.
Photo credit Chris Simons, Diesel Pictures.
Woodbury County
Courthouse: A Piece
of Art All its Own
Offered by Jim Jung
The Woodbury County Courthouse, located in
Sioux City, Iowa, is considered to be one of the
finest examples of Prairie Architecture in the
United States. It is a National Historic Landmark
and is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places. Opened for business in March, 1918, it was
designed by local architect William Steele with the
assistance of William Purcell and George Elmslie.
Today, there are guided tours available upon
request, printed guides for adults and children, a
virtual tour that may be viewed at home or in the
courthouse and tablets for the public to view the
tour while in the building.
The tour may be viewed at
woodburycountyiowa.gov.
Membership is open to anyone interested in
creating, promoting, or educating.
All skill levels and media welcome.
Dues are $35 per year, and membership
entitles members to participate in SA
sponsored spaces at local art shows, the
annual competition, and other SA events.
Glenda Drennen, artist represented by Siouxland Artists.
Photos courtesy of Siouxland Artists.

Siouxland Magazine | creation / 16
Photography As Art
By Sarah Gill with Sarah Ann Photography
What is art? The literal definition is the
expression or application of human
creative skill and imagination, typically
in a visual form, to be appreciated
for its beauty and the emotional pull
it can have. Before cameras, if we
wanted to see imagery of far off lands
and portraits of people, we relied
primarily on paintings and sketches.
It wasn’t until the 1800’s when the
first camera was invented that we
could freeze moments in time. As
cameras became more accessible,
they became more mobile. Cameras
enabled the documentation of
historical events and allowed travelers
to capture landscapes and the people
who lived there, giving us a more
intimate look at the world around us.
Photography has long been a way to
document our lives. So, when does it
become art and not just a photo?
Let’s first take a look at refining a craft.
Cameras are everywhere today and
more affordable than ever. Taking the
time to learn your instrument, your
camera in this case, is crucial when
creating art. Choosing the right lens,
having your settings on your camera
just right, finding the angles and
knowing when to push the shutter; all
come into play when creating a vision.
The camera becomes an extension of
self. The photographer must then take
their knowledge and decide how they
want to convey their message. Does the
photo make you feel something? Maybe
nothing. Art is meant to be subjective
and I believe that is what makes it so
beautiful.
Downtown Murals
By Downtown Partners – Sioux City & Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce
The Sioux City Mural Project strived to embrace the arts in Sioux City by exposing
the public to highly visible murals in the heart of Sioux City’s downtown. There is
no doubt that in creating the first two pieces, people in the community took notice.
It’s hard to miss the bold colors draping the two builds.
Jenna Brownlee, from Des Moines, Iowa, was the first artist to create her mural
back in 2017. It’s located at 1021 4th Street, on the east side of the property, and is
in the center of the popular Historic 4th Street District. Pictured left.
Then Martin Ron, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, had the largest of the two murals
in downtown. His mural is located at 501 Douglas Street, facing west.
The project was overwhelmingly successful and created an impact on our community.
Each mural has been the backdrop for numerous selfies and the topic of
many conversations, which are still happening to this day. It begs the question,
“When will we see another mural and what will it be?”
The Le Mars Alley Art is another public art project.
It’s coordinated by the Le Mars Area Chamber
of Commerce, the Le Mars Arts Center and
the City of Le Mars. The project began in 2013
as a way to bring new life to old alleys. Artists
range from professionals to middle school artists
with fees ranging from $50.00 to $5,000.00.
With art filling nine alleys in downtown Le Mars,
it is unquestionably one of the most vibrant and
colorful downtowns in Iowa. Grab an ice cream
cone and take enjoy the murals this summer.
Mural shown by Glenda Drennen pictured left.

Sculpt Siouxland Celebration
By Todd Behrens
Sculpt Siouxland will celebrate the beginning of its 15th year
with the annual Sculpt Siouxland Celebration event on Thursday, June
6, 5-7 pm at the Sioux City Art Center. This outdoor event is free to the
public and includes hors d’oeuvres from Aggies and a cash bar. Visitors
will have one last chance to see and purchase one of the sculptures
that have been on display during the past year. Plus, sculptors will be
bringing a variety of smaller sculptures suitable for indoor settings.
This year, seven new sculptures will be installed in downtown Sioux
City. Artists included in the 2019-20 exhibition year are traveling from
Colorado, central Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and South Dakota.
Siouxland Magazine | creation / 17
With the purchases during the past year of sculptures by Bilhenry Walker
of Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Will Vannerson of Kansas City, Missouri,
Sculpt Siouxland’s collection now includes 23 sculptures that are on
view on the streets of downtown Sioux City and the campus of the Sioux
City Art Center. Sculpt Siouxland is a private non-profit organization
dedicated to making downtown Sioux City as dynamic and engaging as
possible. The project is supported financially by the Gilchrist Foundation
and a host of generous local businesses and individuals, and through
the assistance of the Sioux City Art Center.
Uplift by Ted Sitting Crow Garner from
Chicago. aluminum, 10 feet tall.
Bilhenry Walker (Eau Claire, WI)
Synaptic Sinew Sequi
painted and fabricated aluminum
on steel base
2018 Purchase Award
Will Vannerson (Kansas City, MO)
Borbor 7.1
galvanized steel
2018 Jury’s Choice Award Winner
Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby
(Aberdeen, SD)
After a Knights Meal Cigar
bronze
2006 People’s Choice Award

Siouxland Magazine | creation / 18
Stay Right Where You Are: We’re Launching a Podcast
By Gia Emory
How could you benefit from more music in your life? Our
mission at the Sioux City Conservatory of music is to use music
education to reach people, inspire them, and encourage them not
to seek acceptance but to enhance their person with the power of
song. I have had the blessing to live all over the country. There’s no
better place than your hometown, but it is not because of the warm
welcome we would assume here in Sioux City. It is not because
Sioux City is a place of inspiration and creative liberty, although
I see with vibrant settings like The Conservatory’s BLOCK, we are
well on our way in providing intelligent, creative resources. Sioux
City is my place to encourage like minds at a much younger age
than myself to be good with who they are because in reality we
speak a brilliant language that might not be the same language as
our peers. It is not our place as creative people to seek acceptance
from those that don’t speak our language.
That’s when we hold fast, stay right where we are, write a song or
launch a podcast.
Introducing our new podcast studio! Our podcast studio is open
daily from 2pm - 9pm. Host your own, studio time by appointment
at $25/hour.
Podcast Shows are:
“What you do in The Sioux”
“Ask Radio”
“Guitar Wars”
“Song Writer’s Story’ - Launching June 6th, 7pm
1307 Pierce Street
siouxcityconservatory.com
712-574-1751 text only
Check Us Out - Conservatory and Block
host open houses every Saturday, from
10am - 12pm
Blue Café hours:
Tuesday- Friday 11-2
Saturday 10-1
Thursday & Friday nights 5-9
Gia Emory, co-owner of The Block with her husband
Ron Emory.
Model of sculpture, by Mark, located
at MLK Transportation, “The arc of the
moral universe is long, but it bends
toward justice.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.
Art Is Important
By Mark Avery
Humans were creating art before
there was written language. Art
was the language.
Art is an elemental, natural part of how
we express our humanness, one way
we connect to the energy, purpose and
feelings in our lives and communities.
Art teaches us to see more clearly and
feel more deeply the beauty, diversity,
mystery and wonder of each other and
our natural world.
Our love of art through dance, theater,
paintings, sculptures, writing, cooking
and many other creative forms fills our
hearts with joy, beauty, truth and with
more meaning, in our relationships with
each other and nature.
Connecting with art creates an
atmosphere that tends to make us more
humane, kinder and perhaps brings us
into closer contact with living a more
selfless life, centered on serving others.
Creativity and art heal us.
Mark Avery, local artist.

All My Relations - Mitakuye Oyasin
By Stacie Anderson
In a world that seems to be moving faster
every day, it is more important than ever to find
moments of stillness, but how can we make every
moment sacred? How do we shift from racing through
our lives with only solitary moments of joy to a life that
is abundant and full? There is no greater gift than the
present and being open to receive everything that is
available to us. It’s in this delicate balance between the
present and the future that holds so much power.
Siouxland Magazine | creation / 19
It is no secret that being in nature grounds us. It pulls us
swiftly and deeply to the present. Although we are drawn
towards the future, it’s when we are fully present that we
tap into something profound. Our awareness heightens,
senses become more keen and our hearts expand.
Sitting with Michael Patrick *Wandbi Gdeska O’Conner,
from the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, it was
easy to listen to him speak about the Native American’s
relationship with nature. He referred to it as a medicinal
relationship and how we all have the ability to receive
wisdom from Mother Earth. Every word that was spoken
resonated. Can you think of a time when someone
mentioned going for a walk and coming back more
stressed?
We innately know that our relationship with
nature is a sacred one. It is healing and
nourishing. It is also, according to Michael, a
two-way relationship.
Michael Patrick Wandbi Gdeska O’Conner.
There is no division between us and other living beings.
Everything is a part of the whole. He uttered the words
“Mitakuye Oyasin” as if a prayer rolling off the tongue.
“Mitakuye Oyasin” translates to “All My Relations”.
We can connect when we place our feet on the Earth,
feel the warmth of the sun, and listen to the song of the
wind. We can have a deeper relationship with creation,
and in doing so, “live a life that is a ceremony,” as Michael
would say, “and a result of a prayer”. We can live an
abundant life by living in gratitude through a discipline
of staying present.
It is easy to get distracted in this busy world by material
things and status, but Michael believes that this is a
symptom of something else that’s lacking in our lives.
“When we only have isolated inspirational moments it
leaves us hungry, spiritually malnourished, but when we
put a priority on spirituality, it will change us.” He then
recited a quote from Wayne Dyer, “If you change
the way you look at things, the things you look at
change.”
Maybe we just need to look at what’s right in front of us.
Can you be open to receive the abundance of gifts that’s
just outside our door?
*Wandbi Gdeska is Spotted Eagle and a family name on
his mom’s side.
Stacie Anderson is a Certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer
and Coach and Co-Owner of Siouxland Magazine.

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10
Under
40
Siouxland Magazine | Creation / 21
Siouxland Magazine is proud to host the 7th annual 2019
“10 Under 40” competition! The spotlight article this issue
out in October features young professionals in Siouxland
who are making a real difference in our community.
Nominations will be open starting July 1 and the form
can be found on our website at siouxlandmagazine.com.
Here is what we look for in Siouxland’s 10 Under 40. Look around to your co-workers, employees,
bosses, friends, colleagues, and think about who meets the following criteria:
• Under the age of 40 as of December 31, 2019 (Yes, you may have to ask, but he/she will be
honored you are thinking of them for an award!)
• Is a business owner or high executive/manager/director (or has experience in this area) within their
organization (this can be a large corporation, small business, or non-profit organization).
Must be in their current position, or have had experience in a managerial role for at least one year.
Lives and works in the Siouxland area (approximately a 60 mile radius around Sioux City.)
Has a history of displaying:
• Vision and Leadership
• Innovation and Achievement
• Growth/Development Strategy
• Community Involvement/Contribution
• Consistent display of excellent character and ethics
“When I was
My husband told
nominated and
me that he had
ultimately selected
to be one of the
top 10 under 40 in
Siouxland, I was so
humbled. I’ve never
volunteered or took up
public service with the hope of being
recognized. Acknowledgment from
nominated me for
the award because
he was proud of
me. That was my first
win. When I realized I
had been selected for the 10 under
40 award I felt humbled. The quality
of applicants and past winners have
peers in the community, however,
Dr. Hoekstra, DDS been Dr. top Lohr, DDS notch and I was thrilled
felt validating. That what I was trying to be included in such a group of
to do mattered. We have so many
unsung heroes in our community
and this is an opportunity to tell
them what they are doing matters
and is appreciated.” - Alex Watters
motivated and dynamic individuals.
Several of my patients and friends
complimented the story and the
photos and I think the award gave
me a spring in my step and a lift in
my career that everyone needs from
time to time. - Julie Lohr
712-255-1163
lohrfamilydentistry.com
2918 Hamilton Blvd
Being chosen as
one of the 2016
“10 Under 40”
remains a great
honor. There are
so many amazing,
difference-making
individuals in Siouxland, so when
I was nominated, I thought surely
someone else will be chosen.
Finding out that I had been selected
was both humbling and rewarding at
the same time. Better still was seeing
the list of incredibly talented leaders
in my class. When I see those who
were chosen with me, the honor of
being selected often comes up. The
magazine and award sit in my office
to this day. - Chris Liberto

converse
curious
Cultivating Meaningful
Powerful narrative of “us”
truth seekers
(In)voluntary poverty and the pursuit of purpose
By Ally Karsyn
A few months ago, I reduced my living expenses
to $7,009.
I moved out of my downtown loft and into a retired
pastor’s basement with pink carpet, ‘70s wood-paneled
walls and Paco, a fluffy orange cat that likes to attack your
legs when you walk by him. I had cut my budget to the
bone—no restaurants, no new clothes, no subscription
meditation apps or streaming services. I updated my
dating profile to say that I’m looking for that spark, for
someone who will send me inspirational sayings, songs
and poetry… and maybe their Netflix password.
By this point, everything had fallen apart.
After leaving a marriage at 26, I thought the worst was
behind me. I had moved into a new downtown loft, started
a new journalism job and entered a new relationship with
a doting chef. I felt empowered, happy, whole.
In less than two years, fault lines crept into the life I’d
rebuilt.
Last year, as summer began, I realized my boyfriend had
broken up with me and forgot to tell me. He just stopped
coming to see me, and within two months, the phone calls
and text messages dropped off. We’d been together for
over a year. After a yoga class, the teacher asked me in all
sincerity, “Ally, how are you?” I burst into tears. Between
sobs, I said, “I just feel so alone.”
My boyfriend and I started dating right after the 2016
election. He was undocumented, from Mexico, one of the
Dreamers. Five hours into our first date, I asked, “Sooo,
can you get deported?” I wanted to know how attached
I should get. At the time, he said, “No, I know my rights.”
But as a year went by, his confidence faded and so did
our relationship.
His mom went back to Mexico for the first time in 31 years,
trying to follow the legal path to citizenship. They were
close. I think that separation was harder for him than he
cared to admit. Last I heard, she’s still stuck in Acapulco.
He felt hopeless.
He’d been my biggest supporter, my No. 1 fan, and I
couldn’t be there for him. I was an empty cup. I had poured
every ounce of energy into my career as a journalist, which
was deeply entwined with my identity. Dangerously so.
Much to my shock and dismay, my job started looking a
lot like my marriage. Unhealthy. Unsatisfying. Full of polite
tension. I tried to hold on, but I knew what I had to do—I
had to let go.

strengthening our community
Conversations exploring perspectives
coming together
open minded
focused on common good
In less than three weeks, I left one job and lost
another. The business I went to work for was on the
verge of bankruptcy and couldn’t pay me. So, I started
freelancing—as a writer, photographer and graphic
designer—and found myself teaching a college
writing course. But I’d lost all sense of direction. It felt
like there had been a death.
There were long stretches of darkness, alleviated
by pinpricks of light. For months, I was plagued by
pulsing questions. What am I doing? Where am I
going? Who am I? Am I still a journalist? Am I lovable,
employable? Am I enough? My only answer was to
keep living, to put one foot in front of the other and
hope that a path would appear.
I knew I was in trouble again when I started looking at
buying a house in Omaha or Albuquerque. Based on
past experiences, I have one basic rule for myself in
times of crises: don’t buy property or propose.
I didn’t actually want a house. I wanted comfort and
stability, which was also the impetus of my misguided
marriage. Fortunately, since I was newly single, I didn’t
have to worry about proposing to anyone. But what that
meant was, instead of sitting with the uncomfortable
feelings of loss and pain and fear, I took up dating as
a distraction. One of my male friends started calling
these guys my “action figures.” I’d play with them for
a little while, get bored and move on. While I don’t
agree with that assessment, I will admit to not being
in the best state of mind to be dating.
After 21 first dates in 10 months—including fathers,
felons, a nomadic novelist, a bisexual atheist and a
semi-pro athlete who wanted an open relationship
but only for himself—I finally repeated my story
enough times that it didn’t hurt anymore.
I met some people that I liked and cared for and
connected with. Sometimes it felt good just to be
seen. But none of my dates could solve the problem
that disturbed my soul.
Giving up my loft was the final act of surrender. It was
a gift from the Universe during my divorce. It was
proof that I could stand on my own two feet, that I
could make it on my own. It was my sanctuary. Yet, I
thought I could let it go and find peace within myself.
At the eleventh hour, one of my freelance clients
offered me a full-time job with benefits, bonuses and
all the Keurig coffee I could drink. More importantly, it
held the promise that we’d be making a difference. I was
at a crossroads. I could live in voluntary poverty, piecing
together my creative, vagabond existence. Or I could take
my talents elsewhere. Only a week had gone by since I
moved. My downtown loft was still sitting empty. I could
take the job and return to the comforts of home. And
that’s what I did.
I returned home, to myself—to rebuild, again.
I am—just barely—standing on the other side of intense
uncertainty. Some days I still feel lost and like I’m searching
for a guiding light. But here’s the thing about having
everything fall apart: anything’s possible. There isn’t a
path to follow because I am the mapmaker, the stargazer.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know this—I
am going to absorb as much joy as possible, here and
now, and wherever I go, whatever I do, I will be supported.
I will move forward with a greater capacity for kindness
and understanding. And instead of waiting for someone
to tell me that I’m a star, I will look in the mirror and see a
constellation.
*A version of this story was originally told live at Beacon
Story Lab events in March and April 2019. The theme was
Lost & Found.nails. She lives in Le Mars, Iowa.
Ally Karsyn is the founder of Beacon Story Lab, which
creates more courageous, compassionate and connected
communities through the healing art of storytelling. Live
events featuring true stories, music and poetry are held
monthly.
Upcoming Shows
Becoming
7 p.m. Thursday, June 6 at Be Yoga Studio
American Dreams: Stories of how we live, love and work
7 p.m. Friday, July 5 at The Marquee
August date and location TBA.
Fish Out of Water
7 p.m. Friday, September 6 at The Marquee
*Stories ideas will be accepted through July 15. Email
ally@beaconstorylab.com.
Find updates by following the Facebook page for Beacon
Story Lab.

Siouxland Magazine | Converse /24
Community Conversations: Bringing People Together
By Philippa Hughes
Like many Americans, I was surprised by the outcome of
the 2016 presidential election. Although I’m a Democrat,
during the lead up to the election I consumed media
from left- and right-leaning outlets to try to understand
the deepening divide—and the anger, fear, and frustration
voiced by voters of all political stripes—across the country.
Despite my research, I maintained certain assumptions
about what the results would be, and I even wondered how
Republican voters would react when their candidate lost,
prompting me to begin exploring ways to heal the rift after
the election.
My first, pre-election attempt at reconciliation was to cocurate
an art show called US + THEM = U.S.: Finding
Common Ground in a Divided Nation, which I’d begun
planning with a small team in the early fall of 2016, but
which would open one week before the inauguration.
Finding common ground in a divided nation took on new
meaning after the election results came in.
Breaking bread together seemed like a good start to
closing that gap. One week after the 2016 election, I began
inviting voters from both sides of the aisle over for dinner
at my house and continued hosting meals with guests who
held different political opinions from my own for the next
two years. I wanted to engage in difficult conversations
face-to-face and ask my own questions, to dig beyond the
filtered observations and analysis offered by journalists,
pundits, and thought leaders. At each meal, I experimented
with ways to improve our interactions. When we spoke faceto-face,
we began to see each other as humans and not as
avatars or data points. Curiosity about one another led to
more empathy and stronger relationships. Art emerged as
one of the most effective tools for framing and facilitating
dialogue.
The small dinners cooked by me in my home culminated
nearly two years later in October 2018 when I partnered with
American University School of Public Affairs to organize a
dinner for 50 people from across the political spectrum, and
an art exhibit I curated in the Heurich House Museum called A
[Good] American. Before taking their seats at the dinner table,
guests were invited to view artworks created by seven local
artists reflecting on what it meant to be a good American. Art
brought together curious people who would not normally
have met and became the starting point for dialogue. Using
art to frame and facilitate a difficult conversation while
sharing a meal became the basis for Looking For America,
a partnership between New American Economy, a bipartisan
group advocating for better immigration policy,
CuriosityConnects.us, and American University’s School of
Public Affairs, which teaches civil discourse as a foundation
of democracy.
Looking For America will include art exhibits featuring local
artists and dinners with guests from across the political
spectrum. Local artists will create works in response to
this question: “What does it mean to be American in your

Siouxland Magazine | Converse /25
community?” Volunteers from each city will undergo light
training in civil discourse led by AU’s School of Public Affairs.
The volunteers will then facilitate conversation at a dinner for
50 people from across the political spectrum. Dinner guests
will also be invited to participate in the Tenement Museum’s
online exhibit Your Story, Our Story, which “highlights stories
of immigration, migration, and cultural identity, past and
present, through objects and traditions.” We plan to create a
toolkit and model for effective civil discourse based on what
we learn from participants across the country and share it
with communities across the United States.
The project will take place in several communities across
the country, including Siouxland, where we are partnering
with Erica DeLeon, Executive Director of One Siouxland.
One Siouxland recently received a grant from the Missouri
River Historic Development that will ensure all artists receive
a stipend for participating in the exhibit. The exhibit and
dinner will take place in fall 2019, after which the art will be on
display long-term at the Betty Strong Encounter Center. If you
would like to exhibit your work, join the dinner, or volunteer
to be a facilitator, please email p@curiosityconnects.us.
One Siouxland is a tri-state, multisector initiative
working to ensure all who call Siouxland ‘home’
can meaningfully contribute to the economic,
civic, and cultural fabric of our community. To
accomplish that mission, newcomer leaders, longtime
residents, business leaders, governmental
officials, and local and national experts team up to
develop and implement sustainable programs that
help newcomers acclimate and thrive. Partners
additionally utilize economic indicators, Census
data and local success stories.
Philippa P.B. Hughes is a social sculptor and creative
strategist.
Photos courtesy of School of Public Affairs at American
University. Photos from an event in Washington D.C.

Siouxland Magazine | Converse /26
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Siouxland Magazine | Converse /27
Maslow Inspired Job Perks
By Tony Micheals
Here’s my confession.
I went to college with the express interest
in becoming an Industrial / Organizational
Psychologist. Instead, my path veered towards
gossiping on the radio about cooked up
controversies centered on country stars and
where to get the best pizza in Siouxland.
However, I still have a vested interest in how to improve
the atmosphere and workflow of an office.
I read a lot of articles posted on Linkedin about how
to attract and maintain the BEST employees. Most of
them get it right. Provide positive feedback, encourage
creativity, don’t make employees want to weep in the
bathroom, yada, yada, yada.
On a recent “Career Day” at Cardinal Elementary in
South Sioux City, a 5th grader asked me what I love
most about my job. At the time, I said chatting on the
radio with interesting people like Garth Brooks and
Taylor Swift. Surprisingly, T Swizzle received a much
better reaction. Have they not heard of “The Thunder
Rolls”? His songs should totally be in the syllabus.
However, after more thought, another work highlight
is awaiting the announcement over the inter-office
telephone paging system saying, “It’s FREE FOOD FRIDAY
in the break room!” In the hierarchy of job perks, this is at
the top of the pyramid with self-actualization, my personal
favorite.
Imagine the possibilities if managers in Siouxland all
participated in FREE FOOD FRIDAYS? Morale would be
boosted and absenteeism would take a nosedive…at least
until early afternoon. I heard Tulsa, Oklahoma recently
enacted an initiative targeted to individuals working
remotely where they could dole up a $10,000 bonus to
stimulate the economy. Just imagine if Sioux City became
the work for food capital of the country? Retention
bonuses in the form of Charley Boys, Sneaky’s Chicken
and La Juanita’s every Friday.
Free Food Friday. Are your ready for it?
Tony Michaels, KSUX Morning Show guy /
avid eater / Taylor Swift apologist
Paid advertisement.

Inspire
Lessons learned from stories in our community.
Me, Doug Rathje (Dad), Jackie Paulson, Keith Rathje (brother), Donna Rathje (mom), Nikki Rathje (sister) at Camden State Park
Surviving Life, One Minute at a Time: Chapter 1
By Samantha Geurts
We all imagine how our life will look as we become
an adult. For me it was the aspiration of being a
mother and a hairstylist. As a child we ask our moms,
“When will we be grown up?” I honestly don’t remember
what my mother’s response was. I would imagine it was
not the answer I was hoping for, so chose not to keep it in
my long-term memory. Fast forward thirty years and now
my children ask me this very same question. I can’t help
but cringe every time I get asked, and always respond
with, “Enjoy being a kid, as it will be the most carefree
time of your life”. And this is usually followed by, “What
does carefree mean? And in that moment, I wonder
the same thing.
I always saw myself having a family of my own. I grew up
in a family of six, four of them children, I was third in line.
I love having the family I was born with. We always ended
our conversations with “I love you”. As a child I was very
independent and wanted to control and plan my day
and future. From learning to ride a 10-speed bike and
helping dad mow the lawn even before my older sister
did. At age 15, I accepted a job at the local Dairy Queen
just so I didn’t have to depend on my parents to pay for
things I wanted. I hated asking for things and depending
on others to accomplish my goals, even if that goal was
to have gas money to drive around aimlessly with my
friends. And you can bet I was the one that was driving,
because again, it gave me the control for the evenings
plans. Even having a job so young, I never felt like it was
“adulting” because it gave me freedom. My ambitions
were narrowed to my end game only, rather instead of
looking into the possibility that I may not be in control of
what happens in my life. I didn’t understand what grief
was, or that it can affect anyone.
But then, sadness and grief came into my life. I don’t
even remember having a whole lot of sadness while I was
younger. I remember the loss of my grandma when I was
around the age of 8, I think, and how sad it made my dad.
And the loss of my aunt from cancer, but my mother hid
her sadness from us.
Nikki Rathje, Keith Rathje, Donna Rathje, Jackie Paulson, Me – Christmas Eve

non-profit
community
family
small business
people
“
I wouldn’t feel loss again for another
15 years, when it seemed as though
the flood gates opened, and the
23 years of happiness would catch
up to me.
”
Before I get to this, a little more about the time between.
My parents were amazing and were an amazing source of
strength for me. I wonder now if this isn’t why I felt that my
younger self only remembers happiness. Did my parents
protect me from so much that I didn’t get the chance to
understand how life really works? I shouldn’t say they
didn’t allow us to make our own choices, but maybe they
could have allowed us to “feel” our way through life even
more than we did. At 18 years old, I thought I was in love.
I got married right after graduation. It was so against what
I had planned for myself, but he was the first person that
convinced me that what he wanted was what I wanted.
The next three years was my “push from the nest”. My
parents were clear in their decision to allow me to be adult,
since I felt I was adult enough to make the big decision to
get married. The freedom and independence I once had
so freely was now taken from me the moment I moved
2,000 miles away, with my new life. I was no longer allowed
to make decisions for myself. This included the clothes and
make-up or the friends I kept. I could hold a job; however, I
didn’t have any control of the money other than depositing
my checks into his account. He made it clear that he was
the decision maker and my sole purpose was to keep him
happy. I allowed him to verbally abuse me to the point of
tears. Should I do anything against him, it was to attract the
attention of other men and that I was nothing more than
a “cheating whore”. In the end I realized it was him who
was cheating. I did make my way out of this relationship. I
don’t have any real memories of living in Washington D.C.
with him other than fragments of what it was. I have been
asked if I wish my parents had stopped me from making
this decision. I can say that I don’t.
Stopping me would have only changed my view of my
parents and would not have taught me the lessons.
Three years after graduation, I finally made my way to
cosmetology school, which led me back home near my
family. A couple years later I met the one. Jason had the
strength and commitment I needed. I know now that,
Me and Jason Geurts at our backyard wedding
“
I learned from what I experienced. It
provided me the compassion for the
marriage I have now, even when life
seems to push against it.
”
even though I had the “lust” for my first husband, it was the
commitment Jason has that I needed for a future.
After two years of dating, Jason asked me to marry him.
Just before Christmas we were on our way to find a place
to eat and having a conversation about our Christmas plans
with our families. I was teasing him about being the only
boyfriend to make it to two Christmas’ in a row. That is
when he asked me to make it EVERY Christmas. It was a
good feeling to know my life was back on track. I was a
hairstylist, with a great relationship and a wonderful family.
A few months later my mother sat us down and told us
she had lung cancer. Of course, my mom tried protecting
us from the truth about what this reality was. For several
months before her diagnosis she was sick and when asked
about it, she said she has pneumonia, yet avoided getting
seen for it. I understand now that she had an instinct of
what she really had but felt living a few more days in denial
was acceptable, since it was the holidays.

Siouxland Magazine | Inspire /30
“
I was in complete denial that my mom
was dying. Over those two years we lost
my maternal grandma, and a paternal
and maternal uncle. Even in all this, I didn’t
know grief. The kind of grief that changes
the course of your life.
”
After getting her diagnosis the doctor told her to get her
things in order, that she had up to one month to live. Even
though my mom survived for two years, I am still grieving
this life that I had seen my mother being very present in.
Jason and I planned our wedding as a destination.
Everything was set and we were planning to be married in
Jamaica the first week of September 2007. Both families
were booked and ready to join us. Six months before
our destination wedding mom told us she didn’t think
she would be able to make it, and that flying would be
impossible for her. The fix was easy. Because I find it easy
to control what the future is, I knew I needed to plan a
wedding at my childhood home, so that Mom could be
there. Both families canceled their trip to Jamaica, and we
began planning a backyard wedding for August 25, 2007.
When finalizing everything one summer evening at the
house with my mom, she said, “Sam, I don’t think I will
make it to the wedding.”
It was so close, I didn’t fathom Mom to be right in her
speculation for the future. I responded, “Well, I don’t even
want to talk about that, as it won’t happen that way.” I think
about this still to this day and wish I had the conversation
with Mom. I wasn’t ready to allow sadness to take from
the euphoria I felt in the moments of wedding planning,
and the thought of Mom not being around was much
to devastating. During this time, I was an independent
hairstylist and could set my own schedule. This allowed me
the ability to be with Mom during her treatments if Dad was
working overnight. Mom was a very independent person,
so she never asked for help.
August 3rd, 2007, my mom took her last breath with all
of us surrounding her. Several doctors gave Mom 1-3
months to live and Mom survived two years. She not only
survived, but she LIVED. She graduated with her master’s in
social work, continued a full caseload as a guardian ad-litem,
was a school counselor for a local school, and let’s not forget
fighting cancer. At one of the many hospitals stays with mom,
my older sister asked my mom how she does it all; “One
minute at a time. You can do anything for just one minute.”
In another conversation, mom with me, mom talked about
marriage and me marrying Jason. She said, “Sam, if I can
give you any advice, it would be to not let life change the
way you feel right now.” Mom and dad struggled with
Me and Mom at our family vacation in Duck, NC.
things in their marriage and in true fashion didn’t allow
us kids to see how to fight properly as a married couple.
Most of the time was spent with mom being cold to dad
for reasons we never knew why. She continued, “I have
spent so much time being mad at your dad, that I realize
now how much we missed out on with each other, and
now it’s too late.”
Jason and I married August 25th as planned. I understand
now that mom wasn’t going to make it to my wedding in
the way she had hoped, but she was there. That summer
was extremely dry, and everything was brown from the
lack of rain and extreme heat. For five days straight it
rained after mom died. We had the greenest, most
perfect weather for our wedding day!
They say you should never do big life changes during
loss or tragedy. I understand what they mean by that.
Mourning the loss of mom was stunted with feelings of
excitement to a wedding. It confuses the brain, and then
that trauma and sadness stays with you. Even after the
wedding, mourning mom was put on hold with another
tragedy.
September 2nd, 2007, one week after our wedding,
Jason and I were having a conversation about how
we would be in Jamaica right now had we kept our
original wedding plans. We agreed that our wedding
was beautiful and worth the switch, even if mom wasn’t
physically there. The morning of September 3rd, 2007, I
was feeling sad, but happy it was a holiday weekend and
could veg on the couch, or so I thought.
“
Exactly one month after Mom died and
one week after our wedding, we were
now getting the devastating news that
our sister died.
”

We received a random phone call, that my older sister
died in an ATV accident.
The whole day was a blur, yet the most vivid day I can
remember. It started when Jason got a call from a friend
of his that heard Nikki died. I immediately called the
police to find out, but of course they couldn’t tell me,
so they sent an officer. After an hour an officer showed
up and told me and Jason that Nikki was indeed in an
ATV accident and had died. When I asked if someone
has told my dad, the answer we got was, “We were told
he wouldn’t be home.” I then told my remaining family
members that their sister/daughter was dead. I didn’t
even say the words to dad before he was on his knees
begging God for this not to be true, he had just buried
his wife. I told my older brother, over the phone, while
he was at an air show with his wife. I asked him to call
me when he was home, but of course, he could tell it
couldn’t wait. I remember telling my younger sister, who
had just gone back to her home in the cities, since she
picked up an extra shift at work.
Siouxland Magazine | Inspire /31
Mom, Jackie, Me; Christmas time at my apartment in Washington, D.C.
Stacy Rathje (Keith’s wife), Jackie Paulson, Nikki Rathje, Me. Back row:
Keith, Dad, Mom, Christmas 2004
“
I consumed myself with the need
for answers. Why did this happen?
Sometimes the knowing is harder than
not knowing.
”
Nikki’s death being so close to mom’s took away from
grieving mom before getting hit with grief all over again
again.
Nikki was in an accident with another person who walked
away with a minor concussion. How does this happen?
How does life decide that one dies and the other walks
away? How does life decide that the family that lost a
mother will now bury a sister? How does the person
who was in the accident with my sister try to cover up the
accident, voiding my sister the chance to get the help she
needed?
When this person was sentenced for not getting the
appropriate help for my sister and then getting into an
additional accident with my sister while trying to hide
the accident, his “friends” filled the courtroom during the
impact statements. Finding peace in the loss of Nikki has
been a hard one. It may be that I feel the one person that
could have changed the course of her life walked away
with a few months in jail, and made a huge circus out of
my chance to say how his actions changed the course
of my life, but I spend a lot of time thinking about how I
would change the way I spoke that day. Instead of what
I said, I would say,
“______, I am grateful that this courtroom is filled with
all of these people with banners of support for you.
This courtroom is filled by so much support for you that
Nikki’s family didn’t have a place to sit, but I am grateful.
Nikki needed just ONE person to call her help, when she
couldn’t, and that one person was you. Even though this
day was for Nikki’s family to gain some peace from the
decisions you both made, I am grateful you will never
have to feel the loneliness in a desperate time, as my
sister did the day you made the choices you did.”
My future became more and more blurry as the month’s
past. I didn’t know how to plan for a future, without my
mom and sister in it. I continued to listen to what my
mother said, “One minute at a time.” Honestly, the next
few years were a blur.
(Chapter 2 coming in the August issue.)
Samantha Geurts, born and raised in SW Minnesota
has grown to be a wife and mother along with being
a licensed hairstylist, yoga instructor and a full-time
paraprofessional for the local schools.

Siouxland Magazine | Inspire / 32
Worth The Wait: The Story of Marto Brewing
By Erik Martin
When one decides to open a small business, the assumption
that the road ahead is a challenging yet worthy path to go
down is likely noted. Most people who make this type of
decision out of passion, loving what they do and wanting to
share it with the world. They’ve probably weighed out the
costs and rewards before deciding to take the initial plunge.
So, it came as no surprise to Marto Brewing owner, Erik
Martin, that even though he knew his passion for brewing
great beer would create a successful business, the road to
get there would force him to learn a lot about business in the
most unlikely of ways, keep him honest when it would have
been easy to just walk away, and the practice of patience to
cross the finish line.
SM: Tell our readers a little bit about Marto Brewing.
Marto Brewing Company is a brewery with a brewpub
attached. We will seat about 100 people inside and over 40
people in our outdoor patio. Our beer will be brewed on
a 10 bbl(barrel)/310 gallon brewing system. We have the
capacity to brew over 1,000 barrels of beer per year. We
will also have an open kitchen concept featuring a Marra
Forni wood fired oven. Customers will be able to watch our
staff craft their food and beer! We will also sell select guest
beers from other breweries, a variety of wines, Stone Bru
Nitro Coffee, Hardline french press coffee and soda.
SM: Becoming a business owner is not for everyone. Tell us
about why you took the leap.
I first decided to write a business plan after my wife said,
“You are spending all this time brewing and spending money
on equipment, you should start a brewery.” It then grew
from there. I became obsessed with making good beer and
trying to perfect recipes. I taught myself by reading brewing
textbooks, magazines, listening to brewing podcasts all the
time (2-6 hours per day) and a lot of trial and error.
SM: What unique strengths do you bring into your business?
I think I have a pretty creative mind and I’m not afraid to take
a risk that may produce something unique and push the
envelope. I believe I know the customers well and we treat
them like friends, because they are.
SM: How did you decide who would be good business
partners, or who wouldn’t?
My wife was my first partner and supporter. She is always
helping with events, marketing and has helped with any odds
and ends throughout the years. The others just happened
naturally. I became good friends with Jack Ehrich and Rod
Wellman at a beer tasting event. We went from friends to
business partners to great friends. They are very supportive
and we complement each other well.
SM: How did you raise capital dollars? Walk us through that
experience.
It was very hard to raise capital in the beginning. Each investor
is different and has their own thoughts on a direction. I think
the key is to be honest with them from the beginning and tell
them about your vision. I ended up meeting my now investors
by networking with people in the area. You can meet a lot new

people just by becoming friends with one new person. I also learned that’s how you
will find the right people to invest and also, you will lose others that aren’t a good
match. That’s ok. We could have been open a year or so earlier if I would have gave
into a partnership that wouldn’t have been a good match. Having patience to wait
for the right people is also a lesson I had to learn throughout this process.
SM: What experiences have you had that have made you a better business owner?
We have had many ups and downs. Many lessons learned. Things don’t always
work like you plan. You adjust and do what you need to make it work. That has
helped me learn a lot and made me more persistent. I remember making a few
beers that ended up very bad. I was so discouraged that I wanted to quit brewing
sometimes. But I kept working to figure out what caused the bad outcome and I
changed my process to improve.
Siouxland Magazine | Inspire /33
SM: It’s easy to lose motivation, especially when it became a hurry up and wait
game or when things were moving forward sooo slowly. How do you get yourself
back on track?
Having a good team and supporters helped a lot. To just visualize the end goal and
to keep doing the things that will get you there was all we had some days. We could
see it. We just had to push to make that happen. Being obsessed with your product
or business helps you have the passion to not quit.
SM: Can you share a time when you just wanted to quit and give up? Share how
you moved past this point.
We had many ups and downs trying to find a location while trying to raise money. It
was a balancing act of, “Can I raise money without a building and a clear end goal...
or can I find a spot without investors.” Not finding investors for a long time was very
discouraging. I knew we had a great product and vision. But I needed to meet the
right people.
SM: Is there any advice that you have received over the years that you think is
worth passing along to others?
Let the haters be your motivation. Surround yourself with people that are good at
things you are not the best at. Treat your customers like people. Be yourself. Early
on, I was obsessed with being the best and learning more. When I wasn’t working
my day job, I was learning more. Listening to other brewers talk, reading articles,
listening to podcasts, and experimenting. I still do it today, I have just expanded
beyond brewing. Topics like general business, marketing, restaurants and creating
a great working culture are in my daily listening line-up.
SM: How has being a business owner changed you?
It has made me admire other business owners a lot more. It takes a lot of work to
make a business operate. Big business owners often get bashed in the media and
by the general public... but 99% of them have worked their butt off to get there.
It has also made me realize that it is impossible to make a business run without a
good team and other support.
“
One of my major drives is not
wanting to live with regret. I would
hate to look back and know I could
have done it, but did not. I also
know we have a good product
and a concept that will be a unique
experience for the area.
”
SM: Tell us how you feel when you walk through the restaurant. Is it what you
pictured in your head all these years?
Everything has happened in stages and it has been a slow progression, so I don’t
think it has quite hit me yet. It has been exciting to see the property transform from
a dirt floor to an awesome restaurant and brewery. Both the brewery and taproom
have been thought out thoroughly. The decor is a bit more modern than I originally
thought, but I love what it has transformed into. I don’t see it being a place to just
eat and drink, but it’s an overall experience. World class craft beer, high quality
wood fired food, an interactive open kitchen and great customer service.
Erik Martin, partner and creator at Marto Brewing.
Photo credit Becca Feauto.

grow
Don’t fear failure. Embrace it. It’s where the learning happens.
An Interview with an Artist
By Ashely Prince
As a young child, Ashley Prince has had a passion for
art, so you could say she was destined to find a creative
career path. For her previous careers she had been
involved in design, advertising and creative production
but painting classes began as an additional way to make
some extra cash. She recalls feeling joy and as if time
had never flown so fast after the first class wrapped. She
was hooked and knew there was more to explore from
just this one little class.
What’s unique about your business?
Our studio is one of the few local recreational outlets I
can think of that allows you to sit down with your family
or friends, put the cell phones aside and truly connect.
We are always introducing new art mediums and
continuing to evolve to keep our customers engaged.
There is something for everyone in the family!
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to
overcome as you’ve grown your business?
Balance. Having a young family and managing a growing
business has been the toughest. It is easy to become
hyper-focused on your business in the beginning
however, family comes first. I will admit it was hard to
fulfill my motherly duties in that first year. As we have
grown, so has our team and I have learned to be able
to trust in them and allow myself to step away when I’m
needed by my family
What has been your greatest reward?
Getting to know so many families, seeing new faces and
hearing their stories as to why they visit the studio. It may
be a creative outting or needed alone-time to destress.
I really enjoy seeing children explore art with their
families by their side, encouraging them. I once had a
young (and skeptical) boy finish painting and overheard
him tell his mom the studio was more fun than the pizza
place with the big mouse. Knowing I am able to facilitate
that connection goes beyond words. Most importantly
though, seeing my young children grow up in and
around the studio and understanding the hard work it
takes to run a successful business.
How have you benefited from the startup
community in Sioux City and the region? What
resources did you use?
I sought out the advice from the Small Business
Development Center Regional Director, Todd Rausch,
who was a huge influence and encouraged me to push
my dream to fruition. Todd also encouraged me to
submit an application to Swimming With The Sharks
pitch competition. I was humbled to be awarded
the grant which ultimately allowed us to expand by
purchasing equipment to add clay to our repertoire of
creative mediums.

personal growth
leadership
determination
business development
influence
IAWESTCOAST.COM I 866.537.6052
Entrepreneurs and small business owners now have
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in finding solutions to your most pressing questions by
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4014 Morningside Avenue Sioux City IA
pickledpalette.com
IASOURCELINK.COM I 866.537.6052
IASourceLink is the premiere business resource in Iowa
for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Free
business webinars, expert advice, and a searchable
directory of organizations that assist Iowa businesses
can all be found on IASourceLink.
IOWASBDC.ORG I 712.274.6454
Do you need free, confidential and customized business
counseling? Contact SBDC for advice on developing a
successful business plan.
What is one thing you know now that you wish
you knew when starting your business?
Not every day is going to be a red letter day. Burnout is
a real thing. Be ready for the ups and downs of business.
Save the fantastic email from that new customer or
screenshot the Facebook review that made you cry
happy tears. You will need them when you are having
that tough day and you ask yourself, “Why?”. Every
business is susceptible and you need a plan to battle
burnout and get motivated once again.
What advice would you give to someone looking
to start a business?
I’d advise them to do a lot of soul-searching beforehand.
Ask yourself, are you versatile? Are you ready to wear not
just one, but ALL of the hats? Do you have the tolerance
and passion that it takes? When you can answer “Yes”,
don’t be afraid to make the leap. Most importantly be
sure to surround yourself with real people that will have
honest and unfiltered conversations about the ups and
downs of business.
Ashley Prince founded Pickled Palette in 2017. She is a
painter, designer, creator, teacher and mother of three
beautiful children. Photos courtesy of Ashely Prince.
SIOUXLANDEDC.COM I 712.279.6430
Siouxland Economic Development Corporation offers
financial assistance programs and services to assist
small and medium sized businesses in getting started or
expanding.
MAKERSPACESIOUXCITY.ORG I 712.251.6050
MakerSpace Sioux City offers shared space for hobbyists,
inventors, artists and innovative people to come together
to create and teach through hands-on learning.
SPRINGBOARDCOWORKING.COM I 515.809.0052
Springboard Coworking offers shared office space in
downtown Sioux City for entrepreneurs that combines
the best elements of cafe culture with a productive,
functional, and affordable work environment.
ISUSTARTUPFACTORY.ORG I 515.294.7444
ISU Startup Factory is designed to help businesses bring
new products to the market and work with companies to
make them attractive to outside capital investors.
VENTURENETIOWA.COM I 515.471.1300
VentureNet Iowa connects ideas to resources,
management, and investors, to create jobs and build
businesses in Iowa. If you have a business idea in the
areas of Biosciences, Advanced Manufacturing, Value-
Added Ag, or Information Technology, you may qualify
for assistance through VentureNet Iowa.
Did you use one of these great resources? We want to
share your story! Visit our website at siouxlandmagazine.
com, fill out the form and connect with us today!

Siouxland Magazine | Grow / 36
Downtown is Where It’s At
Contributed by Downtown Partners
With every city, there is a downtown. And within
that downtown there is one or more individuals
that work together to keep that area vibrant and
successful. This is exactly what Downtown Partners
strives to accomplish for Sioux City every day!
Did you know our beautiful downtown is made up of
120 blocks, over 400+ businesses and 366 residential
living units?
Did you know those numbers will continue to grow
after the $90 million in new investments are completed
within the next 5 years.
Did you know on average there 25 different events
happening within our downtown each week?
Downtown Partners is a non-profit organization made up
of stakeholders that all have one common goal, to create
a vibrant and expanding downtown. Serving as a
communication hub, we collaborate with businesses that
have similar needs and interests, represent downtown
businesses through city processes, facilitate and
coordinate revitalization efforts, encourages economic
development and to promote Downtown Sioux City.
Have you seen the 13 new garbage and recycling units that
were installed around downtown? What about those murals
that popped up last fall on Historic 4th and on Douglas
Street? Beautification and streetscape is only one of the
many initiatives Downtown Partners takes on. We recently
launched a Storefront & Start-Ups Grant Program to help
fund façade improvement projects for businesses within
our downtown district. A total of $15,000 was allocated
to businesses such as Midtown Furniture, Brightside Café,
Jackson Street Brewery, Hardline Coffee Co. and others, to
help receive new signage, awnings and doorways.
This fall we are looking to have round two of the Storefronts &
Start-Ups Grant, bring in more murals throughout Siouxland
and will soon be connecting entertainment destinations
through wayfinding and lighting enhancements.
To learn more about What’s Happening in
Downtown Sioux City, follow us on Facebook
or go to our website and subscribe to our
weekly eBlasts! downtownsiouxcity.com

Sioux City Scoop
By Alex Watters
Warmer weather has arrived
in Siouxland! Everything is
turning green, birds are chirping,
the flowers are blooming and
people are unhappy. You may
be surprised, but I have found
that springtime is when I receive
the most complaints from
constituents. Any guesses as to
why? Potholes and litter. When
the temperature shifts and the
snow melts away what is left are
holes in our streets and trash… everywhere. And while
it can be frustrating, even for me, there are people that
are working hard to address both of those springtime
dilemmas.
Since January 1, the
Sioux City streets crew
has dedicated over
4,621 hours to repair
10,042 potholes, and
they’re not done. In 2018,
these crews repaired
a staggering 34,100
potholes, each with a
price tag of roughly
$22.15.
The City Council has tried to play our part by making
sure we have adequate funding not only to fill these
potholes, but fix our streets. One of the strategies to
extend the lives of our streets is resurfacing them.
Taking this issue seriously, the City Council worked to
reallocate additional funding resulting in 5X the amount
of resurfacing projects to be completed this year
compared to last year.
In addition to our streets, our litter problem is always
more apparent in the spring time once the snow has
melted. Trust me, no one gets more worked up about
seeing trash throughout our city than I do. Just ask my
girlfriend. I recently informed her that when we go on
walks I would like to start bringing a garbage bag so we
can do our part and clean up our neighborhood. And I
know I’m not the only one.
The citywide Litter Dash event held on Friday, April 26th
drew 1,050 volunteers and collected 1.92 tons of litter.
That’s more litter than a 2009 Ford Taurus - collected
in one day. This event, put on by City Environmental
Services, Parks and Recreation and Downtown Partners,
isn’t the only attempt to address litter.
Downtown Partners recognized the need for a more
sustainable litter campaign and partnered with
downtown business owners on a new initiative called
“Quick Pick-ups“ that began in May. Employers dedicate
a few minutes every other Friday to pick up trash in a 1–2
block radius around their business. This effort will include
team captains and contests to incentivize participation.
These efforts underscore the importance of everyone
coming together to make a difference. If we all do our
part, that difference will be noticeable. So, I ask you to
please take a second and recognize how hard our road
crews are working and report potholes to help them out.
If we all step up to address the litter problem, we can
start appreciating springtime.
Siouxland Magazine | Grow / 37
We need your help. The city not only relies
on our street department to recognize where
the potholes are and what city streets are in
disrepair, but by calling 279-6886 or going
online at sioux-city.org/pothole you can help
draw their attention to areas in need.
Alex Watters, City Council of Sioux City
awatters@sioux-city.org
Heart-shaped pothole and Sioux City maintenance fill
potholes photos courtesy of Anne Westra.
LItter Dash clean up photo courtesy of Liberty Elementery
Staff.

“Because of Toastmasters,
I now have opportunities
to present and speak in
places I never thought
possible.”
– Larry Hoing

Siouxland Magazine | Grow / 39
The Gift of the Power to Choose
By Todd Rausch
In the past few months the SBDC celebrated
National Small Business Week, Armed Forces
Day and Memorial Day. The SBDC celebrates small
businesses who are the backbone of the local economy.
Armed Forces Day is a day to honor the volunteers who
currently serve. Memorial Day is traditionally a day to
honor those who have fallen while serving.
As Americans, we have been given the gift of so many
freedoms. Perhaps the greatest of these is the power
to choose. We as free people can choose to be and do
whatever we want in this, the greatest country on earth.
In America, it doesn’t matter your race, your gender,
your creed, your religion; here you have a right to make
choices. Here, you are free.
I made my choice to serve in 1981. Others made their
choice in the years before and since. I never regretted
choosing to serve and the vast majority of Veterans have
not either. We are not all heroes. Most of us just want to
be considered for what we are; men and women who
valued the freedoms of our country and thought it was
worth defending.
Veteran owned business owners are starting to let people
know that their businesses are operated by Veterans. This
is not to get sympathy or customers out of gratitude, it’s
to let everyone know we are proud Americans who have
done our duty and we continue to choose to volunteer to
make our community a better place.
If you see a Veteran owned business or know a Veteran
who owns a business; please consider supporting them.
Not for what they have done, but for who they are; men and
women who value freedom, free enterprise and America.
Everyone uses their power to choose every day. I pray that
we all choose to do good every day. I also pray that you,
the reader, would use your power to choose to support
your local Veteran owned businesses.
God bless each of you and a special thanks to all who have
served to keep our nation free.
Contact:
Todd Rausch, Regional Director
todd.rausch@witcc.edu
712-274-6454
Todd Raush is the Regional Director of America’s SBDC Iowa at
Western Iowa Tech Community College.

Siouxland Magazine | Grow / 40
Creating Better Versions of Ourselves
By Peggy Smith
Do you ever wish you could just wave a magic
wand and be someone different? Perhaps more
organized, more outgoing, more involved? Or
maybe more patient, less critical, less judging but
rather more thoughtful, kind and caring? I think we’ve
all felt this way, and then quickly became frustrated because
changing ourselves is so much work and it’s certainly not a
fast process. Not to mention, we are impatient – we want to
be a different person RIGHT NOW!
The key to creating a new you is to
concentrate on being a slightly (1%) better
version of yourself every single day.
The thirty-seven recent graduates of Leadership Siouxland
learned the skills needed to make positive, incremental
changes. The trick is to take one tiny step at a time and
practice LB/NT (Liked Best/Next Time). At the end of each
day, our graduates focus on one thing they did that day
that was a positive change. Perhaps it was engaging in a
conversation with the cashier at the coffee shop instead of
simply handing over the debit card while on the phone with
a client, but instead took the time to interact and have an
actual conversation. Perhaps it was choosing to not make a
sarcastic remark or critical comment about a co-worker. It’s
the little things that help build our character and prepare us
for big things.
Then, our graduates focus for a few minutes on NT’s –
what will they do differently next time? Perhaps there
was an opportunity for them to volunteer their time with
an organization, but they didn’t because they felt too
overwhelmed with daily duties. In retrospect, they realize
they missed an opportunity to make a difference so vow to
themselves that next time they will be the one volunteering.
Leadership Siouxland is also designed to help foster
teamwork and creativity. Part of the 9-month curriculum is
to divide the class into various teams to work together to
create a team name and a sustainable project in conjunction
with a local agency or non-profit organization.
Leadership Siouxland is proud of the thirty-seven graduates
and their sponsoring companies. Each participant ended
the program as a better version of themselves and are now
leaders committed to making a difference in the Siouxland
community!
To learn more and to see the list this year’s graduates visit
https://www.leadershipsiouxland.org/.
Exploring Leaders: Collaborated with Friendship
House, a social gathering place for adults with
mental illness, to create a sign so the agency is no
longer unnoticed. Their team name was based on
Merewether Louis and William Clark, leaders who
showed their ability to handle the unknowns of their
journey.
Trailblazers: Worked with the Women Aware agency,
refurbishing the entry area to be more welcoming
and efficient. They created a logo wall and hung
brochure racks, making the small space more usable.
Their motto, “If Trailblazing was easy, the path would
be paved.”
Siouxland’s Light: Teamed up with the Council on
Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, CSADV, to
create two “bright rooms” – a children’s room and play
area and a family room. Their goal was to bring light
into the darkness the families are feeling by making
an inviting space of warmth and light.
Peeps with a Passion: Showed their passion and
creativity by designing a welcome sign in the various
languages of the people served by the Mary J Treglia
Community house, to promote awareness and
welcome people to the agency.
DIIP – Desire to Inspire, Impact and Propel:
Worked with Noah’s Hope, an organization that helps
abandoned pets find new homes. DIIP created care
packages with educational materials and resources
for new pet owners, to improve the pet adoption
experience and retention.
Mission Possible: Renovated the space used by
the non-profit Support Siouxland Soldiers for their
“Waffles for Warriors” events. Their motto, “Combining
strengths as a team makes all things possible.”
Peggy Smith is the current Executive Director for Leadership
Siouxland, a role she assumed in 2017. Photo courtesy of
Leadership Siouxland.

Siouxland Magazine | Grow / 41
From l to r: Korey Kletschke, Karissa Meyerhoff, Tyler Zellmer, Sarah Keely, and Kalynn Sortino (SCGO 2019 Board Members).
Putting a New Swing on Corporate Connections
By Sonia Wilson
As young professionals we understand how easy
it is to get entrenched in the day-to-day activities
of life between work, family, bills, friends and did
we say work? Siouxland is changing everyday, new
businesses are opening, corporations are expanding and
the population is growing. As the city grows and attracts
new people to Siouxland it is important to focus on our
roots and go back to basics. The basics of relationship
building.
One of the most valuable pieces of advice
we can give a young professional is to make
connections and build relationships.
Sioux City Growth Organization’s mission is to attract,
develop, and retain young professionals in Siouxland by
providing insight and opportunities to help shape the
future of our community. It is important to remember
that getting involved in your community, sharing your
voice and providing a helping hand is a key ingredient
to growth, both for you personally and for Sioux City.
You might ask yourself, “How do I get involved?” “What
can I do?” or think, “I’m not sure I’m qualified”. But don’t
worry, we’re here to help! You can join a community
organization, volunteer your time and help in a big way.
No matter how large or small your contribution, it will
make a lasting impact. As Mahatma Gandhi stated, “You
may never know what results come of your actions, but
if you do nothing, there will be no results.” Sioux City
was built by community leaders that spoke up; they saw
a vision for our city and got involved. Sioux City is not
done growing and we need young leaders to share their
voice and vision for the future.
Have you ever encountered a problem where you
wondered if you only had a friend who was a lawyer,
doctor, business owner, marketer, entrepreneur,
contractor, electrician, politician and the list goes on and
on. Fostering strong relationships expands your network.
It’s not what you know, but who you know! When you
expand your network, you expand the impact you can
make.
Getting involved, attending community events,
volunteering and networking can help you build an
impressive rolodex at a young age. You never know where
one conversation at a networking event might lead you.
These connections and relationships are the framework
for Sioux City’s future and Sioux City Go is honored to
help foster these relationships and provide a catalyst for
young professionals.
Sioux City has a bright future! Just remember, it only
takes one conversation, one moment, one action to make
a difference. What action will you take today to better
yourself and your community?
Sonia Wilson is currently serving on the Board and also the
Marketing Chair for Sioux City Go. Photo credit Sonia Wilson.
Looking for a fun way to get started? Sioux City
Go’s First Ever Corporate Classic Golf Tournament,
on August 5, is a great way to meet young
professionals and community leaders.
scgo.wildapricot.org/corporate-classic-golf

alance
Inside and out.
Cultivating Your Life: From Darkness to Light
By Jackie Paulson
Do you really feel alive in your life right now?
Perhaps, you’ve asked this question before or at least
have in some way or another through some level of
exploration. Questions like these are not always easy to
enter into. They can bring up a host of further internal
conflicts, confusion and what I like to call “shadows” or
subconscious motivators to our choices that have led
us to where we are today and oftentimes create havoc
in our relationships with ourselves and with others.
These “shadows” are often feelings and aspects of the
self that have been cast deep into some dark place of
rejection. They hold an immense amount of power but
without holding them in some light, are projected out in
unhealthy ways.
As a therapist, I hear of people suffering in some
situation in their life and yet do not seek the support
and guidance that could liberate the tension that holds
them. I have been reflecting on what really stops us
from peering into the shadows of our own pain and
discomfort, especially with someone else alongside
of us that can be a witness and a guide to our journey.
We just “keep going” amongst the daily business of our
lives, hoping we will forget that there is something deep
inside us yearning to be heard, felt and seen. It’s always
there whispering in some form or screaming in some
behavior. Either way, there is a power in there, that if
uncovered can be incredibly liberating, albeit requires a
sense of responsibility and attention.
Warmer weather is upon us. It’s hard not to be inspired
by that feeling of fresh life after a long winter. Hopefully, it
has motivated you to begin the yard work that comes with
it. There is raking up the dead stuff in the surface, pulling
out the roots that no longer produce life, and further
cultivating the space for the raw new buds to rise up.
Just like the dark cold of winter, the shadow aspect of
the self, our pain and our grief are often uninviting and
uncomfortable. Going into it deeper and pulling up and
out the “rot” inside, doesn’t sound very pleasant. Who
would willingly enter into that kind of work? And yet, we
do, every year when spring emerges from the dark winter
months, in our gardens and in our homes. We trust that
nature has something beautiful waiting for us underneath
the dirt and so we dive in with excitement. Despite the
time, effort and getting dirty, we willingly make it happen
knowing the fruit of our labor will be enjoyed in just a
short time.
It’s important to remember within that excitement, the
importance of time. We are patient with nature, knowing
that the small seeds and dainty flowers will soon bud into
a cornucopia of nourishing and refreshing life to imbibe

eathe
clarity
nutrition
flexibility
strength
on. The process of healing, then too, needs space and the open
presence of the sun to grow.
Every year, we move through this cyclical process of winter and spring.
Why then, when it comes to our own bodies, our own minds, our own
pain do we think we would just arrive once and not expect to have to do
the work again or even at all? Why do we shame ourselves for having
“muck” to work through and perhaps, not trusting that underneath
that is something incredible? Don’t we all have the varied seasons of
dark and light that just naturally produce compost and nourishment?
It’s natural. So where is the motivation and perhaps even excitement
to get in there and work with it?
When we notice a sense of dis-ease or pain in our bodies, our minds,
our relationships - instead of bypassing it as something unacceptable
or wrong; let’s enter into it with some level of anticipation. There is
an opportunity that is waiting to be tended and then further growth
within ourselves and our relationships with others to be experienced.
Our lives are just another form of the nature around us. It’s not always
easy to face what winter has left over within our bodies, minds and
hearts. To get down into the depths of it only in hopes that something
meaningful will arise often feels like a risk we are not willing to take
when it comes to our own well being. So perhaps, we enlist help;
someone who can guide us in the inner realms of our hearts. A
“master gardener” so to say, perhaps a teacher or a therapist, who will
undoubtedly hold us in their unconditional positive regard even when
we do not always trust the process or even ourselves.
We enter into this work and although uncomfortable and a little
overwhelming - the time, effort and patience you put into the nature
of your own being, will undoubtedly bear the most nourishing fruit
in the end. I can assure you that each time I have, both personally
and professionally, been willing to face what seems heavy and painful
with patience and space, I have always come out of it feeling more
embodied, empowered and alive.
“
We just “keep going” amongst
the daily business of our lives,
hoping we will forget that there is
something deep inside us yearning
to be heard, felt and seen.
– Jackie
”
I invite you to notice where you have been avoiding “the work” of
your own internal spring. Perhaps even being willing to ask for some
support in finding a way to the fresh life underneath going at it alone
can feel daunting. We were meant to hold each other on our journeys
and cultivate a collective opportunity to feel more life through it. I
am curious what might be waiting to spring up in your own life if you
were to see the power in embracing the pain and mulching it into the
beauty that it always has been? And maybe you are curious too.
Jackie Paulson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and owner of {be}
studio; a yoga studio dedicated to deepening the students’ experience
with their own lives. Jackie offers individual and group therapy services
alongside regular workshops, trainings and classes related to holistic
healing and yoga. You can reach her by visiting jackiepaulson.com.
Photo credit Sarah Ann Photography.

Siouxland Magazine | BALANCE / 44
The Gut-Brain Connection
By Nesrin Abu Ata
“I have a chemical imbalance and that’s why I am
seeing you to find the right medication to get
chemicals balanced in my brain.” I often hear this
statement from patients who are seeking a consultation
with me for their mental health. My patients often come
to see me asking for help for their depression with
the assumption they have a “chemical imbalance” that
can be addressed mainly with antidepressants. While
this is partially true, it is not the entire story, given the
complexity of the brain and its connections to the gut.
In the 1960s, psychiatry researchers developed the
catecholamine or biogenic amino hypothesis of mood
disorder, which led to the concept that an imbalance
in neurotransmitters resulted in abnormal moods. This
has become how media portrays mental health and
treatment. Our bodies have different micro-organisms,
good and bad bacteria, virus or fungi, that live on
different surfaces, also known as the microbiome.
While there is still a role for neurotransmitters, their role
is to be understood in the context of the entire brain
metabolism. The microbiome and inflammation, among
other things like oxidative stress and mitochrondrial
function, all relate to understanding the brain
metabolism mechanics.
Microbiome helps the body to perform life sustaining
measures. The organisms that are located in the gut are
known as the gut flora. Our gut flora is fundamental to
the breakdown and absorption of nutrients. Without it,
our body would not be able to digest food and extract
essential nutrients needed to function such as vitamins
and minerals. These vitamins and nutrients are important
for the brain chemistry where serotonin is involved.
The microbiome starts at birth after passing through the
birth canal, and is shaped by breast milk first and then diet,
environment and human contact throughout our lives.
This is why I often ask my patients if they were delivered
by cesarean section and if they were breastfed or bottle
fed. This is why it is also important to know if a patient had
a gastric bypass as their microbiome has been changed
following the surgery.
A majority of the immune system is located in the gut. The
immune system decides which bacteria and foods are
“safe and good”, and which ones need to be defended
against by producing certain chemicals that cause
inflammatory signals. These signals travel to the brain
which can eventually lead to depression and other mental
health problems.
Chronic inflammation does not give the body time to heal
which results in continued damage to the internal lining
of the intestines. As a result, inflammatory signals and
bacteria move to other parts of the body and negatively
impact it. All this disturbs the microbiome, also known as
gut dysbiosis, which in turn impacts the brain. This is why

References
The Emerging Field of Nutritional Mental
Health: Inflammation, the Microbiome,
Oxidative Stress, and Mitochondrial Function
Berk M, LJ Jacka, FN, Oneil A, Passo JA,
Moylau S, Byrne ML 2013. So Depression
is an Inflammation Disease, But Where
Does the Inflammation Come From? British
Medical Journal of Medicine
Siouxland Magazine | BALANCE / 45
Eat to Beat Disease, William Li, MD
Gardner and Bolles. 2005. “Beyond the
Serotonin Hypothesis.”
G Clarke et Al. “Minireview: gut microbiota:
the neglected endocrine organ.” Molecular
endrocrnlogy 28, no. 8 (2014):1221-1238.
A.F. Athiyyah et al., “Lactobacillus Platarum
IS-10506 Activates intestinal Stem Cells in a
Rodent Model,” Beneficial Microbes (May 4,
2018):1-6.
I ask patients what kind of food they eat, how they find
they feel after eating certain foods and whether they
tried to eliminate certain foods from their diet.
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Other causes for gut dysbiosis are broad spectrum
antibiotic use, chronic stress, a poor diet and the
modern environment being too clean.
So, I often think of myself as the gut whisperer, because
in addition to asking patients about the symptoms
of depression, such as having low energy and low
motivation, I ask about what they eat, how much and
their bowel habits. What I want to find out about is how
their connection with food could be impacting their
mood. I tell my patients there is an increased amount
of evidence that what we eat affects how we feel, and
that every choice we make relative to our diet matters.
Keeping a diet journal is a good start to gut and brain
health recovery.
Nesrin Abu Ata is a psychiatrist and a family physician
who trained at the University of Iowa Hospitals and
Clinics. I have an interest in integrative psychiatry.
Nesrin Abu Ata is a psychiatrist and a family physician
who trained at the University of Iowa Hospitals and
Clinics. I have an interest in integrative psychiatry.
Photo credit Becca Feauto.

Siouxland Magazine | BALANCE / 46
Amber’s Top 5 favorite Fruits
By Amber Sherman
Fruit. This food has been used for decades to
describe great things. The big apple. The fruits
of our labor. The apple of my eye. Living a fruitful
life. So, why don’t we use vegetables to describe
these things? I am not sure of the answer, but
maybe it’s because ‘The Big Broccoli’ doesn’t
quite have the same ring to it.
Fruits are very special foods, and in my opinion, should
be eaten every single day! Health experts recommend
at least two servings per day, which is a great start. Not
only is fruit delicious, but it is jam packed with health
benefits. Fruit, nature’s sweet treat, provides vital
nutrients for health and maintenance of the body. Most
are naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories and are
completely void of cholesterol. If you are looking for
more energy, look no further than your favorite fruit!
The body and the brain runs on glucose, so eating a diet
with adequate amounts of fruit will ensure that you are
giving the body the fuel it needs to function optimally.
These sweet gems truly nourish you inside and out.
From better hair to glowing skin, these foods know how
to work their magic!
Although all fruit is amazing, there are a few that rise to
the top for me. I would like to share with you my top five
FAVORITE fruits.
1) APPLES – Apples top the charts for me. Have you
ever heard the expression ‘an apple a day keeps the
Doctor away’? This phrase was coined in 1866. Over
150 years later, we are still praising the apple, and today,
we know more about why it is considered the health
food it is. Apples contain high amounts of fiber, trace
minerals, vitamin C, potassium and vitamin K. They are
also extremely hydrating to the body. According to the
Medical Medium, they are powerful protectors because
of their high pectin levels, which starve out bacteria,
yeast, mold, and viruses from the intestinal tract and the
liver. Go ahead and eat an apple a day, your body will
thank you!
2) AVOCADOS – What would life be like without
guacamole? I am not sure, but I know it wouldn’t be as
fun. Not only are avocados DELICIOUS, they are chock
full of healthiness. The fruit’s creamy green meat offers
approximately 20 vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants,
including vitamins K, C, E, B, potassium and lutein.
Avocados are great for digestion as they help to restore

stomach and intestinal linings. Because of the high
omega-6 fatty acid content, they are also beneficial to
the brain and central nervous system. So, whichever
way you enjoy your avocado, whether it be on toast, on
a chip, or just straight up, know that you’ll be reaping
some awesome health benefits when you include them
in your diet.
3) BANANAS – How do you take your banana?
Green, yellow, or brown? For me, only super ripe with
lots of those little brown dots will do. No matter how
you take them, just make sure you do, because this fruit
is a nutrient powerhouse. The entire banana is edible,
including the peel (although I’ve never been brave
enough to try this). Bananas are rich in potassium,
vitamin B6, vitamin C, magnesium, copper and
manganese. They are powerful anti-viral foods and are
extremely soothing digestive aids. Next time you are
looking for an a-PEEL-ing snack, reach for a banana.
Siouxland Magazine | BALANCE / 47
4) DATES – Natures gooey sweet treat. Lucky for us, this
yummy snack is 100% guilt free! Dates are amazing for
the digestive system. As one of the most anti-parasitic
foods on Earth, dates have the ability to bind onto
and destroy not only parasites, but yeast, mold and
other funguses as well! How cool is that? According
to Anthony William, this rock star of the fruit kingdom
is rich in nearly 70 bioactive minerals, including
potassium, magnesium, copper and manganese. With
all of these sweet benefits, I say, make every night a
DATE night.
5) MANGOES – Originally from South Asia, mangoes
made their way across the tropics and into America in
1880. Today mangoes are the most commonly eaten
fruit in the world. These juicy delights are not only
very delicious, they also pack a big nutritional punch.
One mango provides you with 76% of vitamin C, 25%
of vitamin A, 11% of vitamin B6 and 9% of vitamin E.
Mangoes are wonderful sleep aides, they are great for
stress assistance and viral protection and because of
the high beta-carotene content, they help to strengthen
and support the skin. So, reach for a mango and make
your day mangonificent.
Eating fruits regularly benefit the body as they are
natural sources of vitamins and minerals, which are
essential for proper functioning of the body. I invite
you to add more fruits to your life and see for yourself
their transformational powers.
Honorable mentions: Lemons and melons.
Amber Sherman is a raw food enthusiast. Level I ISOD
(International School of Detoxification)
Apples with ‘caramel’ dip
Ingredients:
1 Large Apple, sliced
6 Dates, pitted
¼ Teaspoon Cinnamon
Directions:
Arrange the apple slices on a plate. Blend
the dates and the cinnamon with a splash
of water until combined (it may be helpful
to soak dates in water for 1-2 hours prior).
Spoon the mixture into a serving cup
alongside the apple slices.
References:
William, Anthony. Life Changing Foods. Hay House
Publishers. 2016.
William, Anthony. Liver Rescue. Hay House Publishers.
2018.
Elliot, Brianna. ‘The 20 healthiest fruits on the planet’; www.
healthline.com
Photo credit (left page) Becca Feauto.
Photo credit (right page) Amber Sherman.

Siouxland Magazine | BALANCE / 48
Sioux City’s Newest Boutique is NOW OPEN!
And we’re excited to Celebrate with YOU!
Stop in and enjoy our GRAND OPENING deals all June long.
Get 20% off selected items including accessories, apparel and bags!
Oh, So Sweet!
Oh, So Sweet!
Located on 4th & Court Street on the 2nd floor inside Belle Salon & Spa.
o Sweet!
Oh, So Sweet!
Oh , So Sweet!
Oh, So Sweet!
www.TheSugarShackBakery.com
712-252-5598 • 700 Jennings St., Sioux City, IA
www.TheSugarShackBakery.com
712-252-5598 • 700 JENNINGS ST, SIOUX C
www.TheSugarShackBakery.com
CITY, IA

Seasonal Summer Sweets!
By Peggy La
Jackfruit
This is a miracle fruit.
It is so sweet and
tasty when it’s ripe.
It can be eaten as
is or in many Asian
desserts. Young
jackfruit and a white
colored meat can be
used as a vegetarian
dish for pulled pork.
The flesh isn’t the
only part of the
enormous jackfruit
that is edible -- you
can also eat the seeds. These are roasted, turned into
flour or boiled. We also carry this canned and in brine.
Everything but the skin is edible. When they’re ripe, you
can cut and eat the loose pieces!
Siouxland Magazine | BALANCE / 49
Peggy La is the owner of Hong Kong Supermarket.
Photos courtesy of Hong Kong Supermarket.
Hong Kong Supermarket is proud to provide some of
the best summer sweet treats! The store carries a variety
of Asian foods, fresh to frozen, from all over in Asia, such
as Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia,
and China. Check out some of our fan favorites for
summer below:
Ataulfo mangoes
This mango is smaller than traditional mangoes and has
an oblong shape, as well as a slightly dark yellow color.
This fruit is full of vitamin C and are quite delicate. They
are best eaten when they are at peak ripeness. Slice
them and eat it as is or this sweet fruit can be served with
coconut milk over a bed of sticky rice. You can definitely
put them in your smoothies, no sugar needed!
Young Thai Coconuts
Coconut water or juice is refreshing and full of electrolytes
and potassium. Coconut meat tastes soft and can be
eaten as is or shredded and mixed with the juice for
extra texture. To open, some like to punch a hole in the
coconut, drinking the juice with a straw or pouring it out
into a container. A lid can also be created by making a
large circular cut and lifting away the top of the coconut,
or the coconut can be cracked in half with a cleaver over
the bowl to catch the juice and make the tender meat of
the Thai coconut more accessible.

Siouxland Magazine | BALANCE / 50
Brian David Gilbert finds relief from soft tissue injury with a comfrey cast.
Herbal Medicine for All Seasons
By Kathy Jensen
Herbs have been used as a medicine since the
dawn of time with a written history of more than
5,000 years. Medicinally, an herb is any plant or part of
a plant used for its therapeutic value. Herbal medicine is
the art and science of using herbs for promoting health
and preventing and treating illness.
The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic from the 3rd century
BC shows China had the earliest known written record of
a medical system. This system included herbs, animals
and minerals as medicine.
The Native Americans also had extensive knowledge
of many plants for treating disease. They shared this
knowledge with the early pioneers.
American housewives were acquainted with the
medicinal properties of herbs. Young girls assisted their
mothers in the fields to gather plants and use them
therapeutically.
Modern medicine has come a long way as has the
acceptance and resurgence of tradition herbalism.
The philosophical difference between herbalists and
conventional physicians has profound significance.
Western acute emergency medicine is absolutely the
best in the world, but in regards to stress related illnesses,
healing from unhealthy lifestyles, and living in an increased
toxic world, these healings belong to the trained herbalist
and natural healers.
Pharmaceuticals can have many side effects, some worse
than the illness. Most herbs sold as dietary supplements
are very safe. When used appropriately, the majority of
herbs used by practitioners have no adverse side effects.
According to Norman Farnsworth, “Based on published
reports, side effects or toxic reactions associated with
herbal medicines in any form are rare. In fact, of all classes
of substances reported to cause toxicities of sufficient
magnitude to be reported in the United States, plants are
the least problematic.”
According to the oldest practicing medical system,
Traditional Chinese Medicine, plants adapt to the different
growing seasons, just like our bodies adapt to seasonal
changes. Home gardens, farmers’ markets, open fields
and wooded areas organically grown, untouched by toxic
chemicals, offer the body the perfect food and medicine
for each season associated with an organ system. Seasonal

cleanses are important in herbal medicine to assist the
body to function more efficiently. You may lose weight
during an herbal cleanse, but the body doesn’t care
how you look in a bikini, it just wants to stay alive. We
are fortunate in the Midwest to have an abundance of
native medicinal herbs naturally growing within our
reach.
Spring represents the wood element,
corresponding to liver and gallbladder function.
All the green and bitter plants growing now are ready
to support the cleansing of the liver from winter
stagnation. Springtime is perfect for gathering these
powerful herbs, and best of all, bioregional herbs,
the most beneficial for our body, are free. We have
dandelions, garlic, motherwort, burdock, rhubarb,
cleavers, violets, nettles, mushrooms and cottonwoods,
just to name a few. All of these plants have tremendous
healing properties for the heart, liver, kidneys and
lymphatic system.
The magic of summer is associated with the fire
element. Hot and dry conditions relate to the heart,
pericardium and small intestine. The summer plants
offer our body cooling, moisturizing and digestive
support. They help to build a stronger immune system
by increasing minerals and foods high in antioxidants.
Some plants of the summer include garden vegetables,
mint, fruits, berries, beets, flowers, red clover, milkweed,
yarrow, daylilies and all culinary herbs.
Late summer is represented by the earth
element which governs the stomach and
spleen digestion and assimilation.The earth has
produced, harvest has begun, and pantries are being
filled with the summer harvest. This is the time of year
we gather begin to process most of the herbs and plants
for fall and winter. The herbs for this season are more
tonifying and adaptogenic herbs like Sweet Cicely
(sweet root), licorice hyssops, ginseng, goldenrod and
hen of the woods. If you look around at all the colors
of this season you will notice the orange and yellow
colors. This is the time to eat yellow squash, orange
pumpkins including their seeds and red sumac berries.
The element of metal represents the cool days of fall,
relating to lungs and large intestines. The lungs breath
in the fresh crisp air of autumn and the colon eliminates
what is no longer needed. The fall season brings back
the tender greens of nettles, docks, chickweed and
dandelions. Nuts are everywhere. Locally, we have
an abundance of black walnuts and acorns. The last
of the summer’s herbs, vegetables and flowers can
be collected before the frost. Apples, pears, plums,
prickly pear, rosehips and hawthorn fruit are ready
as are grains, plantain, wood sorrel, horsetail stems,
Solomon’s seal, chaga, and many roots, twigs and
leaves.
Midwest winters, the water element, can be challenging for
herbalists due to the cold and snowfall but certain plants
specific for water imbalances (kidney and bladder) in the
body are readily available such as rosehips, cranberries,
chaga, field garlic, white pine needles, sugar maple syrup
and wintergreen leaves.
Winter is also the continual processing of herbs
gathered in previous seasons to make herbal
remedies. The fresh herbs, leaves and roots are
extracted for tinctures (a liquid process for extracting the
medicinal botanicals of the plant), chopped, ground and
frozen for poultices, essential oils, smoothies, or heated
and preserved for cough syrups. Dried herbs, leaves, and
roots are processed for herbal teas, incense, infused oils,
capsules, salves and ointments.
Kathy Jensen practices and teaches healing arts locally, at
Mind & Body Connection/Bio-Chi Institute
mindandbodysiouxcity.com
Photos courtesy of Sudio 712.
Kathy in field foraging.
Siouxland Magazine | BALANCE / 51

Siouxland Magazine | Balance / 52
Stronger Teens, Body and Mind: Pass it On
By Peggy Higman
“Pass it on.” That’s the motto and the mojo at Big
Iron Gym in Sioux City, where trainer Luke Dreier
says is where next level athletes are challenged
and born. That philosophy was passed to B.I.G. owner,
Shawn Frankl from his mentor Rick Hussey, a hard nose
powerlifting trainer from Omaha who mentored young
Frankl to become one of the best powerlifters in the
world. Now Frankl owns and trains at his own gym
where he sets the pace and credo. Luke Dreier is a living
example of how that fire is lit, and then unleashed into
something that benefits and serves a community.
This towering man is for sure no joke in the gym, but
it’s his passion for sharing those lessons of strength
gained, and confidence won, that makes him such a
unique trainer to area youth. He and Shawn wanted
to engage kids in the power and presence that comes
from strength training. That’s why in 2017 they launched
a summer program specifically for teens to learn the
techniques of powerlifting to make them stronger for
their particular sport of choice, and for LIFE.
Since Luke is a second grade teacher in the South
Sioux City Community School District, he saw this as a
great opportunity to share his love of teaching with his
passion for powerlifting. He came to the sport about
three years ago after joining Big Iron. He had worked
out in other gyms in town but found the energy and the
opportunity to learn from Shawn Frankl himself a perfect
fit. At the time he was looking for a change in direction. He
had lost a few very important people in his life and was at
a bit of a crossroads both personally and professionally.
He remembers the atmosphere at Big Iron was exactly
what he needed. “It was a no judgment, let’s get to it, and
let’s learn attitude that hooked him immediately”. He says
that everyone in the gym was always ready to assist and
guide him in both knowledge and technique. “You just
don’t find that kind of attitude and welcoming nature at
a lot of gyms he says”. “People and especially guys, can
get pretty competitive”. He credits Shawn with being
that guiding force. Shawn is often heard assisting and
encouraging lifters with his loud and intense voice, yet
always with a dose of comedy and intensity that makes
you want to dig even deeper within yourself to push a bit
harder.
Luke has skyrocketed in his strength and overall
knowledge in just a few years. He has qualified and
competed at the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio for the
last two years. To be invited to compete is an honor and an
experience Luke says like no other. He’s been competing
in Powerlifting meets in the Midwest for a few years now,
and coaches other athletes in multiple competitions and
sees the sport growing by leaps and bounds.

Luke knew he wanted to develop a plan to help young
teens, however their bodies are constantly changing so
creating a lifting plan takes some flexibility and certainly
some knowledge. Trainers know from various studies that
strength training done properly over a longer period of
time can have excellent results and prevent injuries. If you
have a good foundation and concrete knowledge, the
athlete will benefit from a strength training program.
Times, however have changed over the past few decades.
We have a more de-conditioned and less active society
these days due to lifestyle, eating habits, and, no doubt,
gaming and social media. So, trainers believe getting kids
active is more important than ever.
Siouxland Magazine | Balance / 53
Teens can use these skills over the course of their lifetime
and continue to see progress. It translates to the bigger
picture in life of putting in the hard work to achieve
“
The most important aspect is proper and
safe training while still being kids. We want
them to have fun while learning the basics.
– Luke
”
something, never giving up and always having a goal in
mind, then setting another one. “If you can push through in
the gym, you can push through in a test at school, on the
field, or you can push through tough times in life, I constantly
tell them. I also tell them a really strong dumb guy doesn’t
get very far, so you need to give 100% in every aspect of
your life.”
Having a trainer there to help with the mechanics of each
lift, and to encourage and support is what brings these
young kids in the door, but what they find when they get
to Big Iron is something they never imagined. Luke says,
“They become like a family. These young athletes go from
not knowing each other at all, to shouting encouragement
as they get under that barbell. They bond over the shared
experience and it leads to friendships outside the gym. It’s
a brotherhood of sorts. These young men and women gain
so much confidence in themselves by sharing in the journey
and being there for each other. It may not be a traditional
team sport, but there is an undeniable energy present when
they push and encourage each other.”
For more info on Big Iron Gym’s
Summer Teen Training call
(712) 899-8164
“It’s a Badge of Honor for these kids to grow and perform
the way they do,” He says, “I know that when I am out there at
a competition and see some of these kids cheering me on,
I will not quit, I want to be an example that I am not failing
them. That is what good teachers do, they inspire and are
inspired right back. That circle of giving is present each and
every training day with Luke Dreier.”
Peggy Higman, ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Yoga Instructor.
Photo credit (left page) Mario Red Legs Photography. Photo credit
(top right page) Caitlin Marsh.
Photo credit (bottom two photos right page) Peggy Higman.

STOP
STOP
Stop suffering
suffering
with with
PAIN
chronicpain
with
Enhance Your Body’s Natural Ability to Heal
Enhance Your Body’s Natural Ability to Heal
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Find relief without surgery
Find & start relief enjoying without life surgery again!
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STEM CELL
therapy is now available, in office, at
Stem Multicare Clinic. cell As a minimal therapy therapy risk, now high is available, benefit now available, alternative in office, in at office, to Multicare surgery, at
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addressing the source of your pain more obtainable than ever.
tissue growth. growth. The future The future of Medicine of Medicine is here, making is here, our making goal of addressing our goal of the
addressing source of the your source pain of more your obtainable pain more than obtainable ever. than ever.
The Power of
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Regenerative can effectively Medicine treat:
can effectively treat:
Arthritis
Arthritis
thritis Bursitis
Bursitis
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Tendonitis
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Cartilage
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Joint rtilage
Joint Problems
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Tennis/Golfers Elbow
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Sports Injuries
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chronic PAIN
The Power of
Regenerative Medicine
can effectively treat:
Multicare Health Clinic
3930 Stadium Drive
Sioux City, IA 51106
Multicare Health Clinic
Multicare multicareclinic.com
3930 Health Stadium Clinic Drive
3930 Sioux
(712) Stadium City, IA
276-4325 Drive 51106
Sioux City, IA 51106
MulticareClinic.com
multicareclinic.com
(712) 276-4325
(712) 276-4325
Knees & Foot
Knees & Foot
Knees & Foot
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whenever
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Stem cell therapy is still considered
down and experimental feels that they by have FDA. to have,

What Is The Treatment Process?
In the last couple of issues, we’ve discussed where Stem Cells come from and how they work so effectively. Now
we’ll describe the different treatment processes using stem cells that are available to you. For both options, to
ensure proper placement, the procedure is performed using image guidance by way of diagnostic ultrasound
and/or real time motion x-rays called fluoroscopy in a completely sterile environment within Multicare’s surgical
suite designed with you in mind.
Procedure using Donated Biologics with Stem Cells
The donated biologics (typically derived from donated umbilical cords) are shipped to our Multicare location
and stored in a cryogenic freezer. Ten minutes before use, the biologic is thawed and then introduced by way
of an injection by our highly trained medical staff directly to the area of need. As this is often considered the
most effective, simple, and painless process, 99% of patients inquiring about Stem Cells, are requesting to use
these donated tissue products.
Procedure Harvesting your own Stem Cells
This option is only considered at Multicare if someone is under the age of 50. On the morning of your stemcell
procedure, you will lie on your stomach where a local anesthetic will be applied. We will then draw bone
marrow from the back of your iliac crest (hip bone) using precise image guidance. The procedure produces a
product known as a bone marrow aspirate. This draw takes 30-60 minutes.
While your cells are being processed in the lab, you will have some downtime to relax. The re-injection of stem
cells into the site of the injury will take place between three and eight hours after your bone marrow aspiration.
Patients may be asked to stay in the clinic 45 minutes after re-injection. This procedure takes approximately an
hour and a half.
After your Procedure
Your doctor will instruct you if there are any medication considerations or individual recommendations they have
for you. Patients are asked to avoid NSAIDs for a week prior and a week after. The goal is to allow the stem
cells to attach and then to protect them while they differentiate into various tissues. Typically, you won’t need
an alternate driver after your procedure; however you will be encouraged to take it easy for the first 48 hours.
Most patients report a modest improvement in the first month. You will notice that as time goes on your pain will
become less severe and frequent. Most patients are able to resume light activities after 3 days. Usually at 6 to
8 weeks patients begin to resume a more vigorous exercise schedule. Improvements will continue throughout
this time period. Results may be seen in a couple of days, weeks or months, but most patients notice continued
healing over many months. Results vary by patient and depend on the condition of the area treated, age, and
general health.
Follow-up appointments are offered monthly at no additional cost for you to ask us any questions you may have,
and for us to ask you about your improvement.
Next issue:
Who Is A Candidate &
Why Multicare Is The Best Choice
For Your Regenerative
Medicine Care
To Get the Date and Time of Our Next Seminar:
Attendees
Receive
Special
Offer
Can’t wait to learn more…
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FREE Educational Seminars
at Multicare | 3930 Stadium Drive
Call Us
(712) 276-4325 Office Hours
(712) 266-6294 After Hours
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@MulticareHealthClinic

explore
Get dirty.
Every
Let Yourself Go Wild with Native Plants
By Carrie Radloff
How can you save time, money, and hassle, while
improving air and water quality and helping
birds, bees, butterflies and insects, too? Plant
natives!
Our landscaping choices have a huge impact on other
living beings, on our air and water, on our own quality
of life, and on our economic health. Landscaping with
native plants makes sense whether you have just a few
square feet for a butterfly garden or dozens of acres for
prairie.
Native Americans lived on what was here already, using
what the land provided. But settlers moved in and began
to drastically alter the landscape. Less than 1/10th of
one percent of Iowa’s native prairies remain; the rest is
covered by agriculture, concrete, buildings and lawns.
Biodiversity, according to a recent U.N. report, is gravely
at risk. Reducing use of non-native plants is a primary
solution. Not only do natives provide shelter, but nuts,
seeds, and fruits of native plants, shrubs and trees sustain
wildlife throughout the year. Wildflowers provide nectar
for pollinators like hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, moths
and bats. Butterflies and other insects evolved with the
plants in which they lay their eggs, and many caterpillars
can eat only certain plants, like monarchs with milkweeds.
square foot of native habitat
is vital to the collective effort to
nurture and sustain those who have
lived here for centuries.

fresh air
get outside
protect
active
play
It’s more important than ever to create habitat “islands”
and corridors. Conservation areas are simply too small and
far apart to support the species we need to sustain our
ecosystem. Planting home landscapes with native species
is the only way to recreate the natural ecosystems that have
been disrupted by human development.
Plants native to our area are adapted to our soils, climate,
and moisture, so, once established, they thrive without
additional water, time or fertilizers.
Native plants improve water in other ways, too. Wetlands
natives slow storm water flow and allow it to percolate
back into the soil rather than allowing it to run off, taking
pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus along with it. These
“nutrients” affect recreational opportunities and drinking
water downstream and created a 5,500 square mile dead
hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
Native plants even combat climate change. They remove
carbon from the air and store it in their massive root systems
more effectively than almost any other plant type. They also
hold onto soil far better than other plants and trees. Iowa
loses tons of soil every year from wind and rain erosion; the
NRCS estimates Iowa has lost an average of seven inches of
topsoil statewide since 1850.
Resources:
Why care about pollinators? pollinator.org
Audubon native plant database:
audubon.org/native-plants. Enter your zip code,
then filter by plant type, benefits to wildlife, or
what birds you want to attract.
Plant Grow Fly:
blankparkzoo.com/conservation/plantgrowfly/
create-your-garden/. Links to lists of host plants,
nectar plants, trees and shrubs, and
shade-tolerant plants.
The Prairie Nursery plant finder:
prairienursery.com/store/advanced-search
Prairie Moon:
prairiemoon.com/blog/resources-and-information
Benjamin Vogt’s “How” and “Why” articles and
plant profiles: monarchgard.com/articles.html
Loess Hills Wild Ones:
facebook.com/LoessHillsWildOnes/

Siouxland Magazine | Explore / 58
Are you convinced native plants make a lot of
sense? Here’s what to do next.
Take a Look Around
Go outside, stand in your yard, and look around. Do
you have a problem area (one that’s too wet, too dry,
has poor soil)? Do you have a corner of lawn you really
hate to mow? Do you want a neatly kept garden or one
that’s a little more wild? Does the space get full sun, or
is it a bit shady? Answering these questions will guide
you in choosing what species are suitable and whether
you want to start from seed or with plants.
Do some research
• Visit the sites listed in the “Resources” section.
• Follow the Loess Hills Wild Ones and other prairie or
native plant groups on Facebook.
• Attend programs hosted by the Wild Ones and other
local environmental organizations.
• Ask questions!
Think Local
Though seeds and plants are available online, start
locally. Some organizations and landowners collect
and share seeds; the collected seed is often donated
to restore other area prairies. Loess Hills Wild Ones
hosts a seed exchanges and a class on how to start
seeds in early winter.
The Loess Hills Wild Ones sells native plants carefully
selected for the Siouxland area every spring; details will
be available next March. You can also purchase plants
from native plant nurseries such as The Prairie Flower
(1760 290th St, Spencer, Iowa) or online from Prairie
Moon or The Prairie Nursery.
Tips to Get You Started on Natives
• Start small – you can add more over the years.
• Clear the space of plants and grass, but don’t till.
• Follow plant spacing directions. They may look
sparse the first year or two as the plants build their
root systems, but will fill out in time.
• Mulch will help retain moisture, keep weeds at
bay and make weeds easier to identify and pull.
• Plan to water your new plants during dry spells for
the first year, but they will need little additional
moisture after that.
• Wildlife will munch on some plants. Plan to protect
seedlings, or look for species that are resistant.

Siouxland Magazine | Explore / 59
Best Trees & Shrubs for Birds & Insects
American Plum (Prunus americana)
Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)
Burr Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
American Basswood (Tilia Americana)
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
(From Audubon.com. Based on the number of insect species and
birds they support.)
Prairie Park
Prairie Park officially opened in fall of 2018 and incorporates
native plants and stormwater management on a comparatively
larger scale. The 32-acre park, southeast of the Wastewater
Treatment Plant, contains about 110 species of native flowers
and grasses. Notable species include butterfly milkweed,
smooth blue aster, wild bergamot, pale coneflower, prairie
blazing star, and goldenrod. The pond collects, stores, cools,
infiltrates, and filters stormwater runoff from the retail district.
The City of Sioux City Parks and Recreation
Department has adopted a policy to use native
grasses in future trail construction projects.
Chickadees
If you like birds and want them to nest in
your yard, you have to understand what
they need to eat. When birds are breeding,
they need insect larva to feed to their
young.
Doug Tallamy (Entomology and Wildlife
Ecology professor at the University of
Delaware) observed that one nest of
Chickadees needs about 7,000 caterpillars
during their three-week nesting period.
The problem is that non-natives do not
support the insect life required for birds to
thrive. Researchers found that yards need
to have at least 70 percent native plants to
support chickadee populations.
Chickadees are just one example. About 96
percent of our terrestrial birds need insects
to feed their young.
Carrie Radloff chairs the Northwest Iowa Group of Sierra Club
and serves on the Sioux City Environmental Advisory Board.
Photo credit Carrie Radloff and Cecilia Michel Lopez.

Siouxland Magazine | Explore / 60
Hook, Line, and Sinker. “REEL” in Great Family Fun with These 7 Tips
By Olivia Parks
From week long fishing vacations at your
favorite lake to a few hours of fishing in your tiny
backyard creek, fishing is something that anyone
can enjoy. Fishing with families is a great opportunity
for future anglers to watch over your shoulder trying to
build up their skills. Many young anglers may not be
interested in a weeklong fishing vacation. However, if
you are lucky to focus a couple of hours of their attention
on fishing, you could make lifelong memories.
There are many tips on the best fishing practices and the
dos and don’ts of fishing for big rewards but, with family
fishing it’s not all about being perfect. Many times with
family fishing it’s about getting through the day with
smiles and not tears. By staying active, and making the
trip more about kids having a positive experience rather
than your catch of the day, you will have a successful
fishing trip.
Here are our top 7 tips:
1. Before handing them a reel, show them how to
tie fun fishing knots and have them practice with
shoelaces. By doing this you are teaching a useful skill
and allowing some time for you to get everyone’s rods
ready for fishing.
2. Remind them of their casting skills by removing
the bobber and putting a cork on their hooks.
Have them cast in the grass first. This will allow them to
practice their cast and prevent them from breaking the
bobber and hooking the ground or anything else. Step it
up by laying out a hula hoop and have them cast the cork
into the hoop to practice their aim. By having them do
this, you also will be able to identify any issues they are
having with casting and if there are any issues with the
fishing line.
3. After some practice, prepare their line by returning
the bobber and replacing the cork with bait. While
you are doing this, encourage them to handle and pick
out the bait they will be using. The different baits will
spark a conversation and some interest in what different
types of fish eat. If they really found their passion through
fishing, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
has a First Fish certification program and Master Angler
program where you are able to submit photos and
information about your fishing experience online. Positive

activities and conversations with your family should lead to
a few happy hours of fishing.
4. With young ones, safety is always a huge priority and
without rules, you may go quickly from those happy smiles
to tears. Whenever outside, it is always good to ensure
you have good protection from the elements with
sunglasses, sunscreen and dressing for the weather
outside.
5. For the safety of very young children around water, it’s a
good idea to have them wear properly fitting PFD’s
and have a float and line to toss in case they get too
far out in the water.
Siouxland Magazine | Explore / 61
6. Having a kid-friendly tackle and correct sized
rods will make it easier for the young anglers to cast
their lines. Be sure to have extra materials for when their
line needs repair. To prevent some tears, barbless hooks
will make it simple to unhook fish and other things that the
hooks might catch.
7. Finally, the most important part of fishing, make sure
everyone has access to drinks and snacks to prevent
hungry tummies and dehydration.
Here in Siouxland, we have a great variety of lakes, ponds,
and rivers to explore and find your favorite fishing spot.
Seek county, city or state park areas that have public access,
or ask permission on private land. Check out the Iowa DNR
website for public fishing spots. You can sign up to receive
the current Iowa fishing reports and learn what fish are
biting in different locations around the state.
Ready to get started on your fishing adventure? In order
to be able to fish a person, age 16 and over, must possess
a Fishing License for the state you are fishing in, such as
Iowa, South Dakota, or Nebraska. Many gas stations or
federal offices will have them for sale for their state, and
licenses are often available online. Each state does have
a free fishing weekend where you are able to fish without
a license. Check with each State’s Department of Natural
Resources for specific dates. Fees from fishing licenses help
conserve the local fish habitat, diversity and waterways for
future use so it is a great investment for your family and the
future of fishing.
Learn More:
takemefishing.org/
iowadnr.gov/Fishing
gfp.sd.gov/fish/
outdoornebraska.gov/fishing/
Make plans for a family-fishing getaway. It will create an
experience of a lifetime for those young anglers around
you. Someday those young ones may be the one who take
you on the weeklong adventure. It’s not always about the
number of fish you catch, it is about the positive experiences
that become lifelong memories.
Olivia Parks, AmeriCorps 4-H Environmental Education
Naturalist, Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.
Photos courtesy of Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.

Siouxland Magazine | Explore / 62
PlantgGrowgShare: A Single Row Can Make a Difference
By Brenda Sale
Last year, UP From the Earth was responsible for putting
over 29,000 pounds of produce back into the food
system for families in need and has surpassed 100,000
pounds (300,000 servings) since 2014. Will you add a
single row to your garden this year?
What started as a simple idea has grown into a community
based program that serves Siouxland families in need.
UP From the Earth started with a mission to connect
existing resources, gardeners, with an existing need,
families who were food insecure. The program works
to establish a network of volunteers and local church
organizations to deliver fresh produce to families. Dr.
Randy Burnight and his team of volunteers are gearing
up for 2019, which will be their 6th season of collecting
fresh produce and sharing it with local families.
Working to Meet a Need
Fresh foods are often not readily available to families on
a limited budget. Many families rely on the food pantry
system to meet their food needs for the month. While
the Food Bank of Siouxland provides many of these
pantries with shelf stable foods, fresh foods are harder
to handle and process through the food network. That’s
why UP From the Earth stepped in to bring fresh produce
from the gardener to the family. Randy noted, “I never
met a gardener that didn’t like to share his harvest.” This
system connects the gardener who’s willing to share,
with a family that may not have enough.
Plant g Grow g Share
Whether you are a long time gardener, or just getting
started, helping to feed a family is as simple as adding
one extra row to your existing garden, or starting a
container garden. When you get ready to garden this
season, consider planting one extra row of one or two
kinds of produce, or add an extra container and designate
it for donation. Once produce is ready, visit our website
to locate one of the 27 collection sites in Sioux City or
South Sioux City, and drop off produce. Our awesome
volunteers will do the rest! A single row can go a long way
to making a difference. One pound of produce is roughly
three servings of fresh produce for a family.
Nebraska Program Joined Up From the Earth
Voices for Food joined forces with UP From the Earth in
2015 to add a community garden collection in an effort
to address food insecurity. The Voices for Food program
coordinated by Nebraska Extension Educator Brenda
Sale, is a local community council that has connected
human service agencies, started an evening food
pantry, created a delivery system and provides produce
education to families thought its outreach. In 2015, it
began collecting and distributing produce to families.
The produce program is under the direction of Master
Gardener Marion Cain. The Nebraska based program has
contributed over 29,000 pounds of produce to the UP
From the Earth during the past 4 years.

Container Garden Tips
If you have never planted a garden or do not have the space,
a FUN & EASY way to start is a simple container garden.
Here is How
Take a 5 gallon bucket – cut holes in the bottom and side.
Place a couple of inches of loose stones in the bottom. This
is necessary for drainage. Fill bucket, three inches from the
top, with high quality potting soil, purchased at your local
garden store. Consider choosing dwarf varieties like bush
determinate variety tomatoes they are perfect fro containers.
Vegetables best grown in containers:
Tomatoes – water reguarly – fertilize and stake
Cucumbers – plant seeds – trellis
Zucchini and Cucumbers
Beans – 12 inch deep pot, and trellis
Peppers adn chilies 12 inch pot
Radishes 8-10 inch pot allow 3 inches between plants
Your local garden variety store can help you get started with
all your supplies and questions.
Siouxland Siouxland Magazine |
Magazine Explore | Design / Issue 63 / 21
Up From the Earth
Website: upfromtheearth.wixsite.com/siouxland
Facebook Up From the Earth
Iowa produce information: 712-251-4955,
Randy Burnight
Get Involved
There are over 13,000 people in Siouxland who are food
insecure, so there is always a need for more donations and
volunteers. Up From the Earth and the Voices for Food
programs are made up entirely of community volunteers
working to serve others.
You can make a difference by: growing and
extra row of produce this summer, serving with
the Up From the Earth team or meeting with
the Nebraska based food council.
You can also share your talents by growing, harvesting,
delivering, hosting a collection site, raising funds,
marketing or by joining UP From the Earth. Many youth
groups and service groups have participated in helping
provide food for families. For more information, contact
Up From the Earth at 712-251-4955.
Voices for Food
Website: Dakota.unl.edu (Voices for Food Tab)
Facebook Dakota County Voices for Food
Nebraska produce information: 402-987-2140,
Brenda Sale
Produce Information
Foods to consider donating
store.extension.iastate.edu/product/Top-13-vegetablesto-donate-to-food-pantries
Canning, Freezing and Drying
food.unl.edu/canning-freezing-and-drying
Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs and Container Gardening
extension.unl.edu/statewide/douglas-sarpy/fruitsvegetables-herbs/
Brenda Sale, University of Nebraska – Extension (19 years)
Project Coordinator in Nebraska for the Voices for Food
Project.
Photos courtesy of Up From the Earth.

Siouxland Magazine | explore / 64
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Siouxland Magazine | Explore / 65
Siouxland Cyclists Take to the Trails
By Angie Schniderman
Warmer weather is here, which means more
cyclists hitting the trails.
Siouxland Cyclists is a local non-profit organization that
promotes enjoyable and safe cycling in the region,
across a wide variety of types of cycling. Members
include new, beginning and intermediate riders, strong
racers and endurance cyclists, community activists,
families and many others who enjoy cycling as either
recreation or transportation. In addition to road biking,
the club has activities for mountain bikers, bicycle racers,
gravel riders, and children and families.
Club members work to promote safety for all
levels of cyclists. Several club members give safety
demonstrations at elementary schools and work with
city officials to promote safe cycling. The use of helmets
is strongly encouraged among riders of all ages and
abilities. Similarly, members encourage cyclists to keep
visibility on the road in mind when dressing for rides,
encouraging the use of reflective or high-vis materials,
and appropriate lighting to warn motorists that cyclists
are present.
Recurrent training rides are a highlight for members
as they train for the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride
Across Iowa, more commonly known as “RAGBRAI”.
Rides regularly take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday evenings, as well as on weekends. These rides
are “No Drop Rides,” meaning no new or inexperienced
riders get left behind, ensuring anyone having any
problems, like a flat tire, is helped out and slower
riders are able to complete their ride without being left
alone. Siouxland Cyclists can be found on Facebook,
and information about rides can be found on their page,
as well as specific ride pages like the “Tuesday Taco Ride,”
the “Wednesday Warrior Ride,” and the “Thursday Club
Siouxland Cyclist Ride”.
Training for RAGBRAI isn’t the only reason members ride.
The Club prides itself in helping other local organizations
and initiatives as well. “Bike to Work” day emphasizes the
accessibility by bike in Sioux City for those wishing to use local
roads and trails to commute to work. The Club supports the
Food Bank of Siouxland with an annual “Cranksgiving” ride
in November, and by providing support for the Food Bank’s
annual “Leader of the Pack: Hunger Games”. Flood victims
in Hornick, Iowa were recently the recipient of assistance
funds from a club ride between Sergeant Bluff and Hornick.
Children receive special attention at the Club’s Bike Rodeo,
where they learn about the importance of helmets, skills
and bike safety rules. The Club also works with a program
called “Siouxland Bikes for Kids” that takes donated bikes,
repairs them, and provides them to children who do not
have access to a bike on their own.
President Kati Bak had this to say about the Club: “Siouxland
Cyclists has something to offer bike riders of every age and
ability, whether you want to race with our Sioux City Velo
group or enjoy a casual trail ride with your children. Our
members are passionate about riding, and mentoring other
riders and the community about bicycle riding.”
Angie Schneiderman is an avid bicyclist and member of
Siouxland Cyclists, and Partner at Moore Heffernan Law
Firm.

enjoy
You only live once.
Shahi Palace: A Royal Experience
By Kolby DeWitt
If you’re looking to be treated as royalty for an
evening out or for a filling lunch, Shahi Palace
might just be the place.
Shahi Palace has humble beginnings as a small
restaurant in Sioux Falls, SD in 2011. Since early on
they had regulars coming up from Sioux City, so they
decided to expand to meet the demand. “I love serving
the customers, and I love Sioux City. They are great
people: We know them, and they know us,” says Sukh,
who has served as General Manager for the past 4 1⁄2
years. The Sioux City location opened in 2014, and is
located in a strip mall next to Monterrey near Walmart
in Singing Hills. Furthermore, they have also recently
opened a location in Old Market in Omaha, in an effort
to comprehensively serve the entire region.
Sukh takes great pride in the authentic Indian food
served at Shahi Palace. First, I was served the Tikka
Masala, which boasted thick chunks of white chicken
breast. Sauteed in spices and sauce (tomato base),
it is roasted in a clay oven called a “tandoor.” “This is
our best seller,” says Sukh, rightfully proud of his dish.
This sauce was pleasant and light, a good contrast and
complement for the dishes that were to come.
Next up was the Lamb Krahi, which consisted of fresh
onion, tomato and bell pepper, all added into your meat
of choice in this instance, lamb. This peppery dish was
also cooked in curry and ginger. I should add that the
portion size was enough to take home for a second meal
that was also comfortably filling!
The third and final entrée was the Madras. “This is a South
Indian dish,” says Sukh. This piquant dish has boneless
meat, cooked into spicy coconut curry with red chili
peppers, which of course assured it to be my favorite
dish. They add in mustard seeds and herbs to finish the
preparation. The menu lists this a “super-hot dish.”
For those unfamiliar with Indian food, as I was before
this experience, don’t agonize over choosing one dish,
“Most customers will come in with friends, and mix and
match the meats,” says Sukh. “It makes for great familystyle
dining.” As Becca and I were talking with Sukh and
photographing the cuisines, another first-time customer
had come in with her friends and had done exactly that: “I
loved the Tikka Masala!” she exclaimed.
This delicious feast was adorned with Basmati (white)
rice and Garlic Naan, which is unleavened bread, freshly

have fun
entertainment
culture
gather
relax
baked to order. It paired wonderfully with the meats, and was
reminiscent of a delectable pizza crust. “Our menu is almost
entirely gluten-free, and we have a wide variety of vegan
options,” says Sukh, adding, “We can substitute for coconut milk
to make great options for vegans.”
No meal is complete without a good drink, and Sukh prepared
Mango Lassi for us. This thick yet refreshing drink was mango
mixed with yogurt, and was a bright and attractive in color. For
those looking for spirits, Shahi Palace has a comprehensive bar,
with a wide-array for wine enthusiasts. Completing the ambiance
is regal décor, with dark hues and browns, low lighting and
traditional Indian music. There was even Indian Premier League
Cricket playing on the television!
Shahi Palace allows for carryout (which grants customers a 10%
discount), and also has delivery services such as BiteSquad, Uber
Eats, Food Dudes and Doordash at their disposal. Additionally,
Shahi Palace caters. “We’ve done events for up to 400 people,”
says Sukh.
Shahi Palace
Open Tuesday through Sunday
11:00am-2:30pm, and
dinner 5:00pm-9:30pm.
shahiindiagrill.com
3146 Singing Hills Blvd, Sioux City
“I want to thank the Sioux City people,” says Sukh, “I know you
have lots of choices, so it means a lot that so many chose to eat
lunch and supper with us.”
Kolby Dewitt has enjoyed writing (primarily about food) for Siouxland
Magazine since 2010.
Photo credit Becca Feauto.

Siouxland Magazine | Enjoy / 68
New Stage Players: Penguin Project in South Sioux City
By Christine Wolf
Once a year, a magical and touching celebration
of the human spirit unfolds at numerous theaters
across the country. This year will mark the first year
that New Stage Players will be a part of the project. The
New Stage Players Penguin Project is a program in which
a group of children from all over the greater Siouxland
area take to the stage to perform a modified version of
a well-known Broadway musical.
This production is unique because ALL of the
roles are filled by children with special needs:
cognitive, learning, motor, hearing, and visual
impairments, genetic disorders, and neurological
disorders. They are joined on the stage by their peer
mentors who have volunteered to work with them
side-by-side and guide them through four months of
rehearsals and eventually the final production.
The mentors are responsible for knowing all of the lines,
songs, and blocking of their partners but appear “in
the background” to provide direct assistance only as
needed. Involvement in the program enhances social
interaction, strengthens communication skills and boosts
self-confidence. It also provides an opportunity to create
lasting friendships
and to be a part of
the performing arts
community.
The Penguin Project
was founded by Dr.
Andrew Morgan,
a developmental
pediatrician and the former Head of the Division
of Child Development at the University of Illinois in
Peoria. He created The Penguin Project recognizing
that theatre not only provides children with a valuable
recreational experience and an opportunity to display
their creative talents, but also enhances social interaction,
communication skills, assertiveness and self-esteem. The
Penguin Project strives to demonstrate that individuals
with special needs are fully capable of participating
in community activities with the same dedication and
enthusiasm as others, if given opportunity and support.
The Penguin Project Foundation was created to replicate
Dr. Morgan’s vision in community theatres across
the country. There are currently 31 Penguin Projects
nationwide, including The New Stage Players Penguin
Project in South Sioux City.

Siouxland Magazine | Enjoy / 69
newstageplayers.com
penguinproject.org
On June 15 and 16, 2019, the New Stage Players Penguin
Project’s premiere production of Annie Jr., will be
performed with a “pioneer” cast of 50 artists and mentors.
“We’re so excited to bring this program to the area,” said
Kristy Tremayne, President of New Stage Players. “We have
a fabulous group put together for this project.” Tremayne
was encouraged to bring the Penguin Project to the South
Sioux City area after attending a Penguin Project show in
Lincoln and being moved to tears. “I’ve been in theater
so long and I thought I’d seen it all,” she said. “But
that touched my heart and I cried through the
performance.”
New Stage Players is a 501(c)(3) organization and is the first
amateur theatrical troupe to call South Sioux City, Nebraska
home. Located at the New Stage Players Performing Arts
Center 3201 Dakota Ave, South Sioux City, Nebraska.
July
26, 27, 28
Fri 5 pm – 10 pm
Sat 11 am – 10 pm
Sun 11 am – 3 pm
Greek
Fest
holy TriniTy greek orThodox church
6Th & Jennings sT. –sioux ciTy
Christine Wolf, South Sioux City Area Chamber of Commerce
Vice President, New Stage Players, currently serving on the
Production, Special Events and Penguin Project Committees.
Photo credit Christine Wolf.
Dr. Hoekstra, DDS
Dr. Lohr, DDS
712-255-1163
lohrfamilydentistry.com
2918 Hamilton Blvd

Siouxland Magazine | Enjoy /70
Yard of the Month
By Jim Jung
Community pride is a feeling that contributes to
the success of a city and consists of many facets
that require the involvement of residents. To feel
pride for your community is important. The tone set by
city leaders is vital, but the residents must be engaged
in the process as well. Pride needs to rise from the grass
roots and the Sioux City Yard of the Month program is a
chance for gardeners to show their pride in their talents
and their city.
With these ideas in mind and the fact that I had been
a member of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce
Community Enhancement committee for several years,
I was encouraged to explore different ways to bolster
city pride. It was often a topic of discussion at meetings
I attended, in addition, being a Master Gardener, I
was looking for ideas that would capture the energy,
enthusiasm and pride of gardeners throughout the city.
Thus was born the idea of the Sioux City Yard of the
Month Program.
The program thrives in its simplicity. It’s a collaboration
with the City of Sioux City, Sioux City Neighborhood
Network and the Sioux City Journal. The written objective
is to promote community pride through recognition of
beautiful residential properties in all areas of Sioux City.
The five member team consists of Jim Jung and Laurie
Taylor, citizens, Jean Hansen, staff Sioux City Journal,
Cheryl Reynolds and Jessica Johnson, city staff.
Members use ten criteria for judging the yards and
encourage owner created yards.
The award is a big thank you to owners who have planted,
weeded and nourished their creations. In addition, it
encourages maintenance, upkeep and even a little
friendly neighborhood competition.
Yard of the Month is awarded June through September
and in October one of these yards is chosen for Yard of
the Year. Several honors are bestowed for the winner. A
Letter of Commendation is read by the Mayor, with the
owner present, at a Sioux City Council meeting. A cash
award of $25 for Yard of the Month and $50 for Yard of
the Year is provided by the Sioux City Neighborhood
Network. A sign is placed in the yard and the Sioux City
Journal provides a full page story about the yard and the
owner.
Nominations may be submitted by application from
the owner, neighbor, relative or someone that notices the
yard to the City of Sioux City website at
sioux-city.org/community/yard-of-the-month
or Jessica Johnson may be notified at 712-279-6102.
The Yard of the Month Program continues because
maintenance is easy, citizens like it and it captures the
pride of gardeners across the city. It supports itself and
requires no tax dollars. Most of all, it supports the
idea of citywide pride.

July 19, 1989: A Day of Miracles
By Pam Mickelson
It’s been 30 years, but for many it was yesterday.
Some believe it was when we became known as
Siouxland, while others believe July 19, 1989 was one of
those days that Siouxland was at her very best. Most will
remember it as a day of miracles. Captain Al Haynes and
his crew believed no other place could have responded
as Siouxlanders did for his crippled United Airlines
Flight 232.
Siouxland Magazine | Enjoy / 71
Souls on board? Captain Haynes explained to the air
traffic controller he carried 296 souls aboard the DC10.
A major hydraulic system had failed over Northwest
Iowa on his flight from Denver to Chicago at 30,000
feet. It was a miracle the crew (including one flying as
a passenger) could manage to get the DC10 to descend
in a circle pattern to find the Sioux Gateway Airfield. It
was another miracle the airfield was a military base
with long runways that were suitable for a DC10 with
gated parameters and military first responders. Yet,
another miracle just two years prior, emergency
management crews in the Siouxland area drilled for a
major catastrophe – an airline crash at Sioux Gateway
Airport. And finally, a miracle that 184 survived.
July 19, 2019 marks the 30th year since that day. Some
may want to take time to ask some Siouxlanders what
they remember from 1989. If so, you don’t have to go
very far to find a nurse, a doctor, a dentist, a Red Cross
volunteer, a blood donor, a college administrator, a ham
operator, a volunteer EMS crew or fire fighter from all
three states and 20 some counties who can all recount
those events. One estimate was that 1,000 individuals
came to the call to help that day. Yeah, we’ve got a pretty
amazing community.
Families, crew members, survivors, pilots, first responders
are among those who come to the air museum each
week to see the exhibit dedicated during the 25th
anniversary of the crash of Flight 232. The exhibit tells
the story, honors the souls lost that day, the 184 saved
and those who fought to save them. Two other places
in Sioux City pay tribute to the crash as well. A beautiful
bronze statue of a first responder carrying a young boy is
in a garden on the riverfront next to the Anderson Dance
Pavilion and an exhibit at the public museum has a video
on disaster and recovery.
Larry Finley, Executive Director of the air museum said “The
exhibit is the only display of the crash and the response.
It continues to have interest. At least one visitor a week
representing families of the survivors and those deceased
stops in to see the display.”
On the weekend of July 19, the museum is open 10 – 4
on Friday and Saturday, and 12 – 4 on Sunday. Admission
to the museum will be specially priced for the weekend
visitors. The air museum is located on the northeast corner
of the airfield, just off Harbor Drive at 2600 Exhibition Ct.
Sioux City.
The 232 exhibits and the point of impact on Runway 22
gives all of us pause, and a reason to remember one hot
July afternoon 30 years ago.
Pam Mickelson serves as president of the board of directors
for the air museum. She retired as professor and chair of
business at Morningside College.
Photos courtesy of Pam Mickelson.
4625 Singing Hills Blvd
Sioux City, IA
(712) 274-6622
www.VernEideHondaSiouxCity.com

Siouxland Magazine | Enjoy /72
Activities
Sioux City Public Museum
Exhibitions
Celebrating 100 Years of
Municipal Bands
Through July 28
The 2019 summer concert series of the
Sioux City Municipal Band marks the
organization’s 100th year. Uniforms,
equipment, instruments, and awards
will be displayed in the exhibit along
with photographs of the Monahan
Post and Municipal Band and earlier
bands.
Bandits & Heroes, Poets & Saints:
Popular Art of the Northeast of
Brazil Exhibition
May 25 - August 11
A traveling exhibit exploring how the
ancient cultures of Africa blended with
indigenous and colonial Portuguese
traditions to form the vibrant and
complex cultural mosaic of modern
Brazil.
Sioux City Public Museum
Events
Sioux City’s Sex-Crime
Panic Revisited
Thursday, June 6 • 12:05 p.m.
A lecture and discussion from
historian Neil Miller, a nationallyrecognized
speaker and author
of Sex-Crime Panic. The book is an
investigative account of the round-up
and incarceration of 20 gay men in
Sioux City, Iowa, during the McCarthy
period. Presented in partnership with
the Sioux City Public Library and Pride
Week.
From Sioux City to Stonewall – A
Conversation with Neil Miller
Thursday, June 6 • 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
A reception with historian Neil Miller,
a nationally-recognized speaker and
author of Sex-Crime Panic.
Miller has written several books and
articles detailing LGBT history in the
United States. His most acclaimed
book, In Search of Gay America,
published in 1989, was the first
book to examine gay and lesbian life
outside the large metropolitan areas.
The book won a Lambda Literary
Award in 1991 and was honored by
the American Library Association.
History at High Noon: Charles N.
Taylor Photographs
Thursday, June 20 • 12:05 p.m.
Presenter Tom Munson, Archives
Manager, will showcase early
1890s images of houses, churches,
commercial buildings, street
scenes, and much more. Itinerant
photographer Charles N. Taylor’s
photographs are among the best
documentation of Sioux City’s Boom
Era.
Peirce Mansion Open House
and Jackson St. Walking Tour
Tuesday, June 18• 6:00 - 8:15 p.m.
Open House followed by a 75-minute
walking tour led by Tom Munson at 7
p.m. The Peirce Mansion was part of
his extensive real estate development
on Sioux City’s northside. Walking
tours will proceed at a leisurely pace
along the half-mile area as Tom
discusses the streets’ history, people,
and architecture.
Summit Street Walking Tour
Tuesday, July 9 • 7:00 p.m.
Starting at Call’s Triangle, the small
traffic island at 21st and Summit St.
A 75-minute walking tour led by Tom
Munson of the northern stretch of
Summit Street (between 18th and
24th Streets). The neighborhood is an
interesting collection of single family
homes, some built by prominent
businessmen like Dr. A. A. Ashby and
August Williges, and large apartment
buildings. There is also architectural
diversity, from Prairie to Queen Anne
Victorian, and from Beaux Arts to
Craftsman.
Bill Diamond Antique & Classic
Car Show
Sunday, July 14 • 11:00 am - 3:00 p.m.
On the grounds of the Sergeant Floyd
River Museum & Welcome Center
A variety of antique and classic
vehicles will be on display at the
Sioux City Museum and Historical
Association’s annual car show. This is
a Show and Shine event; free and no
registration required.
History at High Noon: Flight 232
Thursday, July 18• 12:05 p.m
Presenter Matt Anderson will take
a look back at July 19, 1989 United
Airlines Flight 232, a McDonnell
Douglas DC-10 airliner carrying 296
passengers and crew, crash-landed at
the Sioux Gateway Airport.
A visit with IPTV’s Dan Wardell
and an IPTV character
Tuesday, August 6 • 11:00 am or
1:30 pm
Story time and adventure. An
opportunity for photographs will be
available at the end of each session.
History at High Noon: KKK in Iowa
Thursday, August 15 • 12:05 p.m.
Presenter Bob Neymeyer, will discuss
the history of local Ku Klux Klan activities
during the KKK’s short, but highly
visible presence in Iowa between 1922
and 1926.
Sergeant Floyd Memorial
Encampment
Saturday, August 17 • 10:00 am
- 4:00 pm & Sunday, August 18 •
10:00 am - 3:00 pm.
On the grounds of the Sergeant Floyd
River Museum & Welcome Center.
Explore an 1804 living-history camp
replicating the Lewis and Clark
expedition’s stay in present-day Sioux
City. Children’s activities 10-1 on
Saturday. For more information, call
712-279-0198.
Sgt. Floyd Burial Ceremony
Saturday, August 17 • 6:00 pm
Re-enactors in full-dress uniform will recreate
the burial of the only member of
the expedition to die during the Lewis
and Clark Expedition. Attendees are
encouraged to bring their lawn chairs.
Mid America Museum of
Aviation and Transportation
30 Year Anniversary of Flight 232
July 19 & 20 • 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
July 21 • 12:00 - 4:00 pm
Sioux City Railroad Museum
Reading by the Rails
June 8, July 13 & Aug 10 @ 10:30 am
The ability to read greatly improves
lives so our goal is to help children
retain and enhance their reading skills.
In this fun monthly reading program, we
will use railroad theme books to foster
a love of reading. At the end of each
program, children have the opportunity
to participate in a creative activity that
relates to the theme of that month.

Gilchrist Theater Movie Matinee
June 8, July 13 & Aug 10 @ 12:00 pm
Each month we will feature a movie
that is either set or features the
railroad! Bring a snack or enjoy some
popcorn on us for this one of a kind
matinee. This event is free with the cost
of museum admission.
Rail Yard Talks
June 8, July 13 & Aug 10 @ 2:00 pm
Join railroaders, historians and
storytellers for Rail Yard Talks. These
educational presentations are
perfect for anyone interested in the
development of the railroad industry
and history topics relevant to Sioux
City.
Sioux City Art Center
Sioux City Art Center Selects
Thru June 23
A regional juried exhibition with each
artist contributing a cohesive group of
artworks that give visitors a glimpse on
what they are currently thinking about.
turtles, snakes and birds of prey up
close and personal. Free
Nature Tales
July 9 • 10:00 am
Preschoolers join us with an adult for
this special story time, Going on a Bear
Hunt, at the Nature Playscape. Please
pre-register: 712-258-0838 or tkruid@
woodburyparks.org.
Live Animal Lunchtime
July 11 • 4:30 pm
Come and watch our live animals eat.
Learn about their habitat needs and
adaptations. Free! Open until 7pm on
Thursdays in June and July.
Loess Hills Wild Ones
Prairie Walk at Mount Talbot State
Preserve
June 30 • 2:00 pm
We’ll carpool from the equestrian
parking lot just south of Stone Park’s
east entrance. LoessHillsWildOnes@
gmail.com
Gallery 103
Saturdays • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Nights during Downtown Live •
5:30 - 8:30 pm
1st Floor Ho-Chunk Centre
Downtown Live
June 14, 21 & 28 / July 12, 19 & 26
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Located on the lawn of the Sioux City
Food Truck Fridays
June 7, 14, 21 & 28
July 5, 12, 19 & 26
August 2, 9, 16 & 23
11:00 am - 1:30 pm
Located at Pearl Street Park
(620 Pearl St)
Farmer’s Market
June, July & August • 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Located at Tyson Events Center Suite
Parking (Pearl St & Tri-View Ave)
Siouxland Magazine | Enjoy / 73
The Briar Cliff Review Exhibition
Thru July 21
This annual, collaborative project with
Briar Cliff University includes a wide
variety of artworks by more than thirty
artists from across the region.
Sierra Club
4th Tues. of every month • 5:30 pm
Located @ 2508 Jackson Street
Nature presentations and discussion.
Free
Le Mars Sesquicentennial
Events
June 12-16 (Wednesday – Sunday)
New Stage Players
Annie, Jr
June 15 & 16
Despite a next-to-nothing start in
Depression-era New York City, Annie
is determined to find parents who
abandoned her years ago. More info at
newstageplayers.com
Siouxland Artists
1st Tues. of every month • 5:30 pm
Located @ St. Mark’s Church (5200
Glen Ave.)
Learn & Create. Visit a meeting &
consider joining local art club.
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
Nature Tales
June 11 • 10:00 am
Preschoolers join us with an adult for
this special story time about butterflies.
We’ll hike too, weather permitting.
Please pre-register: 712-258-0838
or tkruid@woodburyparks.org.
Meet the Animals
July 2 • 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Stop in to meet our feathered and
scaled live animals. This will give you an
opportunity to view the salamanders,
2nd Annual Art Affair
August 10 • 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
4th Street (in front of the Ho-Chunk
Centre)
Local artists will line the street to
display and sell their artwork in a
festival-like atmosphere. Browse and
purchase local art, have lunch with
food vendors and listen to strolling
musicians. There will also be face
painters and art contests for you and
your family to participate in. Free.
Saturday in the Park
July 6, 2019

Siouxland Magazine | Enjoy /74
Explorer’s baseball is much more than just
a game of America’s favorite past time. It’s
a family friendly entertainment experience!
There is something for everyone here at Mercy
One Field. We offer inflatables and on field
promotions for kids to take part in. We also
offer awesome weekly specials like $1 hot
dogs on Wednesday’s and buy one get one
beer or soda on Thirsty Thursdays, plus many
more! Come enjoy the Sioux City Explorers
baseball experience with us, we can’t wait to
see you there! To reserve your tickets today
call (712)-277-9467.
SUN MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT
12 13 14 15 16
LIN
19
LIN
26
@STP
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@GAR
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TEX
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WPG
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Game
MAY
JUNE
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@WPG
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NORTH DIVISION
Chicago Dogs (CHI)
Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks (FM)
Gary Southshore Railcats (GAR)
Milwaukee Milkmen (MKE)
St. Paul Saints (STP)
Winnipeg Goldeyes (WPG)
2019 SCHEDULE
Off
Day
6
@WPG
13
LIN
20
@KC
27
WPG
Postgame
Fireworks
7
FM
14
@CLE
21
SF
28
@LIN
8
FM
15
@CLE
22
SF
29
@LIN
All-Star
Game @
St Paul
SOUTH DIVISION
Cleburne Railroaders (CLE)
Kansas City T-Bones (KC)
Lincoln Saltdogs (LIN)
Sioux Falls Canaries (SF)
Sioux City Explorers (SC)
Texas Airhogs (TEX)
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7
@SF
14
@MKE
21
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28
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@SF
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@TEX
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CLE
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@TEX
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@SF
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STP
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@LIN
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@CLE
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@KC
SUN MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT
1
@KC
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@KC
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
3 4
CLE
5
CLE
63
CLE
7
KC
2019 HOME GAME TIMES
MONDAY-FRIDAY: 7:12 PM ● SATURDAY: 6:05 PM ● SUNDAY: 4:02 PM
TICKETS: 712-277-WINS (9467) ● WWW.XSBASEBALL.COM