Save Ottumwa Post February 28, 2024

Postal Customer

Ottumwa Publishing

641-208-5505

ottumwapost.com

•••••FEBRUARY 28, 2024•••••

The Bluebirds of Happiness February, though the shortest month, always seems the longest. There are no really good hunting seasons open and fishing ranges from going out on poor quality ice to freezing to death on the good ice. Bird watching is not that great, and hiking is really lousy. Hiking for the sake of hiking can be poor entertainment when the weather is good. Hiking when there is ice, snow, or mud on the ground does not add to the enjoyment. It makes me glad; March has almost arrived.

There is hope of spring when we turn the calendar over to March.

Nature also provides clues to spring being just around the corner. In the past few days, I have seen several gobblers in full strut. They are practicing for the upcoming mating ritual or perhaps preparing for spring gobbler season. The geese have moved back to the pond. As soon as the ice clears, migrating geese will stop for a day or two, but the (Outdoors cont’d on pg 2)

PAGE 2

SAVE OTTUMWA POST

scratching sounds coming from the ones we saw are wood stove. The first the resident geese. few times this hapThey are swimming pened, we thought in pairs and already mice had moved defending their terinto the stove. I ritory. One pair is would swing open defending all comers the door, ready to from the island, as club a rodent, only to they have since the be greeted by a reisland was built. The ally black bluebird. surest sign of spring Though relieved to is the bluebirds look- be released from the ing for the best nest- dark confines of the ing spot. With their stove, they did not bright blue plumage, seem to be immedithey flit from one spot ately assured a large to the next, making person brandishing sure no other bird a steel poker was has gotten the perfect looking out for their nest. They check out best interest. While the houses I have my wife covered her placed in strategic face and held open locations, where they the door to the cabin, will eventually stop I chased the dirty bird and nest. Before around in circles until that, they have to he found his way out. check the holes in After about the third the posts that anchor time of doing this, I the dock, the knot in decided the chimthe corner-post that is ney needed to be not big enough to get made bluebird proof. into, and the chimney I was not to the stove in the too thrilled with the cabin. The chimney idea of crawling up used to be a real on the roof to prevent problem. The stove further intrusions, but is not used frequently we do what we have in the spring, so to a to do. Equipped with bluebird, the chimfencing pliers and ney pipe appeared to chicken wire, I scaled be only a nice dark the side of the cabin hole. Several times and made my way we came to the cabin up the roof. Slipping in the spring to hear and sliding my way to (Outdoors cont’d from pg 1)

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

the chimney, I discovered from my lofty perch, the wind was blowing much more briskly than on the ground, and I could see several bluebirds watching as I ruined what they thought was the best nesting site on the farm. As my fingers became numb from the cold wind and I fought to stay astraddle the roof peak, I knew I was protecting a bunch of really pretty little birds that do not have a lot of sense. I decided they did not have to do anything but look good. It is still our job to do what we can to protect them, even if it is from themselves.

Bluebirds are a sign of spring and spring brings happiness after a long winter.

Ottumwa Post App

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

SAVE OTTUMWA POST •OTTUMWAPOST.COM

PAGE 3

METAL ROOFING Contact us today for a quote!

Check us out on Facebook!

ASK US ABOUT TEXTURED METAL

WAGLER BUILDERS

(641) 777-5000 • john@waglerbuilders.com @waglerbuilders

ottumwapost.com

Welcome Olivia McCoy, MSN, ARNP-C Pella Regional Health Center is pleased to welcome Olivia McCoy, MSN, APRN-C to the medical staff.

“I believe in the importance of providing patients with necessary education and resources that are available to encourage their desire for healthy behaviors and compliance,” said Olivia.

Olivia attended Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota earning her Masters of Science Nursing Studies and Family Nurse Practitioner degrees. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa. Olivia completed a post master’s certification in psychiatric mental health nursing from Walden University.

She has experience providing nursing care in the Behavioral Health Unit at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines and Walk-in care and Inpatient Geriatric Psychiatry with Mahaska Health Partnership, Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Olivia was named one of Iowa’s 100 Great Nurses in 2019.

Olivia married her husband Justin in 2022. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, friends and grandchildren. Olivia will see patients in the Pella Regional Walk-In Clinic in Ottumwa.

PAGE 4

SAVE OTTUMWA POST

Don’t Kick The Car I still remember the name of the color, Glencoe Green, from Chrysler.

It was beautiful, deep metallic green, so dark that most people thought the car was black, but in the sun, oh, did that car sparkle and show its true color. The day I picked up my car from Colorgraphics body shop in Blakesburg, Iowa, still stands out as if it was yesterday.

The shop floor had that wet, chalky look that all body shops seem to have; it was probably dust from sanding. The smell of paints and thinners lingered in the air; it’s an odor many people don’t like, but I do. I looked over every inch of my freshly painted car. “What this,” I asked, looking at the lower right rear quarter panel.

Steve came over to have a look. it. So, I parked in a lone space far from the building; Dad taught me it was worth walking a little farther to the store so people wouldn’t ding your car with their doors. The car I was bummed. “I really looked pretty sassy sitting wanted to show my car to there, so I took a picture my friends,” I said. “Can of it, went inside the store, you still buff it out if I take and bought my mud flaps. the car and bring it back in But when I came outside a few days?” Steve asmy car was missing. sured me that would be no problem. I wanted to buy a I thought someone had set of chrome mud flaps to stolen my car, but it turned protect the new paint from out a mid-70s model Ford LTD two-door parked next rock chips before I went to me. (A boat with huge, to see my friends. Target long doors!) My little Opel had just the set I wanted in their automotive depart- GT was so small I couldn’t ment. (Yes, Target used to see it behind the big Ford.

“This parking lot is full of have an automotive deempty spaces,” I compartment.) plained as I walked to my My 1973 Opel GT looked car. “Why did this yahoo good, and I didn’t want have to park right next to anything to happen to me?” With his car hiding “There must have been a fly in the paint booth. Darn it,” Steve said. “Can you leave the car here? We’ll buff that out and have the car ready tomorrow.”

BARN RESTORATION Specializing in Barn & Pole Barn

Repair and Restoration

See more restorations!

WAGLER BUILDERS

(641) 777-5000 • john@waglerbuilders.com

@waglerbuilders

my Opel, other people coming out of the store couldn’t admire my beautiful car. …booted his door… made the judge mad…not enough paint…

View the full the story at ottumwapost.com.

Ray’s Longbranch Homemade 1/2 lb. Tenderloins & Hamburgers Drakesville, IA • 722-3355

FEBRUARY 28, 2024