CNA-SS-3-28-2017

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Pumping up

Coming Home

CRESTON

years.”

Cost of living and being close to Gabe’s family also played heavily into the decision to move to Creston, as well. As it turns out, Wyandotte, Michigan, really wasn’t that close to Linda’s family in Michigan, anyway.

And, the Michigan economy was in rough shape at the time in 2008.

Since starting Carroll Family Chiropractic in Creston, business has been booming.

“I think being from here and knowing people, and we got involved in the community right away when we got back, helped,” Gabe said. “I think just knowing so many people, having family here, word of mouth spread really fast. Business picked up quicker than we expected it to.”

Varied services

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

INSIDE

Gabe Carroll gives Tori Fienhage of Creston an adjustment at Carroll Family Chiropractic in Creston. Both Carroll and Fienhage returned home to Creston, working at Carroll Family Chiropractic.

Carroll takes community-minded approach after returning home ■

By SCOTT VICKER

CNA managing editor svicker@crestonnews.com

Eric Green

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Craig and Brenda Plymesser

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Ryan McKim

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Kristen Carmichael

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Tessa Otto

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Brad Elliott and Burton Murphy

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Jake Samo

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Scott and Melissa Driskell

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When Gabe Carroll and his wife, Linda, began searching for a place to call home and start up their chiropractic business, they whittled it down to three choices.

They could move closer to Linda’s family in Michigan and buy an already-established chiropractic business in Wyandotte, Michigan. Another option was starting up a business in Des Moines.

But, eventually, Gabe’s hometown of Creston won out. And, it was an easy choice.

“We kind of started our business plan while we were in school and rent for Des Moines was like $2,500 per month for a small place,” Gabe said. “We were back (in Creston) one weekend and driving around, just looking at different places that were open and came upon our office spot we’re at now.”

After examining the building, Gabe and Linda decided they could make the space work for their business with a few alterations.

Then, they decided to call the realtor to check on price.

“They wanted $450 for rent and we were like, ‘Yeah, we can do that,’” Carroll said.

“So we ended up opening up and getting all of our equipment for what it would have cost us to just pay rent in Des Moines. That loan from opening up, we paid it back within two

One of the big reasons business picked up so quickly for the Carrolls was the number of different services they provided.

After Gabe graduated from Creston High School in 2001, he spent one year at Southwestern Community College going through the LPN program and handing out water to the basketball team at games. From there, he went to Carlson College of Massage Therapy in Anamosa from 2002 to 2003. After graduating from Carlson College of Massage Therapy, Gabe went to Kirkwood from 2003 to 2005, taking his prerequisites for the pharmacy program. After he completed most of that program, he decided he wanted to go into chiropractics.

Since he had a background in massage already, Gabe renewed his massage license after hearing from residents there was a need for another massage therapist in town.

In the second year of the business, Linda became certified to do acupuncture.

“I think there’s one other chiropractor in Tingley and one in Corning that do acupuncture,” Gabe said. “We’re the only one in Creston that does.”

CARROLL | 2A

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

Gabe Carroll sits at the desk in the city council chambers at the restored Creston Depot.

Carroll has served on the city council since 2015.

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Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

CARROLL: CONT. FROM | 1A

the CrossFit TYL gym in Creston. Gabe also helps at Corning Gymnastics, where his 8-year-old son, Nathan, takes classes.

Together, Gabe and Linda also have 4-year-old twin daughters, Opal and Ruby.

Between work, meetings for various organizations and his family, Gabe doesn’t have much time left to enjoy hobbies.

He used to brew beer, but doesn’t have four or five hours a day to dedicate to it anymore.

“I guess I spend most of my free time playing basketball once or twice a week,” Gabe said. “There are things I’d like to do, but there’s only so many hours in a day and some of those hours you have to see your family while they’re awake.”

him buying the month pass for Freeman. But, he didn’t know him closely.

“So when we talked about (CrossFit) at council and the next day he came in, it was quite a surprise,” Freeman said. “I think he’s an exceptional guy. I mean, who does that? I just thought it was a really cool deal. It made me want to do it, so I did it for another guy and paid it forward.”

Freeman has continued attending crossfit beyond that free month pass and has committed himself to it thanks to the push from Gabe.

“As weird as it is for me to say this, I actually look forward to my Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings because I can’t wait to get to the gym,” Freeman said. “It’s great doing things I didn’t think I could do. And, actually, I’m doing CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER things now that I couldn’t do Pictured is Gabe Carroll in a massage room at Carroll Family Chiropractic in Creston. six weeks ago. It’s pretty cool Carroll maintains his massage license, and his wife, Linda, offers acupuncture, in addihow much it’s impacted me.” tion to chiropractics.

Having those services available gives Gabe and Linda more tools at the ready to treat their patients.

“Depending on what the customer comes in for, I think it gives us more tools to address things with,” Gabe said. “Sometimes people know they need something, but they don’t know exactly what it is they need. Being able to offer those different services and tell them which one is better suited to what they need is nice.”

Those added tools, along with having two doctors in the office and additional massage therapists, creates more available times for patients to receive treatment, CrossFit as well.

He and Linda typically Staying involved take a two-hour lunch break Since returning home, from work because they’ve Gabe has volunteered his found it’s the only time they time to several different orcan consistently get to the ganizations and groups in gym to work out and still get Creston. work done at the office.

Right away, Gabe joined Doster has seen Gabe’s Rotary Club and the Elks personality come out at his Lodge. He also spent time gym, CrossFit TYL. with the High Lakes Young Doster described Gabe Professional group. as generous, nice, athletic, “He’s one of those people that sometimes you won- talented and intelligent, and der how he fits it all in,” related a story about Gabe said Chris Doster, owner being encouraging of others.

“Terry Freeman at Cresof CrossFit TYL, who has ton Automotive had been known Gabe for about three debating joining CrossFit years. “He just seems to reforever,” Doster said. “He ally care about his commureally wanted to, but could nity. He was coming to my never get himself into the gym in Mount Ayr. I had this gym.

Gabe bought him a thought in my mind of openmonth membership.

He ing a gym in Creston. It was bought a gift certificate from a scary proposition for me to make that jump and he really me for Terry for a month did a good job of convincing of CrossFit. He didn’t give me that he would help make Terry any excuses anymore sure it would go. Even in and it’s been great for Terry. that situation, I just remem- That just, I think, symbolizes ber some of the conversa- the person Gabe is. He saw tions, he was really pumping an opportunity to help anup what Creston had going. other human being and he He’s just really communi- took it.”

Freeman, who had recentty minded. Creston’s dang ly started on Creston City lucky to have him.”

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER Council with Gabe, said he He recently completed his Gabe Carroll does a pushup during a workout at CrossFit TYL in Creston. Chris Doster, owner of the gym, said Carroll sixth year on the Southern knew who Gabe was prior to Prairie YMCA board. He’s also joined the Elks Clowns and is a member of the Creston City Council.

“I guess it was just something that I had always seen from other people,” Gabe said. “My dad has been in Elks forever and been a clown forever. He was on city council for awhile and my grandma was on city council.

I guess I just assumed that’s what you do when you’re part of a community – you start getting involved and help people out with things.”

Getting involved with one organization quickly leads to involvement with another, as once people see you’ve become involved, they want you to become involved in their group, Gabe said.

“I enjoy it. It’s fun to get out and do new things and talk to people you wouldn’t get to see on a normal basis,” he said. “There’s a vast wealth of knowledge from people that know things from different walks of life that you would never encounter. You don’t get to know those people unless you get out and do stuff. It’s been a tremendous learning experience.”

At 34 years old, Gabe is the youngest member of the Creston City Council. But, he said, that was one of the reasons he considered becoming involved with city council.

Many of the volunteer organizations or boards around the community feature a huge age gap. Younger people will eventually be needed to fill spots on those boards and organizations.

“Then who do you look to to solve problems or get that knowledge that’s been built up over the years by being involved in stuff?”

Gabe said. “I definitely have learned more from being on the council than I have contributed. It’s such a broad scope of subject matter that I don’t have experience in. I find it all interesting, which is probably helpful.”

Gabe and Linda, 33, are both actively involved at

was instrumental in convincing him to open the gym in Creston.

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Green returns home to practice law at Kenyon & Nielsen Creston native Eric Green’s time away from home included land surveying in Ankeny, deploying to Afghanistan and more. n

By KELSEY HAUGEN Special to the CNA

While kicking around the idea of attending law school, Eric Green built up two separate careers.

Starting out as a land surveyor, he eventually opened a business: E.M. Green Land Surveying. In the midst of this career, he joined the Iowa Army National Guard, deploying to Afghanistan and climbing ranks.

Then, before exiting the military, he dove into his first year of law school.

Now, Green is an associate attorney at Kenyon & Nielsen PC, a general practice law firm in Creston.

“It’s been scattered and chaotic – definitely not a normal progression into a third profession – but I guess I’ve kept life from being stale and boring that way,” he said. “And, I’m trying to set an example for my daughter that if you set goals, you can achieve them at any stage in your life.”

“But, my wife has told me I have to stop changing jobs and settle down for a while,” he said.

Green, 41, of Creston replaced longtime attorney and former firm partner Arnold “Skip” Kenyon, who took another job last fall. Green’s aspiration is to become the next partner in the firm alongside Todd Nielsen, also a Creston native with about 28 years of experience practicing.

“He has had good life experience,” Kenyon said.

“He’s had a chance to work with the public in other areas. He’s had a chance to run a small business on his own, so he has business experience. He’s from the Creston area; it always helps when you’re dealing with this kind of business to be a known quantity, so to speak.

He has good ties to the com-

munity.”

Currently, Green’s primary focus is family law.

However, practicing in rural Iowa provides the opportunity to work on a variety of cases, and that’s one reason he wanted to practice in Creston.

More than that, Creston is home to Green. He graduated from Creston High School in 1993; his wife, Beth, owns Green Accounting & Tax LLC in Creston; and his daughter, Sadie, is a sophomore at CHS.

Land surveying After graduating from CHS, Green attended Iowa State University for one year and then returned to Creston to attend Southwestern Community College. He took a job at Howard R. Green Company, a former engineering and land-surveying business in Creston, working part time while at SWCC and full time after completing his associate’s degree. He surveyed there until the company closed its Creston office in 2002.

He then joined a land-surveying firm in Ankeny and, in 2006, earned his surveying license and launched his business.

“It’s still technically open today, but I’m not doing any surveying as I’m busy here,” Green said. “I’ll keep it open because I enjoy surveying, and once I get settled in here and get a feel for my schedule, I’m not opposed to doing a couple surveys a year just to get out. I love being outside.”

Military Before starting his land-surveying business, though, Green joined the Guard in 2003.

He started as an enlisted infantryman at the former National Guard Armory in Corning and then completed officer candidate school in Camp Dodge to become a commissioned officer. The remainder of his time in the Guard, he was a military intelligence officer.

“It was a busy, busy 11 years that was difficult to have my own business and be in the Guard with the operational tempo that we had at the time,” Green said. “I was away on training all the time, deployments and oth-

CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

Pictured is Eric Green, associate attorney with Kenyon & Nielsen PC general practice law firm in Creston, outside the firm in November

er little missions here and there, so it was a little chaotic from about the end of 2006 until I got back from Afghanistan.”

While he was in the military, his unit was mobilized for a couple of weeks to Des Moines and later Washington, D.C., during former president Barack Obama’s

first inauguration.

He then deployed to Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011.

“It makes the news you read personal, I guess,” Green said. “And, the job I had, I was involved in all of it.”

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“It was a lot of hard work, and I had a great team, but it was draining,” Green said.

“I had a bunch of smart soldiers working for me that made me look a lot better than what I probably was.”

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interest he’d had since the start of his land-surveying career. In 2012, he had earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Simpson College through the military.

“I had some GI Bill money left, three years, and law school happens to be three years, so I made a deal with my wife,” Green said. “I was only going to test once; if I didn’t score high enough to get into Drake, I wasn’t going to go. I scored high enough and got into Drake.

Part of that deal with my wife, if I got into law school, was hanging up the boots and getting out of the Guard, which I gladly did.”

He started Drake University Law School in fall 2013 and exited the military as commander in 2014.

“I wanted to end on a high note,” Green said. “But, it was too much time away from family, time away from work, time away from everywhere – it seemed like I was gone all the time.”

In between military work and school, Green still did land surveying.

In May 2016, he graduated from law school.

Joining the firm After stints in numerous places, including Afton, Des Moines and Afghanistan, Creston was still home for Green.

“There’s a lot of attorneys in rural areas that have been practicing for a lot of years

that are excited to bring in new attorneys as it allows them an opportunity to slow down or retire, and there aren’t many attorneys who want to come to rural areas,” he said. “Lucky enough, I’m from here, so when I decided I wanted to come back here after law school, Skip said, ‘Hey, we’d love to have you come and join the firm,’ and that allowed him to go do what he’s doing now.”

Leading up to the job offer, Green had worked as a clerk for Kenyon & Nielsen part time in summer 2015, with his time split between there and an internship with Tim Kenyon, Union County attorney.

Green started full time at the firm in August 2016 and became a licensed attorney in mid-September.

“He came highly recommended,” said Kenyon, formerly of Kenyon & Nielsen.

Kenyon, who has about 40 years of experience practicing law, mentored Green before leaving the firm for a position at Iowa State Savings Bank as in-house counsel and trust department head.

“I initially started with introducing him to the different attorneys and judges in the area to get him acclimated to the people he’d be working with and then began pulling out files and working through them one at a time to show him different types of cases we were working on and different things that need to be done for each type of case,” Kenyon said.

“And then, taking him to

court, we went through a couple of court hearings, and he assisted me in doing some research and preparing documents and pleadings and then actually sat in on the hearings, as well.”

Practicing law in Creston So far, the majority of Green’s work has been child custody, divorce and criminal-defense cases.

“I do court-appointed work, so indigent folks that can’t afford an attorney and have one appointed by the state, that’s me,” he said. “And then, I do some estates and things like that, but primarily family and criminal with some personal-injury cases thrown in there.”

Family law isn’t covered sufficiently by attorneys in the area, Green said, so it’s a niche that keeps him busy – and one he enjoys.

“You get to see people on that personal level and sort of peel back any fronts they might be putting up, get to the root of the problem and then help find a solution,” Green said.

His approach is mediation, which for a custody case means a divided family sits down, talks through issues and comes to a common solution rather than arguing it out in court.

“That just tends to create more problems,” Green said.

“And, there’s more common ground there than what people think. ... They often just disagree on one thing, and often times, it’s kids. But when you sit down with a plan, you

Contributed photo

From left are Eric Green, his daughter, Sadie, and wife, Beth, in front of Cartwright Hall before his Drake University Law School graduation ceremony May 14, 2016.

can work out those resolu- other happenings, Green’s intions. I love that because at terest in politics grew.

“A political career down least both sides can feel like they had a voice in the pro- the road, I’m not going to rule cess, and that’s what it should be.”

Practicing in rural Iowa, specifically Creston, has been the right fit for Green. During law school, he completed a couple of internships in Des Moines and, while he considers those experiences good and valuable, he realized he prefers small-town life.

“I just prefer dealing with the people here; it’s a different mindset,” Green said. “So, when this opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it.”

One of those internships was with Sen. Tom Shipley (R-Iowa). As a legal intern with a senator having access to committee meetings and

Contributed photo

Eric Green of Creston, left, and Lieutenant Colonel Wade McKnight pose with a rudis, or a wooden sword, McKnight presented to Green during his Change of Command ceremony in February 2014 at Joint Forces Headquarters in Camp Dodge in Johnston. This was the last day Green served in the Iowa Army National Guard, and he was given the rudis as a symbol of his service.

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Plymessers come home and give back after 30 years away from Greenfield Craig and Brenda Plymesser spend the majority of their volunteer time in leadership roles at the Warren Cultural Center. n

By KELSEY HAUGEN Special to the CNA

GREENFIELD – After about 30 years away from Greenfield, Craig and Brenda Plymesser not only returned to their hometown but repurchased the same house they owned as a young couple.

And, despite three decades living elsewhere and traveling internationally for Craig’s job, the return home was as if they’d never left.

The Plymessers were welcomed back into the community and asked to take on leadership roles at the restored Warren Cultural Center, which Brenda was previously involved with through the Cumberland Rose Players community theatre group.

Since being back in Greenfield, the recently retired couple has spent much of their time volunteering. “Friends that we had back in the ‘80s still live here and invited us to be active immediately,� said Brenda, 66. “We weren’t home one weekend and they were asking us to be involved,� said Craig, 65. “It was like a time warp. Most of the same friends were still here.

We’d been gone for almost 30 years, and we came back and it was like we’d seen each other last weekend – right back into the community.�

‘Got milk?’ Both raised in Adair County, Craig went to Iowa State University for two years and later finished his bachelor’s degree at Upper Iowa University. Brenda graduated from University of Northern Iowa and was

CNA photo by KELSEY HAUGEN

Craig and Brenda Plymesser of Greenfield stand on the Warren Cultural Center stage in December. The Plymessers, originally from Adair County, spent 30 years living elsewhere and traveling internationally before returning to Greenfield. Now, the retired couple volunteers for the center; Brenda is director of the Cumberland Rose Players, and Craig is president of the center’s board.

a special education teacher in Greenfield for a couple of years.

When Craig and Brenda got married, they milked cows north of Greenfield with family for about 10 years, until 1983. “During the ‘80s farm crisis, there wasn’t enough money, and I got started with American Dairy Association,� Craig said. “We moved to St. Charles, Missouri, and I did grocery store promotions, food service promotions and promoting generic dairy products in Missouri, Kansas and parts of Oklahoma.�

Then, the couple moved to Grimes so Craig could do a similar job – but in Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois – for more than 10 years. From there, he joined the corporate office in Chicago.

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eling was exciting but also challenging, especially with language barriers.

The company’s “Got milk?� campaign never sold a drop of milk, Craig said, so they took a new direction. “We started working in partnership with McDonald’s and Domino’s Pizza and both of their sales had tanked. For Domino’s, it was because they’d quit putting in as much real cheese on the pizzas,� Craig said. “So, we helped them reformulate the recipes.�

The company was able to help Domino’s and McDonald’s increase sales.

“Probably the reason you can get the yogurt parfaits at McDonald’s was because of us, and the reason they put in the plastic, resealable lids on milk for kids with their kids’ meal was because of us,� Craig said.

After that, Craig retired and the Plymessers moved back to Iowa about four years ago.

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International travels began in 2000, and Brenda was able to go on several of the trips. “We liked Vienna a lot,�

Craig said. “But, we learned there’s no place like home.

The most striking was Romania and the poverty there.� “The cultures were all so different, and they were all really interesting,� Brenda said.

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Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Love of home draws McKim back to Creston

By SCOTT VICKER

CNA managing editor svicker@crestonnews.com

In the world of college football, Creston native Ryan McKim has been there and done that.

In two different stints on the Iowa State University football coaching staff, McKim made bowl-game trips to Tempe, Arizona, for the Insight Bowl and to Memphis, Tennessee, for the Liberty Bowl.

Then, McKim was part of the coaching staff at Oklahoma University in Norman, Oklahoma, a national powerhouse program in the Big XII Conference, when the Sooners defeated perennial national-championship contender Alabama in the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

McKim, now 30, had risen the ranks in the coaching world and, with another year or two under his belt after that 2014 Sugar Bowl, who knows where his career might have taken him?

But, even with the prospects of moving up further in the coaching world, there was always some-

“I DO sometimes sit back and think maybe I could have stuck it out at OU another year or two and seen where it led from a job opportunity standpoint. But when I say that, I truly don’t have any regrets about the decisions I’ve made.”

__

RYAN MCKIM

CCHS teacher and coach

thing missing for McKim. Home.

The four or five years of not being home for Thanksgiving or Christmas, along with missing several funerals and weddings took its toll on McKim. He wanted to come home.

“It wasn’t easy. I guess I knew I had done it long enough,” McKim said. “I do sometimes sit back and think maybe I could have stuck it out at OU another

Contributed photo

Ryan McKim, center, a 2004 graduate of Creston High School, poses for a photo with the All-State Sugar Bowl trophy after Oklahoma defeated Alabama in the bowl game in 2014. McKim was on the coaching staff for the Sooners and is pictured with other members of the coaching staff.

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

Creston Community High School girls basketball coach Ryan McKim shouts instruction to his team during a game this winter. McKim, a 2004 graduate of Creston High School, returned home to teach and coach.

year or two and seen where it led from a job opportunity standpoint. But when I say that, I truly don’t have regrets at all about the decisions I’ve made.”

McKim got involved in coaching at a young age, when just a year out of high school, former Creston/O-M head football coach Dick Bergstrom gave him an opportunity to help coach the freshman team.

In between coaching stints at Iowa State, McKim had returned home for one year to join the Panther football coaching staff.

So when the thought of coming back to Creston again crept into his mind, McKim reached out to the current Panther head coach, Brian Morrison.

“Really, if we wouldn’t have been able to work something out here in Creston, I probably would have stuck it out for another year just because I knew the guys here,” McKim said. “We’ve got awesome coaches here.

I knew all those guys and knew what I was getting into here. I just called coach Morrison and said, ‘Do you think this is something we can make work out?’ If it

hadn’t worked out, I probably would have just put my nose down and kept doing my thing at OU.” Morrison had told McKim the door was always open for him to return to the Panther football staff.

“He brings a wealth of knowledge. He has a mind for the game. He has developed relationships with coaches at different levels.

A majority Division I, but he knows coaches at the Division II level,” Morrison said.

Back to Creston For McKim, the thought of returning to Creston was alluring.

For one, he was already familiar with the Panther coaching staff and many of the players in the football program. But, perhaps most importantly, he’d finally be able to see his family.

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ery day since I moved back, which is a big deal to me,” McKim said.

Plus, the idea of “Iowa nice” held true for McKim. “When you go take a job at OU, there was a bunch of great people there, but at the end of the day, when you live in a place like that, a majority of the people are just going to work. I don’t know if they genuinely care (how you’re doing),” McKim said. “When you come

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nity,” Morrison said. “His parents are still here, he has a lot of connections, has a lot of friends moving back to Creston. That’s good for Creston, having kids like that come back.”

The eldest child of Don and Diana McKim of Creston, Ryan went several years where he rarely got to see his parents or his younger sister, Katie, because he was so entrenched in his career as a college football coach.

“Being home, I’ve gotten to see my parents almost ev-

Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

PLYMESSERS: CONT. FROM | 5A

years before, located six miles north of Greenfield, which is where they had wanted to retire.

“It was an Earth berm home and it was passive solar gain; it was back during the Carter administration when energy was such a big concern, and we heated the entire house with just a wood-burning stove and passive solar windows that we had in the front of the house,” Craig said.

The house had sold three times in between the Plymessers owning it, and Craig’s mother lived within 150 feet of the house. Her health was failing, so being near her was another draw for the couple to move back to Greenfield.

“Neither one of us ever thought it even remotely possible we’d move back to Iowa, let alone back to the house we built back as a young couple,” Craig said.

“The lady who owned it at the time, we told her if she was ever interested in selling, we might be interested in buying. She said ‘never,’ but a week later, she said, ‘You can have it in April.’

So, we moved back and did a bunch of remodeling and updating.”

Now, they have a familiar place for their children, Nicole, Sarah and Cliff, and grandchildren to visit.

Warren Cultural Center Since high school, Brenda has been active in theatre. In 1979, when the Cumberland Rose Players group was first established, she was a charter member.

When the Plymessers moved to Grimes, she was the theatre director for the high school for seven years.

She also helped with theatre in Illinois at her son’s school.

Prior to the Plymessers returning to Greenfield, the Cumberland Rose Players were instrumental in the project of restoring the Warren Cultural Center, Craig said.

“They finished it in 2012, and they started back in the early ‘90s, I think,” Craig said. “So, we missed a big chunk of the history of the center being put back together. We came back, and it was open.”

“We knew it was being

renovated, but I was totally shocked at the quality of the restoration and the attention to detail that the community went to to preserve this history and also to encourage arts in the area,” Brenda said.

Within a few weeks of being back in Greenfield, the couple attended a Cumberland Rose Players performance at the renovated center, and Brenda was asked to consider becoming the director. She leapt at the opportunity.

“I think my first one I directed was ‘Death by Chocolate’ in 2014,” Brenda said. “ A n d , some of the Warren Cultural Center board members w e r e B. Plymesser friends and classmates, and they invited (Craig) to be involved right away, too.”

Craig became a board member as Brenda became the Cumberland Rose Players director.

“By default, with her so involved, I had helped with sets and some of the technical side,” Craig said. “I hadn’t really volunteered too much for anything. The Warren Cultural Center Board knew we were both active in it and they needed some people to help on the board. Next thing I knew, I was on the board.”

area of focus currently is to better draw in younger audience members. That’s been a struggle, despite Sidey striving to book artists wide-ranging in style.

“We have not found that magic bullet yet,” Craig said. “It’s easy to bring in the retired crowd, but we don’t get a lot of young families unless it’s a program with people’s kids in the cast.”

Sidey added: “It’s been a challenge to draw younger families and students. A lot of that is due to their busyness of life, but we keep trying new things, new types of entertainment.”

One future goal is to have some form of entertainment or educational program going on every day at the center, Craig said. He also dreams of the center opening a restaurant, maybe a steakhouse or upscale hamburger joint, in the lower level.

He and Brenda plan to continue working with Sidey into the foreseeable future to improve the center, as well as keep volunteering elsewhere in Adair County.

“While traveling, we made friends, but not like our friends back here and not the same values – Iowa values and rural values,” Craig said. “Greenfield is as good or better than we had in Chicago for entertainment. And, the qualiGoals for the ty of life is here. So many center towns are dying, for lack of Sidey and the Plymessers a better word, but Greenare always forward-thinkfield is still alive.” ing about the center. Their Shortly after that, he was named president of the board.

“They’re highly involved with things but in different ways,” said Ken Sidey, Warren Cultural Center executive director. “Craig brings a good business background to our board and really took leadership and jumped right in to get involved with all of the aspects of the opera house.

Brenda, with the Players, she’s had a key role directing plays. They both also have a good vision for the place, making it active and wanting to improve it.”

Now, the couple is heavily involved at the center when they’re not volunteering elsewhere in Adair County – Craig with Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, the golf board and the Grove township cemetery board, and Brenda with the Fontanelle Legion Auxillary and high school speech program at Nodaway Valley. Brenda also substitute teaches.

“Both of us truly believe in the sense of community,” Craig said. “We were both in 4-H as kids and active in high school, and the community had given us so much back then – leadership training and sending us places. We always thought we need to give back to the community, too, and help the next generation.”

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8A

Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

MCKIM: CONT. FROM | 6A

home, there’s people who genuinely want to know how you’re doing. It’s home.

They genuinely care about you and care about what you’re doing. I missed that, being around people that knew me since I was a kid.

That whole hometown thing, that was important.”

McKim also said he felt like he’d be able to make a bigger impact in Creston than he was at his other coaching stops.

At the collegiate level, players often sensed when they had an opportunity to make it to the next level – the National Football League.

When that happened, he said, players often became self-centered instead of centered on the team.

“I feel like I’ve made a positive impact here at Creston,” McKim said. “Certainly, at this level, I think kids are more impressionable.

The ones you form that close player-coach relationship with and see them take off and believe in themselves, that’s a pretty cool thing. I definitely think, at the high school level, that’s a much easier and more rewarding thing.”

“I think it’s critical that you have people like that who come back and invest in their hometown because obviously it means something to him for him to come back,” Morrison added. “I think the kids understand that.

They understand when he’s talking to them or he’s c o a c h i n g Morrison them, that he’s been through Creston football.

He knows the tradition and he knows what it takes to be successful, not just in high school, but at the college level.”

Creston Community High School In addition to being the offensive coordinator for the football team, McKim is also the head girls basketball coach and assistant golf coach.

Coaching the girls basketball team this past season helped McKim grow as a coach.

“I learned a ton,” he said.

“The No. 1 thing being, you can’t try to be the best at every single aspect of the game. You have to look at who you have, the strengths of the people in your organization or team and figure out what you want your identity to be. You have to focus on those things and those things only.”

Even in the classroom, McKim sees himself like a coach.

As the Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) instructor at CCHS, McKim said his role in the classroom

is much like that of a coach.

“If there’s 20 kids in here, there could be 20 different projects going on,” he said.

“There’s no cookie-cutter way of doing it. It’s kind of like coaching – you have to figure out where that kid is at, what they’re struggling with and bring them along.”

McKim sees the EAST program as having two umbrellas – it is project based and it is communications based.

Through the EAST program, students follow their interests to try to solve problems and incorporate technology into that problem solving. Students also learn interview techniques, video editing and how to operate a camera.

Coaching Even while he was in high school, McKim was intrigued by coaching and knew he wanted to get involved somehow.

After graduating from Creston High School in 2004, McKim attended Southwestern Community College for two years, where he competed on the golf team.

That’s also where he got his coaching start when Bergstrom gave him the opportunity to help coach the freshman team.

After graduating from Southwestern, McKim went to Iowa State, where Bergstrom helped him land a job on the Iowa State coaching staff as a student assistant.

After two years as student assistant for ISU, Cyclone assistant Eric Link recommended McKim and he was eventually hired in a football operations and recruiting role by ISU head coach Gene Chizek.

Chizek left shortly after and incoming coach Paul Rhoads dismissed the entire staff except for Link and McKim. McKim kept working hard and proved himself to Rhoads, who kept him on the staff.

From there, McKim made his first return to Creston, joining the Panther football

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Creston Community High School EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technology) instructor Ryan McKim works in his classroom during parent-teacher conferences.

staff for its district-championship season in 2011. Following that season, Rhoads had an opening for a graduate assistant at Iowa State, so McKim returned to ISU, where he earned his master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies.

After a year and a half of being back in Ames, McKim was given an opportunity to join the staff at Oklahoma as special teams quality control.

“It’s cool. You get to do a lot of really cool things,” McKim said about collegiate coaching.

“Obviously, you get to meet a bunch of really successful people and a lot McKim of those people end up being really good people from the athletic directors at those institutions to a guy like (Oklahoma coach) Bob Stoops, who will end up being a hall of fame coach. You meet a bunch of good people who have similar interests and

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similar goals. The one thing you find out when you’re around people like that is they’re just normal people who are driven and have had success.”

While in college, McKim followed in his father Don’s footsteps, getting a degree in pre-medicine because he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, even though in the back of his mind, he knew he wanted to coach.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I just kind of followed my dad’s career path for lack of a better option,” McKim said. “I had been in coaching that whole time and could never give it up.”

Coaching has taken up a large part of McKim’s life and has limited his free time.

What little free time he does have, he enjoys playing golf and spending time on the lake with his family in Lake of the Ozarks.

He also spends a great deal of time reading coaching and leadership books, always trying to improve in his craft.

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9A

College runner comes home “MY DAD is very ill. ... I felt that I couldn’t forgive myself if I missed out on that part of my dad’s life, and I knew graduation

By BAILEY POOLMAN would come when it CNA staff reporter came.” bpoolman@crestonnews.com Corning’s Kristen Carmichael comes home as the new executive director of Adams County Chamber-Main Street. n

CORNING — When Kristen Carmichael decided to stay in her hometown of Corning and let her path of finishing college take its course, she was glad of the opportunity.

Carmichael, a 2012 graduate of Corning High School, left the small Iowa town and landed in Omaha, where she ran cross country and track at University of Nebraska-Omaha. Her long-distance running career, however, wasn’t the only reason for her to attend. She is pursuing a degree in international business, and is currently hoping to graduate in 2017.

Even though she is still in school, that didn’t hold her back when she became Corning’s executive director of Adams County Chamber-Main Street, two organizations spurred to make Corning, and the county as a whole, a better, more inviting place.

__

KRISTEN CARMICHAEL

Executive director of Adams County Chamber-Main Street

Chamber-Main Street During her winter vacation from college, Carmichael received the opportunity to be the interim director at Chamber-Main Street and jumped on it.

“Priorities kind of change, and you never know what the future holds. But, I like the way it looks here. I really do,” Carmichael said.

“I’ve always loved it here and I wanted to move back primarily because of the job and to be closer to family.”

She took the position in January, and by Feb. 1, ac-

CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN

Kristen Carmichael smiles for the camera in her Corning office as Adams County Chamber Main Street director in March. Carmichael became director after coming home from college in Nebraska.

cepted the full position. Carmichael continues to work on her degree online while working a full-time job and living with her mother, Audrey, at their family farm

south of Corning.

Her father, Larry Carmichael, has Parkinson’s disease and dementia, both neurological deterioration diseases, and is in a nursing

Running Carmichael, 22, was a four-year letterwinner in cross country and track for Corning High School. In track, she was the conference and district champion her sophomore and junior years in the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter runs.

She received a scholarship to UNO and, among other reasons, attended the university she considered far enough away but close enough to home.

“It was a bit ill-fated, but it happened. It was awesome,” Carmichael said of her college running career.

“I ran everything from the 1,500 to the 10K, and, of course, cross country races get a bit longer.”

She even tried her hand at lesser-known events like the steeplechase, which involves short hurdles, water jumps and the occasional fish.

Carmichael suffered a foot injury her sophomore year in college, consisting of stretched muscles and tendons and deep bone bruising, but after two months she was back on her feet.

During her freshman year at UNO, Carmichael competed in all six cross-country events. She had a career-best 6K of 23:29.0 at the Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational in 2013. That year, she finished 45th overall with a time of 24:55.9 at the Summit League Championship.

Carmichael’s sophomore year saw her in all seven meets. She ran her best 6K time in 23:47.5 at the Bradley Classic in 2014, and her best 5K time that year was 19:25.56 at the Mount Marty Invite.

In track, she had personal bests in both indoors and outdoors events, including a 19:01.86 time in the 5,000-meter run at Iowa State Classic in 2013, and an outdoor 5,000-meter time of 18:46.71 at the Kip Janvrin Open that same year.

However, Carmichael’s running career was cut short when she decided to accept the interim executive director position at Chamber-Main Street, a decision she has been excited about ever since.

“My dad is very ill. He moved into the nursing home my last year at UNO,” Carmichael said. “I felt that I couldn’t forgive myself if I missed out on that part of my dad’s life, and I knew graduation would come when it came.”

home in Villisca. She visits him several times a week, and helps her mother on the farm regularly.

“My parents are each other’s second marriage.

They’ve always been good to me, and we’re a tightknit family, so I needed to be here,” Carmichael said.

“I’m incredibly grateful for

the opportunity that I’ve been given with Chamber and Main Street because that’s always been a passion of mine.”

Carmichael heard about the open position from her boyfriend, who was the president of the Main Street KRISTEN | 10A

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Kristen Carmichael leads a teammate along the course during a cross country meet in October 2011 in Corning. Carmichael was a state qualifier after this meet.

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10A

Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

KRISTEN: CONT. FROM | 9A

board. She expressed interest, applied and was hired as the interim after former executive director Wendy Boswell left to work for her family business.

“Being interim director really opened my eyes to what I would actually be doing and kind of solidified that I want to be here,” Carmichael said.

Her responsibilities include marketing and representing businesses of the Adams County communities. She creates promotional events, helps coordinate volunteers for events and pays bills, among other things.

“I’m a fourth-generation Adams County resident, so it kind of runs in my genes.

I like that it works with so many different people because that, I feel like, is my calling. I love getting to know what makes people tick and helping people,” Carmichael said. “Main Street’s responsible for a lot of, like, the upkeep of the historical buildings in the downtown and main streets.

I’m kind of a history fanatic, so I love that and I love that we have such a unique offering as a community.”

After accepting the fulltime position, more duties were added to her plate, allowing her to really dive in.

However, what Carmichael is excited for most has not happened yet.

“I feel like my real favorite part is not here yet. I feel like it will be seeing the work of the volunteers and seeing all that coordinate and come together to get an event going,” Carmichael said. “Lazy Days of Summer, I’m really excited to see that and all the other things we have going on.”

Carmichael also participates in weekly Chamber coffees to talk to people in the community she may not otherwise have the chance to. She also does radio shows to promote events and workshops to hone her skills.

Family travel Outside of work and school, Carmichael enjoys spending time with her family. In the past, she and her parents took monthlong trips across the United States and the world, discovering the various cultures within their home country and learning about history and peoples of foreign ones.

“My dad said, and it always ticked me off until I got older and realized his motivation, he said I couldn’t vis-

CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN

Kristen Carmichael works on her computer in March in her Corning office as Adams County Chamber Main Street director. Carmichael has been director for several months, following in the footsteps of Wendy Boswell, who left to work for her family’s business.

it another country until I’d seen my own,” Carmichael said. “So, we took a month every summer and went on a road trip with a travel trailer and saw a chunk of the U.S.” She said her favorite trip was to Alaska, where her family went on a 20,000-mile trip on the ALCAN high-

way.

“I just remember one place in particular. It was the middle of nowhere. We weren’t planning on going there, but we couldn’t go where we were planning on staying because they had fires in the area. So, we ended up at this podunk campsite in the middle of nowhere with this guy who ran a general store, and it was the most incredible night,” Carmichael said.

“We ended up staying four nights because he took time out of his day, taught me to fly fish, took us on tours of Denali National Park and showed us how he lived.”

Carmichael and her family have visited all 50 states in the United States, some of her other favorites including California and Pennsylvania, before beginning international tours while she was in high school.

They visited Australia, New Zealand and Fiji on one trip, which Carmichael said “was probably one of my favorites because I think

the natural beauty is incredible.”

They also visited 14 European countries in one month in the past by booking a tour that hit on the main points of Europe and its history.

“I really liked a lot of the historical architecture in Western Europe. London is one of my favorite places,” Carmichael said of her family’s trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland. “I thought that was really neat because that’s where a lot of my family comes from. I’m Scotch, Irish and German.”

Unfortunately, Carmichael and her family have not traveled in recent years, but hopes to travel in the future with her mother, a former hospice care provider.

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was just kind of wondering what my purpose was and why all these things were happening that I felt like I was working so hard for it to go so wrong. But, after coming back, things kind of fell into place,” Carmichael said.

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Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

11A

Making room for Mustang pride

By HILARY FERRAND OST news editor hferrand@osceolaiowa.com

MURRAY – School sports have a way of creating ties that bind, both residents to one another and to their town. Some people take the extra leap and get their coaching authorization.

Typically, they’re teachers or parents with kids in the program. Murray’s Tessa Otto is an exception.

“As soon as I graduated high school, I got my coaching license,” said Otto. “I’m going into my sixth year.”

In Iowa, individuals can become school coaches once they turn 18. There’s quite a bit of flexibility regarding the instruction required. The authorization lasts 5 years and costs $85.

In those six years she’s been working with Murray, Otto has been an assistant varsity softball coach, and junior varsity and junior high coach. She also helped coach track and junior high basketball. However, softball is closest to her heart and is the sport she has the most experience to share.

After graduating in 2011, Otto played two years at Southwestern Community College (SWCC) in Creston, almost making it to nationals. She followed that up with two years at Graceland University in Lamoni, where she played with the Yellowjackets.

Otto graduated with a degree in ag business and a minor in business administration, yet she opted to get her substitute teaching authorization. She also works as an academic success coach at SWCC. “I’m a HiSET instructor,” said Otto. “It’s the program that replaced the GED.” Taking this route wasn’t the obvious choice, but it suits Otto’s life currently.

The position at the Student Success Center at SWCC’s

Creston campus allows for a schedule flexible enough to stay involved with Murray’s sports programs, though the commute isn’t ideal.

“I hadn’t found a job in agriculture that would allow me to keep coaching,” said Otto.

Her passion for sports started early. Future Murray softball players begin in kindergarten with T-ball and progressively move through tougher programs as time moves on. By junior high, Otto had moved past strictly playing and started to focus on strategy. In the process, she became close with Head Coach Danny Jensen.

For a small district, Murray has impressive resources. From an impressive FFA program and Chromebooks available for every student, the quality of education and extracurriculars is often surprising for people new to the area. Coach Jensen is a perfect example.

In 2015, he joined the ranks of the top coaches in the state as he was inducted into the Iowa Girls Softball Hall of Jensen Fame after 35 years at the helm of Murray’s softball program, where Jensen has enjoyed an outstanding record. Otto said she’s been fortunate to have his guidance along the way.

“We’ve been very successful the last few years and have a lot of young talent,” said Otto. “We’ve liked to think it’s pretty serious.”

Five players made it on the Iowa Girls Coaches Association’s All-State Softball teams last year. Six made it the year before that. It’s a feat in a district with roughly 150 students.

Coaching alongside such an experienced mentor comes with a bit of intimidation, she

CNA file photo by KALEB CARTER

Murray assistant softball coach Tessa Otto stands in the first base coach’s box during a game last summer. Otto has coached in her hometown of Murray since she graduated from high school.

said. The two rarely disagree.

She’s learned so much from Jensen that typically she trusts his judgement. Otto tries to take Jensen’s lead, too, when it comes to connecting with students. One of his talents as a coach, she said, is making participation so enjoyable for the players.

“The Murray program made me very passionate for softball,” she said. “I just decided to bring my experience back to them.”

In the beginning, that experience was, in itself, a challenge.

“I started right out of high school, so the girls I was playing with the prior year, I was coaching them,” explained

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In those early years, she strived to be seen as more of a mentor to the girls. Despite the difficulty, Otto said the transition was easy-going.

“I’ve been known in the community for so long,” she said. “I guess it’s been good for me.”

Her reputation as an experienced player helped her be taken seriously. Otto is legitimate in a way an experienced outsider can’t match. However, it is the time and effort that have really made the difference. The years have added new elements to her role as a coach and a member of the Murray community.

“Now that I’ve been here

for six years coaching, I’ve officially coached my first class from sixth grade through,” said Otto. “I get pretty close to them.”

She’s contributed to the sports programs in Murray in a way that would make leaving difficult, said Otto, but she also has strong local ties through her family.

“We’re pretty close as a family,” she said of her parents, Ed and Kari Otto of Murray and younger siblings, Eddie and Katie.

During college, Otto stayed close enough to home to make it to all of her younger brother’s games. Eddie went on to play football for Graceland University, his sister’s alma mater. Tessa also coached at Murray as her sister played for the Lady Mustangs. Katie graduates from Murray this year. In a real way, the sports programs in Murray are an integral part of Otto’s family.

“I don’t see myself leaving Murray,” she said. “The community is great. I’ve helped build here with the softball program. I think it would be really hard to walk away from that.”

Her years in Murray haven’t been completely without strife. Like any team player or coach, Otto has faced adversity beyond securing the points needed to win a game.

“When I was a senior,

another senior broke her leg. That always effects the team,” said Otto, mentioning an ACL injury on the Lady Mustangs’ basketball team last year.

What the future holds With the number of ag-related jobs in the area, there’s a chance Otto will find a role where her two passions will work hand in hand. In case that doesn’t happen, there is another option. Eventually, said Otto, she might go the traditional route and return to school for a teaching degree.

“I haven’t really decided yet on what I want to teach or whether I even want to go back,” she said.

Online programs, like the one available through Buena Vista, provide an easier study option for those wanting to transition to teaching from another career. Given recent changes at the capitol, the opportunity might not be so alluring, but being part of something special has a way of erasing those doubts.

Whether it’s a bad call or a torn ACL, the Lady Mustangs have been able to rise above and stay focused on their opportunities.

“We have a lot of talent, so we’ve gotten through it,” she said.

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13A

Perfect partnership produces Podium Ink

Contributed photos

Pictured are examples of work done by Podium Ink in Mount Ayr, including, AT LEFT, a T-shirt designed and screenprinted by Podium Ink in Mount Ayr. Podium Ink co-owners Brad Elliott and Burton Murphy both grew up in Mount Ayr and returned home to open their graphic design business. AT RIGHT, is a complete vinyl wrap done by Podium Ink in Mount Ayr on a bus for Northwest Missouri State University.

By SCOTT VICKER

CNA managing editor svicker@crestonnews.com

MOUNT AYR – Two Mount Ayr graduates fresh out of college spent their time outside of work moonlighting on projects – one in Kansas City and one in Des Moines.

They both held interests in motor sports and were working as graphic designers for their respective companies.

Then, one day, the two Mount Ayr graduates had a phone conversation in which they talked about the projects each of them was working on outside of work and discovered what they were doing was similar.

From that conversation, the ground work was laid for what would eventually become Podium Ink, a graphic-design company with nationwide reach based in Mount Ayr. Eventually, both Brad Elliott, a 2000 Mount Ayr graduate, and Burton Murphy, a 2001 Mount Ayr graduate, returned home and opened the doors to Podium Ink. “We both had a conversation about different things we were doing and kind of found there was some similarities there that if we pulled those together, that would probably generate enough to create our own employment,

“WE MIGHT not be the best at anything, but together we are. ... That helped in the explosion of what happened.”

__

BURTON MURPHY

Co-owner of Podium Ink

taking it from a night and weekend deal to a full-time venture,” Elliott said.

Many of the early conversations between Elliott and Murphy were spent reassuring each other their idea could work.

“I felt like we probably dragged that out longer than we should have,” Murphy said. “You’d go a couple weeks and have the same conversation. He’s doing work on the side, I’m doing work on the side. We just need to jump and do it. Once we finally just said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it,’ everything kind of aligned and started working the way it should.”

The combination of Elliott and Murphy working together proved to be a perfect firestorm that led to Podium Ink seeing success almost immediately.

“I think we both have strong suits in multiple different areas,” Murphy said.

“We might not be the best at anything, but together we

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INK | 14A CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

Burton Murphy, left, and Brad Elliott, co-owners of Podium Ink in Mount Ayr, work on projects in March at their desks in their office.

Both Murphy and Elliott graduated from Mount Ayr Community High School and returned home to open the graphic design business.

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14A

Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

INK: CONT. FROM | 13A

Mount Ayr In the early days of the operation, Elliott and Murphy looked at opening the business in their hometown of Mount Ayr. At the time, Elliott was working in Kansas City and Murphy in Des Moines – both cities where people would expect to see a business like Podium Ink. “I think a lot of what it boiled down to was opportunity came at the right time to acquire space,” Elliott said.

“In knowing your home community, you tend to have more security. We purchased the space when we got started, but we were only here two days a week. We were coming home on the weekends. We knew it was a good home base to kind of start with, not to mention the fact, ideally, we wanted to create a business in our hometown and do something there that is pretty dominated by ag industries. We were kind of an outlier.”

Elliott had gone to Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, where he graduated in 2004 with a degree in graphic design. He began working in Kansas City in 2005. Murphy, meanwhile, graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in graphic design in 2005 before beginning work in Des Moines.

Coming home to Mount Ayr has been a source of pride for both Elliott and Murphy.

Owning a flourishing business, and one whose reach is nationwide thanks to its con-

nections in the NASCAR world, has made coming home special for them.

“I love the stability of a business that shouldn’t belong in Mount Ayr but is,” Murphy said. “I like the credibility we have for the area we’re in as in comparison to a company you’d think we’re in Des Moines, Kansas City or Omaha. We can walk to work if we want to. It’s made at least four other locals from around here be able to move back with their family and have a job in what they do or they like.”

Since returning home to Mount Ayr, both Elliott and Murphy have become involved in other ways in the community, as well.

Elliott has served on the Mount Ayr City Council for one year, providing his insight to the council as a local business owner and as someone involved with the school district.

He has been an assistant coach for the football team and head coach of the Mount Ayr track and field team, guiding the Raiders to the 2014 Class 1A state championship, where the Raiders scored a Class 1A meet record for points with 77.

Murphy has enjoyed being involved with community events, such as when WHOTV’s RVTV came through Mount Ayr or when RAGBRAI went through the town this past summer.

And, for Murphy, Mount Ayr has proven to be the perfect place to live.

“I’d been away enough that I didn’t dislike when I was in Des Moines, but I also knew for sure I liked it a lot better here,” he said. “I think we are lucky that we can be within three major cities in just a cou-

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

Brad Elliott, left, and Burton Murphy stand in front of Podium Ink in Mount Ayr. Elliott and Murphy both returned home to Mount Ayr to open their graphic design business.

ple of hours and then be home without any stoplights by the end of the night.”

Both Elliott and Murphy have started families and are raising kids in Mount Ayr now.

Elliott, 35, married his wife, Abby (Stephens), in 2014. Together, they have a daughter, Alice, born in December 2015.

Murphy, 34, married Molly (Lynch) and they had their son, Rowan, in January 2015.

Since returning to Mount Ayr 10 years ago, Elliott and Murphy have seen other Mount Ayr graduates return to the hub of Ringgold County, as well.

“I don’t necessarily think we were the first or the reason, but we were the early people in our age group of people to move back and get involved in this community,” Murphy said. “People could see it could work and weren’t afraid of it. I liked the ability to be back.”

Podium Ink gained notoriety early for its work with NASCAR teams thanks to other local connections.

Elliott said they were fortunate a former classmate of theirs was doing some marketing work for a couple of race teams, which gave Podium Ink a foot in the door for the two motor sports fans.

They began designing marketing materials such as press kits and hero cards for the NASCAR teams and, after maintaining those relationships, then began designing paint schemes for cars.

“When we design a car or something that gets to go to that level, it adds notoriety to our business,” Elliott said.

“Some of those may be Fortune 500 companies that are represented there. It’s great

to add to our portfolio when they’re trying to design wraps and a similar product here locally. I think it also teaches you a lot about maintaining branding standards we try to maintain for the local businesses here.”

One of Murphy’s biggest worries in starting out was whether or not they’d have consistent work to keep them busy.

But, even in the early days of Podium Ink, that was never a problem. Both Elliott and Murphy had clients right away, doing work for their previous employers. And, ever since then, there’s been a steady flow of jobs.

“Once you do something for somebody and they’re happy and you can get something from around this area instead

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Building the business Podium Ink has grown leaps and bounds from its early days, when Elliott and Murphy were coming back to Mount Ayr on the weekends to work on projects for their first clients.

What started as a two-man operation working mostly on signs, banners and marketing materials has grown to a business of seven employees and has seen its services branch out to screen printing, custom apparel and embroidery.

Even the building Podium Ink sits in has expanded, with a recent addition making the space 8,000 square feet.

“Also, as you grow in services, you need to grow in your area of operations,” Elliott said. “We’ve traveled as far as a three- or four-state area physically, and at times have done projects where Burton Contributed photo Pictured is an autograph card designed by Podium Ink in has gone on remote installs as far as California.”

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of going to Kansas City, Omaha or Des Moines, ... I think it worked out well there,” Murphy said. “Once they knew our capabilities, that’s what really set us apart. It wasn’t really just your cookie-cutter, go into a sign shop and you can get this, this or that. It’s the customization we could actually do with our design background that set us apart from the average sign company.”

Word of mouth was crucial for the business in the early going.

“Just like anything, getting the word out. Sometimes we did a lot of word of mouth and luckily, through customer referrals, that’s how we grew the business,” Elliott said. “The nice thing was it allowed us to have similar customers to work with.”

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Support our Local Economy and Chamber Member Businesses!

Creston is our home and we need to make sure our city’s economy continues moving and growing!

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You support the local owners and employees who contribute to community projects in Creston. You fuel our local economy...helping create local jobs and improve the quality of life for all of us. Support the local business men and women who support our community by being Chamber members*...they are listed below!

Advance Services Inc. Adams Street Country Lodge Adams Street Espresso Advanced Restoration Services AgriVision Equipment Group, LLC Akin Building Center Alliant Energy American Family Insurance, Turner Insurance Agency American Home Design Center American Republic Insurance Service Applegate Tax & Accounting Arlan Biere Arnold Motor Supply B.M. Sales Ben Adamson, State Farm Insurance Big Boyz Toyz Bob & Betty Jungst Bob & Freida Berning Boyd Appliance Center, Inc. Buena Vista University Built Networks by Dennis LaMasters Bunn-O-MaticCorporation Callahan Real Estate Carroll Family Chiropractic Carter Agency, Inc Casey’s Store - East Casey’s Store – Hwy 25 Casey’s Store – Hwy 34 Casey’s Store - North Casey’s Store - South Casey’s Store - West Central Iowa Power Cooperative Central Plains Automotive Central Plains Electric Charlie Brown Auto LTD Chat Mobility City of Creston Coen’s Furniture Inc. Colburn’s Corner Saloon Connections Agency on Aging Cook Video & Appliance Country Court RV Park Crest Haven Care Centre Crestmoor Golf Club, Inc. Creston Area Food Pantry & O’Riley Center Creston Audiological Services Inc. Creston Chiropractic, P.C. Creston Community Schools

Creston Farm & Home Supply Creston Farmers Market Creston Livestock Auction Creston Medical Clinic, P.C. Creston Publishing Company Creston Specialty Care Creston True Value Creston Veterinary Clinic, P.C. Creston Vision Clinic, P.C. Dairy Queen of Creston David Young DaVita Dialysis of Creston Dick & Peg Anderson DK Events Dr. Al & Pat Pokorny Dr. Brian Kinkade, O.D. Dr. Dan Coen Dr. Dave Buck Dr. Michael Buck Dr. Todd Scott Draper, Snodgrass, Mikkelsen & Co. Echo Electric Edward Jones Investments Elite Staffing Elm’s Club F & M Body Shop Family Fun Center Family Vision Center Fareway Stores, Inc. Ferrara Candy Company First National Bank Garden & Associates. Ltd Gavilon Grain LLC GO Realty Great Western Bank Greater Regional Medical Center Green Accounting & Tax Green Valley Pest Control & Lawn Care Green Valley Realty H & R Block Hahn Roofing Hair House Hammer Medical Supply Harvey Law Office Hazel Maries HCI Hospice Care Services Heartland Tire & Auto Center Hi-Crest Auto & United Super Wash Homestead Assisted Living & Memory Care Hometown Insurance Hometown Realty

Hy-Vee Food Store Innovative Industries, Inc Iowa Focus Iowa State Savings Bank ISU Union County Extension & Outreach Iowa Tool & Manufacturing Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services J & A Flooring James Law Office, P.C. Jane Lowe Java J’s Kawa Construction Jo Anne Duckworth, Union County Emergency Management Ken Hudson Ken’s Barber Shop Kenyon & Nielsen, P.C. Kilgore Rental Cars Kilgore’s Enterprises, Inc. KSIB Radio Learning Center of SW Iowa Leslie’s Dance & Tumbling Little Caesars M & M Motors Maple Street Memories Mario’s Sports Bar & Grill MATURA Action Corporation, Inc. McDonalds Mediacom Medicap Pharmacy Midwest Opportunities Moberg/Iowa Realty Morning Star Internal Medicine Clinic NAPA-Creston New Life Family Medicine Nishna Valley Credit Union Oakwood Commercial Capital Group Oetken Office Machines PCSB Bank Pearson Family Funeral Services Perspective Counseling Pine Valley Golf & Bowl Pizza Ranch Pokorny BP & Automotive Service Powers Funeral Home Prairie Solid Waste Agency Precast Concrete Precision Optical Group, Inc.

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Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

15A

Opportunity brings Samo back to Lenox

By SCOTT VICKER

CNA managing editor svicker@crestonnews.com

LENOX – When Jake Samo graduated from Lenox High School in 2006, he wasn’t sure if he would ever come back home.

That thought only grew stronger during his time as a student at University of Iowa in Iowa City, where he loved living.

Then, when his first job out of college took him to Des Moines, he thought that might be the closest he would ever get to returning home.

But, oh, how things change.

“I loved growing up here.

I didn’t ever regret growing up in a small town,” Jake said. “I think everyone has the mentality, when you leave, of you don’t know if you’ll ever be back, especially when I was at University of Iowa. I didn’t see myself out of Iowa City for four years and then I got to Des Moines and I thought that was a great spot to live.

I didn’t know if there would ever be the right opportunity for us to come back home, but when it did come knocking ... the stars aligned a little bit and I knew I was very fortunate for the opportunity.”

Home beckons Jake earned a degree in business from University of Iowa in December 2010 before moving to Des Moines for an internship with the Iowa Cubs from March to September 2010.

He then started full time with the Iowa Cubs in January 2011 with Creston native Jeff Tilley.

For Jake, it was the perfect job. He had always wanted to work in the sports industry. Opportunities for that line of work back home

NEW!

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

Jake Samo of Lenox sits in his office, adorned with Iowa Hawkeye memorabilia, a photo of his son, Mason, and a poster that states, “So, God made a farmer,” at Hometown Insurance in Creston. Samo moved back to Lenox to start a family with his wife, Heather, when he got the opportunity to work at Hometown Insurance.

in Lenox were few and far between.

But one day while Jake was visiting his hometown of Lenox, he met a woman named Heather. He lived in Des Moines at the time and she lived in Council Bluffs.

Still, sparks flew, and the two began dating.

Heather eventually moved to Des Moines and the two got engaged, eventually marrying in October 2014.

As the two started planning their future as a couple, they talked about where to start a family.

“We came home to visit

just before Thanksgiving,” Jake said. “When we were leaving town, she said, ‘Why wouldn’t we consider Lenox?’ And that’s when the thought popped in my mind that if we could find something that would work for both of us, that would be the ideal spot.”

It’s funny how things just fall into place sometimes.

First, Jake visits home and meets the woman who would become his future wife. Then, on another visit home, she suggests they settle in Lenox and call it home.

But, there was still the

question of what would they do? After all, Jake worked in the sports industry and had always wanted to be in that line of work.

Opportunity knocks That question didn’t linger too long. Once again, things fell into place for Jake and Heather.

Cody Downing, a friend of Jake’s, called him and told him he needed to consider moving back home to southwest Iowa.

“He said, ‘There’s an opportunity, would you be interested in it?’” Jake re-

called.

Downing introduced Jake to Jamie Travis, who had a job opening at Hometown Insurance in Creston.

“It was one of those things, we weren’t going to move back for any job.

We weren’t going to move back just to be back. We were going to move back for the right opportunity,” Jake said. “We were, again, extremely fortunate that it worked out with Jamie. I was more than happy and realized the opportunity right when I met with him, then became ecstatic to come back. I was really for-

tunate it worked out, that I was the guy he was looking for.”

Travis said he instantly knew Jake would be a good fit at Hometown Insurance.

“Of course he came with some great references from Jeff Tilley and Cody Downing, but from the day we met him, we realized he was a very selfless-type guy who would do anything he could to help his fellow employees,” Travis said. “He’s been that way since he started, which creates a unique and great work environment SAMO | 20A

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Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

17A

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— MARCH — March 28 - FFA Banquet - Mt. Ayr March 30 - K-3 Spring Concert - Mt. Ayr March 31 - Band Boosters Scrap Fest - Mt. Ayr — APRIL — April 1 - Band Boosters Scrap Fest - Mt. Ayr April 7 - Ringgold County Pheasants Forever Banquet - Am. Legion April 7 - MACS Foundation Quilt Fest - Mt. Ayr School Commons April 8 - MACS Foundation Quilt Fest - Mt. Ayr School Commons April 8 - Annual Prairie Chicken Festival - Kellerton April 15 - Easter Egg Hunt - Mt. Ayr Courtyard April 17 - 4th - 6th Grade Spring Concert - Mt. Ayr April 19 - HELP Service Day April 21 - Diagonal School Play - Diagonal April 22 - Mt. Ayr Prom April 24 - Mt. Ayr School-Merrill Perry Band Supper & Concert - Mt. Ayr April 25 - Raider Relays - Mt. Ayr — MAY — May 4 - Raiderette Relays - Mt. Ayr May 5 - Diagonal Prom May 8 - Spring Vocal Concert - Mt. Ayr

May 9 - Senior Awards - Mt. Ayr May 12 - Diagonal High School Graduation - Diagonal May 14 - Mt. Ayr High School Graduation - Mt. Ayr May 27 - Mt. Ayr Alumni Banquet - Mt. Ayr May 27 - Diagonal Alumni Banquet - Diagonal May 27 - Tingley Alumni Banquet - Tingley May 27 - Kellerton Alumni Banquet - Kellerton May 29 - Mt. Ayr Memorial Day Service - Mt. Ayr May 29 - Kellerton Legion Memorial Service - Kellerton May 29 - Diagonal Memorial Day Service - Diagonal — JUNE — June 3 - Ellston Jamboree June 28 - Mt. Ayr Softball Classic I — JULY — July 1 - Mt. Ayr Softball Classic II July 14-18 - Ringgold County Fair July 21-22 - Ayr Days - Smokin in the Ayr BBQ - Mt. Ayr July 22 - Senior Citizen Center Pie & Ice Cream Social - Mt. Ayr

— AUGUST — August 19-20 - Princess Theater - Annual Anniversary Gala - Mt. Ayr

October 26 - Ducks Unlimited Banquet - American Legion - Mt. Ayr October 28 - Tingley Halloween Parade - Tingley

— SEPTEMBER — September 2 - Ringgold County Conservation Board Monarch Tagging September 2-4 - Diagonal Labor Day Celebration - Diagonal September 23 - Ringgold Outdoor Alliance Banquet-American Legion - Mt. Ayr September 29 - Mt. Ayr Homecoming & Hall of Fame Weekend - Mt. Ayr September 30 - Mt. Ayr Foundation Hall of Fame Banquet & Induction - Mt. Ayr

— NOVEMBER — November 6-10 - Veteran’s Week -Senior Center - Mt. Ayr November 10 - Veteran’s Day Program - Mt. Ayr November 10-11 - Mt. Ayr High School Fall Play November 23 - Mt. Ayr Turkey Trot — DECEMBER — December 1-15 - Basket Bash - Senior Center - Mount Ayr December 2 - Mt. Ayr Lighted Christmas Parade & Festivities - Mt. Ayr December 2 - Simply Voices Christmas Concert - United Methodist Church - Mt. Ayr December 4 - JK - 3 Winter Concert - Mt. Ayr December 11 - Band & Vocal Winter Concert - Mt. Ayr December 31 - New Year’s Eve Party - Senior Citizen Center - Mt. Ayr

— OCTOBER — October 1 - Begger’s Bash - Judge Lewis Park - Mt. Ayr October 12 - Ron Landphair Invitational Cross Country Meet October 21 - Ringgold County Conservation Haunted Halloween Hike October 21 - Ringgold County Outdoor Alliance Halloween Hayride

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Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

17A

Welcome to... Ringgold County y

ublic Librar

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Discover and enjoy the many fun activities here in the area...

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it ounty Hosp

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— MARCH — March 28 - FFA Banquet - Mt. Ayr March 30 - K-3 Spring Concert - Mt. Ayr March 31 - Band Boosters Scrap Fest - Mt. Ayr — APRIL — April 1 - Band Boosters Scrap Fest - Mt. Ayr April 7 - Ringgold County Pheasants Forever Banquet - Am. Legion April 7 - MACS Foundation Quilt Fest - Mt. Ayr School Commons April 8 - MACS Foundation Quilt Fest - Mt. Ayr School Commons April 8 - Annual Prairie Chicken Festival - Kellerton April 15 - Easter Egg Hunt - Mt. Ayr Courtyard April 17 - 4th - 6th Grade Spring Concert - Mt. Ayr April 19 - HELP Service Day April 21 - Diagonal School Play - Diagonal April 22 - Mt. Ayr Prom April 24 - Mt. Ayr School-Merrill Perry Band Supper & Concert - Mt. Ayr April 25 - Raider Relays - Mt. Ayr — MAY — May 4 - Raiderette Relays - Mt. Ayr May 5 - Diagonal Prom May 8 - Spring Vocal Concert - Mt. Ayr

May 9 - Senior Awards - Mt. Ayr May 12 - Diagonal High School Graduation - Diagonal May 14 - Mt. Ayr High School Graduation - Mt. Ayr May 27 - Mt. Ayr Alumni Banquet - Mt. Ayr May 27 - Diagonal Alumni Banquet - Diagonal May 27 - Tingley Alumni Banquet - Tingley May 27 - Kellerton Alumni Banquet - Kellerton May 29 - Mt. Ayr Memorial Day Service - Mt. Ayr May 29 - Kellerton Legion Memorial Service - Kellerton May 29 - Diagonal Memorial Day Service - Diagonal — JUNE — June 3 - Ellston Jamboree June 28 - Mt. Ayr Softball Classic I — JULY — July 1 - Mt. Ayr Softball Classic II July 14-18 - Ringgold County Fair July 21-22 - Ayr Days - Smokin in the Ayr BBQ - Mt. Ayr July 22 - Senior Citizen Center Pie & Ice Cream Social - Mt. Ayr

— AUGUST — August 19-20 - Princess Theater - Annual Anniversary Gala - Mt. Ayr

October 26 - Ducks Unlimited Banquet - American Legion - Mt. Ayr October 28 - Tingley Halloween Parade - Tingley

— SEPTEMBER — September 2 - Ringgold County Conservation Board Monarch Tagging September 2-4 - Diagonal Labor Day Celebration - Diagonal September 23 - Ringgold Outdoor Alliance Banquet-American Legion - Mt. Ayr September 29 - Mt. Ayr Homecoming & Hall of Fame Weekend - Mt. Ayr September 30 - Mt. Ayr Foundation Hall of Fame Banquet & Induction - Mt. Ayr

— NOVEMBER — November 6-10 - Veteran’s Week -Senior Center - Mt. Ayr November 10 - Veteran’s Day Program - Mt. Ayr November 10-11 - Mt. Ayr High School Fall Play November 23 - Mt. Ayr Turkey Trot — DECEMBER — December 1-15 - Basket Bash - Senior Center - Mount Ayr December 2 - Mt. Ayr Lighted Christmas Parade & Festivities - Mt. Ayr December 2 - Simply Voices Christmas Concert - United Methodist Church - Mt. Ayr December 4 - JK - 3 Winter Concert - Mt. Ayr December 11 - Band & Vocal Winter Concert - Mt. Ayr December 31 - New Year’s Eve Party - Senior Citizen Center - Mt. Ayr

— OCTOBER — October 1 - Begger’s Bash - Judge Lewis Park - Mt. Ayr October 12 - Ron Landphair Invitational Cross Country Meet October 21 - Ringgold County Conservation Haunted Halloween Hike October 21 - Ringgold County Outdoor Alliance Halloween Hayride

Charlie - Ja

ne’s Bed &

Ringgold C

Breakfast

ounty Cour

thouse

MAKING SENSE OF INVESTING Stocks • Bonds • CDs • IRAs • Mutual Funds

Randy Gregg • Financial Advisor 2332 State Highway 2; P. O. Box 509 Mount Ayr, Iowa 50854

Iowa State Savings Bank

641-464-2062 • Toll Free 888-464-2063 Member SIPC

Employee Owned issbbank.com

’s Attic

Aunt Jennie

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Ramsey Fa

Simple Pleasures

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gle Recreatio

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Member FDIC

Commercial • Farm Owner • Homeowner • Health Crop-Hail • Auto • Life

randy.gregg@edwardjones.com

Our friendly, professional staff has over 40 years in the land title business.

We are a family owned and operated company.

We offer: • Roots of Title (new abstracts) • Abstract Continuations • Title Searches • Personal Lien Searches • Iowa Title Guaranty Forms 900 & 901

Abstract & Title Company www.tyleriowa.com

Southwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative

111 West Mills • Creston 641-782-5503

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18A

Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

‘We wouldn’t have gone anywhere else’ Scott and Melissa Driskell left Creston only to decide this is the only place to come back to. n

By BAILEY POOLMAN CNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com

When Scott and Melissa (Winterstien) Driskell decided to move away from Earlham, there was only one place that would satisfy: Creston.

Scott and Melissa, both graduates of Creston High School’s class of 1990, left home to explore the world by attending Iowa State University in Ames.

While Melissa remained working in Des Moines, Scott’s job took them to various southwestern Iowa towns until, finally, they landed back home.

Leaving Scott, who was born in Cedar Rapids and moved to Creston when he was 5 years old, earned a Bachelor of Science in liberal arts and sciences in 1995.

He then earned his master’s degree in administrative leadership in 2002.

Melissa, a Creston native born and raised, earned her Bachelor of Science in construction engineering also in 1995. The couple, who dated throughout high school and college, were married in August 1995.

Melissa worked with Weitz Company in Des Moines immediately after college and lived in the Iowa capital, and Scott followed her there, but the move wouldn’t last.

“I started teaching in the fall of ‘96 at East Union,” Scott said.

“We moved to Saint Charles and kind of split the drive,” Melissa said.

Scott became the EU middle- and high-school social studies teacher.

“It was one of the first

“WE JUST made the decision when Jaden was in fifth grade that if we were going to relocate our family, that it was either that or never.”

__

SCOTT DRISKELL

Creston Community third- through fifth-grade principal

interviews that I had and I knew some of the people there,” Scott said. “And, to be totally honest, it was the first job that I was offered.”

Brad Baker, who is now the Creston Community Middle School principal, was also working at EU at that time.

“It was a great circumstance,” Scott said. “I absolutely loved teaching at East Union.”

The couple lived in Saint Charles for three years before Scott took a job as Earlham Middle School atrisk coordinator in 1999.

That same year, their first child, Jaden, was born.

Melissa worked at Weitz until 2004, then worked for Regency Commercial Services in Des Moines until 2008.

“In 2008, with the housing market decline, Regency closed their doors.

And, about the same time, my mother was diagnosed with cancer,” Melissa said.

“So, in November of 2008, I started driving from Earlham down here to help out with the family business while she did treatments and went south for the winter.”

“We decided to start a family and didn’t want them to grow up in Saint Charles,” Scott said. “I had a 45-minute drive one way, she had a 35-minute drive the other and having a child kind of stuck in between. So, we tried getting centrally located.”

Being centrally located

Contributed photo

The Driskells pose for a family photo after Creston Community High School National Honor Society induction March 8 at the high school. Pictured in back, from left, are Scott, Jaden and Melissa, and in front is Morgan.

worked. The family remained in Earlham for 12 years before they called Creston home again.

“For blindly picking somewhere to work, it was hard for us. It’s still hard for us six years later,” Scott said. “Earlham was a great fit for us.

“When Melissa’s mom got sick and she started working down here, and, ultimately her mom passed away (in 2010), Melissa continued to drive down here. ... We just made the decision when Jaden was in fifth grade that if we were going to relocate our family, that it was either that or never.”

Creston While Melissa was already working in Creston at her family business, Winterstien Construction, Scott applied for the position of Creston Elementary School dean of students.

He got the job and the Driskells moved to Creston in fall 2011.

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As dean of students, Scott’s duties included student disciplinary actions and coordinating professional development and instructional leadership.

“For me, it was always about making connections with kids, kids who struggle,” Scott said. “I like having the ability to make those connections that last and having a positive impact on kids that, you know, life’s just a little more difficult for them.

“That was just something I was drawn to, and then, I felt my first three years teaching in East Union I had pretty good success reaching students who struggled academically or socially or both.”

Melissa continued working at Winterstien, where she eventually was listed as president and currently manages commercial and residential projects.

Meanwhile, after two

years working as the dean, a change in administration came up from the Creston school board members and Scott was deemed the third- through fifth-grade principal.

Home “When we moved back,

there were a lot of people that we knew, but when you come back, for us, 21 years after we graduated, so much changes,” Scott said. “So, a lot of things I think that we assumed DRISKELLS | 19A

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DRISKELLS: CONT. FROM | 18A

19A

“FOR US, we both had such a positive experience growing up and I think we were so fortunate because our graduating class has still remained close to this day. A lot of us remain in contact and I think, because of that experience growing up here, that we foresaw the same thing for our kiddos.”

would be the same changed because time changes things.”

“Our parents all live in Creston and never left,” Melissa said. “It is different for me because just being in the housing business, I’ve built a few houses for people I knew, but, most of the time, it’s for people I’ve never met before that have come in and heard about us.”

There were familiar faces Scott and Melissa both knew, such as employees of Melissa’s family business or coworkers of Scott’s at the schools, but they still met a variety of people they hadn’t SCOTT DRISKELL in the past.

Creston Community third- through “For us, we both had such fifth-grade principal a positive experience growing up and I think we were so fortunate because our gradu- close to this day,” Scott said. ating class has still remained “A lot of us remain in contact

__

CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER

ABOVE, Second-grader Manny Hyde is greeted by Creston Elementary Principal Scott Driskell in front of Creston Elementary/Middle School on the first day of school in August.

and I think, because of that experience growing up here, that we foresaw the same thing for our kiddos.”

The Driskells have two children: Jaden, 17 years old and a junior at Creston Community High School, and Morgan, 12 years old and a seventh-grade student at Creston Community Middle School.

“Earlham was a small community, only 20 minutes from Des Moines, but Creston has the activities, two golf courses, the movie theater, our son will tell you the restaurants,” Scott said. “Earlham was great but it had one restaurant. It had a small grocery store. The amenities that Creston had was obviously a draw.”

Both Melissa and Scott agree the small-town feel of Creston is something they appreciate, as well as being Contributed photo much closer to family.

The Driskells and Winterstiens pose for a family photo in front of an orange tree before 2010. Pictured are, from “Literally, my father-inleft, Scott, Melissa and Jaden Driskell, Melissa’s mother Vicky Winterstien, Morgan Driskell and Melissa’s father Bill law, Melissa’s dad, is our Winterstien.

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next-door neighbor, and my parents live less than a mile away,” Scott said, “so, our kids have spent more time with their grandparents than they would have even living 45 minutes away.”

In the end, it was their experiences growing up that brought the Driskells home again, something they wouldn’t have any other way.

“For me, it was just growing up here. It really was a positive, great experience,” Scott said. “We loved Earlham, absolutely loved it. This was the only place we would have left for.”

“We felt like the school system was probably one of the top, obviously, in our area and ... our kids weren’t unfamiliar with Creston,” Melissa said. “They’d been down here to visit grandparents and they had friends down here.

Like Scott said, we wouldn’t have gone anywhere else but here.”

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20A

Creston News Advertiser Tuesday, March 28, 2017

SAMO: CONT. FROM | 15A

having someone dedicated to being a team player.”

So, in February 2014, Jake and Heather moved from Des Moines to Lenox. Jake immediately started at Hometown Insurance, while Heather began working for Iowa State Savings Bank. She recently changed jobs and began working in the human resources department at Michael Foods.

On July 28, 2016, Heather gave birth to the couple’s first child, a boy named Mason.

“The main thing probably was my wife and I thought it’d be a perfect spot for us to raise a family,” Jake said. “We were both from smaller towns and wanted an ideal size of community for us. We like to be involved. We like to be comfortable with family around.”

Career change Going from the sports industry to insurance was a big change for Jake. For the previous three years, he had been working in stadium operations for the Iowa Cubs at Principal Park in Des Moines, doing everything from planning fireworks displays to putting on 5K runs that finished in the stadium.

“I went from the sports industry to insurance. It was not a natural transition by any means, but we were open to anything we thought was a good opportunity,” Jake said.

“We’ve been able to find reliable jobs. People kind of know what you stand for in the area.

They kind of give you more opportunity.”

At Hometown Insurance, Jake meets with clients and interacts with the community in an effort to expand the company’s footprint. He also works closely with the office in Lenox.

“I love insurance because it’s something new every day,” Jake said. “Everybody’s needs are different. The fact we get to help with that and interact with people is probably the biggest thing I get out of it.”

Moving back home to Lenox has also given Jake and Heather opportunities they wouldn’t have had living in Des Moines.

Jake and Heather bought a house in Lenox and also own a rental house. Jake said there’s “no way we would have been able to do that” in Des Moines.

They also enjoy being within close driving distance of Des Moines, Omaha and Kansas City.

“It’s a perfect location, in our mind,” Jake said. “We have a lot of friends and family in the area. It was the perfect fit for us.”

Community involvement Jake joined Lenox Rotary Club when he moved back in February 2014. He has also been involved with the Lenox Community Trust for about six months.

“Lenox is such a unique town. I envy Lenox,” Travis said. “They do a tremendous job taking care of their own.

I think that’s one way they’re able to get their people back is because they support their community so well. It was exciting to see him come back and get involved in so many different activities. We enjoy having someone representing us down there because it’s a tremendous community.”

Heather, meanwhile, is a member of the Lenox Park Board, which is in the process of trying to build a Lenox community trail program.

“The community is what we have a lot of passion about,” Jake said. “We just like to help out and we both think Lenox, and Creston, is a great place to live. It’s great for families.”

Jake also works to make an impact in the lives of youth in the Lenox area.

The youngest son of Randy and Tacy Samo of Lenox, Jake and his brothers grew up playing sports in the community.

During the summers, Jake and his brothers did lawn care.

Jake’s middle brother, Wade, also lives in Lenox now.

They wanted to find a way to impact the youth in town, but did not have their coaching licenses.

When Jake and Heather first moved back, they started doing lawn care for a handful of residents and commercial properties. As they picked up more properties, Jake asked Wade if he would be interested in helping.

Together, Jake and Wade and their wives started Samo Lawn Care in 2015.

Jake and Wade decided to employ high school students who are involved in athletics, who may not be able to work many hours at other jobs and whose schedules might be fluid.

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Pictured is the Jake Samo with his wife, Heather, and son, Mason, in a family photo.

“What we want to do, first of all, we want to provide the service for the clients. It’s people who used to come to my high school baseball games and now they can’t get out and mow the yard,” Jake said. “Or it’s a commercial business that was extremely supportive of our high school. That you can give back and help them is the first rewarding thing. The second rewarding thing is providing jobs for the kids who have sports. Whether it’s 15 hours

a week or 30 hours a week, that’s up to them. We try to be flexible.”

Jake said he believes it’s important to be involved in the community and with Lenox’s youth because the people he looked up to as a young boy in Lenox were always there for him.

“Still to this day, Dawson Tullberg, Kaleb Anderson, Carter Still, those guys that work for us, I hope I was a role model for them when I

was in high school. And now that I’m a dad and a business owner, I hope I’m a role model for them,” Jake said. “We try to explain they can do everything they want to, too. Whatever their goals are, they can achieve it right here in southwest Iowa.”

Jake is one of several Lenox graduates from his class and surrounding classes who have returned to Lenox and started a family and become involved

Contributed photo

in the community.

“We all realize the importance of it,” Jake said. “I think it’s our turn to step into that role. Hopefully the kids in high school, I hope 10-15 years from now, I see them doing the same thing. Lenox, there’s a lot of community pride there where people want to come back and do that. I’m very fortunate to grow up with that and hopefully keep that ball rolling.”

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