JCL-09-17

Find out about that house on the hill in Reasnor

PRSRT PRSRT STD STD U.S. U.S. Postage Postage PP A A II D D Permit Permit No. No. 371 371 Newton, Newton, IA IA 50208 50208 ****************ECRWSS**** ****************ECRWSS**** Local Local Postal Postal Customer Customer

recipe inside: How to get the perfect heat on your burger

Jasper County Living

Learn where many are gaining muscle, friends

Enjoy your fall 2017 edition of Jasper County Living: 5 — Event calendar: Don’t miss these exciting happenings 11 — What’s in? Decorate for the cozy season of colorful leaves 13 — At Home: Get the story on that Reasnor house on the hill 15 — In-depth: What’s old is becoming new again for buildings 19 — Wellness: Newton CrossFit building community 23 — Get to know: Newton’s city administrator 25 — Dig in! Crank the heat with Cratty Shack’s secret recipe

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Volume 5/Issue 3 Dan Goetz Publisher Abigail Pelzer Editor Courtney Tompkins Graphic Designer

Jasper County Living is a Newton Daily News publication.

Fall 2017 • Jasper County Living

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Don’t miss:

mark your calendar now! events: Sept. - Nov. 2017 Sept. 29, 4:45 p.m.

40th Anniversary Recognition-1977 State Runner-Up HA Lynn Stadium in Newton Members of the 1977 Newton Cardinal Football team will be honored at the football game.

This team shocked the state when it finished runner-up to Davenport West in the State Championship game. This team finished with a record of 9-3. This included two regular season losses to Ames and Sioux Falls (S.D.) Washington.

Each game by one point.

Please RSVP to Tom Weeks weekst@newton.k12.ia.us Sept. 30, 11 a.m.

Fall Festival Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve Bring the family out for live music, wagon rides, fresh pressed apple cider and more. Guests are invited to enter the chili cookoff. If interested, contact 641-792-9780 or jaspercountyconservation@ co.jasper.ia.us.

Sept. 30, 1 p.m.

25th Jubilee Newton Public Library The library is celebrating 25 years under the blue roof.

Come and help celebrate with food, festivities and music by the Deep Dish Divas. Building tours will be conducted from 1 to 2 p.m. This event will take place on the library lawn, weather permitting.

Lawn chairs are encouraged.

All ages welcome. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Newton Public Library.

Sept. 30 National Public Lands Day Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort of public lands. Last year, 175,000 volunteers celebrated across the country. Join for a chance to volunteer and create native tallgrass prairie at the Refuge by collecting native plant seeds. The first 45 participants will receive a coupon for a fee-free day at participating federal agencies.

Pre-registration required; contact 515-994-3400 or Doreen_vanryswyk@fws.gov.

Oct. 4 Healthiest State Walk Several Locations

Fall 2017 • Jasper County Living

The Newton Wellness coalition is encouraging citizens and those who work in Newton to register and participate in the Healthiest State Walk, a part of the Healthiest State Initiative to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation.

As a part of the walk, participants can register the location they will be walking as a kind of contest to see which areas have the most walkers.

Oct. 6-8, 12-14 “Girls Night” Newton Community Theatre This play is under the direction of Mel Wilson based on the book by Karen Schaeffer.

As the story begins, four Iowa women arrive at a northwoods cabin to drink some wine, share some laughs and discuss their club’s latest book. But as with many book clubs, the book gets tossed aside in favor of juicier subjects. Tickets are on sale ($12 for adults; $10 for youth.)

For reservations, call the box office at 641-792-1230.

Oct. 7-8 Miss Iowa USA and Miss Iowa Teen USA Newton High School The preliminary rounds of the pageants are held Saturday with the big finale on Sunday

afternoon. The winners of the pageants in Newton go on to represent Iowa at the Miss USA and the Miss Teen USA pageants next year; with the Miss USA winner going on to the Miss Universe pageant.

For more information, go to www.missiowausa.com Oct. 7, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Nature Tots Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge October’s theme is Colorful Leaves. Children ages 3-5 are invited to bring their favorite adult and read stories, go outside, make nature crafts and much more. Pre-registration is requested; contact 515-994-3400 or Doreen_vanryswyk@fws.gov.

Oct. 13-14, 2nd Annual Book Sale United Way of Jasper County The United Way of Jasper County will be hosting a used book sale at the UWJCA office, 312 First Ave. W. from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 13 and 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 14.

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Don’t miss: mark your calendar now! participants will have an opportunity to try playing Taiko. This event is produced and sponsored by the Japan America Society of Iowa.

Oct. 14-15 15th Annual Iowa Sculpture Festival Historic Maytag Buildings 1&2 Located at W. Fourth St. N. in Newton, the show will feature unique works from juried artists. For more information, visit www.iowasculpturefestival.org or contact 641-7921391.

Oct. 14, 9 a.m.-noon Seed Collection Day Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge In honor of J.N. “Ding” Darling, a pioneer conservationist, the Refuge is hosting stewardship opportunities.

From collecting seeds to removing invasive plants, everyone will have a chance to help restore prairie habitat at the Refuge. A free lunch will be provided by the Friends of Neal Smith NWR. Pre-registration is required; contact 515994-3400 or Karen_vistesparkman@fws.gov.

Oct. 16, 6 p.m.

Japanese Taiko Drumming All ages are invited to experience Japanese culture through the art of Taiko, a traditional instrument used in festivals around the world.

Following the presentation, Fall 2017 • Jasper County Living

Oct. 21, 7-9 a.m.

Fall Photo Hike Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge Photographers of all skill levels are invited to join a ranger-led walk. Discover the prairie flowers and wildlife using your lens. Meet at the Prairie Learning Center. Be prepared for the weather and walking off trail. Pre-register at 515-994-3400 or Doreen_Vanryswyk@fws.gov.

Oct. 21, 1 p.m.

Fall Hike Oak Savanna Trail Take a guided hike through the 1/2 mile Oak Savanna Trail to learn about the wildlife, plants and management of the area. To register or for more information contact 515-994-3400 or Doreen_vanryswyk@fws.gov.

Oct. 21-22, 8 a.m.

Driving Experience Iowa Speedway Get behind the wheel of a real racecar at Iowa Speedway with the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience! Limited spots available, must book in advance at racewithrusty.com.

Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.

Beggar’s Night City of Newton Calling all ghastly ghouls and wicked witches to get your treat on. The annual event will bring children to downtown Newton, area business and

neighborhoods. Check out the Newton Daily News this October for more information.

Nov. 3, 6-9 p.m.

United Way of Jasper County Autograph & Experience Auction Newton Elks Lodge #1270 The United Way of Jasper County will hold a fundraiser auction of autographed memorabilia and experiences. All items will be up for live and silent auction. Free admission and appetizers.

Nov. 4, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Nature Tots Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge November’s theme is Prairie Seed Harvest. Children, ages 3-5, with an adult are invited to read stories, go outside, make nature crafts and more.

Pre-registration is requested.

To register, contact 515-9943400 or Doreen_vanryswyk@ fws.gov.

Nov. 12, 2-4 p.m.

Photography Exhibit Reception Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge Come to the Prairie Learning Center to see the winners of

the 2017 Photo Contest, as well as images from Refuge photo hikes. Light re-freshments will be available. The exhibit will be displayed in the J.N. “Ding” Darling Art Gallery at the Prairie Learning Center during November and December.

Nov. 19, 4-6 p.m.

Fall Photo Hike Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge Photographers of all skill levels are invited to join a ranger-led walk. Discover the prairie flowers and wildlife using your lens. Meet at the Prairie Learning Center. Be prepared for the weather and walking off trail. Preregister at 515-994-3400 or Doreen_vanryswyk@fws.gov.

Nov. 24, 5-8 p.m.

Courthouse Lighting and Newton Chamber of Commerce’s Holiday Festival Downtown Newton Square Santa will be in the courthouse for families to visit; horse and carriage rides will be circle the square starting at 5 p.m. The courthouse will light up at 6 p.m., then the parade will begin. A DJ will be playing holiday music.

t ha W ’s in ?

Falling for Fall Blanket

As the autumn air gets chiller, snuggle up with a new cozy sherpa throw. Enjoy the soft comfort as you relax inside on a cool evening. Walgreens, $15.99

Cook Book

It’s harvest time and there are plenty of ways to enjoy your homegrown produce for days to come.

Crack open a good recipe book and see how you can fill your pantry with plenty of garden fresh produce. Mattingly Music & Books, $12.99 and up.

Garden Rake

As the leaves change colors and fall, grab a new garden rake to make piles of fun.

Raking doesn’t have to be all work, collect your leaves and make fun projects with them.

True Value, $10.99

Volleyball

Bump, set and spike into fall with sporting gear. As kids head back to school, more sporting activities pick up and it’s time to support your teams from the grid iron to the gymnasium.

Hibbett Sports, $24.99.

Fall Decorations

The changing seasons, call for a new look around the house. Welcome autumn into your home with just a touch of color.

Farmer’s Wife, prices vary.

Pumpkins

Enjoy a fall staple, pumpkins! This autumn favorite can used for decorating all around the house and for all sorts of yummy foods in the kitchen. Make it into plenty of tasty treats from pies and cookies to breads and custard. Also spice up any drink with a dash of pumpkin spice. Fareway, prices vary.

Fall 2017 • Jasper County Living

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Hilltop home

By Mike Mendenhall

Entering the Skunk River Valley near Reasnor, it’s hard not to notice the Victorian home resting on the hill, overlooking the fields and farms surrounding the town of 190.

“From the river it’s such a dramatic rise, about 100 feet I’d say,” co-owner Meldon Vos said.

Although the two-story home may look like the highest point in the area, within a mile there are hills just as high. The house sits on a plateau and the sharp rise from the river valley is deceptive but breathtaking.

Meldon grew up in Reasnor and was raised until the age of 12 in a small farm house at the bottom of the hill. That house is no longer there. His family eventually moved to another farmhouse near the town’s covered bridge.

“As a boy I’d come up on Fall 2017 • Jasper County Living

Reasnor family builds Victorian Queen Anne dream house

top of the hill and look out and see the view,” he said.

With more than 300 acres of panoramic beauty in their farmland, it was not a hard decision for Meldon and Eloise Vos to pick the hilltop to build their dream home.

“We wanted a big kitchen and a big bathroom. We have happy memories of visiting my mom who lives in a big old house, cooking meals together and hanging out in the living room. Those are the two things we wanted.”

The couple built all that and more. The Vos family broke ground on their dream Queen Anne-style Victorian house approximately six years ago.

It took 1.5 years to construct the seven bedroom and three full bath house.

The “tower bedroom” allows dreamers to awake with a nearly 270-degree view of the South Skunk River Valley,

grain bins and 1940s-era barn. All the window and door framing is patterned in Red Oak, handcrafted by Gary Osborne of Woodworks in Newton.

The home’s inspiration came from bed and breakfasts where the couple stayed in the Dubuque hills overlooking the Mississippi River and the 1889 Victorian home where Eloise grew up in Shenandoah.

“I knew that was an authentic Victorian home that hadn’t been changed over the years.

A lot of things I liked about that house we copied for our home,” Eloise said.

The Vos’ house in Reasnor is designed in the Queen Anne style. The rounded towers and gables in the roof are quintessential Queen Anne — an English Baroque architectural style prominent during the reign of Queen Anne from

1702-1714 that was revived at the end of the 19th century when Victorian homes were being built.

The home is considered a modern “painted lady” because the exterior features more than three distinct colors. This is most prominent in the dormers of the home, where multi-colored fish scale shingles and star burst designs are on display. The bay windows pop with heavy outdoor trim, but the sheer number of windows on the home is what truly stands out.

Meldon and Eloise said the two-story house has a total of 45 windows, not including the decorative octagon portholes on the second floor. This allows the interior to be flooded with natural light.

Eloise, a former engineer for Maytag Corp., translated her on-the-job skills, plus design ...continued on page 14

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Family’s dream house overlooks Reasnor ...continued from page 13 principles learned as a youth, to design the house. She referenced the book “America’s Painted Ladies” by Pomada and Larsen when sketching the house’s dormers, star bursts and circular tower concepts in colored pencil. The work was locally sourced from Scholten & Sons Contractors in Sully.

“We decided we wanted a tower, so I’d look through the book for towers. I drew the plans for the outside of the house, but the construction guys were in charge of the hard part, which is figuring out how to built it and make it structurally sound.”

Much of the home’s furniture also tells a story. The long kitchen table is antique, from Meldon’s grandmother’s family.

In the living room a fully re-

Fall 2017 • Jasper County Living

stored grand piano leads the entry from the kitchen. The 1905 Chickering & Sons piano once sat in Teen Challenge of the Midlands in Colfax, formerly the Hotel Colfax. The piano definitely has history in Colfax, they said, but the Vos’ do not know if the instrument was part of the original hotel or donated to Teen Challenge at a later date.

In a seven bedroom household, you might think it easy to get lost but with six daughters — Mikayla, Marissa, Mariah, Melesha, Majesta and Mandeesa — the space is filled and put to good use.

“We’re kind of a dying breed,” Eloise said. “He’s a full-time farmer with no other job off the farm, and I’m a stay-at-home mom and help out on the farm. We are thankful we can live the lifestyle we love.”

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Old is new again

Historic preservationists forge link to Jasper County’s rich past

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By David Dolmage

asper County has a rich history. With hard work and dedication many are forging ahead to preserve the landmarks that bridge that history with the present.

“I don’t like to see old places like this torn down, we need to preserve this history,” Lila Arrowood said.

The Des Moines resident has been working to restore the luster of the Bergman House ever since she purchased it in 2015. The Bergman House, 629 First Ave. E. in Newton, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since July 13, 1989. Built by Senator August Bergman in 1909 at a cost of $17,000, it is the only known example of a Mission Revival house designed by the prominent Des Moines architectural firm of Proudfoot & Bird. One of the most unique features of the home is its stained glass skylight in the central ballroom.

By the time Arrowood stepped in to purchase the Bergman House it had fallen into disrepair. The Spanish tile roof had begun to leak, and there was water damage throughout the structure.

Undaunted, Arrowood rolled up her sleeves and went to work. She hired a crew of Amish roofers who spent six weeks tearing off the old roof, carefully removing the original tiles so that could be replaced once the new roof was back on the house. Arrowood estimated she’s spent more than $200,000 to bring the Bergman House back to its former glory.

I just thought that it was worth fixing, I want to spend a lot of time here,” Arrowood said.

Fall 2017 • Jasper County Living

The Bergman House, on the National Registry of Historic Places, is a Newton landmark being revitalized

by Lila Arrowood (pictured below).

She is no stranger to the perils of restoring old homes.

Previously, in the 1980s she purchased a home in Montezuma, restored it and lived in it before selling and moving on. The second house she purchased for restoration was in West Union and was built in the 1840s. Both of Arrowood’s former homes are now bed and breakfasts.

Arrowood isn’t alone in her restoration efforts, however.

All across Jasper County, historians are working to preserve the past. Local historian Dr. Tom Hoover said he’s glad to see Arrowood making progress on the restoration of the Bergman House, saying it had long been on his list of structures that needed to be preserved in Newton. Hoover said he hopes renewed interest in historic preservation will lead to other structures,

such as the first home owned

by F.L. Maytag, the founder of the Maytag Corporation.

The house, 414 S. Third Ave. W., has fallen into disrepair, Hoover said. Hoover has reached out to the Maytag Foundation in an effort to preserve the house, but he hasn’t had any success yet.

“My vision was to create a visitor’s center where people coming to Newton could pick up maps and information about Newton and all the Maytag homes, Hoover said.

“It’s continued to deteriorate to the point where it may end up on the D&D list.”

The Newton Main Street Project aims to help restorers like Arrowood by giving them access to funding in hopes of encouraging preservation efforts. In September 2014 the downtown business district in Newton was listed on the

National Registry of Historic Places, and organizers hope to soon add the historic homes lining First Avenue to that list. Larry Hurto, the chairman of the Historic Preservation Committee in ...continued on page 21

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“When we first started we would have people come in who had been working out in other places and they would see each other there but wouldn’t know their name, and here the relationships have grown to where they are hanging out outside of working out.”

-Josh Britton

Fresh workouts, camaraderie attracting many to Newton workout facility

By Kayla Langmaid

A Newton couple re-energized their workouts and it led to opening their own business. Now Cornfed CrossFit is the only fitness facility of its kind in a 30-mile radius.

Josh and Julie Britton opened for business on East 12th Street South — a journey that began after their own workout goals weren’t taking priority in their lives. Not only did they want to create new ways to workout themselves, they wanted to inspire others to try something new.

Josh Britton said things changed in the way he works out personally once he started doing CrossFit. Now instead of being competitive, he ensures he has proper Fall 2017 • Jasper County Living

technique and overall fitness.

“Overall CrossFit as a whole has grown immensely since we started; CrossFit has taken off widespread,” he said. “We started at CrossFit Pella, driving down there every day and then once we got certified to be trainers, it turned out that some of our friends were interested in working out with us in Newton.”

The couple decided they had enough connections in Newton and began looking for a workout space. The facility’s membership changes but is steady.

Since starting the gym, Josh Britton left his position at the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office as the business grew and needed more attention.

“I would say we average 10 people per class,” he said.

“We want to find a good balance between people who regularly come and the beginners.”

The facility members range in age from 14 to 60s.

“Fourteen is the youngest age we are able to go because if they are any younger, then we would have to be certified to train children,” Josh Britton said.

The couple also decided to create a beginner’s class which touches on the basics, such as squatting and Olympic lifting. There has to be at least one certified trainer present during every class.

“We want people to feel comfortable learning and they

Josh and Julie Britton

are going to learn with all beginners versus someone who knows what they are doing,” he explained. “We are making sure our quality of coaching is much greater than having a group of 10 and having to keep an eye on the beginners along with everyone else.” ...continued on page 21

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Preserving past for a beautiful future ...continued from page 15

Crossfit gym builds both muscles, relationships ...continued from page 19 Along with ensuring safety guidelines are being followed, the couple also modifies workouts based on whoever comes through the door and their needs.

“Whether it be a really good athlete to someone who just started the beginner’s class and has never worked out in their life,” Josh Britton said.

“We can really scale it to their needs, whether it be some sort of injury or their specific ability, and on the other hand making sure that upper athlete is getting increased movement.”

Julie Britton said she enjoys seeing how members progress and get stronger physically and mentally.

“They get excited when they accomplish new movements,” Julie Britton said.

According to the Brittons, forming a community between CrossFit members is one of their goals.

“We are watching relationships grow and it’s really exciting; you know a highfive goes a long way after a work out,” Josh Britton said.

“When we first started we would have people come in who had been working out in other places and they would Fall 2017 • Jasper County Living

see each other there but wouldn’t know their name, and here the relationships have grown to where they are hanging out outside of working out.”

Josh Britton said those relationships also initiate accountability by members reaching out to one another if they aren’t attending classes.

Julie Britton said the classes offer a balance of encouragement as well as various workouts every day.

“We started because we lost motivation to go to the gym because I was doing the exact same workouts, which is boring, whereas, CrossFit is constantly different,” she said.

“It adds excitement to your program.”

She said CrossFit is a key component to her daily life as a Newton police officer.

“It has encouraged me to be healthy and strong because someday I might have to fight for my life,” she added.

Cornfed CrossFit, located at 200 E. 12th St. S., Suite B in Newton, is open Monday through Friday with classes at 5:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. An open gym workout time is also available from 8 to 10 a.m. on Saturdays.

Newton said the goal is to provide business owners and homeowners with qualifying properties grants to help them preserve the historic nature of those structures.

“We want to promote tourism in our community; heritage tourism is kind of big thing right now,” Hurto said.

In Colfax, similar efforts are underway. Colfax has a rich history that dates back to the discovery of a series of underground mineral springs.

Discovered in 1875 while drilling for coal, the high mineral content of the water made Colfax into a boom town.

Nine new hotels opened in the city to provide spa treatments for guests, and four different bottling plants started selling water from the newly discovered springs. The good times wouldn’t last however, when the Great Depression began in 1929 interest in the springs waned, and many of

the hotels closed.

Cindy Van Dusseldorp, president of the Main Street Preservation Committee in Colfax, is hoping to bring some of that magic back to town. Getting Colfax’s downtown listed on the National Registry of Historic Places is the first step, and she hopes the momentum will create renewed interest in Colfax.

“To get more people to move into the town we need to give businesses what they need to grow,” she said. “I love this small community and want to see it continue to grow, and see it’s so nice to be able to shop in town instead of going to Altoona.”

In Newton, Arrowood admitted she’s often thought about selling the Bergman when the restoration work feels overwhelming, but she can’t let go just yet. After all, she’s had her eye on the house for 20 years, and at 84, she knows this is probably her last restoration project.

The stained glass skylight is one of the unique features of the Bergman House, built in 1909.

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Fall 2017 • Jasper County Living

ow

Q. What has surprised you most about Newton and Jasper County as a whole?

A. The fact that there are so many people engaged in making a positive difference in our community. While it’s

kn

Q. You’ve been in Newton for a few months now, what was your first impression of the town and how has it changed or grown in your time here?

A. The first thing I noticed was how welcoming the people in this community were. I also noticed the great park system, the local YMCA, nice grocery stores and the strong business community in our downtown area. Now that my family and I have settled into a normal routine, I have been very impressed with the Newton Community School District. Four of my five kids are getting acclimated in their new schools and activities.

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The size of the community also attracted me to Newton, as did the proximity to Interstate 80 and Des Moines. The community is big enough to have nice amenities, while still having small-town charm and a strong sense of community pride.

et

Q. What about Newton brought you to the community for the next step in your career?

A. Being a part of a city that is on the move was a draw for me. Newton is moving in the right direction. Elected officials and city staff have been proactive in seeking out ways to improve the community over the last several years. I wanted to be a part of that movement forward.

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Get to know: Newton City Administrator Matt Muckler

higher paying jobs. I also see the community’s curb appeal improving. We continue to work hard on infrastructure improvements and support programs that improve the condition and value of our housing.

easier to complain about what isn’t going right, that is not the norm in Newton. I see many more people in Newton and Jasper County who are out there day after day working hard to make improvements in our community.

Q. The Newton city government has been hard at work on several projects including housing and expanding business opportunities in the community. What project are you most excited to work on?

A. I am looking forward to the Hotel Maytag project moving forward. The five-story historical building is in need of renovation, and the city has identified an excellent development group to take on that project. This project will be the start of a renaissance in downtown Newton.

Q. What area of the city are you hoping to expand and grow in the coming years?

A. I’m excited about growth in housing all over Newton.

There are smaller scale housing projects near the downtown area that have been recently completed. It will be nice to see more housing near the core of Newton in the next few years.

This improvement in housing will better position our downtown businesses to be successful and grow in the near future. We also have new subdivision projects moving forward right now. This includes Cardinal Ridge in the southwest part of town and Fairmeadows North in the northeast part of town. We also have pockets of development that we expect to see moving forward at Fountain Hills and Eastgate Meadows.

There are lots of opportunities for new families to move to Newton.

Q. Where do you see Newton in five or 10 years?

A. I see Newton growing in population and being successful in attracting new businesses which will provide

Q. While Newton is the largest town in Jasper County, what do you think of all of the surrounding communities in the county?

A. I have been very focused on Newton as I become acclimated to my new position, but my first impression of the surrounding communities is positive, whether it was a picnic in a park in Kellogg or driving through Lambs Grove or Monroe. I also had a chance to meet with the leadership and staff of the Newton Correctional Facility, many who live outside of Newton, and I have a lot of respect for the men and women that work in that facility.

Q. In your free time, what hobbies do you enjoy?

A. I enjoy reading and I am a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Oregon Ducks football and professional cycling. I am gearing up for another fantasy football season as well. I love spending time with my kids, whether at their sporting events or school activities or spending time as a family.

Having a date night out with my wife — which doesn’t happen nearly often enough — is also something I enjoy. Since attending my first Xfinity Series race in June at the Iowa Speedway, I now also consider myself a fan. I can’t wait to get back to see more events at “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet” next year.

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Heat & sweet relief

in !

Cratty Shack serves up ‘Screamin’ Eagle’ Cratty Patty until Oct. 15

By Anthony Victor Reyes

With autumn weather starting to breeze in, you may heat yourself up with ordering a sandwich “Screamin’ Eagle” style at Cratty Shack in Colfax.

According to the owners, for an extra dollar, they will turn any sandwich on their menu into a tasty fireball.

Featuring freshly picked jalapeno peppers and melted 3-pepper Caribbean Habanero Cheese from Graziano Brothers, the shop owners said this add-on guarantees to satisfy anyone with a craving for heat.

“Once it starts cooking and the onions are soft, it is just a great smell. It kind of takes the air in the shop a little bit,” Cratty Shack Co-owner John Cratty said. “The aroma of it really does something to you.

When you get it all together, it is just a great flavor mix.”

According to Cratty, he created the “Screamin’ Eagle” add-on to bring a little heat into their ice cream shop, while satisfying his personal palate for sandwiches with a kick.

As a motorcycle enthusiast, he was inspired to make this dish by Screamin’ Eagle performance parts which are known for spicing up any Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

“We wanted to bring our love for motorcycle in here,” John Cratty’s wife and Co-owner Carmen Cratty said. “It makes your motorcycle hot... (When on a sandwich), it just takes your breath Fall 2017 • Jasper County Living

away.”

The Crattys said their customers seem to enjoy and crave the heat.

“I’ve always liked hot foods.

(Carmen) didn’t at the start. I just kept making hot foods,” he said. “A guy that I worked with in Maytag kept bringing in hot stuff, so I started making hot stuff. I got recipes from him. It started with making hot sauce with habaneros then I started making habanero jelly. I started making things hotter and hotter and enjoying. (Carmen) started liking it more than I did.”

Through trial and error, John Cratty learned how to manipulate the heat in each sandwich. He said by keeping the seeds, using freshly picked peppers and adding the Graziano cheese, patrons who order “Screamin’ Eagle” style are guaranteed to have a hotter experience than any other in the area.

“Seeds definitely make it hotter. When you dehydrate or dry a jalapeno, it intensifies whatever heat is in there.

It goes right into the skin or the meat of it, and you can chop it up into a powder,” he said. “The first time (I made a Screamin’ Eagle) it brought tears to my eyes. We tried it and it was great.”

The shop owners said a “Screamin’ Eagle” sandwich will be the perfect amount of burn to fulfill a heat need.

They said, if someone wants a sandwich a little hotter, they have a few tricks to satisfy the

Featuring fresh picked jalapeno peppers and 3-Pepper Caribbean Habanero Cheese from Graziano Bros, Cratty Shack’s “Screamin’ Eagle” is guaranteed to satisfy anyone with a craving for heat.

Carmen and John Cratty, and their daughter, Toni Forck, pose in front of Cratty Shack. The ice cream shop’s season ends Oct. 15.

more intense taste buds.

Although they said the “Screamin’ Eagle” works with pretty much everything on their menu – ice cream and sweet treats aside – they prefer these delicious add-on on a grilled chicken sandwich and their classic Cratty Burger.

The owners advise patrons to cool off after a ‘Screamin’ Eagle’ sandwich with a sweet treat, like their Toni’s Turtle, a vanilla ice cream sundae topped with hot fudge, caramel and pecans.

“Your mouth will be on fire, but you will love it,” Carmen Cratty said.

Cratty Shack is open from 3 to 10 p.m. Monday, and noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

With the ice cream shop’s season ending Oct. 15., the countdown to again enjoying a “Screamin’ Eagle” sandwich is on.

For more information, visit crattyshack.com, call 515-6744303 or find Cratty Shack on Facebook.

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Cratty Shack’s Cratty Patty Screamin’ Eagle Ingredients:

1/3 Lb ground beef patty (well-seasoned) 5 slices fresh jalapeño (with seeds) 1 slice pepper jack cheese 2 slices sweet Vidalia onion (chopped) 1 slice 3-pepper Caribbean habanero cheese (found at Graziano Brothers in Des Moines) Hearty bun (preferably split top) Butter Directions: Preheat barbecue or flat grill to 400º. Grill beef patty until well done. Sauté onion and jalapeño slices and seeds in butter until tender-crisp. Top burger with cheeses just prior to removing from grill, long enough to melt. While cheese is melting, butter insides of bun and toast on grill, butter side down. Move bun to plate and immediately place burger with melted cheeses on bun. Lightly top with ketchup and mustard, Screamin’ Eagle sauté blend and 3 dill slices.

Fall 2017 • Jasper County Living

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