OST-12-22-2016 by Shaw Media

News

SPLIT:

• Identity theft on the rise

Be wary of surprise calls from creditors who demand social security numbers and bank account information.

Clarke boys split games heading into break

Events

• Do Love Well Christmas, free admission

page 1B

7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, Lakeside Hotel & Casino Get your tickets now at Osceola Chamber Main Street.

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OSCEOLA, IOWA 50213

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

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First place a surprise for Murray poet By HILARY FERRAND

OST news editor hferrand@osceolaiowa.com

Beverly Mattix Green of Murray is the first-place winner of the Iowa Poetry Association’s annual contest, Lyrical Iowa, and she couldn’t be more surprised. “I got the envelope back,” Green said. “After they’re judged, they send you back your unchosen poems. I thought, ‘Man, this feels pretty fat. They must not have liked any of them.’” Now she knows it was thick due to the professional critique and $60 payment that came along with the announcement. Green makes her home in Murray with her longtime partner, Keith Pearce. In retirement, she spends her time writing and has taken up a new interest in quilting. She’s not a member of any of the art groups in the area either. “I don’t think you should join an organization unless you’re willing to do all that needs to be done, and sometimes I’m not willing.”

Morgan Wilson, “which is part of what poetry is about.” Finding the right words can be a lengthy practice, according to Green. “It takes forever,” she said. “You think you’ve got it right, and then you lay awake at night thinking of this word and that word. You know, you can always be better.” The Iowa Poetry Association hires an outside judge to determine contest winners, in order to keep personal associations from skewing results. While Green is in shock, she’s very appreciative of the results. “It’s like exposing part of your inner-most feelings to someone else, and then,” she said, “it’s just nice to know a judge thinks it’s readable.” In fact, the judge’s comments brought Green to tears. “This speaker calls up for me a less privileged Scout Finch, looking back on her earlier life,” wrote Professor William R. Reyer of Tiffin, Ohio, who judged the gener-

Green said. “I’ve never belonged to a book club. I thought maybe I’d like that.” The award-winning poet still can’t quite believe she won first prize, but she’s not a stranger to the poetry association or to having her work printed in Iowa’s anthology published at the end of every year. The 71st printing of “Lyrical Iowa” was published last month and features the work of 351 poets, chosen from 2,150 entries. All but 10 of Iowa’s 99 counties are represented. Besides those awarded cash prizes for top-ranking poems in each category and age-level, many others are showcased in the 173-page book. Over the last 20 years, Green said she thinks she’s had a poem published every year. “I don’t have any training. I didn’t go to college or anything,” said Green, but she’s clearly a poet at heart. “I know she puts her personal experiences in, drawing some insights we don’t all see at first glance,” said Lyrical Iowa Editor Lucille

OST photo by HILARY FERRAND

Pictured is Beverly Mattix Green of Murray, whose entry, “Vocabulary Lesson, 1954, Eagles Lodge” took first-place in the Iowa Poetry Association’s annual contest, Lyrical Iowa.

al adult category. “That’s my favorite book of all time,” said Green, “‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’” Green’s winning entry, entitled, “Vocabulary Lesson, 1954, Eagles Lodge,” takes readers along on the journey home from a Christmas party held for – the narrator realizes mid-trip – the poor kids in town. It’s a scene inspired by Green’s

young life. “There were six of us kids, and things were hard when we were little,” said Green, though life was rich with family. Today, she celebrates her children, grandchildren, and soon to be great-grandchild with help from her newfound hobby. “Lately I’ve been making quilts. I’ve decided that’s

what I’m doing for my grandkids when they graduate,” said Green, noting that there are similarities to writing poetry. “It’s kind of daunting.” Green said she intends to keep sending in poems to Lyrical Iowa, and she encourages others to do the same. GREEN | 5

Christmas Open House at library Drive-through coffee draws crowd despite the cold shop debut review By HILARY FERRAND OST news editor hferrand@osceolaiowa.com

The Osceola Public Library held its annual Christmas Open House Saturday, Dec. 17. “Kids had a craft they could make and take downstairs. For adults and kids upstairs, we had cookies and hot cider and coffee to share,” said Judy Coe, library director. With winds blowing at up to 30 mph and temperatures dipping into negative digits, the staff wasn’t sure they’d see many people come out this year. “We had quite a few people who braved the cold and snow,” said Children’s Librarian Krista Woodard. In addition to crafts and refreshments, patrons were able to fill a bag of books for just $1 from the library’s ongoing sales section. Visitors were sent home with presents too.

OST photo by HILARY FERRAND

Patrons lined up to sample Mayberry’s warm drinks and desserts during their soft open Friday, Dec. 16.

By HILARY FERRAND

designed to work out any problems before their grand opening, the business stayed busy and delighted customers with home-baked goods and an expansive selection of drinks. The drive-through won’t be ready for operation for a few weeks. “A drive-through. That’s the one I want,” said one of Mayberry’s first customers, Mary Lynn Olsen, whose husband did flooring work during the renovation. “That will be cool,” said fellow customer, Sandy Carson. “We won’t have to get out on cold mornings.” There’s still plenty of time left for the drive-through to be ready for the worst weather of the season, but it’s not the only benefit on people’s minds. “They’re making my wife a chai tea latte,” said Brian Stuva, who had plans to drop the drink off at home before heading to work. Mayberry’s will be one of the few places in the area to get specialty drinks made to order.

OST news editor hferrand@osceolaiowa.com

Mayberry’s Coffee House & Eatery, 128 W. Jefferson St., held a test run Friday, Dec. 16, beginning at 6:30 a.m. Within 15 minutes, there was a line to the door, and not because the ladies behind the counter were falling behind. The coffee house is located in a newly renovated building on the south side of the square. Above the eatery is a two-bedroom apartment the owners remodeled earlier this year. Osceolans have eagerly awaited the completion of the project, which breathed new life into the space. Exposed brick, customized woodwork and generous seating creates a warm and cozy atmosphere at Mayberry’s. A glass case displaying their daily treats sits at the front with the register, a high-tech iPad station, meshing seamlessly with the shop’s atmosphere. During its soft open,

Contributed photo

Chelsea Lee, 8, makes an ornament at the library’s annual Christmas Open House.

“Kids got to take fun Christmas-themed pen home with them,” said Woodard. “Adults were given a nice purse or pocket calendar for 2017.” For being part of such a

small community, the Osceola Public Library hosts an impressive number of clubs and events throughout the year. December’s checklist included winter story hours, book club meetings

and Saturday’s event that add to the opportunities here. “We have a Christmas Open House every year,” said Coe. “It’s just part of our celebration.”

Celebrate with Clarke Middle School this Friday By HILARY FERRAND OST news editor hferrand@osceolaiowa.com

For the third year running, Clarke Middle School Student Lighthouse and the Leadership Council are hosting a day dedicated to the power of positive leadership. The 3rd Annual Clarke Middle School Celebration Day is being held 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Dec. 23, beginning in the Middle

School High School auditorium, 800 N. Jackson St. The half-day event features a grand assembly with t h r e e m a i n speakers and 10 presentations put on by students. Commu- Woods nity members will be able to select

four of the topics to attend. Following these sessions will be a club fair to demonstrate all the ways Clarke Middle School students are putting their skills to use and a panel of college students who are putting those same skills to use. “We offer a ton of clubs – book club, coding club – those groups are going to set up some sort of display,” said seventh-grade Reading and ELL Teacher Danielle

Woods.

Learning More About Leader In Me “We have one session to teach people about the Leader In Me Initiative,” said Woods. There’s a heavy focus on Leader in Me activities in Clarke Middle School, and administrators say they’re seeing results. At a recent

12/19/2016

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