Siouxland Life - Winter 2019 by Sioux City Journal

Are two sets of twins even more fun?

Don’t throw away your shot

Losing weight takes commitment

A GUIDE FOR LIVING IN SIOUXLAND

HEALTHY AND FIT THAT’S THE BIG GOAL FOR 2019

WELLNESS STARTS WITH A CLEAN HOUSE

WINTER 2019

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WINTER 2019

SIOUXLAND LIFE

CONTENTS Winter

2019

If you made a resolution to lose weight and stay healthy, we’ve got some news for you. In this edition, we look at breakthroughs in fitness, weight loss and health. You’ll meet one of the coaches behind the Briar Cliff Chargers, a resident who lost more than 150 pounds and a couple dealing with two sets of twins under the age of 4. We’ve got ways to reduce allergies and advice from our resident physician. Grab a healthy snack and enjoy the health edition.

TWIN PEAKS Two sets of twins give the Rixner family plenty of bonding highs. Find out what that world is really like.

34 ON THE COVER Liberty Elementary School fourth-grader Ethan Van Ginkel does a jumping jack during a physical education class taught at the Sioux City school by Corey Loffswold. The class combines elements of math and reading literacy with traditional gym class physical activities. Learn more on page 34.

MEET HERK Briar Cliff University’s strength coach says there can be a wrong way to work out.

Photograph by Tim Hynds.

4 14 17 20 23 26 30

HOME a peaceful place FAMILY four times the fun HEALTH a clean home HEALTH losing weight HEALTH allergy solutions HEALTH eliminating radon HEALTH a proper workout

34 36 40 42 44 47

HEALTH physical education HEALTH medical cannabis HEALTH what shots? HEALTH dry needles HEALTH medical answers PARTING SHOT a brown winter

PUBLISHER Chad Pauling EDITOR Bruce Miller EDITORIAL Dolly Butz, Tim Gallagher, Earl Horlyk, Mason Dockter PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Hynds, Justin Wan DESIGN April Burford

©2019 The Sioux City Journal. Siouxland Life is published quarterly by The Sioux City Journal. For advertising information, please call (712) 224-6279. For editorial information, please call (712) 293-4218.

MEDICAL CANNABIS Could it be for you? What’s involved in getting a prescription?

SIOUXLAND LIFE

WINTER 2019

HOME

a peaceful place

A HOUSE OF

PEACE

OPENS NEAR NEWCASTLE Retired priest invites guests to retreat residence

Text and photographs by Tim Gallagher

NEWCASTLE, NEBRASKA — The Rev. Jim Kramper moved into his dream home near Newcastle during the fall. His dream is to share the giant “red barn” with thousands upon thousands of others. That’s the mission Kramper has in retirement at his “Casa de Paz.” That’s Spanish for “House of Peace.” “We can host 20 overnight,” says Kramper, a native of nearby Willis, Nebraska, who served 45 years as a priest in 13 Nebraska parishes from Omaha to Newcastle to Emerson and beyond. “For day groups, we can host 100.” Kramper resides on the east end of the two-story structure, a site whose dividing room — or center room — is a hillside chapel of sorts featuring an altar, seven landings, a rock waterfall, a balcony, giant window spaces and a windmill. The room is two parts rural Siouxland, two parts church and 100 percent devoted to peace and tranquility. The windmill towers at 23 feet; the 25foot window peak allows ample sunlight to pass through this structure’s southern exposure.

WINTER 2019

SIOUXLAND LIFE

The Rev. Jim Kramper stands in the front room of his Casa de Paz, an area that can serve as a church or chapel on certain occasions. There are seven landings in the area behind Kramper, an area he refers to as â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Hillside,â&#x20AC;? which seats 100.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

WINTER 2019

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

Above: The Rev. Jim Kramper stands outside Casa de Paz, his “House of Peace,” that was completed in the fall. Kramper, a retired priest who served 13 parishes in Nebraska, welcomes guests to his massive home for a brief time to seek peace as they leave the hectic pace of everyday life behind. Right: A 23-foot tall windmill occupies a prominent place in the great room, or the front room, at Casa de Paz, a “House of Peace,” occupied by the Rev. Jim Kramper at rural Newcastle, Nebraska.

“An electric motor turns the windmill,” says Kramper, a 1965 Bishop Heelan High School graduate. “The windmill turns slowly to make it look like we are pumping into a stock tank that has four koi fish.” Hundreds of parishioners, friends and volunteers had a hand in building the giant barn-like structure, one served with concrete floors throughout. The finished product realizes a dream for Kramper, who can trace this site’s origin to a cedar structure he and immediate family members built on the family’s timber tract near Willis a quarter-century ago. The old chapel, as it were, fell years ago. “There’s a picture of the old cedar cabin we built in our timber,” Kramper says while sitting in his living quarters on the east side of Casa de Paz, living quarters that, in reality, amount to no more than a dormitory room. “We built

“An electric motor turns the windmill. The windmill turns slowly to make it look like we are pumping into a stock tank that has four koi fish.” REV. JIM KRAMPER SIOUXLAND LIFE

WINTER 2019

Above: The Rev. Jim Kramper stands in his dining room at Casa de Paz, his retirement home northeast of Newcastle, Nebraska. The walnut dining table seats 16. Right: Plant life and wildlife are both abundant in and around Casa de Paz, the new home and retreat set among the bluffs and timber of rural Dixon County northeast of Newcastle, Nebraska. The new residence of the Rev. Jim Kramper has a chapel, guestrooms, a collections room and more. Passive solar heat and a wood-burning stove keep the place toasty during winter months.

that wood cabin, a chapel, really, and people sought peace there for more than 25 years. I had dedicated it to the ‘Calmer of the Storms,’ as I was thinking about weather. But people told me they sought it out to calm other (internal) storms.” That structure, made simply of cedar logs, gave rise to Casa de Paz. There is also a tiny chapel just off the main front room at Casa de Paz. The chapel has a pair of stained glass win-

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Above: The Rev. Jim Kramper sits in his living quarters at his Casa de Paz set on 10 acres he bought northeast of Newcastle, Nebraska. Kramper, a 1965 graduate of Bishop Heelan High School, retired last year after 45 years as a priest who served 13 parishes in Nebraska. Left: A pair of Santa Claus figures are shown with Baby Jesus in the new home of the Rev. Jim Kramper near Newcastle, Nebraska.

adds to the peace of the house.” An expansive kitchen features a 6-foot by 12-foot table made of walnut that can easily seat 16 guests. A “Last Supper” painting decorates one wall, positioned next to a quilt featuring pictures of Kramper, his Casa de Paz and 13 churches he served. Another wall has a display of trains, including a map of the old train route from Emerson to Hubbard to Sioux City.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

WINTER 2019

Above: The Rev. Jim Kramper stands in one of the guest bedrooms serving Casa de Paz, his retirement home and retreat nestled among 10 acres of timber northeast of Newcastle, Nebraska. Left: Here is one of the guest bedrooms.

Kramper once walked the abandoned railroad bed that stretched from Emerson to Hubbard. A pantry allows guests to store whatever foods they bring and wish to prepare. There is no dishwasher and that’s by design. Kramper wishes that guests wash and dry their dishes and silverware the old-fashioned way as they stand gazing out upon the bluffs of Dixon County. Kramper stares at the land, gazing eastward beyond the 10 acres he owns and says, “Who wouldn’t want to do 12

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INFORMATION For information about Casa de Paz, call (402) 355-2015. dishes right here?” That’s the aim of this massive retreat: A return to simplicity, the chance to slow down and listen for what really matters. Not that everything here is stark and devoid of modern-day touches. Kramper laughs at his own excess as he passes from the pantry area down the hall to a

SIOUXLAND LIFE

phone booth that came from the Sioux City Stockyards. Closing the door to the booth activates a light over the pay phone. Across the hall there’s a collections room that one day will feature more than 400 of Kramper’s piggy banks and hundreds more of his M&M candy figures. He has amassed more than a few John Wayne pieces of memorabilia that people may examine. The west side of Casa de Paz is reserved for guest stays. There are four bathrooms on the guest-side, each featuring a walk-in shower. There are a pair of washers and a dryer as Kramper asks guests to launder bed linen and towels during their stay. There is no set price, he says, as folks are asked to pay whatever they wish via goodwill offering. Guests are asked to bring their own food supplies, soap, shampoo, etc. “In some ways, it’s a lot like camping,” says Kramper, who notes that eight of the 10 acres on this tract is covered in timber, allowing those who stay here frequent chances to view wildlife up close. Guest bedrooms feature a pair of queen-size beds and each side is colorcoded, showing bright hues of red,

purple, blue, etc., on walls painted by a host of volunteers. There’s an open room up top, perfect for showing movies or having get-togethers. There’s also a child’s play-room on one side, a room with a selection of toys Kramper has picked up through the years as he scours the area’s garage sales, a favorite past-time. Kramper expects to say Mass once per week in Lent, offering a 7 p.m. time each Monday. The last thing he’d want is to compete in any way with the Masses and worship services offered locally. Rather, Kramper’s intent is simply to allow folks the chance to unplug, pray and enjoy the company of one another in his throwback red barn, a “House of Peace” that serves as his retirement home. After he throws a log into the woodburning stove, Kramer takes a seat and examines the Stations of the Cross that line those landings in this great room, one whose centerpiece is an altar made of cedar. Shadows of the shimmering water from the stock tank move in the sunlight, adding yet another visual treat for the eyes. And, says Kramper, for the soul. “The shimmering water is unexpected,” he says with a smile. “A gift from God.”

The Rev. Jim Kramper adds a log to the wood-burning stove that helps heat his Casa de Paz residence northeast of Newcastle, Nebraska.

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FAMILY four

times the fun Lindsey and Matt Rixner have two sets of twins: from left, Miles and Lennon, then 2 months old; and Stella and Sophie, 3 years old.

O D UBLE

THE FUN

Sioux Cityans talk about life with TWO sets of twins Text by Mason Dockter | Photographs by Justin Wan

SIOUX CITY — Matt and Lindsey Rixner are the parents of a seemingly improbable family: two sets of twins, both born in October. Do twins run in their families? Sort of, but not really. “My great-grandmother had three sets of twins,” said Lindsey Rixner, a fifthgrade teacher at Liberty Elementary.

WINTER 2019

But that was on her father’s side, and according to the research she’s done, twin-bearing is passed along the mother’s line. So there isn’t much of a genetic explanation for Stella and Sofie, born Oct. 22, 2015, and Lennon and Miles, born Oct. 26, 2018. There is, however, a medical explana-

SIOUXLAND LIFE

tion for having more than one set of two: Matt and Lindsey are both 37. “You’re more likely to have twins in your 30s than you are in your 20s,” Lindsey said. At that age, the female body feels a need to make use of its eggs. Thus the twins. “Some women over the age of 30 tend to shoot out more eggs,” said Matt, who

“It’s all about routine, that’s the biggest thing. You feed both of them at the same time. They sleep on the same schedule as much as possible.” MATT RIXNER

Lindsey and Matt Rixner pose for a photo with their two sets of twins, from left, Miles and Lennon, then 2 months old; and Stella, back, and Sophie, 3 years old.

works at local broadcaster KMEG. Both Sofie and Stella and Lennon and Miles are fraternal twins, meaning they’re like siblings born at separate times, only they were born at the same time. Lindsey was 20 weeks along with the first pregnancy when they learned she was going to have twins. “Big surprise, for sure,” Matt said. Stella, who is a minute younger than Sofie, was born with Down Syndrome and a stomach condition that left her in

the neonatal ICU for more than a month. Her medical conditions presented a challenge for the Rixners, especially in her first weeks when she was very ill and underwent stomach surgeries. “Most of the time you think about twins having the same developmental milestones, like crawling at the same time, walking at the same time,” Lindsey said. Stella’s milestones came about a year later than Sofie’s. “And that’s OK. They’re individuals,” Lindsey said.

What’s nice about them being twins, the Rixners said, is that Stella will always be able to look to Sofie as a sort of role model to learn from. Sofie and Stella tend to wear the same outfits, making their appearance more twin-like. Miles, a boy, and Lennon, a girl, don’t dress alike. The Rixners said having four children so close in age comes with its peculiarities. You get less one-on-one time with each individual child when there are four of them to tend to. “You don’t get as much time to sit and snuggle, or hold them, because there’s always someone else who needs to be changed or fed, so I think that’s a challenge,” Lindsey said. Planning and keeping a schedule are also important for maintaining an orderly household with so many twins. “It’s all about routine, that’s the biggest thing,” Matt said. “You feed both of them at the same time. They sleep on the same schedule as much as possible.” The Rixners also make a point of leaving their house to go shopping or out to dinner when possible, rather than letting themselves become trapped inside the house. People definitely notice the big family. “I think we kind of draw a lot of attention from people, if we’re going to dinner or we’re in the store pushing double strollers,” Lindsey said. “We really draw a lot of attention.” Do the Rixners plan to further add to their already-sizable family? “Nope,” Matt said. “I think statistically, the chances of us having twins a third time would go up” with any additional pregnancies, Lindsey said.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

WINTER 2019

ImprovIng HealtH

A mission statement is important to an organization. A good mission statement must define what the company does for its customer and what the company does for its employees. The CNOS mission is “Improving Health”. An important goal related to the CNOS mission statement is that we be the best place to give and receive care for everything orthopaedic, brain, spine, and neurological. To achieve our goals for patients, we realize it is important to improve access to quality healthcare. CNOS physically comes to patients where they are. We have 19 clinic locations and CNOS carefully determines those locations by patient volume and feedback. Our physicians desire to know and to be known by their patients. It is equally important that the CNOS specialists know and collaborate with the primary care physicians who care for these patients and their families. In this world of expanding technology, there are unending examples of services provided by individuals and companies many miles or countries away from the person acquiring the service. Global communication networks and currencies make it possible for consumers to secure products or services from the opposite end of the world if desired.

CNOS physicians and staff are convinced now, more than ever, that local, connected healthcare relationships are the best for the patient. Dr. Ray Sherman, CNOS Orthopaedic Surgeon who has a satellite clinic in Sioux Center, IA believes “outreach clinics are an opportunity to coordinate care for many patients. The primary care providers can actually talk to the specialists and vice versa. The community hospital facility is very able and willing to provide care for the very people who support their medical community. This is a winning combination.” When our physician teams go to one of our satellite locations, the purposes are two-fold: 1) meet the patient where they are 2) seek to understand where the patient is coming from with regards to their community, their goals, their family practice physician and their individual challenges. “Many patients referred to neurosurgeons have debilitating and painful conditions. Their travel for any distance to see a physician can be a huge burden. Our ability to see these patients close to their homes is a real godsend.” Quentin Durward, Neurosurgeon, CNOS. Dr. Durward sees patients in Norfolk, NE. In healthcare, one size does not fit all. Patient care requires meeting the diagnostic

and treatment needs of the individual. Each patient presents a unique opportunity for physicians and other care givers to evaluate multiple issues that contribute to what we call the “presenting” issue. Healthcare is not an exact science and cannot be accomplished in a situation where there is no dialogue, where there is no understanding of the patient’s situation, or where there is no connection to the foundational issues in the patient’s life. Patient surveys often indicate that patients do not mind traveling for expert care, but embrace the opportunity to utilize expert care close to home when available. Our board certified physicians continue to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes that meet or exceed national standards, right here in Siouxland. We will continue to look for ways we can better serve our patient’s unique needs and strive to be both the best place to give and receive care. CNOS – “Improving Health” where you are.

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WINTER 2019

SIOUXLAND LIFE

HEALTH a

clean home

Karen Sowienski cleans a window at Siouxland Movement Arts/Globe Theatrical in downtown Sioux City.

‘DOMESTIC GODDESSES’ TAKE AIM AT CLUTTER, DUST

Text by Tim Gallagher | Photographs by Tim Gallagher and Tim Hynds

Sioux City sisters Karen Sowienski, left, and Lisa Barker, clean houses and businesses, having joined forces for this line of work in 1994.

‌SIOUX CITY — Cleanliness is next to godliness. Or so it’s reported — and recorded — as said by John Wesley in 1778. The phrase takes a turn for sisters Karen Sowienski and Lisa Barker, both of Sioux City, a pair sometimes dubbed “Domestic goddesses.” Barker has been cleaning up others’ messes since 1991. Sowienski joined this “Sister Act” in 1994. Together, they bounce, sing and scrub their ways from homes to businesses and more, often seeking order among the grime twice

per month for their accounts. “Our clients are really our friends,” Sowienski says. “We exchange Christmas gifts and Christmas cards.” The sisters exchange a few tips for the rest of us who attempt to avoid grime, grease and slop, the result of daily maneuverings through house and home. “We start at the top,” Sowienski says with a point toward the ceiling. “Lisa gets up and gets all the cobwebs and dust from the top of shelves. And then we work our way down.”’

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Lisa Barker runs the vacuum while cleaning Siouxland Movement Arts/Globe Theatrical in downtown Sioux City. Barker has been a cleaner since 1991.

Karen Sowienski cleans a mirror at Siouxland Movement Arts/Globe Theatrical in downtown Sioux City. Sowienski has been a cleaner of homes and businesses since 1994.

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Barker notes that the finishing steps of their thorough cleaning often centers around floor level, literally. “We end up by vacuuming and scrubbing,” she says. Scrubbing, by the way, entails more than running a dust mop over the floor. No, scrubbing to these cleaners involves elbow grease and tired knees. “You must get down on the floor to get it clean,” Barker says. “I wear knee pads and I get down on my hands and knees because you need to. Getting down to floor level allows you to see the corners and where dirt can hide.” Sowienski nods. She, too, hits the floor and uses her hands to scrub. Her knees, she laughs, are about worn out because of this work. Both women offer workweary hands as evidence of their commitment

SIOUXLAND LIFE

to all things squeaky clean. In addition to dusting and scrubbing, Sowienski and Barker scour toilets and clean bathrooms; they spray glass before wiping it down; and they collate or eliminate unkempt piles, if necessary. On occasion, when directed, these cleaners will add to their regular duties and sweep out the garage, as an example.

“I wear knee pads and I get down on my hands and knees because you need to. Getting down to floor level allows you to see the corners and where dirt can hide.”

LISA BARKER

“Cleaning ceiling fans is also something we’re asked to do,” Sowienski says. “The ceiling fans in bedrooms aren’t as bad as those found in the kitchen. Everything in the kitchen gets a little dirtier because of the presence of grease.” And while Sowienski remarks that kitchen grime challenges her the most, Barker’s list of trouble spots starts in the bathroom. Barker wishes more people would purchase and launder cloth shower curtains. She also asks that homeowners consider laundering bath mats from time to time, if not just fully replacing them with new. “Most of our clients are middle-class working people who are tired after 40hour work weeks,” says Sowienski, a core member of the group working behind the scenes at the Sioux City Community Theatre. “We have a great relationship with our home owners and business owners.” Late fall and winter can be the toughest time to keep homes and businesses clean, the sisters say, due to Mother Nature. Leaves and snow have a way of being tracked indoors, there’s just little that a business, for example, can do to prevent it. For the most part, the same goes for homes in and around Siouxland. “I lived in Los Angeles years ago and I remember going to some shops on Rodeo Drive,” Sowienski says with a smile. “You had to take your shoes off before you entered the stores!” Barker experienced the same while helping a family member find a bridal gown a few years ago in Sioux Falls. Chances are, that’s not going to happen much here. And that’s one reason there’s demand for strength and savvy of these sisters. “It does take a toll on our nails, our hands and our knees,” Barker says with a nod. That’s the trade-off with being next to godliness, perhaps.

Karen Sowienski uses her off-hours to act in shows at various venues around Siouxland. She’s also an expert costumer.

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WINTER 2019

HEALTH losing

weight

An assistant manager at South Sioux City’s Walmart, Michael Searls has lost more than 170 pounds after devoting his time to daily workouts at Planet Fitness as well as eating a fat-heavy, low carb ketogenic diet. Favored by such A-listers as Halle Berry and Tim Tebow, the keto diet allows your body to burn fat instead of carbs for fuel.

EXTREME MAKEOVER

After struggling with weight, Sioux City man loses 170 pounds through diet and exercise Text by Earl Horlyk | Photographs by Tim Hynds

SIOUX CITY — Michael Searls is half the man he used to be ... give or take a pound or two. The Sioux Cityan has gone from weighing 380 pounds to around 205 pounds by changing his diet as well as working out five days a week. Searls had been struggling with his weight after being involved in life-

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threatening car accident more than eight years ago. The crash left him with severe damage to the base of his arms and face while tearing his abdominal muscle. “I had to remain sedentary for months on end,” he explained. “Since the accident damaged my teeth, I couldn’t eat solid foods for quite a while.” Searls’ weight spiked during his recov-

SIOUXLAND LIFE

ery and it never really stopped. “My accident occurred when I was 21, going on 22,” he said. “My weight was up to 380 pounds just two years later.” That was quite a change for the 6-foot, 4-inch Maple Valley-Anthon Oto High School graduate, who had maintained a normal weight for most of his life. “Growing up, I probably had a few

self-esteem issues because my two younger brothers were skinnier than I was,” Searls explained. “But looking at old photos, I know my weight at the time was fine.” After his weight gain, he never wanted to have his photo taken. “I was in denial,” Searls said. “If I didn’t see how I looked, it couldn’t be that bad, right?” Also, he went out of his way to avoid seeing a doctor. “I knew what the doctor would say,” Searls said. “Lose weight.” Instead, he embarked on an endless cycle of diet and exercise. “I took what was considered conventional knowledge and tried to apply to my lifestyle,” Searls said, shaking his head. “It never worked out.” For instance, he would limit his diet to chicken and broccoli, which wouldn’t satisfy his appetite. Or he’d start an exercise routine, loss weight before plateauing. “I’d get into a pattern where the weight would come off and, then, it would stop,” he explained. “It was frustrating.” In 2016, Searls tried another approach to weight loss. He joined Planet Fitness while incorporating a diet that eliminated all sugars and processed foods. He also purchased a scale for the first time. “The scale had a maximum weight of 350 pounds, so I thought I had a little wiggle room,” he said. “When I stepped on that scale for the first day, I weighed 330 pounds. Guess I didn’t have that much wiggle room after all.” Gradually, Searls got his weight down to 295 pounds but he wasn’t happy with his appearance. Losing his job in 2018, his self-esteem plunged to an all-time low. “I figured things couldn’t get worse,” Searls said. “It was up to me to make things better.” Searls upped his workout routine while starting a ketogenic diet. A popular diet for such A-listers as Halle Berry and Tim Tebow, the keto diet changes the way your body converts food into energy. Basically, a keto diet means a person will be eating mostly fat (up to 75 percent of a daily calorie count), some protein (around 20 percent) and a small amount of carbs (about 5 percent of so). By eating a lot of fat and very few carbs puts a person in ketosis—a metabolic state that allows a body to burn fat instead of carbs for energy. This is how Searls was able to lose 90 pounds in less than a year. “I lift weights at Planet Fitness for an hour-and-a-half every morning,” he

Above: Struggling with weight after a life-threatening car accident, Michael Searls, of Sioux City, went from weighing 380 pound to his current 205 pounds through a five-day-a-week workout routine and following a strict ketogenic diet. Inset: At his heaviest, Michael Searls often found excuses to not have photo taken. Photos like this, taken with his younger brother, were the exception. (Provided)

explained. “Each day, I concentrate on a different body part.” Then, Searls goes to work. “I have a new job as an assistant manager for Walmart,” he said. “That means I’m walking another 8 to 10 miles after my workout.” At around 2 p.m., every day, Searls will eat his sole meal of the day: a taco bowl he makes at home. “The taco bowl consists of up to a pound of ground beef or pork, two whole avocados and a lot of veggies,” he noted. “Since it averages out to around 1,700 calories, I’m certainly not depriving myself of food. Instead, I feel completely satisfied.” Indeed, Searls he needs no “cheat day.” “People ask me if I ever want to break down and get a pizza,” he said, shaking his head. “Not really.” It helps that Searls has a supportive girlfriend. “I think she was skeptical at first,” he allowed. “Now, she’s fine with it.” Searls loves the attention he gets at Planet Fitness. “These people have literally seen the weight drop off me,” he said. “Having their support means a lot.” Searls also said his work colleagues

have been peppering him with questions about the keto diet. “The keto diet isn’t for everyone,” he said. “It worked for me but that’s no guarantee it will work for others.” Despite that, Searls no longer worries about the perils of plateauing. “Before, I was dieting without really knowing what I was doing,” he said. “Now, I understand what food does to your body and how a person can keep the weight off.” Plus Searls is getting close to what he considers ideal weight. “I’m at 205 pounds today,” he said. “I’d like to go down to 195 pounds.” Searls catches himself after saying that. He can’t help but smile at his success. “So much of your pride comes from your body image,” he said. ‘I’ve dieted before and lost weight before but it never felt like this. I don’t feel sluggish anymore and I have so much energy. I feel great.” Plus he’s been able to improve his health on his own terms. “Nobody can tell you to change your life until you’re ready to change your life,” he said. “For me, this was perfect timing and I couldn’t be happier with the way that I look.”

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HEALTH allergy

solutions

WATCH WHAT

YOU EAT

Signs your child has a food allergy and how you can treat it

SIOUX CITY — A food allergy can cause a child to have a very serious, sometimes deadly reaction. That’s why Dr. Steven Joyce, an internist and pediatrician with Mercy Medical Center, said it is important to recognize an allergic reaction and know what to do when it happens. “I don’t think we’re seeing an increase in childhood food allergies,” Joyce explained. “I just think kids are being expose to a greater variety of foods.” So, what is a food allergy, anyJOYCE way? It’s what happens when a body reacts as though a particular food is harmful. As a result, a body’s immune system creates antibodies to fight off the food allergen. Having said that, the most common food allergens are eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts (like walnuts and cashews), fish and

Text by Earl Horlyk

shellfish (such as shrimp). “Some people would add milk to that category,” Joyce said. “But that may be an intolerance to lactose as opposed to a true allergy.” In general, many kids outgrew food allergies as they grow older. But others, such as peanuts allergies, may stick around for a lifetime. However, Joyce said very early expo-

sure to certain foods can keep a child from experiencing discomfort. “If a nut allergy runs in a family, giving a child a taste at a very early age may prevent a future problem,” he said. As early as 5- or 6-months old, a child can be given a certain food as a test for an allergy. “An infant can be given a certain fruit or milk product to see if he can tolerate it,” Joyce said. When you know a child has a severe allergy to a certain food, Joyce recommends carrying an epinephrine auto-injector in the event of an emergency. “An epinephrine auto-injector comes in a small, easy-to-carry container,” he said. “If a child is old enough, he can be taught to give himself an injection if needed.” If not, a caregiver should have easy access to the epinephrine.

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This is especially true if a child shows any symptoms of anaphylaxis. That can include hoarseness, throat tightening, swelling in the mouth or trouble breathing. Under such circumstance, call 911 and take the child to the emergency room immediately. These are the most extreme cases. Less troubling —and more common — symptoms may include coughing, hoarseness, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, itchy, watery or swollen eyes, hives, red sports and swelling. “Food allergies can be severe and the only remedy would be to stay away from the food,” Joyce said. “Other food allergies are actually food intolerance. They can be unpleasant but seldom dangerous.”

REMODEL OR RELOCATE? CHECK OUT THE SIOUXLAND HOME SHOW It’s becoming clear Or do you keep wishing you had more open that you’d really like space nearby, shops within walking distance, a kitchen where two or a bigger or smaller yard? Darrel Bullock President of you can cook at the Sioux City Building Inspections same time. A playroom • How does your home compare in value to others in the neighborhood? Would your ideal that’s not the living remodel make your home the priciest on room. Increasingly it seems like there are too the street? If you’re thinking about ease and many people and not enough bathrooms. Or value of resale, it’s best not to have the most maybe you’re looking ahead and want your high-end home around. On the other hand, place to be more safe and usable as you age. if you’re more concerned that your house be You’re ready to make a change and now you comfortable and convenient for you so that have to decide: Remodel or relocate? you can stay there a long time, relative value may not matter as much as other factors. There’s no one right answer for every situation. So before you look at houses for sale while also • How long do you expect this change to suit sketching out plans to redo your current master you? If your house is feeling small because bath and expand your kitchen, take a look at of kids, how old are they? How much longer which approach best suits your wants and cans. do you expect them to be living there? Would That way, you can decide the best option to converting the basement to a play room give pursue and focus your efforts toward that goal. you enough room to spread out? Answering these questions can help you sort it Or are you looking ahead to retirement? If so, out: will you want a smaller home, with less square

• What is your tolerance for being under construction compared with the difficulties of a move? How many changes are on your remodeling “to do” list and how long and disruptive would the remodeling process be? Moving is costly. There are costs for closing and fixing up your current house to sell. The new home may need some updates as well. • What’s the market for the type of home you want? How likely are you to find a place that you can afford with the features you’re seeking in a neighborhood of your choice? Weigh these factors and that can help you decide if a move or a renovation project is most likely to get you what you want in a home.

You can also explore your remodeling, building or moving options at the Siouxland Home Show. Come and talk to the experts about the visions you have for your new or remodeled home. The Home Show runs February 28-March • How do you feel about your neighborhood? Do footage to clean and maintain? Or are you happy 3 at the Sioux City Convention Center. For your friends and your kids’ friends live close, with your current home’s size but would like it a list of exhibitors and show hours, visit www.siouxlandhba.com/home-show. are the schools a great fit for your family? better configured and equipped for aging?

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When the time comes to choose flooring for your home, homeowners may be overwhelmed by the vast array of options at their disposal. The choice between carpet and hardwood flooring, laminate or tile is a matter of personal preference. Carpet is a great choice for almost any room within your home due to its warm, comforting and quite qualities. With today’s advanced flooring technologies, carpet is softer, stronger and more stain resistant than ever before. Carpet comes in a variety of colors, patterns and styles and is a key design element for your room remodel. Carpeting also can increase the level of safety at home, carpeting makes areas of play safer, and may also reduce the severity of an injury in the event of a fall. There are many different types of carpeting available. Selecting the right carpeting for a room comes down to identifying the level of traffic there will be in a particular room, the attributes homeowners would like the carpet to have and any other needs that fit with their lifestyles. Stop by for all your carpet, hardwood, luxury vinyl, and tile needs.

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HEALTH eliminating

radon

Alicia Sanders demonstrates how she recommends hanging a radon test kit. The Siouxland District Health Department sells them.

TESTING IS FIRST STEP TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM

RADON

Text by Dolly A. Butz | Photographs by Tim Hynds and Justin Wan,

‌SIOUX CITY — Placing a small white packet in the lowest level of your home for a few days could save your life. Scientists estimate that about 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year are related to radon. The packet, a radon test kit, detects levels of the odorless, colorless gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind cigarette smoking. Produced by the decay of uranium, radon is usually

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found in soils, rock and water; and for an unknown reason, that gas is prolific in Siouxland. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 6 million to 8 million U.S. homes have elevated radon levels. The Iowa Department of Public Health reports that as many as five in seven Iowa homes have radon levels above 4 pCi/L. “Our tri-state area, in general, just has higher than average levels of radon,”

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said Alicia Sanders, an environmental specialist for Siouxland District Health Department. “Some people have very low levels and the next door neighbor has a very high level.” When radon enters homes and other buildings through foundation or basement cracks, it becomes trapped and accumulates in the lowest level, usually basements. Having a walkout basement doesn’t ensure low radon levels, according to Sanders. Breathing in radon at high levels over a long period can cause lung cancer. The only way to know if radon is in your home is to test for it. “Get tested, no matter if you have a walkout basement or if you don’t,” Sanders said. Siouxland District Health Department saw a spike in sales of radon test kits from 2015 to 2016, before sales dropped off to 788 in 2018. Although January has been designated National Radon Action Month, short-term radon test kits are for sale year round at the health department for $7. That fee includes postage for sending the kit to a laboratory, testing

“Get tested, no matter if you have a walkout basement or if you don’t.”

ALICIA SANDERS Environmental Specialist for Siouxland District Health Department.

Alicia Sanders talks about the hazards of radon.

and results. “A lot of home buyers are more aware of radon and are requesting that testing be done of the homes before they buy the home to see what the radon levels are,” Sanders said. “In addition to that, I’ve also heard the home builders are also more aware of radon and putting systems in when they build the homes.” TEST FIRST The EPA first became aware of the extent of the radon problem in the United States in 1984, when radiation detectors detected radioactivity on a Pennsylvania nuclear plant worker’s clothing. The radon decay products found on the man’s clothes were later traced to his home. The discovery prompted the EPA to conduct short-term radon testing in homes and basements in 42 states over four years. The EPA recommends corrective action be taken when radon in the air is 4 pCi/L or higher. The first step is placing a short-term test kit in your home’s lowest level, usually a basement, for three to seven days. Winter is a good time to test because windows are closed. “Usually, what I do is hang it from a

BY THE NUMBERS

hanger. You want to have it at eye level or breathing level,” Sanders said. “You want to put it somewhere in your home where it’s not real drafty, where you get a lot of air of movement. That can potentially skew the results.” If the short-term test reveals an elevated radon level, perform a second short-term test and average the results of the two tests together. If the level is 4 pCi/L or higher, contact a certified radon mitigator. A list of certified radon mitigators can be found at idph.iowa.gov. Mitigators can install an active radon mitigation system in the home to reduce radon levels. Systems consist of 4-inch PVC pipe that extends from a hole in the basement floor through the roof. A fan sucks the radon gas from below the slab up the pipe and vents it outside. The cost of a radon mitigation system ranges

from $800 to $2,500, depending on the characteristics of the home. “It is an expensive beginning, but it’s definitely worth it,” Sanders said.

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Siouxland District Health Department sold the following number of radon test kits from 2015 to 2018: 2015: 907 2016: 1414 2017: 1281 2018: 788

Source: Siouxland District Health Department

A gauge shows the vacuum pressure inside a radon mitigation system at the home of Nate and Amy Lahrs in Lawton, Iowa.

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WINTER 2019

Midlands Clinic is Proud

idlands Clinic, P.C. is proud to serve the residents of the greater Sio land metro and beyond. What makes Midlands Clinic a unique experience? We offer board certified physicians who are dedicated practitioners in a variety of specializations, highly skilled medical professionals and caring, friendly support staff. Midlands Clinic combines the best aspects of a traditional clinic with the strength and advantages of a multispecialty setting. With a team including 13 physicians, 9 midlevel providers and over 50 nurses and support staff, you will find a team working hard to help you with your healthcare concerns. Since January 1996, Midlands Clinic has been providing comprehensive

multi-specialty services for our Siouxland community and the surrounding areas. Specialties offered at Midlands Clinic include General Surgery, Gastroenterology, Vascular Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Dermatology, and Coordinated Breast Care. Some of the common disorders routinely treated in our clinic include the following: General Surgery – minimally invasive laparoscopic and general surgeries such as hernia, gallbladder, appendix, trauma surgery, robotic surgery, wound and burn care, cancer surgery (breast, colon), obesity surgery. General Surgeons are: Dr. Paul Johnson, Dr. Keith Vollstedt, Dr. William Rizk, Dr. Lawrence Volz, Dr. Mark Abraham, Dr. Craig Nemechek, and Dr. JD Welander

Gastroenterology – acid reflux, ulcers, celiac disease, colon cancer, colitis, anemia, constipation, fecal incontinence, disease of the pancreas, fatty liver, hepatitis and other liver disorders. Gastroenterologists are: Dr. Jeffrey Michalak and Dr. Sarah Bligh Vascular – angiography with advanced endovascular techniques for peripheral arterial disease, endovascular thoracic and abdominal aortic repair, carotid stenting, transcarotid artery revascularization, pulmonary embolism and DVT treatment, and varicose vein treatment. Vascular Surgeon is: Dr. Chad Laurich. Plastic Surgery – abdominoplasty,

Know us before you need us

MarK n. aBraHaM,M.D.

SaraH BligH, M.D.

PaUl e. JOHnSOn, M.D. F.a.C.S.

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At Midlands Clinic, our highly respected, experienced team of surgeons are dedicated to improving your health with comprehensive care: • Surgery – Abdominal, Cancer, General, Robotic Laparoscopic, Obesity, Pediatric & Trauma • Burn and Wound Care

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GENERAL SURGERY | BARiAtRiC | VASCULAR | GAStROENtEROLOGY 28

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to Serve Siouxland arm lift, breast augmentation and lift, thigh lift, and tummy tuck. Plastic Surgeon is: Dr. Laura McNaughton. Dermatology – medical dermatology: MOHS Surgery for skin cancer, acne, rashes, psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and other hair and nail disorders.

Dermatologists are: Dr. Michelle Daffer and Dr. Indy Chabra. Cosmetic Dermatology – Botox, filler, chemical peels, sclerotherapy, and laser services for hair removal, facial rejuvenation and scar revision. Coordinated Breast Care – A comprehensive, team based approach to breast cancer care that will cover all aspects of treatment, from diagnosis to reconstruction and healing. Midlands Clinic is located at a convenient, easy access location with surface parking, 705 Sioux Point Road, Suite 100, in Dakota Dunes, S.D. Our clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment only. Midlands Cosmetic is located at 4301 Sergeant Rd, Sioux City, IA, in the

Midlands Center. Midlands Cosmetic is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. through 7 p.m.; Saturdays 8 a.m. through 12 p.m. In addition to providing services at our Dakota Dunes and Sioux City locations, we have outreach services locations in the following areas: General Surgery Services – Sioux City, IA; Ida Grove, IA; Wayne, NE; Pender, NE; Oakland, NE Vascular Services – Le Mars, IA; Wayne, NE Dermatology Services – Sioux City, IA; Hawarden, IA; Onawa, IA; Sioux Center, IA; Vermillion, SD; Pender, NE; Wayne, NE. For more information or to make an appointment, please call (605) 217-5500 or visit our website at www.midlandsclinic.com

Know us before you need us At Midlands Cosmetic, our highly experienced team of Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeon are dedicated to improving your health with comprehensive care, both inside and out:

MIChelle daFFer, M.d., Faad, aSMS

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WINTER 2019

HEALTH a

proper workout

Phil Herkenhoff, Briar Cliff University strength and conditioning coach, uses elastic bands while doing a brief training circuit at the Sioux City university’s McCoy Arnold Training Center.

FIT FOR LIFE

BCU strength and conditioning coach offers advice Text by Dolly A. Butz | Photographs by Tim Hynds

‌SIOUX CITY — When some freshmen arrive at Briar Cliff University, strength and conditioning coach Phil Herkenhoff said, they want to drop body fat. They ask, “So should I stop eating carbs?” Herkenhoff said that’s the opposite of what they should be doing. He said they need to consume carbohydrates so

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they have enough energy to be able to play their sport, whether that sport be football, basketball, volleyball or cross country. “In that time of lifting, conditioning and all that stuff, your body fat is naturally going to drop on its own, because you’re doing it the right way,” said Herkenhoff, who said fueling the body

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properly will help in the recovery process after a game, tough workout or hard lifting session. PROPER DIET Many incoming freshman gain unwanted weight during their first year of college, which is where the expression “freshman 15,” referring to 15 pounds of

Phil Herkenhoff, Briar Cliff University strength and conditioning coach, talks about strength training and fitness at the McCoy Arnold Training Center.

to help flush your system constantly throughout the day.”

SEVEN FITNESS TIPS FOR BEGINNERS • Strength train at least two days a week and strive for at least two days of cardio. • Your diet should be high in vegetables, protein and healthy fats. • Avoid junk food and fast food. • Drink lots of water. • Get enough sleep — at least seven hours. • Find a gym partner to motivate you or sign up for a fitness class. • Take weekends off.

weight gain, comes from. According to an Auburn University study, 70 percent of college students gain weight and body fat by graduation due to late night snacking, consuming high calories in dorm room-friendly meals and failing to get adequate amounts of exercise. College athletes aren’t immune to unwanted weight gain or loss. “I tell them to eat a lot of vegetables, as much as possible. A lot of meat. A lot of protein. Obviously we need healthy fats,” Herkenhoff said. “If you’re a person who needs to gain weight, we’re telling you to kind of eat whatever, but we don’t want the junk food. We don’t want the fast food.”

Herkenhoff said college athletes will listen to his advice, but he said they often struggle with inconsistency when it comes to nutrition. He said they’ll eat a healthy diet for a week and then revert to their old habits — reaching for that bag of chips or can of pop. “School gets in the way, life, stress levels — it’s very hard for them to do it,” he said. Proper hydration is also essential for athletes to perform at their best. What should they be drinking? Water, according to Herkenhoff. “That’s the best thing you can be drinking. You can never get too much,” he said. “If you’re doing any type of exercise, you gotta be pushing the water as much as possible. That’s going

GETTING FIT Strength training at Briar Cliff is broken down by sport. Before the start of the season, Herkenhoff said he meets with each coach and then devises a specific program for their athletes. “There’s more conditioning for a soccer team versus a baseball team,” he said. “Obviously there’s new research coming out all the time, but for the most part, we’re pretty consistent with what we do every year. It’s what type of team we have this year and what the (coach) wants from the team that year.” Last year, Herkenhoff said, the football team’s program emphasized gaining physical strength. “This year we might be looking at more speed. It really depends on the year,” he said. “It’s not as complex as people think. It’s very basic once you get the general idea of what we’re doing.” Whatever your age or athletic ability, gaining fitness and strength, according to Herkenhoff comes down to being consistent. Do cardio, lift weights and strive to eat a balanced, healthy diet. He said Briar Cliff’s teams typically strength train twice a week during the season and three to five days a week during the off-season. He advises someone just starting out to strive for at least two days of strength training a week. Spend two more days doing cardio. “If you’re going to go (to the gym) Monday, Wednesday, Friday, go Monday,

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Phil Herkenhoff says different sports require different types of training.

“If I start doing a new program and I get sore, it’s a good sore. It’s a sore that you want. It’s a sore that you know you’re getting something out of.” PHIL HERKENHOFF Briar Cliff University strength and conditioning coach

Wednesday, Friday. If you miss a day, try to squeeze it in if you can,” he said. “People, I think, get wrapped up in what’s the new program? What’s the new trend? It really comes back to being consistent.” KNOW YOUR LIMITS Herkenhoff said his workouts are set up based on four-week periods, with three weeks of build up. “By the end of that third week, I’m pretty shot. That fourth week is designed to be more a lighter week or a recov-

Siouxland Home Show Thurs & Fri: Feb. 28th & Mar. 1st , Noon - 8PM Sat: March 2nd, 11AM - 8PM Sun: March 3rd, 11AM - 4PM

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Visit us online at www.siouxlandhba.com for a complete list of members or e-mail us at hbasooland@siouxlan.net 3900 Stadium Dr., Sioux City, IA

712-255-3852

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

ery week,” he said. “You’re still doing strength training and conditioning. You’re still watching your diet. It’s just a time for you to go back to lighter weights, less conditioning for that week, just to give your body a time to adjust. The next week you start a new phase.” Getting enough sleep, Herkenhoff said, is key in helping the body recover from a workout. “Some people will get out of bed and are like, ‘I’m too sore. I’m not going to go in.’ Well, let’s look back on what you did. You only got five hours of sleep last night. Maybe that’s the reason why,” he explained. “Maybe you could try to get seven hours the next couple of nights, or eight hours.” Muscle soreness should be expected, especially if you haven’t worked out for a while, according to Herkenhoff. If you’re tired whenever you wake up in the morning and you’re dehydrated, Herkenhoff said you’re pushing too hard. “If I start doing a new program and I get sore, it’s a good sore. It’s a sore that you want. It’s a sore that you know you’re getting something out of,” he said.

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HEALTH physical

education

Liberty Elementary School fourth-grader Devin Robinson flips a die in the air while adding numbers during a physical education class taught at the Sioux City school by Corey Loffswold. The class combines elements of math and reading literacy with traditional gym class physical activities. If the students rolled a six, they had to run the length of the gym and back.

MULTI-TASKING

KIDS Elementary school phys. ed class combines exercise with math and literacy

Liberty Elementary School fourth-grader Jordan Umana-Macnado does a plank based on the letter shown on a card picked at random during a physical education class taught at the Sioux City school by Corey Loffswold. The class combines elements of math and reading literacy with traditional gym class physical activities.

WINTER 2019

Text by Earl Horlyk | Photographs by Tim Hynds

‌SIOUX CITY — Have you ever wanted to have the stamina of Deadpool and the agility of Spider-Man? Physical education instructor Corey Loffswold is leading a gymnasium full of fourth-grade Black Panther and Wonder Woman wannabes through the paces at Liberty Elementary School. “Do you want to look like Hugh Jack-

SIOUXLAND LIFE

man did when he played Wolverine?” Loffswold asked as students referred back to printed exercise plans which showcase calisthenics of famous pop culture superheroes. “You’ve got to hustle!” A leader on the Sioux City Community School District’s physical education team and one of the writers of its curriculum, Loffswold is always on the

Liberty Elementary School fourth-graders, including Mackenzie Hanika, left, do exercises based on numbers they rolled on dice, during a physical education class taught at the Sioux City school by Corey Loffswold. The class combines elements of math and reading literacy with traditional gym class physical activities.

lookout for innovative ways to get students to move. “We only have elementary kids for two half-hour sessions a week,” he explained. “That means there’s only an hour devoted to phys ed per week. We’re keeping kids moving as much as possible.” Getting kids engaged in physical activity is increasingly important since, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one-third of all U.S. children are overweight or obese. This number is expected to rise. While young people have fewer weight-related health and medical problems than adults, overweight children run the risk of becoming overweight later in life. This also means they have an increased chance for developing chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. “It’s easier to put kids on a healthy path at an early age,” Loffswold explained. “They’re having so much fun they don’t realize it is also good for them.” Just wait until the kids realize they’re also honing their math and literary skills while getting their heart rate racing.

“Back when I had P.E. class, there were times when we sat around waiting for our turn. If there’s no wait time, all of the kids have a chance to be active and not just a few.” COREY LOFFSWOLD Physical education instructor

Liberty Elementary School fourth-grader Davion Jackson does a sit-up during a physical education class taught at the Sioux City school by Corey Loffswold. The class combines elements of math and reading literacy with traditional gym class physical activities.

It’s all true. One of Loffswold’s favorite activity involves having kids run toward lettered signs on the wall. Each letter spells out a common word

like “table” or “chair.” “The students get a fast spelling lesson while working off some pent-up energy,” he said. Or Loffswold’s students will toss oversize dice for an impromptu math lesson. “In order to play, they have to add up the numbers on the dice,” he said. “If someone rolls a six, everyone has to run across the gym and back.” That’s not as easy as you think. And neither is the name game, which correlates the letter in a person’s name to a specific activity. Since Loffswold’s first name is Corey, he’ll check off the activity from a list. C equals 15 squats, O equals 25 jumping jacks, R equals 15 push-ups, E equals a 30-second rest and Y equals 10 crunches. That seems exhausting. Which is actually the goal of Loffswold’s class. “Back when I had P.E. class, there were times when we sat around waiting for our turn,” he said. “If there’s no wait time, all of the kids have a chance to be active and not just a few.”

SIOUXLAND LIFE

WINTER 2019

HEALTH medical

cannabis

Stephen Wilson, head of dispensary operations at Sioux City’s MedPharm Iowa dispensary, says many area doctors remain leery of certifying patients for medicinal cannabis products.

CANNABIS OPTIONS Dispensary manager: Siouxland docs should study cannabis for their patients Text by Mason Dockter | Photographs by Mason Dockter and Justin Wan

‌SIOUX CITY — Since MedPharm Iowa opened in Sioux City on Dec. 1, only a few dozen patients have beaten a path to the dispensary’s doors. Stephen Wilson, the dispensary manager (he also oversees operations at MedPharm’s Des Moines location) said currently the dispensary sees around 35 to 40 patients, a number not far off from the day they opened. Which isn’t to say people aren’t in-

WINTER 2019

terested in the product. They’ve just had trouble figuring out how to get permission to buy it. “We’ve gotten several people obviously very interested in the program,” Wilson said. “The problem is, physicians by and large in the Siouxland area have been maybe confused as to what their role in the certification process is, or just uneducated in what they know about medical cannabis.”

SIOUXLAND LIFE

In May 2014, then-Gov. Terry Branstad signed the Medical Cannabidiol Act, which allowed the possession of CBD oil with a neurologist’s recommendation for the treatment of intractable epilepsy. The law came under fire, because it gave patients no legal way of obtaining CBD oil. Then, in May 2017, Branstad authorized the expanded Medical Cannabidiol Act, which paved the way for the legal growing and dispensing of medical

marijuana in the state and expanded the list of medical conditions covered by the law. In order to buy cannabis, Iowans have to have a qualifying medical condition that has been certified by a physician or be an approved caregiver of a patient with a qualifying condition. Patients or caregivers must submit an application to the Iowa Department of Public Health, and if approved, obtain a cannabidiol registration card from the Iowa Department of Transportation before they can make a purchase at a dispensary. And that’s where the trouble is. Doctors in the Sioux City area find themselves not knowing what to make of the cannabis question. But assuming a patient can find a doctor to “certify” their condition, can the patient immediately waltz on over to the dispensary? Not necessarily. “The state stipulates that the certifying provider has to have established a patient-provider relationship with the individual being certified,” Wilson said. “That’s why most people are going just to their doctors.” Qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in Iowa include cancer (if the cancer itself or the treatment result in pain, nausea, vomiting or wasting); seizures; Crohn’s disease; untreatable pain; Multiple Sclerosis (with severe and persistent muscle spasms); AIDS or HIV; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); Parkinson’s disease; and any terminal illness with a probable life expectancy of under a year, if the illness results in chronic pain, nausea, vomiting or severe wasting. There are a few doctors in the area who have been willing to certify a few patients for cannabis. Wilson is barred from saying who they are, but they’re out there somewhere. “We always encourage any physician or certifying provider that’s interested in learning more about the program, we’re happy to talk to them about it,” he said. ‘LIKE A NORMAL KID TODAY’ Bill Rose’s son, 13-year-old Christian, had suffered for years from epilepsy, autism and ADHD. He was diagnosed with autism around age 4, ADHD around age 5, and epilepsy around age 9. “Long story very short, he’s been having seizures for as long as we know,” Rose said. “We had no idea he was having seizures,” because the family

MedPharm Iowa’s Stephen Wilson demonstrates the tablet interface that lists various medical cannabis products during an interview at the Sioux City dispensary. The pharmacy at 5700 Sunnybrook Drive is one of five statelicensed medical marijuana dispensaries.

Above: MedPharm Iowa’s Stephen Wilson demonstrates the tablet interface that lists various medical cannabis products during an interview at the Sioux City dispensary. Left: An empty bottle of 20:1 (20 parts CBD to 1 part THC) tincture is shown at MedPharm Iowa’s Sioux City location.

“We always encourage any physician or certifying provider that’s interested in learning more about the program, we’re happy to talk to them about it.” STEPHEN WILSON Head of dispensary operations at Sioux City’s MedPharm Iowa SIOUXLAND LIFE

WINTER 2019

SMART SAVINGS TIPS TO PREPARE FINANCIALLY FOR THE NEW YEAR The start of a new year is upon us. What a great time to give yourself a fresh start and boost your savings. Here are some tips to help you reach your goals in the New Year.

• Understand the Big Picture

Where do you stand when it comes to your overall credit, savings and debt picture? It helps to know where you stand before setting your goals. To measure your overall credit health, look at your credit score. This will help you plan for the future with confidence.

• Track your Monthly Spending

Get a handle on your spending. Each month, track all of your expenses – everything from the $4 coffee to the monthly mortgage payment. At month’s end, tally up your spending. Does it meet or exceed your budget? Cut back in the areas you can and move the excess into a high-yield savings account. You can also use it to pay down debt.

• List your Financial Goals

Are you saving for a kitchen remodel? Maybe you’re looking at a trip to Hawaii. Whatever your goals, know what it will take to reach them. Don’t forget about the biggest savings goal of your life. Retirement takes planning. Use a retirement calculator to figure out your target amount.

• Determine Timelines for Saving

You want to start cooking in that new kitchen by July. You’d love to take that trip to Hawaii in December. Divide the amount you want to save for each goal by the number of months until your deadline. For more complex calculations like retirement, refer to an online savings calculator.

• Be Flexible

Add up your monthly goals. If the total exceeds your budget, start scaling back. You can do this by extending the timeline or cutting some goals altogether. Remember that many experts recommend having enough cash on hand to cover six months’ worth of expenses in case of emergencies. Once you reach a monthly sum that you can handle, set up an automatic monthly withdrawal for that amount from your checking account to your savings account.

For longer term goals, like retirement and college, look into taxadvantaged accounts like 401 (k) plans, IRAs or a Coverdell Education Savings plan. Consider getting help from an expert to help you with your overall financial plan.

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WINTER 2019

SIOUXLAND LIFE

attributed them to Christian “spacing out” due to his autism. It wasn’t until a firefighter visited school by chance and saw Christian suffering a seizure that anyone realized what was actually going on. “He saw him, and goes, ‘Call an ambulance, he’s having a seizure. He’s not just spacing out,’” Rose said. “He knew, he’d seen it before.” Other epilepsy medications worked, Rose said, but they changed Christian’s demeanor, appetite and “every facet of his life.” It was a gradual change that was hard to notice. Rose said the family had read about cannabis products for epilepsy, and for autism, but they were constrained by the legal prohibition against cannabis. Even after Gov. Branstad signed the Medical Cannabidiol Act, there was no way to obtain any CBD in the state. An especially bad seizure got a doctor’s certification for Christian, but there still were no places in Iowa to get cannabis products legally. Meanwhile, when Christian turned 11 or 12, the dosage for another of his medication was increased. He developed blotches on his body, and doctors were alarmed. “They said, ‘You need to stop all medicines, immediately, you’ve just got to flush it out of his system,’” Rose said. So they did, and instead gave him only CBD oils obtained out of state. They noticed big changes. Before, Christian suffered extreme sensitivity to noise, as often occurs in autism, to the degree that he had to cover his ears when he was outside. Even the noise of a haircut was unbearable. That dissipated after they quit his other medications in favor of cannabis oil. “This kid is — like a normal kid today,” Rose said. “He asks for a haircut now. He likes to go outside and play. We can’t keep him inside. This kid’s done a 180.” Now that MedPhram is open at 5700 Sunnybrook Drive, Rose needed go no farther than Sioux City for his son’s medication. They now use a 20:1 blend (20 parts CBD to 1 part THC) of MedPharm’s Aliviar brand product. Rose said the family had to do a ton of research over the years to figure out what sort of product would be best for Christian. He wishes there was more research available, or that doctors could give more specific advice and guidance to patients. But they were able to figure it out on their own, as many others have. “We’re in a pretty good spot with it,” Rose said.

Empty containers of MedPharm Iowa’s Aliviar-brand cannabis extracts are shown at the Sioux City dispensary. The dispensary opened Dec. 1.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

WINTER 2019

HEALTH what

shots?

s SHOTS?

A flu shot is administered at the Community Action Agency of Siouxland, which offered free vaccinations in collaboration with Mercy Medical Center.

WHAT Shots for adults stretch beyond annual flu vaccine

Text by Tim Gallagher | Photographs by Justin Wan and Dolly A. Butz

WINTER 2019

SIOUXLAND LIFE

‌SIOUX CITY, IOWA — Flu, Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, shingles, pneumococcal. What do these have in common? They’re maladies that top a chart from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a chart entitled: “2018 Recommended Immunizations for Adults.” Adults? Adults. “I can honestly stay that before I started working here, I didn’t think about this,” said Heidi Nelson, public health nurse clinic manager for the Siouxland District Health Department. “You think you NELSON get shots as a kid and you’re covered. But

“You think you get shots as a kid and you’re covered. But that’s not necessarily the case. There are shots you should get as an adult, especially if you haven’t had your childhood ones.” HEIDI NELSON Public health nurse clinic manager for the Siouxland District Health Department

Dr. Jason Losee, a family physician at UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine Sergeant Bluff, holds a flu shot in an exam room at the clinic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the annual flu vaccine, which prevents an estimated 40 to 60 percent of flu illness, is the best way to protect against the virus.

that’s not necessarily the case. There are shots you should get as an adult, especially if you haven’t had your childhood ones.” For those wishing to see the layout, a good source is www.cdc.gov/vaccines. Professionals in any public health department would have information as would your medical care provider. Some information that came from Nelson covers annual concerns, like the flu shot, to those needing the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. That shot, the chart notes, should be administered to a person if they were born in 1957 or later, and if that person hasn’t received the vaccine as a child. “Everyone should get a flu shot every year,” Nelson said. Vaccines for shingles, often called shingles zoster, are recommended for those over age 50 and those over age 65. There are two types of zoster vaccine, according to the CDC. One should

receive two doses of RSZ at age 50 or older (preferred) or one dose of ZVL at age 60 years and older, even if one had shingles previously. Adults should receive one dose of Tdap if one didn’t receive it as a child or previously as an adult. One should also get a Td booster every decade. Women should get one doze of Tdap during each pregnancy. “When I was pregnant, I didn’t have anyone tell me (about Tdap),” Nelson said. “I had gotten one earlier because I was in college. You don’t really hear a lot about it.” The CDC also asks persons to get the HPV vaccine if a woman through age 26 or a man through age 21 and did not already complete the series. The chicken pox vaccine and shots to protect against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B are recommended if a person didn’t get them during childhood. Additionally, the CDC provides guidelines for shots that should — or should not — be administered depending on a patient’s weakened immune system, poor kidney function, heart disease, spleen function, pregnancy status and more. There are other variables to consider. A vaccine for Hepatitis A, for example, might be sought if a person is set to travel. Again, the best guide is one’s doctor. Don’t assume that because you are an adult that you’ve had all your recommended shots.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

WINTER 2019

HEALTH dry

needles

Physical therapist Megan Snoozy used dry needling to treat thoracic outlet syndrome in Doyle Turner. Though this was a relatively unusual case for Snoozy, Turner says the dry needling helped him after years of suffering chest pains caused by a compressed nerve.

DRY NEEDLING

AND THE MYSTERY AILMENT OF DOYLE TURNER

Text and photographs by Mason Dockter

‌DAKOTA DUNES, S.D. — Doyle Turner had sought relief of his thoracic outlet syndrome for years before he turned to a physical therapist and her needles. Turner, 49, had a clavicle bone that wasn’t in its designated place. This misalignment caused problems with the nerves and muscles in his chest, including his heart. “It was causing my heart to go into tachycarTURNER dia, it’d just race,” Turner said. “It would go really fast, but it has a tendency to not pump blood very good when it goes that fast.”

WINTER 2019

In addition to the wayward clavicle, Turner also suffered internal shingles, in which the body doesn’t show outward signs of the disease. His ticker was not at all pleased with this state of affairs. “Drove the heart absolutely nuts,” he said. “At one point, I was taking six nitroglycerin a day.” In tremendous pain — for which he made several emergency room visits — Turner doctored around for his condition. His heart was healthy, the doctors said: but somewhere in his chest, there was a very unhappy nerve. At one point he spent three days in a cardiac intensive care unit, where doctors were perplexed by his stubborn tachycardia.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

Doctors were able to treat Turner’s internal shingles (he suffered recurring bouts), which provided some relief, but he was still in pain and had to retire early from farming. He spent time on Google trying to divine the nature of his problem, and eventually concluded he suffered from thoracic outlet syndrome, in which nerves or blood vessels in the chest are compressed. A doctor agreed with this assessment and sent him to a vascular surgeon, where he got a formal diagnosis and confirmation that a chest nerve was indeed at the root of the whole thing. He was then sent to Megan Snoozy, a physical therapist at Physical Therapy Special-

“There are trigger points in the muscles — the muscle fibers kind of knot up or spasm, get overused. ” MEGAN SNOOZY Physical therapist

Dakota Dunes physical therapist Megan Snoozy shows a needle used in dry needling, a therapy technique in which needles are used to stimulate knotted muscles and, ideally, get them back into form. She says the technique can be used for several conditions of the muscles and connective tissues.

ists in Dakota Dunes. Though she had seldom (if ever) seen a case like Turner’s, Snoozy performed a technique called dry needling on him. They did dry needling twice a week for six months. After one dry needling session several months in, Turner was in an immense amount of pain. That misaligned clavicle and its associated muscles, which had been bound up for decades, were in for a reckoning. “I was not feeling good at all, I was in a considerable amount of pain,” Turner said of his chest muscle realignment. Now his clavicle is back in its normal position, and after a few more weeks of regular treatment, today he only goes back for more dry needling as needed. He was even able to emerge from his early retirement and go back to work. Dry needling is a physical therapy technique in which a therapist takes a solid needle — one without an opening like a syringe, thus the “dry” part — and pushes it into a patient’s muscle where a knot is found. They move the needle up and down, like a piston. The needle causes a contraction in the muscle, which eventually goes back to the way it’s supposed to be. “There are trigger points in the muscles — the muscle fibers kind of knot up or spasm, get overused,” Snoozy said. “That ‘knot’ that people feel that’s tender — there’s a little backlog of blood and potassium and sodium and stuff that can’t get through, and that’s what makes it tender.” Knotted muscles can be inefficient, weak, sometimes painful — and the pain caused by a knotted muscle can be felt far away from the muscle itself. The technique, depending on the patient, can be painful — not so much the

needle itself, but stimulating an unwell muscle can be uncomfortable for some. “I would say that it’s intense, as that twitch response happens,” she said. Snoozy cautions that Turner’s case is far from ordinary. She says she more often uses dry needling to treat headaches (some of which can be caused by neck muscle problems), as well as neck, shoulder, back and arm pains, hip muscle tightness, tendinitis, bursitis, posture dysfunctions, knee pains, iliotibial band syndrome, piriformis syndrome and other conditions of the muscles and con-

nective tissues. South Dakota only approved dry needling for physical therapists in the state last year. Before that, Snoozy traveled to Sioux City (dry needling was allowed in Iowa years earlier) to for dry needling sessions. Dry needling wasn’t taught in physical therapy classes when Snoozy was in school. She had to take separate training for the technique, which she has performed for about 2 1/2 years. While on its face it may appear similar to acupuncture, Snoozy said dry needling is not really closely related to acupuncture. “They’re different theories, I don’t know acupuncture — my understanding is it’s more of an Eastern medicine,” she said. “Technique-wise, I don’t know exactly what they do.”

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WINTER 2019

HEALTH Medical

Answers

‘DOC, I’VE GOT A QUESTION …’ answers to your medical questions

I‌ s there a way to deal with depression that doesn’t involve taking drugs? While many people think depression can only be treated with medication, this is a big misconception. One of the best ways to deal with depression is actually with what we call cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a form of psychotherapy that helps to treat the underlying cause of the depression. CBT can be done with a counselor, therapist or social worker where they help the patients/clients modify their dysfunctional emotions, behaviors and thoughts. As humans, often times our thoughts and perceptions influence our behaviors. For example, if someone is not granted a promotion at work, they may perceive that as their boss/manager doesn’t like them, that their work is worthless or even that they are a failure. In this state of distress, these thoughts distort one’s perception of reality. Thus, CBT works

WINTER 2019

to identify these harmful and distorted thoughts, determine if they are an accurate depiction of reality, and if they are not, the therapist will then help the patient develop strategies to overcome these thoughts. CBT works for people of all ages even including young children. CBT isn’t just used for depression but it can also be used for anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders and many more. A friend went in for surgery and his stomach turned black and blue. What caused that? Without more information and seeing the stomach I can’t say with 100 percent certainty what caused it, but I have a good speculation. I’m going to make a few assumptions here in that one, the surgery involved the abdomen and two, when you say stomach, you actually mean the skin on the abdomen and not the actual organ of the stomach. With these two assumptions, it is likely that the black and blue you were seeing was actually blood that had leaked out of the blood vessel during surgery and was collected superficially under the skin.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

DR. DESTINY MILLER Dr. Destiny Miller is a native of Vail, Iowa. She completed her undergraduate training at Briar Cliff University, where she majored in nursing and premed. Miller worked as a registered nurse for two years before starting medical school. She completed her medical school training at Ross University located on the island of Dominica in the Caribbean. She is a family medicine resident physician at Siouxland Medical Education Foundation. The medical term for this is ecchymosis or in lay-man terms, a bruise. When you bump your arm or leg on something and get a bruise, this is the same thing. The superficial blood vessels, under the area of the skin that you just bumped, got damaged and are now leaking small amounts of blood out of the vessel an into the area surrounding the vessels. Thus, this then initially forms a purple/ blue/black color. With time, these dark colors fade to a greenish/yellow color and eventually disappear. This is because our bodies, at the microscopic level, break down this collection of blood and reabsorb its components. When we undergo surgery, this same things happens but to a greater degree and it generally takes a bit longer for our bodies to break down and reabsorb all that blood. Why am I sleeping in short doses at night? After a couple of hours, I’ll get up and then have to try to get back to sleep again. How can I avoid this? A big part of our sleeping cycle is based on what we call a circadian rhythm. Our body’s master clock or suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is an area of our brain that controls the production of the sleep hormone, melatonin. The SCN receives information, about light, from our eyes via the optic nerve. When it gets darker at night and there is less light, the eyes sense this and tell the SCN. In turn, the SCN tells the brain to make more melatonin and thus, we get drowsy. When this pattern gets disturbed, it can cause problems in our sleeping pattern. So, when people are having sleeping issues, there are a few habits we want to look at first to deter-

mine if they could be the cause. Is the person drinking caffeine or exercising before they go to bed? Are they watching TV in bed or sleeping with the TV/side lamp on? Are you using a tablet or on your cell phone while in bed? These are all things that can affect our circadian rhythm, thus we do not recommend them. If a patient is still having sleeping issues after correcting the above bad habits, we then recommend taking some over-the-ounter melatonin as perhaps the body just isn’t making enough melatonin. If no change is noticed with the extra melatonin, the next thing we assess is if the patient could have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is where you stop breathing for short periods of time while sleeping. This in turn can cause issues with our sleep pattern to which you tend to wake up more frequently during the night. To assess if a person has sleep apnea, a polysomnography, or sleep study is generally done. During this sleep study, which usually takes place at a hospital or medical facility, a person is hooked up to monitors that primarily assess how many times a person stops breathing as they sleep, how long those apnea periods are and also the blood oxygen level as the person sleeps. If sleep apnea

is diagnosed, it is then recommended that the patient start utilizing a CPAP machine while they sleep. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure and what the machine does is connect to a mask that the patient wears over their nose and mouth or just over their nose. It provides a continuous positive pressure to the patient’s lungs as they sleep and thus keeps their airways open. Once patients’ apnea is corrected, they tend to notice that they have less sleeping issues such as those frequent awakenings. If, by chance, none of the above have helped improve a person’s sleep, then it is likely that there could be a different underlying issue. Sometimes things such as high stress levels, anxiety and depression can affect our sleep cycles. If this is the case, once the underlying issue is controlled, the sleep cycle tends to go back to normal with good consistent sleep throughout the night. Does it matter where they take blood? I’ve had some nurses get it out of the middle of my arm and others have got it from the top of my hand. Is it just a matter of veins? What information do you get from that? For the most part, it does not matter where a nurse/phlebotomist/doctor

takes your blood from. The only time it really matters is if arterial blood gases have been ordered and in that case, they generally get the blood from your radial artery in your wrist area. Other than that, most other labs can be drawn from the veins and where they access the vein is based on a personal preference for the person drawing the blood. Many prefer to use the middle of the arm where your arm bends. This is called the antecubital fossa and the vessels here are bigger in size compared to the vessels on the back of the hand. From the blood that is collected on blood draws, a significant amount of information can be obtained. Things such as if you have an infection or inflammation in your body, if you have anemia, how your kidneys/ liver/pancreas/heart/glands/muscles are functioning, if there are drugs/alcohol in your body, if you’re pregnant, if you have diabetes, and the list just keeps going on. WHAT KINDS OF HEALTH QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE? Submit your questions and they may be used in this quarterly feature. Write to Siouxland Life at 515 Pavonia St., Sioux City, Iowa 51102.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

WINTER 2019

GET FINANCIALLY FIT IN 2019! Most New Year’s resolutions people make start with great intention. We want to better our lives, our health, or our finances. Then somehow, life gets in the way, and the things we thought would get accomplished just don’t. If one of your 2019 goals is to get your finances on track, or maybe you want to learn more about budgeting, or increase your credit score, Siouxland Federal Credit Union is here to help you. With a ‘no judging, just helping’ philosophy, Siouxland Federal Credit Union is offering free credit consultations to anyone, whether you are a member or not. Get assistance with: • Budgeting • Understanding credit scores • Tips on how to improve your credit score Joel Steenhoven, President of the credit union, says, “Because money is a very personal issue, people may feel uncomfortable to reach out for help. We want to overcome the stigma that everyone should be able to manage his or her own finances well. The truth is, sometimes we just need a better understanding on how the decisions we make about money can affect our financial well-being and success. With education comes knowledge about how to manage our money. That’s why we’re here to help, not judge. We want everyone financially successful” If you want to learn more about how you can make 2019 a year of financial fitness, stop by any of the Siouxland Federal Credit Union locations and speak to a representative. You can also visit their website at www.siouxlandfederalcu.com to learn more. 46

WINTER 2019

SIOUXLAND LIFE

PARTING SHOT By

Bruce R. Miller

I’M DREAMING OF A

BROWN WINTER

I’m sure I’m going to jinx it just by saying it but, here goes: I love a brown winter. Knowing I don’t have to get up two hours early just to be able to make it out of the driveway is comforting. So, too, is avoiding the daily search for caps, gloves and scarves. As much as I enjoy eating everything in the kitchen to bulk up before heading out, I don’t have to wear sweaters into July just to cover the Winnie the Pooh gut I gained. Bolstering my case: The money I save on sidewalk salt, antifreeze, windshield scrapers (which I always lose), boots, shovels and Kleenex. I know the sad plight of snowmobile drivers when there isn’t a lot of snow and I’m sure Cone Park’s snow-making machines have had to work overtime. But it’s really nice to drive a clean car, not have to maneuver a glacial ridge at the end of the driveway and head home at night without fear of someone sliding into you. Brown winters are also good for exercise — if you happen to like that sort of thing. Walking isn’t a bone-threatening task when the snow is gone. (Oh, sure, it could be if you were clumsy, but let’s not stray.) Now, instead of executing a double axel with a twist, you can walk confidently down the street without fear of Russian judging bias. Shopping is easier, too. Instead of “warming up the car” (a skill I learned in North Dakota), you can jump in, head out and get where you need to be without a 30-minute scrape-a-thon. You don’t have freak when you get on cold car seats, either. When your organs don’t seize from the temperature, you’re in a much better mood and you don’t have to wonder

why you didn’t add one more layer before getting this far. Sure, experts say cold weather helps “freeze” germs, but I’d rather take my chances with hand sanitizer than wonder if blue fingers means I’ve got frostbite. I also like a phone that works when I’m outside and fingers that can text. Additionally, warm winters make mundane chores bearable. Pumping gas in brown winters, for example, makes you consider things like the price of fuel, the weird people in the car next to you and the thrill of a Powerball win. When temps are frigid and the snow is stacked so high you can’t even see the kid manning the cash register, you can’t light a single pipe dream. “Let’s go out tonight” becomes an invitation, not a death threat, and soup becomes a complement, not the main course of a meal. During a brown winter, meteorologists don’t control your life. Schools can’t call “early outs.” Sporting events don’t get canceled. Sure, you might not be able to build a snowman in your front yard or speculate about the amount of watering you won’t need to do next spring. But that pales in comparison to all the joys that come with a mild winter. You can plan trips that don’t involve “alternate routes.” You can putter in the garage. You can wear glasses without fear of them frosting over. Heck, you might even be able to take down the Christmas lights before Easter.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

WINTER 2019

LORI LOVE NMLS# 527626 lori@siouxlandfederalcu.com 402‐412‐5208 CHANCE BERNSTRAUCH NMLS# 1218467 chance@siouxlandfederalcu.com 402‐412‐5232

www.siouxlandfederalcu.com

712‐224‐1010

SHELLY LARSEN NMLS# 649346 shelly@siouxlandfederalcu.com 402‐412‐5212 JOHN LEIGH NMLS# 989802 john@siouxlandfederalcu.com 402‐412‐5302 48

WINTER 2019

SIOUXLAND LIFE

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