Ever wonder why so many shoes are called tennis shoes?

Jun 25, 2024 | Publisher's Column

Sneakers. Sandals. Pumps. Kicks. Runners. Flip-flops. Chucks. High tops. Low tops. Boat shoes. Clodhoppers. Airs.

There are a lot of names for the coverings that we choose to put on our feet, but one seems to be more common than the others to describe a wide range: tennis shoes, or “tennies.”

Have you ever wondered why so many shoes are called tennis shoes, yet they are rarely used while playing tennis? 

The answer may have started with the invention of the rubber-soled shoe, and it all began with a need. The British Navy wanted shoes it sailors could wear on deck that would help them from slipping on wet surfaces. In the 18th century, following the industrial revolution, Charles Goodyear (yes, that Goodyear) developed vulcanized rubber, which was then used in making these rubber-soled shoes. These foot coverings also proved to be quite helpful in sneaking around quietly, hence the word “sneakers” came about.

Another need (or want) was created when the wealthy folks began to learn about this invention. Rubber-soled shoes then began to be used in recreational sports, including tennis. The rubber outsoles allowed tennis players of the time to start and stop better, and the soles didn’t leave marks on the courts.

Several shoe manufacturers proved to be game changers, but Adidas arguably deserves the biggest credit in 1960 when it replaced the canvas on the shoes’ uppers with leather.

So you might want to thank the British Navy and Charles Goodyear and tennis-playing aristocrats and Adidas for the tennies you are wearing today, regardless of what you call them.

Now you know. Advantage in. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@dmcityview.com
641-755-2115

Dorhout and Grambart named to spring Deans’ List at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Jun 25, 2024 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

More than 6,600 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students have been named to the Deans’ List for the spring semester of the 2023-24 academic year.

Qualification for the Deans’ List varies among the eight undergraduate colleges and the Explore Center. Listed below are the minimum requirements for each entity and the name of its respective dean or director. All qualifying grade-point averages are based on a four-point scale and a minimum number of graded semester hours. Students can be on the Deans’ List for more than one college.

  • College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 3.75; Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss.
  • College of Architecture, 3.75; Dean Kevin G. Van Den Wymelenberg.
  • College of Arts and Sciences, 3.7; Dean Mark E. Button.
  • College of Business, 3.6; Dean Kathy Farrell.
  • College of Education and Human Sciences, 3.75; Interim Dean Nicholas J. Pace.
  • College of Engineering, 3.5; Dean Lance C. Perez.
  • College of Journalism and Mass Communications, 3.7; Dean Shari Veil.
  • Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, 3.7; Dean Andy Belser.
  • Explore Center for undeclared, pre-engineering, pre-health and pre-law students, 3.6; Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Undergraduate Education Amy Goodburn.

Following is a list of area honorees, listed alphabetically by hometown, with their year in school, college(s) and major(s). Some international students are listed under their adopted hometowns in the United States. Some students chose not to be listed. Students in the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service are listed in the UNO Deans’ List.

  • Panora: Johanna Judith Dorhout, senior, Dean’s List, College of Education and Human Sciences, nutrition and health sciences.
  • Panora: Jackson Thomas Grambart, junior, Dean’s List, College of Business, accounting.

Iowa Trust & Savings Bank announces promotions 

Jun 25, 2024 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

Kris M. Ausborn, CEO of Iowa Trust & Savings Bank, recently announced several promotions in the bank. 

“The Board of Directors are pleased to recognize the contribution of time and talent that Jason Tuel and Jeramy Randol provide to Iowa Trust,” Ausborn said. “They possess the knowledge, skill and dedication that emphasize commitment to our customers and staff.”

Jason Tuel has been appointed Commercial Portfolio Manager & Credit Administration Supervisor. Tuel started with Iowa Trust in March 2018 and has 20 years of banking experience. He previously was located at the Panora office and is currently in the Clive branch. Tuel works with Iowa Trust commercial and ag customers and coordinates commercial credit analysis for the five Iowa Trust branches.

“I look forward to the new position and continuing to assist our customers through this opportunity provided by Iowa Trust,” Tuel said.

Jason and Amy Tuel live in Waukee and have two children, Brielle, 6, and Clara, 4.

Jeramy Randol was appointed Credit Analyst I. Randol started with Iowa Trust on May 31, 2023, in Panora as a Customer Service Representative. His new position is located in the Clive office. Randol’s new duties include financial statement analysis, working closely with loan officers to process commercial financing requests, and facilitating borrower compliance with loan covenants.

“It is a great honor to be able to serve our loyal customers here at Iowa Trust,” Randol said. “I look forward to the triumphs and challenges that this new position will bring, and I thank the board of directors for awarding me this opportunity. Iowa Trust is a great place to be, and I am eternally grateful to be able to grow my professional career at this pristine financial institution.”

Jeramy and Zoe Randol live in West Des Moines and have one child, Canyon, who is 7 months old.

Iowa Trust & Savings Bank is a family-owned community bank providing financial solutions to their customers.

Cribbage results from June 21 and June 24

Jun 25, 2024 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

On June 21, a total of 10 players participated. Sandy Rumelhart got a 21, Jim Carico got a 16, Kay Phippen snagged a 17 and a 24, Robert Klever got a 16, 17 and 16, Bill Sheeder got a 16, and Deb Kiefer got a  20.

On June 24, a total of 15 players participated. Rex Schoonover got two 16s, Dan Webb got a 16, Robert Klever got a 16, 16 and 17, and Dave Kading got a 20. Chet Vaughan played a 16 and a 24, and Dave Richter got a 24.

The Guthrie Center cribbage players generally meet at Guthrie Center Library on Mondays at 8 a.m., at the assisted living rec room at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays, and at the Guthrie Center Activity Center at 1 p.m. on Fridays. Organizers say there is always room for more, and they will be glad to teach you how to play. They play for quarters on Wednesday and Friday. The all class reunion is also having a tournament on July 5, and everyone is welcome.

For more information, email 58chevy@netins.net.

Weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report — June 25, 2024 

Jun 25, 2024 | Crop Report

From the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“Northwest Iowa is experiencing historic flooding not seen since 1993. While the forecast is showing a reprieve from additional rainfall, those downstream need to be prepared as this water heads south,” said Secretary Naig. “Our hearts go out to all the Iowans affected by this devastating flooding. We do not yet know the full picture of damage to homes, businesses, farms, crops, livestock, communities and public infrastructure, but we know that it is likely to be substantial and costly. Iowans are resilient and we will get through this together, but this recovery will certainly take some time and require considerable resources.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop report

Northwest Iowa farmers received substantial rainfall with flood conditions while some Southeast Iowa farmers had minimal precipitation.  Statewide there were 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 23, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Spraying and other field activities were limited in some areas due to wet field conditions.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Excessive rain fell in northwest Iowa with over 50 percent of the area reported with surplus topsoil and subsoil moisture.

Corn emergence neared completion. Corn condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Soybeans emerged reached 95 percent. Seven percent of soybean crop was blooming, 1 day behind last year but 2 days ahead of the 5-year average.  Soybean condition rated 74 percent good to excellent. Eighty-six percent of the oat crop was headed or beyond, 6 days ahead of the average. Twenty-eight percent of oats were turning color, 9 days ahead of the average. Oat condition rated 73 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-five percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, 6 days ahead of last year. Hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition decreased two percentage points to 73 percent good to excellent. Feedlots remain muddy due to excess rainfall.

Weather summary

Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

A large-scale heat dome over the eastern United States set up a weather pattern known as a “Ring of Fire” which produced several waves of heavy rainfall from disturbances propagating over the Upper Midwest; some stations in northwest and north-central Iowa received several months’ worth of rainfall, on the order of 300-600 percent of normal. Farther southeast, temperatures were six to eight degrees above normal with the statewide average temperature at 75.4 degrees, 4.0 degrees above normal.

Showers and thunderstorms pushed out of eastern Iowa early on Sunday (16th) afternoon as clouds cleared west to east. Southerly winds increased as temperatures rose into the mid to upper 80s with lower 90s from central to southwest Iowa. Clouds increased over northwest Iowa overnight into Monday (17th) as a strong low pressure center pushed along the Iowa-Minnesota border. Thunderstorms along the initial line were severe warned with reports of straight line winds and very heavy rain. There was a brief lull in thunderstorm activity through the afternoon hours as daytime highs reached the low to mid 90s in eastern Iowa. Thunderstorms refired across northwestern Iowa and sped east into the evening; four stations in Dickinson County observed totals from 2.60 inches in Lake Park to 4.76 inches at Spirit Lake with almost 30 stations registering at least an inch. Partly cloudy skies persisted over southern Iowa through Tuesday (18th) morning with unseasonably warm morning temperatures in the mid to upper 70s.

Afternoon temperatures in the 80s coupled with higher dew points ahead of a strong cold front helped strong to severe thunderstorms form over western Iowa during the early evening. The line, initially narrow and concentrated, expanded and lost strength as it moved through central Iowa. Redevelopment occurred into Wednesday (19th) and persisted over central and eastern Iowa into the nighttime hours. Event rain totals were highest southwest, central and east with most Iowa stations accumulating at least 0.50 inch. Thirty stations observed 2.00 inches or more with 3.00 inches in North Liberty (Johnson County) to 4.30 inches in Creston (Union County) and a statewide average of 0.86 inch.

A stationary front draped across the state was a forcing mechanism for slow moving showers and thunderstorms along the Iowa-Minnesota border on Thursday (20th). Several flash flood warnings were issued for northwestern counties as three Rock Rapids (Lyon County) stations reported from 5.45 to 6.20 inches. Totals for adjacent counties were also anomalously high, ranging from 3.20 inches in Sheldon (O’Brien County) to 3.87 inches at Estherville Municipal Airport (Emmet County). Skies remained overcast across much of northern and eastern Iowa into Friday (21st) as another disturbance slowly propagated through northern Iowa as scattered thundershowers popped across southern Iowa. Widespread and slow moving thunderstorms brought additional higher-end totals on top of the previous day’s accumulations that were already more than a month’s worth at several stations. Seventy five stations reported an inch with 26 locations registering at least 3.00 inches. The highest totals ranged from 4.18 inches in Milford (Dickinson County) to 5.50 inches in Forest City (Winnebago County). Amounts tapered off to a few tenths of an inch in southern Iowa with an overall statewide average of 0.78 inch. The complex continued into northeastern Iowa by daybreak on Saturday (22nd) with morning lows in the upper 60s northwest to upper 70s southeast. Afternoon temperatures were in the mid to upper 80s in eastern Iowa as a cold front clashed with the warm and saturated airmass during the evening hours. A few storms were tornado warned, though nothing was observed on the ground. Heavy rain fell in the northeast with 2.12 inches in Oelwein (Fayette County) to 2.59 inches in Waukon (Allamakee County) with most of eastern Iowa registering 0.25 to 0.50 inches. Skies cleared overnight as winds shifted to the northeast behind the front. Sunday (23rd) morning was pleasant with lows in the 60s.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from 0.04 inch at Donnellson (Lee County) to 12.98 inches in Lake Park (Dickinson County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 2.76 inches while the normal is 1.17 inches. Williamsburg (Iowa County) reported the week’s high temperature of 95 degrees on the 17th, 14 degrees above normal. Multiple stations reported the week’s low temperature of 56 degrees on the 17th and 20th, on average two degrees below normal.