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Pheasant population expected to benefit from mild winter

Jun 27, 2025 | News

From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Iowa’s pheasant population is expected to benefit from the 2024-25 mild winter and average spring that much of the state experienced.

According to Iowa’s state climatologist, last winter was the fourth least snowy in 138 years, and the spring was normal for rainfall and temperature.

“Given the statewide information, we are expecting a good nesting effort and our weather model is predicting pheasant populations will likely be higher for the 2025 hunting season,” Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said.

The Iowa DNR’s weather model is based on 50 years of weather data and roadside pheasant counts.

“I expect there will be regional differences, but hopefully we will see nice increases in all survey regions,” he said.

The Iowa DNR conducts its annual upland population survey each August, which is the best indicator of what populations will be this fall. Results from the August roadside survey will be available online at www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey around Sept. 15.

Reports of hens with chicks started in southern Iowa in middle May and sightings have since been reported from across the state.

“When we have early nesting years, we typically have the highest number of chicks and it is looking like 2025 will be an early nesting year,” Bogenschutz said.

Hens will begin incubating after the last egg is laid and eggs hatch after 23 days of incubation, with peak hatch Iowa occurring June 10-15. The young pheasants begin to make short flights — around 5 feet — at 10 days old and can keep up with the hen on longer flights after another five days.

A century of pheasant hunting

The Iowa DNR and Pheasants Forever are celebrating 100 years of pheasant hunting in the Hawkeye State. The first season was held Oct. 20-22, 1925, when 13 counties in north central Iowa were opened to pheasant hunting. Hunters were allowed a three-rooster limit, for a half-day of hunting. An estimated 75,000 hunters participated.

Hunters can commemorate the 100th anniversary by purchasing a hard card featuring Iowa Pheasants Forever Print of the Year when they purchase their 2025 hunting and fishing licenses.

Information on places to hunt, the August roadside survey results and more is available online by clicking the 100 Years of Pheasant Hunting graphic at www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey.

Baseball, softball and the NBA’s Achille’s heel

Jun 27, 2025 | Cyote's Den

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

Baseball and softball

ACGC and Panorama baseball and softball fans were treated to some great action at their respective diamonds this week. Early in the week, Panorama softball overcame a six-run deficit to defeat West Central Valley. “These girls stayed mentally tough and kept pushing forward and never faltered,” Head Coach Ismael Galvan said.

That sounds like a recipe for success. Panorama baseball fans were able to see their team get back into the win column thanks to some excellent pitching via state golfer Parker Cary, who struck out nine batters.

ACGC baseball fans must have been pleased to get a win over nearby conference rival Panorama thanks to a complete game shutout pitched by Noah Kading. Charger softball fans had the delight of watching a back-and-forth classic against, again, nearby conference rival Panorama. Lead changes and ties were abundant in the contest with the Chargers ending up on top.

The NBA’s Achilles’ heel

NBA fans were treated less gracefully over the past week. Game seven of the NBA finals was on Sunday, June 22. The Thunder came out on top, 103-91, for its first championship since moving from Seattle. Unfortunately, what was gearing up to be an all-time finish to one of the best finals of the past 20 years will forever have a mark.

Tyrese Halliburton was shooting the lights and silencing a raucous Thunder crowd early in the game. In just seven minutes of action, the former Cyclone scored nine points, all threes. Soon after his early outburst, Halliburton stunned fans in the arena and those watching at home when he tore his Achilles tendon — a brutal injury which will almost certainly keep the star point guard out all of next season and potentially some of the season after that. This may be the first time that, when I think of an NBA final, I will remember the team that lost first. We will never know how that game might have finished had Halliburton not been injured.

It is bad enough that the peak of NBA basketball had to marred by such an event, but what might be even worse is the NBA’s growing Achilles tendon injury problem. Statistics show that, between 1990 and 2023, there were 45 Achilles tendon tears, an average of 1.36 per season, but never more than three in a single season. In this year’s playoffs alone, there were three — and seven total throughout this season.

Video analysis of all seven of these injuries showed it happened during a “false step,” a reactive movement athletes use to accelerate quickly. If you have ever played or watched basketball, this type of movement happens constantly throughout games.

Theories have swirled around the rise of this injury, the most popular being that the players are simply overworked. Much has been said about the workload on today’s players. The game moves faster, and, in turn, the players move more.

Some say the players back in the day were just tougher. I say they were just slower. The game moves at an incredibly higher pace than it did 10 years ago, let alone 20 or 30 years ago. Don’t believe me? View any one of these most recent finals games side by side with any of the finals games from the 1990s. The difference is stark.

In my opinion, athletes need to stop specializing sports at such a young age. It was much more common for athletes to play multiple sports throughout the year, as you see at ACGC and Panorama. This keeps wear and tear on specific movements and body parts down while strengthening others. Many of today’s NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB players have been playing one sport since they were in grade school. And, simply put, they have to. The competition level is simply too high for them to focus on other sports if they want to become a professional athlete. Science needs to catch up to these athletes soon, or it will continue to haunt our professional leagues. The NBA and its Achilles tendon injuries, the MLB and Tommy John surgery, the NFL and CTE, and the NHL… well, hockey rinks are just too darn cold.

Reach out with comments, complaints, ideas and more to cyote@dmcityview.com.

Getting in harmony with my surroundings

Jun 27, 2025 | Publisher's Column

I was introduced to the principles of Feng Shui a few decades ago, and I have read numerous books and articles on it since. Not familiar with Feng Shui? Simply put, it is a Chinese belief in an energy force called chi that flows and has both positive and negative effects on you. A home or office with strong Feng Shui is in harmony with its surroundings and makes its occupants feel better. Hundreds of basic methods exist to create a flow of this positive energy.

Think I’m crazy? You may be right. But just wait, as I share a few of the simplest ideas. 

Feng Shui says your front door is where the most energy enters your home or office, which means it plays a huge role with the potential of positive energy. Basic Feng Shui principles say the front door should be the largest in your home, and you should maintain it properly. No squeaks or flaking paint, and it should open freely. A poorly maintained front door can drain positive energy from your home.

What about Feng Shui in the bedroom? Well, your bedroom has a massive impact on your energy because it is the place for rest — and romance. As such, your bed should be placed away from your entry door and windows. Placing your bed in front of a window can zap your energy while you sleep. To help ground you while you snooze, put it where you can see the door and where you can place your headboard against a wall. As for the TV in the bedroom, get rid of it. TVs emit ions that drain your energy. Don’t store junk under your bed either, or use electric blankets. And don’t hang mirrors where you can see yourself from the bed, as this can be disruptive. Pink champagne on ice? That’s OK. 

Feng Shui can also be effective in your office if you place your desk so you can see the door when sitting behind it. This allows you to take command of the room. You should not have your back toward the door, and you should avoid being in front of large mirrors or windows that will distract you and drain your energy.

Feng Shui is about energy flow, and doorways are how energy goes from one room to another. As such, don’t align your front door with your back door, as all the energy will then flow directly in and out of your home. You should also not align your bathroom door with your kitchen door, as you don’t want those two energies mixing together. It’s a “don’t cross the beams” thing. 

Do a little Feng Shui research and have some fun with this. You might be surprised how understanding energy flow can make you feel. Just be careful, though, or you might become hooked, too. 

Have fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

YJB TTT Omelet Breakfast will be held July 4

Jun 27, 2025 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

The YJB TTT Omelet Breakfast will be held on July 4 from 8-10 a.m. at the Yale Community Building on July 4. Enjoy made-to-order omelets, muffins and drinks. This is the major fundraiser of the year for the group. The funds raised go toward sending fourth-grade girls to TTT camp each year. The organization not only pays their way but also provides their clothing and other necessities. Also, each year when the TTT camp girls are seniors and graduate from Panorama High School, they receive a scholarship from the club to further their education.

‘Simply Seger’ plays the Warren Cultural Center July 26

Jun 27, 2025 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

The Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield presents “Simply Seger” — the ultimate Bob Seger Tribute experience on July 26 at 7 p.m. Filling the role of Bob Seger is Tim Gazaway, former Greenfield resident where he was lead singer/guitarist for the group Barney Fife.

For half a decade, the nine Simply Seger artists have been on a mission to keep the heartland rock legend’s music alive in all its glory. Simply Seger isn’t just a tribute band; it’s a musical time machine that transports you to the unforgettable era of classic rock and roll.

With precision and passion, Simply Seger recreates the soulful raspy voice, the driving rhythms, and the lyrical storytelling that made Bob Seger a rock icon. From “Night Moves” to “Turn the Page,” every note and nuance is delivered with the same heart and soul that made Seger’s music resonate with generations.

The energy is electric, the atmosphere nostalgic, and the music timeless. Add this band of established Players with Tim Gazaway’s Look and Vocals as well as the band’s iconic stage presence, and you realize Simply Seger’s attention to detail is unmatched.

As they mark their five-year milestone, Simply Seger promises an unforgettable concert experience celebrating the legacy of a rock legend through Simply Seger’s authentic renditions. With every riff and every lyric, you’ll understand why they’ve become the ultimate tribute to this musical legend.

All seats are $25 through July 24 with the price increasing to $35 on July 25 and 26. Order tickets at www.warrenculturalcenter.com. Cost is $35 at the door.