Whatever happened to conversion vans? If you are smiling right now, you probably owned one. If anything ever needed to come back, these are it. 

I never owned a conversion van. I’m a bit too young for those, but my older brother had one. He also had a moustache, silk shirts and a belt with his name on it.

If you don’t recall what a conversion van was, let me help you out. They were essentially cargo vans that were decked out, typically by a third-party company but also by a generation of do-it-yourselfers. Popular full-sized models that were used for the base included the Chevrolet Van, the Dodge Ram Van, the Ford E-Series and my personal favorite, the GMC Vandura.

Trendy features included shag carpet, captain’s seats, luxury lighting, 8-track players and lots of oak trim. The cool ones had fold-down beds, fiberglass bubble tops and gas stoves.

Conversion vans started to become popular in the 1960s with the hippies, and those Volkswagen models really were groovy. But the ones I recall were in the 1970s — and the more custom paint they had, the better. Think nature scenes, flames and lots of Americana. Those were the days of Evel Knievel, after all. The side windows were also a signature feature, often in small circles, rectangles or diamonds — and almost always tinted. 

Few things are as identifiable with the 1970s era as conversion vans. Unfortunately, they went by the wayside along with dark wood paneling, crochet throws and mood rings. 

Some say the demise of conversion vans was due to the federal government and vehicle manufacturers demanding new safety guidelines be adhered to. Others say the vans priced themselves out of the market with extravagant features. In reality, the rising cost of fuel made these gas-hogs less attractive for the average American. 

Regardless, conversion vans were the ultimate vehicle for road trips, and they looked really cool in the driveway. You know the saying, what goes around, comes around. Well, don’t call it a comeback, but you, too, may be driving one soon. 

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading. 

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

When I was a younger man working at The Des Moines Register, I was planning a vacation and told a customer I would be off work and explained how I planned to cover the bases. He looked at me with a stern face and said, “Vacation? You don’t work Sundays, do you? That’s 52 days of vacation a year.” He continued, “Wait, you don’t work Saturdays either, do you? That’s another 52 days. That’s 104 days of vacation per year. How much vacation do you need?”

I was without words. This customer was having fun with me, but there was also some truth to what he was saying. Some people I know seem to be continually talking about their next vacation, even though they just got back from one. That time off is supposed to make them happy, recharge them, and have them ready to take on the tasks of life again — but it doesn’t seem to do that. They just want more vacation time.

As a teenager, I worked at a local gas station that was open 24/7. Even in the 1980s, staffing was a challenge, especially on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. But when the opportunity came to earn time-and-a-half for holiday pay, I was the first to sign up. I enjoyed working those days, as the store traffic was lighter, the customers who stopped in were quite cheery, and I liked the extra dollars in my paycheck.

When I worked at the Register, we were told in no uncertain terms that we would not be allowed to take vacation between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Those were the newspaper’s busiest times with advertising, and we were to be there to make sure of it.  We are not as strict today in our company, but a holiday does mean that we have to complete five days of work in four days. The presses keep running. 

Author Rob Hill, Sr. said, “My goal is to build a life I don’t need a vacation from.” That makes sense to me. But, like most things in life, I have learned there truly are different strokes for different folks. Some people love to travel and spend time on a beach; I get horribly sunburned and have two days of diarrhea. Others want to take a week off and ride a bicycle 468 miles across the state in 90-degree weather; that’s not my idea of a vacation. And a select few enjoy time at home working on a list of projects and relaxing with friends and family; that’s more my style. But, again, to each his (or her) own. 

With holiday vacations approaching, I hope you have plans to enjoy the time off and can then return with enthusiasm, vigor and gusto. The world needs you. 

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading. 

Do you get cold feet? My inquiry is not an analogy or code for anything. It’s just a simple question. Do your feet get cold?

The website medicalnewstoday.com says your feet can feel cold due to cold temperatures (really?), high stress or anxiety, circulation issues, anemia, diabetes mellitus, nerve disorders, hypothyroidism and other things most of us can’t pronounce. 

Some simple solutions, according to the same website, include movement, socks, foot baths, heating pads, water bottles and my favorite fix — slippers. 

Yes, slippers. I have a half-dozen of them around the home and office. Call me Mr. Rogers if you want, but my feet are toasty, and it’s a beautiful day in my neighborhood. 

My friend Jason used to mock me for wearing them, especially when I would bring a pair over to his house when visiting. Then he started wearing slippers, or “house shoes,” as he calls them. 

As a child, I couldn’t stand to wear slippers. Seems like I received a pair every year for Christmas, but I rarely wore them. But, to be honest, I rarely wore shirts or pants around the house either. Like most kids, I was too warm-blooded for a whole lot of body coverings. 

Most of us can recall the image of the father figure in the home, relaxing in the easy chair, reading the evening paper, smoking a pipe and having the family dog bring him his slippers. In our home, the evening image would be of me in the kitchen, filling the dishwasher, asking Alexa to play some Elvis music, cleaning up the garbage that the dog got into — and wearing slippers. It’s not the makings for a Hallmark movie, but I will take it, as long as I have my slippers.

Comedian/politician Al Franken may have summed it up best with the words, “It’s easier to put on slippers than to carpet the whole world.”

Can you slip into that idea?

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading. 

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

Guthrie County residents have an important vote to cast on Nov. 5 — and not just for the president of the United States. Those of you concerned about emergency medical services (which should mean everyone) need to decide whether or not to approve a measure for a countywide EMS framework, which would be funded through a levy of 75 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation for properties.

The revenue generated from this levy would be used to contract with Panora EMS, Stuart Rescue and Adair Fire and Rescue to ensure emergency medical care is accessible throughout the entire county. This is to include the addition of a fully staffed ambulance in Guthrie Center to improve response times.

Why do we need this countywide EMS framework? Proponents of the levy say the existing structure presents challenges in terms of coordination, resource allocation and comprehensive coverage. In particular, significant gaps in coverage exist when it comes to serving the western and northwestern portions of the county.

I am not writing this column to convince you to vote for this tax levy or vote against it. As with all elections, you have to make a decision based on your personal situation and needs — and, hopefully, a consideration for others’ situations and needs, too. What I do want to share with you is something I learned after reading newspaper clippings from Dave Beidelman, who, along with family members before him, owned and operated funeral homes in Panora and Guthrie Center.  According to a 1955 newspaper advertisement he showed me, the O.J. Beidelman Funeral Home had “the ONLY car in Guthrie County, used only for moving the sick or injured. Trained Attendants. Oxygen Equipment. Portable Stretchers. Arm and Leg Splints.” The ad also stated that the company’s “Universal Car” was used as second ambulance. Yes, the funeral homes provided ambulance service.

A newspaper story from the same year also detailed the purchase of the new ambulance, stating, “The new vehicle is the largest Ford made and is built to provide the utmost in patient comfort and safety. It is painted a light blue with the interior a matching light blue. This is to differentiate it from the regular hearse used for funerals.”

The article also stated that the ambulance was to be used solely for the transportation of sick and injured patients, that it was on call 24 hours a day, and that it could carry two patients at one time.

Now, before you suggest this to current funeral home owners and operators Curtis Twigg and Craig Twigg (and before those guys strangle me), you should know that modern requirements would prevent this from happening today, and that’s not a bad thing, especially when minutes matter. Meanwhile, it is entertaining and informative to look back at how important needs like these were dealt with in years gone by. I can’t help but imagine the look on the faces of the folks who called for an ambulance and saw the funeral director show up in a hearse.

To learn more about the upcoming vote on EMS, visit www.guthriecountyems.org or attend the two remaining public informational meetings: Oct. 14, Yale Community Building, 7 p.m.; Oct. 16: Panorama High School Auditorium, Panora, 7 p.m.

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading. 

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

Do you ever find yourself in awkward situations with groups of people when the conversation is going absolutely nowhere? You are not alone, but I have a possible solution. Break the ice with a discussion about concerts you have attended. Try these questions out next time you find yourself in an uneasy conversation. You will be amazed how quickly people will jump in — and how much you can learn about them. 

What was the first concert you ever saw? It is amazing how quickly people answer this one. Mine was The Grass Roots at Adventureland Park sometime in the late 1970s with my family. I recognized this music from my older sister that I heard around the house growing up, and I loved it. 

What was the last concert you saw? The answer may prove to be tougher, except for those who attended a show in recent months. Aside from local bands at community festivals, the last concert I saw was probably Jackson Browne. He was so simple yet so amazing.

What was the worst concert you have ever seen? People don’t seem to hesitate when answering this one, as the answer is usually related to the performers being under the influence of something. Mine was a different story. Jolene and I saw the band Kansas perform after an Iowa Cubs game sometime in the 1990s. We attended with another couple, and we tried to name Kansas songs on our drive to the stadium. “Dust in the Wind.” “Point of Know Return.” “Carry on Wayward Son.” And… it became difficult after those three. Even so, we were looking forward to hearing those songs. What we didn’t expect — and what made it my worst concert ever — were the 20-minute instrumentals in each and every song. Painful. 

What was the best concert you have ever seen? This is another easy answer for most people, and the responses quite often offer insight into the interests of the folks you are with. I took my mother to see Alan Jackson play at Wells Fargo Arena a decade or so ago. We were seated on the floor in the first 10 rows, and we felt like we were in the Jackson living room. He is an incredible performer, yet so humble and sincere. We were entertained for an evening by a series of recognizable songs by one of the industry’s greatest. A close second for me was Barry Manilow. Yes, Barry Manilow. My friend Clint and I bought group tickets for a Wells Fargo Arena suite at a fundraising auction. The trick proved to be in finding anyone else to go with us. But we did, and the concert was truly amazing with another series of sing-along songs from a true entertainer. 

So, give these questions a try next time you are in a group setting and struggling for interesting conversation. You will find common ground and learn new things from people you think you hardly knew — and you might learn a little something about yourself, too.

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

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

10-4. It’s today’s date. It was also a popular response when you acknowledged that you heard someone, especially in the 1970s. The phrase was often followed by “good buddy.” 10-4 was a way of saying the message was received on radio communications. “10-4, good buddy” was CB talk — that’s citizen’s band radio for those of you who didn’t experience it.

The phrase spread into popular culture when it was used in C.W. McCall’s No. 1 song in 1975 called “Convoy.” That song, and a related movie, introduced us to Rubber Duck, Pig Pen, Sod Buster and, of course, the smokeys and bears. About that same time, the “Smokey and the Bandit” movie took the trucking lifestyle and CB communication to a new level. Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed, Jackie Gleason and that really cool 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, helped, too. 

A few years ago, some good buddies of mine and I were feeling nostalgic and decided we would buy and install CB radios in our vehicles. What we were quickly reminded of was the importance of a quality antenna. And since none of us wanted to install a whip antenna on our vehicles, we settled for limited range and, as a result, only picked up the local school bus communication. I had a magnetic antenna that I put out through the moonroof on my truck when I wanted to use it. Seemed like a good idea, until the wind whipped it off and it slammed back and forth on the side panels. Regardless, we relived our youth and tried to recall all that CB lingo. It might seem silly with today’s technology, but the recent hurricane devastation and loss of power and modern communication methods remind me how important citizen’s band radio can be in emergency situations.

Back to 10-4. Ever wonder where the phrase originated? It is one of the “ten-codes,” or radio signals, invented by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International. The ten-codes are credited to Illinois State Police Communications Director Charles Hopper, who created them between 1937-1940 for use in quick and clear radio communications among police officers.

According to policecodes.net and other sources, the use of the number 10 before all of the codes wasn’t too important, as it was simply a placeholder to give the motor-generator time to speed up enough to hear the second part of the code. The 4 was chosen to mean “acknowledgement” of a message. These handy codes were quickly adopted by CB radio enthusiasts and truckers. Now you know. 

So, as a salute to the 1970s, truckers, radio operators and CBs in general, I challenge you to say “10-4, good buddy” as many times as you can today. 

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading. 

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