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IN SPORTS, B1

BULLDOGS BATTLE INDIANOLA

IN LOCAL, A2

CARDINAL CSD EXPANDS PROGRAM

TWO-DAYFORECAST

Today ... Mostly sunny with a high near 80. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Tonight ... Partly cloudy with a low around 57. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Sunday ... Sunny with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming west southwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Sunday night ... Mostly clear with a low around 67. South southwest wind 6 to 8 mph.

Weather, Page A8

INDEX

A2, A3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LocalA4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ObituariesA5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BusinessA6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ReligionA7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NewsA8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weather

B1-B3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sports

B4-B7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Classifieds

D1-D7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Guide

D8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comics

E1-E4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opinion

OTTUMWA — After ask-ing hundreds of people what they’d like to see downtown, planners are getting a picture of what our perfect business district would look like.

In fact, the Better Block Foundation took the results of the survey, and completed a concept drawing of down-town.

“The Better Block Foun-dation is about building a downtown from the ground up. What does the commu-nity want in a downtown?” asked Monica Diodiati, the foundation project manager for the job.

It’s a “buildout” project, said Main Street Ottumwa director Fred Zesiger.

“It’s a test to say, ‘Hey, this will work.’ Tree [land-scaping], business facades, streetscapes with bike paths, all to see what makes people happy.”

Though this is going to revolve around Ottumwa, there will be 53 other Main Street Iowa groups coming to see what is going on in October.

Zesiger said Better Block will actually help build a sort of “live model” of what will be possible with energy and investment.

“But what we put in place will come down after that weekend,” said Diodiati. “We’re trying to generate enthusiasm for a new down-town; we’re helping plant the seed.”

It’s an easy way to try something new, said Zesiger. That includes for potential shopkeepers. Because this live model of a downtown will need to be populated: Potential entrepreneurs have been invited to try their hand at running a “popup” business.

A location is provided downtown, a sign, even shelving. Potential busi-ness people just bring their product.

“See if it works,” he said about the risk takers. “Maybe get some new busi-nesses down here.”

And that’s what people want.

Some survey results

By MARK NEWMANCourier staff writer

Downtown dress rehearsal plannedSurvey results guide design

OTTUMWA — Fly Iowa “knocked it out of the park” in the words of organizer Pam Kaupins. Last week-end’s airshow and accompa-nying concerts and displays exceeded the expectations of organizers.

“We were extremely pleased,” Kaupins said. Organizers had hoped for a total of 8,000 people for Saturday and Sunday, but the aggregate number was closer to 20,000. Attendance was estimated at 5,000

Friday, 10,000 Saturday and 5,000 Sunday, “so, more than double what we were hoping for,” Kaupins said.

As for receipts, “the numbers are still coming in,” Kaupins said. “It’s probably not the profit that we would have liked to have seen.” The airshow was free, so making up the cost fell to sponsors, the bever-age garden and concerts. “The crowds for Saturday night weren’t what we had hoped.”

“One thing we learned is that after the airshow, families left, and they didn’t

stay for the [bands].”But Kaupins isn’t

complaining. “We did make a profit,” she said, and or-ganizers will know what to do differently for the next Ottumwa airshow.

Feedback has been nothing but enthusiastic, said Kaupins. Steven Black, Naval Air Station chair-man, described the event as stunning in an email to the Ottumwa mayor, she said. Representatives from Acad-emy of Model Aeronautics “thought it was fabulous to be able to combine events. It exceeded their expecta-tions.”

The pilots thanked orga-nizers for the way the event was organized and the way

the pilots were treated while they were in Ottumwa. “Some of them are calling it one of the very best that they have been to,” said Kaupins. “All the pilots were thanking us for their treat-ment. [They said that] we served them steak dinners,

and they’re used to getting hot dogs.”

“The pilots are happy, the crowds were happy, the organizers were happy. I just don’t think there are any negatives here.”

By WINONA WHITAKERCourier staff writer

Everybody’s happy, says Fly Iowa organizerAttendance over three days was double what organizers expected

Winona Whitaker/The CourierVisitors to Fly Iowa examine Skip Stewart’s biplane before Saturday’s airshow. Attendance was well beyond what organizers had expected.

Please see FLY, Page A8

Stories presented by: Al Martin Real Estate & Auction

An overdue honorPACKWOOD — The barn stands alone in the field, surrounded by soybeans on three sides. A deep ditch by a gravel road makes approaching from that side difficult.

The swallows don’t mind. They swoop in and out, feasting on low-flying insects on a warm summer day. Across the road are a small grove of black walnuts, limbs heavy with bright green husks.

For more than 150 years, this has been the land Terry Steele’s family has farmed. The farm dates back to 1865. An eventful year in American history, the scene doesn’t really seem to have changed much aside from the traffic on the nearby two-lane highway.

Terry and his wife rolled up in a white minivan. Not quite the vehicle you might expect from a lifelong farmer, but it works for them. Terry looks the part: blue over-alls, a blue-and-white checked shirt, well-used baseball cap and sunglasses. He has big hands, strong from years on the farm.

He took over the farm after his father.“He farmed all his life. So have I,” Terry

said. “I just like to farm. That’s all we know.”

Well, almost. Kay wasn’t a farm girl growing up. She lived in cities, moved a lot with her father’s job. That all changed 43 years ago, when she married Terry.

“We’ve farmed together from Day One,” Kay said.

“I started in junior high school,” Terry said.

“That’s where we met, too,” she agreed.The couple are still clearly excited from

the previous night. The farm would have been eligible for the Century Farm desig-nation back in 1976, when the program began. But this year they picked up both the Century Farm and Heritage Farm desig-nations at the Iowa State Fair.

It was, they say, a remarkable experience. Their three sons were there, along with all five grandchildren. In a day when it can be

hard to get extended families together, they were all in Des Moines to share in a mo-ment that honors five generations of their family’s work.

In a modern twist, cell phone photos tell the tale. The shared experience captured not on film, but in pixels.

Farming has changed, Terry concedes. “Dad, when he worked this, he worked

By MATT MILNERManaging Editor

Matt Milner/The CourierKay and Terry Steele pose with their brand new plaques marking the Steele farm as both a Century Farm and a Heritage Farm. They received the plaques the previous night at the Iowa State Fair.

Please see FARM, Page A8

Please see DOWNTOWN, Page A8

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TODAY

Saturday

www.ottumwacourier.com A8, Saturday, September 2, 2017

Weather

NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY

LOCAL

SaturdayMostly sunny

High: 80

Low: 57

RecordsFriday

High: 76

Low: 51

Record high: 103 in 1911

Record low: 42 in 1949

TodayRecord high: 102 in 1897

Record low: 40 in 1946

PrecipitationFriday: 0.00

Sunrise/

SunsetToday

Rise: 6:38

Sunset: 7:39

SundayRise: 6:38

Sunset: 7:37

Rivers/LakesFriday

Lake Red RockLevel: 741,16

Inflow: 1,910 cf

Outflow: 1,450 cfs

Des Moines RiverLevel: 638.5

Stage: 1.78ft.

Outflow: 1,460 cfs

Rain from Harvey will expand from the Ohio Valley to

the mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians tomorrow, leading

to potential travel disruptions. The cloudy, damp conditions will

hold temperatures 15 to 20 degrees below normal. Another dry

day is in store for upstate New York and New England prior to rain

arriving to end the weekend. Thunderstorms will blossom along

the southern Atlantic Seaboard, while the balance of the South

can expect a dry start to the weekend. A zone of thunderstorms

will douse portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. A dry

and mainly sunny day will be the rule from the Pacific coast to the

High Plains. Record-challenging heat will once again be on the

rise across the West.

10-DAY FORECAST

Fronts

Pressure

Cold

Showers Rain T-storms Flurries Snow Ice

HHigh

LLow

Warm Stationary

<-10 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110+-0s 0s

HARVEY

LIDIA

H

H

L

National weather

Forecast for Saturday, September 2, 2017

NATIONAL SUMMARY: Rain and localized flash flooding from Harvey will

spread across much of the mid-Atlantic and linger in the Ohio Valley today.

Heavy storms will occur farther south along the Atlantic coast. Spotty storms

are forecast for the Upper Midwest and Southwest. Much of the balance of

the nation will be dry as heat builds over the West.

©2017 AccuWeather, Inc.

Bands separate high temperature zones for the day.

WednesdaySunny

High: 73

Low: 48

TuesdayMostly sunny

High: 75

Low: 48

Labor DaySunny

High: 90

Low: 55

SundaySunny

High: 89

Low: 67

ThursdaySunny

High: 77

Low: 54

MondaySunny

High: 80

Low: 52

SundaySunny

High: 81

Low: 53

SaturdaySunny

High: 80

Low: 52

FridaySunny

High: 81

Low: 53

FARM: An overdue honor

with horses when he was a kid.” He bought a tractor. But Terry’s father went back to the horses at one point. Horses don’t get flats or run out of gas.

They applied for the farm recognition back in May or June. Word came back soon afterwards that their applications were approved and that the farm would be recognized.

It’s Terry’s idea to wander out about 20 yards into the field with the metal plaques they received the previous evening. The couple made their way through the field with the ease born of long familiarity. Terry left his cap atop a soybean plant. His sunglasses stayed on.

Ever the farmer, he comes back to the road with part of a plant in hand. Drought has been a concern this year,

and it’s showing in the pods. His words could have been from any farmer dating back to the dawn of agriculture.

“They’re pretty flat. He’s there but it doesn’t mean much,” Terry said. “We get what the good Lord gives us, though.”

It’s not what they hoped for back on the day they submitted the paperwork for the recognition of their farm. But, at 152 years and counting, it has happened before. It will happen again.

The barn is a point of pride for Terry. It’s still there, new white roof and all. The farm looks likely to make it to 200 years, though. It’s in the family’s blood.

“All three of our sons like to farm,” said Kay.

“The grandkids are look-ing forward to it, too,” Terry said.

The pride was evident in both of their voices. Love of the land. Love of the family. And a farmer’s hope for the future.

Matt Milner can be reached at mmilner@ottum-wacourier.com and followed @mwmilner.

Continued from Page A1

Photo provided

The extended Steele clan takes a moment to celebrate at the Iowa State Fair after Terry and Kay Steele’s farm was recognized as a Century Farm and a Heritage Farm.

FLY: Everybody’s happy, says Fly Iowa organizer

“I think the success was that it was all ages,” Kaupins said. From senior citizens to families with small children, all ages were represented at the three-day event.

Kaupins saw the passion for aviation in the weekend event. “People saw things that they never had seen before,” she said.

Producing the airshow with all the additional pieces of entertainment and service

was a huge undertaking. “Without all the volunteers and sponsors we could not have had a free event,” Kaupins said.

A press conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thurs-day, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. to announce final numbers for the event, Kaupins said.

Reporter Winona Whita-ker can be contacted at wwhitaker@ottumwacou-rier.com and followed on Twitter @courierwinona.

Continued from Page A1

DOWNTOWN: Dress rehearsal planned

surprised Zesiger a bit: Making it look nice was still the answer for 10 out of every 100 respondents, but nearly three times that number — 29 of 100 — want to see more businesses. Surveys in the past often said what we needed to do downtown was “clean up” or beautify the area, including some

of the vacant, seemingly abandoned buildings.

With changes to how the city enforced its regulations, and the last few years work on the facade along the 300 block, the biggest concern now isn’t beautifying the place; it’s getting more businesses to take up vacant storefronts.

The beautification of the facades in the 100 and 200 blocks of East Main Street

starts on Monday.Another surprise?“We’d always heard

restaurants, they’re what ev-eryone wants,” said Zesiger, “but the draw we’ve heard most about was things for kids; I couldn’t believe how big that response was.”

Reporter Mark Newman can be contacted at mnew-man@ottumwacourier.com and followed on Twitter @couriermark.

Continued from Page A1

OTTUMWA — Ottumwa Community Players will host auditions for its November show, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Auditions will be con-ducted at 7 p.m., Thurs-day, Sept. 7, and Friday, Sept. 8, at the Bridge View Center. Callbacks will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9, at the same loca-tion.

The stage show is done as a live radio broadcast, set in 1964. It features the foley-artist on-stage and a piano player the entire show. Men and women are needed for the lively characters.

Performances will be on Nov. 3, 4 and 5, 2017, at the Bridge View Cen-ter. Questions, please call Alice at 641-682-8466.

Auditions next week for OCP November show

Metro Creative Services

Jim McDonough’s Holiday Grande 2017 production

An all new stage production

Saturday November 25th, 2017 @ 2:30PM Bridge View

Special reserved seating for Sunshine Club Members

Call Nancy at 641-682-7541 for details

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OTTUMWA - 320 CHURCH: 641-682-7541

OTTUMWA - 2525 N. COURT: 641-683-6580

HEDRICK: 641-653-4422

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Gasoline prices head higher, motorists panicDALLAS (AP) — The spike in gasoline prices in the after-

math of Hurricane Harvey has hit the accelerator.The national average for regular was $2.54 a gallon by Friday

afternoon, an increase of 18 cents in the last week, according to GasBuddy. Prices jumped at least 10 cents a gallon in 24 hours in Texas, Ohio, Georgia and the Mid-Atlantic states, travel club AAA reported Friday. The nationwide average was already higher than most experts had given as a worst-case scenario when fl ooding from the devastating storm began knocking out refi neries along the Texas Gulf Coast a week ago.