Floris
Floris, IA · Lifestyle
Hometown Current
Museum curator asks, “What happened to the Ioway?”
NORTH ENGLISH — Sandra Kessler Host, Curator of the Iowa Rural Schools Museum in Odebolt, was raised on a farm in Sac County and, after leaving for college and work, returned to the state — Council Bluffs — almost 20 years ago. Like many Iowans’, Host knew very little about the Indian tribe from which the state took it’s name, the Ioway. While researching the history of farming in Iowa, Host learned the history of the natives who lived in the state and left the state as Europeans pushed their way across the continent. It all began with the French Fur Trade in Canada, Host told a crowd of more than 50 listeners during a presentation at the English Valleys History Center in North English. Sunday, Aug. 30. In 1530-1540 in Canada, French fur trader Jacques Cartier traded metal objects, such as knives and pots, to tribes along the Canadian waterways, said Host. The French set up trading posts in the Great Lakes region and along the Mississippi river during the next 100 years. From 1629-1701 the French fought the Iroquois, winning the war for the fur trade known as The Beaver Wars, said Host. The French pushed the Iroquois,
kyoutv.com
Lunch club looks to boost downtown Ottumwa foot traffic
OTTUMWA, Iowa (KYOU) - Main Street Ottumwa said its monthly Downtown Lunch Club has increased lunch sales at participating restaurants. Main Street Ottumwa has sent a group of regulars to a different downtown restaurant once a month since February as part of an effort to increase foot traffic for downtown businesses.
ktvo.com
Dog owners and volunteers bring furry friends for last swim of the season at Beach Ottumwa
OTTUMWA, Iowa - Ottumwa Parks and Recreation marked the closure of Beach Ottumwa’s outdoor pool with its annual dog swim on Aug. 30. Each year, dog owners are invited to bring their furry friends for a dip in the outdoor pool before the parks department closes it for the season. Shelter dogs from the Heartland Humane Society also join in on the fun.
kciiradio.com
WACO FFA Bluegrass Band to Perform at Old Threshers Reunion
The WACO FFA Bluegrass Band will be performing at this year’s Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant. There will be two performances. The first will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 3rd, at the Barn, located near the west gate. Those not able to make it to that performance still have a chance to still hear the band perform at 12 p.m. on Monday, September 7th, at Heritage Museum A. The band will be performing at the gazebo.
iowasource.com
Golden Dome Café: Where Tasty Organic Food Is Made with Love
There’s a quiet magic happening these days at the Golden Dome Café, where longtime chef Dolores Johnson brings her passion for whole-food vegetarian cooking to the newly renovated space. Located at 1112 Granville Ave. on the Maharishi International University campus in Fairfield, the expanded restaurant has become one of the best-kept secrets—and best values—in town. Lunch and dinner buffets offer nourishing organic meals, and pre-ordered to-go meals and convenient “take home favorites” can be picked up.
khqa.com
Community event Saturday at Iowa’s only registered historic pottery archeological site in Bonaparte
BONAPARTE, Iowa - An Iowa nonprofit is showcasing historical artifacts and putting on art projects for kids this weekend. The event is put on by Bonaparte Pottery and Artisan Market and starts with an artisan demonstration, then supper with a freewill donation, plus hands-on arts activity for kids, followed by an history presentation, and ends with music under shade trees.
ottumwaradio.com
The Beach Ottumwa Announces Season Closing
The outdoor portion of The Beach Ottumwa will close for the season at 5 p.m. Sunday, August 30, marking the end of the 2026 summer season. Following the closing, The Beach will host its annual Dog Swim beginning at 6 p.m. August 30. The event gives area dogs an opportunity to enjoy the pool as part of the season-ending tradition.
kyoutv.com
Indian Hills Community College opens new student wellness center
OTTUMWA, Iowa (KYOU) - Indian Hills Community College will have a new wellness center starting next week, open to students who have been requesting a space like this for years. $6 million project took 15 months to build. Indian Hills Community College President Matt Thompson said the project cost $6...
ottumwaradio.com
Bloomfield Jam and Jelly Competition Set for Saturday
Bloomfield will be buzzing with activity Saturday as the annual Jam and Jelly Competition returns during the Bloomfield Farmers Market. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on the Bloomfield Square, with 23 entries already registered for this year’s competition. Organizers say there could be a few additional entries before the event begins.
oskynews.org
Oskaloosa Marching Band Prepares “All the Lonely People” for New Season
New production includes a vocal solo, electric guitar, expanded movement, and a strong focus on student connections. Oskaloosa, Iowa – The marching band from Oskaloosa High School is putting together a new performance titled “All the Lonely People” and will be incorporating new musical and visual features while at the same time strengthening discipline and the bonds among the students.
travelmag.com
This Iowa Amish Bulk Foods Store Is Packed With Country-Store Finds
I have a weakness for country stores that make a simple grocery stop feel like a small adventure. This Iowa bulk foods store does exactly that. You walk in for flour, spices, or a few pantry basics. Then the candy bins start calling. The baked goods look impossible to ignore....
familyvacationsus.com
Iowa’s Giant Outlet Mall Can Easily Turn A Quick Shopping Trip Into An All-Day Adventure
A quick stop for one pair of shoes can somehow turn into hours of browsing, snacking, and wandering. That is part of the appeal of Outlets Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Iowa, where spacious walkways, convenient parking, familiar stores, and nearby food make shopping feel less like a chore and more like a leisurely break.
kciiradio.com
Emmy Award-Winning Blues and Ragtime Artist Performing Free Set in Washington Thursday
An Emmy award-winning singer/songwriter will be playing in downtown Washington as this week’s Thursday Night Live performance, and the public can hear the music for free. Jack Norton plays vaudeville blues, ragtime, and vintage Americana folk. For the past two decades he has been producing a body of work that includes dozens of albums, films, books and nearly 250 live shows a year in Europe, Canada and the United States. Norton has performed at notable venues including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
KCRG.com
Ottumwa dancer wins Bill Riley Talent Search at the Iowa State Fair
DES MOINES, Iowa (KYOU) - 20-year-old Caleb Meiners of Ottumwa earned first place in the senior division at the 66th annual Bill Riley Talent Search Competition at the State Fair Sunday. Meiners received a $10,000 prize for his contemporary solo.
kciiradio.com
Local Washington Man to be Honored as the Circus Comes to Washington
The Culpepper and Merriweather Circus rolls into Washington this Wednesday, and a local Washington resident will be honored in memoriam with a celebration during the festivities. The Washington Chamber of Commerce invites families from across the area to experience the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus on Wednesday, August 26th, for an...
travelmag.com
10 Historic Iowa Restaurants That Haven’t Changed Their Recipes In Decades
I have a soft spot for restaurants that seem completely uninterested in chasing trends. They know what works, and they keep cooking it. That is what makes these Iowa spots so satisfying. The recipes have history, the regulars have opinions, and the best dishes taste like someone decided long ago not to mess with a good thing.