Duane and Floppy Film Festival Comes to Perry Tomorrow
Whether you remember the laugh, the riddles, the music or that buzzing nose…
If you spent any time in Iowa between 1957 and 1987, odds are you remember Duane Ellet and his beloved balsa wood puppet friend, Floppy.
Iowa broadcasting historian Jeff Stein is bringing the Duane and Floppy Film Festival to Perry this weekend and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bob Wilson says the community is excited.
“I have not seen so much excitement about a small balsa wood dog in my whole life” says Wilson.
Duane and Floppy graced television sets in Iowa before kids had access to cable television and channels like Nickelodeon. Which is why Stein says so many people have such fond memories of the duo.
“It was a chance to see this puppet on television and then go into the studio and actually if it was your birthday you got to ask Floppy a riddle… and no matter how many times Floppy had heard the riddle, he never knew the answer. And so as a kid, you would feel pretty cool” says Stein.
So whether you grew up watching Floppy yourself or want to share those fond memories with your children or grandchildren, everyone is invited to the event Sunday at the McCreary Community Building theater.
Proceeds from the event go to support the Carnegie Library Museum. The film festival kicks off at 1:30pm Sunday. Tickets are $5 per person, with kids 3 and under being admitted for free.
Dallas County Conservation Hosts Open House at Sportsman Park
Did you know Dallas County has several camping options available for groups both large and small?
The Dallas County Conservation Board is hosting an open house at one of their best kept secrets this weekend, Sportsman Park.
Equipped with both electric and primitive camping sites, cabins and a lodge, the park has options for campers of all varieties. If you’re not looking to stay overnight or host an event at the park, visitors can always stop by and spend the day exploring the walking trail or allowing the kids to enjoy the playground.
The open house takes place Sunday from 3-5pm and is open to the public.
Finally, Some Good Drought News
We finally have some good news in terms of the local drought conditions.
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor from the National Climatic Data Center, the majority of Dallas County is now considered “normal” in terms of drought, while the northwest portion and most of Guthrie County are classified as abnormally dry. The northern portion of Guthrie County and all of Greene County is now listed as in a moderate drought.
According to the National Weather Service, Jefferson received the most rain this week with 2.8 inches, bringing them to 3.1 inches so far this month.
Guthrie Center saw 2.4 inches of rain this week for a total of 2.6 at the halfway point this month.
And Perry received one and one-quarter inches this week, or a total of 1.53 inches in May.
All three weather reporting areas typically see between 4.5 and 5 inches of rain during the month of May.
Don’t Forget, Non-Motorized Vehicle Drivers Have Rules to Follow Too
Just like the many laws enforced for motor vehicle traffic, those who use non-motorized modes of transportation also need to obey the rules.
Perry Police Officer Pat Jans says something people might not realize is there are regulations in both the state and city code that outline what is not okay when riding on a bicycle, skateboard, scooter or roller blades. The number of occupants on any sort of vehicle is limited to the number of seats. So for example, it is unlawful for someone to ride on the pegs or handlebars of a bicycle.
Officer Jans says that’s something kids especially have a hard time understanding, so they work with the schools to make sure students understand the laws.
In addition to limits to the number of people on a vehicle, the number of people riding next to each other is also restricted to two abreast on the street.
Officer Jans says it’s also important for everyone to yield at sidewalks and driveways, and make sure you obey all posted signs and signals.
Perry Superintendent Says Location Can Be Both a Pro, and Con
There will be several new teachers and staff members in the Perry Schools next fall after various staff members retire or resign from the district.
Superintendent Lynn Ubben says there are always different reasons why people choose to leave.
With several people retiring from Perry schools this year after decades in the district, we asked Ubben if she thinks educators are sticking around the same area as much today as they once did in the past. She said she wasn’t sure but location can be a factor.
“Sometimes it depends on where you are at. We are close to Des Moines and the metro and so there are many opportunities in education within a half-hour to forty-five minutes” says Ubben. ”So I think that sometimes make a difference, having been in a smaller school at one time, that was probably forty-five minutes to an hour from a city of size, so I think that kind of makes a difference.”
Though being so close to a metropolitan area can also be a benefit because Ubben says many people, especially the younger crowd, want to be in close proximity to a larger city.
“We also attract people because we’re close to the metro, because a lot of young people will say ‘I’d really like to be close to a Des Moines or a Sioux City, or Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, a city of some size. So you also get people that you would not normally get, applying.”