Garwin

Monday Morning my hometown of Garwin was hit with a storm I never imagined would hit it.  It wasn’t tornados, more straight line winds.  Friends farms were destroyed, houses have roof’s ripped off, no power and gas and no idea when it will be turned back on.  The Legion Hall roof is gone.  The bandstand, community center and park are all smashed up.  The grain elevator that my dad owned and worked at for 35+ years is mangled and looks like Megatron ripped through there.  My dad’s old office is currently covered by a grain bin.  Looking at some of the photos from old friends I’m in awe of the damage.  The park and my dad’s elevator are places I’ve been around a million times growing up, and to see them destroyed or have caution tape around them is sad. 

I’m thankful that no one was hurt in this, and things can be replaced.  As I stated on my facebook, please keep us that have moved out of town aware of what is going on, what is needed and updates on news on the town and any new photos.

***I nabbed some photos from people on facebook and the web***

Photos from Nick Helton

I was working at my parents Monday and didn’t get into town but attached are photos from people in town that got them loaded to facebook.  I will add more as I can.  Also attached is news video of the damage. 

I know Garwin isn't Parkersburg and we don't have a polarize figure like Ed Thomas, but there are good people in Garwin, and I hope that the people who are covering this dont' forget about our little community. 

Garwin Community Bands Together - Times Republican
Bloody Hell of a Storm - by Kyle Munson - Des Moines Register
Derecho Storm hits Garwin - by Kyle Muson - Des Moines Register

Garwin powered by Generator - Times Republican Article

Garwin looks at 3-5 day Recovery - Times Republican Article

Blog by Des Moines Register writer Kyle Munson - with photos
Storm Creates Harvest Headache - Waterloo Courier
Federal Disaster Requested by Gov Bransted - Times Republican

Storm Knocks Out Town's Power For Days - Video - KCCI Des Moines

WOI-ABC 5 Garwin Without Power
WOI - Garwin still cleaning up

WHO Story by Andy Fales

Little League Lookback

Spring and Summer have hit Iowa and it’s the time of year when little league games dominate parents schedules.  My boy this year is in his first year of Bam Bam (think TBall with a big bouncy ball and big red bat).  My daughter plays with us in the back yard and next year will be looking for softball for her.  But all the playing reminded me of my little league days and a vivid memory.

In Garwin after 5^th grade, we had enough kids go out in 4-5-6 grade to have 2 minors teams, Garwin-Orange and Garwin-Black.  My teams first game was against Green Mountain, the school district we are consolidated with, and vs. friends we went to school with.  The Green Mountain team hadn’t won a game in like 2 years. 

My coach put me in the leadoff spot.  Green Mountain started the tallest kid in class, and then it seemed like he could chuck it pretty good, but there isn’t a lot of control.  I got drilled in the hip in one of my at-bats.  The rest of the details of the game, outside of the last inning are fuzzy but the last inning I remember clear as day.  We were going into the top of the 5^th (we only played 5 innings) and we were down by 1.  My buddy Bryan was on the mound for Green Mountain.  With a couple singles and a walk we had bases loaded, top of the lineup.  I’m up to bat, my buddy Pete was on third base, the tying run. 

I step into the batter’s box and did my “Nomar” of getting ready for the pitch.  Made eye contact with Bryan…it was on.  A hit or a walk we at least tie the game, and maybe even get the game winning run around from second.    So the scene is set and as can be expected I swing at the first pitch.  As soon as I swung and felt the contact I knew the result….got under it too much.  DAMN!  It was a perfect pop fly straight up to the pitcher’s mound and Bryan.  Can still see him waving off the 1b and 3b as I was running to first.  Ball hit his glove, game over.  An L, 0-1.  Green Mountain had their first win in 2 years.  I felt like I lost the game for us.

We went like 8-8 that year, going into the playoffs.  In the first game in Gilman, we were up going into the bottom of the 5^th…gave up a couple runs and my 5^th grade year of minors was over.  This may not be the fondest memory of my little league life but it’s the one that sticks out the most!  The next year though would be a lot better! 

Best and Worst of the Weekend – 15 year reunion

Best – So the weekend was pretty good on a whole.  Friday we didn’t do to much as I knew that Saturday was going to be a long day with things packed back to back to back.  Had all 3 kids out cold by 9pm! 

Saturday was a flurry.  Brayden had his end of year program with Lil Scholars preschool.  He was up on stage singing (and sometimes just standing) but he did a good job.  When he went up to get his certificate I let out a “way to go brady!” and he stopped on stage to look back not knowing where I was.  Was kind of funny.  Then we had to rush him out and get him to his Bam Bam game.  He had already been up for a while being the first one up, so this was an adventure.  He was getting to the point of being tired and crabby and just ornery.  He didn’t want to play and was hungry and more interested in the rocks and dirt.  Not to mention it was kind of warm too.  He got through about an inning and a half before tapping out.  He didn’t want to run past 1^st his second at bat. 

After that it was home and pack for Garwin.  I had my 15 year reunion on Saturday.  Can’t believe it’s been 15 years since we graduated.  We had about 12 of our class of 35 there.  I think we had more kids there than classmates.  But it was fun.  I’ve seen a few people since then with just running around Des Moines, and softball and stuff.  Others I hadn’t seen in a while.  Was really good to catch up with them and see them again.  Also loved being back in Garwin and at the park we just let the kids run and play.  Can’t do that here in Des Moines so much, so I loved just giving them that freedom.  They did pretty good too.  Afterwards drove around town and saw the new school addition, that looks really nice.  Then we drove around to see both the old houses and grandma’s old house.  Was kind of nostalgic and fun.  Loved growing up there! 

Saturday night we went to drive to see dad in Marshalltown then.  Mom was gone in Memphis all week so thought he needed a visitor.  He was sleeping when we got there, no surprise.  The kids ate a brownie there and we left some with dad.   Brayden wanted to stay with grandpa, probably will get them there some weekend so he can play with grandpa.  On the way home the kids were out cold, and took a bit to wake them up to get them in the house. 

Sunday I told the kids I’d make them pancakes and then get them outside and doing stuff in the morning before it got hot.  We hit Columbus Park to swing a bit and then one of their favorites, the sculpture park.  They just ran.  Addy I think may be a good little runner.  She was moving pretty good.  Brayden will get there, he just needs a little more time to get longer legs to keep up with Addy.  After that we went to Pete Crivario Park and the wading pool.  The kids and I were there 2 hours playing.  They loved the water, played with other kids and ate lunch.  Were pretty good there.  Brayden then CRASHED big time!  It was nice.  I got about a 30 min nap in.  Not long enough.  The rest of the day was keeping cool, grilling and watching X-Men.

Worst – one little accident Brayden had at the wading pool.  I’ll keep it at that. :)

On tap – I hope to get to see XMen First Class sometime this week.  Also 2 more bam bam games and also 2 softball games.  So a busy week!

Looking back at the Big Wheel!

So today I was in my boss's office and somehow we got talking about bikes and I mentioned how in my hometown at the first house I grew up in, we used to ride our bikes down the hill and jump the culvert from the neighbor's driveway into our ditch and up it to the front deck.

Looking back that was so much fun.  First off it was cool to seem like we got that much air when we jumped it.  I think sometimes we may have got a little bit.  If you have been reading this or follow me on facebook or twitter, I miss my small town growing up. I loved it.  I hate the big city and that my kids won't experience in Des Moines what I had in Garwin.  All of us who grew up there were lucky.

But after we got done talking about bikes, I mentioned that I had a big wheel too.  Not just any big wheel, a Dukes of Hazzard Big Wheel.  (somewhat like the one pictured, but more orange) I got it from my grandparents for Christmas one year.  I used to watch the Dukes every Friday night with my grandma, and even skip my brothers football and basketball games to do so.  It was my thing with my grandma.  So it was an awesome gift.  I remember going to their basement to ride it that night since I couldn't outdoors.  That spring/summer I tore that thing up!

As you can see the whole thing is mostly plastic and on the right side there was a lever that was your brake.  You could get that thing going fast enough down hill and then hit the break and turn the wheel and get some nice black tire marks on the side walk.  All I need was a bow and I was a real Duke!  What was even cooler is that our neighbor had a custom horn that had the Dukes General Lee horn!  We'd get that played for us when we drove by.  We also had the town cop living at the top of the hill.  You'd get him to sit out there with his cop car, or even just see it parked and it was like running from Roscoe P Coltrane, add in the horn and it was one heck of a ride for a 5-7 year old.

I rode that thing everywhere, all over the neighbor hood, sidewalks, driveway and even rode it to church one Sunday.  The pastor at children's time even made note to mention about the Big Wheel parked out front.

Got to say it was a great conversation with my boss and made me smile a lot and brought back a lot of great memories from my past.

Now all I need now is my real General Lee!