Cherokee Chronicle Times: Columns: Margaret Dorr

Gray Matters: Reporting from Hawkeye country (03/17/10)
Now that I'm living in Cedar Rapids, I find myself deep in the heart of Hawkeye Country. The recent losses in both men's and women's basketball have made for some long faces. I'm still loyal to my alma mater, but I don't get quite so emotionally involved as some. Still, the connections do make for some interesting dinner conversations...

Gray Matters: Looking Forward To Spring (03/10/10)
I don't know about you, but I can scarcely wait for spring. Here, however, we don't want to wish too hard. If the spring thaw comes too rapidly there is a real threat of flooding and this area couldn't survive another of those disasters. For that reason I am turning my spring thoughts to the Texas Hill Country. ...

Gray Matters: The Olympics; part II (03/03/10)
Sometime before the opening of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, I was struck with an inspiration. Knowing our nephew, Dave Dorr, retired sports writer for the St. Louis Post Dispatch and Sporting News, had covered nine Olympics, six Winter Olympics and three Summer ones, I decided to asked him if he would recount some of his memorable experiences in a couple of guest Gray Matters...

Gray Matters: The Olympics (02/24/10)
Sometime before the opening of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, I was struck with an inspiration. Knowing our nephew, Dave Dorr, retired sports writer for the St. Louis Post Dispatch and Sporting News, had covered nine Olympics, six Winter Olympics and three Summer ones, I decided to asked him if he would recount some of his memorable experiences in a couple of guest Gray Matters...

Gray Matters: An interesting place (02/17/10)
Sitting here this bright cold afternoon I find myself thinking of things I have learned about some of the interesting people here at Cottage Grove Place. Each evening if we haven't made plans to sit with someone we know in the dining room, the hostess seats us randomly, usually at a table for four. ...

Gray Matters: Guitarist extraordinaire (02/03/10)
I am now living too far from Cherokee to have enjoyed any of the great musical events, which took place there recently. Of course, with the weather you've been "enjoying," I might not have gotten there anyway. Be that as it may, two recent stories from the Texas Hill Country about related musical matters have piqued my memory. I am sure the name Monte Montgomery rings a bell with many of the artists featured in Cherokee's recent activities...

Gray Matters: A Friend from Long Ago (01/27/10)
A hometown friend recently encouraged me to write again about some of our earlier residents. She said she had just visited the Reed Center and that always made her nostalgic for some of the special people who had made growing up in our little town so extraordinary. ...

Gray Matters: Things I don't quite understand (01/13/10)
After as many decades as I have been around, you would think I should have most everything figured out. But unfortunately, there are several things I still don't quite understand. Among them are the interminably lengthy, flowery obituaries which appear in many newspapers. I just finished reading one here which left me aghast. The writer, whom I took to be the daughter of the deceased, just went on and on...

Gray Matters: Pet people (01/06/10)
My present location has brought me face-to-face with situations that are relatively new to me--the relationships between pets and their human companions. In the past, my special neighbor, Helen, had her well-loved cats. Marcus' famed drug-sniffer, Shiloh, lived nearby, and the owners of two striking Samoyeds had moved in across the alley. But here, I am having the eye-opening experience of getting to know folks who seem to be as concerned about their pets as I am about my kids...

Gray Matters: Resolutions for the New Year (12/30/09)
Bob Reed, devoted chronicler and promoter of our area, has written a delightful blog about New Year's resolutions, which I think needs a more extensive audience. With his permission I am paraphrasing a portion of it. His position on the matter is immediately obvious as he begins, "It's coming up again--the New Year. And with it...New Year's."...

Gray Matters: Appreciate the familiar (12/23/09)
Strange as it may seem, I believe that we may have to be removed from something familiar before we truly appreciate it. I know there are scenes in Cherokee County, which I often took for granted that I am now missing very much. That is why I want to alert you who are still there to truly appreciate them. For example when you reach the intersection of Hwy. 143 and C-38 south of Marcus, take time to stop and look off to the northeast...

Gray Matters: Challenges of a new environment (12/09/09)
Here I am getting used to a new environment and attempting to adjust to all the changes it represents. In the small rural area where I lived for so many years, we had our differences of attitudes but we were always free to choose with whom we wished to share them...

Gray Matters: Special Links (12/02/09)
Today I want to tell you of some special links connecting Cherokee County with this Cedar Rapids area. I find them quite remarkable. As we are often seated more or less randomly at dinner, it's possible to meet different residents quite regularly. Often my dining companions have never heard of Marcus. So I was pleasantly surprised recently when a gentleman said, "Oh, yes, a long time ago I was well acquainted with that town. I spent many weeks there in the 1950's."...

Gray Matters: What's Wrong With Tradition? (11/25/09)
Perhaps I have been reading the wrong publications but it seems to me that an unusual number of recent food articles have contained suggestions for tweaking the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas menus. One added a Caribbean flair to the turkey dressing, another made some exotic additions to the sweet potatoes. A third proposed an outlandish twist to the cranberry sauce. I am not sure I see a need for any of that...

Gray Matters: Reporting From Across the State (10/29/09)
Here I am, looking out on a cold gray day, grateful that I don't have to get out in it. Grateful too, that I will have to go outside only when I choose, the whole winter long. I like it here and am getting somewhat settled in, though most of my new friends assure me that it will still take a good bit of time...

Gray Matters: Reporting From Across the State (10/28/09)
Here I am, looking out on a cold gray day, grateful that I don't have to get out in it. Grateful too, that I will have to go outside only when I choose, the whole winter long. I like it here and am getting somewhat settled in, though most of my new friends assure me that it will still take a good bit of time...

Gray Matters: Getting settled in (10/21/09)
When I first decided to move, I didn't set a specific time. I just said that I wanted to be in Cedar Rapids "before the snow flies." The packers, three very nice, and extremely efficient women from Sioux County, came one day to pack and label everything...

Gray Matters: Adapting to Change (10/07/09)
We are all aware that small changes are inevitable, and over the years most of us adapt pretty well.But, when it comes to facing a really major change, it's a somewhat different matter.I happen to be in the midst of a major one right now.Let me explain...

Gray Matters: Roadside Bouquets (09/30/09)
As autumn approaches the changing colors along the highways and byways always attract our attention. This reminds me of an interesting query made by a busy young mother some years ago. "If you love to arrange things but have no time to grow flowers, what can you do?" she asked. I had a ready answer from my own experience...

Gray Matters: "Amherst to Amherst" (09/16/09)
It was a privilege to spend a recent morning with a delightful couple who were in Cherokee County on a most unusual mission. Robert "Bob" and Jackie Tuthill of Amherst, Massachusetts, had contacted Linda Burkhart of the Sanford Museum some time ago explaining their mission which was to visit all towns in the United States named Amherst...

Gray Matters: Books (09/09/09)
At the risk of sounding a bit "persnickety," I am about to express a very negative opinion of a household hint I read recently. The writer suggested that we should get rid of books after we had read them, concluding that, "Over the years, books essentially become clutter, taking up valuable storage space." That advice might apply to casual, trashy, paperbacks purchased on impulse, but I totally disagree if she was referring to most books...

Gray Matters: Summer's End (08/26/09)
I am sorry that the deadline for last week's Gray Matter about Benjamin Radcliffe, came before I learned that the Radcliffe Family had been given special recognition at the Marcus Fair. Had I been at that event, I'm sure I would have adapted my piece a bit. Too, it was great to hear of the bench being gifted to the Fair by the Treinen's in Merle's honor. Tributes could not have been made to two more deserving gentlemen and their families...

Gray Matters: Looking back to the beginning (08/19/09)
The Marcus Historical Society-Reed center proved to be a real magnet for returning Marcusites during the Marcus Fair and all of the recent Class and Family Reunions. This fascination has prompted me to go back to our beginnings and recall the story of Benjamin Radcliffe, one of our town's early "movers and shakers." He was born in England where his father was president of the Lincolnshire-Yorkshire Railroad. ...

Gray Matters: Celebrating the Marcus Fair (08/12/09)
The highly successful Cherokee County Fair has just ended and the Marcus Fair begins on August 13. Surrounded by these and so many similar events, I'm inspired to make some observations. In the first place, I think it's great that so many Class and Family Reunions are being held during this special August weekend here in Marcus...

Gray Matters: A Super-Patriotic Town (08/05/09)
Shortly after seeing the local coverage of the Veterans' Honor Flight to Washington DC in July, I was pleased to see similar coverage in the weekly paper from Fredericksburg, Texas, the Hill Country town in which my late husband and I used to winter...

Gray Matters: A good laugh (07/29/09)
Some days we are seriously in need of a good laugh. If it doesn't happen to be such a day for you, save this for when one comes along. A former student of mine, who now lives in California, was here for a family reunion. She and several of her immediate family were calling on a classmate of hers who invited me to join them...

Gray Matters: Unique coincidences (07/22/09)
Though I often complain about the disadvantages of aging, I must admit it isn't all bad.For example, it's rather nice sitting back and thinking about all of the unique coincidences that have occurred over the years. I recently decided to record a few for my family and was then encouraged to share some with you Gray Matter readers. I will leave it to you to decide whether or not that was a wise decision...

Gray Matters : Two mirrors (07/15/09)
Perhaps I should warn you that today's Gray Matter may be of little interest to any of you younger than, say, seventy. Forewarned, you "kids" can go directly on to an item more to your liking, if you choose. First, I expect I should set the scene. You see, practically every one of us older folks who is reasonably mobile has been greeted with what we feel is a platitude when a younger person exclaims, "My, you are looking good." Our immediate reaction is to be a bit wary. ...

Gray Matters: Some stories should not be forgotten (07/08/09)
Each time I go into the Reed Center, Marcus Historical Society, I am struck anew by the amount of devoted effort that has been put into this special place. I know that many of you have shared such feelings, whether it's in the Reed Center or in a similar facility in your own community. Although my contribution of hands-on labor is limited, perhaps my words can take up a bit of the slack. It is in this sense that I am writing today...

Gray Matters: Small town connections (07/01/09)
My recent story concerning the management changes at Sand Seed Service evoked some memories which I would like to tell you about. The Sand and Dorr names share several connections. John Sand opened his small seed store on Main Street in 1934, just a year before my late husband, Melvin Dorr, started the Dorr Hatchery a few doors away in 1935. ...

Gray Matters: Living History Book (06/23/09)
In researching the story of the Choctaw Indians which I recently shared with you I was privileged to read an account of another descendant of Greenwood LeFleur which was written by my great-nephew, then a college student living in Louisiana. I have told you in the past of my amazement at remembering my own grandmother's recollection of the Civil War, so you know I share a bit of his reaction. I hope you will enjoy his account which follows...

Gray Matters : Greenwood Le Flore (06/17/09)
Some years ago, during a trip to Montana, I became aware of the fallacy of our simplistic, cowboys-and-Indians concept of Native Americans. This realization was once more impressed on me while visiting with my sister's son-in-law in Louisiana. This tall, black-haired, newspaper editor is a great-great-great-grandson, of the famed chief of the Choctaw Nation, Greenwood LeFlore...

Gray Matters: All good things (06/10/09)
According to a familiar saying, one with which we would often like to disagree, "All good things must come to an end." We are experiencing such a situation here in western Cherokee County right now. Things are changing at Sand Seed Service, a long-standing institution in our business community. Oh don't misunderstand, this many-faceted company will continue to be one of our major industries...

Gray Matters: The conclusion of John Mc Queen's journal (06/03/09)
Here is the conclusion of John McQueen's journal started last week. But first, through a "typo" on my part, I skipped a generation. John McQueen was actually Charlie Miller's GREAT-grandfather. I think this makes the story even that much more remarkable. Enjoy!...

Gray Matters: Questions on the Holocaust (05/20/09)
A Holocaust study recently conducted in the MMC junior high school by social studies teacher Ashley Ruehle was a well-designed and worthwhile project. Though, as I read about it, I did wonder if concentrating only on the Jewish children might not have given those students a somewhat distorted picture of the whole horrible business. ...

Gray Matters: Record breakers (05/13/09)
I haven't done any serious research on the matter, but I expect high school sports records come and go at varying rates over the years. Still, I do believe that one standing for a whole generation is something of a rarity. That situation just occurred here in Marcus. The record for the Discus Throw was set at 141'3" in 1978 by Kenneth Meylor and it stood until it was broken by MMC senior, Alex Roseen, on April 20, 2009, at the Knight Relays in Orange City, with a toss of 145'3"...

Railroad nostalgia (05/06/09)
(Once again I found one of Bob Reed's posts on the Marcus Blogspot so delightful that I knew it deserved a wider audience. With Bob's permission, I have cut it a bit to fit this space. No matter which of the area towns you called home, I know you will enjoy this delightful piece of nostalgia.)...

Our society is made up of remarkable people (04/29/09)
When I promised last time to tell you about some of the volunteers who are working so faithfully to make the Marcus Historical Society--Reed Center a reality, I didn't realize what an impossible assignment I was taking on. There are so many remarkable individuals among the members of the society that one hardly knows where to start or stop...

Historical society up-date (04/22/09)
I have been unable to visit our Marcus Historical Society--Reed Center for quite some time so it was a real pleasure when I was able to go there recently and see how nicely things are falling into place. The building it self, which was once a Lutheran church, has an aura of earlier days about it, which aids your transition from present to past the moment you step inside. First, you see the plaque honoring Carl and Hazel Reed...

Reluctant Spring (04/08/09)
Do you suppose Mother Nature is in need of a hearing aid? In spite of all the talk of Global Warming she seems to be totally unaware of it in these parts. I am sure you are as weary of this weather as I am. Of course there is absolutely nothing we can do to change it, so the next best thing is to change the subject. ...

Recognizing a new reality (04/01/09)
You Gray Matter readers know how proud I've always been of the small-town friendliness that makes our rural way of life so special. So now I have to tell you of my surprise as I begin to realize that I no longer know everyone who lives here. This dawned on me one recent morning when. ...

Mentor, Role Model, Father (03/27/09)
Here is the conclusion of the eulogy begun last week. Cameron Kranig continued,"Growing up with Bob for a father was like growing up with John Wayne or any tough guy you can think of. Bib was the definition of tough. In his sixties he was difficult to keep up with, when he was younger, it was impossible. Through searing heat or bitter cold he worked. Nothing slowed him down...

Gray Matters:Bob Kranig--Remarkable employee and friend (03/23/09)
When Bob Kranig, a long-time employee, who was almost like family, recently passed away I wanted to write something about him, but scarcely knew how to begin. Fortunately, I was given a copy of a eulogy written by his son Cameron. I have told you of this multi-talented young man in the past and once again he has proven himself. With his permission, here are portions of his piece:...

Gray Matters:Nostalgia (03/17/09)
If you like experiencing a bit of nostalgia for days long past, IPTV Festival has certainly been offering the opportunities. "Picture Perfect: Iowa in the 1940's," a collection of images from that era, was a delight. Then I was particularly intrigued by the compilation of photos and memories entitled "Iowa' One-Room Schoolhouses." I never actually attended one. ...

Gray Matters:There are always more that meets the eye (03/10/09)
I am sure you enjoyed Bob Reed's piece on the movies as much as I did. I really appreciated his filling in for me while I was off dealing with some health issues at the Mayo Clinic. Things turned out pretty well, so now I'm slowly returning to normal. My kids might ask, "Mom, Normal?' But we won't go into that. Hmm!...

Gray Matters: A Page From the Past (02/23/09)
Recently, at the time of the death of my friend, Doris Roseen, I was reminded of the now defunct Marcus Woman's Club and the many years we spent together as active members of that rather remarkable organization. The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) was founded near the turn of the 20th century, and was instrumental in many social changes nation-wide...

Gray Matters: Some Dilemmas and a Pleasure (02/17/09)
I have just tossed out a pile of that advertising material that comes regularly with my newspaper, especially with the Sunday edition. And earlier today I again saw the quantity of similar stuff that accumulates at the local Post Office. I presume enough people find this advertising useful that it pays out in the long run, but I still think there must be a better way. ...

Gray Matters: Winter Wonderland (02/09/09)
While the season's snow has been mounting into piles and the weathermen have been reminding us of past record-setting winters, I've been recalling some childhood memories. One big difference between then and now is the fact that, currently, I chill at the mere thought of going outside, but I have absolutely no recollection of ever being cold back then...

Gray Matters:Mothering isn't a boring chore (01/26/09)
Today I am writing about a matter that seriously troubles me. At the outset, I want to make it perfectly clear that I do understand that times have changed and that, in some cases, it is absolutely necessary for women to work outside their homes. Still, when I keep hearing women, in various media outlets, going on about the terrible lives led by their mothers and grandmothers, members of my generation, I am disturbed. ...

Gray Matters:The Death of a Remarkable Man (01/19/09)
There are a few individuals in every community who seem, almost automatically, to assume the leadership roles. When those remarkable folks leave us, the loss is deeply felt. We, here in western Cherokee County, are experiencing just such a loss. A few days ago, ninety-three-year-old Merle Treinen passed away. ...

Gray Matters: Need an activity, then start a conversation (01/12/09)
That annoying TV ad which suggests that renting a movie and watching it together would be a great "family activity" started me thinking again about the way we so often misuse words. I am all for family activity, but I think that ad totally misses the point. ...

Gray Matters:Significance of the holidays (01/02/09)
The lights are extinguished, the music silenced, church bells again ring only at regular worship times. Christmas is over for another year, but that is not quite as it should be. The true meaning of Christmas should remain in our hearts for the months that lie ahead...

Gray Matters:Holiday no-spin zone (12/29/08)
I am beginning to realize that most of us are guilty of putting our own spin on the words we use every day. It recently struck me that the agitation over the use of the term Happy Holidays by some Christians is really about the spin they are putting on those words...

Gray Matters: Tastes of Christmas (12/22/08)
The Blessed Christmas Season touches all of the senses, but today let's consider the sense of taste. Do you remember those tasty things when you were a child that could only mean Christmas? My mother didn't do a lot of baking so my rememberings are of goodies brought home from the store. Mixed hard candies loom large...

Gray Matters: Christmas memories (12/17/08)
In this Season of Advent 2008 it has occurred to me that there might be a hidden benefit in the difficult economic times we're going through. Could it be that in these circumstances we may concentrate less on material things and more heavily on spiritual matters as we prepare to celebrate our Savior's birth? In that light I was reminded of a story I shared with you in a Gray Matter some years ago, so I've decided to repeat it here...

Gray Matters: Made for special memories (12/09/08)
Not long ago while sorting through some old letters I found several from a favorite uncle of mine. These witty gems are to be preserved and treasured. They also triggered some fond memories. That uncle, Thomas Green, was married to my mother's oldest sister. ...

Gray Matters: Let us give thanks (12/03/08)
Thanksgiving, that most American of holidays, has recently been called the forgotten holiday. If that is true, circumstances might turn things around this year. If there is a possible up-side to the current state of the economy, it might be that it gives us a chance to think about how unbelievably our nation has been blessed in all things material...

Gray Matters: A Couple of Fine Young Men (11/24/08)
I live adjacent to a vacant lot which was once part of the Holy Name School playground and then served that purpose for the neighborhood kids for years after the school was taken down. I have missed the activity out there in more recent years, so was more than pleased when youngsters started gathering there this fall. Quite a few show up after school to play their version of football--running, throwing, tackling and, mostly, it seems to me, just falling down in a heap...

Gray Matters: Another Veteran to Remember and Honor (11/13/08)
With the approach of Nov. 11, we are again reminded of those among us who have served our country, particularly those WW II veterans whose ranks are thinning. A friend recently told me of one of these men, Ray Flanagan, who happens to be my neighbor. This friend said that while most of the infantrymen serving in Italy were either wounded or deceased within weeks, Flanagan survived that horror for 13 months-- April 1944 until May 1945...

Gray Matters:Veterans Day (10/28/08)
As Veterans Day nears we are reminded that the ranks of those who fought in WW II are thinning. With that in mind I decided to visit with several of these men to bring you their stories. The first is Roger Leavitt of the Marcus Lumber Company. Roger graduated from Marcus High School in1943. He was soon drafted, as was every able-bodied young man in his class...

Gray Matters:Autumn Splendor (10/21/08)
Perhaps, if I were in the midst of a howling January blizzard, or if I had to rake up my own November leaves, I might choose to live in a mild, seasonless climate. But just one glance out my windows at October's splendor and such a choice loses its appeal. I am sure, like most prairie towns, ours has been aware of the beauty and value of trees from the time of its founding...

Gray Matters:Facing devastation (10/14/08)
Throughout this violent season of floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, many of us have looked on in shock and awe, with prayers on our lips. These have been prayers for the victims and prayers of thanksgiving that we have been spared. Throughout, I have been reminded of the experience, nearly twenty years ago, endured by my friend, Catherine Wendt, who now lives in Cleghorn. ...

Gray Matters:Another Neighborhood Upgrade (10/06/08)
 Some weeks ago I bragged a bit in this column about my high-class neighborhood where I am privileged to live just across-lots from the elegant and talented drug-sniffing dog, Shiloh. Well, another very special member of the canine community has just moved into the residence between mine and Shiloh's...

Gray Matters: Goin' Home (09/26/08)
Not long ago I asked two of our area's most loyal expatriates, both of whom are talented writers, to tell us why author Thomas Wolfe was dead wrong when he claimed "You Can't Go Home Again." Julia Meylor Simpson of Rhode Island delighted us with her observations while Bob Reed's reply was delayed. Some health problems had slowed him down a bit. But now, we are happy to report, our favorite Floridian is recovering and has sent this very special essay which I am so pleased to share with you today...

Gray Matters: A Trip Down Under (09/22/08)
I seem to be increasingly fascinated with tales of friends who travel to far-away places. Recently, I was privileged to visit with Lisa Mayer and her daughter, Bridget, who had traveled to visit a cousin in Australia. They are the wife and daughter of James Mayer, Marcus area farmer...

Gray Matters:Them's Fightin' Words (09/16/08)
'Hawkeye' and 'Cyclone' are the "fightin' words" I'm referring to. This really rings true on one Saturday in early September, the day of the Iowa -- Iowa State game. This year it falls on the 13th. However, there was a delightful preview offered a month ago at the Marcus Fair...

Gray Matters: You Can Go Home Again (part two) (09/04/08)
Encouraged by the positive response to last week's column written by poet, writer and area native, Julia Meylor Simpson, I urged her to send us another and here it is. I was asked to write about my memories of growing up on a farm in Cherokee County and "coming home" in this column. ...

Gray Matters: You Can Go Home Again (09/02/08)
I would like to contradict famed author Thomas Wolfe's claim that "You Can't Go Home Again," for there are several area natives who can, and do, as often as possible. Fortunately for us, one of them, Julia Meylor Simpson from Rhode Island makes her living as a writer. She is a published poet and...

Gray Matters: Rainboth Spreads the Word (08/18/08)
Last week's story of the mission trip to Haiti aroused a lot of interest and I hope it led to generous contributions. If you missed the opportunity, you may still help out. Just address your offerings to HAPI % Lee Rainboth 452 530th St. Marcus, IA 51035...

Gray Matters: A Story and an Opportunity (08/11/08)
In the midst of our egocentric world, I've found a great story about some folks who are willing to reverse the trend and give freely of their time and resources to others They're not just going next door to help out a friend. Instead, this group is heading for Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, to help conduct a 10-day medical clinic in Mizak, a city of about 35,000 which is a 3-hour drive from the capitol city of Port-au-Prince. ...

Gray Matters:Karl King (08/04/08)
Everyone who has ever attended a band concert has probably heard one of Karl King's compositions for he turned out more than 400 of them. Following a toe-tapping rendition of one at a recent concert, a conversation was initiated about the man. I was raised in Karl King country (near Fort Dodge), so I remembered seeing this striking, dignified gentleman often. ...

Gray Matters: Small town salute (07/28/08)
As some of you may know, Marcus has its own Blog site set up by Bob Reed, retired professor and writer, who lives in Florida. There have been some differing opinions expressed in several recent postings. Some folks regard them as finding fault; while others consider them constructive criticism. ...

Gray Matters: Marcus Fair (07/23/08)
Now that the highly successful Cherokee County Fair is history, the action is moving to the western edge of the county. The 72nd Annual Marcus Community Fair, scheduled for Aug. 7-10, is fast approaching. I believe the Fair Board, a diligent group of volunteers chaired by Rod Ogren, has been hard at work ever since the 71st Fair ended a year ago. That's the kind of effort it takes to achieve success...

Gray Matters:Deep roots (07/15/08)
Roots run deep and are tightly secured in the lush soil of northwest Iowa. I was reminded of this during a recent Sunday service at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Marcus. That morning, Brette Tillie Bentz, infant daughter of Adam and Bobbi Bentz, of North Liberty, Iowa, was baptized in that church, of which her Great-Great-Great Grandfathers, Johann Nicholas Specht and Jacob Mayer, were founding members in 1879. ...

Gray Matters:To each his own (07/07/08)
I usually try to avoid clich�s but I'm afraid there's no way around it this time. Let me tell you how perfectly that old one, "to each his own," has recently been proven. It has to do with favorite musicals. A few weeks ago, I told you how and why Oklahoma! had become my unquestioned preference. ...

Gray Matters:Tribute to a friend (06/30/08)
Many here were saddened when recent news reached us of the death of Bonnie Garlow Morgenthaler of California. Though she had lived most of her adult life in her adopted state, she was loyal to her home town and was fondly remembered by all who knew her. ...

Gray Matters: A Pretty Classy Neighborhood (06/19/08)
I don't like to brag but I thought you might be interested in knowing that I live in a pretty classy neighborhood. It was instantly upgraded some months ago when a distinguished newcomer moved in. This well proportioned, dark-haired beauty lives in her very special quarters about a block, across lots, from my place. ...

Gray Matters: Continued Story (06/16/08)
Sometime ago I wrote of a young man in Rochester, MN, a native of Russia, who suffers from gigantism caused by a tumor on his pituitary gland. Through the combined efforts of many, he and his mother, Svetlana, came to America and are now US citizens. She has become a registered nurse at St. Mary's Hospital. After high school, Igor completed computer technician training and has been employed by the Mayo Clinic's computer help line...

Gray Matters:Activity or attitude? (05/23/08)
In a recent chat, a group of us began wondering if May wasn't becoming the busiest month on the calendar. Together, we listed graduations (on every level, starting with kindergarten), confirmations, showers (both baby and bridal), weddings, and on and on -- enough to make our heads spin. ...

Gray Matters: Spring tune-up (05/07/08)
I just returned from spending a few days at Mayo in Rochester, MN. My daughter calls it my "spring tune-up." The incredible surgeon who replaced my left shoulder always checks out his jobs after two years. He termed my surgery a total success, which I already knew. ...

Gray Matters: Family lore -- truth or fiction? (04/23/08)
I'm always reminding folks to record their family histories. Not long ago a friend and I were talking about this when she asked, "What do you do when stories seem to differ, depending on who's telling them?" I advised her to record them all, for there could be bits of truth in each version. ...

Gray Matters:Oh, What a Beautiful Memory! (04/14/08)
The review of an area theater's production of the classic "Oklahoma!" sparked a stream of beautiful memories. The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, based on the play "Green Grow the Lilacs," premiered on Broadway, March 31, 1943. There was nation-wide publicity about this immediate and unusual hit. ...

Gray Matters:Thank you for your kindness (04/07/08)
There may be times when you readers think I dwell too much on this business of getting on in years. Well I'm at it again, so just skip on to the sports page if you find the subject too boring. Hmm! These last months when there has been so much ice underfoot, often accompanied by gale-force winds, I still tried to get out and do as much as I could for myself. ...

Gray Matters: Prepare for the Fair (03/26/08)
Today I am writing about fairs. Each year there's one in Cherokee, one in Marcus and several others in the area. You may be thinking, "Why so early? There's plenty of time to think about those matters." Surprisingly, there are board members, committee members, and many others who think about those matters year-round...

Gray Matters - Admissions of an almost addict (03/17/08)
Here am I, someone who once thought she could only write with pen in hand, and who considered herself a total novice with all things electronic. Then my computer "went down." When you're writing the old fashioned way and your pen goes dry, you just pick up another pen, but that's not how it works anymore. What a surprise to find out how much I had come to rely on this magic machine!...

Gray Matters: Warm Thoughts In Mid-Winter (02/18/08)
I recently heard it rumored that some local women were starting a Garden Club. Just a short while before that I had been bemoaning the fact that such delightful organizations seemed to be things of the past. Happily, as I followed up on the rumor, I found it to be a fact. ...

Gray Matters:Veterans of World War II (02/11/08)
The preponderance of WW II veterans in current obituary columns is sobering. The ranks of those who served our country so nobly is thinning. The recent January date on which my sister and her soldier husband were married 66 years ago, brought many reminders. The two of them had graduated from Iowa State in 1939. Helen had a job in Joliet, IL as home economist for a utility company and Harold had entered the service...

Gray Matters: World Travel II (02/07/08)
Today I want to conclude the story I started last week in which we were privileged to vicariously visit Shanghai, China with Jim Hoefling and Leone Sand. The two of them assured me that the Great Wall was among the most awe-inspiring things they saw. ...

Gray Matter: Outdone (01/24/08)
I am always a bit uncomfortable when I realize that I've been outdone. I can usually convince myself that I'm not doing too badly for an eighty-six-year-old, but I've been seriously bettered twice lately. Ouch ! First, I heard from Ruth, a high-school classmate. ...

Gray Matter : Merry Christmas! (12/26/07)
That beautiful holy day on which we commemorate the birth of Christ is almost upon us. As it approaches I have been noticing several things that set this season apart from those of recent years. Here in Iowa, at least, we are so inundated with politics that many Christmas matters have been crowded aside. ...

Gray Matter:A Story Worth Repeating (12/10/07)
A nephew, Jeff Dorr, who was born and raised here at Marcus, has recently moved from Texas to Cary, NC. with his wife, Meena, and their three youngsters. Cary is a smaller city within commuting distance of Durham, home of Duke University. Scott Smiley is a new student at Duke's Fuqua School of Business. ...

Gray Matter: Iowa Heroes (12/03/07)
I'm sure many of you saw the story a few weeks ago in various newspaper supplements about the Bob Feller Museum in Van Meter, IA. In that article, the author told of Feller interrupting his stellar career by enlisting in the Navy in 1941. That set me to remembering. I started my junior year at the University of Iowa the fall of 1941.� My good friend, Evelyn, a fellow junior English major, lived just down the hall with her sister, Marg, who was a freshman that year. ...

Gray Matter: Wars and rumors of wars (11/27/07)
I hope my last story concerning Armistice Day didn't cause undue confusion. I should have explained that, though I knew it officially became Veterans Day in 1954, I thought it interesting to trace the true origins of this special day. The first World War started in 1914, but the US was not involved until April 16, 1917. ...

Gray Matter: Armistice Day (11/12/07)
As November eleventh approaches, I realize how little thought we give to World War I, the conflict that ended on that day in 1918. Recently I was privileged to read recollections written by the late Peter Grauer, of Marcus, then a US soldier serving near Belfort, France. Here is a part of his story...

Gray Matter: When Genealogy takes interesting turns (11/05/07)
True genealogists search for their roots by digging in the past, tracing branches of their family tree to distant places. If the tables are turned, they also enjoy finding themselves the object of someone else's search. When this rare event happens twice in the same family, as it did to Dr. Ray Drefke and his wife Ann who live in Marcus, it makes a remarkable story...

Gray Matter: US Attorney appointment impressive (11/01/07)
A young friend (well maybe not so young, but anyone my kids' age is young to me) recently told me of a happening which he thought would make a great Gray Matter. Acting on his suggestion, I found he was absolutely right. It's always good to hear of the special honors or accomplishments of folks with Cherokee County connections...

Gray Matter: Oktoberfests and 'The Chicken Dance' (10/23/07)
It’s mid-autumn, and time once more for harvest festivals, those celebrations that must have begun with our earliest ancestors. Probably most common in the upper Midwest is some variation of the German Oktoberfest. The one best known in our area is held in Remsen, just over the Plymouth County line to our west �" German, with Luxembourg overtones. ...

Gray Matter : Another Texas story (10/08/07)
It's been a while since I brought you a Texas story so I was pleased to be reminded of one I thought you might enjoy. I still subscribe to the weekly newspaper from Fredericksburg where we spent so many delightful winters. A recent issue carried the obituary of Julia Magdalene "Maggie" Lentz, age 88. ...

Gray Matter: More about watermelons (09/24/07)
�� I love it when I get reactions to a Gray Matter column.� That happened recently when a delightful lady, who is somewhat older than I, started to tell me of the reminiscences my recent piece on watermelon vandalism had triggered for her.�...

Gray Matter: Experiencing Africa (09/04/07)
I am pleased to have found still another story of a local young person's summer adventures --a story I think you will enjoy. That person is Lee Rainboth, who recently received his BFA from Iowa State University . Perhaps you saw his Africa-inspired art work, which was featured at the Sanford Museum last spring...

Margaret Dorr
Gray Matters