Cherokee man 'feeling pink' on 21st birthday
Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2006
Melissa Beier, 12, of Cherokee, Iowa, works with Ruth French of Aurelia, Iowa, on Valentine's Day at Rhoadside Blooming House in Cherokee. The greenhouse/flower shop is owned by Beier's parents. (Photo by Tim Gallagher)
CHEROKEE, Iowa -- The staff at Rhoadside Blooming House in Cherokee prepared 1,000 roses for customers this Valentine's Day.
Twenty-four went to one man, who noted he bought a single rose for every hour of the day he spent thinking of his wife.
"We had another order for a couple who had a baby at 1 a.m. today (Valentine's Day)," said Donna Beier, who owns Rhoadside Blooming House with husband John. "The new dad called in from the hospital and had us prepare a bouquet for his 'Baby Valentine.'"
That's the kind of holiday it was at Rhoadside, the greenhouse/flower shop on the north edge of Cherokee, just off Highway 59. All day, men and women (mostly men) stopped to pick up roses for their sweetheart.
Or sweethearts.
"I'm getting three roses, one for each girlfriend," said one young man. He wasn't identified. Good thing for him.
Dave Erickson of nearby Quimby overhauled the transmission of a 1985 Ford Firebird at Mort's Repair Tuesday afternoon. While dashing around town for parts, he stopped at Rhoadside to buy two carnations for his bride of seven months, Janice.
"I'm getting two carnations, because they're her favorite flowers," he said. "This is our first Valentine's Day and I'm going to surprise her."
"Valentine's Day is romantic everywhere," said Donna Beier, overseeing a hub of activity at the 77 1/2-year-old business. "This is our second busiest time of year, behind Mother's Day."
Beier was thankful Mother Nature played her part, saving what might be this winter's worst storm until later in the week. The Rhoadside crew had three delivery vehicles on the road all day Tuesday, making stops all over the Cherokee region.
One delivery went to Cherokee Rural Water, where Steven Doeden was honored on his 21st birthday (yes, he has a Valentine's Day birthday) with a pink bouquet featuring flowers and balloons.
"My friends sent this to embarrass me," said Doeden, laughing. "It was kind of funny."
For Doeden, a maintenance worker, it was a first.
"I've never gotten flowers before," he said.
***
Speaking of pink ... The color is no embarrassment to Chase Walter, a wrestler for Woodbury Central High School. Walter sported a pink T-shirt at the sectional wrestling meet in Mapleton, Iowa on Saturday. Walter's shirt read: "Tough guys wear pink."
***
Speaking of tough guys and gals ... The Parker family of Anthon, Iowa, had to keep eyes on both wrestling mats simultaneously during Saturday's action in Mapleton. Freshman Jake Parker, a freshman, battled at 171 pounds while Alex Parker, a junior, wrestled at 160 pounds.
Mother Jody Parker, brother Keith Parker and his girlfriend, Andrea Twitchell, sat in the bleachers alternating cheers during the semifinal round as Jake won and Alex lost. Father Lloyd Parker took a knee between the mats.
"My heart races 100 miles per hour regardless of who it is," said Lloyd Parker, a former high school wrestling coach. "Any kid I know, I want them to win."
Lloyd remembers a tougher time a few years ago, a day when he needed SIX eyes.
"I was the only coach and we had a meet where there were three mats going at once," Parker said. "I had three kids wrestling, including my own boy (Keith), all at once."
Meet officials that day weren't allowing coaches to position themselves between the mats. They made an exception for Parker.
***
Rob Marqusee spoke at a luncheon meeting of the Moville (Iowa) Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. The Woodbury County rural economic development director said $2.4 million must be raised privately for the $4 million Tri State Equestrian Center project to be realized.
Private backers raising the money, he said, initiated the project in March 2004. They continue to raise funds as plans progress. Woodbury County will own and operate the facility.
***
Mayor Dennis Henrich of Cherokee, Iowa, told me 53 people are working at Iowa's Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders at the old Mental Health Institute in Cherokee. An additional 15 are in the process of being hired.
Also in Cherokee, the 50-year-old municipal pool was dug up as a part of a $3.6 million effort to improve Gillette Park. A family aquatic center will replace the pool.
Regional Editor Tim Gallagher may be reached at timgallagher@siouxcityjournal.com or by calling (712) 293-4229.
Twenty-four went to one man, who noted he bought a single rose for every hour of the day he spent thinking of his wife.
"We had another order for a couple who had a baby at 1 a.m. today (Valentine's Day)," said Donna Beier, who owns Rhoadside Blooming House with husband John. "The new dad called in from the hospital and had us prepare a bouquet for his 'Baby Valentine.'"
That's the kind of holiday it was at Rhoadside, the greenhouse/flower shop on the north edge of Cherokee, just off Highway 59. All day, men and women (mostly men) stopped to pick up roses for their sweetheart.
Or sweethearts.
"I'm getting three roses, one for each girlfriend," said one young man. He wasn't identified. Good thing for him.
Dave Erickson of nearby Quimby overhauled the transmission of a 1985 Ford Firebird at Mort's Repair Tuesday afternoon. While dashing around town for parts, he stopped at Rhoadside to buy two carnations for his bride of seven months, Janice.
"I'm getting two carnations, because they're her favorite flowers," he said. "This is our first Valentine's Day and I'm going to surprise her."
"Valentine's Day is romantic everywhere," said Donna Beier, overseeing a hub of activity at the 77 1/2-year-old business. "This is our second busiest time of year, behind Mother's Day."
Beier was thankful Mother Nature played her part, saving what might be this winter's worst storm until later in the week. The Rhoadside crew had three delivery vehicles on the road all day Tuesday, making stops all over the Cherokee region.
One delivery went to Cherokee Rural Water, where Steven Doeden was honored on his 21st birthday (yes, he has a Valentine's Day birthday) with a pink bouquet featuring flowers and balloons.
"My friends sent this to embarrass me," said Doeden, laughing. "It was kind of funny."
For Doeden, a maintenance worker, it was a first.
"I've never gotten flowers before," he said.
***
Speaking of pink ... The color is no embarrassment to Chase Walter, a wrestler for Woodbury Central High School. Walter sported a pink T-shirt at the sectional wrestling meet in Mapleton, Iowa on Saturday. Walter's shirt read: "Tough guys wear pink."
***
Speaking of tough guys and gals ... The Parker family of Anthon, Iowa, had to keep eyes on both wrestling mats simultaneously during Saturday's action in Mapleton. Freshman Jake Parker, a freshman, battled at 171 pounds while Alex Parker, a junior, wrestled at 160 pounds.
Mother Jody Parker, brother Keith Parker and his girlfriend, Andrea Twitchell, sat in the bleachers alternating cheers during the semifinal round as Jake won and Alex lost. Father Lloyd Parker took a knee between the mats.
"My heart races 100 miles per hour regardless of who it is," said Lloyd Parker, a former high school wrestling coach. "Any kid I know, I want them to win."
Lloyd remembers a tougher time a few years ago, a day when he needed SIX eyes.
"I was the only coach and we had a meet where there were three mats going at once," Parker said. "I had three kids wrestling, including my own boy (Keith), all at once."
Meet officials that day weren't allowing coaches to position themselves between the mats. They made an exception for Parker.
***
Rob Marqusee spoke at a luncheon meeting of the Moville (Iowa) Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. The Woodbury County rural economic development director said $2.4 million must be raised privately for the $4 million Tri State Equestrian Center project to be realized.
Private backers raising the money, he said, initiated the project in March 2004. They continue to raise funds as plans progress. Woodbury County will own and operate the facility.
***
Mayor Dennis Henrich of Cherokee, Iowa, told me 53 people are working at Iowa's Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders at the old Mental Health Institute in Cherokee. An additional 15 are in the process of being hired.
Also in Cherokee, the 50-year-old municipal pool was dug up as a part of a $3.6 million effort to improve Gillette Park. A family aquatic center will replace the pool.
Regional Editor Tim Gallagher may be reached at timgallagher@siouxcityjournal.com or by calling (712) 293-4229.
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