Father's Day in Siouxland: Quiet at the bar, busy at the meat counter
By Tim Gallagher, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, June 16, 2008
Bartender Sheryl Mumm took a long Father's Day shift at FatBoyz bar in Moorhead, Iowa, expecting a huge Sunday crowd.
She could work as her father, Murel Schaefer, died of brain cancer 20 years ago. So, she said, she spends every day with Dad.
"My dad is in my heart and my spirit," she said from behind the bar early Sunday night. "I still think of him every day."
She also thinks of her co-workers. When they wanted to spend time with their fathers, she volunteered for the shift.
She was disappointed, however.
"Today, I think all the dads in the area were home enjoying the day with their kids," she said. "It was the quietest day ever here."
Saturday was a different story. The sunshine, light winds and perfect cycling conditions brought a few poker runs to this stop on the Loess Hills Scenic Byway. Mumm figured FatBoyz served 300 or so on Saturday alone.
But she was basically alone Father's Day.
That wasn't the case elsewhere as temperatures in the low 80s and light winds brought people out to enjoy the conclusion to a spectacular (FINALLY!) weekend, weather-wise.
To wit:
-- 1,556 spectators watched the Explorers play at Lewis and Clark Park.
-- At least 600 customers stopped and ordered an ice cream cone at Valley Drive Inn, the popular seasonal drive-up on U.S. Highway 20 at Correctionville, Iowa.
"I did a double-shift today," said cook Heidi Pry of nearby Cushing, Iowa. "I probably made about 200 burgers."
-- Attendance was down slightly at the Akron (Iowa) Municipal Swimming Pool, according to assistant manager Carissa Westergard.
The good news? Those who swam Sunday afternoon returned Sunday night.
They had a good reason: The water temperature in Akron is finally where it should be in the middle of June.
"Today's water temperature was between 73 and 74 degrees, which is as warm as it's been," said Westergard of the town pool. The water there, she added, isn't heated. They rely on Mother Nature to heat it.
"We waited a week to open this year because it wasn't warm enough and because of the rain," she said.
When the pool finally opened, the water was only 68 degrees -- 2 degrees below the minimum expected temperature.
Any complaints Sunday? Just a couple, according to Westergard. She had some lifeguards tell her it was really hot out.
"That was good to hear," she said. "I haven't heard that a lot this year."
-- Jeremy Holbrook, assistant manager at the Southern Hills Hy-Vee in Sioux City, said the Father's Day weather had a sizzling effect on his store's meat department. Seems hundreds of Siouxlanders wanted something to grill Sunday.
Holbrook said other departments were sending extra help to the meat counter to aid the eight meat cutters with customer traffic. Holbrook estimated 80 percent of his store's customers shopped in their shorts on Sunday, a sure sign summer approaches.
Did he get to enjoy the 80-degree sun-dappled day? Not outside. He worked the entire day and will stay at work throughout the week. His next day off is next weekend.
What's the forecast? "I haven't checked," Holbrook said with a laugh. "Probably rainy."
She could work as her father, Murel Schaefer, died of brain cancer 20 years ago. So, she said, she spends every day with Dad.
"My dad is in my heart and my spirit," she said from behind the bar early Sunday night. "I still think of him every day."
She also thinks of her co-workers. When they wanted to spend time with their fathers, she volunteered for the shift.
She was disappointed, however.
"Today, I think all the dads in the area were home enjoying the day with their kids," she said. "It was the quietest day ever here."
Saturday was a different story. The sunshine, light winds and perfect cycling conditions brought a few poker runs to this stop on the Loess Hills Scenic Byway. Mumm figured FatBoyz served 300 or so on Saturday alone.
But she was basically alone Father's Day.
That wasn't the case elsewhere as temperatures in the low 80s and light winds brought people out to enjoy the conclusion to a spectacular (FINALLY!) weekend, weather-wise.
To wit:
-- 1,556 spectators watched the Explorers play at Lewis and Clark Park.
-- At least 600 customers stopped and ordered an ice cream cone at Valley Drive Inn, the popular seasonal drive-up on U.S. Highway 20 at Correctionville, Iowa.
"I did a double-shift today," said cook Heidi Pry of nearby Cushing, Iowa. "I probably made about 200 burgers."
-- Attendance was down slightly at the Akron (Iowa) Municipal Swimming Pool, according to assistant manager Carissa Westergard.
The good news? Those who swam Sunday afternoon returned Sunday night.
They had a good reason: The water temperature in Akron is finally where it should be in the middle of June.
"Today's water temperature was between 73 and 74 degrees, which is as warm as it's been," said Westergard of the town pool. The water there, she added, isn't heated. They rely on Mother Nature to heat it.
"We waited a week to open this year because it wasn't warm enough and because of the rain," she said.
When the pool finally opened, the water was only 68 degrees -- 2 degrees below the minimum expected temperature.
Any complaints Sunday? Just a couple, according to Westergard. She had some lifeguards tell her it was really hot out.
"That was good to hear," she said. "I haven't heard that a lot this year."
-- Jeremy Holbrook, assistant manager at the Southern Hills Hy-Vee in Sioux City, said the Father's Day weather had a sizzling effect on his store's meat department. Seems hundreds of Siouxlanders wanted something to grill Sunday.
Holbrook said other departments were sending extra help to the meat counter to aid the eight meat cutters with customer traffic. Holbrook estimated 80 percent of his store's customers shopped in their shorts on Sunday, a sure sign summer approaches.
Did he get to enjoy the 80-degree sun-dappled day? Not outside. He worked the entire day and will stay at work throughout the week. His next day off is next weekend.
What's the forecast? "I haven't checked," Holbrook said with a laugh. "Probably rainy."
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