Free-Throw Contest

The Knights of Columbus branch 12487 is sponsoring a Free-Throw Contest January 12, 2008 at 1 PM at the Charter Oak-Ute High School Gym. Kids from the Charter Oak, Dow City and Ute areas are all eligible. Registration begins at noon, January 13. For more information, please contact Randy Staley at 712-678-3844

Good old days

1970, 1870, what's the difference? It was all about the good old days of steam powered tractors. Man, I wish somebody would bring back those old shows.

Crawford County Democrat's Caucus locations

Do your civic duty
Participate in our democracy
Join in the first-in-the-nation caucuses
Thursday January 3, 2008

Be there by or before 7pm, no one can caucus after 7.

If you're not even registered to vote or if you're an independent or a registered Republican, you can register as a Democrat and caucus that same night, so long as you're 18 and eligible.

Ricketts, Charter Oak Ute High School, 321 Main, Charter Oak, 51439

Schleswig, Schleswig Community School, 714 Date Street, Schleswig, 51461

Well duh, the Dems caucus in the same locations as the Reps, just in different rooms. Should've known, then I would've posted it all at once.

Taken by Ted Mallory, North of Ricketts December 20, 2008

Caucus location for Carwford County Republicans

Do your civic duty
Participate in our democracy
Join in the first-in-the-nation caucuses
Thursday January 3, 2008

Ricketts, Charter Oak Ute High School, 321 Main, Charter Oak, 51439

Schleswig, Schleswig Community School, 714 Date Street, Schleswig, 51461

I'll post Democrat locations if and when I find them.

You can help the Crawford County Hospital

Siemens is giving an MRI scanner away free. This $1.5 million scanner could be won by CCMH if they receive enough votes for the video they made. Go to www.winanmri.com to vote. You may vote once a day until Dec. 31st.

Veteran's Day Tribute

During the WW I years, Arthur S. Mole and John D. Thomas made some incredible human pictures by using thousands of sailors or soldiers in uniform to create images. This was taken at Camp Dodge in Iowa and involved 18,000 men!
Say a prayer for all of our service men and women and their families this Sunday at 11 AM. And please pray for peace. Remember, the armistice ending WWI was signed at 11 AM on 11/11/1919.

Rush Hour Traffic in Iowa

This is my commute. For my friends and relatives in Phoenix and LA, and scattered elsewhere around the country. I remember taking an hour to travel 4 or 5 miles on the Freeways on the way to work in the morning and on the way home in the afternoons... That was year round. Here in Iowa in only happens a few weeks out of the year, but it can sure be a drag having to crawl along at 5 or 10 MPH. Fortunately there's not much oncoming traffic, so you can pass on the downhills. In case you're wondering, that's a ice-scraper/snow brush for the windshield that's sitting on my dash in the top picture.

New Mayor

Connie Bridgmen was elected Mayor of Ricketts Iowa yesterday by a vote of 47-7.
Mind you, this is a preliminary result- I'm not the best journalist, my only source on this is my wife's grandmother, Laura Langholdt, a long time resident of Ricketts. I've tried the Crawford County website and Iowa's Secretary of State, even the Denison Bulletin/Review but no one has anything posted yet.

You may scoff at an election with only 54 people voting, but remember, the Ricketts population is only 140. When you consider how many of those 140 are children, that's an amazing turn out!

I'd better keep my nose out of it, but I can tell you that it was a rather contentious campaign. Former Mayor Copeland had a long record to run on, but still decided to "go negative" toward the end there. I couldn't tell you whether that was a determining factor or not, but I'm sure that there are plenty of those 54 voters who would tell you if you asked.

Sorry, I don't know anything about who else may have gotten onto the city council, but if you call the number for City Hall on the right side of this website, you can probably find out sooner or later.

Kudos to all you Ricketts voters who came out and participated in our American democracy. Good luck to Mayor-Elect Bridgmen.

You're all welcome to participate in this website by sending me any notices, memos, pictures, ideas, stories, memories or announcements that you'd like to share with your fellow "Rickettosians." Just write me at ted.mallory@gmail.com.

Election Day: Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Polling site: Rickets City Hall

Polling hours: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

Mayor, two candidates, two-year term: Connie Bridgeman and Wayne P. Copeland

Three council positions, three candidates, two-year terms: Drene Briggle, Jennifer Hennings and Edwin D. Schreiber

Ballot question on changing the use of local option sales tax funds

Not the same Ricketts #18

Lieutenant Milton Ernest Ricketts, USN (1913-1942). Halftone photograph copied from Medal of Honor, The Navy. Lt. Ricketts was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Battle of Coral Sea, 8 May 1942. He was in charge of a USS Yorktown (CV-5) damage control party that suffered many casualties from a bomb explosion. Despite mortal wounds, Lt. Rickets deployed a fire hose and successfully contained the resulting fire before he died.

You guessed it, Lt. Milt here doesn't really have anything to do with the city of Ricketts, a sleepy little village in Western Iowa, but most of the rest of this website does.

Don't forget, if you're from Ricketts, you're invited to their annual reunion, next year it will be on the fourth Saturday in July. If you're Joe Ricketts, maybe you'd like to come too, and bring the team, Ricketts has a ball diamond. Maybe they'd be willing to put on an exhibition. Or play the guys in the Fire Dept? Wouldn't that be great?

As for everybody else, if you have memories or pictures of Ricketts to share, email them to our webmaster: ted.mallory@gmail.com I'll even accept funny, kitsch, or corny "Not the same Ricketts" ideas. Help put Ricketts on the map!

I mean it you guys- I need your help. There are a couple of people who hate when I post these "not the same Ricketts" things on here, well, then send me something better. What's going on in Ricketts? Any announcements? Any great memories or stories or pictures? How about from Ricketts Thanksgivings from days gone by?! Help me out- please!

Fire Prayer Request

As you might imagine, since we used to teach at Los Angeles Lutheran Jr/Sr High School, My wife and I are very concerned about our many friends, former students and former colleagues in Southern California. Can you imagine 250,000 people in 7 counties having to be evacuated? An area the size of Washington DC has been burned. From Malibu to Mexico is effected- basically an area the size of South Carolina!

The Buckweed and Stevensen Ranch/Magic Fires have us the me worried. Especially after that wild accident in the I-5 tunnel last week. Basically these fires are each on opposite sides of the Santa Clarita Valley. We used to go to Church at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Canyon Country.

Breathing, driving, and if it comes to it- evacuating are a major dangers that our friends are facing- let alone the possibility of losing life, home, and property.
I was disappointed by the coverage on CNN, so I turned to a local TV station there, KTLA, they had a terrific link to an interactive map of the fires from Google.

Please, it's not just a bunch of rich celebrities in Malibu Canyon, it's real people all over Southern California. If these fires aren't contained soon, this could become LA and San Diego's Katrina.

Please pray that the Lord would protect the residents in the fire's path and that He would guard, protect, and guide the many firefighters, both professional and volunteer and the National Guardsmen and women who help too. Pray that the 70-100 mph winds would die down and that moisture would come so that the fires could be contained and put out.

Thank you.

St. Luke's Annual Soup Supper

"Kirschsuppe" (cherry soup with dumplings) warms the soul. It's a Pomeranian (Low German) specialty that has been tradition at St. Luke's Fall Soup Supper forever!

St. Luke's Soup Supper is Sunday, October 21st in Ricketts.
They will be serving from 5-7 PM
Menu: Chili, Vegetable Soup, and Kirschsuppe! As well as sandwiches, desserts & beverages.
$5 for adults
$3 for Children over 4

Wild Art

I just overhauled my art blog. When you visit it you can see;
1. My cartoons 2. My photographs & digital images 3. My paintings, drawings, and prints 4. Artworks or photos by some of my students 5. Some of my favorite paintings by famous artists and why I like them. And recently added... 6. Advice and links for elementary teachers who didn't major in Art, but want to teach it to their students. Please, click on the archives to look at more art.

http://malloryart.blogspot.com

Every week there's something new. This week, there's also a slick new look!

Happy October

Mallory's Milieu

Interested in more than just the weekly column and occasional political rants?
You can see all of my cartoons (just MY cartoons) as well as all kinds of my artwork and photography. Not to mention book reviews, recommended links, and even some music and videos. All of it is at http://tmal.multiply.com

Annual Soup Supper

Immanuel Lutheran Church (Triple Parish),
Soldier Township (just west of Ricketts proper)

Annual Soup Supper
Sunday, September 30
4:30 PM-7:30 PM
Serving Potato, Chili, & Beef Vegitable
Sandwiches and deserts
Carryouts available
$5 Adults - $3 Children

Annual Fire Prevention brunch Oct. 7

The Ricketts Fire Department will be hosting their annual Fire Prevention Brunch Sunday, October 7 9:30 AM- Noon at the Ricketts Community Center.
They'll be serving pancakes, sausage, applesauce, and maybe scrambledeggs.
Free Will Offering

Homecoming Parade

The Lills drove in the Charter Oak-Ute Homecoming parade Wednesday, September 12.
So did the guys in the Volunteer Fire Department. Believe me, that rig can make a lotta noise when it wants to!

First (annual?) Kid's Day

Area youth had one last chance to say farewell to summer recently. The City of Ricketts put on a special day just for kids, Saturday, September 8, 2007. Twelve adult volunteers treated kids to fun food, games and music at the Ricketts city park and shelter house from 4 to 10 PM. Kids could buy hotdogs or nachos for a dollar and pop for 50 cents and ten tickets for a dollar. Then they could use tickets to play games like darts and ring toss for older kids or pin the tail on the donkey or bean bag toss for younger tots. Every game offered prizes. Kids could participate in a free throw contest, a water baloon race or a three-legged race. Teens and "Tweens" were invited to stick around and dance the night away inside the shelter house.

Ricketts' Kids Day Today

Ricketts Kids Day today
September 8, 2007
At Rickett's City Park & Shelter House
4 PM-10 PM

Tickets for rides and games are 10 for $1
Hotdogs are $1

$2 For admission to the Teen Dance

Don't miss the fun! Watch this space for pictures next week.

Pop is 50¢

Not the same Ricketts #17

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.'s founder Joe Ricketts is now part of the crowd of potential buyers for the Chicago Cubs baseball franchise, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.

The Cubs team is up for sale because its owner, the Tribune Co., is selling itself to Chicago real estate mogul Sam Zell for $8.2 billion. That deal was contingent on the media company selling its non-core assets, including one of the most fabled franchises in sports.

Astronomical prices are expected for the Cubs. Forbes estimated the value of the Cubs at $592 million in April. Only four baseball franchises had higher values in the magazine's annual list: the Yankees at $1.2 billion, the New York Mets at $736 million, the Boston Red Sox at $724 million and the Los Angeles Dodgers at $632 million.

I know that this will be hard to believe, but Joe Ricketts really has nothing to do with the city of Ricketts, a sleepy little village in Western Iowa, but most of the rest of this website does.

We hope to see you at the Ricketts' Kids Day at Ricketts City Park & Shelter House.
Saturday, September 8, 2007 4 PM-10 PM

Don't forget, if you're from Ricketts, you're invited to their annual reunion, next year it will be on the fourth Saturday in July. If you're Joe Ricketts, maybe you'd like to come too, and bring the team, Ricketts has a ball diamond. Maybe they'd be willing to put on an exhibition. Or play the guys in the Fire Dept? Wouldn't that be great?

As for everybody else, if you have memories or pictures of Ricketts to share, email them to our webmaster: ted.mallory@gmail.com I'll even accept funny, kitsch, or corny "Not the same Ricketts" ideas. Help put Ricketts on the map!

Mallory's Photography

You can see some great pictures Ted got at last Friday Night's Boyer Valley v. Treynor football game, and some wild shots he took camping this weekend at http://malloryart.blogspot.com

Or, you can see Cheer pictures from the Treynor game at http://www.cheercoach.blogspot.com

Kids Day in Ricketts, Sept. 8

The City of Ricketts will be hosting a kid's day at the Ricketts City Park & Shelter House.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
4 PM-10 PM
Games, Hot Dogs & other snacks and drinks,
& a Special Kids' Dance

Join the Rickettes

Ladies who live in Ricketts and want to make our community a better place can become a "Rickette." The Rickettes meet at 7:30 PM on the last Monday of each month in the Ricketts Community Center.

Shameless Self-Promotion

Like some of the graphics you see on this site? I make most of them, the "Kid's Day" and "Rickettes" above, and the "Germanfest" and the green "Greetings" sign with the biplane down below (I just found the "Euchere" somewhere out on the web).

My point is, if you'd like to spruce up your website, flyer, menu, brochures, or tee-shirts- drop me an email. I'm just a poor school teacher and I could always stand to pick-up a few bucks. I'm a lot cheaper than anybody you could go to in a big city! I promise to treat you right.

By the way, I could also take Senior Pictures (see below) and if you're interested in seeing my editorial cartoons, get your weekly copy of the Mapleton PRESS, or visit http://tmal.multiply.com

Little white church in the country

I really need to take pictures of the other two churches in the Triple Parish- let alone in and around Ricketts. What can I say, it was a gorgeous day and this made a gorgeous picture.

Mr. Mallory's Stuff

Mr. Mallory's Stuff
Here's a new website is intended to be a repository for links, assignments, and ideas for my students. If you have me for a class this year (down at Boyer Valley in Dunlap), check it out- you might just find something that you can use!

So you're not one of my students- you're someone interested in Ricketts, that's okay... If you have any interest at all in Art, Photography, Website Design, Ceramics, Drawing, or Cheerleading, you might just find something interesting there too!

Arial View of Ricketts

Just having some fun with PhotoShop. I can imagine someone making a postcard like this 50-75 years ago, though.

Early History

Ricketts, located in the south-east corner of Soldier township, on the Mondamin branch of the Chicago Northwestern, is the most pretentious and thriving of the smaller towns of the county. It is almost exclusively a German com­munity, although at one time swept by a fire which consumed almost the entire business section, it has been rebuilt and is a wide awake community. It boasts numerous business houses among which are A. F. Baak and J. H. Detlefs, general merchants; 1. N. Vollerson, the popular mayor and manager of the Green Bay Lumber Co.; The German Savings Bank with P. H. Claussen as cashier; Peter C. Peterson hotel; T. J. Munster, hotel; Gustav Rickert, saloon; Max Wulf, blacksmith.

from "History of Crawford County Iowa; A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume 1" by F. W. Meyers, c. 1911

Every Tuesday Night

Come join the fun every Tuesday night at the Ricketts Community Center for weekly Euchre tournaments.

First Annual Germanfest

Ricketts held a Germanfest to help raise money for improvements to the park which includes a shelter house and play ground. On August 28, volunteers installed the latest improvement were new overhead doors in the shelter house.

Germanfest organizers; Elaine Carlson, Bud Gloede, Connie Bridgeman, and Laura Langholdt

DJ Brad Reissen of Eagle Rock Trucking provided music for dancing.

The guys of the Ricketts Volunteer Fire Department grilled Brats donated by NoFrills, HyVee, Bank Iowa, and United Bank of Iowa.

Ricketts Fire Dept. Appreciation Picnic

August 12th, 2007
10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Everyone in our fire district is invited for free food and games!
Join us at the Community Center!
Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Beans
Petting Zoo, Games, Bingo, Cards, Etc.

Old Iron

30 Years Ago
The Charter Oak Times
August 11, 1977

The 8th Annual Ricketts Steam and Antique Show was held August 5, 6, & 7, 1977. Mary Hennings, daughter of Mrs. Arlene Hennings, was crowned Queen at the variety show. Awards were given to Mrs. Bertha Friedrichsen, as the oldest person present; Mrs. Fern Baine of Hoquim, WA for traveling the farthest, and to Ericka Bishop, 4 month old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D.L. Bishop of Sioux City, IA as the youngest person present.

Upcoming Events

Saturday August 11, 2007
Come to the German-fest in Ricketts at the shelter house!
Brats, Kraut, Potato salad and baked beans supper at 6:30 PM
Dance at 8 PM
BYOB & Free-Will Offering taken to raise funds for city park improvements

Also in August: Ute Fun Days, Schleswig Calf Show Days, and of course the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines

Aug 15 at 9 AM at the Schleswig Middle School there will be an "Iron & Antique" tractor show right after the Schleswig Calf Show Days Parade. Nothing newer than 1972

And remember the next Ricketts Kids reunion is the 4th Saturday in July, 2008

Little white church in the country

I'm told that on a clear day, from a certain hill outside of town, you can see the spires of all three of the churches in Rickett's "Triple Parish." These are pictures of St. Paul's Lutheran in Hanover Township. The poem below is actually about a Methodist church in Kentucky, but I think it works as well for members of the Triple Parish too.

Carter's Chapel
By Lottie May O'Grady
5/24/1938

There's a little white church in the country,
That stands upon a hill so high,
It can easily be seen for miles around,
Like a 'Beacon of Light' to the passer-by.

It has weathered the storms of the passing years,
Withstood 'The Tests of Time',
Because it is builded secure upon the rock,
Of love of our Savior Divine,

It welcomes the Way-faring Traveler,
To come into its doors and find, peace,
And the weary, tired, and forlorn,
They too, may find sweet relief.

And to those, who will ever be faithful,
And to those who will ever be true,
They will always find a blessing,
In the work, there is to do.

It asks for no reward or merit,
Only that each one may be blest,
And for those who need spiritual feeding,
To come and feast on the best.

We love this dear, 'Church of our Childhood',
It brings back memories dear, you see,
Our mother, father, and dear ones,
Who have crossed, 'The Crystal Sea'.

The years of time will always bring changes,
One by one we will pass on each day,
But the 'Church of God', will stand forever,
It shall never, pass away!

Dedicated to... the Ricketts Volunteer Fire Depatrment

FIREFIGHTERS WHETHER VOLUNTEER OR PAID, HAVE A DEDICATION THAT JUST WILL NOT FADE

THEY HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY LEARN AND TRAIN, AND FIGHT FIRES IN THE SNOW AND THE RAIN.

THEY DO THEIR JOB WITH HONOR AND PRIDE, THEIR FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS AT THEIR SIDE.

FAMILY MEMBERS WORRY AND PRAY, KNOWING THERE IS A CHANCE THEY WILL BE TAKEN AWAY.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH THEY CARE, OR HOW MUCH OF THEIR LIFE THEY ARE WILLING TO SHARE

WHENEVER THEY ARE CALLED TO HELP THEY GO, EVEN IF ITS SOMEONE THEY DO NOT KNOW ,THEY FIGHT FIRES AND HELP AT ACCIDENT SCENES, WHETHER ITS SOMEONE ELDERLY OR IN THEIR TEENS

WHENEVER YOU SEE THESE MEN AND WOMEN GO OUT, PLEASE REMEMBER TO THINK ABOUT, THE THING THEY ARE DOING INTERRUPTS THEIR FAMILY LIFE, AND SOMETIMES CAUSES THEM TEARS AND STRIFE

SO THE NEXT TIME THEY PASS YOUR WAY, PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO STOP AND PRAY, THAT THEY MAKE IT HOME WHEN THE DAY IS DONE AND THAT THIS WON'T BE THEIR LAST RUN.

AUTHOR: KALLIE REHMEL, SECRETARY GREENE COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION AND WRIGHT TWP.VOL. FIRE DEPARTMENT.