Kyle Martin
KFJB Radio Host
​Marshalltown, iowa


​   In 1989, I graduated from Drake with a degree in radio/television. What to do now?  Luckily fate stepped in and the overnight DJ at KIOA decided to move to another radio station.  I was offered the overnight air shift on KIOA in Des Moines at the tender age of 22 for a whopping $11,000 a year!  I was thrilled! Not a lot of money, I realize, but I had made it in my mind.
The overnight shift is tough.  This was back in the day before the "Do Not Call List".  Companies were constantly calling and waking me up.  Most people were working, I was sleeping.  Once, I accidentally ordered a set of encyclopedias while in a half slumber. 
   By 1993, I needed to find a different air shift on a different radio station.  I moved on to KCCQ in Ames doing afternoons until 1995. Then, I moved to KRTI in Newton doing mornings from 1995-1998. Then, back to Ames at a new station in Ames called KLRX.  This was a great fit for me.  I was teamed with a great morning show and a great format.  It was a classic rock format.  Strangely enough in 2001, I was once again asked to come back to Newton and be the morning guy at KRTI(Energy FM).
You may have guessed from my moving around so much, that radio is nomadic business.  It is!  That's why so many DJs are divorced or on a their second marriage or third.
   After a couple more years at KRTI it was time to find another station. This time it was KBIZ in Ottumwa.  When I got there in 2003 it was an oldies format.  YES!  I was once again playing the Guess Who, The Beatles and Buddy Holly.  About 6 months into my stint at KBIZ the station changed formats to talk radio.  I totally new challenge.  No music, just me talking and doing interviews.  I'd never attempted to do anything like that before.  While I was disappointed it prepared me for my next radio station, KFJB in Marshalltown.
  I arrived at KFJB in 2004 and immediately began doing the exact same thing I was doing in Ottumwa, talk radio.  I quickly realized that I couldn't be a controversial host or a host that talked about politics.  It just wasn't me.  I decided to focus on local, local, local with another helping of local.  There are so many talk show hosts out there that are way better at talking about pop culture and politics than me. I decided that KFJB needed to have local guests, local government and people discussing fun stuff going on in and around Marshalltown.
   There was twist to the all this localism, however.  This format allowed me to interview some of my favorite rock and roll artist.  I have been able to interview on my morning show: Bobby Vee; Dean Torrence (of Jan & Dean); Burton Cummings (of The Guess Who); Peter Cetera of Chicago; Randy Meisner of the Eagles and many more.  I've been lucky enough that while this format doesn't play their music, they still have a great story and that lends itself to talk radio.
   In 2017, I found out I would be inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of fame as a DJ!  I couldn't believe it! Was I old enough to qualify?  I was! In 2017 I began my 30 year on the radio in Iowa. All I needed was 25 years to qualify.  Still, I wondered, why me? There are plenty of DJs who have been in radio for 25 years.  On September 3, 2017 I was the 20th (and youngest) Disc Jockey inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Steve Carl 
Mixed Martial Artist
First WSOF Welterweight Champion 

   It was 2005 and I was in the Army, stationed in Ft. Hood Texas. My fellow soldiers and I would wrestle around with each other to see who was the toughest. I always came out on top and even though many of my fellow soldiers continually urged me to try MMA (mixed martial arts) out I didn't have much desire to try it. Being the runt and picked on basically my whole life, fighting or even the thought of it terrified me, and I had no confidence in myself or my abilities. It was only after an incident outside a night club where I witnessed one man being jumped by a group of men and I tried to intervene only to have the group attack me, did I want to give MMA a try. Even though I came out unharmed, the entire incident shook me to my core. It was only a mixture of youth, adrenaline, and a lot of fear allowed me to handle my own and not get severely hurt.  After that incident, I knew I needed to do something, so I went to the Grapplers Lair in Temple, Texas, to try it out. I went to gain confidence in myself, and I had no ambition to fight whatsoever. I fell in love with discovering and developing new abilities about myself as well as the brotherhood we had while training. I was hooked and addicted within days. 
  After only two months of training, I had my first fight. It all came so fast! At this point I had no thoughts of becoming a "real" fighter. I was doing it for the life experience.  So with the urging of my coach, John Moore, I fought as a professional instead of amateur even though I had no experience. The fights were held in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and I fought a muscle-bound guy by the name of Andrew Perkins at 185lbs. It was one of the most terrifying moments of my life! It was also the fastest fight of my career as I tackled him to the ground, mounted him, and punched him in the face as fast as I could until the ref stopped the fight. It was over in a little over 20 seconds. Little did I know but it was the start of my new career. 
   I've competed all over the United States including: 

•    Fort smith Arkansas 
•    Austin, Houston, & Dallas Texas
•    Des Moines & Cedar Rapids Iowa 
•    Madison, Wisconsin 
•    Kansas City, Missouri 
•    Miami, Florida 
•    Las Vegas, Nevada 
•    Atlantic City, New Jersey 
•    Uncasville, Connecticut 

 
  I've also competed overseas in:

•    Bourgas, Bulgaria 
•    Kharbarovsk Krai, Russia
•    Grozny, Chechnya 
•    Rostov On-Don, Russia

   I've traveled just as much to coach and corner other fighters as well. 
   I won my World Title in Miami Florida. It was all pretty surreal when I was handed the belt. A mixture of emotions and different thoughts were flooding my head. Most importantly though, I let out a breath of relief that it was over and I just tried to enjoy the moment as I came to grasp with what I had accomplished. 
   As my fights and name got bigger I competed less and less often. Last 4-5 years I've only competed about once a year. 
   To get rid of stress I train. Nothing is a better stress relief then physically breaking yourself down. 
   If you are interested in Mixed Martial Arts, the best advice I can give you is try it out. Immerse yourself in it, and whether you compete or not, you will learn more about yourself than you've ever known.

Norm Nielsen
Former President
​Kirkwood Community College

   There are many questions that everyone should ask themselves in anticipating what lies ahead when considering retirement.    Some of those might be how well you like what you are doing right now professionally, and if you are really ready to move on to an all new path in your life. If your answer to that is yes, then you must consider if you can maintain the same lifestyle you have become accustomed to with your present income.
   If not, you need to seriously decide if you are willing to sacrifice your present life style. If you are married, this would be a good time to have a serious discussion with your spouse. You must also ask a working spouse if they are ready and willing to retire. Using a good financial adviser might be a good step at this time in your planning.
   Health issues can also be a very important part of whether you need to seriously consider retirement, especially if it is difficult to continue your present employment.
   Depending on the answer to this question, you might consider where you plan to live.  Are you considering a retirement community or are you going to be perfectly happy living where you are now.
   Lots of questions should be raised regarding this issue. What are your  hobbies? What kind of climate are you planning to live in and if you want both a winter and a summer home, can you afford it? If your hobbies are some that require a certain type climate, that might be a determining factor in your decision.
   Another question that always comes up in these discussions whether single or married, is do you want to live close to your children or grandchildren if you have a family. Many people decide their location on that basis, but then you have to decide who are you going to live close to if you have more than one child and they don't live close to one another, which is very likely in this day and age.
   Leaving family for a moment you must also ask: Do I, or we, plan to do volunteer work or work part time? If so what that might that be and have you given any thought to that possibility? Do you think you would work well together or volunteer in similar duties? If so, do you think that would work if you have never worked together in the past?
   If you are thinking that relocating to an all new place, you must give considerable thought to giving up friendships you have developed over the years where you are presently located, including your working colleagues.     
    Consider how active and involved you are in your present communities, churches, schools as well as your place of work. Giving all of that up could create loneliness or all of a sudden realizing that this is a total life change and might be a very difficult adjustment.
   If you can afford to live in two locations, many people have discovered that is a great way to make the adjustment in to retirement. It gives you an opportunity to meet new people in a new environment and still come home for a good part of the year and rejoin old friends and colleagues.
   If you are at this stage in your life, plan carefully and do not decide on age alone and think you should retire just because you have qualified for a retirement plan or that you are now eligible for social security benefits. Whatever you do, you must continue to have purpose in your life and not just spend all day in front of a TV or some other very passive activity. That will lead to boredom and you might lack any sense of accomplishment.
   When the time comes, plan very carefully, so you make the right decision at the right time. Very thoughtful planning can lead to great enjoyment  in your retirement years.
    Good luck!
 

This week's guest blogger
  Linda Miller
  Director
  Iowa Department on Aging

   Iowa has consistently been ranked as one of the best states for aging by a number of organizations and research studies. In fact, U.S. News & World Report recently named Iowa fourth in the nation in terms of the many ways it addresses and prioritizes the needs of its older citizens. It’s no surprise to most Iowans that our state does a tremendous job in areas like cost of living, median income, health care quality, and other factors, such as promoting age-friendly communities. But another key factor in keeping older Iowans healthy and happy is access to lifelong learning – and that is an area where Iowa excels.  
   The World Health Organization defines healthy aging as “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age.” In other words, healthy aging includes an individual’s ability to meet his/her basic needs; make decisions; build and maintain relationships; and  continue to learn and contribute to society. For older Iowans, staying engaged and informed can be as simple as making a phone call to the nearest community college.  
   As part of a joint effort with the Wallace Winkie Foundation, the Iowa Department on Aging is working on creating a catalog of all the lifelong learning opportunities offered by the state’s public and private universities and colleges. To our knowledge, such a list has never been formally compiled; however, because we know what an important role an active mind plays when it comes to aging, we felt this would be a valuable resource to offer older Iowans and their loved ones. 
   What we have uncovered so far is amazing! All three of Iowa’s public universities, most of its private colleges and universities and all 15 of the state’s community colleges have continuing education programs for older adults, many of which offer courses for free or at significantly reduced rates. Topics covered vary dramatically, from life and leisure courses to robust programs focused on computer technology, adult literacy, and skills training designed to help older Iowans prepare for a second (or third!) career.
   While our catalog is not yet finished, I am looking forward to offering this valuable resource to older Iowans and their loved ones in the very near future. It’s clear from our work so far that Iowa indeed is a state rich with opportunities for lifelong learners, and I believe all Iowans benefit from having so many programs available to help keep our hearts and minds engaged as we age.
 

This week’s guest blogger
  Krystal Gladden
  Museum Educator
  African American Museum of Iowa
​
     Being a pubic historian and museum educator means that one of my top goals is to provide publicly accessible information in a way that is easily understood. These personal goals, aligned with the AAMI’s mission to preserve, exhibit, and teach the African American heritage of Iowa, mean that I am tasked with finding new ways to make sure the public hears these amazing stories of success, failure, discrimination, and triumph. Although it is a weighty responsibility, we have always understood that we are not solely responsible and are grateful to have community partners who understand that they play a role as well.
    Over a year ago, we were contacted by Dr. Brie Swenson Arnold about partnering on a walking/driving tour brochure that would highlight spaces with narratives relating to Cedar Rapid’s African American history and culture. In the midst of finalizing some information and editing drafts of the brochure, Dr. Swenson Arnold realized that the city was planning to erect historic markers highlighting aspects of Cedar Rapids history. The marriage of these two projects was obvious, and after a successful pitch to the historic preservation commission, we began choosing stories for the first round of markers.
    We collaborated with City official, scholars from Coe College, members of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, and The History Center to help bring narratives from Cedar Rapid’s African American history to this historic marker project, which has been underway for more than a year. On September 13, the city held an unveiling of the first tenfabricated markers at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church in the corner of Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue. Bethel is home to the city’s oldest African American congregation and has been at their current location since 1874. That afternoon, the first 10 of the markers were unveiled to the press and members of the media and they were immediately places at their locations right after.
   This project is a great example of the AAMI’s new vision of building a community that comes together to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of Iowa’s African American history and culture through conversation, engagement, and reflection. We were so glad to be a part of such a great collaborative project and to be able to include multiple layers of experiences that have shaped and impacted the city. These narratives are now accessible to people who haven’t thought about the valuable information that museums like the AAMI have. They are able to receive this content and learn about these collaborative institutions at their leisure with minimal barriers. This project takes learning and engagement outside of the walls of our institutions and puts it in spaces of public access and leisure.
    We hope this exposure will create a desire for Cedar Rapidians, and Iowans as a whole, to learn more about our institution and inspire them to learn more in our exhibits and through our programs.
    A full location map and key can be found at www.cedar-rapids.org/crn

​   I love hearing stories about and impressions of my parents from their former students. I probably hear more about my dad because he taught more years than my mom, because he taught drivers ed, and of course, because we went out and collected stories about him for a book. I hear from former students about my mom too, though, but rather than stories, I usually hear comments about how she was their favorite teacher and they just loved her. Now I have an actual story about my mom as a teacher. It comes from Gina Miller—Gina Beck when she was in my mom’s class—now a classroom teacher herself. 
   
   Gina's Story 
   One of my greatest memories as a student was when I was in 4th grade. We had a cultural study in which we were placed into groups of three or four, and each group was to study the Christmas tradition of a country whose name we drew from a bowl. My group drew Czechoslovakia. My two partners and I read several books and researched the traditions that were celebrated. Our whole class made decorations, had demonstrations to show the traditions of the culture we studied, and ate special food from the countries. 
    It is a very vivid memory in my life that my teacher Bev Winkie thought it so important for us to experience other cultures and places. Mrs. Winkie also brought in a guest speaker, Rima, who was from Iran, to share her culture, art, slides, and photos to teach us about her family and culture.
   The world seemed to open to me through the experiences Mrs. Winkie gave us in her fourth-grade classroom. Learning about other cultures as a child has changed my life. I want my students to have that same realization through appreciating other people and places. I have made it a personal mission to hold school-wide cultural studies and experiences across the curriculum every year.  It is enriching the lives of hundreds of children all because Mrs. Winkie opened my eyes to other cultures at a young age. I appreciate that so much.  It made a huge difference. Thank you, Mrs. Winkie.
 
 
 

   I was at my parents’ house one day looking at some old family photos and some memorabilia my father had from his childhood. He was born in 1917, so many of the family photos were from the years between World War I and World War II. Of course, I loved looking at those black and white pictures from my father’s youth, but I was especially fascinated when I ran across some of his elementary and junior high school report cards. I examined them avidly.
   I read through his fifth-grade report card, then his sixth. The grades on these cards were mostly B’s and C’s, with a few checkmarks next to “inclined to mischief.” Then I hit his seventh-grade report card. His grades had jumped to mostly A’s and a few B’s, with not so much as a tiny dot next to “inclined to mischief.” It didn’t take long for me to grasp what had happened, and I naturally began to rant indignantly on my father’s behalf.  
   “See,” I cried. “This is so typical—it’s the perfect example of how a student can excel with one teacher and not others. Your fifth- and sixth-grade teachers,” I told my dad, “were probably biased or strict and not fair.” I was on a roll. “Dad, this is so telling. It is so ridiculous and it just shows how a student can be treated unfairly until he gets to the right teacher who doesn’t play favorites and doesn’t look for kiss-ups.” I couldn’t stop. I am pretty sure I went on for six or seven minutes about the injustice and how a student’s abilities could be overlooked until he hit the right grade or class and right teacher.
   My father heard me out, as he always did. Then he looked at the report card, looked at me, and said, “That was the year Dad was head of the school board and the teacher lived at our house.”
   Rant stopped.
   My dad could have just let me go on believing the worst of his former teachers. But he didn’t. He could have let me believe that he had been treated unfairly until he got to a better teacher who gave finally gave him a fair shake for not sucking up or for marching to his own drum. But he didn’t.  
   Although his words deflated me a bit at first, after 30 seconds of reflection, I was in awe. Over 75 years had passed since the reports cards had been written, and no one was left alive to rat my dad out. But he took responsibility for the less-than-stellar yearly evaluations and didn’t even consider letting his teachers take the blame.