Early Ames Transportation

Former Cy Ride Director Bob Bourne, a well-known expert in Iowa transportation history, spoke recently to a virtual audience of Ames Golden K members and guests.  Bob, who is very active in the Ames History Museum, focused his remarks and accompanying photos/maps on the events from the mid 1800’s thru 1907 that shaped the development of rail and bus service within Ames and Central Iowa.  This included:

1860’s-1880’s–Horsecar driven street railway conveyances were common in Ames and many Iowa cities.

1888–First electric trolley was introduced in Richmond, Va.; however, no electric plant in Ames until 1896, although ISU conducted a feasibility study for electric trolleys, anticipating electricity coming to Ames.


1891-1907–The Ames and ISU “Dinkey” service from Onondaga {now Main} St. to “The Hub” located on ISU Central Campus was a highly successful venture with well-known Ames citizens as incorporators.  Transportation for Ames and ISU residents was very profitable, but with the introduction of the steam locomotive in 1884, materials for Campus construction as well as coal were transported via Dinkey.  Rail sizes were small, so walking and bike riding on the Dinkey roadbed was common.

1907- Other more efficient modes of transportation caused the Dinkey to stop operations 9/6/2007. The Dinkey served 2.1million passengers {133,000 yearly average} during its 16-year existence. 
Bourne concluded his remarks by briefly reviewing passenger rail transportation milestones occurring from 1907-1925,  including the Newton & NW and Electric Interurban Railways, which had a terminal located at Lincoln Way and Grand.  After 1925, motorized Bus transportation replaced much of the need for electric railway transportation.  

Renewable Energy Group

Christopher Anderson {pictured}, Senior Analytics Analyst for Ames based Renewable Energy Group {REG}  recently spoke at the Thursday weekly Ames Golden K meeting, which continues to be held via ZOOM. 

REG, formerly known as West Central Cooperative, has been in business for 20 years. Ames has been its headquarters since 2007, where 300 are currently employed.  They have an international presence in Germany and the Netherlands where 850 employees support two bio refineries 

Reg’s main energy initiative is to become a major provider of renewable fuels produced domestically, reducing reliance on the Mid East for fuel.  Fuels produced and distributed at 45 nationwide terminals and 13 bio refineries, encompassing 49 states, include biodiesel, renewable diesel, and a startup Jet biodiesel operation located in Louisiana.  REG’s operations produce 25% of the total yearly USA supply of 2.4 Billion gallons. Biodiesel is environmentally friendly, as it reduces carbon by 85%.

In response to one of many questions from Golden K members, Mr. Anderson noted that government regulations can sometimes hinder progress in the renewable fuels industry.  Anderson also stated that REG and its employees are heavily involved in many Ames area philanthropies.

The Bridge Home

Jodi Stumbo, Executive Director of The Bridge Home {formerly Emergency Residence Project} was the guest speaker at a recent weekly Thursday meeting of the Ames Golden K Kiwanis via ZOOM.
 
The Bridge Home {TBH} serves the Two Rivers Area which includes 5 counties, Story, Boone, Greene, Hardin, and Marshall.  They are MORE than just an emergency residence service.  Ms. Stumbo reviewed the “Continuum of Care” outline {pictured}, which clearly depicts the varied services offered by TBH. A “point in time” census to identify homeless individuals is taken in January and July in all 5 counties.  There are currently 500+ homeless people in Ames/Story County on any given day and a total of 700+ in the entire 5 county area. The Story County homeless count is higher due to a higher cost of living for individuals when compared to the other counties.  TBH works closely with Iowa State University to carry out the Story County homeless census.
 
There is a misconception that the homeless are overwhelmingly male, however 40% of the homeless population served by TBH is female and 20% children.  Funding for TBH includes–45% donations, 27% owned assets, 21% Government, and 5% Grants.  COVID has caused a funding challenge due to the need to shelter the homeless in local hotels/motels rather than in the normal group home setting. The TBH budget is close to exhausted, but additional state and federal dollars will hopefully be available soon.
 
All present readily noticed that Ms. Stumbo is very passionate about seeking positive outcomes for the homeless. She is a model for TBH’s slogan “helping you navigate through life’s hardships”.

Sample Meeting Video

Are you curious about one of our meetings?  Below is a full meeting recorded November 5, 2020, when Dr. Stephanie Clark of ISU gave an outstanding presentation about the 100+ year history of the ISU Dairy and ISU Creamery, and what’s happening there today.

Note:  The first four minutes of the meeting is missing from the video unfortunately.  During that brief span, we welcomed everyone, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and prayed.  If we had been face-to-face rather than on Zoom, we would have sung the Star Spangled banner also.

All About Bugs

ISU Professor of Entomology, Donald Lewis presented a program titled “All About Bugs” at the Thursday weekly Ames Golden K Kiwanis meeting, which continues to be held remotely via ZOOM on October 1, 2020.
Professor Lewis  described in detail, and often humorously, several types and species of bugs common and not so common in Iowa.  He included the several species of Milkweed bugs, Japanese Beetles, Grubs, Termites, Silverfish, Lightning Bugs/Firefly’s, Stink bugs, and Box Elder bugs.
Professor Lewis cited the decline of the very beneficial Milkweed bugs due to loss of breeding habitat caused by intensified farming and pesticides–as there has been an 81% loss of agricultural Milkweed in the U.S. over the past 20 years.
He also described the very destructive effects of the Japanese Beetle, who arrived in the Eastern USA in 1916 and have moved into Iowa during the past decade, feeding on everything in their path, especially Linden trees. Spraying is only partially effective so it may be best to tolerate the damage. Lewis also noted that Termites do exist in Story County but are not as numerous as in other Iowa locations.
At the conclusion of his presentation, Lewis replied to many questions from Golden K members in his always entertaining manner.