Weird Iowa: Hating the Hawkeyes, Mooning Neighbors, Anatomical Graffiti, Freakish Heat and RAGBRAI Craziness
Weird anti-Hawkeyes complaint, weird exposure, weird weeklong trek add up to Weird Iowa.
So, what are the odds a Cyclone fan was behind the complaint that nearly cost an Iowa Hawkeyes fan her license plate?
After 23 years, a Johnston woman's personalized Iowa Hawkeye license plate was going to be revoked by the Iowa Department of Transportation, which told Julie Boyles to turn in her 'GIVMHEL' license plates or lose her title and license. The letter was prompted by another driver who filed a complaint against the plates.
But, when Boyles talked to the "The Murph and Andy Show" on KXNO radio, Hawkeye fans were outraged. When it was mentioned on WHO-TV's "SoundOFF' show, DOT director Mark Lowe heard the story and said Boyles can keep her plates.
There was a full moon last week, but only in Johnston.
A Johnston man called police to report that an unknown white man rang his door bell just before 11 p.m. When the resident answered the door, the man pulled down his pants and exposed his buttocks before running from the area. Officers did not catch the suspect.
And, a cruder anatomy lesson was shared with West Des Moines residents along Aspen Drive last week. A homeowner discovered that someone had defaced his white vinyl fence with a black marker, sketching representations of male genitalia and then labeling the artwork for all the neighborhood to see. He told West Des Moines police that he assumed the drawing and descriptive word could be removed with a solvent and “some elbow grease.”
This long, hot summer is now being compared to the ruinous heat of the 1930s Dust Bowl era. So, what do Iowans -- really Americans -- do? They put on spandex and ride 80 miles a day for a week on a bike. Then camp outdoors.
The 40th year of RAGBRAI wrapped up this weekend, with temps much of the week topping 100 degrees. The Cedar Valley Cyclists were among the many bike clubs on the route from across the country, and sharing pictures of their fun with Patch.
Iowa City photographer Justin Torner pulled double duty on RAGBRAI: riding each day and capturing the insanity in photos. This is his first time on the statewide ride and he's framed the fun, the heat and the beauty of the week.
The heatwave didn't deter statehouse candidate Rob Taylor from knocking on Waukee doors last week in his campaign for votes, even if the temp was 104. Taylor is running for the Iowa House District 44 seat against Eric Brenneman.
Weird Rewind:
Weird Iowa: Constipated Cow, Totally Indecent Exposure and Losing is the New Winning
Weird Iowa: Naked Baseball, Puzzling Politics, Doing Drupal and Anybody Seen Brett?
Weird Iowa: Naked on the Mall, Ice Substitutes for Cash, 'Bridezilla' Blows a Gasket
Weird Iowa: Oops! Do-Over on Council Vote, Little League Obscenities, and Bush League 'Parenting'
Weird Iowa: Raucous 'Dancer' at Pride Parade, a Busload of Nuns, Doggie Doo, and Bar-Hopping Baby
Weird Iowa: Littering With Fish, Garage Sale Assault and Iowa Mistaken for Omaha
Quirky Videos, Weird Crime, Dirty Dancing, Stolen Flags and Officials-At-Odds: Weird Iowa
Weird Iowa: Godzilla Attacks, 'Ma Barker,' Too Many Drunks, and the State Goes to the Dogs
Weird Iowa: 'Aliens' Attack, Zombies Live and Who Got Beat Up by Steven Colbert
Emmett Till
11:30 am on Saturday, July 28, 2012
Is there any indication that it was a Cyclone supporter that called in the plates? We have a lot of self-righteous people in the Des Moines area. The odds are at least as good it was of of them. This just looks like a case of Patch trying to whip up something without even the slightest indication of proof.
Maria Houser Conzemius
11:19 am on Monday, July 30, 2012
Emmett Till, that's not your real name. Emmett Till was murdered by the Klan in the deep South decades ago.