Emily Allen
Published : May 19, 2008

DUBUQUE - The list of Norma Denlinger’s accomplishments is impressive.
“Many things I am doing are Dubuque Racing Association, United Way Services, Dubuque Botanical Gardens Arboritum,” says Denlinger.

But maybe what’s more impressive is the fact that Norma has accomplished even more in the past 80 years. “As a child I was always taught that I have an obligation to see that I shared with other people,” recalls Denlinger.

Don’t let her age fool you, she believes it is her 80 years of experience that keep her on the go.

“Nobody has ever said to me you should stop your not for profit, I think the people who know me well know that’s what make me tick that’s why I get up in the morning. The others who don’t know me…seem to tolerate me,” laughs Denlinger.
Norma knows there are others her age that aren’t quite as independent as herself. Luther Manor administrator, Barbara Y. Baker, knows this as well. “It’s National Nursing Homes week and we do all sorts of crazy things, we have mis-match day, we just had sundaes, and today is crazy hat day,” says Baker.

Baker says she and her staff don’t do it just because it’s mandatory and they don’t do it once a year. “We are doing fun stuff like this all the time, this really does improve and enhances the quality of a person’s life,” says Baker.

And Denlinger says what enhances her life is the secret to happiness. “If you can’t be flexible and move with the times of change, I don’t know that you can really be happy with yourself,” says Denlinger.

Happiness has certainly entered Norma’s life. In addition to her many accomplishments she also helped apply for a license for both the Dubuque Greyhound Park and Casino and the old Diamond Jo Casino river boat.

“People continue to ask me why I have been on that so long, and want to know if I like to bet. I’m not a gambler, I did it because it was going to be good for the community,” says Denlinger.

Norma continues to help support and sponsor others non-profit organizations that are good for the Dubuque community and isn’t about to stop anytime soon.

Emily.Allen can be contacted at Emily.Allen@loras.edu

Katrina Berning
Published: May 19, 2009

NEW DIGGINGS, WI- People have been waiting for it all year and it’s finally here. It’s morel season.

“Morel season is always in the spring on the year, usually around Mother’s Day– sometimes maybe two weeks beforehand, sometimes a couple weeks after,” Morel hunter Will Schuler explained.

Schuler has a simple description of what a morel is. “It’s an edible fungus,” he says with a chuckle.

As unappealing as that sounds, these mushrooms are like hidden treasure for morel hunters

“Oh I think it’s a gourmet food just because they’re only out for a certain time of the year and there’s a challenge in finding them and you can’t get them any other time of the year so it takes some effort,” Schuler said.

His hunting partner Marty Tashner agreed. “I like the flavor of the morels, but anybody that does go morel hunting - they don’t quite seem to offer me any…so I thought I better go out and try getting some myself once.”

Everybody has a theory on how to find them.

Tashner said, “Just go out and start walking and looking for a dead elm.”

Any experienced morel hunter will tell you that a dead elm is the place to start.

Schuler explained, “Everybody seems to look for a dead elm or something like that because they think there’s an association with the dying tree and the morel spores that somehow find their way there.”

The appearance of the morels changes throughout the season.

“They start out little gray ones and they’re kind of hard to see. Then as the season progresses, they turn into the bigger, whiter ones and the big white ones are really easy to see,” Schuler said.

He also explained what to do with them when you take them home. “Soak them in saltwater and the saltwater helps to get the bugs out of them. There are a lot of insects in them you know, just naturally.”

They say it’s a spotty season for morels, but that doesn’t stop these guys from looking.

“I drove by a road sign stand the other day and they were selling them for like 9 or 10 dollars a pound, but it’s just as easy to go look for them and a lot more fun to get out in the woods,” Schuler said.

Katrina Berning can be contacted at Katrina.Berning@loras.edu

Jordan Rasmussen
Published: May 19, 2009

GALENA, IL - Galena on the Fly is in their 9th season with Eagle ridge resort and spa. The hot air balloon launching site has lift off twice a day, sunrise and sunset. You can book your flight with pilot Andy Williams. Williams learned to fly with his Dad at a pretty young age and now has flown for 15 years. Williams is also an ordained minister and when he is in the sky, he has even performed weddings. Williams loves what he does and there is no place but the sky that he would rather be. Williams said, “I just love all of it, the people, the flying, the challenge that is in that, the weather, just all aspects of it, there’s no better way to make a living.”

Williams will go up on clear days; if there are 10mph winds then the flight is canceled and rebooked. The season started on Good Friday and will end in November. People from all over come to fly, four people from Chicago wanted to celebrate their birthdays and have a gift to remember. Rosemarie Orbell shares the same birthday with her grandson, and for Orbell she was a first time flier. Orbell says, “No I have never done this before but I have parasailed so I figured I would try this.”
For couples Dean and Mary who also had birthdays to celebrate they were excited to take flight and Dean couldn’t of been more pleased,” Well it is just a good time to get away, good weather, and Well we have never done this before so she brought me this ride for my birthday!”

The hot air balloon takes 10 minutes to be blown up with air. Williams offers a five-person basket or a basket that can fit 14. Once the balloon is up right the fliers step on in and with a couple pulls of flame the balloon lifts off. The rides last 45 minutes, and once the basket lands Williams wants to celebrate.

As a tradition, Williams pours champagne and gives a toast and tells stories of past flights. The sun goes down and the couples leave with a trip of their lifetime.

The balloon rides can be booked with Andy Williams at his local number (815) 777-2747 or visit the Galena on the Fly website at www.buyaballroonride.com . If you are around the tri-states for the summer don’t miss the Great Galena Balloon Race in July, all proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Jordan can be contacted at Jordan.Rasmussen@loras.edu

Felicia Carner
Published May 19, 2009
DUBUQUE, IA -  to appreciate and spend time with your mom and it’s around the corner. Along with many other mothers and daughters; Bobbi Earles and her family has found a unique way of bonding by breaking boards.
“Any time you can spend with your children is a bonus,” says Earles and they find their extra time in the studio at Springer’s Martial Arts Academy.

Master Ben Springer sees many families who join their school create a closer unity amongst their home, “Karate is something that any mother or daughter, dad or son, can develop a close bond during their training. We offer classes where parents can train with their children.”

These class times has made the school family oriented making the classes a large influence on these growing relationships.
For Emma Earles that’s her favorite part about karate she says, “I like how I can be with my mom and my dad and my sister and we can all do a sport as a family.”

The Earles family is only one amongst many mother daughter teams that attend Springer’s academy. Anita Arensdorf and her daughter Angelina have seen the impact this time has left on their relationship. Angelina claimed, “It seems we’ve been making cookies more than we usually do.”

Bobbi Earles mentions that even during those mother-daughter fights, this sport can help take out their frustrations. She says, “During those teenage years where mothers and daughters do a lot of fighting, you can actual do it in the martial arts studio and have a lot of fun with it.”

For these karate moms, the enrollment of their daughters in martial arts brings a comfort to their hearts. “As young females it will be a wonderful thing for them to have in their arsenals as they grow older, so it really brings comfort to me, in a mother’s point of view,” explained Earles.

Arensdorf feels the same, “Although I know she’ll never be completely invulnerable karate has given her the opportunity to not be completely defenseless and as a mom, that feeling is great.”
“I think it’s important in this day and age for women to learn how to defend themselves and not be an object,” states Master Springer as he explains the importance of developing skills that can protect oneself.
It was at age seven when Arensdorf’s daughter, Angelina proved to her that even though a person may be stronger than her daughter, she is far from powerless.

“As her mom I didn’t think she would. I was a lot bigger than her but she grabbed my arm hand and put me to the floor and my hand hurt for three weeks,” said Anita Arensdorf as she told her favorite memory with her daughter.
Both Earles and Arensdorf agree that this experience has been completely worth all the hard work. They’ve seen their family and themselves grow more confident in who they are as individuals and as a family.

Felicia can be contacted at Felicia.Carner@loras.edu