You probably won’t see my or hear much from me in the next week.  I am headed to Catholic Youth Camp in Panora, IA tomorrow.  I’ll be counseling the senior high school week with more than 200 campers.  When I was in high school I spent time away at camps similar to this and I have always wanted to play a larger role in the week.

This week is my chance.  It should be soo much fun!  Here is a link of the camp so you can see where I’ll be and what it’s all about.

Here is a video from last years campers.

Anyway, this is my last entry for a week or so. Hope you have a good last week in July…I’ll see you in August!
Lauren~

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It’s one of the most viewed videos on YouTube and I am inspired!  I want to do this!!

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The view from Jamie’s plane looking at mine.

The view of Jamie’s plane from mine.

The other two planes from Jamie’s vantage point.

Looking up at the planes in the sky.

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Sometimes, a lot of the times, I love my job!! Today Jamie Grey and myself stopped by the Dubuque Airport to talk with members of the North American Trainer Association. They are here again this year to fly over Dubuque with several historical aircrafts. Of course were were just doing a story we never imagined we’d go up in a plane and fly with them in formation. And you guessed it…it was AWESOME!

Today there were only about 15 aircrafts, by this weekend there will be 30. They are WWII AT-6 Texans. The pilots gatehr in Dubuque every year for a pre-flight formation and practice before heading to the an airshow. They all said they love visiting Dubuque and love flying over Iowa.

Here is one of many videos I shot from the plane. Our regular KWWL camera was too big to get inside the plane so I shot it on my FLIPcam.

More pictures and video to come. Beautiful view. The pilots say flying in the midwest is one of their favorite places!

Lauren~

For more information, please contact: Airport manager Robert Grierson at 563-589-4128.

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It’s the time of year….Dubuque County Fair time! I spent the afternoon there. I sampled some food and then stopped by the Mercy Hospital Free skin cancer screening booth:

They’re offering free screening to ANYONE who wants. It’s a pretty good deal. After the screening they give you a bottle of SPF 55 sunscreen and some lip balm to protect your lips too.

You can find the booth inside the exhibition hall on the fairgrounds. Of course there are a lot of things to check out inside that building.

Outside, even more. Rides, entertainment, concerts and races. Here are some pictures from my day:

Here is a look at the rides and the beautiful day that was today!

The 4H stand. I recommend the burgers. They were good!

Here is the group FreeCycle. It’s made up of athletes who travel across the US and compete in competitions like X-Games. They stopped by the fair today.

Here’s a view from the grandstands. They had races tonight…but I missed them.

So I encourage you to check it out. The fair runs through Sunday. With all sorts of great activities. Check out their website for more info.

Have a great night!
Lauren~

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Remember last week when I blogged about internships not the Harry Potter premiere?  Well today I’m updating that entry.  I wanted to pass along some ways the Chamber and Workforce Development, along with Access Dubuque, are putting their interns to use to show you what interns can do.

Below are two links the videos that one of the Chamber interns, Justine Kuboushek, is putting together to give a visual interpretation and first hand experience of what an internship will be like at a particular office:

Dupaco Community Credit Union

EXPRESS Employment Professionals

If you scroll down to the bottom of each job description you’ll see the videos. It’s just one more way to put technology to use and show interns just what kinds of opportunities are available in the Tri-States.

Have a good day!
Lauren~

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There are many things about summer that I enjoy….on being BASEBALL! Monday night I went to an iCubs game against the Omaha Royals. Now keep in mind I was born in Omaha and grew up watching the Royals. But in my time in Dubuque I have become somewhat of a cubs fan. But I also like the cardinals…and really I just like baseball. Okay…so….anyway. I know Dubuque has been talking about bringing a baseball team to town. I’ve heard mixed feelings from people. Some say Dubuque County is just too small to keep a baseball team going. Others day we need it and we could and would draw in thousands of fans. I am not entirely sure what could happen BUT I do wish we had a team.

Anyway, I have been to Principal Park several times to cover High School State baseball. But never to watch a game as a fan. MOnday was free baseball cap night. Yep I was one of those people…who wore their free cap during the game:

Yeah I know! Don’t act like you’re not impressed! haha now I have a cubs hat and I’m pretty happy about it!

Anyway, I love how the statium is downtown. You can see the capital from any seat in the house:

There really isn’t a bad seat in the house. We had seats in Section O, row 4…so they were pretty much AWESOME!

I think this stadium is just as classy as the Cedar Rapids Kernels stadium. I’ve seen the Waterloo Bucks, the Omaha Royals and the Memphis Redbirds. Those are all my comparisons.

Anyway, the game didn’t start out so hot for the iCubs. 4 runs in the first inning…from the Royals. Then the cubs didn’t score till the 6th inning. Sorta played like the Cubs having been playing all the time…unless they’re playing the Nationals.

Anyway, the crowd dwindled down a lot when it started raining:

But thanks to my new FREE hat I was cool. Stayed through the 9th…Cubs lost 7-2. Wish it would have been a more exciting game. None the less it was baseball…and summer and great! Even if I was wearing jeans and a long sleeve in July!

You’re probably wondering why I’m writing this blog about a Des Moines baseball team. The truth is…I’m curious how you’d feel about Dubuque having a baseball team. Would it be a good idea? Would they build a new stadium or use Petrakis Park down by the river? Would it draw enough people and fans? COuld it have a Tri-State fan base worth investing in? I’m curious you’re thoughts. For selfish reasons I’d love a baseball team right in my backyard.

Let me know you’re thoughts. Post a comment below.
Lauren~

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Hey there!

It was a weekend filled with working and entertainment. Friday after work I caught up with Jamie Grey. I managed too her performance in Little Shop of Horrors. YOu can see her on stage in this picture. There is still a few more shows to catch if you haven’t made it out.

Check out their website here for more details. They are currently offering a 2 for 1 special. Well worth it!

So after watching Jamie’s performance Friday night, it was off to work Saturday in WAterloo. But it wasn’t half bad working this Saturday. I hit up all the local festivals and sporting events for a story about the economic impact they can have on the Cedar Valley.

My day started at the Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course.

Having played the course on Thursday I figured the best spot to camp out would be the 18th hole. I found a father-son duo who has been coming to watch golfers for years at the Waterloo OPen. They said hey saw Jack Johnson before he made it big time. they’ve seen guys go pro from the event. They absolutely loved sitting on the 18th hole, deciding who to follow in the final rounds.

After talking to a few people at the Waterloo Open I headed over to Cedar Falls for the College Hill Arts Festival.

I loved it! I am the type of person who loves the sporting events, and loves the arts and festivals and the live music. BAsically I love exploring culture in all its forms. So I walked around the art exhibits and booths, listened to live music and sampled a little bit of food. Keep in mind I was working.

So it all came together in a story back at the station. I talked about the thousands of people that are drawn the area because of all the events. Dubuque is no different. It’s interesting because sometimes I hear people complain that there isn’t enough to do in Eastern Iowa. I am pretty sure there is plenty to do right here in our own backyard. We just have to actually look. There is always something going on and always some form of entertainment right around the corner. Try it out this weekend. No matter where you’re from hit up your local Chamber website and see what’s going on in your town! I be you won’t be disappointed!

Have a good week!
Lauren~

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It’s a rough life sometimes, being a reporter.  Yesterday, not so much rough.  Unless you’re referring to my golf game.  Yesterday I played in the Waterloo Open Pro-Am tournament.  I got to play with Jamie Frasier of Kentucky.  He was not only a great golfer but a really fun person to have along with us.  As much as I wanted to get all sorts of advice from him and perfect my game…I instead just relaxed and played.  I am proud to say the common theme on most of my holes was the #7.  I’d like to say that I was representing KWWL…Iowa News Channel 7…but it’s more accurate to say that my short game…lacks a lot!  Well it depends.  Sometimes I would have a great drive get it on the green in 3 or 4 and then take all my strokes trying to put.  Or there was the other route: take 4 of 5 strokes to get it on the green then knock it in in 2.  I don’t know…and you know what it really doesn’t matter.  I don’t play in the PROs for a reason. 

Anyway, we played out at Irv Warren Golf Course in Waterloo.  What a classy course.  They had a lot of clean up to do after last Friday’s storm tore down almost 100 trees.  In fact while we were playing you could see a lot of stumps left behind.  I didn’t mind, that meant one less tree to block the green!  But they did a great job cleaning it up.  I can’t wait to see how many people turn out tomorrow.  it’s a little chilly right now.  But Jamie said this is one of the biggest crowds he’ll play for all summer. What a treat to have him play in front of Iowans! 

If you’re not busy this weekend I encourage you to head out to the tournament.  It should be great! Below are some pictures taken from my Blackberry.  You’ll notice the one above…I shot a story while I was out golfing so I had the camera in the basket on our cart.  It rode all 18 holes with us!

Here is team KWWL.  General Sales Manager John Huff (right), Jamie Fraiser and myself.  We played with Bryan from ME&V and Jason Witham of Witham Auto.

Here’s John waiting for Jamie to hit one his many shots on the fairway.

Here is Bryan (my cart partner) hitting on the fairway.

Jamie Frasier and I as we make the turn.  It’s hole #10.  I am eating a walking taco.  Something Jamie had never heard of.  Apparently they don’t have those down in Kentucky.  But I think he was curious.

I’d like to note that I only lost 2 balls, and I gained 2 more.  You see I tend to play with colored balls.  Yesterday it was purple (for Duhawks) and pink (for breast cancer).  By the end I lost 2 purple ones and gained a neon yellow and orange ball. 

See it’s all in good fun.  I wish I could tell you what our score was.  I’m sure my 18 handicap helped out!  I par’d at least 2 holes!

If you’re in the area, check it out this weekend.  Should be great fun!

Lauren~

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