Letter to the Editor

Culture shock turns into most pleasant surprise

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Dear Editor,

Being newbies from the big city, moving into a community of a population of 750, more or less, were we ready for the “culture shock”?

The answer came quickly. Since we moved into the ‘Bank. House’ located on main street, we seem to be in the heart of the “culture”. The “shock” however, comes from the friendly welcome to the community for us outsiders.

Part of the reception comes from trust the community has in Bill & Linda Baumbach, who chose and sold their “Bank House” to us city-dwellers. We soon heard about the planning (3 weeks away) for the Indianola “Old Settlers Celebration” scheduled for August 12-15th. It all started for us with a prank.

We were sitting outside on our front door hank bench. A couple drove their golf cart right up onto our sidewalk. Really? ! The couple invited us to join them at the bar, where we met other locals. Since we left there before the others, we decided to hide the golf cart. This led to a ‘lovely’ decorated “potty” left at our front door the next day. The “potty” came with instructions. For removal: Donate and send it to someone else. We did!. It was picked up and delivered later that afternoon. The donations collected by the “Potty” swap were applied to funding for the “Celebration”.

The 2020 event was delayed a year because of Covid, now became the 2021 “celebration”! It was highlighted by a Republican Valley All-Class alumni reunion. 50+ years’ graduates entered town from Wednesday till Friday. Food and drink was available to all, as well as, Anthony and the Animals band provided Oldies but Goodies for the dancers. A Ranch Rodeo was held simultaneously. It features skills, tools and livestock that farmers and ranchers use and handle every day. Teams have sprung up all over Nebraska and Wyoming and were represented. July 14th, the festivities began with a 5K marathon for all ages.

At 10:00, the parade started with fans lining the streets. The theme was “Peace, Love & Old Settlers”. There were activities scheduled for every hour and demographic. No one was fell out of the planning. Something us city-dwellers were impressed with was the children’s frog-jumping contest. Each child, in order to enter, had to promise to return their frog to the very same place they got it from. “Whiskey Bent” country band, ended the day’s events with a street dance.

Us city folks enjoyed the music till the last guitar chord was struck and the last bass drum thunk. You see, the band, dancers, and celebrants were right outside on the street in front of our home. We had front-row seats. It doesn’t get any better than that.” Sunday, August 15th, Church services were held, volleyball tournament played, a road rally planned and bean bag tournament held, bringing an end to the weekend celebrations. Throughout the 4 days, events were sponsored by clubs, churches, associations, health centers, historical societies and many area businesses and vendors. The unsung heroes were the Indianola planning committees, the coordination teams, the “pick-up”, “tear down” and “clean-up” crews.

Though there were many food booths, us newbies noticed that the Night Track Bar & Grill and the Rocket Inn owners and staffs made sure no one went hungry or thirsty even late into the night.

“Culture Shock” maybe, but certainly, the Indianola Community has made the “shock” into a most pleasant “Surprise”.