Dan Clark's topic is "Iowa and Russia: A Half Century of Citizen Diplomacy," starting from memories of Nikita Khrushchev's visit to Iowa in 1959. He tells of welcoming visitors from the former Soviet Union and helping many Iowans with their exchange efforts, having traveled in Russia eight times, 1984-1998, especially Iowa's sister state Stavropol and Muscatine's sister city Kislovodsk. He asks listeners, "What difference has Russia—or the former USSR—made in your life?" and invites calls during Part 2 scheduled for Sept. 22, the actual 50th anniversary of Khrushchev's arrival in Iowa. Links related to the topic: "Khrushchev in Iowa" http://www.creatinggreatplaces.org/khrushchev.aspx; "Dan's Russia Experiences" http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=105312&id=802136391&l=fd3f441222; "Chechen war: We know these folks" http://friendlywork.com/chechen.html; early history of Kislovodsk-Muscatine relations (1996) http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=269536050226.

Dan Clark says, "It's Time for School—Preservation School!" The Muscatine (city) and Louisa (county) preservation commissions will be hosting a lot of history horsepower at a workshop on historic preservation that will be presented in Mucatine Sept. 17-18 by experts from Iowa's State Historic Preservation Office. Everyone is invited, and the first day is free. Details at http://muscatinepreservation.org/preservationworkshop2009sept.pdf. Dan reads and discusses a news story: "Make a deal on the Jayne House: Only caveat - You have to move it later" http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2009/08/21/news/doc4a8ebca7b59c2579322163.txt and callers respond.

Dan Clark called this show "A Half Hour for Billy Baladeer" in memory of William "Bill" Duval who died last week at age 86. With recorded hymns as background (Bill playing in his "primitive piano" style), Dan reads stories from Bill's life as salesman and musician from the book Bill published about a year ago. Caller Kent Sissel tells about the operetta Bill wrote that was performed in the 1980s and later published on CD, and the show ends with several minutes from that recording, "The Great State of Trinity." Bill was Dan's guest on July 1, 2008, archived at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=374752. Read his obituary at http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2009/08/14/obituaries/doc4a85532fe07c8171612206.txt.

A demolition reprieve is running out for the 110-year-old Henry Jayne house acquired last fall by the Muscatine Art Center. The center's trustees say they need the land at 1402 Mulberry Ave. for "future expansion" and insist that letting the house remain at its historic location is out of the question. However, after objections by the city's Historic Preservation Commission and the nonprofit Friends of Muscatine Historic Preservation, they voted in February to allow the commission 180 days to find a way to remove the house for preservation elsewhere. Several hundred people have gone on record expressing opposition to demolition since then, and commission volunteers have used the time to study and document the home's historic significance. Now only a few days remain, but nobody has stepped forward with the dollars needed to save the house. The Art Center building and grounds committee has decided to proceed with "general bid letting" for removal by any buyer who might come forward (probably during September). If there's no buyer, demolition could come next. Official action is on the agenda for the next trustees meeting on August 20. BACKGROUND: Architectural conservator's report: http://muscatinepreservation.org/1402mulberry/JayneHouseReport.pdf • Henry Jayne biography: http://iagenweb.org/muscatine/biographies1911/jayne.htm • "Save 1402 Mulberry" created by a former owner: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/300153 • Jayne House in THIS PLACE MATTERS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/preservationnation/3426185127 • Photos and more: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51187&id=802136391&l=f8b48710f0 • Muscatine Historic Preservation ordinance: http://muscatinepreservation.org/mhpc-ordinance.pdf.

Dan Clark and guest Kent Sissel, resident restorer of the Alexander G. Clark House, discuss steps involved in gaining recognition for the area surrounding the West Third Street residence of Muscatine's famous 19th century citizen. Muscatine has two "national" historic districts, but the Clark district would be locally designated. Learn about Clark at http://alexanderclark.org/ and local districts at http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/workingonthepast/index.htm.

Back from a two-week "family history and US history" vacation in the eastern US, host Dan Clark chats with producer Ron Edwin, catching up on local happenings and weaving together his travel report with praise for the "heritage tourism" that can be enjoyed right here at Muscatine.

Guest host Tom Savage, co-owner of Muscatine Books and More, speaks with Duffy DeFrance, "renaissance woman" storyteller and director of the Muscatine Literacy Coalition. The retired children's librarian was recently recognized by the Bi-State Literacy Council with an exemplary service award. Duffy tells of the 56-year history of the Muscatine Masquers Community Theatre, focusing on founder and longtime leader Virginia Schauland. She promotes an upcoming Masquers dinner-theater show, and she and Tom discuss local performing arts and artists along with caller Shirley Calvert. Tom reads from J.P. Walton's address at an 1891 Old Settlers Reunion in which the local historian describes amazing changes in communication and transportation he'd witnessed. And Tom tells about the history storybook he and wife Sharon Savage are writing.

Guest host Tom Savage, co-owner of Muscatine Books and More, speaks with local Civil War authors Lee Miller (Crocker's Brigade) and Jeff Shay (book in progress). Dan Clark is on vacation.

Dan Clark and guest Ann Meeker talk about the third annual "PatriArt" events June 27-July 4, organized by the Muscatine Cultural Alliance. Discussing concerts and July 4 parade and more, they chat mostly about trolley rides, horse-drawn carriage rides, and the first-ever Pearl Button paddlewheel boat cruises http://thepearlbuttonpaddlewheel.com/special-events.html. See the complete PatriArt schedule at http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2009/06/29/news/doc4a44db74c101b777429326.txt.

Sermon by J. Glen Widmer at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, Wayland, Iowa • Sunday, June 28, 2009 "Several weeks ago, one of the elders said, 'Maybe we should have some stories told over the pulpit.' And I said, 'Well, I've got some stories. I think I can do that.' And so this morning I want to talk a little bit about God's faithfulness in my spiritual pilgrimage."