December 2016

Midwestern Insights into Bakken Pipeline

Originally broadcast 12/07/2016
Listen here now

In Pilot Mound, IA, Mayor Leda Burton and concerned resident Jeff Lass describe that little town's unsuccessful struggle to get answers about safety to its own well-based water supply from the Iowa Utilities Board and Energy Transfer Partners, builders of the pipeline.

Yvonne Scott, a former mid-westerner who is driving through Iowa as part of her journey to travel the length of the pipeline to witness its impact, describes how much the journey has moved her. She also describes how she used the only available map of the pipeline to make her journey; the map was made by Ames resident map maker, Nitin Gadia. Yvnne is documenting the journey with her blog, including photos along the way.

Nitin Gadia explains why he made the only publicly available map of the Bakken pipeline, the power of maps, and how making this map has transformed his perception of the Standing Rock Struggle. Nitin, who works for Mapstory, a cooperative map-building web site, speaks about projects he has been inspired to undertake, including a history of American Indian lands and sacred sites.

David Gradwohl, professor of Anthropology and founding director of the ISU Archeology Lab explains sacred sites and the difficulty in defining and protecting these in white American cultural terms. He describes his experiences with the Army Corps of Engineers, as well as a landmark case of national significance about regulating sacred sites - which occurred in Ames.

Holiday in Central Iowa

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 11/30/2016
Listen here now

We started the show with Abby Huff, executive director of the Story City Greater Chamber Connection telling us about Yulefest activities during the next two weekends in Story City. Then we heard from Scott Johnson, director of A Seussified Christmas Carol to be performed by The Judge Story Theatrical Troupe. On a related note, Kent Whitmore from the Ankeny Community Theatre gave us a preview of their Christmas comedy, The Very Merry Xmas Carol Holiday Adventure Show. Then Alan Hensen told us about Austrian Holidays, a concert by the Central Iowa Symphony, featuring Brahms First Symphony (and re-broadcast on KHOI).

Castro & Cuba, Standing Rock, Disaster Response

Originally broadcast 12/05/2016
Listen here now

Host Gale Seiler, spoke with Dr. Lisa Corrigan, an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Arkansas, about the geopolitical and historical context of Castro in Cuba. Greta Anderson brought us a live interview with Mark Edwards who was at Standing Rock when the Army decision to halt pipeline construction was announced on Sunday. From Keith Morgan and Betty Boccella of the Story County Emergency Management, we learned about a new initiative to recruit and train volunteers to respond to disasters in the community.

The Black Snake and the Green Pipe

Originally broadcast 12/02/2016
Listen here now

As the last bit of 30-inch Dakota Access pipe is pulled through the bore hole under the Des Moines River, we hear from two Lakota elders who have been contesting the company's presence on treaty land in North Dakota: Emmanuel Red Bear, a 7th-generation descendant of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, and Winona Gasteau, the head cook for Oceti Sakowin camp on the Missouri River, where thousands of water protectors have gathered in prayer to support the Lakota in their struggle against a black snake that their prophecy said would come to threaten their very existence.

Jessica Fears, a young mother from Ames describes the nonviolent direct action she participated in on Thanksgiving Day in the city of Mandan. Local whites shoved and shouted at water protectors; local police towed legally parked cars identified as anti-pipeline. Then, Bruce Espe, a Vietnam War veteran from Des Moines, explains his reasons for joining the contingent of some 2000 veterans traveling to the Oceti Sakowin camp in support of the Lakota this weekend.

Susan Gwiasda of Ames introduces Donald Kom of Ames Electric Department, who describes the city's comprehensive efforts to reduce demand for power. The peak demand has remained stable, not exceeding its 2012 levels despite the growing population and industry base. Susan reminds us that Ames Humanitarian Award nominations are due December 16, and announces the Nada Silent Night concert December 17.

The Pantorium Sessions - Archives


Nov 14 Matt Woods rocked our house with traditional and original steel and slide blues, including the tune by Delta bluesman Son House (1902-1988) that launched this central Iowan on his musical path.
Nov 15 Patresa Hartman of Des Moines brought us her wholly original "soul folk", including songs from her newly released album The Queen of Everything, accompanied by percussionist Renee Potts Flanagan.

Nov 16 Ames' talented and prolific songwriter Ben Schrag performed new songs along with our old favorites of his, accompanied by percussionist Cal Rebhuhn.  
Nov 17 The incomparable Tom Richards assembled four local musicians--Billy Kearney, Ron Carson, Steve Hurst and Merle Hall--in a one-time performance of old-time folk favorites.

 

Pages