Iowans bought a lot of new vehicles last year, but sales were down compared to 2015. Bruce Anderson, president of the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association, says there were 138,001 new cars, trucks, and SUVs sold in Iowa in 2016. “Which was a dip of about 4,000 total units, but the sales are at a really high level. It’s the first dip that we’ve experienced since 2009,” Anderson says. The decline in new vehicle sales may be an indicator of an economic slowdown, but Anderson says there are other factors.

“Some of the dip is attributable to supply issues,” Anderson says. “Late in the year, some of the plants close down and getting just exactly the right car or truck ordered and delivered is sometimes difficult.” Anderson’s group keeps track of the top-selling vehicles by manufacturer.

“The number one selling brand in Iowa last year was Chevrolet at 29,605. Ford came in right behind that at 24,638,” Anderson says. The third most popular new vehicle manufacturer in Iowa, behind Chevy and Ford, is Toyota. The Iowa Automobile Dealers Association does not track sales in terms of specific models, but Anderson says Chevy and Ford pickups are clearly the top sellers across the state.

“The Silverado and the F-150 are consistently the top selling units in Iowa. Iowans love their pickup trucks,” Anderson says. Nearly half of the new vehicles being driven in Iowa are trucks, according to Anderson. Nationally, the percentage of trucks on the road is close to 20-percent. The Iowa Automobile Dealers Association includes SUVs as part of truck sales.

(Radio Iowa)

What’s billed as “a variety show of veritable feats” that aims to revive Vaudeville-style theater in the state will make stops in six Iowa cities over the next several weeks. Producer Ian Miller, of Des Moines, is one of the creators and participants in the stage performance called “The Nitch,” featuring an all-Iowa cast of characters, poets, musicians, acrobats and more. “‘The Nitch’ is a story, an adventure really, of the individual search for self-definition, using creative means to help define the individual,” Miller says. “We’re hoping that we inspire creativity amidst the viewing audience.”

In the dramatic portion of the show, Miller plays a masked animal character who’s trying to read a book to the audience but he’s constantly interrupted by other pesky animals who aim to steal the book. The antics eventually result in an outbreak of pie-throwing. Miller says, “This is an expansion of what we’ve done in the past where we’re adding in a juggler and an acrobat and musical guests at every stop to really harness the power of that old-school Vaudeville theater.”

The messages embedded in the entertainment include an emphasis on the importance of literacy and individuality. While it’s geared for a young audience, he says “The Nitch” appeals to adults as well. “It’s a family-friendly show,” Miller says. “We do our best to weave a tale that speaks to the child in anyone.”

The book which Miller’s character tries to read aloud during the show is an actual book, a 62-page illustrated prose about “discovering your passion and purpose.” Miller created the book, which became the show, along with author Satyrus Jeering. “When I sat down with Jeering to create this story, I was hugely inspired and the process itself actually helped me find definition in my own creative journey,” Miller says. “I would hope it does the same for the audience. If they’re entertained at the end of the day, if they get a laugh and a smile, that’s really all we need.”

The first of the six scheduled performance is set for January 28th at the Hawkeye Community Theater in Fort Dodge. More shows are upcoming in: Corning, Keokuk, Greenfield, Red Oak and Elkader. Learn more at: http://satyrusjeering.com/

(Radio Iowa)