Thank you to Pam Turner who sent us a recipe for homemade skeeter repellant!  Combine in a 16 oz bottle:  15 drops lavender oil, 3-4 Tablespoons of vanilla extract and 1/4 cup lemon juice.  Fill the bottle the rest of the way with water...shake...and it's ready to use.

Thanks to Kelly Foss of the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market for coming in this morning just after the 8:30 news.  There will be 9 different venues of entertainment this Saturday...around 200 vendors...and don't forget the bike valet service (it's free)!  They'll take care of parking your bicycle and keeping it safe while you shoop the Farmer's Market!

Sorry about the blog not being here the past few days...I have been suffering from some pinched nerves that are affecting the whole left side of my body since Sat. June 8th.  Typing is really hard to do.  Answering the phone in the studio is also very hard.  If you could text your birthdays for the rest of the week to 515-989-1040, it would sure be easier for me.  Prayers are appreciated!!!!

Thanks a bunch!

Bonnie

Elese Johnson and LoVonne Neerland of Friendship Force were our special guests this morning.  They have a trip to Japan coming up October 1st thru the 19th and there are five openings.  You would be staying with Japanese familities.  To become a member of Friiendship Force and to get more information on their Japan trip, go to www.friendshipdsm.org or call 515-333-8871.

Tune in to Van & Bonnie on Monday to win tickets to the Jersey Boys, coming to the Civic Center.  Van and Bonnie have their own special show on July 25th...special pricing will be available next week thruu our website!

Have a great weekend.

Bonnie

Just after the 8:30 news this morning we inducted a new member into the Van & Bonnie/Iowa Hall of Pride Hall of Heroes!  Today's inductee was actually the staff and members of Fitness World Ankeny-North!  Personal trainer Nick Berger, members Brian Fox and Walter Reed administered CPR and then applied the AED to another member, Gary, when he lost conciousness and collapsed.  He had stopped breathing and his heart had stopped beating.  Another employee, Derick Wilson, called 911 and the Ankeny EMS team responded within 4 minutes, transported Gary to the hospital, and the doctors said Gary is alive today because of these good samaritans!  Congratulations!

Abe Goldstein of Trilix Marketing joined us in the studio this moorning just after 7AM to help us celebrate the 159th anniversary of the patent of the accordian.  Abe had some new material and listeners called in some requests as well....funny, they still all sounded like "Lady of Spain" to me!

One last chance to win Bill Cosby tickets tomorrow morning....tune in to win!

Enjoy this gorgeous day!

Bonnie

BJ Hoffman of the Iowa BBQ Society was in the studio this morning just after the 7:30 news!  BJ brought us some fabulous pulled pork and BBQ baked beans.  Many of the Iowa BBQ Society members are trophy winning barbeque contestants.  There is a huuge BBQ competition coming up next weekend in Marshalltown...get all the details at www.IaBBQ.org.  For more information on BJ's catering...go to Honey Badger BBQ on Facebook or call BJ at 515-745-6229.

Jim Can and Angie Arthur joined us in the studio just after the 8:30 news this morning.  They are with Family Promise of Greater Des Moines.  They work with the homeless and church congregations to get the homeless back on their feet.  They are having a Garden Party fundraiser at the residence of Pat and Paula Hart, 32237 Deer Trail in Adel on Friday, June 21st, 6:30-9:30PM.  Tickets are available online at www.familypromisedm.org or call Family Promise at 515-277-7051.  Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door.

Tomorrow on Van and Bonnie...more Bill Cosby tickets, more Heroes & Saints Music Festival tickets as well as another Tone's gift basket.

Have a great day!

Bonnie

Jeriann says it's supposed to get up to 90 degrees today!  I know for some of you, that's miserable weather...for me and a lot of others, we've just been waiting for it.  Time for the water rides at Adventureland and sprinklers in the yard...little kids pools...or get your own pool from Water World!  Finally you can leave home without a jacket!

There was a little mix-up on our Tuesday "Van & Bonnie Eat Other People's Meals", so we're going to have a "Barbeque Wednesday" tomorrow just after 7:30 with the Iowa BBQ Society.  Tune in to find out how to make great BBQ from thee experts!

We'll have more Cosby tickets, Heroes & Saints Concert tickets, a Tone's Spices gift basket and one last Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau package to give away tomorrow.  Tune in to win!

Have a wonderful day!

Bonnie

Wow!  What a great morning for fishing!  I can't believe all the fish that were caught this morning by all the kids!  They just couldn't miss!  One little girl said she caught 12 fish in 10 minutes!  The smiles this morning were so precious...some kids caught their very first fish ever.  One little boy said, "I am having just the most fun day"!  This weekend is free fishing weekend in Iowa.  No fishing license is required today, Saturday or Sunday.  Please enjoy!  A huge thank-you to the DNR and Scheel's for this very special morning.  If you heard your name as being a prize winner and you were noot present to pick up your prize...your prize is available to be picked up at Scheel's.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Bonnie

Becky Beach of the Iowa Barnstormers and Brooks Reynolds of the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival joined us in the studio just after the 7:30 news this morning to announce the first ever Iowa Bacon Bowl!  The Iowa Barnstormers will take on the Utah Blaze July 20th with the winner bringing home the bacon...the Iowa Bacon Bowl Trophy.  The event kicks off at 3PM with an exclusive Iowa Bacon Bowl Tailgate Party where Barnstormer fans will receive a commemorative beer mug, one free beverage, live music and the opportunity to purchase bacon-inspired dishes from local restaurants.  Tickets are $25 each and include a ticket to the game.  They are available online at www.blueribbonbaconfestival.com.  Season ticket holders can purchase tickets while supplies last, for $5 by calling the Barnstormers' office at 515-633-2255.  Get your tickets before they're gone!

Renatta Bolen with the brand new Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater joined us in the studio just after 8:30 this morning.  A new and unique concert/entertainment venue, it's located just south of Des Moines and is tucked away and surrounded by the rolling hills and wooded landscape between St. Charles & St. Mary's...just off I35.  It can accommodate up to 18,000 guests.  Get your tickets now for the Heroes & Saints Music Festival June 15-16.  In the line-up...Richard Arndt, Vertical Horizon, Tonic, Sister Hazel, Better Than Ezra, Smash Mouth, Rebel Road, JT Hodges, LoCash Cowboys, Emerson Drive, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mark Wills and Diamond Rio!  Tickets are $35 if you call 515-333-4628 or $50 by going to www.redtrucktickets.com.  For more information, go to www.heroesandsaintsmusicfest.com.

Tomorrow morning, please join us at the "fishing hole"...the DMACC Lake in Ankeny.  No fishing license is required...for adults or kids!  The DNR and Scheels will have extra poles and bait for those that need it.  Scheels will be handing out all sorts of "stuff" and the kids can register to win one of 10 $50 gift cards to Scheels!  The DNR will be frying up fresh fish for everyone to try.  Both the DNR and Scheels will bee available for fishing tips and more!  It all happens 5-9AM tomorrow at the DMAAC Lake in Ankeny.  We'll see you there!

We'll see you this afternoon at Learning RX, 3-6PM, 50th & Westown Parkway in West Des Moines (right across the street from Lowe's).

Bonnie

Chuck Gipp and Mick Kalensrud of the DNR joined us in the studio this morning to talk about the FREE Van & Bonnie Fishing morning on Friday at the DMACC Lake in Ankeny, 5-9AM.  It's actually a free fishing weekend throughout the State of Iowa this Friday, Saturday and Sunday...no one needs a fishing license.  Normally everyone 16 and older requires a fishing license in the State of Iowa...kids under age 16 are always free.  Please join us Friday morning...the DNR will be frying up fresh fish for everyone, they will be helping with fishing poles and bait as well as giving out great tips for catching fish.  Scheels will also have people roaming around with bait and tackle and will help the kids catch more fish.  They will also be giving away a lot of fishing stuff as well as several $50.00 Scheels gift cards! 

Brian Stickel, General Manager of the Knoxville Raceway, and Bronson Maeschen, a Sprint Car driver were in the studio with us just after 8:30 this morning.  Bronson is hoping to take home a trophy this Saturday night!  These cars go around 120 mph and races can get pretty wild.  Check them out at www.knoxvilleraceway.com.  Also, coming up July 13th, free kids night!  Be sure to get your tickets to this weekend's races!

Tomorrow morning, Jeff Lamberti and Becky Beach of the Iowa Barnstormers, will be joining us in the studio just after 7:30 too talk about a big Barnstormers event coming up.  Also, if you want free tickets to the Iowa Speedway Nascar Race this weekend, be sure to be at the WHO Radio studios at 6AM...we have 100 free tickets...first come, first served. 

Rain, rain, go away....Bonnie needs to mow today!

Bonnie

It's Tuesday...so we ate someone else's meal this morning and it happened to be that of an Olympic Athlete!  Former Olympic athlete Karlos Kirby and the USOC Associate Director of Food & Nutrition Services, Terri Moreman, joined us in the studio and by phone.  Terri explained how they put together a buffet of healthy foods that the athletes can take the various items that fit their eating regime for their sport.  Calories are listed for each item so they can meet their caloric intake for the day.  Karlos made steel cut oats for us as well as smoothies, fruit, hard boiled eggs and fruit bars (all on the menu today for the Olympiic hopefuls!)

Michael Annett, race driver, joined us by phone this morning as well to promote the Dupont Pioneer 250 Nascar Nationwide Series race at the Iowa Speedway this weekend!  Michael is from Des Moines...he finished 4th last time in this race...he hopes to win it this time!  Be sure to stop by the WHO Radio studios at 2141 Grand at 6AM on Thursday...we'll be handing out 100 free tickets while they last!

Barb Heenan of the Scleroderma Support Group based in Ankeny joined us in the studio just after the 8:30 news.  Barb is organizing the first Walk to Cure Scleroderma ever in Iowa!  The walk is Sunday, June 9th, around the DMACC Lake in Ankeny.  Registration begins at 1PM in Building #7, with the walk starting at 2PM.  There will be a raffle and a silent auction as well.  For the kids, there is face painting and more.  Find out more information at www.scleroderma.org/steppingoutiowa.  Scleroderma is a chronic, progressive autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues.  There is no cure.  My husband and I are walking...we would love to have you join us!

Tune in tomorrow morning to win season tickets to the Des Moines Community Playhouse, plus we'll have some tickets to the Knoxville Raceway!

Stay dry!

Bonnie