March 28, 2024

When you’re cooped, you gotta scoop

Newton drivers ‘scoop the loop’ Friday evening and enjoy socially distant activities

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To keep folks from going mildly stir-crazy inside their homes, local leaders organized an event Friday evening that pulled people out of their houses while still maintaining social distancing requirements.

Freezing rain earlier in the day couldn’t stop about two dozen or so cars from meeting in the DMACC Newton Campus parking lot to “scoop the loop.”

Organized by the Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce and Newton Main Street, the event allowed participants to travel in a convoy while driving eastbound and westbound on First Avenue. Eventually, the traffic veered off to different areas around town.

Amanda Price, executive director of the Newton Chamber of Commerce, said the event was inspired by other Iowa communities wanting to find some type of activity that still preserves public health officials’ wishes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since people are confined in cars, Price thought the event might work.

“It was a unique way to say ‘hello’ to your friends that you haven’t seen in a while,” Price said. “It was nice to see those people and wave. Even though you can’t have a conversation with them or talk to them up close, it was almost like a stress reliever a little bit. It made me feel calmer and happier.”

Leading the charge was Newton Mayor Mike Hansen, who was immediately feeling nostalgic driving through town. It’s a longtime midwestern tradition to scoop the loop, after all, and it was something Hansen remembered participating in as a teenager many years ago.

“That was one of the things you did,” he said. “Maybe you went to a sporting event earlier in the evening but ended up scooping the loop. This was kind of the teenage gathering place, plus a number of other restaurants that were in town. But you always ended up scooping the loop.”

Hansen said it was great idea to hold an event like this “during these extraordinary times” people are living in. The mayor said the community has to come up with more ways to follow the rules beset by health professionals and still have fun in a safe way.

“We need to find things where we can get out and have fun but still respect the social distancing and all the things we’re being advised to do,” he said. “I’m looking forward to more of these types of things that we can do.”

Price said it has been difficult for entities like the chamber of commerce and Newton Main Street to keep the community engaged with local businesses and activities. It requires organizers to get creative. Moving forward, Price said scoop the loop may meet once a week, based on positive feedback.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com