July 9, 2024: A poster promoting the appearance of Robert Yeltman at the Ripley United Church of Christ parsonage was near the entrance to North Tama Veterinary Clinic.
I was back home last week for the district semifinal baseball game — North Tama lost to Maquoketa Valley — and I took a walk beforehand. Along the way I saw a name from my past, one I hadn’t thought of in a long time.
Robert Yeltman, a 2000 North Tama graduate, has a music career. His website says he “is a passionate singer and guitarist who is well known for his crowd-work and melodic voice with a lifetime of performance experience.”
Ripley United Church of Christ in Traer has started hosting musical events at its parsonage next door to the church. It’s a house that will be having “open mic nights.” According to a recent piece in the North Tama Telegraph, “each month of this series will also bring a regional talent … to offer both inspiration and a taste of what a great songwriter can feel like in a real ‘listening room’ environment.”