Nathan Olson
Staff Reporter

There is no doubt there are some very interesting people at NIACC this year. Joe Kisley, a sophomore from Osage, is one of them.

Kisley has been riding unicycle for two years and juggling for about a year now. When he was a mountain biker, Kisley said he saw a picture of Kris Holm, a professional Mountain Unicycler and he decided that Mountain Unicycling was for him.

"When I first heard about it, I thought that it was impossible, that it couldn't be done," Kisley said. "I'm always looking for harder trails to ride and I love to see the look on people's faces when I meet them out on the trail."

Mountain Unicycling (MUNI) is the art of riding unicycle off-road on uneven terrain such as snow, ice, grass, dirt or any terrain that isn't smooth.

"It forces me to think about what I'm doing at every moment." Kisley said. "No matter how much I learn, there are always more challenges out there."

This summer, Kisley competed at the North American Unicycling Championships and Convention.

He placed third in the trials riding, third in the high jump and fifth in the uphill race. Kisley also went on a group ride in Red Wing, MN during the convention.

"It is fun and hard but you just have to keep practicing," Kisley said.

Kisley hosted the Iowa MUNI on Saturday, September 20 this fall and rode on some MUNI trails near Floyd.

He rode the trails there for about three hours with a couple people from Ames and a MUNI newcomer, Kyle Lucas from Mason City.

The ride consisted of a narrow singletrack and some downhills.

Kisley is a Web Design major here at NIACC.

The holiday tradition continues with America's favorite female pianist.

Known for her elaborate over-the-top, theatrically driven shows, Lorie Line, along with her world-class Pop Chamber Orchestra, is coming to town again.

Line has become a family institution in many parts of the country.

She has become a favorite entertainer who has taken over the stage "with lavish costumes, an infectious spirit, warmth and sincerity."

Using her traditional music background, she is responsible for writing the orchestrations and arrangements for all 13 musicians in her orchestra and she tours with her own custom-made concert grand piano.

Most likely the hardest working woman in show business, Line prepares all year to perform a brand new holiday extravaganza for the 100,000 fans she plays to each holiday season. Although it's a brand new show, some old traditions are back. The famous piano medley request has made its way into the line-up this season.

"All the fans have to do is shout, yell, and/or scream the title of their favorite well-known song during the medley request and I'll play itÉjust for them," Line said.

After a two-year hiatus from the traditional fan letter reading, it's also scheduled to be back in the show.

And what else can fans expect that's new?

Line said that there would be an appearance by Scrooge, played by her husband Tim, "Mr. Lorie Line" himself.

Line's story is unique in that she learned how to play the piano through traditional classical lessons since the age of five.

However, it was her savvy business sense that created the road map for her career. She prides herself on never taking a business course, yet she owns and runs the second largest independent record label in the country.

She and her husband manage the design and construction of an elaborate traveling stage set, 50 costumes, 200 lights, 60 microphones, and all the choreography and music. Line has redefined the image of a typical piano concert.

When she walks onto the stage, her audience, especially if they are new, instantly realizes it's not going to be an ordinary night attending a "piano recital."

Line and her husband reside with their 14-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son in Minneapolis, MN.

Lorie Line's A Christmas Classique holiday show takes place in the North Iowa Community Auditorium on November 13, 14 and 15.

Press release courtesy of Lorie Line's official website, http://www.lorieline.com.

NIACC students will receive half off the $30 ticket price for The Jonny Lang concert scheduled for Monday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the North Iowa Community Auditorium. These $15 tickets are made possible by Student Activity Fees which are sponsored by the NIACC Student Senate.