A group of people arrived south of what was to become the town of Villisca, Iowa in 1859 from Highland City, Ohio. We have the best price on the internet for Birko balance, Birko sport, and childrens orthotics. They called their settlement Ross Grove and it was Ross Grove who built a log cabin on the land that became the town of Villisca, Iowa. It was called Jackson township but the name was changed later to East Township. East Township was located near the Nodway River and Villisca is the largest city in East Township. Villisca was on the main line of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad. The depot in Villisca was a hub for the CB&Q and the south branch to Kansas City and St. Joesph, MO. Villisca’s population started to decline after they cancelled passenger train service. In 1880 the Western House Hotel was built and it was puchased by J.T. Ingram after a fire had damaged it. The Hotel Fisher was opened in early 1900’s and it had electric lights, excellent rooms, and a furnace to keep you warm while you enjoyed the best available service This train service was the reason that Villisca was the largest town in Montgomery County at one time. The area was known for being a big pork producer as there were many pig farms located here. Frank Tyler arrived in Villisca in 1877 and he built a sucessful business empire. He started Tyler Ice and Coal, Tyler Ice Cream, bottling company, and was the first gas and kerosene dealer for Standard Oil. Villisca became known nationally for the axe murders of 8 people in June of 1912. These murders turned people against one another as they took sides about who could have committed these horrible crimes. Frank Jones was the main suspect and there was an article in the Council Bluffs Nonpareil about a photo that was taken of the retina of one of the victims that showed a picture of the man who committed the murders. He was stoutly built and wore an apron and a mask. This was the only clue they had to the 8 murders of the Stillinger family. The funeral was held in the park in Villisca and 5,000 people attended and it was the largest funeral procession ever held in southern Iowa. It is believed today that the murders were committed by a serial killer that left town on the train. Villisca is only 18 miles east of where we live in Red Oak, Iowa on Hwy 34 and south on Hwy 71. Our website www.lionfootweardirect.com has good prices for Dansko shoes, Dansko women’s Professional, Rockport women’s World Tour Classic, Rockport men’s Margin, Rockport men’s Encounter, Ryka studio mid flex, Super Birki clogs, Birkenstock Tokyo, Birkenstock chef shoes, Sandro Moscoloni, and Predator Ultimate Protein.

Dave Clark

I am going to write an article about something that I really enjoy- walking. We have the best price on the internet for Birko balance arch supports and childrens orthotics. My wife started walking a few months before I did. She would take our dog Sadie for a walk after work and I soon started going with her. We would walk for about 45 minutes every day and sometimes twice a day. Walking can be a big help with major reductions in diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and increasing bone density. Walking is an easy way to stay fit and reduce stress and can be done indoors or outdoors. The only expense you will have is a good pair of walking shoes that fit your feet without pinching or putting pressure on your feet that can cause blisters and calluses. It is important to select a walking shoe that has a good arch support for your feet. If you have a problem with blisters its a good idea to wear two pairs of socks. You will really need two pairs of walking shoes so you can rotate them so they will dry out and they will last longer. Start your walk out at an easy pace for about five minutes and then pick up the pace so you will elevate your heart rate. Swing your arms and keep your head up, keep your tummy in, and your back should be straight. When walking in the summer be sure to wear a hat with a brim on it and apply sunscreen. If you are walking to lose weight you should work up to walking an hour a day and you will burn about 300 calories. If you watch your diet in about 6 months you could lose 10 lbs and lower your health risks for major diseases. Walking is a great sport that is an easy way to get some exercise and even lose some weight so why not start walking today. Our internet store has Avia walking shoes for men and women and Ryka walking shoes that fit womens’s feet.

Dave Clark

Many people enjoy running to get fit and lose weight, and running is a great stress reliever. Taking care of your feet will help you enjoy running for a long time. There are some things you can do to make sure you will enjoy running and preventing injuries to your body and feet. Be careful not to over do it if you are a beginner. Start using a mixture of walking and running to allow your body to adjust to the exercise and you will avoid over training and injuries. Develop a stretching and warm up program so your muscles and joints are ready for your run. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids before and after you run so you do not become dehydrated. It is very important to wear athletic shoes that are made for running and have plenty of cushion to stabilize your feet. The shoe’s toe box must be large enough to allow your forefoot and toes plenty of room to spread out when you are running. A shoe that is covered with mesh will allow your feet to breathe and will add to your foot comfort and make your run more enjoyable. Wear two pairs of socks and this will prevent your feet rubbing against your shoes causing a blister. If you have a problem with your feet over pronating when you run this will cause your feet to roll inwards to get contact with the running surface to support your body. Consider adding an arch support to your shoes like Birko balance arch supports. We have the best price on the internet at www.lionfootweardirect.com. We have a good selection of running shoes on our website like Ryka, Avia, and K-Swiss running shoes. If you have foot problems it is a good idea to see a GP or Podiatrist to get the right care for your feet. Take good care of your body and feet and you will enjoy running for many years and you will look good too.

Dave Clark

The two main things to consider when you purchase safety footwear for work are protection and comfort. Wearing safety footwear will protect your feet from hazards at work. If you work where there are electrical hazards you will need footwear that is rated to protect you from electrical shock and has special soles. Steel toed shoes and boots will protect your feet from heavy objects falling or rolling on your feet. Our internet store www.lionfootweardirect.com offers the Nautilus line of safety footwear for both men and women in stylish designs plus athletic inspired comfort and construction. Nautilus action leather, and moisture- wicking linings are very nice features. Nautilus Skid Buster slip resistant line meets the needs of todays food service, supermarket, and hotel worker at affordable prices. If you’re having problems with support for your feet we have the best price on the internet for Birko balance arch supports. Lion Footwear offers Birkenstock’s Profi- Birki, one of the top selling clogs among cullinary professionals. The Profi- Birki has a high anti-slip rating in Europe and is one of our biggest sellers. Lion Footwear offers quantity purchase discounts. 15% of all accidental deaths are caused by slips and falls according to a survey conducted in the U.K. and are a major hazard in the workplace. Safety shoes are designed to protect you from hazards and prevent injuries to your feet. If you have any problems with your feet, consider seeing a Podiatrist and he will take care of any problems you may have. If you have any questions about safety footwear or related issues, email us at waterman711@yahoo.com or call 800-831-0940.

Dave Clark

We started Lion Footwear to offer high quality footwear for people who work every day on their feet. Our main brands, Rockport, Dansko, Birkenstock, Sandro Moscoloni, Ryka, and Alegria all have footwear products that do a great job providing high quality footwear that is supportive, comfortable and durable. Taking good care of your feet is extremely important because working on your feet puts a lot of stress on them and they are one of your most utilized body part. Walking, standing, and running all have a huge impact on our feet. Our daily activities, depending on how active we are, the type of work we do, our overall health, and perhaps most importantly, the shoes we wear affect our feet. If you negect the care of your feet you are taking a chance that you can damage your feet without realizing it. Spending all day working on your feet can lead to having major foot problems if your feet do not have time to recover and the next day you are back on them at work. Many people suffer with pain in their back, legs, and knees that is caused by foot problems, and, if this is left untreated, it can lead to life long chronic back aches and leg pain. Poor fitting shoes can cause foot lacerations, blisters, callouses, and corns that can hurt your productivity at work because your feet hurt. Shoes that do not offer your feet enough arch support can cause your feet to ache, especially if you stand or work on hard floors. If you have a problem with fallen arches or flat feet and wear shoes that do not offer enough support, this can cause your feet to ache. Our internet store www.lionfootweardirect.com offers some great choices for footwear for both men and women. Rockport offers the men’s and women’s World Tour Classic that offers a platform that will provide great support for your feet and are very comfortable to wear. Sandro Moscoloni offers hand made shoes from Brazil with sheepskin linings and heavy duty soles for a durable, comfortable, and long lasting shoe for men. Dansko Professionals for both men and women are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association as footwear that is designed to promote good foot health. Dansko Professionals are worn by both airline personnel on all major airlines and health care professionals. We have had many orders for Dansko Professionals from Lowe’s employees who work on concrete floors and walk up to 8 miles a day. Birkenstock offers the Profi-Birki that is worn by chefs and people in the food industry because it has a very high rating for being non-slip in a greasy environment. Birkenstock’s Birko balance arch supports will provide your feet with more support. Alegria has become a favorite for female healthcare professionls who work 12-14 hour shifts on their feet most of the time. Call our customer support number 800-831-0940 for more information about our high quailty footwear products.

Dave Clark

If you want to get the most out of the investment you have made in your leather shoes you need to take good care of them and do the maintenance that they require to keeping them looking good. Your feet produce over a 1/4 of a cup of moisture in a day and can produce up to a 1/2 cup if you are very active. By putting cedar shoe trees in your shoes you can expect your shoes to last up to three times longer. Cedar shoe trees will draw the moisture out of the leather and will maintain the shape of your shoes. Cedar shoe trees will neutralize any foot odor and leave the scent of aromatic cedar. Rotate your shoes so they will dry out and use a shoe horn when you put your shoes on because this will save the heel counter from wear. Keep your leather shoes clean on a regular basis by using saddle soap and water to remove dirt and grime from the leather. Make sure and rinse the residue from the saddle soap and then apply a leather conditioner. Set your leather shoes or boots aside after cleaning them for 24 hours to dry out and make sure you put your cedar shoe trees in them. Apply a good quality shoe polish like Kelly’s or a shoe cream and then polish the leather. A good quality polish or cream will moisturize the leather keeping your shoes flexible and will soak into the leather allowing the leather to breathe. A wax polish will shine the leather better than a cream will but will seal the leather causing the leather to dry out. When you have applied the polish let your shoes set for about 10 minute to dry then buff the leather with a horsehair shoe brush. Apply a second coat of polish or cream and repeat the first step. Use a soft cloth to bring out the shine on the leather. Use shoe bags when traveling to keep from soiling or touching your clothing. Taking good care of your leather shoes will make them last a long time and you will be money ahead. Our internet store www.lionfootweardirect.com offers Free Shipping for leather hand made shoes from Sandro Moscoloni. Rockport men’s Margin, Rockport men’s Encounter, Rockport dressport 2, and Dansko women’s Professional, all fine leather shoes that are nice looking, durable comfortable, high quality shoes at low prices. We have the best price on the internet for Birko balance arch supports.

Dave Clark

Diabetes affects up to 6% of the population but it is a lot higher in older people. The hormone insulin helps your body assimilate sugar that’s in your diet. Diabetes causes you not to produce enough insulin and you have type 1 diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes the higher levels of glucose in your blood is what causes damage to your bodie’s tissues and organs. Diabetes damages your nerves and it can happen to your feet without you knowing it. This is known as peripheral neuropathy. Diabetes can cause poor circulation that leads to your feet not being able to heal up when you have a foot injury. Poor fitting shoes are a leading cause of foot injuries and if your shoes rub a sore on your toe it could lead to an infection that is hard to heal up from. Foot ulcers are a problem for people with diabetes and this can allow your feet to become infected. If you have diabetes it is important to do the following to stop problems before they can develop:
– Use a mild soap and wash your feet daily and be sure to dry your feet completely.
– Reduce moisture by dusting your feet with talcum powder.
– Check your feet daily for sores, cuts, bruises, and any changes in your toenails.
– Take good care of your feet. Cut your toenails straight across but do not cut the corners. Use an emery board or file the round off the corners of your toenails.
– If you have any problems with corns or callouses be sure to see the Podiatrist to have them removed.
– Don’t go barefoot. This will help you avoid any foot injuries.
– Use a a moisturizer if your feet are dry but do not apply it between your toes.
– Make sure the footwear you buy fits your feet or you risk having poor fitting shoes damage your feet.
– It is extremely important to take good care of yourself by not smoking, lose weight if needed, exercise at least 5 days a week, and reduce your alcohol intake.
_ See a Podiatrist at least once a year and see him immediatley if you have any problems with you feet.

Our website www.lionfootweardirect.com offers Khepra Foot Balm, Pedifix Deep Healing Cream, and Pedifix Fungi Soap at our Foot Care section. These special products will help you care for your feet.

Dave Clark

There are misconceptions about the arches in our feet as being solid stuctures that do not move. The arches of your feet are always moving up and down when we are walking or running. If you have fallen arches it may not be the problem it is how your foot functions when walking or running. It is not the height of the arch that is the problem since a lot of people have low or high arches that have no problem with their feet. It is the function of the foot that can cause the problem. If you foot is pronated and lowers the arch by the rolling of your ankle can cause this problem. If you use a foot orthotic to help support the foot arch support itself you can restore your own arch. If your foot is pronated and rolls inward at the ankle your symptoms can vary from mild pain in your arch or you may have a heel spur. Many other things can cause the same symptoms so if arch supports do not seem to help with your foot problems you need to consult with a foot doctor. There is no evidence that foot orthotics weaken the foot. We have several doctors that send us clients that order Birko balance arch supports for their foot problems. It is important to wear supportive footwear especially running shoes for most cases that are not severe. Foot orthotics are the main treatment for “fallen arches” and we offer Birko balance, childrens orthotics, and other arch supports at our Lion Foot Care section at our website www.lionfootweardirect.com.

Dave Clark

Cracked heels are a condtion that can be annoying and painful if left untreated. If you have a cracked heel condition we recommend seeing a podiatrist for all foot problems. This article should not be relied on for a medical diagnosis or treatment for feet problems. Cracked heels or heel fissures are mostly caused by dry skin and if the skin is thick around the rim of the heel of your foot. Cracked heels are a common foot problem but when the cracks or fissures are deep they can cause pain and the skin can bleed. It can become painful when standing on your feet for long periods of time especially if you stand on hard floors. In severe cases it can cause an infection in your heels. The skin on your heels may develop a thick callous and appear as a yellow or brown discoloration along the side of your heel. Some causes of cracked heels include:
- Standing on your feet for long periods of time.
- If you are overweight it will increase the pressure on the heels causing the pad under the heel to expand sideways.
-Wearing open backed shoes allows the heel to expand out and increase the pressure on your heel.
- Dry skin caused by some medical conditions.
- Psoriasis and eczema can be causes.
There are some things you can do to help cracked heel conditions. Twice a day apply an oil based moisturizing cream to you heels. Use a pumice stone to reduce the thickness of the hard skin and do not wear open backed shoes or thin soled shoes. Our website www.lionfootweardirect.com offers a foot cream and heel cups that will help with cracked heels.

Dave Clark

When I was young growing up in Oelwein, Iowa I spent almost every day in the summer at our local swimming pool. Lion Footwear has the best price on the internet for Birko balance, Birko sport, Birko motion and children’s orthotics. The pool was about 12 blocks from our house and I would ride my bike there arriving at 1:00pm when they opened in the afternoon. You were supposed to take a shower before entering the pool but I did not like a cold blast of water on me. If the life guard saw that you had not taken a shower he would make you return to the shower room before letting you in the pool. I enjoyed swimming on hot summer days and I went to the pool every day of the week, plus, I went to the pool a lot in the evenings with my brother and dad. We would race across the pool trying to beat our dad but he always won. Some days I would get tired of swimming so I would do a can opener off the low diving board splashing the life guard who was sitting in the chair near the diving board. The life guard would kick me out of the pool for the day but I enjoyed giving him a shower. As I got older I spent more time going off the diving boards and I learned how to do a one and a half dive off the 10′ diving board. By the end of the summer my skin was dark brown from the sun and my hair was almost blond. Sometimes I would get sinus headaches from diving and I would end up in bed till the pain would go away. I live in Red Oak, Iowa now and we have a large indoor pool at our local Y.M.C.A. and a large outdoor pool for summer use. The outdoor pool is old and needs to be replaced since it leaks a lot of water. Swimming pools are needed in a community because they suppply kids a place to have fun and get some good exercise. I hope they replace our pool as it would be a shame if we didn’t have a pool in town. I believe it is important for everyone to know how to swim and it is a great sport for the kids. Red Oak has had great swim teams in the past and we will in the future if we have a good working swiming pool. Our website www.lionfootweardirect.com offers Free Shipping for Dansko shoes, Dansko women’s Professional, Rockport women’s World Tour, Rockport men’s Encounter, Rockport men’s Margin, Rockport Allander, Super Birki clogs, Birkenstock Tokyo, Birkenstock chef shoes, Ryka Studio Flex mid, Sandro Moscoloni, and Predator Ultimate Protein.

Dave Clark