Crestonians ‘Scoop the Loop’

Traffic was heavy in downtown Creston Saturday evening as locals both young and old came together to relive a forgotten tradition of Creston’s yesteryear.

The idea to “Scoop the Loop” Saturday originated when Amy Jo Lohoff, a Creston resident, created a Facebook event encouraging people to get out and socialize – but at a distance. Like many area residents, Lohoff said she used to drive the “loop” with her friends in her youth to get out of the house and meet up.

“Back before we had cell phones, we went to go find our friends and everyone ended up [in] uptown,” said Lohoff, 43. “... It was a little easier back then, because everyone knew what vehicle each other drove. ... You could stop and talk, and hop from vehicle to vehicle. It was a social thing for us then.”

Lohoff’s children, who rode along with her Saturday, initially thought of the old method of meeting up as “ridiculous,” but came around to the idea as cars multiplied by the dozens. Lohoff hopes the way of hanging out with friends makes a comeback now that a younger generation has been shown something their parents did a generation ago.

“I honestly hope this is something the kids do again, ... I think it’s important for kids to see it’s not just all about being on a telephone,” said Lohoff. “Those type of relationships I feel are diluted. You need to be with people and be present, and I hope ... people appreciate those face-to-face relationships a lot more.”

The idea, which was eventually picked up and publicized by radio station KSIB101.3 FM along with locals on social media, turned into a hour-plus long get together with locals showing off their cars or motorcycles, camping out in the back of pickup trucks and playing music.

All the makings of a road trip were on display Saturday afternoon, but instead of packing up for a long drive, it was the mile strip of West Adams Street. Creston wasn’t the only town to do a “scoop the loop” type of meet up as Atlantic and Greenfield had cars drive around its town centers Saturday night as well.

On top of the nostalgia factor it brought, Lohoff sees it as a method of relieving anxiety to some with the still growing concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t know how others feel, but I have anxiety and worry about everything with my kids,” said Lohoff. “It was kind of just a break from that, ... it was nice to kind of forget about it a little bit. Seeing everyone out enjoying it, I felt it was good for everyone it seemed.”

Despite the circumstances bringing the community together, Lohoff hopes a “scoop the loop” type meet up can happen again in the future with local businesses involved once the national pandemic subsides.

“I think it should happen more often, get people out once we can again,” Lohoff said.