Jolley

“Our town, our people” is a weekly Q&A with a local resident who is active in the community. Have a suggestion for someone we should talk to? Email T-R news editor Emily Barske at ebarske@timesrepublican.com. 

Bryce Jolley is a podiatrist who has lived in Marshalltown for more than five years.

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: “I’m passionate about health care and healthy living. So, lifestyle choices, maintaining that healthy living. So, not just giving everybody medication for everything, but actually, living a healthier lifestyle. A lot of times we need to change the individual, and not just one single thing: having a healthy diet, doing exercise, having a healthy family and social life – the whole package.”

Q: What community activities do you participate in?

A: “I’ve got three young kids and we try to stay pretty busy at the Y. We also try to do all the Fisher Community Center activities. We try to stay busy with all the community events. My kids love Oktemberfest. They love all the festivals – everything that goes on. My kids do a bunch of Y programs. My son does power-lifting.”

Q: What do you enjoy about this community?

A: “I see a lot of patients every day from the community. So, I feel like I’m kind of in the trenches in the community. I see the good and the bad, but I feel like that’s what I like about the community – is the people. I see a lot of patients, and so I feel I get to know the community pretty well through that.”

Q: What changes do you feel need to be made in the community?

A: “I would like to see a more sense of community. There seems to be a lot of people that don’t have investment in the community. People that are here for a little while, then they leave. They don’t take ownership of Marshalltown – this isn’t their town. It’s [more like], we’re here for a while and then move on. Take ownership … whether it’s just keeping it clean, whether it’s maintaining your property … or if it’s making it better.”

Q: What advice would you pass on to young people?

A: “Pursue something you’re passionate about. Set your sights high. Don’t limit yourself, don’t not do something because you don’t think you’re able to.”

Q: What is your favorite Marshalltown activity?

A: “I like exercising at the CrossFit gym.”

Q: What social activity or event would you like to see come to Marshalltown and why?

A: “I think we have a great downtown, and I would like to see more of it centered around the downtown district. I feel like there is a rich history there, and it’d be nice if we could cultivate that a little bit more. I would like to see a bunch of food trucks. I think that would be fun.”