Chuck Offenburger may have left The Des Moines Register, but the Iowa Boy definitely has not finished writing about issues within Iowa.

The popular columnist, whose editorials appeared in the Register four times a week for 21 years, announced Friday that he will begin writing a similar series and will cover other events for The Iowan magazine. His first column will appear in the August 15 issue.

Jay Wagner, editor and general manager of The Iowan, said Offenburger’s new column will be “a lot like his Iowa Boy series — people, places and things pertaining to Iowa.”

Offenburger’s Register column featured small-town happenings and local heroes. One of his most well-known, ongoing quests was to find the best cinnamon rolls in the state.

More signatures include his personal penchant for wearing saddle shoes and his campaign to persuade the Bass Shoe Co. to resume manufacturing of the shoe. That effort evoked hundreds of Iowans to write the company, which eventually resumed manufacturing the shoes.

Offenburger’s interest in and friendship with opera singer Simon Estes took him to South Africa, where he traveled with the artist on a goodwill tour to support and encourage young musicians.

Offenburger resigned his position with the Register July 6 following a number of disagreements with the newspaper’s editors.

Offenburger said he is pleased with his new job.

“The Iowan started in Shenandoah, my hometown, in the basement of the newspaper office there,” he said. Offenburger said that he feels a special connection with the magazine because of those roots.

Wagner, too, said he is pleased to have Offenburger associated with his publication.

“Chuck is really an institution in Iowa,” he said.

Offenburger was well known as one of the leaders of RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. He will write his last column for the paper during this year’s event, which begins July 17. Offenburger said this will be his last year to cover RAGBRAI for the Register.

“We’ll still participate in it,” he said, but added that he would not have any official function on future RAGBRAI.

Offenburger said his other future plans are still indefinite, although writing a book or books about Iowa may be a possibility.

“I have nothing underway, but I would look at the idea [of a book] as time goes on,” Offenburger said. His three previous books were published by the Iowa State University Press.

Other projects might include teaching or public relations work for one of Iowa’s colleges or universities.

“I’ve spoken to college classes, but I’ve never done that kind of work,” Offenburger said. “I might like it.” Offenburger’s wife, Carla, teaches English and literature at Simpson College in Indianola.

Bicycling, too, will remain an important part of Chuck and Carla Offenburger’s lives. They were the organizers and leaders of the 1995 Iowa 150 Ride: A Sesquicentennial Expedition, in which 300 Iowans and former Iowans rode across the United States to promote the 150th anniversary of Iowa’s statehood. Offenburger said organizing and leading future bike tours is “a possibility.”

“We have no intention of doing anything that would compete with RAGBRAI, but we may lead bike tours to other states or other countries from time to time,” Offenburger said.

Offenburger said he will miss another aspect of his job, which involves Iowa State.

“I have been the self-appointed, official judge of marching bands, cheerleaders and pom-pon squads at the Iowa-Iowa State football game. I am going to have to pass that baton on to someone else,” he said. Offenburger wrote about the annual contest in his column each year, and last year picked Iowa State’s band as the better one.

Offenburger said he is leaving the Register after 26 years with no regrets and no feelings of ill will toward the paper.

“Even though I left with some unhappiness, I’m very grateful for the association I’ve had with it,” Offenburger said. “The Des Moines Register is a very important Iowa institution, and I will continue to be a Register reader.”