Iowa’s small barns disappearing – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
You may have noticed the big, beautiful, red barn beside the highway. It’s just west…
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Birthday ends in trip to Wall Street – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
On August 27, the night before Ginnie’s birthday, the moon and Mars lined up side-by-side,…
“The Virus” is very real to area woman – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Families gotta start back getting together for Sunday dinner and family reunions…not just funerals. –…
Schiller’s link to Nepal goes back to his childhood – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Ernie Schiller is a well known figure in Lee Country and SE Iowa, as well…
Park running a new outlet for MP man – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
“It doesn’t need to be your personal best. It doesn’t need to look pretty. It…
Unexpected gift yields good news – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Except when I was 13 and got a Winchester single shot, .22 rifle, this may…
Chaneys revive natural prairie by Skunk – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Dog park, grooming, boarding, training, world class Yorkies, pigeons for dog training, wildlife habitat and…
COVID art didn’t jinx – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Ironically, I may have brought this on myself. Being an artist, I see beauty in…
Small privileges come to light during pandemic – By Katie Scoville
College is a time to spread your wings and move out of your comfort zone….
Detasseling was summer right of passage – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
My only goal was to keep up with Ray in the row beside me and…
Gardening and drinking from the hose – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
I made an uncanny observation the other day while watering our garden. Hose water tastes…
Garden undergoes a Chipmunk funk – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I did not know that chipmunks, also known as “squinneys,” can destroy a garden. They’re…
Newspaper clipped by pandemic -Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
It’s worth a road trip to see. Located in Traer, Iowa, north of Tama, the…
He shed turns into art studio – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Leave it to an artist. Artists usually have many talents, not just one art form….
Finches say it’s time to put in the garden – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I tilled a pick-up load of composted sheep manure into our garden. I know I…
Some have a bit more social distance – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
We might think we have it rough with restaurants closed, “shelter in place” (fancy words…
Salem pastor started at a young age – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Diego knew he was on the right path, that God had spoken to him. Coming…
Procedure good for mind, body- Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
My wife and I mark our time together by Colonoscopies. Yup. You see, we had…
Cancer survivor reaching for the stars – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
He wants to be an astronaut or a flight director, the person who leads the…
Syndicated or not, it’s working – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
I’m often asked, by aspiring writers, how I got my column into so many newspapers….
Thank You notes have started year right
Empty Nest – by Curt Swarm “If you have one friend, you’re a wealthy person.”…
Dodging the pitfalls of an aging body- Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
It all started when an old hernia surgery scar began hurting—real bad! What was going…
A full list of holiday dining hot spots – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
With the eating season upon us—Thanksgiving through Easter—here is where Ginnie and I like to…
“Give this day a good pull” – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
They, the omniscient “they,” say that when you retire the majority of your time is…
Ancestry search turns up pain – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
From an early age Scott Pieper (pronounced “Pipe-er” not “Peep-er”) wanted to be a mortician….
Mud run mirrors 30 years of sobriety – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
November 3, 1989, a day I shall never forget. I had fallen drunk through the…
This Veteran’s Day, hug a vet – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
The little green sign at 18th and Main Street, in downtown Keokuk, doesn’t really do…
Fall’s spectacular in Minnesnowda – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
There are two seasons in Minnesota: winter and road construction. Ginnie and I were on…
French honor Iowa’s Hunger – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Ned Hunger’s P-47 Thunderbolt, along with three other P-47’s buzzed the town of Arches, France….
Douds race announcer takes final lap – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I had a Facebook message from a Scott Watson in Douds. He is a SE…
A life of service is a fine life – Empty Nest – by Curt Swarm
“The spiritual and moral will eventually overcome the material and unmoral. That is the purpose…
A full, silly, weird day at ISU’s Jack Trice
AMES — They had enough. The Iowa State students in the northeast corner of Jack…
Inklings of fall bring changes, adventures – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
The “Mump Truck” (mums + dump truck) is now spilling over with blanket flowers. You…
MP football team was perfect in ’63 – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Only one team came close to scoring. Fairfield made it to Mt. Pleasant’s one yard…
Tragic death brings fond memories – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
We both worked for the Mt. Pleasant News in the advertising department. I was new…
Summer brings a little bitter with the sweet – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
I cut through the aronia bushes on the way to the barn. The aronia bushes…
Zumdome’s “Purse and Boots” a favorite at art contests – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
The art awards were announced. “In 2D, second place goes to…, first place goes to…;…
Tending to flowers and then tending to an escapee – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
A man ran across Sharon Bortz’s back yard. He had his shirt off and was…
Local business owner tells story of encounter with explorer
BY BRENDA DERRDOLLHOUSE DREAMS OWNER/OPERATOR FORT MADISON – Jules Winnfield has been on a mission…
Are vacations getting overrated? – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Ginnie calls it a “staycation.” Instead of going on a summer vacation, we stay at…
Signs of the times – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Like a precursor to the evening, there was a rather rude outburst at the political…
Empty Nest empty without Barney
Barney has disappeared. It happened on Mother’s Day (wouldn’t you know). Barney has always been…
Trip brings meeting with Pulitzer winner – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
The last time I was in Jefferson, Iowa, I was six years old and had…
Mt. Pleasant man on mission to rename Skunk River
Dan Williams wants to reclaim the name “Shecaqua” for the Skunk River. He is tall…
Sports guys eyes opened to Iowa sports
I’m From Dallas City, Il, so I knew where Fort Madison was and could actually…
Treehouse getaway provides break – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Ginnie and I went to sleep with the rain falling gently on the roof of…
Memories of Blossom during National Beef Month – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
I’ve caught more flak about butchering Blossom than any other column I’ve written. Good grief….
Lost in “The Bean” – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Blossom is not pregnant. The vet called with the results of the blood test. “Open,”…
Aslan’s books cement authors faith – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I got the first book where I get many of my books, from 89-year old…
MP man walked more than 30,000 miles – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
The best way to interview an octogenarian who walked 30,000 miles in 30 years (a…