On Friday, the Fort Madison High School inducted four well-deserving men into the Bloodhound Hall of Fame. Dick Burch, Jim Allen and Jay Skinner were brought into the Hall for their contributions to the athletic [Read More…]
Seven hundred sixty-three days and counting. Pen City Current will enter its third year of writing about the people of north Lee County on Dec. 6…. and we couldn’t be happier to still be here. [Read More…]
I stopped by to visit with Kumar Wickramasingha at the Elliott Test Kitchen on Monday after Sunday night’s heavy snow storm. He was in back shoveling about six inches of snow off the small sidewalk [Read More…]
I’m going to toss out four books for consideration or consumption, like tossing out bones for the canine to choose from—one, two, maybe three, or all of them? It’s going to be cold and the [Read More…]
I can’t drive 55…or 65 for that matter, there’s just too much to do. This week I’ve made the mind-numbing trek to the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids on what will be three straight [Read More…]
People have been at the door knocking a couple times a week. Democrats mostly, trying to shore up votes. I’m a registered Democrat, but I would have had conversations with foot soldiers of Republican candidates. [Read More…]
November 3rd, 1989, 2:00 a.m., all alone, and blind drunk, I fell through the glass top of my coffee table, cut myself to smithereens, and almost bled to death. Like an Iowa tornado ripping through [Read More…]
Dear Editor: October 6, the day Kavanaugh won a seat on the Supreme Court is a day that will change America. It was a good day for corporation, and the super rich but for people [Read More…]
Lee County Supervisor Gary Folluo rubbed his head in frustration at Tuesday’s board meeting as the county leaders worked through an issue about a maintenance shed that sits between two properties in Argyle. The building [Read More…]
National Dog Day, which was in late August, right around Ginnie’s birthday, found Buddy a little worse for wear. It has been a bummer summer for the ole Buddy Boy. First of all, in July, [Read More…]
ANIAH ROSS PCC Intern FORT MADISON – The Old Fort Players is just a few days from pulling the curtain back on its next production – Steel Magnolias. Set in the eighties in a quaint [Read More…]
To the Editor: On Saturday August 4th the Fort Madison Kiwanis Club along with countless volunteers held a Back to School Health Fair at the Fort Madison High School. 150 children, ages preschool through 8th [Read More…]
Brad Heald was still weed eating 45 minutes before his daughter’s wedding. He wanted everything to be perfect for his only daughter, Coral. To the wedding guests, everything was perfect. There was a beautiful display [Read More…]
In my generation, a four-year degree was the path often taken. “Get your degree” my mom would say. It took me a while to get my crap together, but I got it done. I graduated [Read More…]
I’ve been following the recent news where Western Illinois University has directed budget cuts at Tri-State Public Radio’s three radio stations and it’s Audio Information Services (AIS) as of March 1, 2019. It’s not a [Read More…]
Dear Editor: A huge thank you to Bob Schierbach and the Fort Madison Community Hospital for the timely donation of a roll-out commercial refrigerator to the North Lee County Food Pantry. During the summer months [Read More…]
Randy Miller, a retired editor at the Burlington Hawk-Eye and former employee at the Daily Democrat, has an opinion piece in the Hawk-Eye Sunday morning. You can read it on their website at www.thehawkeye.com. Just [Read More…]
Watching thousands of people crowd around the majestic riverfront that serves as the front yard to Fort Madison’s downtown district was something to see last week. I live about four blocks from RiverFest and decided [Read More…]
To Pen City Current readers: It has recently been announced that the University of Iowa intends to dissolve their Labor Center. For almost seventy years the University of Iowa Labor Center has been built up, [Read More…]
So it’s news literally heard across the world that Pen City Current is seeking visual evidence of an alleged incident from a December assembly at the Fort Madison Middle School involving Principal Todd Dirth. We’ve [Read More…]
A nice story of locals pulling together to keep a local business alive unfolded right in front of us here in Lee County. Keokuk radio KOKX (AM 1310) and Z93 was on the chopping block [Read More…]
Dear Editor; Tom Kruse is the son of Dan Kruse and Shelly Kruse, grandson of Ceil Kruse and Letta Grosekemper. Tom was born with three major heart issues that required surgery and long recoveries at [Read More…]
Now that we know that Officer Jesse Hill lied and Police Chief Beard and Attorney Amy Beavers covered it up, shouldn’t they be the ones to pay this lawsuit to the deserving Steele family? Why [Read More…]
I went puddle jumping Thursday afternoon. Literally. But I wasn’t dressed for the occasion. I was busy at the computer as usual in the afternoon and got up to stretch my legs. I walked through [Read More…]
Blossom doesn’t particularly like her small pen. She runs from one end of the small enclosure to the other, kicking up her heels, letting us know that if she had a larger pasture she would [Read More…]
BY CHUCK VANDENBERG As an elected official, you have an inherent responsibility to keep the trust of the electorate and to do your best to represent those that cast a ballot in your favor. When [Read More…]
Letter to the Editor: This letter is to show support of Bob Morawitz, Democratic candidate for the Iowa House. Bob has proven himself to put the constituents he is representing first, making sure their voices [Read More…]
Dear Editor I want to go on record as endorsing Bob Morawitz for the office of State Representative for House District 83. Bob currently serves on the Fort Madison City Council and represents my ward. [Read More…]
Editor My name is Kim Fehseke and my daughter McKenna Fehseke was involved in the senior prank at Fort Madison High School Sunday, May 20th. In recent days there has been much miscommunication and speculation [Read More…]
Editor (This is a copy of the letter FMCSD Tim Wondra has been sending to those emailing regarding the banning of students from graduation. We are running this intact as a letter to the editor) [Read More…]
Rebuild Nepal Education Namaste!!! Thanks to you Chuck and Lee and your staff for your continued support for my educational mission in Nepal. Rebuild Nepal Education Foundation. As most of your readers know the difficulty [Read More…]
Not doing enough for you? Fellow citizens: the next time you are sitting at home wondering about things the city should be doing for you, please stop are read Chuck Vandenberg’s article “Close to 100 [Read More…]
Dear Editor, On Tuesday, April 17th Potowonok Circle of King’s Daughters is teaming up with the Eagle’s Club for a taco and enchilada supper. The proceeds from our portion of the supper will go towards [Read More…]
A heated conversation started last week toward the end of the Lee County Board of Supervisors meeting when Supervisor Ron Fedler suggested that the county not backfill a full-time and part-time correctional officer for the [Read More…]
Dear Editor One thing I immediately noticed that gave me concern upon moving to this community was the inclusion of the 4th and 5th grade students in the middle school. While I understand they are [Read More…]
Dear Editor: “The keys to brand success are self-definition, transparency, authenticity, and accountability”—Simon Mainwaring Once again the voters in the Fort Madison community have said no to building a new grade school. This is the [Read More…]
Thank You, I wanted to take time after reflecting on Tuesday’s efforts toward the Fort Madison Community School District elementary bond vote to say “Thank You”. First, thank you to all those who took time [Read More…]
Dear Editor There were lots of reasons Fort Madison school district voters rejected the elementary school bond referendum. It would behoove supporters to contemplate some of them before bringing this up for a fourth round [Read More…]
Dear Lee County Voters, I respect all voters on both sides of the school bond referendum because I believe there are legitimate concerns on both sides. However I have been disturbed with the responses from [Read More…]
Dear Editor; I am a mother of 4 children. 3 of my children have already graduated from Fort Madison and my youngest is disabled. I am hoping that everyone who reads this will at least [Read More…]
Letter to the Editor I was elected to the Fort Madison Community School District Board of Directors in 2015. I moved into the district in 1976 and my three children attended and graduated from our [Read More…]
Dear Editor On behalf of the Lee County Food Bank, I want to convey my thanks for the overwhelming response from the Fort Madison community to our cry for help. Cash donations from employees of [Read More…]
Editor: Since I became Superintendent of the Fort Madison Community Public Schools almost 2 years ago, we’ve tried to keep school financial business as transparent as possible. There is nothing about the school bond and [Read More…]
Tuesday turned into a not-so-normal day for a reporter who’s covered just about every beat and every type of story in journalism. Nothing has really intimidated me in this business until Tuesday afternoon when I [Read More…]
Fort Madison isn’t sitting still, and neither should its educational system. Activity is in the air, from new subdivisions, to new businesses. There is significant investment in infrastructure, updating and improving our community for a [Read More…]
LETTER TO THE EDITOR, I have heard some say that they won’t bother to vote because they have no kids in the school system. Some say they went to school in Fort Madison and the [Read More…]
BY CHUCK VANDENBERG Well, the letters have been printed, and we’ll print any more up until Sunday at midnight, on the upcoming school referendums. I’m in the bag and always have been on these new [Read More…]
Letter to the Editor: Fort Madison Partner Affiliates: Fort Madison Area Chamber of Commerce; Main Street; Fort Madison Economic Development; and Fort Madison-Southeast Iowa Regional Riverboat Commission, recognize the value that quality educational opportunities bring [Read More…]
Serving the Public Trust People in paid community leadership positions serve the people who pay their salaries. Included in that salary is a pre-ordained obligation to be unambiguous and accommodating when it comes to doing [Read More…]
Please vote YES for the new school on April 3rd. This is for our future generations, that hopefully will stay and raise families, start businesses, work in our industries and help this town prosper. To [Read More…]
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