Military service was always a thing I looked at from afar. My biological father was in the Iowa Army National Guard and my mom received some veteran’s benefits to help raise the family. He died [Read More…]
Dear Editor: If I was a smart businessperson I would stay out of local politics, no matter what you do you could alienate a portion of the population. I guess I’ve never been too bright [Read More…]
Letter to the Editor A fresh start for a bright future I have been reading the letters to the editor that have been sent by my opponent and I have read the letters to the [Read More…]
I fully support, Matt Mohrfeld in the mayoral race for Fort Madison. Matt Mohrfeld has chosen to make Fort Madison home for his family and his very successful and growing business because he believes in [Read More…]
We watch sports for various reasons… entertainment, loyalty, certainly vicarious longings of days gone by. Most of us that played high school sports kind of shake and move with the games – be it football, [Read More…]
Dear Editor; Matt Mohrfeld has a vision for Fort Madison. A vision of a community that is structurally sound, that plans for the future without forgetting it’s past and isn’t afraid to be creative in [Read More…]
Dear Editor; In the middle of an ice storm on February 5, 2019, CaLove Sackman, mother of four was lured from her home and murdered by her abusive ex-boyfriend. He convinced her to go for [Read More…]
To the Editor, First of all, I would like to congratulate Mayor Brad Randolph on his very successful tenure as the Mayor of Fort Madison. Brad has demonstrated a great vision for our community and [Read More…]
The election is right around the corner, are you ready to vote? Our local election, not unlike those on the national level, is extremely important. Our community needs to move forward, free from radicalism, misinformation [Read More…]
This is to all eligible voters and citizens for the city Fort Madison Iowa In my opinion I know this might be hurting me but this is for the citizens of Fort Madison Iowa Right [Read More…]
Dear Editor Rebecca Bowker is running for City Council, First Ward. I hope you will vote for her and here’s why: I have witnessed her sacrifice when her friends needed her, donate to those in [Read More…]
Bob Henley will be coaching third base for the Washington Nationals in the World Series. He is rumored to be a candidate to become the San Diego Padres’ manager. Henley was a catcher on the [Read More…]
“American Pastoral,” (Pulitzer Prize) “I Married a Communist,” and “The Human Stain,” all by Phillip Roth, make up a fairly good trilogy on the human condition, man’s ungodliness, and search for the meaning of life. [Read More…]
Dear Editor: I am writing this letter from a perspective not many have or would ever want to take on as a citizen of Fort Madison. I am writing this letter as a citizen who [Read More…]
Matt Mohrfeld for Mayor of Fort Madison: I am writing this letter to the editor in support of Matt Mohrfeld running for Mayor. I know Matt both personally and professionally and I believe he has [Read More…]
After consuming this past week’s candidate forums hosted by the Fort Madison Partners, I’ve come to a couple conclusions. Things are never as bad as they seem, but to the individual, they are as bad [Read More…]
Ginnie and Curt: One key to happiness is someone to share that happiness with. “Happiness is a by-product of living the right kind of a life.” This is a quote from my daily meditation book, [Read More…]
The Stead Family Children’s Hospital was our place of residence for about three days last year. Our daughter was found passed out in the hallway of her dorm at the University of Iowa and was [Read More…]
Dear Editor; The golf cart controversy has been in the headlines several times over the years and this time it seems a bit more heated. What are the arguments on both sides of the issue? [Read More…]
Well here we go again. At 7 a.m. Tuesday, voters in the Central Lee School District will be casting votes to spend $13 million for some much need upgrades as part of the district’s master [Read More…]
We’ve been having tomatoes three times a day, four and five or more, if you count passing by the counter and popping a few cherry tomatoes or Romas into our mouths. (I can fit a [Read More…]
IOWA CITY — The second pass of Nate Stanley’s day easily dropped into the hands of Ihmir Smith-Marsette for a 58-yard touchdown. Remember when Stanley, Iowa’s three-year starter at quarterback, wasn’t accurate on the long [Read More…]
I’ve never been happier to type a byline as I was Sunday morning when I edited a new sports column that’s appearing weekly starting this month in the Pen City Current. It’s a tremendous pleasure [Read More…]
The finches flew before us, hundreds of them, doing their “wave” flight pattern, their gold and black colors flashing, like fireflies in the day, leading us along their primrose path to glory. We had never [Read More…]
An overwhelming response to a six-day Facebook poll showed that about 64% of our readers don’t believe golf carts, ATVs, and UTVs should be allowed on the streets. It’s an interesting poll and quite a [Read More…]
The following editorial is submitted by Karissa Niehoff, executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations, and Tom Keating, executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Assocation. Inappropriate adult behaviors at [Read More…]
John Van Egmond looked over the garage sale items at the Beacon, Iowa home. Beacon is right beside Oskaloosa and rather indistinguishable from Osky (a suburb of Osky?). He decided there was nothing at this [Read More…]
Gator rides for my grandkids were on the menu for my 71st birthday, along with watermelon, sweetcorn, sliced tomatoes, garden salad and choice of barbecued ribeye or t-bone steak, plus half-pound burgers, courtesy of Blossom, [Read More…]
Lee’s heading off to watch tennis for 12 days in Ohio, It’s easy for her to watch the ball go back and forth because typically she’s pretty good at shaking her head no. 🙂 But [Read More…]
The tall, handsome, dark haired man found Sharon in her shop where the Quarter Maybe More Store in Mt. Pleasant is now. She had a used furniture business. He asked her where the restroom was. [Read More…]
Dear Editor; In early June, we officially announced our plans to go back to the polls on September 10, presenting a $12.9 million general obligation (GO) bond for the Central Lee Community School District. If [Read More…]
Dear Editor I’m writing this letter to voice some concerns I have as a member of this community. A May 22, 2019 article of the Pen City Current, which was titled, “City approves using sheriff [Read More…]
On September 10, Central Lee Community School District residents will vote on a bond question. If the question receives more than 60 percent support, the district will be able to move forward on several key [Read More…]
The following letter was received from Fort Madison Community School District President Dr. Tim Wondra via email Monday evening. The Fort Madison Community School District takes its responsibility to ensure that all students have the [Read More…]
There’s a whole lot going on in this town right now- good and bad – and our main objective is to try to provide information that helps shape the debate. Every now and then we [Read More…]
BY CHUCK VANDENBERGPCC EDITOR Well, as you can probably gather from the pictures of your balding, aging, and, apparently, lost editor, I’ve been on a working vacation since Wednesday, and even though we literally grow [Read More…]
June 16, 2019Response from the Slater Family: The Slaters were extremely disappointed in your ill-informed opinion piece. Has the Superintendent not earned any respect for her hard work and contributions to the community? The Superintendent [Read More…]
Spring storms have wreaked havoc on communities up and down the river this year, but we think a different kind of storm has been brewing in Fort Madison – and the first crack of lightning [Read More…]
We finally got our garden in, about a month late, we figure. There was way too much rain, and the ground was far too wet to do any tilling. What a spring! On the days [Read More…]
BY ETHAN LILLARD The band Cinderella said it best, ‘You don’t know what you got, til it’s gone’. Had to slip that reference in working at a rock station, you understand. That being said, I [Read More…]
Dear Editor; At our June meeting, the Central Lee School Board approved a bond issue question that will appear on the ballot Tuesday, September 10. If approved, it would allow the district to move ahead [Read More…]
In Central Lee, we are fortunate to live in a community with truly exceptional public schools. In fact, we are known throughout our region for the exceptional academic and extracurricular opportunities our schools deliver to [Read More…]
Editor: I am writing this letter because I know the four captains at Fort Madison Police Department. Anyone of them would be capable of being interim chief until a replacement is hired. City Manager Varley [Read More…]
BY CHUCK VANDENBERGPCC EDITOR For the first time I can recall, if ever, the Fort Madison High School held a signing day for seniors who have been accepted to college trade programs, full-time trades positions, [Read More…]
It was a Sunday morning and I was using my laptop computer and Android smartphone. All of a sudden the smartphone locked up and wouldn’t do a thing, like a cold mackerel. Hmmm.I tried to [Read More…]
BY CHUCK VANDENBERGPCC EDITOR As state legislators rubbed their eyes after debating into the early morning hours Thursday, a bill was being sent to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds desk that will do little to increase [Read More…]
Dear Editor: The Fort Madison High School family had a tough week recently. We lost one of our own. It wasn’t the first time this has happened in my tenure at the High School, unfortunately. [Read More…]
I don’t want to keep droning on about it this…see what I did there…but this past week was a true adventure. And a lesson in what a good community this is. This idiot editor went [Read More…]
Fort Madison Community, Over the last couple of weeks, Pack 7, in Fort Madison has participated in Scouting for Food. During this event, bags are distributed throughout the community and food is collected from residents [Read More…]
I arrived in Mt. Pleasant on a Sunday morning after driving all night. My 12-step sponsor in Colorado had told me, “The first thing you do when you get to Mt. Pleasant is go to [Read More…]
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