You're getting a super fresh Beside the Point today. As you were making your coffee this morning, this week's topic was literally unfolding in front of me. I was awoken this morning to …
In honor of the Winter Olympics, I fashioned the Olympic Rings out of old wagon wheel rims, painted them the appropriate colors, and sat the sculpture out on the highway with my other sculptures. …
One of the rights and responsibilities of the general public is to challenge the philosophies, protocols, and processes of elected officials. In 20 years around journalism one of the …
I stumbled across a statistical tidbit the other day that probably will surprise many people. U.S. Census Bureau figures show that between 1900 and 2000, the state that grew the least in population, …
On a table in front of Dr. Joel Brown's picture window is a large Nativity Set with maybe 25 pieces. (This is in the middle of January.) He explains, “One of the Wise Men lost his …
If nothing else was learned from Tuesday's Condition of the State address, it's this - the trifecta of the GOP-controlled legislature was on full display. A 4% flat tax, a …
Typically, in the days leading up to the start of a new session of the Iowa Legislature, the attention is on lawmakers’ goals and priorities — and on the pledges they make to work together for …
I’ve felt for some time that there is a big difference between The former Republican Party and Trump’s Republican Party. The people that truly believed in their Republican Party as much as I …
Sharon Bortz of Mt. Pleasant, formerly Sharon Smith of Ottumwa, watched the Miss America pageant this year with intrigue and particular interest. Emma Broyles was the first Alaskan and first …
This holiday was a short one. It seems like it came and went very fast. People I see out and about ask me how my holidays were and I've said repeatedly this year that it was nice and …
Something came out of Colorado last week besides images of the destruction from a rapidly developing wildfire that roared through the area between Denver and Boulder. The fires …
Dear Editor: Flooding is a common spring sight in Fort Madison. 1993, 2008 and 2019 are just a few of the years that come to mind when recalling the images of River View park with …
