Ambulance service debates leave us saying – “WHAAAT?!”
If you haven’t been paying attention to the recent scramble for the county to find…
Chuck Vandenberg
Great… and now we get “Murder Hornets”
Could 2020 possibly get any worse? Murder Hornets?… Really?… Have you seen these things? They…
Let’s be smart in lieu of shelter in place
My house smells like bleach. Not crazy bleach, but it just hangs in the air…
Iowa bucking trend in virus testing
It’s been a week full of press conferences, press releases and literally a minute-by-minute news…
LCEDG keeps hammering away at county’s economic future
I stopped in for breakfast with the movers and shakers of Lee County Wednesday morning….
Voted PPEL isn’t a bond consolation prize
The Fort Madison Community School District is putting another referendum in front of district tax…
It may be time to pull the lever in Iowa
Yes, as Fort Madison’s Joe Little reminded me Monday night, caucuses were born of the…
The crazy that is Iowa caucuses is now even crazier
In Iowa, you’re primary votes are cast with your feet. Seriously. You walk into a…
County makes right call on LCEDG budget
Budgeting’s tough business. This is our fourth year digesting city and county budgets to turn…
City’s grit on building is a good sign
A message of sorts was sent to city residents late Friday afternoon. Mayor Matt Mohrfeld…
FCC’s $20B rural broadband fund shortens the journey to total connectivity
Proceeds for fund will come from user service taxes We’ve been keeping a close eye…
Time to look at unpacking news from 2019
Christmas gifts don’t always have to come wrapped in a package with some ribbon and…
Here comes year four
They say when you climb a ladder quickly, about half the time you’re dangling in…
Iowa farmers are made of the really good stuff
I walked onto the property of Bruce and Jill Hopp Monday morning and about 23…
Hellige finds his pace in the joys of running
With the final results being tallied and most everyone at the Lakeside Municipal Golf Course…
Pride of character is greater than trophies on the shelf
We watch sports for various reasons… entertainment, loyalty, certainly vicarious longings of days gone by….
I’ll have character with a side of change, please
After consuming this past week’s candidate forums hosted by the Fort Madison Partners, I’ve come…
The King issue raises more than just money
The Stead Family Children’s Hospital was our place of residence for about three days last…
We just caught a big fish for our little pond
I’ve never been happier to type a byline as I was Sunday morning when I…
Before our summer break, let’s talk open meetings laws
Lee’s heading off to watch tennis for 12 days in Ohio, It’s easy for her…
Let’s get some things straight – including Avenue L
There’s a whole lot going on in this town right now- good and bad –…
Working vacation shines light on FM program
BY CHUCK VANDENBERGPCC EDITOR Well, as you can probably gather from the pictures of your…
School board needs to address Superintendent concerns
Spring storms have wreaked havoc on communities up and down the river this year, but…
Hayes rolled with all the punches
BY CHUCK VANDENBERGPCC EDITOR DES MOINES – The best stories are those that come with…
This correction goes out to Baldwin & Company
Most of the time in newspapers, when a reporter/editor or balding owner makes a mistake,…
It’s Iowa…but man that was cold
I woke up at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, actually I was up at like 5…
Pen City Current marks third year this week
Seven hundred sixty-three days and counting. Pen City Current will enter its third year of…
Pontificating HTC volleyball and driving slushy highways
I can’t drive 55…or 65 for that matter, there’s just too much to do. This…
More action from Holy Trinity’s state quarterfinal win
Pen City Current Photos by Chuck Vandenberg
Elections will be tight races Tuesday
People have been at the door knocking a couple times a week. Democrats mostly, trying…
County’s shed problem is ‘almost’ laughable
Lee County Supervisor Gary Folluo rubbed his head in frustration at Tuesday’s board meeting as…
Future Ready best left to the experts
In my generation, a four-year degree was the path often taken. “Get your degree” my…
WIU’s move with Tri-State Public Radio hits close to home
I’ve been following the recent news where Western Illinois University has directed budget cuts at…
Iowa Public Information Board is a flat balloon
Randy Miller, a retired editor at the Burlington Hawk-Eye and former employee at the Daily…
RiverFest becoming part of Tri-State’s summer
Watching thousands of people crowd around the majestic riverfront that serves as the front yard…
Our argument is with the principle…not the principal
So it’s news literally heard across the world that Pen City Current is seeking visual…
Beside the Point – Keokuk radio….is on the air
A nice story of locals pulling together to keep a local business alive unfolded right…
Seidel’s resignation is the best move
BY CHUCK VANDENBERG As an elected official, you have an inherent responsibility to keep the…
First-hand shooting simulation shapes editor’s perspective
Tuesday turned into a not-so-normal day for a reporter who’s covered just about every beat…
A last thought on local school bonds
BY CHUCK VANDENBERG Well, the letters have been printed, and we’ll print any more up…
Slater’s ISEA nomination tells a bigger story
BY CHUCK VANDENBERG Sitting at a table Friday night at the Elliott Test Kitchen eating…
Tuesday meetings put closed meetings front and center
After a couple of issues at meetings Tuesday night, I think a discussion is in…
The Constitution can’t have an annual review
I was sitting at my laptop with two warm blueberry muffins. The house smelled of…
See past the sticker shock in city manager’s raise
We all had a bit of sticker shock when the Fort Madison City Council approved…
New holiday tradition may include binging Al Pacino – ‘You’re out of Order!”
Well the holidays are over and I made my usual trek to some regional airport,…
Workouts, receding hairlines, and panic attacks
I put in 30 minutes of roadwork Sunday morning before the Vikings game came on….
After a full year we’re still learning… and growing
Well, it’s been a full year since we’ve started the Pen City Current. I can…
Information is there for those who want to be informed
Sometimes, and I’ve written this before, it’s tough to throw an opinion out there for…
Stepping up sheriff’s staff is right move
On Friday afternoon a vehicle was shot at by a passing motorist on Highway 61…
Loss of father brings new perspectives
The past eight days has been a bag of cats for me, but new perspectives…