Baseball, retribution, and a disdain for the heat – Beside the Point
The summer is flyin’ by. It’s flyin’ by so fast I’m three hours late with…
Chuck Vandenberg
Fiesta marks 100th year
Jamie Mesecher, a descendant of the storied Prado family, wants a red, white, and green…
Peace, quiet, and a family fishing derby – Beside the Point
I have a headache. I think it’s oxygen induced. I’ve spent the last four days…
Cool July weekend was just what the doctor ordered – Beside the Point
I think this weekend may have been the most beautiful July weather I’ve experienced in…
A little ‘sole’ searching – Beside the Point
I bought a new pair of shoes this weekend. I have two other pairs –…
Happy Father’s Day, Mom – Beside the Point
My father died when I was six years old. I only remember a powder blue…
A book, a pole, and a cup of coffee- Beside the Point
It’s been two years since I’ve thought about a vacation. It’s been longer since my…
Corks and Barrels tour brings back senses of Ivy – Beside the Point
Stepping into the historic Hesse building again on the northeast corner of 7th and Avenue…
Ding-dong ditching and glass packs – Beside the Point
Back in college, we used to watch a lot of David Letterman. As a matter…
Steps out the door – Beside the Point
It’s the season for graduations. A time typically reserved for celebration, family, a small cash…
Whew… Chinese rocket should miss Fort Madison – Beside the Point
Well, I for one, feel better. The European Space Agency has determined that 100-foot, 22-ton…
UFOs, UAPs, and U-turns – Beside the Point
After a lengthy, but lovable rant last week on the comedy of errors resulting from…
Things are gettin’ outta hand – Beside the Point
Things are a little crazy in the world right now. My brother and I were…
Pandemic recovery plan includes lightening up
Gearing up for my second Moderna vaccination on Monday has me going through the filing…
Marina project adds to burgeoning riverfront – Opinion
Social media this week’s been abuzz with observers watching the city’s handling of proposed $6…
Things are cooking again for Easter – Beside the Point
I was rummaging through the rec room Saturday night looking for a bottle of white…
Pepperoni pizza and politics – Beside the Point
I’ve been thinking a lot about my political leanings lately. But to avoid being boring,…
Economics and string theory – Beside the Point
Sitting in the Fort Madison’s City Council meeting Tuesday night I heard something that made…
Friends and fairways coming soon – Beside the Point
My first trip to the golf course was Friday morning. Granted, it was to pedal…
The Christmas Tree Is Down – Beside the Point
It’s a record setting year in the Vandenberg funhouse. I took the Christmas tree down…
RPS vote should pass with a wild majority – Beside the Point
Fort Madison school officials and community volunteers have jumped through just about every hoop they…
Today, nothing is Beside the Point
Sorry, but Beside the Point’s a little late this morning. Saturday was a bittersweet day…
Ohh, say can those Central Lee ladies sing the anthem – Beside the Point
Trying to get into the Central Lee gym in time for the girls Class 3A…
We must choose to be informed – Beside the Point
Fort Madison at-large City Councilman Kevin Rink said at Tuesday’s council meeting that he’s been…
Political football can be “disgusting” – Beside the Point
Joe Mitchell, the Republican State Rep. from Wayland, said Friday that playing political football with…
The value of popcorn – Beside the Point
I miss going to the movies. I wanna see the epic-reboot Top Gun: Maverick. I…
Merry Christmas Fort Madison – from You’re Friendly Neighborhood Reporter
We’re just seven days from ending what is undoubtedly the worst year generationally of our…
Whether it’s hardware, coffee, or news – competition is good – Beside the Point
With this week’s announcement that Farm & Home Supply is coming to the city’s west…
This tradition is really unlike any other – Beside the Point
Walking into New London High School Saturday morning, I forgot to put my mask on….
Things aren’t so different this year – Beside the Point
So… how are the leftovers? I read a lot before Thanksgiving about people celebrating in…
Failings with pie, et. al – Beside the Point
It’s late Saturday night and I’m stuck fighting that anxiety of the darkness… again. It’s…
My walks are my time – Beside the Point
I ventured up to the Canine Corral dog park just south of the Rodeo arena…
IGHSAU overrule may not be the best for Iowa Girls
A strategic goal of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is to represent the…
Closed candidate interviews fail public interest
There’s a lot of chat right now about extra taxes being assessed on city residents,…
Social media shows all sides of local pandemic response
Whew! The emotion of the COVID-19 pandemic certainly is playing out on social media. The…
Teammates keep Ellison’s memory alive – Beside the Point
I found out from Holly Howard Friday afternoon that a group of girls were gonna…
Did Congress define a living wage at $22/hour?
I’m trying to be a little more edgy in my editorials. I think the readership…
We can’t always fight fire with fire
It was sprinkling Friday morning and I went out to pull in some patio furniture…
Ambulance service debates leave us saying – “WHAAAT?!”
If you haven’t been paying attention to the recent scramble for the county to find…
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…