MP alum bouncing around the world – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
He’s 6’9” tall. When Bobby Quayle (pronounced “Quail”) was in grade school in Mt. Pleasant,…
Curt Swarm
Garden undergoes a Chipmunk funk – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I did not know that chipmunks, also known as “squinneys,” can destroy a garden. They’re…
Newspaper clipped by pandemic -Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
It’s worth a road trip to see. Located in Traer, Iowa, north of Tama, the…
Car points family in right direction – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
It was the spring of 1995 when my family and I decided to return to…
Nothing is too big to fall – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
There was an explosion, followed by a crackling. The hair on the back of my…
He shed turns into art studio – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Leave it to an artist. Artists usually have many talents, not just one art form….
Memoir tells story of civil war brothers – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
He was eight years old when he came west in a covered wagon from Ohio…
Finches say it’s time to put in the garden – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I tilled a pick-up load of composted sheep manure into our garden. I know I…
Ninety-five year old knows about restoring youth – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Outside his apartment in Keosauqua sits his 1961 Chrysler Imperial, waiting. The Chrysler is in…
Skunk River loses one of its rocks – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
The Skunk River is a little quieter today. It lost one of its arch rivals,…
Kick this homebound diet around – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Instead of gaining pounds while sheltering in place, use this home-bound time to achieve that…
Rosie the Riveter, becomes Mary the Mask Maker – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Mt. Pleasant beauty salon owner, Judy Williamson, took in stride the governor’s order to close…
Some have a bit more social distance – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
We might think we have it rough with restaurants closed, “shelter in place” (fancy words…
Salem pastor started at a young age – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Diego knew he was on the right path, that God had spoken to him. Coming…
Mishap puts crazy end to Holy Land trip – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
The uneven stone steps going down were damp. Her heel caught on the edge of…
Holy Land visit shows stark contrasts – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
The Dead Sea Scrolls were written on parchment that was bound in leather. When the…
Iowa means “Yes” in Arabic – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Contributing author Curt Swarm offer this week’s submission from the Holy Lands On a pilgrimage…
DFC Educators Foundation built by struggling student
Little Johnny was a bad boy. In the third grade at Elm Grove District Number…
Procedure good for mind, body- Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
My wife and I mark our time together by Colonoscopies. Yup. You see, we had…
Something good came from the war – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
At 101 years of age, Quentin Fackler still remembers his dog tag number: 37047361. A…
Cancer survivor reaching for the stars – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
He wants to be an astronaut or a flight director, the person who leads the…
Syndicated or not, it’s working – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
I’m often asked, by aspiring writers, how I got my column into so many newspapers….
Thank You notes have started year right
Empty Nest – by Curt Swarm “If you have one friend, you’re a wealthy person.”…
Scavaging for existence turns to hobby – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Larry stuck the yardstick under the laundromat washer and scraped around. He pulled out a…
Mueller’s vision for Parish Hall close to reality – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 The snow was wet and…
Lots to see, hear at The Chasmacian Crafter – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Small Midwestern towns are dying, there’s no denying. Check out the town squares of most…
Dodging the pitfalls of an aging body- Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
It all started when an old hernia surgery scar began hurting—real bad! What was going…
124-year-old barn one of oldest in state – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
It’s the only barn left on 8-Mile Road. There used to be 18 – 20…
A full list of holiday dining hot spots – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
With the eating season upon us—Thanksgiving through Easter—here is where Ginnie and I like to…
“Give this day a good pull” – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
They, the omniscient “they,” say that when you retire the majority of your time is…
Ancestry search turns up pain – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
From an early age Scott Pieper (pronounced “Pipe-er” not “Peep-er”) wanted to be a mortician….
Mud run mirrors 30 years of sobriety – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
November 3, 1989, a day I shall never forget. I had fallen drunk through the…
This Veteran’s Day, hug a vet – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
The little green sign at 18th and Main Street, in downtown Keokuk, doesn’t really do…
Fall’s spectacular in Minnesnowda – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
There are two seasons in Minnesota: winter and road construction. Ginnie and I were on…
Winter reading list in place – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
“American Pastoral,” (Pulitzer Prize) “I Married a Communist,” and “The Human Stain,” all by Phillip…
Perfection is unreachable – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Ginnie and Curt: One key to happiness is someone to share that happiness with. “Happiness…
French honor Iowa’s Hunger – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Ned Hunger’s P-47 Thunderbolt, along with three other P-47’s buzzed the town of Arches, France….
Douds race announcer takes final lap – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I had a Facebook message from a Scott Watson in Douds. He is a SE…
A life of service is a fine life – Empty Nest – by Curt Swarm
“The spiritual and moral will eventually overcome the material and unmoral. That is the purpose…
Inklings of fall bring changes, adventures – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
The “Mump Truck” (mums + dump truck) is now spilling over with blanket flowers. You…
Empty Nest garden unleashes it’s bounty – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
We’ve been having tomatoes three times a day, four and five or more, if you…
Finches, a gator, and birthday cake – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
The finches flew before us, hundreds of them, doing their “wave” flight pattern, their gold…
MP football team was perfect in ’63 – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Only one team came close to scoring. Fairfield made it to Mt. Pleasant’s one yard…
Teapot brings memories of Dutch friend – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
John Van Egmond looked over the garage sale items at the Beacon, Iowa home. Beacon…
Crushing it on his 71st birthday – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Gator rides for my grandkids were on the menu for my 71st birthday, along with…
Divorced, widowed, and leaning on God – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
The tall, handsome, dark haired man found Sharon in her shop where the Quarter Maybe…
Tragic death brings fond memories – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
We both worked for the Mt. Pleasant News in the advertising department. I was new…
Zumdome’s “Purse and Boots” a favorite at art contests – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
The art awards were announced. “In 2D, second place goes to…, first place goes to…;…
Tending to flowers and then tending to an escapee – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
A man ran across Sharon Bortz’s back yard. He had his shirt off and was…
Are vacations getting overrated? – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Ginnie calls it a “staycation.” Instead of going on a summer vacation, we stay at…