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…
Curt Swarm
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…
Signs of the times – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Like a precursor to the evening, there was a rather rude outburst at the political…
Wet spring causing late gardens – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
We finally got our garden in, about a month late, we figure. There was way…
Empty Nest empty without Barney
Barney has disappeared. It happened on Mother’s Day (wouldn’t you know). Barney has always been…
Trip brings meeting with Pulitzer winner – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
The last time I was in Jefferson, Iowa, I was six years old and had…
Mt. Pleasant man on mission to rename Skunk River
Dan Williams wants to reclaim the name “Shecaqua” for the Skunk River. He is tall…
Treehouse getaway provides break – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Ginnie and I went to sleep with the rain falling gently on the roof of…
Memories of Blossom during National Beef Month – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
I’ve caught more flak about butchering Blossom than any other column I’ve written. Good grief….
Cellphone almost ruins a good Sunday – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
It was a Sunday morning and I was using my laptop computer and Android smartphone….
Lost in “The Bean” – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Blossom is not pregnant. The vet called with the results of the blood test. “Open,”…
Aslan’s books cement authors faith – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I got the first book where I get many of my books, from 89-year old…
MP man walked more than 30,000 miles – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
The best way to interview an octogenarian who walked 30,000 miles in 30 years (a…