Standby generator – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I have a vivid memory from when I was a kid. It was the summer…
Curt Swarm
Reunited with high school teacher – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
We called him Mr. Johnson. Today he goes by Bob. He was my high school…
32 years clean and sober – Empty Nest
I’ve been clean and sober for longer than I drank. It just dawned on me…
Brother was veteran and a hero -Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
My oldest brother was 14 years old when I was born. My first memory of…
Fall Garden Full of Surprises – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Fall is my favorite season. Call me a romantic if you want, I don’t care. …
Earl’s Bull and Pig Story – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
My farmer friend, Earl—we call him Earl the Pearl for no good reason except it…
The Wall – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Author’s note: I ran this article in 2009. But upon rereading, I couldn’t resist resubmitting…
Main Street art center coming to MP – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
When most other people are whining and crying about the pandemic, economy and lack of…
Washington gallery hosts renowned glob al artist – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
French artist and now Burlington resident Cecile Houel (pronounced “well”) has her art on display…
Ottumwa Class of ’54 Swings! – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
“Seventeen, hot rod queen, cutest girl you’ve ever seen, tell the world I’m really keen…
The Old Thresher’s Steam Whistle: Four Generations of Dewees – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
It started in the fifties when H.D. Dewees, a farmer from Marion, Iowa, was on…
Finicky Finney Builds Replicas of Barn – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Debbie and Jon Finney of Keosauqua are playing out an age-old tradition of selling the…
Hope Lutheran to celebrate 175th – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Out of the corn and soybean fields it rises like a beacon of hope. Its…
Farmington Resident golfs under his age – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
It happened on August 5th. 82-year old Dale Netherton, of rural Farmington, shot an 80…
Art Weekend – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
When I saw the artwork of Bisa Butler advertised I knew we had to see…
Pastor marks 56 years at 75-year-old church
It’s not unusual for a church to have a 75th Anniversary, but for the pastor…
Villages of Van Buren Saved From Havoc – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I saved the Villages of Van Buren County from havoc, and I did it while…
Strange Summer- Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I couldn’t believe it. I’d been watching some young “punkins” growing on the vine in…
Squirrels and Thistles – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Surrounded by corn, soybeans, and pasture, our two-and-a-half acre Empty Nest Farm was devoid of…
Derecho Scarecrow – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Part of our garden this year is doing spectacularly, part of it isn’t. The peaches-and-cream…
World Premiere Play in Mt. Pleasant – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
No fooling. A world premier play is going to be performed in Mt. Pleasant and…
Yellowstone – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
As we pulled out onto the highway for our week-long vacation at Yellowstone National Park,…
Woman’s Pet Chicken Missing – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Anna Banana where are you? A sign in the shape of a chicken in the…
Betty Kilbourn: Resident of Henry County for 100 Years – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
She doesn’t look a day over 80, but Betty Kilbourn, a resident of the Van…
Messerli’s mess of ties- Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Ralph Messerli of Fairfield hates ties. But being a high school principal, guidance counselor, coach…
Whatchamacallits become art – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I have a number of these whatchamacallits. I make sculptures out of them. I weld…
Hat and bibs for Garden ’21 – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I didn’t get the garden in until Wednesday, May 12, this year, Hump Day. (Am…
Lessons of a locked pantry door – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
You know you’ve been in the insurance business a long time when you go to…
Skin cancer – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Sunburn used to be the badge of courage. As kids, we’d get so sunburned detasseling…
88-year-old finds her 98-year-old country school teacher – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Eighty-eight-year-old Elna Greenfield of rural Birmingham in Van Buren County had heard that the country-school…
Is Henbit Cause for Menfit? – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Romping through a field of clover, the maiden laid down on the hillside and breathed…
Anne Frank pen pal story in Danville – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
The little brown sign on Highway 34 is easy to miss, just like the significance…
Author meet-and-greet April 24 – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
It is with great pleasure I announce a book signing and “Meet the Author” for…
Uncanny Kansas – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I’m in a mad dash across Kansas on I-70. My brother in Canon City, Colorado,…
Farmer, Doctor, Glass Blower – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Entering Iowa from the south on Highway 81 out of Missouri, the first road sign…
Binge shows get four stars – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Ginnie and I have seen some great movies lately right in the comfort of our…
Locomotive gets new wheels – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
A day in the life of a writer: I was going to meet another writer…
Copper’s the right stuff – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I’ve espoused the benefits of copper before. I completely cured the pain in my left…
Stewart Acres puts Flag on barn roof – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Randy Stewart and his son, Austin, had a brain storm one day. They are patriotic…
Where Were You When… Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
There have been three major “Where were you whens…” in my life. I was born…
Saga of My Kitten – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I’ve always believed in God. It’s the way I was raised. Oh, there have been…
Curt’s Nerd Word List – Empty Nest
Being a writer with my little ole undergraduate Degree in English from Iowa State, I…
Weight goal achieved – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I finally did it! I hit the 180 lb goal I’ve been chasing for a…
Mistaken Identity – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
I used to go on long runs on Sunday mornings. This was when we lived…
Mike Nelson: runner extraordinaire – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
A lot of runners, myself included, are happy if they place in their age group….
Fate lends Stormy a hand – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Thursday, December 31, New Year’s Eve Day: The Vintage Raven in Mt. Pleasant posted on…
FEAR: Flight, Fight or Fetal – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
What would you do if FEAR was eliminated from your life? If it weren’t for…
“Superman in a Business Suit” – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
During a blizzard in the late 70’s a city worker in Mt. Pleasant was driving…
Retired nurse pens first novel – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Every once-in-a-while a writer comes along who stands head and shoulders above the rest. This…
Griswolds completing tour of national parks – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Lori and Roger Griswold were hiking along. They saw a man coming toward them over…