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,…
editorial
This summer isn’t flawless, but the lights are on
I was leaving Iowa City, heading south as the sun was setting, when I saw…
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…
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…
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…
Taxpayers deserve better answer on contract extension
It’s no secret that an attractive salary and benefit package creates a pool of attractive…
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…
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…
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…
Iowa bucking trend in virus testing
It’s been a week full of press conferences, press releases and literally a minute-by-minute news…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Time to look at unpacking news from 2019
Christmas gifts don’t always have to come wrapped in a package with some ribbon and…
Auditors’ group working to keep voting secure
The 2020 elections are rapidly approaching, and we want Iowans to know that your state…
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…
Here comes year four
They say when you climb a ladder quickly, about half the time you’re dangling in…
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…
New push to clean up city has to include downtown
Not being able to go down Eighth Street is a bigger pain than I thought…
“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…
New MLB proposal concerning for Bees future
Bob Henley will be coaching third base for the Washington Nationals in the World Series….
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….
Life has come full circle for Hoiberg
ROSEMONT, Ill. — Fred Hoiberg didn’t do the math. But if there had been a…
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 full, silly, weird day at ISU’s Jack Trice
AMES — They had enough. The Iowa State students in the northeast corner of Jack…
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…
Jones a pesky checker in Hawkeyes’ win
IOWA CITY — Amani Jones’ road to quarterback Brett Gabbert was an open path of…
Parents, adult fans biggest challenge facing high school sports
The following editorial is submitted by Karissa Niehoff, executive director of the National Federation of…
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…
Central Lee board president addresses bond issue
On September 10, Central Lee Community School District residents will vote on a bond question….