The Wall – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Author’s note: I ran this article in 2009. But upon rereading, I couldn’t resist resubmitting…
editorial
A few beers and a few tears – Beside the Point
It’s kind of surreal at Kinnick Stadium. In a pandemic world, we’re torn at times…
These men have eloquent guidance – Randy Evans
Richard Deming, the son of a grain elevator worker and grocery store clerk from small-town…
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…
A 41-minute 5K – Beside the Point
Harvest time allergies racked me for the past three weeks, but Saturday I got up…
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…
A lesson in Good cop-Bad cop
Walking into Shottenkirk Gymnasium Thursday night for the WACO v. No. 5 Holy Trinity Catholic…
Neither party is immune from ineptitude
Do the folks in politics think we are asleep? Do they really believe no one…
Spontaneity has eluded me for five decades
I have a very “Squirrel!!!” mind. My wife was chuckling at me the other day…
The American spirit isn’t what it used to be
When the anniversary of some tragedy rolls around, we are reminded of what was lost…
Miller-Meeks recalls events 20 years ago
This weekend is the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks that led to the…
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…
Flight of the Pro V – Beside the Point
Golf. It’s a beautiful sport, and sorry, Mayor Mohrfeld, it has a ball. I don’t…
Vigilante justice isn’t the American way
Let’s set aside our views on abortion. Instead, let’s consider one aspect of the new…
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…
Fall in Fort Madison rocks
Sitting at my desk on a sleepy Saturday, and looking over the top of my…
There’s no escaping the chaos of war
The news out of Afghanistan last week about the terrorist bombing at the airport in…
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…
Central Lee taking new proactive approaches – Letter to the Editor
To the Editor; Over the past year, there has been a lot of noise regarding…
More secrecy unwise in schools’ hiring decisions
Iowa’s three state universities made a U-turn this summer, and they now are headed down…
Art Weekend – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
When I saw the artwork of Bisa Butler advertised I knew we had to see…
Iowa’s Amish have some lessons for us
The man who answered the door at a farm house west of Bloomfield one afternoon…
Hard to unpack Thursday at Dyersville
Well, if Iowa isn’t in fact heaven, Thursday night’s first-ever Major League Baseball game in…
Shot clock’s impact hinges on transition
Covering college basketball for 28 seasons has conditioned me to start looking for the shot…
What was Cuomo thinking? (And Ernst, too)
Here is one of the persistent questions rattling around in my head: Why are some…
Leathernecks heating up fall season
It’s all about the heat, Jared Elliott said. Five practices into preseason football camp at…
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…
You can’t “rub dirt” on mental illness – Beside the Point
Typically, this editorial is about something on the lighter side of life. Like say Javy…
Norm and Dolly: Two peas in a pod
It is hard to imagine Norman Borlaug ever joining in singing “Jolene” or “9 to…
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…
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…
Some normalcy returns to Big 10 media days
INDIANAPOLIS — “Have you stayed here before?” the woman said as she checked me into…
Government cuts corners on public participation – Randy Evans
Several times a week, someone contacts me because they had difficulty learning about a government…
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…
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…
It’s difficult to stop the march of progress – Randy Evans
Controversy, of sorts, arrived in my driveway last week. There was no commotion. There were…
Yellowstone – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
As we pulled out onto the highway for our week-long vacation at Yellowstone National Park,…
A little ‘sole’ searching – Beside the Point
I bought a new pair of shoes this weekend. I have two other pairs –…
This wasn’t one of the court’s finest moments – Randy Evans
Through the long arc of history, the Iowa Supreme Court has developed a reputation for…
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…
Happy Father’s Day, Mom – Beside the Point
My father died when I was six years old. I only remember a powder blue…
Governor is correct – more transparency needed
Gov. Kim Reynolds talked last week about the importance of government leaders keeping other government…
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…
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…
U.S. should not treat our friends this way
Too often these days, Americans and our government seem to be incapable of agreeing on…
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…
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…
Americans deserve answers, not more politics
Plenty of stray thoughts have been swirling through my noggin lately. Thoughts like:What would Americans…
Whatchamacallits become art – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
I have a number of these whatchamacallits. I make sculptures out of them. I weld…
Stadium spruce up worth a couple bucks – Beside the Point, by Chuck Vandenberg
The community got some good news last week. Tara Johnson texted me and asked me…