The art awards were announced. “In 2D, second place goes to…, first place goes to…; in 3D,” etc. The crowd of artists held their breath in anticipation of Best of Show. It was obvious where [Read More…]
A man ran across Sharon Bortz’s back yard. He had his shirt off and was wearing gray pants with a stripe down the side. The man had his shirt balled up in his fist as [Read More…]
Ginnie calls it a “staycation.” Instead of going on a summer vacation, we stay at home and get things done—staycation. It’s fine with me. I’ve always been a home body (boy). I love our home, [Read More…]
Like a precursor to the evening, there was a rather rude outburst at the political rally Ginnie and I were attending. A very belligerent and loud protester had to be ejected. I’ve never witnessed this [Read More…]
BY ETHAN LILLARDPCC SPORTS FORT MADISON – Fort Madison softball played a double header earlier in the season against Mount Pleasant. The two contest were actually the first two losses on the season for the [Read More…]
BY ETHAN LILLARDPCC SPORTS FORT MADISON – Fort Madison baseball had only been shut out once in the 15 games leading up to Monday’s double header against Mount Pleasant. The Bloodhounds had already faced Mount [Read More…]
We finally got our garden in, about a month late, we figure. There was way too much rain, and the ground was far too wet to do any tilling. What a spring! On the days [Read More…]
Barney has disappeared. It happened on Mother’s Day (wouldn’t you know). Barney has always been my cat, because I’m the one who found and fed him. Cats remember. Barney was a great cat. He would [Read More…]
The last time I was in Jefferson, Iowa, I was six years old and had my tonsils out in the Greene County Hospital. They used ether back then as an anesthetic and it was a [Read More…]
Dorothy Conger, 78, of Mt. Pleasant and formerly of Ft. Madison passed away on Thursday, May 30, 2019 at 10:40 AM at Savannah Heights in Mt. Pleasant. She was born on June 25, 1940 in [Read More…]
Dan Williams wants to reclaim the name “Shecaqua” for the Skunk River. He is tall and slim, and at 72, looks more like a man in his fifties, which means he has energy and enthusiasm. [Read More…]
Ginnie and I went to sleep with the rain falling gently on the roof of the two-story tree house, (sorta like being in heaven) and slept like a babies. Ginnie and Curt stayed in the [Read More…]
I’ve caught more flak about butchering Blossom than any other column I’ve written. Good grief. She had so many people rooting for her that I feel like a crazed carnivore. I must point out, however, [Read More…]
BY ETHAN LILLARDPCC Sports FORT MADISON – For the second-consecutive game, Fort Madison keeper Josie Pumphrey recorded a shut out, this time blanking Mount Pleasant Tuesday night at Baxter Sport Complex. It’s a good thing [Read More…]
It was a Sunday morning and I was using my laptop computer and Android smartphone. All of a sudden the smartphone locked up and wouldn’t do a thing, like a cold mackerel. Hmmm.I tried to [Read More…]
BY ETHAN LILLARDPCC Sports FORT MADISON – The last time Fort Madison’s girls tennis team took the court, they came away with one single win, falling to Fairfield 8-1. Back on their own home court [Read More…]
PCC STAFF WEST POINT – A strong second half pushed Holy Trinity Catholic to a 3-1 win over previously unbeaten Mt. Pleasant at South Park to highlight girls soccer action. Sophomore Claire Pothitakis continued her [Read More…]
The best way to interview an octogenarian who walked 30,000 miles in 30 years (a thousand miles a year) is to go for a three-mile, early morning walk with him or her. But don’t think [Read More…]
BY CHUCK VANDENBERGPCC EDITOR MT. PLEASANT – Despite running in some heavy south winds, rain and at one point even hail, the Bloodhound boys track team set more personal records Thursday night at the Denny [Read More…]
Sue Walker and her cancer sniffing rescue dog, Kendall.Kendall was on Sue’s lap as usual, after supper, while Sue and her husband, Gary, watched television. The half-beagle-half-pug rescue dog (in more ways than one) from [Read More…]
We were four deep from the stage to hear Bernie Sanders at the Memorial Union in Iowa City. A band was playing. We had another hour to wait. I didn’t know if my seventy-year old [Read More…]
On Fridays they bowl, at 1:00 p.m. No napping for them! They are part of the 55+ League at Champion Bowl in Ottumwa. There are 60+ members of the over 55 league. Teams are cleverly [Read More…]
PCC STAFF FORT MADISON – The Fort Madison 7th grade girls’ basketball teams picked up a pair of wins Tuesday at home against Mount Pleasant. In the A game, Fort Madison won by the score [Read More…]
Tough winter. I’ve fallen twice now doing chores, the first time breaking the eggs I had just gathered—that upset me more than the fall. I laid there for a couple of seconds on the ice, [Read More…]
Our outside temperature gauge told me it was -21° F at 2:00 a.m.–the time I usually get up to read and write. I could hear the wind howling outside and the house popping and banging [Read More…]
U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Kent White’s team found the wrecked Hercules C-130 Transport Airplane by using radar. Its tail fin, with the numbers “321,” was barely visible, sticking up through the snow and ice on [Read More…]
The flight instructor asked Tom what he would do if he was going in for a landing and there was a horse in the middle of the runway. Tom thought for a moment and replied, [Read More…]
“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso John Bloom’s exhibition, “Close to Home” was on display at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport. It was a Tuesday, a day [Read More…]
The voice on the phone was of an elderly man. I could hardly understand him. “My name is Tommy Sinnott. I’m from Nauvoo, Illinois. I read your column. Have you ever read the book, ‘The [Read More…]
BY CHUCK VANDENBERG PCC EDITOR FORT MADISON – Holy Trinity girls basketball coach Tony Johnson said the Crusaders still aren’t playing their best basketball, but Monday’s 60-43 win over Mt. Pleasant was pretty darned close. [Read More…]
Wondering what to do with yourself after retirement? Talk to Larry McKim of Ottumwa. He’s 72 years young, recently bought a bar for the first time in his life, although he doesn’t drink, and, oh, [Read More…]
PCC STAFF FORT MADISON – Senior Anna Kester led the Lady Hounds with 16 points as Fort Madison just missed getting their first win of the year Friday night in Southeast Conference girls high school [Read More…]
PCC STAFF MT. PLEASANT – You had to go back to Miles Wentzien’s senior year in 2015 to find a Fort Madison boys basketball win over Mt. Pleasant. And the streak almost continued Friday night, [Read More…]
Ginnie and I try to do things together on her days off. Often in the middle of the week, we go to movies, shop, and have lunch out. Since it might be a Tuesday or [Read More…]
PCC STAFF MT. PLEASANT – The Fort Madison eighth grade girls ‘A’ team fell to Mt. Pleasant 27-22 Thursday night on the road. Leading scorer for the Bloodhounds was Isabella Boeding with 10 points followed [Read More…]
PCC STAFF FORT MADISON – The Fort Madison Bloodhounds downed Mt. Pleasant 45-31 Thursday night prior to Friday and Saturday’s Fort Madison Invitational Tournament at FMHS. Senior Sam Hayes down the Tigers’ Trevor Wellington in [Read More…]
For some strange reason, Blossom only escapes from her pen when Ginnie and I are gone, like she knows we’re away and it’s time to romp. The first time she escaped was last summer when [Read More…]
PCC STAFF FORT MADISON – Fort Madison’s 8th grade girls downed Mt. Pleasant in a close game Tuesday night at FMMS. Fort Madison A-Team won 25-23. Leading scorers for the Bloodhounds were Molly Knipe and [Read More…]
Tim Smith, basketball coach of Sweet Springs High School in Missouri is a busy man. In addition to coaching both the girls and boys varsity basketball teams, he is also Athletic Director and Physical Education [Read More…]
Just in time for Christmas, I will be doing a book signing in Burlington at Burlington By the Books, 301 Jefferson St., on Saturday, December 15th, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Books will be [Read More…]
I read a lot. Most of my reading/writing is performed, orchestrated, conducted in the early morning hours when my mind is fresh, there are no interruptions, and I’m at the peak of creativity. To Ginnie’s [Read More…]
PCC STAFF MT. PLEASANT – Carson Rashid poured in 17 points in 47-36 FMMS loss to Mt. Pleasant Tuesday night. Hunter Cresswell had 12 points and seven board for Fort Madison’s ‘A’ team. Leif Boeding [Read More…]
I’m going to toss out four books for consideration or consumption, like tossing out bones for the canine to choose from—one, two, maybe three, or all of them? It’s going to be cold and the [Read More…]
BY BRIAN RIGGS FMAAA Director Annie Swarm Guldberg is the feature artist at Ft. Madison Area Arts Association this November bringing “Dreamlands and More” with her. This vibrant world of oil color and texture welcomes [Read More…]
November 3rd, 1989, 2:00 a.m., all alone, and blind drunk, I fell through the glass top of my coffee table, cut myself to smithereens, and almost bled to death. Like an Iowa tornado ripping through [Read More…]
Anyone traveling on US Highway 34, between Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield in the last few years, has no doubt noticed the political signs. They’re sort of belligerent, in your face, crude, and to be honest, [Read More…]
BY CHUCK VANDENBERG PCC STAFF FORT MADISON – It didn’t take long for Mt. Pleasant to set the tone Friday night in handing the Bloodhounds their sixth straight loss. The Panthers scored quick and often [Read More…]
BY CHUCK VANDENBERG PCC EDITOR FORT MADISON – Head coach Tony Shiffman, with the football season winding down, now wants the Fort Madison Bloodhounds to play to have fun and for their legacy. But tonight’s [Read More…]
National Dog Day, which was in late August, right around Ginnie’s birthday, found Buddy a little worse for wear. It has been a bummer summer for the ole Buddy Boy. First of all, in July, [Read More…]
BY PCC STAFF MT. PLEASANT – The Holy Trinity Crusaders breezed to a four-match sweep at the Mt. Pleasant Invitational volleyball tournament Saturday. HTC senior Emily Box dominated at the net in the tournament with [Read More…]
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