Chestnut Anniversary and Empty Nest Half Marathon
Jane and Mark McConeghey of Monroe, Iowa have always been innovative farmers, caring for their…
opinion
Miller’s touch felt in many bylines
The office looked like any editor’s office.Press releases and various correspondence piled on the desk.A…
From West Point to West Burlington – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Noble, friendly, protector, dog rescuer, ready smile, popular, motivated, giving, outgoing, receptive to feedback, empathetic,…
160 plows on 160 acres in Bloomfield – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Northeast of Bloomfield or Southeast of Floris is what might be considered an outdoor museum…
Iowa’s small barns disappearing – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
You may have noticed the big, beautiful, red barn beside the highway. It’s just west…
Big Ten football won’t be perfect, but could be stunning
Gary Barta noticed it when he saw others as he was walking through Iowa’s football…
Letter to the Editor – The Kensington celebrates National Assisted Living Week
Dear Editor: Due to COVID-19, current social distancing rules and the inability of friends and…
Birthday ends in trip to Wall Street – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
On August 27, the night before Ginnie’s birthday, the moon and Mars lined up side-by-side,…
Teacher sheds locks for cancer patients – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
“Nurtured and pampered by parents who didn’t want to make the mistakes of the previous…
“The Virus” is very real to area woman – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Families gotta start back getting together for Sunday dinner and family reunions…not just funerals. –…
Unexpected gift yields good news – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Except when I was 13 and got a Winchester single shot, .22 rifle, this may…
Chaneys revive natural prairie by Skunk – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
Dog park, grooming, boarding, training, world class Yorkies, pigeons for dog training, wildlife habitat and…
Social media shows all sides of local pandemic response
Whew! The emotion of the COVID-19 pandemic certainly is playing out on social media. The…
COVID art didn’t jinx – Empty Nest by Curt Swarm
Ironically, I may have brought this on myself. Being an artist, I see beauty in…
Small privileges come to light during pandemic – By Katie Scoville
College is a time to spread your wings and move out of your comfort zone….
Detasseling was summer right of passage – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
My only goal was to keep up with Ray in the row beside me and…
Gardening and drinking from the hose – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
I made an uncanny observation the other day while watering our garden. Hose water tastes…
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,…
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…
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…
Letter to the Editor – County is turning its back on Lee County ambulance
Dear Editor, The speed at which this County turned its back on such a loyal…
Letter to the Editor – Cutting out Lee County Ambulance will hurt the county
Dear Editor; Lee County EMS service has been here for so long and it feels…
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…
IHSAA, IGHSAU making right moves with prep sports
Iowa was able to get its winter high school sports season finished last week despite…
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…
Voted PPEL isn’t a bond consolation prize
The Fort Madison Community School District is putting another referendum in front of district tax…
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…
County makes right call on LCEDG budget
Budgeting’s tough business. This is our fourth year digesting city and county budgets to turn…
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…
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…
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…