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,…
opinion
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…
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…
A full list of holiday dining hot spots – Empty Nest, by Curt Swarm
With the eating season upon us—Thanksgiving through Easter—here is where Ginnie and I like to…
MLB’s deceptions are dangerous, bad for sport
If you want to know the mendacity behind Major League Baseball’s plan to eliminate 42…
“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….
A day to say ‘Thank You’ and ‘We’ll always remember”
Military service was always a thing I looked at from afar. My biological father was…
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…
Fort Madison needs steady rational leadership – Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor: If I was a smart businessperson I would stay out of local politics,…
LCHD Hospice hits 30 years – Letter to the Editor
A Letter to the Editor, As a member of the governing body of the Lee…
Hellige finds his pace in the joys of running
With the final results being tallied and most everyone at the Lakeside Municipal Golf Course…
Council needs new direction – Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor A fresh start for a bright future I have been reading…
Mohrfeld is suited for the job – Letter to the Editor
I fully support, Matt Mohrfeld in the mayoral race for Fort Madison. Matt Mohrfeld has…
Pride of character is greater than trophies on the shelf
We watch sports for various reasons… entertainment, loyalty, certainly vicarious longings of days gone by….
Mohrfeld has strong vision – Letter to the Editor
To the Editor, First of all, I would like to congratulate Mayor Brad Randolph on…
Each Nov. 5 vote matters – Letter to the Editor
The election is right around the corner, are you ready to vote? Our local election,…
Letter to the Editor – Cast vote for your vision on Nov. 5
Dear Editor: I am writing this letter from a perspective not many have or would…