Thanks to the 121 letter writers and guest columnists who made our opinion pages in 2023. more

Jan. 6, 1999: After a mild December, January started with a wallop, as 14 inches of snow dropped, followed by heavy winds and frigid temperatures. Several local churches cancelled services and Slagle’s grocery stores in Eldridge and LeClaire closed early for the first time since 1979. more

The Scott County Board of Supervisors is being called to task over the refusal of a majority on the board to accept the report of a 3-person recount board in a closely contested Pleasant Valley School Board race. more

2023 will be in the top 15 for driest years according to the state’s 151 years of records. Despite ongoing record drought – we’ll end the year with 182 consecutive weeks of at least moderate (D1) drought somewhere in the state - Iowa farmers harvested yet another strong, better-than-expected crop. It’s a testament to timely rains throughout the growing season and constant innovation in genetics, traits, technology, practices, and much more. more

"If after hundreds of years of educating our youth in the space of a full five-day week, we have finally discovered that a weekly early dismissal is the answer to better education, then offer it on Mondays ..." more

"Biden is supporting people on the demand side of the economy in the belief that what drives economic growth is the demand for goods and services ..." more

"The Extension Council would like to congratulate Bill Tubbs on being honored as Friend of the First Amendment by the Iowa Freedom of Information Council ..." more

There were a number of items I had hoped to write about at year's end, but time was slipping away before Christmas, and my triple bypass surgery that was to have taken place Dec. 13 was rescheduled Dec. 26 at University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics in Madison due to Covid, which I wrote about in the Dec. 13 NSP. more

Dec. 28, 1983: Princeton, LeClaire and Pleasant Valley firefighters battled a fire early on Christmas morning at the Cole home, five miles southwest of Princeton. The family huddled in a barn as firefighters battled the flames and frigid wind chills. Two rooms and an outside wall were damaged, due to the fire, which was caused by faulty wiring. But there were no injuries, and no presents were damaged. more

City leaders in Davenport seem to have forgotten that city government there belongs to the people. It does not belong to the folks who were elected to city offices. more

"That hatred will continue to plague us until we stand together to elect tactful and capable people ..." more

"Now we have an election that will determine whether or not we continue to have a Democracy ..." more

In the Aug. 2 issue I shared impressions of the country of Uganda in a column entitled, "Did you see any unhappy people?" The answer was no, despite the enormous challenges the people of this nation of 50 million souls in the heart of equatorial Africa face in their daily living. more

Dec. 19, 1973: Two area women were hospitalized after a strange car accident between Eldridge and Long Grove. Geese flew up out of a farm field and into the path of a southbound vehicle. The driver braked to avoid striking the geese and slippery road conditions caused her vehicle to skid into the path of a northbound vehicle. Both vehicles were totaled. more

"Thank you, North Scott, for spearheading this vital initiative. We look forward to contributing to its success and witnessing the positive impact it will have on our community ..." more

"What a shame that the mayor of Princeton vetoed the recreational trail that had been in development locally for over 20 years ..." more

"All Iowans need to know how much AEAs add to school districts–everything from training, professional development, to student help and more ..." more

"Thank you to North Scott bus drivers and bus garage people ..." more

Today, we salute long-serving public officials who did not leave abruptly with secretly negotiated severance settlements. more

Today, Dec. 13, is the day I was anticipating all fall, the day of my cardiac bypass surgery at University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison. I wrote about it in this space on Sept. 27: the surgery in which they open the chest cavity and transplant arteries from the legs to "bypass" blocked arteries. more