Amidst the polarizing division of our politics, some of which is expressed in letters to the editor on these pages, it was refreshing to see the people of one community, Walcott, come together Friday night to celebrate major improvements at Wescott Park.

I was sitting in the Eldridge city council chambers the night that Dave Kopatich was hired as a full-time officer in 1989. I wrote the front-page story eight years later when he left to become chief in Walcott, and my byline topped the front-page, above-the-fold article when he returned to Eldridge in 2009.

May 8, 1996: Four North Scott teachers were among 25 countywide winners of Golden Apple Awards: Glendena Heiman and Steve Mohr from the high school, Chris Green from Neil Armstrong Elementary, and Diane Christensen from John Glenn Elementary.

The final days of the legislative session are like Halloween without the candy: The ghosts of dead bills start haunting the Capitol.

This week the U.S. Census Bureau released its first round of data for the decennial census of population. The apportionment results are the total number of residents in each state and dividing it among the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Census Bureau reported that the population of Iowa for the 2020 Census was 3,190,369 residents, an increase of 144,014 residents (4.7 percent) since 2010. Iowa ranks 28th in the country for percentage change from 2010, enough to ensure that Iowa will continue to have four elected representatives in the House of Representatives.

This week was the 16th week of this legislative session. Although April 30 was the last calendar day of the session, we are still working through policy and budget bills, so we will return to the Capitol in May to focus on accomplishing our priorities for the year, like tax relief, support for first responders and responsible budgets.

This week, Iowa House Republicans passed House File 889, a bill to ban vaccine passports in Iowa.

"I will leave it to historians to explain the evolution of the Republican Party from the sunny optimism of Reagan to the dark, dystopian world view of Trump ..."

"With most of the press, legislatures, and courts unwilling to investigate what may well be the crime of the century, we are left with analyzing what we have ..."

"Let’s talk about plastics. The plastics industry is spewing toxic waste associated with thousands of deaths in 'cancer alley' ..."

A memorial service celebrating the life of John H. Carmody, 84, of Eldridge, will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, at Chambers Funeral Home in Eldridge. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Wednesday at the funeral home. Face masks will be required and social distancing will be observed.

Maria Linnenbrink and Omar Huddleston are engaged to be married.

Emily and Kraig Liske of Cumming are the parents of a son born at 9:46 a.m. March 25, 2021.

Curtis W. Fostrom, 75, of Davenport, passed away at Davenport Lutheran Home on April 25, 2021.  Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 7, at Runge Mortuary.  Visitation will be at 1 p.m.  Masks will be worn and social distancing observed.  Burial will follow at Davenport Memorial Park.  Memorials may be made to Our Savior Presbyterian Church, rural LeClaire.  Online condolences may be left at www.rungemortuary.com.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, April 24, 2021, Janice “Jan” Louise Ryman (Rochau) passed away peacefully at the age of 83 in Wichita Falls, Texas. Jan was born in Davenport, on April 12, 1938, and raised on her family’s farm. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was also an avid animal lover, providing a loving home for many dogs and cats over the years. Jan lived a rich and full life, eventually making her home on the Gulf Coast of Texas.

A funeral service for Curtis W. Fostrom, 75, of Davenport, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 7, at the Runge Mortuary, Davenport. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Friday at the mortuary. Masks will be worn and social distancing observed. Burial will follow at Davenport Memorial Park.

Clarence (Butch) and Joann Richlen of Dixon will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary April 29.

Dick and Fran Wilson of Eldridge will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with a family celebration.

Joyce L. Van Den Berghe, age 70, of Stockton, passed away Friday, April 23, 2021, at Methodist Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. A private family funeral service will be held and burial will take place in Durant Cemetery, Durant.  A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held from 5-8 p.m., Saturday, May 1, at the New Liberty Fire Department.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to New Liberty Volunteer Fire Department or the Mayo Clinic in her memory. Online condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com.

Nancy J. Nichols, 83, of Davenport, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2021, with her loved ones by her side.

Kathleen M. “Kathy” Phinney, 85, of Lexington, Ill., passed away at 7:15 p.m. Sunday, April 18, 2021, at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington, Ill.

Marilyn Deegan, 76, of Maquoketa, passed away on Monday morning, April 12, 2021, at Clover Ridge Place in Maquoketa.  A private family visitation was held and cremation has taken place, at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa.

A private family funeral service and burial will be held in the Durant Cemetery for Joyce L. Van Den Berghe, 70, of Stockton. A Celebration of Life will be held from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at the New Liberty Fire Department. The Bentley Funeral Home, Durant, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Dudley and Marilyn Townsend of Eldridge will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary with a family celebration.

Patricia Shreffler of Davenport will celebrate her 80th birthday with a card shower. Cards may be sent to her at 4023 Lillie Ave. #407, Davenport, IA 52806.