A year ago this week, The NSP put the finishing touches on what had been weeks of news coverage, ads, letters to the editor and editorials leading up to the March 3, 2020, YMCA vote. Signs could be found across the North Scott district.

It was a good week for Lancer Nation, and whether you were watching state wrestling action at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, or basketball games in The Pit, there was plenty to cheer about.

Four hours focused on Saturday’s legislative forums taught me one thing.

March 1, 2006: The prospect of senior housing in Eldridge was starting to look more like a reality. Joel Callahan of Dubuque-based Callahan Construction made a presentation to the Eldridge City Council on a proposed 62-unit independent living facility to be built in the Eldridge Commercial Park.

As Republicans in the Iowa Statehouse prepare to once again make major changes in state election laws, the prevailing question Iowans have been asking is why.

"Princeton Recreation Trails, Inc. improves pathways to increase safe and healthy opportunities for all. Our primary goal is to bring a separated Mississippi Riverfront Trail to Princeton ..."

"I have no objection to increasing the cost of the deposit if it will provide the retailers with additional funds for handling the redemptions, but I am opposed to the bill in its current form. It is neither simple nor an improvement ..."

"Does anybody believe that if Trump had won (he did), with all these claims of voter fraud and everything else, that there would not be an investigation ..."

"Jim Tank was my neighbor and one of the first people I met when I moved into the neighborhood. He quickly became a dear friend, and like others, I will miss him so much ..."

With each passing year, there are fewer of us left to remember the huge changes in Eldridge of the 1970s and early 1980s, when banker Jim Tank was among the leaders steering our city and school district in a positive direction. Jim's life and those years of stretch and strain are inseparable, in a good way.

Derryl and June Baustian of Eldridge will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on Feb. 25.

John Thomas Small, 82, a resident of Eldridge, died Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at Genesis Medical Center, East Rusholme in Davenport.

Lois Arlene Hitchcock, 91, of Fort Myers, Fla., passed away peacefully on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, surrounded by loving family. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, March 7, for their Jamaica Bay friends and family. A graveside service will be held in Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport at a later time.

James J. Brownson passed away Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, peacefully at home with family and support from Genesis Hospice.  Jim was born April 15, 1945, in Davenport.

Stephen “Steve” F. Reimers, 73 of Donahue, passed away on Feb. 15, 2021, at his home.  Per his wishes, cremation rites have been accorded.  There will be no services.  Memorials may be left to the Donahue Volunteer Fire Department, or to the Veteran’s Outreach Center.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.Cunnick-collinsmortuary.com.

A funeral service and Memorial Mass for James J. Brownson will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Long Grove. Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, with a time of sharing at 6 p.m. Inurnment will take place at a later date in St. Ann's Cemetery, Long Grove.

A funeral service and Mass of Christian Burial for John Thomas Small, 82, of Eldridge, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Long Grove. Visitation will be two hours prior to Mass on Thursday at the church. Burial will be in St. Ann's Cemetery. The Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Stephen F. "Steve" Reimers, 73, of Donahue, died Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, at his home. Per his wishes, cremation rites have been accorded and no services will be held. Cunnick-Collins Mortuary, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Richard and Sarah Bolsem of Eldridge celebrated 50 years of marriage on Valentine’s Day. They were wed Feb. 14, 1971, in Chesapeake, Va., at Lake Drummond Baptist Church.

James “Jim” Tank of Davenport, passed away Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at Genesis East Medical Center. A private family service will be held at Weerts Funeral Home, which can be viewed online via livestream at www.facebook.com/WeertsFuneral starting at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 17. Per his wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. A Celebration of Life tailgate will be held in the fall. Memorials may be left to the North Scott Educational Foundation or the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Iowa City. Online condolences may be expressed at www.weertsfh.com.

William “Bill” Dean Storjohann, 83, of rural Davenport, passed Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. A private funeral service began live streaming at approximately 12:45 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13, via Bentley Funeral Home’s Facebook Page. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held from 2-5 p.m., with a Prost at 2:30 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Walcott American Legion. Memorials may be given to the University of Iowa for Parkinson research in his name. Online condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com.

John Anthony Sebolt, 83, a resident of Eldridge, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at Genesis Medical Center, East Rusholme in Davenport.

Virgil Cole, 82, of Wild Rose, Wis., brother of Dick Cole of 210 W. Scott St., Eldridge, died Dec. 30. He was born Aug. 19, 1938.

A funeral service for Richard R. Clark, 90, of Donahue, formerly of Eldridge, was held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at Cornerstone Baptist Church. Burial was in the Confidence (Iowa) Cemetery. Visitation was Thursday, Feb. 11, from 5-7 p.m. at Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge. Mr. Clark died Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at his daughter’s home in Donahue.

A private family funeral service will be held at Weerts Funeral Home for James "Jim" Tank, of Davenport. The service can be viewed online via livestream at www.facebook.com/WeertsFuneral, starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17. Per his wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. A Celebration of Life tailgate will be held in the fall.