Please excuse me if this isn't the column I wanted to write. There was a breaking news story of state importance with roots 12 years ago in Scott County that I wanted to comment about – and had actually done research for it in June – but I spent six nights at University Hospital in Madison, Wis., last week to prepare for follow-up heart valve surgery this week.

Sept. 12, 1984: The North Scott School Board officially voted to switch to five-on-five girls’ basketball for the upcoming season, becoming the last school in the Mississippi Eight Conference to approve the change. Speaking on behalf of the players, Betsy Braack said the team had accepted there was nothing to be done and they would give the new format their best shot. Superintendent Doug Otto acknowledged the change was a “dramatic move” by the conference that didn’t give the team much time to adjust, but said “It’s time to do the inevitable, and do it now.”

"When people embrace hate, when they wallow in it. It wreaks havoc on the mind ..."

"In a New York event, Trump called for slashing taxes on the wealthy and insisted that new, high tariffs on all imports and Chinese imports would end federal deficits and bring trillions of dollars into the Country. Trump insists that tariffs are taxes on foreign countries, but they are not ..."

"For the second consecutive year, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau and Iowa State Patrol collaborated at the Iowa State Fair to survey attendees on cell phone use while driving. The survey, conducted with over 1,300 Iowans from nearly every county, revealed significant concerns about distracted driving ..."

You’ve no doubt heard the derisive phrase, “Those who can’t do, teach.”

Sept. 4, 1974: New teachers with the North Scott School District included Steve Arp, Marsha Witte and Jeanne Fabreau (Alan Shepard); Jan Schmidt, Delores Rathjen, Suellen Savory, Dennis Johnson and Dale Lacina (high school); Kathy Libby, Jan Lambert, Norma Whipple and Craig Hintz (junior high); Pat Oster, Janet Novasad, Nancy Billups, Mary Donahue and Carol Anderson (Ed White); Ann Mulvihill and Ann Pfaff (Virgil Grissom).

"Having Mike at the Capitol means Eastern Iowa has a strong voice at the state level ..."

"It appears that Iowa and 10 other states are more concerned about money than they are about the health of their farmers ..."

"Time to practice the difficult art of thinking for yourself, time to choose ..."

A funeral service celebrating the life of Donald H. Hamann, 92, of Eldridge, will be held at noon on Thursday, Sept. 19, at Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge. Visitation will be Thursday from 9-11:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Private family burial will be in Rock Island National Cemetery.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Sr. Mary Jeannette Doran, OCD, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at The Canticle (Motherhouse of the Clinton Franciscans). Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Davenport. Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 12, from 2:30-5 p.m. at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, with a continuation of the viewing and a wake service at 6 p.m. at The Canticle. 

Douglas Dyer Morrell passed away peacefully on Aug. 28, 2024, in Portland, Ore.

Ruth M. Staudt, 79, of Eldridge, passed away peacefully with family by her side Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.

Larry Robert Nelson, age 77, of Davenport, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, at Genesis East Medical Center, Davenport.  A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 11 (today), at Blue Grass Presbyterian Church.  A visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m., prior to the service at the church.  Private entombment will take place in Oakdale Cemetery, Davenport.  Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army or to the family.  Donations made to the family will be used to establish a scholarship at Davenport West High School in his memory.  Online condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com.

Julie A. Dolter, age 65, of Davenport, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at Senior Star in Davenport. Cremation rites have been accorded.  A memorial gathering will be held from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 9, at Bentley Funeral Home, Durant.  A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.  Online condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com.

Judy L. Wilcke, 82, of Walcott, passed away Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, at her home.  A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 5, at Calvary Church of Walcott.  A visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m., prior to the service.  Burial will take place in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to Calvary Church of Walcott in her memory.  Online condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com.

Sidney A. Clark, 77, Merrillville, Ind., died Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at home, with his loving wife by his side.

Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for Evaline Benson, 98, of Eldridge, were held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Bettendorf. Visitation was from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the church.  Graveside services were at 2 p.m. on Thursday in St. Paul Cemetery, Mineral Point, Wis.  Memorials may be made to St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church, Madison, Wis.

Vernon G. Ehrecke, 93, of Davenport, died peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf.

A funeral service for Wayne L. Siebke, 76, of Milan, Ill., will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4 (today), at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home & Crematory, 201 E. 4th Ave., Milan. Visitation was Tuesday, Sept. 3, from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Leon Allen Steinhagen, age 67, of New Liberty, passed away peacefully with family members by his side after a short illness on Aug. 28, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospital. Arrangements are pending at Bentley Funeral Home, Durant.

A funeral service and Mass of Christian Burial for Vernon G. Ehrecke, 93, of Davenport, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Blue Grass. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass at the church. Burial with military honors will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Davenport. The Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements.

A funeral service for Wayne L. Siebke, 76, of Milan, Ill., will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan. Visitation will be Tuesday, Sept. 3, from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

A funeral service for Judy L. Wilcke, 82, of Walcott, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at Calvary Church of Walcott. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Bentley Funeral Home, Durant, is assisting the family with arrangements.