For seven years, I’ve reported almost every time Eldridge council members reviewed and voted to pay city bills.

"The more Petersons we can have, the better we'll be." That's a direct quote from Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell at last Wednesday's (May 24) Cyclone Tailgate Tour at the Isle of Capri, Bettendorf.

Graduates filled all of our Eastern Iowa Publications newspapers this month, thanks to supportive sponsors and schools, and busy NSP ad creator Belle Kern.

May 30, 1973: The North Scott golf team finished its inaugural season with a 4-5 record. Opponents included Lost Nation, Pleasant Valley, Calamus, Lowden, and the Davenport Assumption and Davenport Central junior varsity teams. Team members were Steve Campana, Roger Anderson, Jed Nagle, Mike Wallace, Tom Dittmer, Chuck Allaman, Bruce Swanson, Mike Claussen, Allen Wiese, Steve Peters, Larry Keller and Dick Erps.

In my soon-to-be 52 years writing for The North Scott Press, I can count on one hand the times I've felt threatened, but those times were mild compared with what Bruce Willingham, the editor of the McCurtain County Gazette in Idabel, in southeastern Oklahoma, experienced on March 6.

May 23, 1973: A Scott County grand jury was convened to hear the case against Scott County Sheriff William “Blackie” Strout on charges of possession of stolen property. A U-Haul trailer and a garden tractor were found on property owned by Strout in Arkansas. Meanwhile, Strout had filed a $500,000 lawsuit against the owner of the rental agency from which the trailer was taken, and continued to maintain the charges were a political smear.

The Iowa legislative session has adjourned with a balanced budget once again. Republicans in the Iowa Statehouse have proven time and again that we can cut your taxes while maintaining a balanced budget that adequately funds your priorities.

"We, agriculture as a whole, must listen better to consumers’ understanding of animal husbandry practices and their evolution into the 21st century ..."

"The 18th annual North Scott Band Showcase May 7 was an awesome show and The Pit was packed.  The seventh- and eighth-grade bands, and two high school bands performed ..."

"Iowa seniors deserve to live with dignity, but Iowa’s House Republicans are denying our older Iowans that right ..."

Bill and Pat Oster of Long Grove celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family dinner.

Memorial services for Harold Oscar Nelson Jr., 92, of Eldridge, will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 3, at Faith Lutheran Church, Eldridge. Family will greet friends on Saturday from 9 a.m. to service time at the church.

Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for Deloras M. Ruplinger, 96, of Davenport were held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 26, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Davenport. Burial was in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport.  Visitation was held Thursday from 4 until 6 p.m. at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, with a time of sharing at 6 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Anthony’s Church for Masses to be offered for the deceased members of the Ruplinger family.

Maria Vazquez of Maquoketa and Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton are engaged to be married.

Bill Erps of Eldridge passed away at home on May 19 after a brave battle with leukemia. Visitation will be held at Chambers Funeral Home in Eldridge on June 5 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Private family interment will be in the Walcott Cemetery.

Wanda Kathleen Stender, age 98, of Walcott, passed away Friday, May 19, 2023, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. A funeral service will be held at 12 noon on Wednesday, May 24 (today), at Bentley Funeral Home, Durant.  A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. - 12 noon prior to the service at the funeral home.  Private family burial will take place in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Walcott Fire Department, Durant Ambulance, or Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House.  Online condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com.

Carolyn Laura Paustian, age 95, of Walcott, passed away on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Good Samaritan Society, Davenport.  A visitation was held from 5-7 p.m., Monday, May 22, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport.  A funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 23, at the church. Burial took place in Walcott Cemetery.  Memorials may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church or the Walcott Fire Department. Online condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Arthur “Art” Van Hoosier, 95, of Davenport, and formerly of Park View, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport.  Burial will follow in Davenport Memorial Park with military honors.  Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until time of services Thursday at the funeral home.  Memorials may be made to your favorite charity.

Patsy Jo Pimlott, passed away at home on April 28, 2023, in St. Lucas. A private graveside service will take place in June. Born on Feb. 9, 1945, in Waverly, Patsy was the daughter of Bert and Marlys (Loomis) Maloy. She graduated from Nashua High School, and shortly thereafter married her high school sweetheart, David Pimlott. 

A funeral service and Mass of Christian Burial for Deloras M. Ruplinger, 96, of Davenport, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 26, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Davenport. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport. Visitation will be Thursday, May 25, from 4-6 p.m. at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, with a time of sharing at 6 p.m.

Visitation for Bill Erps, 86, of Eldridge, will be held on from 4-7 p.m. Monday, June 5, at Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge. Private family interment will be in the Walcott Cemetery. 

A funeral service celebrating the life of Arthur Martin "Art" Van Hoosier, 95, of Davenport, formerly of Park View, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Thursday at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will be in Davenport Memorial Park.

A funeral service for Wanda Kathleen Stender, 98, of Walcott, will be held at noon on Wednesday, May 24, at Bentley Funeral Home, Durant. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Wednesday at the funeral home. Private family burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery.

A funeral service for Carolyn Laura Paustian, 95, of Walcott, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 23, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport. Burial will be in the Walcott Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, May 22, from 5-7 p.m. at the church. Bentley Funeral Home, Durant, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Dayton E. “Tony” Thornton, 92, a resident of Princeton, died on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at his home.