Sometimes you hear something so bonkers it just makes you laugh. To wit: Republican candidate for governor Zach Lahn’s proposal, in a recent debate, to eliminate property taxes on single-family homes. “I don’t believe you should be renting your home from the government,” Lahn said. more

Oct. 24, 2001: The Scott County Health Department held a press conference regarding the county’s bioterrorism preparedness plan in the wake of an anthrax scare across the country. “Anthrax is the ‘threat du jour,’ but the risk appears to be very small,” said Dr. Louis Katz, county medical director. “I think whatever groups are doing this have recognized the true nature of terrorism. It’s more the perceived threat than the reality.” more

Wednesday morning I was caught in a shower of walnut leaves: yellow, spotted, starting to curl. A gentle breeze had sent them pirouetting down through the cold morning air. The tree reaches over my garage, dropping pollen, leaves twigs, and fist-sized green walnuts. I had never paid it much attention. more

Oct. 14, 1976: Members of the North Scott Education Association said they were “shocked” and unhappy after their proposal for their 1977-78 contracts was made public at a school board meeting. Board member Ned Mohr made the announcement after the contract negotiator said he felt it would be all right for the public to know what the NSEA was requesting. more

It is not every day that I get a notice on legal letterhead, but it happened last week. The attorney for the city of Princeton had some concerns about my article last week, “Mobile home tenants must vacate by Oct. 30” (NSP 9/30). more

Oct. 6, 2021: The Eldridge City Council voted 3-2 to fire city administrator Lisa Kotter, following an independent investigation recommended her termination. The investigation report detailed complaints from department heads saying Kotter was a bully who facilitated rumors and gossiped behind employees’ backs. However, the report also placed equal blame on Kotter and Eldridge mayor Marty O’Boyle for creating a chaotic and negative work environment at city hall. more

Oct. 3, 2001: Controversy surrounded a flyer mailed out by members of the Eldridge Family Aquatic Center Committee. Residents raised questions after the city logo appeared twice in the flyer, once next to the words “vote yes.” City hall was also listed as the return address for the mailing. That led to concern that the city had paid for the mailer, and even accusations that the committee was trying to dupe residents into believing the city was endorsing the pool project. A resident even raised questions about campaign finance violations, as the brochure didn’t include a financial disclosure. Council member Brad Noel and mayor Larry Rauch said no city money had been used for the project.  more

When I was a kid in Chilmark, Mass., my parents counted the votes on election night.  Voters cast paper ballots and the town gathered them in a hand-cranked ballot box. My parents then joined the city clerk, whose son was my best friend, to count the votes. With a few hundred ballots it took several hours. It was a social occasion. more

Flannery O’Connor said that a good man is hard to find. more

Sept. 23,. 1976: Eldridge farmer Roy Keppy was named the national chair of the Farmers for Ford Committee of Gerald Ford’s presidential campaign. Keppy personally met with Ford, as well as representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “It was a real thrill to meet the president,” said Keppy. “He was real easy to visit with. He really impressed me … I’m honored to be asked to assist in the election of President Ford.” Keppy, a nationally known pork producer, was recruited for the position by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz. more

Scott County’s Reagan Dinner last Thursday, Sept. 10, was a veritable who’s who of Iowa Republicans. more

Sept. 19, 2001: The North Scott area was reeling in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Throughout the school district, principals praised their staff for handling the day with professionalism. In most of the buildings, older students were allowed to watch some of the events on television and guidance counselors were available for all students. “A lot of reassuring was done that day,” said Alan Shepard counselor Kelly Mangels. more

Maybe it’s just a sign I’m getting old, but whenever the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks comes around, despite my understanding of linear time, I’m often taken aback thinking about the fact that there are adults walking around that have no memory of a pre-9/11 world. So, I wonder what their understanding of that day is like. If you lived through it, how do you explain that day? more

The Midwest is a boring place, and no one ever leaves. It is an old joke that when settlers came out of the east, dull and easily contented ones stayed in the Midwest. “Good enough,” they said, setting the enduring character of the place. more

Sept. 10, 1986: John Langenhan, a sixth-grade teacher at Virgil Grissom, was named the new principal of the Princeton elementary school. One of 30 applicants and six finalists for the job, Langenhan said he was “looking forward to continuing my commitment to quality education and to the Princeton area.” He had been a teacher at the school for 10 years and said it had always been one of his goals to be in administration. Karen Lortz, who previously held the position, left the district to take a job near Cedar Rapids. more

At the risk of sounding parasocial, last week was a rough one, with a pair of celebrity deaths, Dolly Parton and Tim Curry. more

Sept. 7, 2011: A large, standing room only crowd turned out for a North Scott School Board candidate forum at the Scott County Library. There were eight candidates for four seats on the board. These included incumbents Paul Dierickx, Tim Lane and Krista Long; first-time candidates Dennis Albertson, Dennis Kirby, Barb Kuhl and John Maxwell; and former school board member Joni Dittmer. more

Aug. 29, 2001: Iowa state law dictated that all communities with a population of 3,500 or more be divided into at least two voting precincts by the end of August. Eldridge missed the deadline as members of the city council disagreed over whether the town should be split into two or three sections and how the community should be divided up. more

Most of the time I attend government meetings in person. It’s hard to get to know people when they crackle through a microphone and freeze up on your screen. But last Tuesday I tuned into the Long Grove city council meeting online—and you’ll see why that’s important in a moment. more

Aug. 19, 1976: With some reluctance, the Buffalo City Council agreed to grant a special use permit to the Scott County Landfill Commission. This would allow the commission to pursue a new landfill on a 100-acre site owned by Linwood Stone Products, located within the Buffalo corporate limits. Under the agreement, Scott County would pave Linwood Road from Highway 61 to Highway 22 at no cost to the city. Although some residents had objected to a landfill in their community, commission chair Birch Holden said, “We think all their concerns are unfounded. We’ll be a good neighbor.” more