Aug. 3, 2011: After having saved the post office twice before, McCausland residents were gearing up for another fight after the U.S. Postal Service announced it was one of two post offices in Scott County being eyed for closure. The other was in New Liberty. Nearly 180 communities in Iowa were on the list for closure consideration, and approximately 90 would be closed. Nationwide, the USPS was reviewing more than 10% of its locations, due to a decline in mail volume and customer visits to post offices. more

There’s a scene in the cult classic film, The Big Lebowski where John Goodman’s character, Walter, has gotten himself into a bit of a situation and he wants to assure himself that he’s in the right. So, he keeps haranguing Jeff Bridges’ The Dude with the question, “Am I wrong?” After a few rounds of this, The Dude finally snaps back with, “You’re not wrong, Walter. You’re just an …” more

I could hardly eat Saturday morning. It was early. I sipped my coffee, picked at a bagel. I felt like I was headed for surgery. My morning activity was slightly dangerous—it carried inherent risks, I mean—and it would require complete trust in professional expertise. It was also something I had to do, a necessary procedure. more

Over the past two decades, 3D printing has transitioned from a niche manufacturing solution to a hobby anyone can pursue. Yet as the technology has become more accessible, a growing trend undermines much of its creative potential. more

July 27, 2011: Walcott was gearing up to welcome at least 15,000 people to town as the last “day stop” on the RAGBRAI trail before the ride wrapped up in Davenport. Riders would be greeted by “Walctoberfest,” an Oktoberfest-style event at Victory Park. “We’re excited. And we’re as ready as we could be,” said mayor Jim Couper. The mayor said more than 200 residents had signed up to volunteer for the event. “That is just a crazy outpouring of town support as far as I’m concerned.” more

Regular readers of this column will remember that a groundhog named Geoffrey lives in my backyard. I once caught him sunbathing on my wooden porch. Together we like to eat raspberries growing from the brambles by my garage. I live alone and so does he. Groundhogs are the least social marmots, the Internet tells me. I did not realize they were in competition. more

This newspaper—the one in your hands right now—you can do anything with it. more

July 18, 2001: Dr. Tim Dose took over the reins of the North Scott School District. Just the sixth superintendent in district history, Dose said he was enthusiastic about getting to work. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to be here. My family and I are genuinely excited about the opportunities that have been given to us, and for me, change is a good thing. Coming to this district has stirred me up again.” Dose had served as superintendent in Monticello since 1993. more

There are times I wish Countryside Community Theatre only did one show per summer. They suffer from not having a lot of lead time in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium. When I went for a preview night of “Guys and Dolls” on June 25, it was only their fourth day in the auditorium, and the show opened last Friday. more

July 11, 2001: An Eldridge couple was looking to bring a hotel to town. A partnership group, led by Kirk and Teresa Foecking, submitted plans for the hotel, which would be located near the Highway 61 interchange, just east of Hardee’s. They had purchased the land and were in the process of filing for the rezoning. If successful, they hoped to be able to break ground on the 62-unit hotel, which would be a Rodeway Inn, a franchise of Choice Hotels, by August. The Foeckings said they wanted to facility to be an affordable option for travelers, but also something the community could take pride in. “I think Eldridge deserves better than a ‘cheap’ hotel,” said Kirk. “We feel that this will be a real good match for the city.” more

My first summer as a reporter, the editor of my hometown newspaper had me spend the morning of July 4 on a street corner asking random passersby, “What does Independence Day mean to you?” more

July 1, 1976: The Iowa City Development Board accepted Eldridge’s petition for the annexation of the land containing the Caterpillar plant in Mount Joy as an “exercise in procedure.” City attorney John Stonebraker met with representatives of the board to discuss the circumstances of the 10-year annexation moratorium between Eldridge and Davenport. Stonebraker said it was the first time in the board’s history that two cities have filed competing petitions, and the board was looking to the state Attorney General’s office for an opinion. more

Imagine: A Montana winter in the 1930s, the Depression raging, the fire crackling. You watch the snow fall and think, I will not see another human being today. But you hope, hope against hope, that the mail will come, that you will glimpse the postman and open some letter dispatched from society to the endless frontier. more

June 25, 1986: Deborah Nier was named Eldridge’s new city administrator. She would replace Don Sandor. Nier had been employed as an associate planner with Bi-State Regional Commission for two years, and had previously served as city clerk in Riverdale. “I’m very excited about coming to Eldridge,” she said. “I believe that Eldridge presents a lot of opportunity for economic development, and I see a lot of potential for the city to grow and become a thriving community.” more

June 20, 2001: Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack declared Scott County a disaster area after a tornado swept through Blue Grass and high winds plagued other areas of the county, including Eldridge. Approximately 30 homes were damaged in Blue Grass, where the tornado came together with nearly no warning, to the point that officials were not even able to sound the tornado sirens in time to alert residents. The Blue Grass Fire Department, assisted by Walcott and Buffalo firefighters, patrolled the area in the aftermath, checking for downed power lines and natural gas leaks. Meanwhile, in Eldridge, the winds caused extensive damage, as downed trees damaged houses and vehicles. “Boy, Mother Nature sure was mad at us,” said Ron McGill, general manager of the utility company. “But, it could have been a lot worse.” more

Readers of my other column, “Our Past,” may have noticed an interesting item in last week’s edition. In 1986, the Eldridge City Council was asked to consider a larger police station for the five-member department. more

For my money, you can find the best sandwich in Scott County on weeknights in Princeton. The Sports and Rec crew grills up a simple, unbeatable steak sandwich right by the dugout in Woomert Park. They get their meat from Baetke Custom Cuts in Long Grove. Last Tuesday I had mine with A1, and it was gone—despite its healthy size—in a few eager bites. more

June 11, 1986: After 76 years of business in Donahue, Harland Rohlk announced the Rohlk Lumber Center would close, effective Aug. 1. “It hurts. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, and I didn’t want to do it now,” said Rohlk. He said the poor farm economy was a major factor in his decision to close. His father, Grover Rohlk, and William Goettsch opened the Rohlk & Goettsch Lumber, Grain, Coal and Livestock Company in Donahue in 1910. The pair built a small grain elevator in 1915 and also sold IH equipment and Model-Ts for a time. Harland entered the business in 1936. more

I hear it is prom season. How many of you harbor fond, sometimes illicit memories from the spring of senior year? I know I do. more

June 8, 2011: The community was left stunned after RR Donnelly announced it would close its Eldridge plant, effective July 31, and 278 employees would lose their jobs. “No one saw this coming,” said Eldridge city administrator John Dowd. “We’ve been pretty fortunate when it comes to economic news, but that run of good luck seems to be done.” Company officials cited “changing market conditions” as the reason for the closure. The company opened in 1982 as Bawden Printing and was purchased by Von Hoffman Graphics in 1999. Eight years later, it was acquired by RR Donnelly. Employees said, since the new ownership, the environment at the company had not been the same.  more