Dec. 28, 1983: Princeton, LeClaire and Pleasant Valley firefighters battled a fire early on Christmas morning at the Cole home, five miles southwest of Princeton. The family huddled in a barn as firefighters battled the flames and frigid wind chills. Two rooms and an outside wall were damaged, due to the fire, which was caused by faulty wiring. But there were no injuries, and no presents were damaged.
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Compiled by Erin M. Gentz
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12/27/23
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There were a number of items I had hoped to write about at year's end, but time was slipping away before Christmas, and my triple bypass surgery that was to have taken place Dec. 13 was rescheduled Dec. 26 at University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics in Madison due to Covid, which I wrote about in the Dec. 13 NSP.
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Bill Tubbs
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12/27/23
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Jan. 6, 1999: After a mild December, January started with a wallop, as 14 inches of snow dropped, followed by heavy winds and frigid temperatures. Several local churches cancelled services and Slagle’s grocery stores in Eldridge and LeClaire closed early for the first time since 1979.
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Compiled by Erin M. Gentz
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1/3/24
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Thanks to the 121 letter writers and guest columnists who made our opinion pages in 2023.
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Mark Ridolfi
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1/3/24
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The morning of Christmas Eve day, I sat toward the front of the church and videoed the choir, of which I am normally a part, as it sang anthems, including the beautiful "Angels Are Making Their Rounds," under the direction of Ryan Riewerts. I was, in the words of Methodist founder, John Wesley, strangely warmed on this day when my energy was low and I was not feeling well.
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Bill Tubbs
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1/3/24
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Jan. 11, 1984: The North Scott School Board authorized a study to survey support for a proposed $4 million bond issue that would include a $2.7 million swimming pool at the high school.
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Compiled by Erin M. Gentz
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1/10/24
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Speaker of the Iowa House, state Rep. Pat Grassley, during a speech at Rotary back on Nov. 10, was asked if it would be possible to voice a presidential preference without attending the caucus. His answer was direct: the caucus format will not change. You have to be there in person if you want your vote to count.
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Bill Tubbs
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1/10/24
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Jan. 20, 1999: Members of the Scott County Library Board informed the Eldridge City Council that the Eldridge branch was overcrowded and would need to expand to meet future needs. Linda Tubbs, Library Foundation chair, asked the council to help form a committee to form a liaison between the library and the city and for the city to consider financial involvement in an expansion project. Mayor Larry Rauch and councilman Rick Sharp agreed to meet with the board to discuss a path forward.
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Compiled by Erin M. Gentz
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1/17/24
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Musings from week No. 1 of cabin fever when I'm convalescing at home while snow swirls outside and friends and family members are sending messages from Tucson, the Florida Keys and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
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Bill Tubbs
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1/17/24
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A community forum 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, at Davenport West High School auditorium will focus on school violence and the role of unrestricted access to weapons.
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Ken Croken
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1/24/24
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We felt we had arrived, the small staff of the five-year-old NSP, when the four of us – Helen, Rosalie, Lora and I – moved into our first "real" office one September day in 1973. Until then, we had made do from our homes and limited space in two locations in downtown Eldridge, connected only by a telephone and neither large enough to turn around.
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Bill Tubbs
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1/24/24
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Who says you can’t go home again?
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Erin M. Gentz
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1/24/24
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Jan. 25, 1984: The Park View Owners Association and volunteer organizations gifted the North Scott School District a blacktopped basketball court at Neil Armstrong Elementary School. The Owners Association pledged $4,500 for blacktopping, with an additional $1,500 to come through fundraisers at Biddy Basketball games. The Park View Jaycees said they would also kick in if fundraising fell short.
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Compiled by Erin M. Gentz
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1/24/24
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Davenport Republicans joined party members in McCausland, Princeton, Walcott and LeClaire to drive former President Donald Trump’s domination of Scott County’s Jan. 15 caucuses.
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Mark Ridolfi
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1/24/24
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Jan. 30, 19741: The North Scott School Board heard a preliminary proposal for a six-classroom elementary school to be constructed in Park View. The 6,000 square foot building was suggested to help reduce overcrowding at the existing elementary schools. The proposal suggested a possible lease agreement, where another party would pay for construction and the district would rent the property.
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Compiled by Erin M. Gentz
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1/31/24
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I was surprised to read recently that the city of Eldridge is receiving proposals for civil engineering services. The engineer they had – Greg Schaapveld with Shive-Hattery – in my book, was darned good. I base this not only on personal friendship through Rotary, but results. Greg, of Park View, is a guy who clearly knows what he's doing and applies the oid adage, "measure twice, cut once."
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Bill Tubbs
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1/31/24
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In 1969, a pioneering initiative took root in the Davenport-Bettendorf area, shaping the local landscape of civic engagement and discourse for decades to come. The Legislative Forum, an event that transcended political affiliations, owes its inception to Mary Ross, then the President of the Davenport-Bettendorf Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and a dedicated member of the League of Women Voters. Since its humble beginnings, the forum has evolved into a testament to the community's commitment to open dialogue and informed citizenship.
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Elle Sweborg
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2/7/24
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For 32 years, from 1971-2003, I was The NSP's reporter at almost every school board meeting. During that time, I observed who were the leaders, the followers and just a few who were in it for the glory. The common denominator, however, was that decisions were made in support of "what's good for kids."
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Bill Tubbs
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2/7/24
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This one hurts.
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Erin M. Gentz
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2/7/24
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Feb. 10, 1999: The North Scott School District formed a Y2K committee to study whether computer systems would need to be upgraded in order to properly function starting Jan. 1, 2000.
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Compiled by Erin M. Gentz
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2/9/24
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