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

"Feed Our Children had another successful summer making and delivering bag lunches to North Scott students ..." more

"While I have no problem being attacked for my perfect attendance voting record, ads that lie about hospital closings are dangerous to those who live in these communities and need health care ..." more

"Do not ask if the candidate is R or D. Require only if he/she will act to reduce government. Do your job as a responsible American. There's no one else out there ..." more

"I am incredibly thankful to the firefighters, sheriff’s deputies and Medic who responded to our farm. They put themselves in harm’s way to help protect our property and, most importantly, our family and employees ..." more

"Princeton residents should pay attention during the reign of Mayor Travis Volrath ..." more

"My son Nate Willems is running for Iowa Attorney General. As a mom, I was prepared for negative ads against him. But the ugly, vicious lies currently running are way beyond the norm for negative ads ..." more

"It is my honor to support Jean Dickson for re-election to the Scott County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 3 ..." more

"Earning a no vote are Hinson and Miller-Meeks who have voted party line 100% and 97% respectively.  And if you believe the wealthy should help pay the bills, vote no on Iowa Amendment One ..." 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

"Funding the volunteer fire department makes the most sense and could bring this fiasco created by the city to an end ..." more

"AI is out of the bottle, and the genie is not friendly ..." more

"Data centers are a point of community discussion nationwide. While they are important for AI, cloud storage, surveillance and other computing, data and internet-based activities, they can stress community water and electricity supplies ..." 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