A few times over the last 40 years, I’ve taken over Scott’s column. I know Scott’s retirement is now old news, but I’d love the opportunity to chat with NSP readers one final time.
When we got married in 1983, I knew Scott was a doer and a listener. I knew he could write. However, I had no idea that the next 40 years would involve being part of such a community story. A real-life movie. A documentary in the making. You see, being Scott’s wife has given me a front-row seat to the most amazing stories, people and events I could ever imagine.
From sports to fine arts. Farming to 4-H. Miracles and tragedy. Loss and growth. Behind every single event, the common denominator has been the human story waiting to be told.
When Scott’s career at The NSP began, I was teaching in Davenport at Trinity Lutheran School, and the path between Davenport and Eldridge was frequently driven. We loved the back roads, driving past Glen Keppy’s farm. We’d often remark about how nice it would be if Buttermilk Road could someday be paved. What a reminder of how times have changed.
Also, back in the day, we would drive around rural Scott County on a Sunday afternoon, through McCausland, Dixon and Donahue. Often Scott was looking for a front-page picture for that week’s paper, or a potential article. While traipsing the countryside, he would also share stories of the interesting people he’d met that week, and want to give me a bird’s-eye view of our community.
But one thing that has not changed over all these years is Scott’s ability to take time for people. He wants to hear people, and will listen with the utmost patience. How many of us can attest to experiencing Scott’s inquisitive nature? Peppering a conversation with a multitude of questions — not to be nosey, or intrusive, but because he is genuinely interested and wants to know more.
Over the years, there have definitely been some funny stories. Early in his career, our home life — the silly mishaps of marriage and raising a child — were often the subject of Campbell’s Scoup.
When our sump pump froze, Scott was home alone with 3-year-old Addie, and she “helped” him hand bail out the water in the basement, one bucket at a time.
Or the time we participated in Countryside Community Theatre’s Christmas variety show, and Scott thought he could debut his singing talents to the community?
I remember a column Scott wrote in June of 1985, about catching blue jays with Roger Kirby and Gil Hansen, and later there was the debacle of chickens loose in the Rustic Ridge neighborhood.
On another occasion a very large turtle wound up in Karen VanDeCasteele’s backyard pool, and then there was the day Scott left a family event because a gentleman called with a story about his pigeons, and Scott thought he should check it out.
At his core, Scott wanted to share the innocence of everyday life events, with vulnerability and humor, with NSP readers.
And then, the sad stories, from cancer, to car accidents, to farming tragedies. When tragedy hits our community, Scott’s heart bleeds. It’s never been about selling newspapers, or getting a scoop. It has always been about supporting families, or listening, or sharing their journey.
Many times he has reached out and asked families if they’d like to talk, and then respected their decisions and wishes. When former North Scott Supt. Dr. Tim Dose passed away unexpectedly, we came back early from a family vacation because it was so important for Scott to come home and spend time talking with Sandy Dose. People matter!
Documenting these stories matters because it helps honor not only the past, but gives us clarity and direction for moving forward. Knowing where we’ve been as a community, how we’ve worked through challenges, and what we can accomplish, fuels and empowers the human spirit.
How we communicate has certainly changed over time. When we first got married, we had a typewriter that sat in the middle of our little apartment, and many stories were written there, transported on paper to The NSP, and later “glued” to a light table for the mock-up copy of the paper.
Every single photo was developed in the darkroom at The NSP. During the fair, the hours that were spent just developing photos to ensure that every single 4-Her had their picture in the paper were countless. AND, Scott would type in all the results from every single 4-H event at the fair. There were times we took a blanket to his office, put Addie to bed on the floor, and I’d read him results from the 4-H books until 2 a.m., just so he’d be caught up with the data, and ready to cover the next day’s events.
Speaking of Addie, when I was pregnant, Scott wrote a column asking The NSP readers to vote on a name for our new baby. I loved the connection and care of this community. Their insights and ideas were precious. It was a true blessing to raise our daughter in Lancer country. Addie would often rollerblade down to The Press and spend a few minutes with her dad, or leave him some notes on his desk, or grab an ice cream cone with him from the Movies To Go store.
That small, quaint downtown office, on a quiet main street, kind of reminds me of Mayberry, and Scott is a huge fan of The Andy Griffith Show. He believes in the goodness of humans, and values a community that works together with humor, humility, wisdom, truth and collective energy.
We’ve had many conversations over the years about the meaning of “Community Journalism.” Scott loves that term, and to be honest, it took me a while to really understand that being the editor of The NSP was more than a job, but in fact, at the very core of his being.
It’s about being present and involved, and he has paid attention to the very heartbeat of this little corner of Iowa. If I had to narrow down his favorite type of story, it would be showcasing people who have made a difference, persevered, or walked a unique journey. Story upon story upon story.
So, thank you, North Scott community, for letting us into your homes and events and communities over the last 40 years. It has been a blessing to have this front row seat, and often, a backstage pass to how a community takes care of each other.
And thank you to Scott. You have demonstrated over and over what it means to be a humble servant, to care, and to advocate for others. My heart is full of admiration and pride of who you are, and the difference you’ve made in our little corner of the world.