Sept. 23, 2009: A new culvert system was installed at Sheridan Meadows. The project was done to help alleviate flooding problems around the softball and baseball diamonds at the park. more

Please excuse me if this isn't the column I wanted to write. There was a breaking news story of state importance with roots 12 years ago in Scott County that I wanted to comment about – and had actually done research for it in June – but I spent six nights at University Hospital in Madison, Wis., last week to prepare for follow-up heart valve surgery this week. more

Sept. 12, 1984: The North Scott School Board officially voted to switch to five-on-five girls’ basketball for the upcoming season, becoming the last school in the Mississippi Eight Conference to approve the change. Speaking on behalf of the players, Betsy Braack said the team had accepted there was nothing to be done and they would give the new format their best shot. Superintendent Doug Otto acknowledged the change was a “dramatic move” by the conference that didn’t give the team much time to adjust, but said “It’s time to do the inevitable, and do it now.” more

You’ve no doubt heard the derisive phrase, “Those who can’t do, teach.” more

Sept. 4, 1974: New teachers with the North Scott School District included Steve Arp, Marsha Witte and Jeanne Fabreau (Alan Shepard); Jan Schmidt, Delores Rathjen, Suellen Savory, Dennis Johnson and Dale Lacina (high school); Kathy Libby, Jan Lambert, Norma Whipple and Craig Hintz (junior high); Pat Oster, Janet Novasad, Nancy Billups, Mary Donahue and Carol Anderson (Ed White); Ann Mulvihill and Ann Pfaff (Virgil Grissom). more

Aug. 28, 1974: French & Hecht officially opened its new manufacturing facility in Walcott. Approximately 3,000 people toured during an open house.  more

The Oscar-winning 1971 film, "Summer of '42," a coming of age story of a 15-year-old boy and his friends in a Massachusetts beach town during World War II, has gifted us the hauntingly beautiful theme song "The Summer Knows."  Composed by Michael Legrand, it won a Grammy and became a pop sensation. more

On June 27, I picked up three prescriptions for my continuing heart health – Eliquis 5 mg, Entresto 24-26 mg and Jardiance 10 mg – from a local pharmacy that cost a combined $6,956 for a 90-day supply. Fortunately for me, my supplemental insurance paid 83 percent, leaving me with an out-of-pocket cost of "only" $1,162. more

Aug. 22, 1984: Former Eldridge residents John and Noreen Gosch planned to present their “In Defense of Children” program in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium. The Gosch’s son, Johnny, disappeared on Sept. 5, 1982, while delivering newspapers in Des Moines, and since then, the couple had worked to raise awareness of the issue of abducted children. A second paperboy, 13-year-old Eugene Martin, also disappeared in Des Moines on Aug. 12. more

It was a long, hot day in the Claussen Show Barn on Saturday, Aug. 3. But I stuck around after the swine show for what promised to be a special event. more

I first became familiar with Minnesota governor Tim Walz earlier  this year when he appeared jointly with our friend from Wheatland, Iowa, Democratic Party chair Rita Hart, on Iowa PBS' "Iowa Press." I remarked to Linda at the time what a commonsense, down-to-earth guy he was. more

Aug. 14, 1974: The Dixon Businessmen’s Association planned to hold the first-ever Dixon Sweet Corn Festival. Events included a firemen’s breakfast, antique tractor pulls, a kiddy parade, and a street dance, as well as all-you-can eat sweet corn. more

Enjoy the dog days of summer while they last – these precious days before school and after other activities when time stands still. Grass is green and grain is yellow and families are sneaking in vacations before our season of busy-ness cycles all over again. more

Aug. 8, 1984: Several North Scott area communities were getting ready to welcome cyclists from across the state, as the first-ever Tour Iowa’s Greater Region (TIGER) bicycle ride was set to take off from North Scott High School, enroute to Cornell College in Mount Vernon. Approximately 500 cyclists were expected to take part in the ride, which would also travel through Donahue and Dixon before going through Tipton. After a night in Mount Vernon, the route would head north to Anamosa, before tracking back through Lost Nation and Grand Mound and ending back in Eldridge. more

I’ve written about this before, but “The Little Mermaid” is not my favorite Disney story. For starters, the source material, as with most things Hans Christian Andersen, is horrifying. And I’ve always sort of been put off by Ariel’s willingness to give up a part of herself that she values so much, all for a guy she knows virtually nothing about. more

Imagine you're in your second month in a new job with a state-wide organization and the "big boss" pays a visit. That's what happened to new Scott County ISU Extension Director Samantha Culver last Wednesday when Iowa State University president Dr. Wendy Wintersteen and new vice president for Extension and Outreach Jason Henderson dropped in at the Scott County Extension Office in Bettendorf. more

July 31, 1974: The Iowa State Highway Commission affirmed that construction of Freeway 561 north from Davenport to DeWitt was on its five-year plan. The schedule said right-of-way acquisition was planned near Eldridge from 1975-76, with construction expected to begin in 1977. more

In case you missed it, at last week’s Eldridge Summer Festival, there was a small special event in Wiese Park. Eldridge Police Chief Andrew Lellig and Cpl. Jacob Costas officially introduced K-9 officer Marty to the community in a brief demonstration. more

We were resting on a lazy Sunday afternoon when news broke about President Biden's monumental decision to suspend his presidential campaign. The only thing in my memory like it was LBJ's speech to the nation on March 31, 1968 in which he said, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president." more

July 25, 1984:  “A Lil’ Bit of Country” was the theme of Walcott Day 1984, and a Dolly Parton lookalike contest was part of the fun.  City council member Jackie Huston was judged the winner. more