Our home on K Avenue north of Toledo is experiencing an onslaught of unwelcome traffic since the closure of Hwy 63. This is not a letter of complaint, however. A quick look around and I see our community buzzing with construction activity. Workers are tirelessly engaged in physically demanding ...
Some of my favorite weeks of the year are the ones when classes finally pause. Last week was one of those rare stretches where I could settle into my own rhythm and spend time in my happy place. From laying low to a three-day track bender, it felt like a week where I actually got things ...
Trash is interesting. The things we throw away. One day it's a treasured memento or one of life's essentials, and the next day it's in a bag on the street. I’m not above grabbing something good if I see it thrown out on the curb. The best time for this is, of course, City Cleanup. Everyone ...
Week 15 of the session is complete, we have passed the 100 day mark. That means our pages and clerks are dismissed and the legislators are no longer receiving a per diem expense reimbursement for our travel and living expenses. And even more pressing, it’s getting into planting season, so the ...
Being able to overcome adversity is something I’ve always valued. I’ve prided myself on being solution-oriented, someone who can navigate challenges and come out steady on the other side. But every once in a while, something catches you off guard—not because you can’t handle it, but ...
Week 14 of the session is complete and we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. This past week we were busy dealing with many bills on the House Floor each day, including bills that are back from the Senate with amendments. Last week the House passed House File 2753, a bill ...
Libraries are a vital part of our rural communities. That’s why I invite you to celebrate the library in your small town during National Library Week, April 19-25, 2026. These book-filled buildings serve as community spaces, wi-fi hotspots, children’s imagination stations, and more. Many ...
Most places I go anymore people ask about one thing: Dixie. Our new dog. So, I thought I’d give a small update. Dixie has settled into the house like the Queen in Buckingham Palace. She has made it hers, and she is spoiled. Not only does she have her favorite spot, sitting in the window ...
In my life as both a college student and a part-time community journalist, I often find myself at the whims of everything around me. This week, college has been a blur of finals, finals, and more finals—deadlines, expectations, and the constant feeling of being pushed from one thing to the ...
Craig Fish, a Toledo, Iowa resident of nearly 35 years, was recently recognized by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for his 50 years of volunteer hunter education instruction. At a meeting held in Linn County on March 17, Fish received an award for his 50 years of volunteerism. In ...