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Opinion

Just Jonathan: An Old Man at Heart

Local Columns

Sipping black coffee, recliner time, and lawn care, these are just a few examples of why my roommates call me “an old man at heart”. Have I always been that way? I think my parents would probably tell you “Yes, yes he has.” Long before I could remember anything, (as the story is told) ...

Heather’s Highlights: County Government and You, August 2026

Local Columns

August is now behind us, school is back in session, and I’ve completed my first month as Chair of the Tama County Board of Supervisors. In August the Board approved an updated Employee Handbook. Department heads were invited to meet with our HR department over the last few months for ...

Why access to specialty care matters to rural communities

Editorials

For many people living in our rural communities, healthcare decisions often involve more than choosing the right provider. It can also mean arranging transportation, taking additional time away from work, finding childcare or making a long drive for a relatively short appointment. While those ...

Representation closest to the people

Letters to the Editor

I heard it said recently that all taxpayers should want Government representation “closest to the people”. Question: Does your representation increase or decrease with Tama County divided into 3 Supervisor Districts versus 5 Supervisor Districts? Clearly your representation decreases and is ...

Just Jonathan: Speaking?

Local Columns

I would wager that the majority of folks who read the paper have no idea what my voice sounds like. I’m sure they understand my style of writing, maybe even a bit of my humor, but not everyone knows the sound of my voice. This week I was tasked with giving a speech to the incoming freshman ...

Magic Mike 6XL: Up and Out

Local Columns

I am here to dispel rumors this week. Members of my family and I have received a few questions over the last few months that I’d like to clear up here. Ya see, when I was but a young pup, and my sister was a teenager, she spoke of moving to New York. Once she turned eighteen, she was gonna ...

Just Jonathan: Senators and team spirit!

Local Columns

As many longtime readers of this column may be aware, my life changes on a day-to-day basis. Last Thursday I had an experience that I don’t believe anyone else may have ever had before. The combination of privilege, journalistic integrity, and some good old-fashioned team bonding. I started ...

Just Jonathan: A gamble?

Local Columns

At times, I feel like I’m a guy with a bit of an older soul. Some of my habits in and around the casino only make me believe that a little more. To set the stage, last week I was getting ready to move back to college for my senior year. After spending a little too much time packing boxes, ...

Magic Mike 6XL: Schrodinger’s Door in Theory and Practice

Local Columns

For me, as an artist, ideas are fascinating. For all the books, paintings, articles, and other projects that I’ve done in my life so far, there have been a million that never got past my frontal lobe. But that rare case when an idea ya had so long ago comes to fruition, well, there’s ...