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Local Columns

You’ll Figure it Out: YE OLDE MID-SUMMER QUIZ

Every once in a while, this column has to challenge your smarts and wits. It's some kind of rule that simply has to be adhered to. We do not want any faithful reader of my column to become lackadaisical, enervated, languorous or torpid during the dog days of summer. It's vital that every ...

Just Jonathan: Puppy Problems

Let me preface this story by saying: I am no hater of animals. I love animals and generally live with a deep respect for all creatures. That being said, I do not take well to surprises, I can and will hold a grudge, and I like things in order. Now that I’ve made myself sound completely ...

A Fair View

Well, after the week of July 6-13 with all the turmoil it sounded like Tama County might be going in the right direction to save some money. Supervisors Mark Doland and David Turner were ready to stop litigation. So it was placed on the agenda for the Monday, July 14 meeting. But they decided ...

Heather’s Highlights: County Government and You, June 2025

I hope you are having a great summer! My family has been enjoying extra time together during summer break. The Tama County Board of Supervisors had been made aware that the Landfill and Economic Development departments in Tama County have been paying higher insurance premiums than other ...

Magic Mike 6XL: A Screwball Family

I don't care how many of these articles I write; I don't think anyone ever will truly understand the inner workings of my family. I was watching a screwball comedy from the 30s the other day about a madcap rich family that was always going from one farce and insane wild antic to another. I ...

Just Jonathan: Continuing Community Ideas

Ahhh, where did I leave off last week? I believe I had mentioned the idea of helping our community reach higher levels of civic pride through a few ideas. My main point was: through a sense of shared identity between everyone that lives here, we can achieve more. Right off the bat I think of ...

Happy 4th of July

Has it really been 45 years since our middle daughter, Annie, was born? Impossible, I say, 'cuz I'm only around 61, ain't I Deb? What? I'm how old? Holy smokes, that almost puts me at the red tees in "Geezer Golf." Ok, to be honest, I've been at those tees for about four years now. Where ...

Just Jonathan: Civic Pride

The dictionary defines civic pride as a feeling of satisfaction and positive regard for one's city or community, often stemming from a sense of belonging and shared identity. Recently, I’ve been really thinking about how our two towns line up with that definition. Both what we do well to ...

Heather’s Highlights: County Government and You, June 2025

Editor's Note: This column will publish in the Friday, June 11 print edition of the News Chronicle. I hope you are having a great summer! My family has been enjoying extra time together during summer break. The Tama County Board of Supervisors had been made aware that the Landfill and ...