Jim Sorensen, a local high school athlete, has advanced to the Golden Gloves tournament to be held at Cedar Rapids. Appearing in the ring for the first time and fighting in the 160-pound class, Sorensen, a southpaw who starred in football for Toledo high school, won the right to enter the Cedar ...

Well, in case you haven't figured it out yet, we are in the throes of "old-man winter." The snow, the cold, the wind, and we're in the middle of winter. February is just starting, and not sure at this writing if the groundhog saw his shadow or not, but to be fairly honest with you, I really ...

The last couple of years have been doozies - for just about all of us. The world has changed before our eyes in ways we never would have or could have imagined. I’ve found - often the hard way - that difficult times are opportunities for growth, new perspectives, and outlooks. Two years ...

I read a story about an uncharacteristic young farm boy who was known to be somewhat lazy. But one warm summer day, that all changed as a salesman passed by. The farmer boy was working feverishly on a hay mound, tossing pitchforks of hay over his shoulder…hay flying all over. His shirt was ...

Here are fun, catchy phrases, like “The Quick Picker Upper” (by Bounty), “Finger-Lickin’ Good” (by KFC), and “Where’s the Beef!” (by Wendy’s). Some phrases we know well, like…“Have it Your Way!”, “Like a Good Neighbor…”, “Snap, Crackle, Pop!” and “You ...

I’ve always loved gardening. No, I’m going to take that a step further: I’ve always loved growing things. Growing things - as in flowers, vegetables, friendships, babies and kids, this column, faith, my marriage, knowledge, compassion, kindness, and most importantly, love. And more, of ...

For our most voracious readers of this column, you will remember that many years ago, it was first called "The Way I See It,' and then, for some strange reason, evolved into "Take A Mulligan," which in all fairness, didn't make any sense at all. Heck, many of my faithful readers had no idea ...

I went to many birthday parties when I was a kid. I don’t remember most of them. One I do remember vividly, however, is the party to which I didn’t receive an invitation. It was in celebration of one of my good friend’s tenth birthdays. I was unaware of such a mega event, which happened ...

Many years ago, a small boy asked his father, “Why must we surrender our faith and believe something else?” His father replied, “Son, we must abandon our faith so that people will accept us….” This young boy never got over his disappointment and bitterness. His faith in his father ...

The new year - January as a month - is a time for reflection. To assess our progress in life: where we were, where we are, and where we are going. I’ve learned, in the hard way, that where I was - the past - and where I’m going - the future - don’t hold much mettle. The place to be is ...