September 2019

For all of the miles that separate the Krummhorn region in northwest Germany and Grundy County, Iowa—4,300 of them, to be exact—many of the struggles the two areas (and more broadly, the two countries) face aren’t really much different from each other: keeping the agricultural sector strong amidst ongoing consolidation, dealing with the rise of fringe reactionary movements and building an economy that provides opportunity while promoting good stewardship of the land, air and water, to name a few.
 

A Conrad man came to the city council to ask for assistance with his ongoing battle against invasive rodents (and subsequent interactions with Grundy County law enforcement), but the dispute remained unresolved when he left the chambers at last Thursday night’s regular meeting.
           
Everett Manship, a retired Marshalltown firefighter who lives near the swimming pool on the north side of town, told the council that chipmunks have been surrounding his home and gnawing through the walls, and to address the problem, he began shooting them with a pellet gun.

After watching the highlights of last Thursday’s Congressional sideshow, er, hearing, with former FBI agent Peter Strzok and dissecting the media reaction on either side of the spectrum, I couldn’t help but feel the need to take a long, hot shower. Is this all that’s left of the Grand Experiment?
           

FORT DODGE – Scott O'Brien didn't want Alyssa Hames to end her last at-bat on Monday afternoon with her bat on her shoulder.
 
With only one hit in her previous 11 at-bats this postseason, O'Brien gave Hames a little tough love to try and focus her on the situation.
 
"I got a little upset," O'Brien admitted. "I just wanted her to get out of her shell, she was getting too tight. Don't give up, don't just stand there. Make something happen."