Last Thursday, I was interviewing cast members of Lancer Productions’ upcoming “9 to 5: The Musical.” The show is based on the 1980 film of the same name, starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton.

April 24, 1985: Craig Hintz was chosen to succeed Ed Fischer as principal at North Scott High School. Hintz was currently serving as associate principal and athletic director. He had been with the district for 11 years, starting in 1974 as a math teacher at the junior high. Superintendent Doug Otto said a search was underway for a new associate principal, and he expected the duties of athletic director would continue to be combined with that position.

Taxes on gambling continued their downward trend in March as revenue from both casino wagering and sports wagering.

This week a bill I have been pushing for years finally got passed by both Chambers and is sitting on the Governor’s desk.  For firefighters and police officers in the 411 system, this bill provides full cancer coverage.  These individuals work in extremely stressful and dangerous environments yet in code they were only covered for 14 different kinds of cancer.  We all know there are dozens and dozens of varieties of cancer and its unacceptable we had officers and firefighters not getting coverage for cancers that their job may have caused. I have championed this bill for years and I am thrilled we are finally getting it done. 

"One cast member really impressed us with his acting and singing abilities. What was really remarkable was that cast member is Jax Huntley is a student at John Glenn Elementary School ..."

"Salute to Mark Ridolfi and wishes for a happy and busy retirement. I have so enjoyed the many articles in the NSP. Your presence at events and meetings keeps us informed ..."

"As members in good standing of the GOP, will you ever grow a spine and push back against his obvious push toward fascism? You have abdicated your oath to the constitution and ceded your responsibilities in the congress to the president ..."

"We are losing our democracy and our constitutional rights to an authoritarian executive branch. Senators Ernst and Grassley, and Representative Miller-Meeks should be explaining why they are doing nothing but watching it happen ..."

Ever since I first tore tiny, perforated receipts for Mrs. Cordell’s Indianapolis News subscription in 1967, I’ve made most of my living selling newspapers.

April 19, 2000: Gov. Tom Vilsack signed a bill that raised the cap on the amount of money that could be used towards early retirement in IPERS. As a result, three North Scott principals, Dennis Albertson, Joe Ragona and Barry Lahann announced they would retire at the end of the school year. The three represented 92 years of administrative experience and more than a century in education. Albertson had been with the district since 1967 and had been a principal for the last 33 years, including at Grissom and Armstrong, a record for the district.

Bill and Virginia Haycraft of Eldridge will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on April 23.

Kenny and Betty Levien of DeWitt, formerly of Long Grove, will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary with an open house on Saturday, May 3. All family and friends are invited to join them from 1-4 p.m. at Lakeview Shelter at West Lake Park, Davenport.

Jadyn N. Hesselmann, 21, of Dubuque, passed away on Monday, April 14, 2025.

Debra Ann Hughes (née Doerscher), known as Debbie, 67, of Maquoketa, passed away peacefully at home on April 17, 2025, after a courageous six-month battle with angiosarcoma, a rare cancer.

Jane E. Leggins, 73, of Eldridge, passed away on Monday, April 14, 2025, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf.

A funeral service for Diane E. Sievers, 62, of Dixon, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 25, at Faith Lutheran Church, Calamus. Burial will be in the Dixon Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, April 24, from 4-7 p.m. at the church. Bentley Funeral Home, Durant, is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Visitation for Jadyn N. Hesselmann, 21, of Dubuque, will be Wednesday, April 23, from 4-7 p.m. at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, Dubuque. Burial will be in St. Ann's Cemetery, Long Grove, on Thursday, April 24, at 11:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the Eldridge Community Center. 

A funeral service for Debra Ann (Doerscher) Hughes, 67, of Maquoketa, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 23, at Weerts Funeral Home, Davenport. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 22, from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

A memorial service for Jane Ellen Leggins, 73, of Eldridge, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 18, at Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Friday at the funeral home. Inurnment will follow in Oakview Cemetery, Welton.

Kenny J. White, a longtime resident of Davenport, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2025, in Palm Springs, Calif. Surviving him is his second wife of 33 years, Jill Owens. Born on Oct. 20, 1942, Kenny is also survived by his three beloved daughters (from his first marriage to Lynn White), Wendy (Andy) Hamann of Eldridge, Heather (Paul) Yoerger of New Liberty, and Holly (Willie) Gaskins of Fairplay, Colo. He also dearly loved his six grandchildren, Drew, Logan and Layne Hamann, Mitchell, Tyler and Caden Yoerger, and one great-grandchild, Jalen Hamann. Kenny is also survived by his brothers Rob, of Eldridge, and David, of Anacortes, Wash., and was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph (Doc) and Dorothy White.

David W. Amhof, 65, of Long Grove, passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Genesis East/Mercy One Hospital in Davenport.  Visitation for him will be Saturday, April 19, from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Park View Lutheran Church. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. His final resting place will be later in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may go to the church.

A memorial service for Carol Nagle, 80, of LaPorte City, formerly of Long Grove, was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Long Grove. Visitation was one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Burial was in St. Ann’s Cemetery. The Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, assisted the family with arrangements.

A funeral service for Kenny J. White, 82, a longtime resident of Davenport, will be held at noon on Thursday, April 17, at the Runge Mortuary, Davenport. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Thursday at the mortuary. Burial will follow in Oakdale Memorial Gardens, Davenport.

A memorial service for David W. Amhof, 65, of Long Grove, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Park View Lutheran Church. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park at a later date. The Runge Mortuary, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements.

A memorial service for Carol Nagle, 80, of LaPorte City, formerly of Long Grove, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Long Grove. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Burial will be in St. Ann's Cemetery.  The Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements.