Featured stories

Four-hour fight extinguishes Eldridge blaze

Eldridge crews worked four hours to extinguish a garage fire Tuesday night.

Feb. 5 NSP delivery delayed

Due to a computer issue at our printer, delivery of the Feb. 5 edition of The NSP will be delayed. Please click here to read our e-edition.

Scott County legislator forums resume Feb. 8 and March 8

Scott County’s 43-year tradition of state legislative forums resumes with a series of events presented by American Association of University Women, the Scott County Farm Bureau, and a special public session with Scott County supervisors.

QC Flood Resiliency Alliance meets Feb. 20 in Riverdale

Iowa Flood Center program manager Kate Giannini will speak about community-driven flood solutions at the next meeting of the Quad Cities Flood Resiliency Alliance, 3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20, in the Riverdale City Hall Community Room,

Tina’s Dance students shine at Davenport Showbiz competition

Dancers from Tina’s Dance Studio, Tumbling & Gymnastics Center recently competed at the Showbiz National Talent Competition in Davenport.  Teams from the Eldridge studio included the Diva Dance Company, Dream Dance Company, Mini Divas, Baby Divas, DynamiX Dance Team and TDS Hip Hop Crews. 

Free CPR instruction March 11 in Donahue

Learn about CPR, 5:30-7 p.m., Tuesday, March 11 at the Donahue fire department, 302 N. Main St., Donahue.

DNR recommends renewing Deere Davenport Works air emissions permit

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on its plan to renew air emission permits for John Deere Davenport Works.

McCausland soup supper Feb. 23

Tired of winter weather? Warm up with a variety of delicious homemade soups, sandwiches, desserts and beverages, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 23 at McCausland United Methodist Church, 210 Hughes St., McCausland.
Sheriff & Police news
View the Scott County Sheriff's report from the Feb. 5 NSP!

View the Scott County Sheriff's report from the Feb. 5 NSP!

Sports
Girls' Wrestling

A night to remember

As the state qualifying rounds played out at Iowa City High School late Friday night, one theme emerged — the North Scott were living dangerously.
Wrestling

Lancers reclaim top dog status

Entering the 2025 Mississippi Athletic Conference boys’ wrestling championships, few eyes were on North Scott to take home the team title.
Boys' Basketball

Taking care of business

Winners of four of their last five matchups, North Scott’s boys’ basketball team heads into February with the wind at its back.
Girls' Basketball

Fourth quarters offer mixed bags

North Scott’s girls’ basketball team had a fickle relationship with fourth quarters over the last week.
Bowling

Lancers host home meet at Rose Bowl

47 teams from nearly two dozen schools descended on Rose Bowl in Muscatine for the Lancer Boys and Girls Bowling Invitational last Saturday, bringing together some of the best squads in eastern Iowa.
Opinion
2010: Elementary enrollment prompts talk of new school
Feb. 10, 2010: North Scott superintendent Jeff Schwiebert suggested that when the combined student populations at Ed White and Alan Shepard reached 850, the district should consider building another elementary school. The current enrollment was 794, including 75 sixth graders from Ed White who were currently attending classes at the junior high.
Senate supports increases for public and private school accounts
Last week was also National School Choice Week, providing an opportunity to recognize Iowa’s progress in expanding educational options for families. Since the passage of the Students First Act in 2022, there has been large interest in school choice initiatives. These efforts aim to enhance academic outcomes across all educational settings—public, private, and charter schools—ensuring families have access to the best learning environment for their children.
Bills for school threat assessments, attendance regulation and public syllabi
Session is in full gear and many of the major pieces of legislation you may be hearing about are in their formulation and public input stage.  As bills begin to have clarity, I will write about those topics in future columns.  For this week, I will give you some highlights of bills that have passed a subcommittee and are up for consideration. 
Rising costs prompt governor’s request for 2.6 percent DOT budget increase
Stubbornly high prices for heavy equipment, supplies, and technology continue to impact the budget of the Department of Transportation.  This was the Department’s message as it presented its Fiscal Year 2026 spending proposal to the House Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals budget subcommittee Jan. 27.
Farm Bureau lobbies for property tax limits, and grain indemnity
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, the state’s largest grassroots farm organization, will address key priorities including the modernization of the state’s Grain Indemnity Fund, protecting property taxpayers and other important policies impacting Iowa’s farmers and rural communities during the 2025 legislative session.
Get to know Mike Zimmer
"Zimmer is already working across the aisle talking to our elected representatives in the legislature, county boards, city councils and community leaders. He will be a great asset in Des Moines ..."
Thanks for Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts from Eldridge
"The overwhelming generosity of the people of Eldridge, helped provide joy to children in need through Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts this season ..."
Republicans no longer respect Iowans’ home rule
"Republican legislators are now interfering in the University of Iowa curriculum. This smells of partisan politics, and the stench reeks of propaganda ..."
Peach cast members bring their ‘A’ game
Lancer Productions’ Children’s Theatre is always fun, but this year, they’re going big. For the first time since 2022 and Disney’s “Frozen Jr.,” they’re staging a full-scale musical.
2000: Eldridge pays $752K for Slagle's to become library
Feb. 2, 2000: Slagle’s Supermarkets Inc. accepted the City of Eldridge’s $752,000 offer to purchase the building that was formerly home to a grocery store. The city intended to lease the building to the Scott County Library as the new headquarters in Eldridge.
Announcements
Death Notice: Connor Richards
A celebration of life for Connor William Richards, 28, will be held from 3-6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at the Long Grove Community Center.
Death Notice: Eleanor Lilienthal
A funeral service for Eleanor M. Lilienthal, 98, of New Liberty, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, at the Runge Mortuary, Davenport. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Monday at the mortuary. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery.
Death Notice: Dan Anderson
A funeral service for Dan Anderson, 79, of Eldridge, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at Faith Lutheran Church, Eldridge. Visitation will be Thursday, Feb. 6, from 4-7 p.m. at the church. In keeping with Dan's wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. The Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Obituary: Stephen Johannsen
Stephen W. Johannsen, age 74, of Davenport, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.  Cremation rites will be accorded, and no services are scheduled at this time.  Private family burial will take place in Durant Cemetery at a later date.  Online condolences may be left at www.bentleyfuneralhome.com.
Obituary: Wayne Bell
Wayne Clarence Bell, a resident of North Fort Myers, Fla., passed away peacefully in Lee Memorial Hospital, Fort Myers, Fla., after an extended illness. Born on May 5, 1939, to Clarence and Lillian (Peeters) Bell in Davenport. He lived in the Eldridge area until he and his wife decided they were tired of the cold Iowa winters and moved to the Fort Myers area in 1986.
Obituary: Donna Jehle
Donna J. Jehle, 92, of Durant, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at Grand Haven Retirement Community in Eldridge.
Card shower to mark Betty Rock’s 80th birthday
We’re throwing a card shower in honor of Betty Rock’s 80th birthday!
Verna Henning celebrates 100th birthday
Verna J. Henning of Walcott is celebrating her 100th birthday. Everyone is invited to send cards to Verna at the Wheatland Manor Nursing Home, 316 E. Lincolnway St., Wheatland, IA 52777.
Al Schnoor turns 80
The newest news, the one come lately. Tells us that Al Schnoor is turning eighty.
Sherry O’Connor to be honored with card shower
Sherry O’Connor turns 80 years young on Feb. 10! Please surprise mom with a birthday card mailed to: Sherry O’Connor, 12497 300th Ave., Donahue, IA 52746.
Obituary: Peggy Ragona
Peggy J. Ragona, 89, of Donahue, passed away on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Wheatland Manor, Wheatland.
Obituary: Betty Speth
Funeral services celebrating the life of Betty Speth, 92, of Davenport, will be held at noon on Friday, Jan. 31, at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport. Burial will follow in Maysville Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of services.  Memorials may be made to Hills and Dales in Dubuque.
Obituary: Leslie Koch
Leslie Robert “Les” Koch, 80, of Toledo, passed away Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, Jan. 30, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama, with Pastor Warren Riley officiating. A Private Family Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Jan. 29 (today), from 3-7 p.m. at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Death Notice: Betty Speth
A funeral service celebrating the life of Betty Elaine Speth, 92, of Davenport, will be held at noon on Friday, Jan. 31, at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Maysville Cemetery.
Death Notice: Peggy Ragona
A Mass of Christian Burial for Peggy J. Ragona, 89, of Donahue, will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Long Grove. Visitation will be one hour prior to Mass on Friday at the church. Burial will be in St. Ann's Cemetery. Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge, is assisting the family with arrangements.
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More local news

McCausland takes on 2025-26 budget

The city is in the midst of budget planning right now. We thought this article might be of interest.  Since we are not mailing out a newsletter this month, we are sharing it here.

Lancers host State Jazz Choir contest Feb. 10

On Feb. 10, North Scott Choirs will be hosting the State Jazz Choir contest in the high school auditorium.  Each school participating will receive a rating based on their performance. 

Iowa osprey population continues to grow

Data from the 2024 osprey nesting report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources shows the bird population is well established and continuing to grow in the state.

Register by Feb. 6 to be a bald eagle nest monitor

Sign-up deadline is Feb. 6 for online training on Feb. 9 to become an Iowa DNR bald eagle nest monitor.

Voters pick Democrat Zimmer for Cournoyer's senate seat

Democrat Mike Zimmer is the newest Iowa senator, flipping the Senate District 35 seat in the Jan. 25 special election.