Amidst the polarizing division of our politics, some of which is expressed in letters to the editor on these pages, it was refreshing to see the people of one community, Walcott, come together Friday night to celebrate major improvements at Wescott Park. more

I was sitting in the Eldridge city council chambers the night that Dave Kopatich was hired as a full-time officer in 1989. I wrote the front-page story eight years later when he left to become chief in Walcott, and my byline topped the front-page, above-the-fold article when he returned to Eldridge in 2009. more

May 8, 1996: Four North Scott teachers were among 25 countywide winners of Golden Apple Awards: Glendena Heiman and Steve Mohr from the high school, Chris Green from Neil Armstrong Elementary, and Diane Christensen from John Glenn Elementary. more

In spite of a few fringe policemen, saying Defund the Police is a stupid idea. This will never happen because the vast majority recognize the value of the police – and the vast majority of police comport themselves well, unlike Derrick Chauvin, who was convicted of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn., last week. more

May 3, 2006: A protest intended to highlight student dissatisfaction with staff cuts at the high school went wrong as some students took advantage of the school-sanctioned event. A group marched to the administration office, where superintendent Tim Dose was nearly hit with a water bottle, and to the junior high. However, many peeled off, went to North Scott Foods to buy snacks, and held up traffic. More than 600 students were marked absent for second hour, with many made to serve in-school suspensions for the infractions. Principal Terry Sherer, who had initially approved of the protest, called the incident “a good thing gone bad.”  more

In this column on April 7, about the YMCA groundbreaking, I lifted up good things happening in our community – a time to celebrate. Much has been accomplished, but a few items remain on my bucket list: more

The halls of North Scott High School are filled with talented, intelligent and selfless individuals. I’ve witnessed it first hand, and consider it a privilege to share their accomplishments and success stories with the community. more

April 21, 1971: North Scott athletic director and head track coach Donald Schmelzer asked for a formal hearing to protest his firing. While superintendent Melvin Heiler said the dismissal was due to a “public relations situation with a student and the public,” Schmelzer stated that he did not believe he had been given sufficient cause. The North Scott Education Foundation stated they also believed he had been fired unjustly. more

In November 2016, faith leaders and concerned citizens gathered at Temple Emmanuel to express concern for vulnerable people in the greater Quad Cities – among them minorities by race, religion, nationality, disability, immigrant status, and sexual orientation and gender identity. more

April 17, 1996: Thanks to the work of Nancy Shannon and her group of 500 volunteers, the Eastern Iowa Area was selected for the “Outstanding Area” award at the Iowa Special Olympics. Area director Shannon was applauded for her 17 years as a volunteer with the organization. more

The groundbreaking last Tuesday for the North Scott YMCA is a moment I'd like to freeze in time. The opening is a year away, but it will be hard to top the aura of goodwill from Tuesday's overcast and end-of-March-chilly afternoon. more

“You can’t rollerskate in a buffalo herd.” more