Aug. 21, 1985: Tickets for the Iowa Lottery were officially set to go on sale, and 21 businesses in rural Scott County would be among the first to offer tickets. Donna McCaughey, owner of the Corner Market in McCausland, said she hoped sales would increase traffic to the store. Larry Syring, manager of Slagle’s in Eldridge said, “I’m not sure what to expect, honestly. I think it’s going to be fun for the customers.” more

"Today, I watched as a demented, self-serving president cursed, whined, and fumbled his way through another speech. His sycophants nodded approval and chorused, 'God bless America' at the speech’s end ..." more

"As a non-resident who patronizes several Eldridge businesses each week, I can’t help but to be concerned that some time one of these large trucks will be forced too far over, and strike one of these parked vehicles that have an occupant sitting in them ..." more

Last Wednesday, about 50 folks gathered at Cinnamon Ridge Dairy Farm in Donahue to chat with Sen. Chuck Grassley at an agriculture roundtable. Topics included trade, crop prices, SNAP benefits, and more. The roundtable lasted about an hour, with Grassley taking questions from those invited. more

Perhaps there is someone who makes it to the Mississippi Valley Fair and manages to avoid the animals. more

Aug. 12, 2020: Scott County residents were cleaning up after a derecho swept through the area. Winds were clocked at more than 85 mph and left power outages and massive damage in the storm’s wake. Neighbors worked together to clean up branches, and city crews also cleared entire trees from city streets. more

"Every state needs consistent, affordable energy, and Iowa is no exception. Natural gas plays a key role in providing that energy, and in keeping Local 25 members employed ..." more

"How do we hold him accountable? The person responsible for the murder/starving deaths, of many thousands of people just this year, and millions of people over the next five years, just because he ended famine relief ..." more

Aug. 5, 2020: Approximately 83 percent of students planned to return to in-person learning at North Scott schools when the year began later in August. The school board was set to decide whether the remainder would learn from North Scott teachers or from a contracted firm. About 70 parents turned out for a forum to discuss a return to the classroom, including the topic of masking. While the Iowa State Education Association and Gov. Kim Reynolds recommended masking, superintendent Joe Stutting said the district likely wouldn’t challenge most waiver requests. more

When Kim Reynolds gave her big annual speech at the beginning of the year, she told Iowans that “the condition of our state is strong” and that “childcare has been a longstanding priority for my administration.”  more

Raising a family is no easy task, but it shouldn’t bankrupt you. As both a parent and grandparent, I’ve seen how much harder it is for Iowa families to afford housing, groceries, and especially child care. Four years of record-high inflation under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have left working parents stretched thin. more

"If I were to attempt a silent coup of the United States of America, I would ..." more

If I may be so bold as to borrow a quote. I’d like to pluck a flower from the bouquet of former talk show host Wendy Williams to describe Countryside Community Theatre’s production of “Hairspray”: more

Aug. 4, 2010: A test program for garbage totes in Eldridge was headed into its third week, and so far, residents seemed to like the program. Council members Steve Puls and Steve Mohr reported positive feedback, and city administrator John Dowd reported the only comments he had received were from residents who were surprised at how large the totes were. more

"As we approach the 60th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, we should be celebrating. Instead we’re mourning -  because Republicans have finally found a way to gut these popular programs through Trump’s so-called 'Big Ugly Bill,' the latest reconciliation package ..." more

It’s not every day that Hollywood turns out a movie about a bespectacled journalist who grew up on a farm. That movie is the Superman reboot. It prompted a text home, to my parents, who run a dairy farm in Massachusetts. Is there something you’re not telling me? I asked. Can I fly? My dad asked if I had ever tried, really tried, to shoot laser beams from my eyes. more

July 26, 2000: Amy Bouril, a 1991 graduate of North Scott, had a small speaking part in the season finale of the television show “Law & Order.” She appeared in a scene with series stars Jerry Orbach and Jesse L. Martin. Bouril had moved to New York City four years earlier, and since then had toured with a musical production company, done off-Broadway work, and had appeared in several commercials and independent films. She got her latest part with some help from her roommate, who worked for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” When she wasn’t acting, Bouril also worked for a mortgage bank. more

Florida executed a man this week and is scheduled to put another to death this month, setting a modern-day record for the state and underscoring an unsettling trend for the nation. more

"Trump’s compulsive need to be the center of attention of every circumstance brings to mind a quote attributed to Alice Roosevelt  Longworth, daughter of President Teddy Roosevelt, who described a narcissistic personality as an individual who wanted to be the corpse at every funeral, the bride at every wedding and the baby at every christening ..." more

July 17, 1985: Workers were putting the finishing touches on Eldridge’s new mini liquor store, located on South 9th Avenue. The Iowa Beer and Liquor Control Department had a 20-year lease on the building. more