×

Local Columns

Webster City’s first woman mayor

As I write this, all the news (whether it’s fit to print or not) is about the elections of 2024. I am not going to write about politics or anything else quite as controversial. I am, however, going to write about something that does have local historical merit. One of the results of ...

A disturbingly long dream

Listening to the radio while driving down the road recently I heard the 1950s Johnny Tillotson recording “Send Me the Pillow You Dream On.” The song has been covered by many other recording artists over the years. The recording jump-started some semi-deep thoughts on the matter of ...

Don’t try this with a badger

In an online discussion regarding badgers, I found a post that seems meaningful at this moment in history: “Badgers are incredibly dangerous. I've been chased out of a cotton field by a pissed off one, and there isn't any way I'd want to mess with one intentionally. “One of my ...

Meet the Brills

One of my favorite activities, at almost any time of year, is to walk through Our Neighborhood. The trees have been especially eye-popping this year. I’ve heard the trees are particularly colorful when there has been a lack of rain. This year is certainly one of those. About two weeks ...

Imprisoned in a recliner and cold coffee

About a year ago, my wife, Julie, and I agreed that I would benefit from a power recliner. You know, the kind of recliner that makes it easier for an old guy to get out of the recliner. I’m a large guy and it took us a while to find a power recliner of sufficient size and power to lift this ...

I have struggled to find something funny to say

In these final fractious moments leading up to joy for some and bitterness for others, I have struggled to find something funny to say. Yeah, I know. I literally laid awake this morning trying to think of something that would make us all laugh. I came up empty. But then I remembered my best ...