A scrub tree made beautiful by Christmas

December 14, 2020

Few things in our lives are so deeply steeped in tradition as our observance of Christmas. At a very young age we become accustomed to Christmas practices which will tug at our hearts and memories for years to come. So it was in the home in which I was raised. Though our Christmases were meager materially, they were rich in love, warmth and tradition. The early ’60s were not good financial years for my parents. Medical bills, job changes and six hungry kids strained Dad’s hard-earned paycheck. Though Mom worked miracles in stretching a dollar, there was little left over for ...

Together, we can ensure all Iowans have food this holiday season

December 11, 2020

reside These may very well be the darkest days of my lifetime. COVID cases spiking, record unemployment and suicide, personal loss, isolation, and children not getting the full education they need to succeed. In the midst of this uncertainty, many of us are hoping the familiar comforts of ...

Ice fishing — open water similarities

December 2, 2020

There are certainly major differences between open water fishing and ice fishing, but once we get past the obvious differences, it’s important to recognize the similarities. If we keep those similarities in mind, we will be more successful anglers on the ice or on open water. Here are some ...

Lures to catch fish

November 17, 2020

It’s been said more than a lot of times that “fishing lures aren’t made to catch fish, they’re made to catch fishermen.” When I was first getting into the fishing business I thought that was a pretty accurate concept. I learned quickly that lures that didn’t catch fish ...

Hybrid learning from a teacher’s perspective

November 13, 2020

As of October 29, Webster City High School has finished their first quarter of Hybrid learning. Students took 3 or 4 blocked classes that were 90 minutes long. They met in person for 22 days and were at home with remote work for 22 days. We covered the same content and standards that we have in past years. Their classes were either high school or college classes. I congratulate the students that I had in class and many others for their patience and willingness to take on this type of learning. The juniors and seniors in my classes stepped up and were ready to go, since they had been ...

Ice-fishing ideas

November 10, 2020

Two weeks ago, it appeared that ice-on-the-pond was going to happen soon. Today, it doesn’t look like that so much. Not so long ago, for many of us, it was a pretty sure deal that we would be ice-fishing on or shortly after Thanksgiving. In today’s world, that bet is off. But the bet is on that we’re close to freeze-up, and when that happens, we want to be ready. Following are some things that we can do to be ready to get on the ice when the ice is ready for us. First off, do all you can to make sure that the ice is safe. You don’t need to be the first one out there. ...