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Local Columns

On the Record with Sheriff Schmidt

It’s been a busy last couple of months at the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, and it is about time for an update from me! First off, I want to recognize our staff, especially the deputies. Right now we are short a deputy, and with Deputy Trevor Killian retiring, we’ll be down two. Like a ...

A Fair View: Vote for Amanda Kriegel for Treasurer

I would just like to put this out to the voters of Tama County. After the last year and five months it is obvious the only stable offices in the administration building are the Treasurer, Auditor, and Recorder. The supervisors have messed up a lot. It is obvious that (Supervisor) Heather ...

Dengler Domain: Friction

As I have been using my Apple Maps more often to guide me from location to location, this brings about sadness. While I have not fully given in to having Siri guide me along my trip, I often check the map to know what route is best or where to avoid traffic issues. Unfortunately, this gives up ...

Dengler Domain: Skyowa

Nothing is more beautiful than the Iowa sky. Staring up at the beautiful blue sky with clouds partially filling the space and jet clouds happened a lot growing up. Having the ability to see horizon to horizon for each cardinal direction was an opportunity which was not appreciated enough. ...

Heather’s Highlights: County Government and You, April 2026

Road construction along with dust, gravel, mud, and dust control were the main topics for discussion in April when Highway 63 from the 96/63 junction to Toledo closed on April 20. The Iowa DOT closed the highway to remove the pavement and replace it with asphalt, while making it a “Super 2 ...

Dysart Chamber Community Connections: May 2026

May always feels like the month when things finally start moving again. People are outside more, community events start popping up on the calendar, and you can feel the energy picking up around town. For local businesses and organizations, this is when things start getting busy in the best ...

Dengler Domain: Let farmers save some seeds

When it comes to seed saving, it is an interesting exercise for farmers. In Iowa, where corn and soybean hybrid seed is dominant, seed saving is non-existent. Protected by Plant Variety Protection certificates and utility patents, the seed companies treat their corn and soybeans seeds like ...

On Nature: Climate Change Choice

The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has analyzed a broad range of data on greenhouse gas emissions and the effects on U.S. climate that had been gathered by the scientific community. In their report on this analysis, the Academies stated that the evidence for ...

Dengler Domain: Everybody Knows Everybody

What I loved and miss from growing up in a rural town is everybody knows everybody. This is a double-edged sword because everyone can be up in everyone’s business. It might not be like stories I have heard from the past where people listened to other people’s phone conversations when lines ...

Dengler Domain: Planting Season

With the planting season off to a slow start thanks to the always compelling Iowa weather, it is the time of year when hope is at its best. Being a farmer, optimism is key to starting every year. Farming is truly blind faith. No matter what the plan for the growing season and how good it is, ...