Pulitzer Prize recipient to speak in Jefferson

Art Cullen

Libraries given copies of his book

Each public library in the county received an autographed copy last week of Art Cullen’s book, Storm Lake: A Chronicle of Change, Resilience, and Hope from a Heartland Newspaper, in advance of Cullen’s appearance in Jefferson Feb. 2.

Cullen will speak at the Ground Hog Day Dinner Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Rotary Room in the clubhouse at the Jefferson Community Golf Course. A social hour will begin at 6 pm with the dinner at 6:30. The catered meal will feature lasagna made with pork sausage (ground hog).
Cullen, co-owner and editor of the Storm Lake Times, received the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing for taking on corporate agri-industry on environmental issues. Cullen wrote the book after receiving the Pulitzer. Storm Lake is Cullen’s journalistic heartsong to his community, to progressive politics, and to the tradition of a family-owned local newspaper.

Cullen blends stories of growing up in rural Iowa, well-researched Iowa history, and his keen perception of the political forces exerted on agriculture and rural life, into an easy-to-read book as only gifted storytellers can.

Copies of Storm Lake were purchased for the libraries by Mary Weaver, Dale and Nancy Hanaman, David and Carol John, John and Ces Brunow, Chris Henning and Jane Alexander.

Copies of Art Cullen’s Storm Lake were provided to county libraries by area Democrats. Pictured are (front, from left) Wendy Johnson of Scranton, Phyllis Bardole of Rippey, Sue Kellogg and Diane Kafer of Grand Junction, and David John; and (back, from left) Chris Henning, Shari Minnehan of Churdan, John Brunow, Jane Millard of Jefferson, Amber Love of Paton, Jolene Allen of Scranton, Marilyn Tilley of Churdan and Mary Weaver.

At the dinner Cullen will talk about the book and about politics in rural Iowa, and he’ll have copies of his book available to sell and autograph.

J.D. Scholten, 2018 Democratic candidate for Iowa’s Fourth Congressional seat, plans to attend the dinner and make comments.

A variety of items will also be sold that evening at a silent auction.

The Ground Hog Day Dinner is hosted by the Greene County Democrats.  A limited number of tickets for the dinner are still available, either at the Rasmussen Law Office on the south side of the courthouse square in Jefferson, or by calling 515-370-3087.

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