Here we are we

~a column by Colleen O’Brien As the kids used to say, “Where we are we, Mom?” I was relieved when I could answer“Here we are we,” as I finally pulled into our intended destination. And now, I’m the one asking, “Where we are we?”  hoping for an answer. After reading the first three pages of a really good book, Abundance,…

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The apostrophe and me

~by Denise O’Brien Van I’ve lived with apostrophes all my life (see writer’s name.)  And a recent friendly discussion about whether to write 1900 or 1900’s got me thinking about when and how to use that airborne punctuation mark. Overuse and underuse of the flying comma are everywhere. We’ve all seen the signs: Open Sunday’s Were open today No bicycle’s…

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Gary Harbaugh, 1944 – 2025

Gary Lynn Harbaugh, the fourth of five children, was born to Merritt P. and Elma J. (Gliem) Harbaugh on April 11, 1944, in Cherokee, OK.  He spent his childhood growing up and helping on the family farms at Jefferson and later in Webster City. He graduated from Webster City High School in 1962, then worked first at Morton Frozen Foods in…

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Now what?

~a column by Colleen O’Brien It’s not difficult to dislike a bully. The one we have in White Resort Mar A Lago has always been a mean, show-off guy, making fun of women who are “bleeding” (Megan Kelly); or imitating reporter Serge Kovaleski who has a neurological disease that causes erratic movements; or accusing MIAs of being suckers. But he…

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View from my window – Bootleg dentristry

I am having a dilemma. Really, an ethical dilemma involving my friend who resides in a nursing home in eastern Iowa. It is causing me anger along with great frustration. For many reasons all the persons involved in this writing shall remain nameless. My friend has lived in a nursing home in Maquoketa for five years beginning in 2020. Last…

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2025 ABC Award to Pat Richards

Award presentation this Sunday A highlight of the annual Jefferson Matters Community Appreciation Event is the recognition of the ABC award (Above and Beyond the Call) recipient. Since 1977 exemplary local volunteers have been honored for their efforts to improve the community in countless ways.  “This award is selected by a team of previous ABC honorees and Jefferson Matters is pleased…

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Planting underway, Iowa still dry despite recent rains

Planters were rolling across much of the state before being slowed by precipitation. Iowa farmers averaged 5.5 suitable for fieldwork for the week ending April 20, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. In addition to planting corn, soybeans and oats, fieldwork included tiling, building waterways and spraying when winds allowed. Topsoil moisture condition across Iowa rated 6…

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