Battery explodes injuring manager

150 Years Ago

In passing through Irvington we could not see that much damage had been to the grain in that section by the grasshoppers. Wheat generally looks very well as did some fields of corn. Dr. Armstrong, has the finest field of corn that can be seen anywhere. The stand is good and even and the ground is as clean of weeds as any floor. They say the Doctor always has a good corn crop.

125 Years Ago

Letter to the Editor:

Of soapboxes, fireworks and Facebook

Random thoughts at 3 a.m. when not sleeping:

   There doesn’t seem to be much going on in the neighborhood at 3 a.m. Of course, the Fourth of July is over, so no more firecrackers in the neighborhood at 3 a.m. Or midnight. Or 7 a.m.

If I sound bitter, it’s only because I am. I just don’t get what the thrill is of loud bangs. Beautiful, sparkly fireworks are wonderful. Loud explosions are not.

Teeter and Totter

Most all of us spent time on a teeter-totter growing up, learning about balance and timing and force. I am still learning. A little more teeter and a little less totter. Or maybe it’s a little more totter and a little less teeter. I’m not sure. But I do know we can learn from that piece of playground equipment, starting with forgiveness.

Rev. Chris Burtnett

Pastor, First Congregational United
Church of Christ

From the archives of the Algona Upper Des Moines newspaper from March 5, 1981. Telephone operators were sometimes referred to as “The Hello Girls.”

K/PACEDC County Wide Breakfast

By Maureen Elbert

K/PACEDC

“It’s Christmas in July” which is the theme for this year’s County Wide Breakfast. K/PACEDC is excited to announce that Debi Durham, State Director for Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority, will be the keynote speaker.

Gambling squabble ends in court

150 Years Ago

A man named Nixon, formerly a street beggar in Mobile, has just died in Oregon, leaving a fortune estimated at half a million.

125 Years Ago

Cheap ranges come and go, but this Majestic is indestructible. Sold at Otto Falkenhainer’s Hardware Store.

100 Years Ago

Test your memory

One of my most responded to columns was on the topic of iconic cars from TV and movies. I assumed it would be a hit, as when I broached the topic with a group of friends, the conversation went on for an hour. Let’s see if this one hits home, too.

Happy Fourth of July, Christians!

Rev. Thomas Cowell

Pastor, St. John’s  Lutheran Church, Burt

Partnership Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church

My trip to grandson Connor’s high school graduation in Minneapolis (Prior Lake, to be specific) went oh-so-smoothly. As I wrote in my last column, I went by motor car, though not in a roadster wearing a silk frock, ala Nancy Drew. That item on my bucket list has yet to be fulfilled, since there are a few details still to be worked out. Like, where does one procure a roadster, preferably in a lovely scarlet color.

Book calls for humanity to downsize

An Inconvenient Apocalypse

Wes Jackson and Robert Jensen

Notre Dame Press

$24 (paperback)

ISBN 978-0-268-20366-5

Writers and Writing

By Michael Tidemann

W

Three businesses apply for Sunday liquor licenses

150 Years Ago

The farm kids superbowl

County fairs are just around the corner in many parts of Iowa. These are times when people of all ages show their livestock, fruits, vegetables, and their projects of all kinds, and they are judged on their accomplishments. Great life lessons are learned by seeing a project through from beginning to end and being responsible for the day-to-day tasks in making that happen. This is ever apparent in our county fairs.

Due process in question  at the Iowa Utilities Board

To the Editor:

Much to the dismay of Summit Carbon Solutions, easements for over 1,000 parcels on its hazardous CO2 pipeline route remain unsigned. The clock is ticking, and time is running out. Construction is behind schedule, and the project is over budget. The company needs speedy approval to use eminent domain to take this property, and recent events signal the IUB is willing to oblige.