QCA.news - Quad Cities news and view from both sides of the river

Scott County Regional Authority names spring 2026 grant recipients

The Scott County Regional Authority (SCRA) announced awards totaling almost $1.4 million for the spring 2026 grant cycle. The full list of grant recipients is below. SCRA received 85 requests for funding, totaling $2,842,407 and a total of $1,398,415 was awarded to 48 projects that benefit Scott County residents. Since 1991, SCRA has awarded $105,665,437 [...]

National Weather Service issues record number of severe warnings in QCA

April, May and June are peak months for severe weather in eastern Iowa and western Illinois.

QC community meeting discusses how to respond to local ICE activities

An April 22 action by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Davenport has the community worried, and many concerned citizens met Monday night to discuss the issue and potential next steps.

Trial set for man accused of standoff that led to toddler shot by law enforcement

Newly filed court documents allege police first tried to shock a man with a Tazer in a hostage situation before entering a room and opening fire.

Illinois State Senator Mike Halpin pushing for higher education funding before the legislative session ends

The Democrat represents the 36th district, which contains portions of Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Knox, McDonough, and Warren counties. He is advocating for a bill that would create a funding formula for eligible public institutions, stating it would help Western Illinois University. He also discussed a bill clarifying the use of eminent domain by carbon pipeline developers, regulating streaming-ad audio, and other topics, including data centers, SNAP benefits, housing, and artificial intelligence.

Musser Public Library changing services after budget cut

Budget cuts are leading to changes at the Musser Public Library in Muscatine. A message from library director Bobby Fiedler explains some of the programming changes. “Due to a combined $104,000 reduction in government funding — $54,000 from Muscatine County and $50,000 in City Capital Outlay (funds used for books, DVDs and other materials) — [...]

Quad Cities VA outpatient clinic closed temporarily for water line break

A spokesperson for Iowa American Water said the break was on a private service line that impacted the VA Clinic and some businesses in the strip mall.

Caitlin Clark has been named the Indianapolis 500 grand marshal

Caitlin Clark is finally going to the Indianapolis 500 and she’ll do it in style — giving the starting command before Sunday’s sold-out race.

Here’s why we don’t know more about Iowa leader no longer on the job

Governor Kim Reynolds said that she doesn't plan to release specifics about the departure of the man tasked with leading the state's public employees retirement system.

United Way Quad Cities leader tapped for global council seat

Ryan Sempf, chief impact officer for United Way Quad Cities, joins a 24-member global council to share local strategies for community improvement.

Interim chief says ICE gave no advance notice before Davenport arrests

Interim Davenport Police Chief Greg Behning spoke at a meeting organized by state Rep. Ken Croken on Monday, addressing the April 22 arrests of eight people by federal immigration officers.

North Scott Press — May 20, 2026

Rock Island receives IDNR grant to improve Potter's Lake dock

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has awarded four grants totaling $69,600 through the Illinois Boat Access Area Development Program to help local governments create boat and canoe access areas on Illinois lakes and rivers.  “Investing in boat launches around the state helps communities improve access to public lakes and rivers and creates a [...]

Trump endorses Ken Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn in Texas Senate primary runoff

President Trump has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas GOP runoff for U.S. Senate, one week before voting ends in the contentious and expensive primary.

Summa Cum Laude 2026

As the North Scott Class of 2026 takes the stage to receive their diplomas on May 24, they will be led by 39 students who have been named Summa Cum Laude, having excelled academically during their four years of high school. Summa Cum Laude designation is given to students who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher during their high school careers. Graduation speakers will be Charlotte Madden, Marlayna Cockshoot, Behren Radech and Nate Kramer.

Iowa American Water puts forth Eldridge acquisition

As Eldridge works to market itself as a prime location for industry, city officials have recognized the need for additional infrastructure. To that end, for the last nine months, city staff have been meeting with representatives from Iowa American Water to discuss ways the two entities might partner on projects, including additional lift stations on the south side of town, as well as improvements to the wastewater treatment plant, and a possible additional well. On Monday, during a joint committee of the whole meeting with the Eldridge Utility Board, representatives from Iowa American Water presented possible partnership options, up to and including a full acquisition of Eldridge’s water and wastewater treatment operations. No decisions were made, and opinions were sharply divided among those at the council table. Iowa American officials said their total purchase offer would be approximately $36.8 million for the utilities, with $12.1 for the water system and $24.6 million for the wastewater treatment. At the beginning of the meeting, mayor Scott Campbell explained that talks with Iowa American have been ongoing for approximately the last nine months, starting at the staff level. Members of the utility board and city council were brought into the process four or five months ago, Campbell said. Mary Egger, principal of business development for Iowa American, gave a brief overview of the company to begin the presentation. She emphasized that the company is regulated by the Iowa Utilities Commission, which oversees the company’s investment and sets its rates. The company serves 10 communities in Iowa and has five water treatment and three wastewater treatment plants, serving approximately 225,000 customers. Among the facilities is the East River Station, located in the Village of East Davenport, which produces up to 30 million gallons of water per day. Iowa American is part of the American Water group, which serves 14 states, including 18 military installations. Brad Nielsen, president of Iowa American, went on to explain the growing trend of industry consolidation. While Nielsen said this has been ongoing in the gas and electric industry for years, it is a relatively new trend in water and wastewater over the last decade. Nielsen discussed five recent local acquisitions by Iowa American, all of which he said had very specific concerns that needed to be addressed. These acquisitions included LeClaire and Dixon, which Nielsen said helped address water contamination and compliance concerns. “LeClaire, specifically, had one of their wells that was contaminated with some petroleum, and the other two wells in their community were at risk at that point in time.” In Blue Grass, Iowa American acquired the water and wastewater systems in two separate transactions. In both cases, Nielsen said the systems required a significant amount of investment to get the systems up to compliance, including fixing a lot of undersized watermain lines. “It was a significant amount of investment on the water side that the community just didn’t feel like they had the expertise or the willingness to go ahead and invest in the water side,” said Nielsen. Four years later, Iowa American acquired the wastewater system, after Blue Grass officials were having problems meeting permit limits for the town’s treatment plant. Again, these problems would have required a significant amount of investment on the town’s part to get the system up to compliance. Donahue is another fairly recent acquisition, a process that began after the town’s water treatment operator retired. “They were looking to fill a void of expertise on the water side,” said Nielsen. He said another result was that additional investment in the water and wastewater system helped a developer decide to begin work on a residential subdivision just south of town. This was the first new residential development in Donahue in approximately 20 years. Nielsen said the company’s most recent acquisition was in Low Moor, which Iowa American agreed to purchase after investing in an industrial park located about halfway between Low Moor and Clinton. “Each one had unique issues or problems to solve. And we really are here to help, when it’s all said and done, and we were able to help these communities solve those specific problems,” said Nielsen. He explained that conversations in Eldridge have centered on building out the utilities to accommodate potential industrial parks adjacent to town. “The common theme we hear from multiple Iowa communities as we have conversations is, how can they drive economic growth to remain viable in Iowa?” said Nielsen. “And that’s something we pride ourselves on – if you were to talk to any of our current partner municipalities, I’m confident they would tell you that we are an advocate of economic development and economic growth, and we’re a full-scale partner in making sure that our communities are viable in Iowa when it comes to growth.” Possible partnership options Nielsen said conversations have centered around three possible solutions for Eldridge. The first would be a metered connection to Iowa American’s existing water system, which could then serve a potential industrial park on the south side of town. However, Nielsen said the company didn’t feel that was the best option, because it would still require significant capital outlay on Eldridge’s part. Nielsen said it also wouldn’t account for the additional wastewater treatment capacity that would be needed. He said Iowa American would need to purchase the city’s wastewater treatment plant, “because we are not able to make investments in increasing that capacity unless we own (the asset).” The second proposal was a defined service territory. “How are we able to service that area while keeping it separate from the city? And that was a very difficult one to kind of navigate through the possibilities,” said Nielsen. While Iowa American would be able to extend existing infrastructure to areas within Eldridge, there would still be the issue of expanded wastewater treatment capacity, and the company would still be looking to purchase Eldridge’s wastewater treatment plant. “And that kind of leads to a bit of a mismatch,” said Nielsen, if the city were to continue to own its water system while Iowa American owned the wastewater treatment plant. All of which led to the company’s third, and recommended option, a full acquisition of the water and wastewater systems. Tony Loete, vice president of operations for Iowa American, discussed several of the reasons why this was the company’s preferred option. Eldridge has already commissioned several studies to try to determine what kind of infrastructure needs the city would face long-term in the event of more industrial development. ISG Engineering conducted a water engineering study, which concluded that additional wells, treatment and storage for industrial demand constitute priority projects, at an estimated $3-4 million, along with an expanded or even new water treatment plant, at an estimated $15-25 million. ISG identified the total long-term water investment at $18-29 million. “It’s important to note that these are just the findings that we’ve taken from the ISG study,” said Loete. “Iowa American Water didn’t have any part in or contribution to the formulation of these recommendations. It’s also important to note that ISG is not, in their findings, recommending the community to make these improvements. Instead, they’re actually recommending that Eldridge partner with us to service this new industrial development.” Additionally, Shive-Hattery conducted a wastewater engineering study that identified $26-28 million in capital need, including an estimated $14-15 million for the collection system extensions and lift stations, and $12-13 million in potential other improvements.  Loete said, if Eldridge did agree to an acquisition, Iowa American would make approximately $9.52 million in capital investments over the first five years. He said immediate improvements would include the removal of the chlorine gas system at the treatment plants. He said chlorine gas was “an extreme risk, a risk that we don’t prefer to expose our employees to,” as well as a risk to surrounding properties. Loete said further investments would be made to technology, security and controls, including Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) systems that would allow utility customers to see their usage in real time. Bottom line for customers Ben Keith, director of business development and government affairs for Iowa American, discussed the rates customers could see if the acquisition were to occur. Keith said there are several factors the company considers when trying to estimate rates, including how much capital investment is needed, the state of the existing infrastructure, and the day-to-day cost to operate the system. He said an Eldridge customer who uses 4,400 gallons of water per month currently pays $24.21 for water and $40.55 for wastewater on their current bill. Keith said with an Iowa American partnership, that same Eldridge customer would see an approximately $15 increase to each, or an additional $30 in utilities per month. This would put the customer’s total monthly bill at about $94.76, compared to $64.76 now. Keith stressed, however, that this was just a proposed rate.  He said the increase would help work towards maintaining the extra capital that would be needed to maintain improvements and expansions to the system. “A huge part of what we do here at American Water is we are very concerned about affordability. We are very concerned about the way that our rates look among peers,” said Keith. With the projected capital costs estimated by ISG and Shive-Hattery of upwards of $57 million, Keith said Iowa American felt that its offer of $36.8 million was a “fair and strong offer when it comes down to it.” He said the total investment in Eldridge, including the $9.52 million over the first five years would come out to about $46.3 million. “And then, once you include the $57 million of proposed avoidance, you’re looking at a net impact to Eldridge of upwards of $103 million,” said Keith. Council, board weigh in Before opening the floor to questions, Campbell reminded everyone that the utility board makes the decisions regarding water, while the city council handles decisions about the sewer side of water treatment. City council member Ryan Iossi asked about Iowa American’s developer rebate program, although he noted his concern wasn’t residential development so much as it was industrial growth on the south side of Eldridge. “We know we’ve got to get closer to being shovel ready, to bring the potential opportunities we’re looking for. And part of that is obviously for the water side, it’s the biggest cost. Sewer side, I don’t think we’re in as big of a predicament. The numbers I’ve seen, for the sewer, we actually have some revenue, and it offsets some of our other expenses as a city that I would be more concerned with that. But the water side, what I know about it, that seems to me like it’s our dealbreaker right now.” Iossi serves as the liaison between the city council and the utility board. City council member Brian Dockery was direct about the proposal. “I’m not in favor of any of this. Especially when you come out and say we have to do the sanitary sewer.” Dockery said the city has done a variety of upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant over the past 15 years, including almost $15 million about seven years ago. “All this is created by speculation that something big is going to come on the south part of our town,” said Dockery. “I’d rather tell that big development you’re going to have to wait until development gets to you before I’m willing to give up our utilities.” Dockery said the city could just as easily go for a bond referendum to pay for expansion of utilities. “I don’t see the desire or need to liquidate assets for potentially something that may or may not come for 10 to 15 years. I’m just not in favor of this. I think, long-term, we’d be doing a big injustice to our taxpayers,” he said. Utility board chair Michael Bristley said that Monday’s presentation seemed to prioritize full acquisition over any of the other suggestions. He asked if Iowa American representatives might provide additional information on the first two suggestions, wholesale water interconnection and a defined service area. “I know the other options aren’t American Water preferred, but we have a chance to evaluate that as well,” said Bristley. Nielsen said more information could be provided. Utility board member Abby Petersen asked city administrator Nevada Lemke about the city’s current water rates. A previous utility board had recommended to increase water rates more than a decade ago, but those rates were never implemented. Since that time, water rate increases have lagged significantly behind other utility rates. “In the event that the water rates had been implemented 13 years ago and it was voted on, what would be the water rate now?” asked Petersen. “Because, I think we are so severely behind, which is why we’re looking at this as a viable option, because we don’t have as much capital as we could have had. Is it such a shock to the citizens if it would have been implemented?” “It’s hard to say where exactly we’d be with rates today, if they had been increasing at the same rate that sewer was increasing rates,” replied Lemke. “It’s just a little bit easier to build for that capital improvement. But I think we can say for sure that they wouldn’t be experiencing the shock of the extreme rate increase that they would have to see right now in one jump to be able to make the improvements that are needed, because they would have been gradually increasing over time. And so, to build out, to get into that industrial zone to support the growth, it would still take an increase, even if it had been increasing over the past few years, but the jump wouldn’t be so extreme.”  Lemke said if there had been a gradual increase, the city would also likely have more in the water reserve funds as well. City council member Scott La Plante asked how often rates increase with Iowa American. Nielsen said, historically, there is an increase every three to four years, and the increase must be set and approved by the Iowa Utilities Commission. Dockery said the current water and sewer systems are “doing just fine,” and ultimately, improvements are just a matter of what Eldridge is looking to attract in terms of industry. He asked utility board members if a cash flow analysis has been done for what it might cost to upgrade or put up more capacity at the current water treatment plant. Bristley and Lemke said an analysis has been done. Petersen said her recollection was the study said the city could not afford the improvements without going out for a bond referendum. “Well, that’s the way the city has always done it,” said Dockery. “When you come up with a big capital improvement, to bond and pay it back over time through modest increases in the rates. There may not be a development down there in five years.” Utility board member Jeff Hamilton said the city should be proactive instead of reactive in the face of development. “It’s the ‘what if?’  To be prepared instead of waiting for the last second and saying, well, we’ve got to get this done now.” “Don’t we have investors now wanting to buy and one of the things holding them up is that they don’t have utilities out there?” asked utility board member Jeff Hedrington. “So, it’s not like this is down the road. We’ve got people who want to purchase that property. They’re delaying the purchases because we don’t have utilities out there to support them. Meaning, we, the area. Not just Eldridge.” “And that window could close if we don’t get our act together,” said Campbell. He asked assistant city administrator Jeff Martens, who handles economic development for the city, to weigh in. Martens said he has regularly had inquiries from developers, including regarding the RIVAALD property, which is furthest away from current city services. “Right now, I’ve been told by the people that represent the property, they’ve got three investors that are looking at it. But the decision hasn’t been made because we have made no decision on how to supply utilities.” Martens said Eldridge has been a finalist for several development sites over the last few years, “and we’ve ended up losing, for one reason or another, which may or may not have anything to do with utilities.” City council member Adrian Blackwell said Davenport is also working on an industrial park near Interstate 280 right now. “We’re basically in a race with them,” said Martens. “Because they don’t have Jeff Martens doing this part-time. They’ve got a whole department of people that are working on this and are going to market it once they can do it. That’s the reality of the situation. Once they get the sewer line to 280, they’re going to have thousands of acres open for development. And they’ll provide more incentives than Eldridge to get people to go there.” “We can’t compete with Davenport. That would be like Folletts competing with us,” said Dockery. “We don’t have to compete, but we can be proactive rather than reactive,” said Iossi. “And we know the residential tax base does not support all the services we need. The industrial, commercial tax base does. “If we’re not proactive, if we don’t prepare, have those lift stations in a budget or in a plan, if we don’t have those watermains there, we’re going to keep missing out. And again, I don’t care about competing with Davenport. I’m looking at what’s best, ultimately, for the citizens of Eldridge. And that’s to increase our commercial and industrial tax base. Without that, nothing is going to change, and we can’t keep putting off what is coming anyway.” “I agree with that completely, because your tax base has got to support all of the other things that you want to do with your city,” said Petersen. “The jobs could build houses within the community then. So, then, you’re double-dipping into residential taxes and your commercial taxes. That’s how Iowa City, West Des Moines, they all went that direction. Coralville, North Liberty. They’ve all got stuff going on with that exact same tax structure. The jobs came; the houses came.” “We don’t have a problem building houses,” said Dockery. “Our tax rate is so low, and we provide so many services that we’re basically at break-even on the residential development,” said Martens. “So, that’s not increased our tax base to provide other amenities to the community.” “Many years ago, the council and the boards who were in place at that time – you might have been there, Brian. You’ve been around forever. They had a vision at the time that that’s where the growth would be,” said Campbell of the development areas on the south side of Eldridge. “They had a vision that would be the industrial growth, and we’ve done nothing to get that growth to come to us.” Martens also said that the ISG report indicated that by 2035, the city would have to spend $18-25 million on the current water treatment plant, not factoring in any industrial development. Utility board member Mark Goodding said water rates could possibly quadruple in that event. Lemke and Martens said, if Eldridge kept its water and wastewater systems, the utility rates would be the same or higher than Iowa American’s proposed rates within 10 years. Blackwell expressed an additional concern – what would happen to the existing city employees if Iowa American were to purchase the utilities? “I don’t like laying people off, and we’ve got quality workers now,” said Blackwell. The Iowa American representatives said any Eldridge utility employee in good standing would be offered employment with the company. At the conclusion of the meeting, Campbell said there would be further discussion, more information, and likely additional joint meetings with the utility board going forward.

Improvements raise water rates

Water rates are set to jump in Long Grove as the city prepares to spend nearly $4 million on utility improvements, including a new water treatment plant. The base water rate in Long Grove will rise from $44.08 to $50 per month July 1. The fee per additional thousand gallons will rise from $7.92 to $9.25. And both rates will increase at an annual rate of 2% beginning July 2027. Long Grove City Council passed the rate increases unanimously, and with little discussion, on Tuesday, May 12. “The city council has determined that the city must increase water rates in order to meet its financial obligations and ensure the long-term sustainability of the water system,” the ordinance to increase rates reads. Utilities, property taxes may share cost burden A pair of public hearings on June 9 will give members of the public a chance to comment on the council’s plan to split the cost of water infrastructure improvements between utility rates and property taxes. The council set public hearing dates Tuesday. In April, the council signaled that they hoped to spread the cost of the $3.8 million project, to avoid overburdening utility rates. The project has run $600,000 to $700,000 overbudget. Early plans would have placed the entire project on a low-interest state revolving fund loan that must be serviced out of utility revenues. Under the new plan, the city will borrow $1 million of that sum at market interest rates, backed by property taxes. That loan would require a $1.37 increase in the city’s property tax levy next year, Guyer told the council in April.      

No diving here

As Memorial Day approaches and brings with it the unofficial start to summer, at least one tradition will be delayed. Last Tuesday, the Scott County Conservation Department announced that the opening of the Scott County Park Pool will be delayed due to construction issues. In a Facebook post, the department said the current anticipated opening date will be during the first week of July. “We understand this is disappointing news for families, visitors, and seasonal staff who were looking forward to the summer season,” the post read. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as work continues to complete the project safely and successfully.” Conservation director Roger Kean told The North Scott Press that the renovations currently underway at the pool have been in the planning stages for several years and are meant to address infrastructure issues with the ageing pool. “This project involved the installation of a new vinyl liner in both the baby pool and the main pool vessel. This will both eliminate the need for routine painting and patching repairs to the side walls and flooring and hopefully eliminate some water loss that has been occurring over the years,” Kean said. Additionally, the gutter system and underground plumbing are being replaced, which also required a significant amount of the concrete decking surrounding the pool to be pulled up and subsequently replaced. “While most of this work is almost completed, the largest delay now is with the arrival of crew needed to do the final piece, the actual installation of the liner,” said Kean. Unfortunately, due to the construction delay, swimming lessons for the summer 2026 season have been cancelled. Refunds will be sent to families that have already registered, as well as additional information. Meanwhile, the department said West Lake Beach will open as scheduled Memorial Day weekend. Those who have purchased 2026 swim passes may use them at the beach, as well as Scott County Park Pool when it opens. Anyone wishing to request a refund for their pool pass may contact the Scott County Conservation office at 563-328-3280. Passholders may also request a prorated refund once the opening date for the pool is announced. Updates on progress at Scott County Park Pool will be available at the department’s website, scottcountyiowa.gov/conservation, and on its social media pages, including Facebook.  

Movin' out, movin' in

The North Scott student-built home program celebrated the end of a successful build Friday, May 15. Students, together with family, friends and contractors, gathered at the home, 414 S. Diamond Dr. in Long Grove, for a meal provided by Grandview Farms. Tours of the home were available. All 22 students in the program this year received scholarships from the Quad Cities Builders & Remodelers Association. This year’s participants included Noah Bell, Treyton Bolles, Cole Bruck, Bennett Hamerlinck, Koen Krambeck, Collin Kruse, Evan Kruse, Drake Lubben, Scott McCoy, Will McDermott, Matthew Williams, Caleb Willis, Aidan Broihier, Colten Goodding, Davis Hoeper, Grady James, Aaron Kuhn, Luke Newberry, Cody Powell, Brett Rouse, Ayden Tschopp and Evan Wilson.

How Iowa Republicans think new property tax law will benefit you

Iowa Republican legislators said that new property tax reform continues their commitment to lowering taxes.

Early voting has begun

Absentee voting for the June 2 primary began Wednesday, May 13, and is open until Monday, June 1. The deadline for returning absentee ballots is June 2 at 8 p.m. Ballots may be returned by mail; via the drop box located at the west side of the parking lot at the Scott County Administration Center, located at 600 W. 4th St. in Davenport; or hand-delivered to the Auditor’s Office. Absentee voting is also available at the Auditor’s Office, located on the fifth floor of the Scott County Administration Center from now until Monday, June 1. Voting at the Administration Center is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Voting will also be available Saturday, May 30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There were no valid petitioned satellite locations. “Iowa has a closed primary election. There is a separate ballot for each party and voters can only vote on one ballot,” Scott County auditor Kerri Tompkins reminded voters in advanced of the June 2 primary. The primary election is held for members of the political parties to nominate candidates for the general election. Only people registered with a political party can vote in the party’s primary election. However, voters can change their party affiliation at the polls on Election Day or early voting. Iowa Code 43.42, 43.43 requires that all voters in a primary lection must declare a political party in order to participate in the process. Currently there are two political parties recognized in Iowa: the Democratic and Republican Parties. A voter’s registration records will be changed if a voter requests a ballot for a political party different from the party shown on their voter registration record. After the primary election is closed, the voter can fill out a new voter registration form and change back to the original party. For more information on the June 2 primary, visit elections.scottcountyiowa.gov.    

Fire study nears conclusion

A statewide study on the creation of regional fire departments—led by several Scott County officials—appears unlikely to recommend forced consolidation. Donahue Mayor Ken Schoenthaler and Scott County Emergency Management Director Brian Payne both serve on the study committee. They told The North Scott Press last week that the committee will likely recommend that state legislators open a path for the voluntary creation of regional departments. But mundane considerations, like incompatible radio equipment and retirement plans, have led the committee away from a recommendation to require consolidation, they said. Schoenthaler, named to the committee as a representative of towns with 5,000 persons or fewer, has repeatedly said that forced consolidation would alienate volunteers and leave taxpayers with a larger—rather than a smaller—bill for emergency services. State Senator Scott Webster, whose district spans Eldridge and Bettendorf, led the study bill in the 2025 legislative session and sits on its committee. Last summer, he said told the NSP that the study bill had been inspired by concerns over dwindling volunteerism and savings that could result from the consolidation of urban departments. Materials from recent committee meetings include draft language for an amendment to Iowa code that would allow four or more government bodies to join together in the creation of a regional fire and emergency services district with its own taxing authority. The full recommendations of the study committee are expected early this summer.

Memorial Day services scheduled

The public is invited to attend one of the oldest continuous observances of Memorial Day West of the Mississippi River, at the 107th Annual Memorial Day Service at Historic Summit Church, on Utica Ridge Road, 21980 210th Ave., Davenport.  The service will be held on Monday, May 25, at 9 a.m. It is a tradition that started at Summit Church in 1919, with Sunday School superintendent Sally Walker, who wanted to honor World War I veterans from the church. Now, a collation of the Scott County Historical Society, the Carl Jacobsen Post #639 of the American Le gion and Auxiliary, Eldridge, honor all Scott County veterans who have served from the Civil War to the present. The service will consist of an honor guard presenting the U. S. flag, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance led by a veteran, the singing of patriotic songs, listening to patriotic speeches, and reading of a roll call of Scott County veterans.  Following the tribute, everyone is invited to remain and enjoy fellowship and refreshments at the historic country church. For more information, contact Tom at 563-676-6762 by May 22.  Dixon There will be a ceremony in the Dixon Cemetery on Memorial Day at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the Dixon American Legion. Donahue The Larry M. Gronewold American Legion Post #532 will hold a Memorial Day service at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 25, in Allens Grove Cemetery. Maysville The Maysville Cemetery will fly the veterans American Flay and display white crosses on May 23-24, weather permitting.      Princeton A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at Boll’s Community Center at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 25.

Meet Long Grove’s new clerk

Lucas Syoen is the new city clerk and finance director for the city of Long Grove. The council promoted Syoen from assistant clerk Tuesday, May 12, following the departure of longtime clerk Rose Guyer. Syoen has worked as Long Grove’s assistant clerk for two years. Guyer told the council last month that he could handle all the daily responsibilities of the position. The council hopes to backfill the assistant clerk position in the coming weeks. They agreed Tuesday to hire part-time for the role, with a transition to full-time planned. The council will review the assistant clerk job description at a committee of the whole meeting May 20.  Long Grove will lose a combined 30 years’ work experience as Guyer leaves this month and Public Works Director Tony Saladino leaves in June. The council agreed in April to promote Public Works Assistant Nathan Loussaert upon Saladino’s retirement. Syoen will earn $29.24 per hour as city clerk. Loussaert will earn $27.32 per hour as public works director. Guyer, AI questions deferred Technology policies written to regulate how Long Grove City Hall uses AI software will be up for discussion at a May 20 committee of the whole meeting. The council will also discuss whether to retain Guyer as an interim finance and administra-tive support specialist. The May 12 agenda had included votes to adopt a new technology policy and retain Guyer. Councilman Mike Boddicker requested the items be deferred, and the council backed his motion unanimously. An April 27 committee of the whole meeting saw the council gather to review the city’s rapid deployment of AI tools, detailed in an April 15 story in The NSP. The council agreed to adopt new policies regulating AI use and restricting how AI software providers can use data provided by the city through mutual nondisclosure agreements.  

First round of church renovations to proceed

Princeton will pull money from community center reserve funds to match a $45,500 Iowa Department of Natural Resources grant to repair the roof of the former Presbyterian Church building. The council accepted the building as a gift from the Presbytery of Eastern Iowa last summer. They listed Boll’s Community Center for sale in August, and said they would use proceeds of a sale to fund the renovation of the church into a new community space. Boll’s remains unsold, so the funds for the first round of renovations will draw from city reserves. The council will draw $33,000 from community center donations, $10,000 from the community center professional services fund, and $2,500 from the city buildings and ground budget to match the DNR grant, they voted unanimously Thursday, May 14. The DNR grant will fund repairs to the roof, where leaks have been identified near the belltower and steeple. City grant writer Angie Bloomfield said in April that the grant will cover expenses from engineering through construction and environmental reporting. The council received bids from local contractors on roof repairs, but Mayor Travis Volrath said that specifics did not match. The project will be rebid, he reported. Well grant Princeton will apply for a grant to pull—and possibly repair—the casing at its troubled well on Lost Grove Road. Councilman Brandon Forristall said one source of the well’s high nitrate concentrations could be a crack in the 450 feet of casing that protect the well shaft from surface runoff. Nitrate concentrations have remained above the legal maximum of 10 mg/L since September 2024. The Iowa Rural Water Association grant will cover up to $100,000 in expenses to pull and repair the well casing, Bloomfield said. Since April 2025, Princeton has leased agricultural land surrounding the wellhead and removed it from production in hopes of reducing nitrate pollution from fertilizers. The effects of that pollution would be magnified if damage to the well casing allows nitrates to enter the well shaft before percolating into the aquifer below. Solar project update Engineers Bryce Johnson and Ashley Keessler told the council that it will take another month to prepare adequate bids for a solar array planned for the city’s sewer treatment plant. The council had planned to open bids in May. But work remains to be completed with project bidders, MidAmerican Energy, and the state’s revolving fund grant program, engineers reported. Councilwoman Lori Maher, who has helped lead the solar project, said the city should be able to select a bid at their regular meeting in June. Public hearing on urban renewal area Princeton will hear public comments June 11 on an urban renewal area it has planned to accommodate the Winding Hills subdivision planned for Locust and 2nd Streets by local developer Rod Reid. The urban renewal area would provide Reid with a tax incentive for new construction. The council set the hearing date Thursday. Correction The Princeton Fire Department receives funding from rural benefit district no. 1, not no. 14, as stated in a March 25 story in The NSP.

Minnesota becomes first state to ban prediction markets

While dozens of states have taken legal action against the controversial industry, Minnesota is the first state to pass a law making it a felony for companies like Kalshi and Polymarket to operate.

Eldridge, Indianapolis police make child exploitation arrest

The Eldridge Police Department, in partnership with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, participated in an investigation that led to the arrest of an Indianapolis man on child exploitation charges. Daniel Elliot, 56, of Indianapolis, was charged with child solicitation by a person over 21 to a child aged 14-16 using a computer (Class IV felony), child exploitation/pornography – distribute/description (Class IV felony), vicarious sexual gratification (Class V felony), two counts of child solicitation (Class V felony), and dissemination of material harmful to minors (Class VI felony). Elliot, who was arrested Monday, May 11, was being held at the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis pending trial. Eldridge police became involved after an investigator with the department’s Special Investigations/Internet Crimes Against Children Unit engaged with a subject, later identified as Elliot, during a controlled online operation. Elliot is alleged to have used the internet to attempt to engage in illegal contact with an individual they believed to be a minor. "This arrest underscores our commitment to protecting children from online predators," said Chief of Police Andrew Lellig. "We will continue to use every available resource to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who seek to harm our most vulnerable." The Eldridge Police Department reminds parents and guardians to speak regularly with children about online safety and to monitor internet usage. Anyone with information about suspected child exploitation is urged to contact their local law enforcement agency or submit a tip through QC Crime Stoppers at qccrimestoppers.com or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline at cybertipline. org. The department also extends a special thanks to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Cyber Crimes Unit for their assistance and collaboration in this investigation.  

County administrators assess tax reform bill

Property tax reforms delivered by state legislators will cap county revenues and force supervisors to rethink how they pay for services, according to Scott County administrators. On May 7, budget director David Farmer gave supervisors a whirlwind overview of the 80-page tax reform bill passed by state legislators in the last hours of the 2026 session. The bill places a “hard cap” on the county’s general and rural service levies, which provide the bulk of property tax income. Revenue from neither levy can grow at more than 2% per year, excluding revenue from new construction. That cap will constrain expenditures that depend on service levies, Farmer reported, including county wages, secondary road maintenance and the rural library system. This year, county wage and library spending each grew by about 3.5%. A third core tax levy, called the general supplemental levy, remains uncapped, though states law restricts the services it is allowed to fund. Employee payroll taxes and retirement benefits, as well as litigation and risk management funds, can all draw on the supplemental levy. County voters can still approve certain secondary levies to support specific expenses, such as emergency medical services or a debt issuance. But state reforms have introduced new restrictions on how that revenue can be spent, and how much can be raised.    Farmer argued that the reforms will reshape how the county accounts for certain services and plans for growth. If the county continues to build new homes and attract new businesses, new construction revenues could make up the tax revenue restricted by the 2% hard cap. That kind of growth is unstable and unreliable, Farmer said. “We don't know what we're going to get,” Farmer said. Now state legislators have removed the county’s ability to adjust tax levies to make up shortfalls. “You cannot guarantee that you're going to be back to where you're at,” he said. County administrator Mahesh Sharma said that “strategic planning and disciplined prioritization will be essential to sustaining service level and infrastructure in this constrained environment.” Vague and outdated language magnifies several of the reforms’ uncertainties, Farmer added. The reforms clearly prohibited the use of debt to pay employee benefits or salaries. But it can pay for “direct or indirect capital expenditures” and “capital leases”—terminology that will have to be clarified when budget writing season begins next fall, Farmer said. Among the questions the county will have to answer is whether high-value, long-term technology contracts count as capital expenses. “Subscription-based information technology arrangements”—SBITAs—resemble capital debts on county books. Can they be paid out of capital funds? Local option sales or ad valorem tax dollars can no longer pay for “general purposes or general operations,” Farmer said. He suggested that SBITAs might not fit that definition under the reform bill. The reforms are likely to prompt workarounds. The county has contributed between $1–2 million per year to the operating budget of Medic EMS since it took control of the ambulance service in 2024. Now it may ask voters for an emergency services levy, in order to free up that small portion of its operating budget. The resulting levy could be no more than a dime per $1,000 in taxable property value. Medic EMS generates the bulk of its revenue by billing clients. “There is an action that we can take to get this levy, if we so choose, and the public agrees,” Farmer said. Tax reforms also include some direct “tax relief” for homeowners. All homes are covered by a new exemption not less than $5,000 but not to exceed $20,000, at 10% of the home’s value within that range. “It lowers the tax base,” Farmer said. Assuming valuations grow at a rate above 2% the difference revenues will make up the difference. “The reform is primarily intended to limit the growth of property taxes, rather than outright reduce them,” Sharma said, “while also providing some taxpayer relief through exemptions and credits.” The reform bill presents several upsides for the county, Farmer said. It eliminates the requirement that the county mail a confusing property tax to all county landowners—an outright savings of $40,000 per year in shipping costs, he said. The bill also reintroduces a “multiresidential” classification for property with three or more residential units. Multiresidential property will be taxed at a premium over standard residential property, Farmer said.  

Auditor candidate stops in Eldridge

Republican candidate for state auditor Abigail Maas stopped in Eldridge last week as the June 2 primary nears. Maas is running against lieutenant governor and former Scott County state senator Chris Cournoyer in the partisan primary. As an Iowa County Supervisor, Maas said she has “a bird's eye view on all the fraud, waste and abuse that's going on in the property tax system.” Her campaign platform calls for yearly audits of all small towns and townships. Under Iowa law, towns with a population below 2,000 and expenditures below $1 million are only required to perform an audit every eight years. Townships are never required to perform an audit. “It just frustrates me every time that I open my phone and see another case of city embezzlement from a small town, which we could easily correct by changing them to a yearly audit instead of every eight years,” Maas said. Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane helped organize Maas’s visit to Eldridge. He said he had made the first donation to Maas’s campaign last year, after hearing that she planned to challenge Cournoyer. Lane told The North Scott Press that he believed Maas would bring new ideas and strong Republican values to the auditor’s office. Lane filed an ethics complaint against Cournoyer over her role in handling a complaint from Scott County Deputy Sheriff Josh Wall concerning Jennifer McAndrew Lane, Tim Lane’s wife and a Department of Corrections employee. Supervisor Ross Paustian and former supervisor Diane Holst joined Lane and Maas at the gathering.    

CIPCO investment wing has bought county farmland, records show

An investment firm owned and operated by Central Iowa Power Cooperative has purchased nearly 230 acres of Scott County farmland in the last six months. CMA Ventures bought 77 acres in Cleona Township in late December, and 150 acres in Sheridan Township in November, county records show. Both sites are several miles distant from 90 acres of farmland CIPCO has optioned for a controversial power plant east of Maysville. Both properties are zoned for agricultural preservation. CIPCO Vice President of Communications Kerry Koonce said that CMA Ventures purchased both plots “as an investment.” “CMA is an investment firm,” Koonce said. “The land is under lease for farming.” The Cleona Township property, which includes a homestead, was purchased for $15,135 per acre. The land has a corn suitability rating of about 82, just short of “high” quality for east central Iowa. The Sheridan Township property was purchased for $21,500 per acre. The land has a high CSR of about 95. In 2025, the average cost of farmland in Scott County was $15,192 per acre, according to Iowa State University. Several county residents opposed to CIPCO’s proposed power plant have expressed concern over the land purchases. Jerry Mohr of rural Eldridge, who has helped organize opposition to CIPCO’s proposed power plant, said he thought the property could be planned for a tax deferral exchange with Tom Dittmer, whose land CIPCO has optioned east of Maysville. Reached for comment, Dittmer said there was no planned land exchange and that he had not heard from CIPCO representatives in several months. Mohr also suggested the property could host a data center or serve as a secondary site for a power plant. Koonce denied that the property served any purpose besides investment. “If someone is trying to infer that these are sites we are looking to build the plant on, that is incorrect,” she said. “CMAV could decide to hold the land indefinitely, or if market conditions dictated, a sale could happen at any point in the future,” she wrote in a follow-up email.

2 Quad Cities area spellers headed to 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee

Two spellers from the Quad Cities area are headed to the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Defense challenges witness list in Jamison Fisher trial

Attorneys for Jamison Fisher argue prosecutors’ motion is premature and includes hearsay.

Hall of Excellence inductees speak

North Scott Hall of Excellence inductees Kathy Henningsen and Dustin Henningsen spoke at the annual Honors Assembly Wednesday, May 13, in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium. Sara Boeding was unable to attend, and her nephew, Brennon Boeding, accepted her plaque on her behalf.    

States sue over new student loan limits on certain nursing and healthcare degrees

New York, Arizona, North Carolina, Kentucky and Nevada are among the states challenging a rule that limits federal student loans for graduate degrees in nursing, physical therapy and more.

Can't keep a habit? This comic shares a proven formula to make it stick

In this illustrated guide, behavioral scientist BJ Fogg breaks down his Tiny Habits framework to help you rethink your approach to starting (or restarting) a habit.

Illinois Housing Development Authority awards funding to QC housing developments

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has announced $50 million in state and federal funding to support six new permanent supportive housing developments across the state. These investments will create 142 units of affordable housing paired with on-site services for individuals and families living with disabilities, experiencing homelessness, or at risk of housing instability. In [...]

Honors Assembly rewards outstanding students

On Wednesday, May 13, North Scott students were honored for academic excellence at the 45th annual Honors Assembly, held in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium. These students were named to the Honor Roll based on their GPA for the last two completed semesters using a 12-point scale and must be 3.5 or greater to qualify. Second Honors is 3.5-3.749; First Honors is 3.75-3.99; and Academic Excellence is 4.0. Both semesters must qualify for the appropriate level, and it is not based on cumulative GPA. Academic Excellence Sophomores: Reese Barnett, Alec Chizek, Grace Clark, Mercedes Cortes, Obadiah Hagedorn, Dillon Hager, Logan Harris, Delaney Hill, Reese Hubner, Anna Jones, Kenna Kibler, Abigail Leonard, Alaina Leone, Jonathan Leone, Owen Meskimen, Sophia Nelson, Natalie O’Flahrity, Gabriel Overberg Goodrick, Kallen Rohlf, Brinley Schroeder, Jesse Skaala, Ezekiel Skyles, Chloe Sosnowski, Riley Toohey, Olivia Uhlenkamp, Brayden Vatnsdal, Dana Webb, Addyson Yanke Juniors: Jorge Azuela, Riley DeBourcey, Issac Farley, Treyton Feist, Olivia Graham, Parker Hamly, Marley Harrington, Madilynn Brus, Katelyn Kuesel, Ryder Maher, William Meeks, Aaron Raleigh, Emma Reif, Natalie Sierk, Luke Welsh, Tyler West Seniors: Ava Atzen, Marlayna Cockshoot, Mallory Deutmeyer, Rachel Eriksen, Johnny Grimm, Addison Harms, Kaitlyn Knepper, Haidyn Koberg, Nathaniel Kramer, Vivian McGee, Zachary McMann, Cael Mess, Ella Peters, Marin Robertson, Ryan Squires, Aubrey Toohey, Ava Vis, Audree Yanke, Emma Zrostlik First Honors Sophomores: Logan Bair, Isabella Block, Brendin Bohannan, Hayley Burkle, Mason Burnett, Alexander Castaneda, Natalie Chase, Grady Cleveland, Peyton Cline, Andrew Copeland, Hadley DeCook, Teagan DeSmet, Olivia Durkin, Madeline Fogel, Ciere Goemaat, Ashton Goodwin, Emma Hamann, Owen Harms, Porter Holle, Presley Holle, Katy Honeywell, Leila Hoogerwerf, Carmyn Jones, Tucker Keating, Emma Kruse, Alexis McCloy, Isabella Meier, Shannon Moeller, Taylor Murphy, Chelsea Nwatchock, Nora Piazza, Brylee Rathe, Chloe Rickertsen, Bella Riley, Jillian Rupp, Teagan Schmidt, Savannah Schwien, Kaden Seil, Alexander Simmons, Mason Smeltzer, Julia Solis, Ryleigh Sparkman, William Steward, Kora Thiessen, Connor Thompson, Colton Tutor, Caleb VanderTuig, Max Vannorsdel, Izabella Vaughn, Madison Warner, Peyton Waters, Jenna Weime, Ethan Wheeler, Natalie Yanke, Zach Zrostlik Juniors: Jaxon Adkisson, Aaron Bergfeld, Joshua Black, Kale Blodig, Khyaija Caldwell-Beasley, Robyn Carbonneau, Benjamin Clayton, Taylor Cramblit, Emery Cronkleton, Maxwell Davis, Nora Davis, Sage Dzeladini, Kolten Engler, Lillian Farro, Addison Frere, Khloe Hamilton, Benjamin Hill, Abigail Holst, William Hyde, Madelyn Jepsen, Pacey Kane, Carly Kemp. Madelynne Kindig, Annika Krambeck, Brooklyn Lacher, Mason Lattner, Carter Laughlin, Madison Leigh, Tyler McMillian, Katherine Moeller, Molly Mose, Katelyn Peck, Addalie Reese, Hailey Riniker, Grey Ryder, Jack Schermerhorn, Teagan Shanahan, Bryce Stewart, Kailyn Stillings, Isabella Suarez, Brody Twigg, Gabriel Ulloa, Anthony Vatnsdal, Parker Ward, Elizabeth Wiedeman, Eisley Weinert, Emma Windt Seniors: Addison Allen, Nathan Anderson, Charlotte Bauer, Noah Bell, Chase Blissett, McKenna DeCap, Lindy Dhuse, Addison Eckhardt, Broklynn Flenker, Cole Green, Lauren Griffin, Andrew Gustas, Parker Herrington, Riley Inch, Riley Johnson, Memphis Kearney, Benjamin Lightle, Charlotte Madden, Isabella Mohr, Hannah Nelson, Jane Nichols, Alana Owen, Landon Praught, Dylan Quinn, Behren Radech, Zoe Schwien, Brayden Serrano, Gabriel Skyles, Russell Squires, Emily Stutting, Carter Unwin, Morgan Vannorsdel, Robert Wheeler, Evan Wilson Second Honors Sophomores: Aubrey Bell, Kaitlyn Bibens, Makynli Bolles, Jackson Bosworth, Adalyn Brink, Alexander Claeys, Kellen DeCastecker, William DePaoli, Chonin Ebizo, Brinley Fitzgibbon, Madeline Fogel, Scott Hartin, Mia Housenga, Gracie Keener, Christian Keppy, Evan Kuhn, Landon Leppert, Marshall Mess, Emilee Odegaard, Conlan Panther, Joseph Powers, Andrew Quick, Addyson Quinn, Emmalia Ranson, Drake Reitz, Lydia Schnorrenberg, Hannah Seagren, Alexander Staggs, Andrew Vollbeer, Draven Wingler Juniors: Jordan Ball, Nora Barnett, Sean Blake, Megan Coffman, Katelynn Collins, Charli Conner, Syndey Darnielle, Madalyn Eller, Colin Engelbrecht, Olivia Feddersen, Griffin Grank, Chloe Gaul, Lorelei Gephart, Miller Haedt, Jackson Havercamp, Chloe Hulen, Sydney Jensen, Hayden Keppy, Andrew Klindt, Madelyn LaPlante, Kristen Lage, Collin Lewis, Jacob Link, Zach McCleary, Wyatt Mussmann, Logan Pacheco, Carson Pike, Kolten Price, Macyn Robertson, Victoria Samara, Hannah Schachow, Nevaeh Schimpf, Thomas Shlichting, Keaton Schneckloth, Sophia Schneckloth, Cooper Schoenthaler, Skylar Shalack, Hayden Shaw, Keaton Smeltzer, Logan Stick-Mueller, Ethan Strobbe, Dylan Ulloa, Saeler VenHorst, Emily Vollbeer, Kain Wulf Seniors: Amira Blackwell, Madilyn Brus, Payzleigh Crawford, John Fulkerson, Bennett Hamerlinck. Chloe Hundertmark, Reese Jackson, Grady James, Jordan Jones, Hailey Kaiser, Mya Kelsey, Owen Klinkenberg, Koen Krambeck, Jackson McCarthy, Kailynn McCracken, Addyson Miguel, Luke Newberry, MacKenzie Norn, Madison Norin, Nathan Osborne, Elizabeth Parrott, Ryann Petersen, Riley Plymale, Emily Raes, Brett Rouse, Claire Schnorrenberg, Kaden Timmerman, Lauren West, Cayla Youngquist

Partisanship in local politics?

Curiosity is one of my job requirements, so on occasion I try to puzzle out whether the mayors and council members I cover count themselves loyal to one political party or another. This rarely leads anywhere. Local politics is so inglorious, its conflicts so stale and petty, that it leaves very little room for the ideological grandstanding party politics requires. Guessing at partisan loyalties is a kind of parlor game apt to depend more on stereotypes than serious observation.    That is my experience, anyway. I find it reassuring. Perhaps more keen-eyed partisans can spot their enemies, or the neighbors they imagine to be their enemies. Good for them. The county supervisors are among the few local officials elected as Republicans and Democrats. The overwhelming majority of their votes are unanimous, and Republican Ross Paustian is at least as likely to break with his colleagues as Democrat Maria Bribriesco is. Each of the supervisors rides their own hobby horse, more personal than partisan. Jean Dickson is often interested in questions of legality. Paustian brings a rural perspective, Ken Beck brings an urban one. John Maxwell likes to speak in agricultural vernacular. I wrestled last week with a line in my story about the supervisors. “It was an unusually partisan week at the board,” I wrote. I meant that in the strict literal sense: Republican supervisors had voted against Bribriesco in two separate decisions, and that was unusual. I was not editorializing, just pointing out a fact. Readers seemed to understand this: I got none of the angry phone calls I was expecting. Still, the line has weighed on me. Was it worth pointing out? Was the board overruling Bribriesco as a Democrat or as a peer? Was there anything particularly Republican in their position? If the line earned its spot, it was only insofar as it begged those questions. We hear a lot about political polarization these days—so much that you might think it has seeped into every crevice of civic life. It is refreshing to find ideas rejected because they are simply bad, budgets trimmed because there is only so much money, old feuds the primary axis of conflict. Who needs partisanship when your dislike of someone is entirely personal? Though the supervisors, I should note, are the chummiest board around. When I explain the sort of stories that I write, people often marvel at the obvious pettiness of small-town affairs. Small-town nonsense, they call it. But would we really prefer the alternative? Would we be better off if city council members behaved with the self-seriousness of senators? If every issue was a matter of ideology? Do we want to hear a Republican position on liquor license renewals, a Democratic position on water main repairs? Occasionally a government will act with real civic spirit, avoiding both partisan and parochial smallness. Walcott City Council recently agreed to build an accessible parking space near Water Tower Park. The council decided that about 75¢ from each resident—writing in rough terms—was a reasonable price to pay to ensure anyone could visit the city park. Decisions like this take no deliberation, require no partisan framework or tedious explanation. They are just obviously right. Can we bring such spontaneous decency upwards, into state and national politics? I am not sure. I suspect that for better or worse human beings respond best to what is right in front of them. Sophisticated abstraction is a practical challenge, and we try to avoid it when we can. Next week, we will run our first candidate guide of this election season. We have sent questions to all five candidates, even though only the four Republicans have a competitive primary. We would like to give you an early look at everyone. In our world, partisanship counts for little.       

1986: Scott County Extension faces major budget cuts

May 19, 1976 • During a marathon meeting that didn’t adjourn until after 1:30 a.m., the North Scott School Board voted to purchase an option on five acres of land for a new administrative center. The property was located south of the Eldridge city shop and east of the high school and was currently farm ground. In addition to an administrative building, the site would also house the bus garage, maintenance building and a storage building, said superintendent Melvin Heiler. • Kevin Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller of Dixon, received his Iowa Farmer Degree during the 48th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference in Waterloo. This was the highest degree awarded by the Iowa FFA and was given to Miller for his achievements in livestock and crop farming and his leadership skills. • Two longtime Princeton teachers were set to be honored with a retirement party at Virgil Grissom Elementary School. Bessie Sierk and Laura Holst were lifelong Princeton residents, and both began their teaching careers in the rural one-room schools. Once they were hired in the North Scott School District, Mrs. Sierk taught kindergarten, and Mrs. Holst taught third grade. • The North Scott Class of 1976 was gearing up for graduation, with 185 students set to receive their diplomas during a ceremony in the high school gym. Pam Seligman and Brian Cox were named class speakers. While commencement was open to the public, principal Ed Fischer said that could change in the future. “In later years, it may have to be restricted. This year, each senior has received four tickets, which reserve a floor seat for friends and relatives. All others must squeeze in.” • The North Scott boys’ track team claimed the team title at the Big Bend Conference meet. Conference champions included Keith Jansen in the discus, Roger Friederichs in the half-mile, Brian Carter in the high jump and Greg Strobbe in the mile run. May 21, 1986 • As a result of federal budget cuts, the Scott County Extension service was forced to eliminate one full-time position and cut hours for four others. Joe Hutter, chair of the Extension Council, said they were also looking at a possible relocation at a lower rent. The county Extension offices were currently located in the Bettendorf Bank building near Duck Creek Plaza. • The Princeton Fire Department welcomed its newest addition to the fleet, a 1986 Mac firetruck. Two vehicles would be taken out of rotation. A 1940 Chevrolet would be kept, and the department planned to use it for parades and other festivities. The other, a 1952 Ford, was set to be auctioned off. • John T. Blong of Eldridge was named the new chancellor for the Eastern Iowa Community College district. Blong had served as president of Scott Community College since 1982 after being appointed vice-chancellor for administration in 1978. Prior to that, he was vice-president of development at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. • Three John Glenn teachers with nearly a century of combined experience were retiring at the end of the school year. Margaret Wuestenberg, Dale Arentson and Mary Stokes would be honored at a reception. Meanwhile, Virgil Grissom librarian Louise Grabin was also counting down to retirement. Her 35-year career included 23 years at Grissom. All said they would miss their time with the district. “It’s a district the whole community can be proud of,” said Stokes. • For the first time in program history, the North Scott boys’ golf team advanced to the district meet. The Lancers tied for third with Dubuque Wahlert during the sectional meet at Clinton Country Club, with both teams carding a 317. While Wahlert initially won the right to advance to the district tournament in a playoff, the Golden Eagles were disqualified when their coach went onto the green and gave a player advice. At the sectional, Joe Meyer led the Lancers with a 77. May 23, 2001 • The Eldridge City Council tabled a vote on whether to allow voters a referendum on the subject of an outdoor swimming pool facility. Council member Rick Sharp said a presentation from Burbach Aquatics, as well as several pro-pool Eldridge residents should have been held during a committee of the whole rather than a regular meeting to allow the council more time to consider the referendum. Council member John Strazewski said, while he might have been able to consider supporting an indoor pool for wellness reasons, he could not support an outdoor facility for recreational purposes. Strazewski said there were many other local outdoor facilities, including DeWitt, Wacky Waters in Davenport, and the Scott County Park Pool. • Miss Iowa 2000, Theresa Uchytil, visited Alan Shepard Elementary School. After performing her baton twirling routine for the student body, she also visited several classrooms to discuss her platform of not allowing disabilities to hinder dreams and treating everyone with kindness and respect. Uchytil, who was born without a left hand, was the first contestant with visible disability to compete for Miss America. She was pictured with students Emily Saladino, Chloe Gumpert, Courtney Holmes and Alexis Buchman. • For the first time in program history, the North Scott boys’ soccer team secured a district tournament victory, as the Lancers came from behind to defeat Dubuque Senior. Reese Saunders, Giles Looney and Jason Less all scored in the game. • Tom Power (shot put), Mitch Jansen (discus) and the 4x200 squad of Joe Miletich, J.W. Staver, Luke Shaw and Casey Dean qualified for the boys’ state track meet. “All of our state qualifiers, and the ones that just missed, are underclassmen,” said coach Joe Greenwood. “The future certainly looks bright if everybody stays put.” • Jason Less, Giles Looney, Amanda Sebastian and Ryan Weber were named commencement speakers for the North Scott Class of 2001. May 25, 2011 •  The North Scott School Board voted 6-1 to continue the district’s 25-year-old day care and preschool program, for at least one more year. Board vice president Joe Slater voted against the proposal, although other board members had their own concerns, mostly regarding a lack of available space at all of the district’s existing facilities. Board member Mark Kruse pointed out, “If the decision is made to be out of the day care, the childcare in North Scott, then we’re out of it. I don’t think we’ll ever get back into it.” • The Walcott Cemetery Co. and several German clubs in the Quad Cities, including the American/Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Society, planned to hold a ceremony during the annual Founders Day event. The town dated to 1853, when land agents bought land in Scott County for a proposed railroad station. On April 8, 1854, William Walcott registered the land that established the first railroad station west of the Mississippi River. Walcott later donated $500 to construct a school in the area, with the stipulation that the new town would be named after him. The Founders Day celebration at the Walcott cemetery was meant to pay tribute to some of the earliest settlers who are now buried in the cemetery. • Together with parents and other special guests, students at Walcott School celebrated the annual “Breakfast with Books.” Reading specialist Carol Thorud created the event 11 years earlier to celebrate reading as a family. In addition to a light breakfast, there was a book swap and music provided by students. • Two more North Scott football players signed letters of intent to continue their athletic careers in college. Ben Nagle committed to the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Jake Arthur followed in family footsteps and signed with Missouri State University. His parents, Bill and Lynn, and his sister, Paige, all attended the school on athletic scholarships. • Austin Belk placed fourth in the high jump, and Samantha Butlett finished seventh in the shot put at the state track meet in Des Moines. The Lancers earned 20th place finishes from Louis DeFrieze in the 200, Shayla Carlin in the discus and Jasmine Butler in the 100, and a 16th place finish from Abby Saladino in the 400 hurdles. May 19, 2021 • The Scott County Board of Supervisors agreed to appoint the lone candidate they interviewed for county auditor. Board chair Ken Beck said the name of the candidate would be revealed at an upcoming meeting. Meanwhile, Scott County Democratic party chair Elesha Gayman said the party planned to campaign door-to-door in an attempt to gather 9,500 signatures to force a special election. Supervisor Tony Knobbe said there was a long history of midterm appointments. Supervisor John Maxwell also indicated he thought an appointment would be appropriate. • Two high school groups qualified for the National History Day competition. Madison McNealey and McKenzie Bohr teamed up for a website project on Lewis Hine and child labor exploitation. Calla Brunkan and Peyton Wenck created an exhibit on Dr. Seuss and his cartoons for adults. At the state level, seventh graders Emily Stutting and Charlotte Madden presented a performance on the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing in Birmingham, Ala., in 1963. • Alan Shepard students took part in the school’s annual Fun Run. Although they were not able to make the trip to Lancer Stadium as in years’ past, they still got their laps in on the grounds of the elementary school campus. • The North Scott track teams qualified 16 individuals and 11 relay teams, a program best. “Whew, man! What a night!” said coach Troy Matthaidess. “With the exception of one event, I think we got just about every possible qualifier that we could have.” Coach Joe Greenwood agreed. “We’ve never had this many qualifiers in this many events. We were really happy with the results. We had a really, really good night.” • The North Scott girls’ soccer team was currently ranked No. 7 and was getting ready for substate. Following a 2-0 loss to Davenport Assumption (1A No. 1), they defeated Clear-Creek Amana (2A No. 5). Then, at the Waverly-Shell Rock Invitational, they beat Denver (1A No. 10) 5-0 and the Clippers again, this time 4-0. The third match of the day, against No. 15 2A Adel-DeSoto-Minburn, was cancelled due to weather.   

'Democracy thrives when everyone votes'

Election time and Democrats are proud of their candidates up and down the ballot.  We have two running for U.S. Senate, so you will have to do some homework.  But a functional Congress is top of list to endorse the Constitution, which gives Congress, not the Supreme Court and not the President the power to pass laws and the power of the purse. Corruption is rampant in this administration, and the Republican U.S. senators and representatives are part of the corruption because they have rubber-stamped every step of the way.  Space allows only highlights of a few un-American activities:  ICE agents, brown skinned people, no day in court, inhumane camps; tariff sales taxes; hollowed out Justice Department and FBI; weakening NATO, favoring Putin; Epstein flies, pedophiles, victims; pardoning insurrectionists; Trump’s war, firing admirals, generals; Trump’s penchant for filing lawsuits; cuts in healthcare; tax cuts for wealthy; growing deficit; etc., etc. While Americans are drowning in sky high health insurance, everything else in every family budget is going up too.  But the president is possessed with his marble bath, golden ballroom, coloring the reflecting pool, the silly arch, and his wealth that has grown in this term by billions with a B.  We might call this the “let them eat cake” administration. Democracy thrives when everyone votes. Please vote!   Mary Tomsche Long Grove

Another sham from Des Moines

Among other ill-advised decisions made by the sleep-deprived state legislature was a ban on the telehealth prescription of mifepristone.  This proven-safe drug is often, but not exclusively, used to medically induce abortion.  Republican lawmakers argue this ban will eliminate “black market” abortion pills.  Good idea…except black market abortion pills are illegal already. GOP extremists also insist that mail-order mifepristone comes without doctor supervision.  Wrong again. Only Iowa-licensed physicians can prescribe this medication to Iowa residents. Finally, far right republicans assert that only in-person visits can reveal signs of coercion or abuse. Maybe.  But perhaps a private, home-based telehealth option encourages even more such reports. But this is not the point. The purpose of this bill is not to protect women’s health. It is to control them and limit their choices.  These legislators must know Iowa has the fewest OB-GYN providers per capita in the nation. If you do find an in-state doctor, they cannot assist an abortion under current law.  So, requiring an in-person appointment also requires travel, expense and family/work disruption that may not be possible, particularly for low-income women.  It’s a sham and it’s shameful to impose one’s own personal beliefs on others What’s truly ironic is that the very same legislators who are so deeply concerned about women’s well-being also voted to make ivermectin available without any prescription whatsoever.  This highly toxic drug is often used to kill parasites in humans and animals.  When not administered properly ivermectin can actually cause your skin to peel off. Yikes.   Ken Croken Iowa Representative, District 97 Davenport

The YMCA is a place to work out, not to preen

Cellphones and self-preoccupation have made gym etiquette a lost art at the Eldridge YMCA. You are there to work out, so work out. Recent exercise research recommends resting one to two minutes between sets for smaller muscle groups like bicep curls, lateral raises, or tricep pushdowns, since they recover faster. For bigger movements like squats, deadlifts, and bench presses, take three to five minutes to rest so that your body can fully recover. Camping out on a machine is selfish. Two people can share that machine. Allowing others to use a machine during rest periods is essential in a small gym. It’s a simple process: remove the pin from one position and place it in another. When you finish a set, put the pin back where you found it and wipe down the bench for the other person. When you’re at the dumbbell rack, grab the weights you need and step back so others can reach the rack too. Move around the gym like you are a defensive driver. Respect others’ space when working out. Set dumbbells down gently next to your bench instead of dropping them. If you need a drink of water or a toilet break, place a towel on your bench to show it’s in use, and try to return as quickly as possible. Some people use mirrors to check their form. Be thoughtful and avoid blocking their view. Take some time to learn proper exercise form, whether from an exercise book or YouTube. Bad form might not hurt you right away, but it can cause problems over time. I’ve dealt with a torn rotator cuff for 30 years because I didn’t know better. It was a decade before the inoperable damage presented itself. If you need help with a lift, ask someone to spot you.   James Turley Eldridge

Honored to serve the community

The North Scott chapter of National Honor Society bid farewell to its seniors on Wednesday, May 13, in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium. Members were also presented with Service Awards. These awards were presented to members with 50+ documented service hours over the last year. Service Awards were presented to: Mallory Deutmeyer, Lindy Dhuse, Addison Eckhardt, Brooklynn Flenker, Addison Harms, Madilynn Hillmann, Kelsie Hilsenbeck, Haidyn Koberg, Charlotte Madden, Vivian McGee, Katherine Moeller, Lydia Petefish, Ryann Petersen, Aaron Raleigh, Morgan Vannorsdel, Eisley Weinert and Emma Zrostlik. Graduating seniors included: Amira Blackwell, McKenna DeCap, Mallory Deutmeyer, Lindy Dhuse, Addison Eckhardt, Brooklynn Flenker, Addison Harms, Jordan Jones, Haidyn Koberg, Nathaniel Kramer, Charlotte Madden, Jackson McCarthy, Vivian McGee, Cael Mess, Alana Owen, Ella Peters, Ryann Petersen, Behren Radech, Marin Robertson, Claire Schnorrenberg, Gabriel Skyles, Russell Squires, Aubrey Toohey, Morgan Vannorsdel and Emma Zrostlik. Junior members include: Jorge Azuela, Nora Davis, Lillian Farro, Treyton Feist, Parker Hamly, Marley Harrington, Madilynn Hillmann, Kelsie Hilsenbeck, Madelyn Jepsen, Grady Kirst, Katelyn Kuesel, Katherine Moeller, Katelyn Peck, Lydia Petefish, Emmersen Plett, Aaron Raleigh, Emma Reif, Bryce Stewart, Isabella Suarez and Eisley Weinert.

Eldridge woman honored for supporting blood donation

Jessica McKearney of Eldridge was recognized as the Association of Donor Relations Professionals Blood Drive Partner of the Year at the ADRP national conference in Minneapolis. McKearney was nominated for the award by ImpactLife for her work as a member of the blood center’s Quad Cities Associate Board and as a Blood Drive Coordinator who has recruited more than 2,000 donors to blood drives over the last seven years.  McKearney is a nurse practitioner, nonprofit leader, and blood donation advocate who has firsthand understanding of the lifesaving difference blood transfusions can make for pediatric cancer patients. Through the experience of their son, Hudson’s, diagnosis and treatment for B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Jessica and her husband, Kyle, have become some of the ImpactLife’s most effective community advocates and blood drive sponsors while they have also established a foundation to help support families with children in treatment for cancer. Her effort on behalf of ImpactLife include being a volunteer Blood Drive Coordinator for 16 blood drives that have resulted in more than 2,000 donations since 2020. Jessica regularly speaks at community events, in classrooms, and with news media as a tireless advocate for donation and in support of pediatric cancer research. Jessica’s professional background and personal experience have combined to make her an extremely effective advocate for ImpactLife. Inspired by her mother’s work in nursing, Jessica began her journey in healthcare by becoming a Registered Nurse in 2010. While working in the emergency room, she continued her education and earned her bachelor of science in nursing. Driven by a commitment to expand her clinical knowledge and patient impact, she completed her master of science in nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2015, specializing in family practice.  Now in her tenth year as a nurse practitioner, Jessica has accumulated a diverse range of experience across orthopedics, convenient care, and family medicine. Jessica is deeply committed to patient advocacy, health education, and improving outcomes through the advancement of community health initiatives.  Jessica’s professional path took a deeply personal turn when her son, Hudson, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019. His treatment began immediately in March of 2019 and continued through May of 2022 and included numerous red blood cell and platelet transfusions. Along the way, the McKearneys gained a great appreciation for blood donation and importance of the importance of financial, emotional, and logistical support for families affected by pediatric cancer. Jessica began coordinating blood drives in her community in 2020, and those efforts continue with the annual Hudson’s Heroes Blood Drive. She was among the first to join the ImpactLife Associate Board when it was established in 2020 and she continues to provide leadership for this group of young professionals and community leaders. In 2022, Jessica and Kyle established the Hudson Strong Foundation to raise funds for pediatric cancer research and for care packages given to pediatric cancer patients and their families, often containing toys and games for the kids, and including restaurant and gas gift cards to help with practical necessities during a family’s cancer journey. The foundation believes that every patient, parent, and sibling is included in their fight and deserves a bit of light during their darkest times. To date, the Hudson Strong Foundation has raised more than $85,000 to establish the Hudson Strong Family Fund at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. For more on the Hudson Strong Foundation, please visit hudsonstrongfoundation.org.  

Lions give to Honor Flight

The Eldridge Lions Club was delighted to present a donation of $600.79 to the QC Honor Flight. The funds were raised on April 20 at a Dining for Dollars event held at Culver’s on Jersey Ridge, Davenport. Club members joined Culver’s staff to collect donations and serve customers. This is the second Dining for Dollars event held by the Eldridge Lions Club and Culver’s. The first event benefited “Leader Dogs for the Blind.”

DARSPA scholarships to NS seniors

The Davenport Area Retired School Personnel Association (DARSPA) awarded two $1,000 scholarships to two North Scott seniors recently. Morgan Vannorsdel is the daughter of Laura and Greg Vannorsdel. She plans to attend Central College in Pella to major in elementary education. Reese Jackson is the daughter of Carrie Jackson. She plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa to major in elementary education.

Reynolds signs property tax law

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law May 18 a measure she and supporters say will lower property tax costs for Iowans — an issue Republicans said was their top priority for the 2026 session. “We’re bending the spending curve away from government and back toward the families who fund it, and we’re creating another $4.2 billion dollars in tax savings over the next six years,” Reynolds said. “Most importantly, though we’re keeping our promise to the people of Iowa.” The governor signed Senate File 2472 into law, joined by House and Senate Republican leaders who negotiated to create the final version of the proposal passed in the final hours of the legislative session earlier in May. The new law incorporates portions of the original property tax bills put forward by the governor, House and Senate Republicans much earlier in the year: The law will implement a 2% annual limit on local government revenue growth. The cap allows certain exemptions, such as for school funding, county supplemental, city special revenue levies and community college variable levies. It also includes a higher cap of 4% for county hospitals and 3% for Des Moines Area Regional Transit and Iowa Emergency Management Association. The measure also requires local governments to limit general fund reserves to 35% of the entity’s budgeted expenditures each year. Reynolds said these changes will bring local governments in line with the state’s process for building a budget each year, which “projects revenue first, and then sets expenses.” “They have to look at how they operate, just like we do,” Reynolds said. “They now will budget like the state level, where (the Revenue Estimating Conference) tells us the revenue that we can spend … and then we build our budget from that, and we prioritize based on what we really feel those dollars should be spent. And that’s exactly the same process that they’ll have to undertake.” In addition to the revenue restrictions, there are other changes aimed at shifting education costs from the property tax funding stream to the state. One of those measures will speed up the equity transfer of revenue generated through the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) funding, currently dedicated to school infrastructure, to property tax relief. Another will lower the state $5.40 uniform levy set for school foundation property taxes, using state funding. The $5.40 levy would be lowered by funding created through eliminating the homestead tax credit and replacing it with a homestead property tax exemption, according to GOP lawmakers. Reynolds said, “by lowering school levies while maintaining school funding, the state is now stepping up to carry a greater share of the responsibility easing the burden on families while keeping our commitment to strong public schools.” Bill repeals tax cut for multi-residential property Another portion of the bill makes changes to the state’s multi-residential property classifications. While the final law does not include larger shifts in taxes for these properties, like apartments, introduced in earlier Senate proposals, it still reverses some portions of a 2013 law by reclassifying these buildings as separate from residential properties where a homeowner resides, and increases the rate for multi-residential property taxes by 6% over three years. Apartment owners and other advocates told lawmakers during session shifts to the multi-residential property code would increase rents for Iowans. But Sen. Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs, who advocated for these changes, called some of the 2013 law changes to lower taxes for these properties an act of “property tax cronyism” that did not result in lower rents for Iowans. Dawson said Monday he believes the law shows Republicans’ commitment to supporting “the family home.” “The thing I’m most proud of in this legislation is the governor and Iowa Legislature chose families and not corporations to have the best tax environment government here in the state,” Dawson said. “It took a lot to fight back all the associations (that were) every day trying to kill these bills and these reforms. But today, we say the family home comes first.” The measure also includes some changes adding restrictions on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts, areas where property tax revenues are sent to projects within the district. TIF districts will be limited to a period of 23 years under the law, and full usage of the increment financing would drop to 60% with no new debt after 20 years. The discussion on property tax legislation started in 2025, when Republicans held multiple meetings on legislation aimed at reducing Iowans’ property tax costs, but did not ultimately send a measure to the governor’s desk. House Speaker Pat Grassley said Republicans “came in the last session with the goal knowing that Iowans expected us to get something done to provide certainty” for property taxpayers — and that the law signed Monday delivers on this goal. “What you’re seeing here today is a unified Republican Party that was able to get something done that many thought would be unable to be accomplished,” Grassley said.

Weed Science Field Day is July 1 in Ames

The science of weed control will be the main topic at the July 1 Weed Science Field Day at Iowa State University’s Curtiss Farm. Crop producers, consultants and others involved with the crop industry are encouraged to attend and learn research-backed methods to improve weed management on the farm. The Weed Science Field Day is organized by the ISU Extension and Outreach Weed Science program. The event will feature research updates from the program, in-field educational sessions and demonstrations on herbicide resistance management, herbicide programs and herbicide application technology. “Crop producers and consultants will have the opportunity to see first-hand a wide range of herbicide programs for both corn and soybean, and discuss the current status of resistance and management strategies for 2026,” said Wesley Everman, assistant professor and extension weed specialist at Iowa State. “This year’s field day will also include special sessions dedicated to spray technology and applications with our ISU Digital Ag group.” The Weed Science program, led by Everman, has approximately 60–70 herbicide evaluations and weed control trials planned this year, evaluating new and existing herbicides for weed control in corn and soybeans. Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m., and the program begins at 9 a.m. with a welcome from Everman and Jason Henderson, vice president for extension and outreach with Iowa State. In-field sessions will commence at 9:30 a.m., followed by a complimentary lunch at noon. Additionally, Certified Crop Adviser continuing education units will be available for participants. The Curtiss Farm is located at 2219 State Avenue, Ames. Signage will be posted to help direct attendees to the plots. The event is offered at no cost, but participants must RSVP by June 24. Registrations are accepted online or by contacting Meaghan Anderson at mjanders@iastate.edu or 319-331-0058. For more information, contact Everman at weverman@iastate.edu or 515-294-3700; or Anderson at mjanders@iastate.edu or 319-331-0058.

Iowa Farm Bureau launches farm succession planning workshop

Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s (IFBF) Take Root program is helping farm families take the next step in securing their legacy with a two-day summer immersive workshop, ‘Real Talk to Real Timelines,’ Aug. 12-13, at the West 48 Conference Center in West Des Moines. Designed for multigenerational farm families, the workshop builds on the success of IFBF’s well-established and widely trusted Take Root program, offering a structured, hands-on setting to begin important succession planning conversations and build a clear path forward for the future of the family farm. ‘Real Talk to Real Timelines’ will provide farm families with guided conversations, facilitated planning sessions and one-on-one time with an attorney and other planning experts to achieve a clear, actionable transition plan. A tangible succession plan binder will help family members navigate the transition planning process while establishing the family farm vision, roles, ownership structure, governance, tax considerations, pay and benefits, long-term strategy and more. “For more than a decade, Iowa Farm Bureau’s Take Root program has helped hundreds of farm families navigate one of the most important conversations they will have—how to preserve not only their farm operation, but the values, relationships and legacy behind it,” said Amanda Van Steenwyk, IFBF farm business development manager. “This immersive workshop is designed to give families the time, guidance and support to make thoughtful decisions together and leave with a completed workbook that outlines their vision, roles, ownership strategy, timelines and next steps—creating a meaningful path forward for a smooth transition and a lasting family farm legacy. Registration for Real Talk to Real Timelines: A Take Root Immersive Farm Succession Workshop opens May 18 and is limited to 10 Farm Bureau member families. The cost is $150 per family and $50 to add two additional family members.  Early bird registration for $50 off through June 8 using promo code “FBEARLYBIRD.”   For more information or to join Iowa Farm Bureau, visit www.iowafarmbureau.com.

Iowa Farm & Food Conference registration opens

The Iowa Farm & Food Conference will take place in Waterloo on June 11 and 12. The full conference agenda has been released, and registration is open through May 31. Hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Farm, Food and Enterprise Development, the Iowa Food System Coalition and the Iowa Farm to School & Early Care Coalition, the conference brings together farmers, educators, food system practitioners, supply chain partners, nonprofits and community leaders working to strengthen Iowa’s food system. “We are proud to feature numerous local food vendors and caterers throughout the event and grateful for the support of local and statewide partners and sponsors who help make this event possible,” said Chelsea Lynn, farm to school and early care program specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. Day one of the conference, Thursday, June 11, will focus on “Community Connections,” including site visits to local producers and community partners. Participants can choose between three tracks: “Next Generation Futures,” “Regenerating Community Health” or “Cultivating Tomorrow’s Farmers,” and enjoy a local lunch and tour at Hansen’s Dairy. Site visits will be followed by a community dinner at SingleSpeed Brewing with live music, local food and the 2026 Golden Root Awards program, celebrating local leaders in Farm to School and Early Care. Day two, Friday, June 12, will take place at the Waterloo Center for the Arts. The conference theme, “Futuring our Food System,” will explore future food systems possibilities and the work to get there. A keynote presentation from Food Systems Foresight, five “futures-themed” session tracks and bite-size presentations will also offer a chance for participants to collaborate with and hear from others in Iowa food systems. A full agenda and registration is available on the event webpage. The cost to attend both days of the conference is $300 and $200 if participants choose to attend only one day. For more information, contact Chelsea Lynn at cekrist@iastate.edu.

Iowa college graduates may face slower hiring process

As thousands of students walk the stage this week to receive their diplomas, some may be facing a slower-to-hire job market. A University of Iowa expert is advising new grads to treat the job search like a class project, something she knows they have plenty of experience doing, and look for “utility player” positions. The University of Iowa stated in a news release that more than 6,100 students will earn their degrees, with commencement ceremonies spanning from May 14 to June 5. Cindy Meis, director of undergraduate career services at the UI Tippie College of Business, said many graduating students will use the next six-to-eight weeks to dive into the job hunt. . “They are worried about finding a job, and that is not new, but I think the time it takes to perhaps secure that job feels longer — or may be longer,” Meis said. Employers “are being a little bit conservative in terms of their hiring numbers,” she said. At the University of Northern Iowa, nearly 1,500 students will earn their degree this spring, with 90% of the group Iowa residents and nearly one-third identifying as first-generation students. Three commencement ceremonies will be held on May 15-16, all of which will be livestreamed online. More than 4,900 Iowa State University students will receive their diplomas over five livestreamed commencement ceremonies between May 14-16. More than 4,100 of those students are undergraduates, joined by 528 master’s students, 128 Ph.D. candidates and 155 veterinary medicine candidates. Close to 900 of students slated for graduation identify as first generation. Meis said concerns she’s heard from students set to graduate often come from comparing themselves to classmates, depending on the major and the industry they’re trying to break into. She said students know size of the class they’re graduating with and that “the job market is somewhat plateaued.” Artificial intelligence has also come up as a concern among students, Meis said, in not knowing if AI tools will filter out their job applications based on keywords they don’t have in their resume. There may be some wariness toward AI on the employer’s side as well. “I don’t know that employers know quite how to react to artificial intelligence yet, so they’re really proceeding with caution and being really conservative in their hiring,” Meis said. How to best handle this is for students to make sure they can use artificial intelligence tools, whether they be ChatGPT or Claude or another system, and to convey their ability on their resume for employers. Meis said those making hiring decisions also want to have “repeat interactions” with candidates, at places like job fairs, webinars, referral meetings or other events. This can be a challenge for full-time students, some of whom are looking at companies spread across the U.S. or the globe. The “best-case scenario” for graduating students is that they’ve already secured something like an internship, experiential learning or credential-earning training before graduating, Meis said, or have completed things like that earlier on in their undergraduate career and can put them on a resume. This was also her advice for students still years away from graduation, to take the time and get involved in these kinds of opportunities, or use free time productively to learn something new or gain a skill they can tell an employer about. A recruiting contact once gave Meis a tip for resumes: Make sure there are at least three interesting things listed on the resume, as that is what he’s looking for when he goes through candidates. “My objective is to make sure students are showcasing themselves in a way that’s attractive to employers, highlighting perhaps three interesting things,” Meis said. “And then I think the other key component is making sure that employers know that they’re technically savvy or have technical skills, and never assume anything about that as part of your candidacy.” For students starting to look for jobs after graduation, Meis said they should “stay broad” in their search and explore organizations where they could operate as a “utility player” rather than holding a “niche position,” which she said is becoming less common. Also described as a “Swiss army knife,” Meis said a utility player is someone in an organization who has their hands in a lot of different areas regardless of their job title. Planning out the job search like how one would tackle a big project for class is also a good idea, Meis said, including creating a timeline, identifying and using available tools and resources, setting goals for networking or number of applications completed and setting times for when to work and when to set it aside for other matters, like celebrating the success of earning a degree. “I do want to make sure that our recent grads, or our graduates, take time to enjoy their accomplishment and celebrate with their family and friends, because the amount of job postings can change in 10 days,” Meis said.

Batch and Build workshops to focus on business opportunities for drainage contractors

Two identical workshops aimed at training contractors on the construction and installation of drainage water quality improvement practices have been scheduled for mid-June. The first workshop will be held at the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Webster County office in Fort Dodge on June 16. The second workshop will be held at the ISU Extension and Outreach Linn County office in Hiawatha on June 18. The full-day event “Installing Drainage Water Quality Practices: An Iowa Batch and Build Contractor Workshop” will offer a detailed overview of bioreactors, saturated buffers, oxbows, wetlands and other water quality improvement practices. Installation best practices and construction requirements will be discussed, along with how to submit online bids for batch and build projects. Kapil Arora, field agricultural engineer with ISU Extension and Outreach, said the workshops will feature a panel discussion and a farm visit where these practices are installed. “Drainage contractors, watershed coordinators, technical service providers, agency staff, drainage consultants, producers, landowners and others interested in the planning and installation of water quality practices for the improvement of farmland drainage will all benefit from attending these workshops,” said Arora. Discussions during the workshops will be led by Chris Hay with Hay Water Solution LLC, Jeremy Bril and Tanner Puls with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Sarah Anderson with the United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service, Keegan Kult with the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition and Arora. The workshops are sponsored by Agri-Drain, the Great Outdoors Foundation and the Drain Tile Safety Coalition. To attend, participants should register for one location only. Pre-registration is required, and walk-ins will not be accepted. The registration fee is $75 per participant if registered by June 9 and $100 thereafter. Workshop materials, morning and break refreshments and lunch are included in the registration fee. For more information, visit the event web page.  For assistance with registration, contact ISU Registration Services at 515-294-6222 or registrations@iastate.edu. For additional information, contact ISU Extension and Outreach Webster County at 515-576-2119 or ISU Extension and Outreach Linn County at 319-377-9839.

Girls crown three district champions, qualify for 10 state meet events

Given how long the high school track and field season is, ebbs and flows are inevitable. Except for North Scott. There were no ebbs. Only flows. The girls did it again, bigger and better than they have all year. North Scott qualified 12 athletes for 10 events at this year’s state meet. Seven of those athletes qualified in multiple events, five of them are participating in at least three events, and two sprinters are running the maximum four times. The cherry on top? North Scott broke a school record for the seventh time this season. Simply put, Thursday’s regional meet at Lancer Stadium was a continuation of everything this team has done since the end of March. “We had 13 PRs as a team yesterday,” added Lancer coach Troy Matthaidess. “All you’re hoping for at that meet is your best. 13 times that happened. To go out there and know you did absolutely everything you could, that’s all you can ask for as a coach. To see that play out was pretty awesome.” Oh, where shall we begin to break this down? Let’s go with star sprinters Micayla Ramirez and Olivia Graham, who went a perfect four-for-four last week, qualifying for every event in which they ran. Starting with Ramirez, she won the 100-meter dash (12.12 seconds), set a PR in the 200-meter dash (25.47 seconds), ran the anchor leg on the 4x100 (49.64 seconds) and the third leg on the sprint medley relay (1:48.91). The junior had a shocking admission after the meet. “I felt kind of slow, but it’s OK,” she said. “I definitely had fun… I wasn’t really nervous throughout the day, but as I came to the meet, nerves set in. (I told myself) it’s still me and the clock. I have great competition here, but I want to prepare myself for the state race.” The “slow” version of Ramirez positioned herself as the No. 2 seed at state in the 100-meter dash and the No. 8 seed in the 200-meter dash. This meet marked just the second time Ramirez ran an open 200-meter event this season. Graham herself has not run the open 100-meter event much this spring, but she qualified in her own right at 12.91 seconds. She was the opening leg of the Lancer 4x100-meter relay, the second leg of the 4x200-meter relay (1:46.25) and the anchor leg of the sprint medley relay. Graham is an unsung hero for North Scott track as a key cog in the relays. She is also heading to state as one of the most experienced Lancers, having run four times as an underclassman. “Olivia is a spark plug. You can put her in and it’s just going to work,” Matthaidess said. “She can start races, she can finish races, she can move to the middle and take handoffs. Her attitude is always great; she brings a calming presence to the team. “You lose a four-event qualifier like Sophi (Schneckloth), and it’s like ‘Oh man, what are we going to do?’ Most teams don’t have the luxury of having someone like Olivia.” Along with Ramirez, North Scott crowned two more district champions in the field events. Seniors Adalynn Johnson and Natalie Nwatchock defended their No. 1 seeds at state qualifying, winning the shot put and long jump, respectively. Johnson had to pause mid-session to change her shoes and run the opening 100 meters of the Lancer sprint medley relay. No harm, no foul, as she hit a personal record in the ring. “I was so happy. I hit 40 (feet) in practice last night, so I had to hit 40 today,” Johnson said. “When the Linn-Mar girl (Annie Cassidy) hit a 39, I said there is no way I was letting that beat me.” Johnson did not let it, unlocking a 40-foot 4-inch throw to claim the title. Both Johnson and sophomore Alexis McCloy are heading to state in shot put. McCloy, the No. 24 seed, is going for the second consecutive year. Johnson is the No. 6 seed. “It’s a calming feeling to know you’ve got a buddy right beside you,” Matthaidess said. “You can warm up together like you do for every practice and meet. You continue your same routine. That will be good for them.” Nwatchock will be the No. 1 seed at state in the high jump after clearing 5 feet 7 inches at state qualifying. It was a big moment for her in many ways. Chief among them was the fact that she faltered at this stage last season, only clearing 4 feet 10 inches and missing the state cut. “Last year, I was all over the place. I sold at districts, so I was actually really nervous coming into it,” Nwatchock said. “All I wanted to do today was jump 5-6. I’ve been consistent with 5-6. And I did it. And then I jumped 5-7. I am very happy with myself.” Nwatchock cleared her first four bars on one attempt. She was the only jumper remaining at 5 feet 6 inches, clearing that height on her final attempt. It took her just two jumps to make 5 feet 7 inches. “Earlier in the year, 5-4 was becoming consistent. Now, she’s upped the game even more,” Matthaidess said. “It’s just really exciting. I’m happy for her and proud of her. I think there was a bit of anxiousness until she got over the bar that first time. Once that happens, you could see it lift off of her, and she was having fun.” Jumping-mate Alyssa Schroeder qualified as well, and she will be the No. 6 seed at state after clearing 5 feet 3 inches. Schroeder’s best performance came in the shuttle hurdle relay with senior Addison Allen, sophomore Aviea Holden and freshman Kaylee Ervin. This quartet qualified for state and earned the No. 10 seed. “We had (Schroeder) start the shuttle, and she was flying. What a great way to get us into that race,” Matthaidess said. “We ran a season-best time by nine-tenths. We were 1:07.54, and we hit 1:06.68. A lot of that was Alyssa’s great start getting us into the race.” Schroeder is a three-event qualifier, also making it in the 100-meter hurdles as the No. 14 seed. Last, but absolutely not least, Ervin made her mark in the sand for the second straight meet. After setting a school record at the conference championships two weeks ago, Ervin re-broke her record with a 17-foot 10.75-inch leap in the long jump pit. “You could see the nerves on her face before the event. Her first jump was really good, and you could see the weight come off. Now, we’re in the event,” Matthaidess said. “She has continued to progress. Her and Kendall (Behm) have been really consistent. As they’ve gotten faster and stronger, they keep that consistency on the board, then you can start to work on form in the air. “Kendall had a lifetime PR yesterday (16 feet 6.75 inches), and she needed every quarter of an inch to make it.” Ervin placed third at state qualifying and is the No. 3 seed at state. North Scott competed in a loaded long jump regional, headlined by Iowa’s all-time best long jumper Abby Mecklenburg of Linn-Mar. Behm, who placed fourth on Thursday, is seeded No. 23. “With Kendall and actually Emmalia (Ranson), we had the fourth and fifth-best jumpers in the district on our team. Unfortunately, we can only put two out there,” Matthaidess said. Ranson made up for it in the relay races, qualifying as part of North Scott’s 4x100, 4x200 and sprint medley relay teams. After all of that, the Lancers might need to upgrade from vans to buses for this week’s pilgrimage to Des Moines. When the Lancer girls went to state last season, it was about proving that a bunch of freshmen and sophomores could compete on the state’s biggest stage. This time, they have sights set on shiny medals. With the increased expectations on these girls’ shoulders, Matthaidess reiterates what is most important in the final three days of the season. “It’s about going down and not letting the moment be too big,” he said. “Ultimately, it’s still a 400-meter track. It’s still a shot put ring. It’s still a high jump bar. It’s just another meet. I know that’s easy to say sitting here now, but you can’t do something you’ve never really done. Go down and do your thing.”

Boys put on the performance of the year at Lancer Stadium

This will be a day long remembered. From winter workouts to the evening of the state qualifying meet, the message remained consistent: work to peak in May. On district day, everybody starts back at zero. Everybody has to earn it. The Lancers did that, and then some. North Scott’s boys’ track team qualified for nine state meet events Thursday night, and the team is sending a dozen athletes to the Blue Oval. “We had pretty high expectations of what we could do today, and we blew that away,” said an ecstatic Lancer coach Joe Greenwood at the conclusion of the meet. “You can sense the excitement in my voice. It wasn’t one or two great performances. We could sit here and talk for two hours about this, and I probably will with the coaches later on reliving it. They knocked it out of the park today.” For this North Scott team, it’s not just the fact that they did it. It’s how they did it. A team that did not finish better than third in any meet this season, that has fought through a multitude of injuries and relative lack of experience at the varsity level, outperformed many of its conference and district rivals. “I’ve sat here before with kids like Colton Voss and all that, and we performed very well. This is a different situation. We had a lot further to go,” Greenwood said. “That’s what’s so exciting about this. They set themselves up to get to that point. If they came in here and went through the motions, they wouldn’t have a chance. They gave themselves a fighting chance. That’s what I’m most proud of.” The meet started with a splash as senior Behren Radech and junior Trey Feist hit four personal records in the shot put and discus. Feist won the shot put with a 54-foot 10.25-inch throw, more than three feet farther than his previous best. Radech uncorked a 50-foot 10-inch throw, an exactly two-foot PR. Those throws got them both to state. Feist’s effort put him as the No. 6 seed. “It was a great day of throwing,” Feist said. “I’ve seen throws like that in practice before, but I’ve normally scratched them. I was so hyped. “I see Behren launch great throws at practice all the time. I was so hyped to see him hit one. I carried that energy into the ring. Radech also qualified for state in the discus, where he breached the 150-foot barrier for the first time. “I’ve been working on it for so long. I’ve been consistent with it in practice. To finally put it together in a meet was special,” Radech said. Down on the track, the excitement only grew. North Scott’s quintet of senior Nolan Reese, senior Sam Dickman, junior Ryan Block, junior Dylan Kelsey and sophomore Evan Kuhn had everything working right. First, in the sprint medley relay, Kelsey, Dickman, Kuhn and Reese made the state cut with a season-best run of 1:34.66. Then, Reese, Kuhn, Block and senior Gabriel Skyles turned in a 1.5-second season-best time in the shuttle hurdle relay (1:00.98), earning second place and an automatic qualification spot. The Lancers’ shuttle hurdle relay has undergone many iterations and combinations in 2026. All four runners competed in this event many times throughout the season, but this exact combination was a first. “We had confidence going in. We’ve grown from the challenges, and we can excel from the spots we’ve been in,” Reese said. “It was the intensity and dedication that all of us worked so hard to put together. We got to that spot with the racing, and we put it all together.” North Scott will have representation in all three hurdle events at state. Reese ran a half-second PR in the 400-meter hurdles (55.46 seconds) to qualify. Block’s 15.12-second 110-meter hurdle time got inside the cut line by a tenth of a second. Block battled a groin injury the entire season and has been in and out of the lineup. He did not compete at all on May 7 during the MAC championships. Greenwood wasn’t sure how many events Block would run at districts until the day before. “He came up to me and said he feels the best he’s felt in a month,” Greenwood said. “He went out and did a great job… He’s so competitive and wants to do well. Losing is one thing, but when you can’t even compete, that was frustrating him. Tonight, I think that’s all been erased.” Block ran the anchor of the 4x100-meter relay with Kelsey, Kuhn and Dickman. This team earned second place by five-thousandths of a second. “It doesn’t matter how much we won by,” Kelsey said. “We just got second. We’re going. That’s all that matters.” For a relay team that started the season by fumbling the baton in its first two meets of the season, celebrating on the Lancer Stadium infield with an auto-bid to state meant the world. “The first time, we were down in the dumps a little bit. But it was so early in the season. The second time, it stung,” Kelsey said. The team switched up the relay order back to how they had it last season. They went on to qualify for the Drake Relays. This week, they’re heading back to Drake Stadium. “We started our season off pretty rough those first two meets. Then we found our groove, and it’s been all uphill from there,” Dickman said. “Like any road, there will be bumps. But we’re doing well when it matters.” Greenwood added, “It’s been a journey. They’re a close-knit group. They went out and proved it today. I’m really proud of what they’ve done. They are the leaders of our sprint group, and it was good to see them get that high finish today.” Dickman also qualified as an individual in the 100-meter dash. He will be the No. 9 seed with a time of 11.05 seconds. Of course, no track and field meet can end without the 4x400-meter relay. There’s a reason it’s a fan-favorite. North Scott put the cherry on top of this meet with an epic performance. The team of Koen Krambeck, Renan Lewison, Ben Clayton and Dillon Hager ran a North Scott season-best time by three seconds (3:29.63) and put themselves in contention at night’s end. “I kept looking at my watch after every kid finished, and my eyes kept getting bigger and bigger,” Greenwood said. “I knew we were in a position to do that. That’s one we’ll hold out hope for.” The good news came on Friday afternoon. They made the cut as the No. 23 seed. All four will make their state debuts Thursday at 2:05 p.m. North Scott will be a busy bunch, bringing busloads of kids and booking a lengthy hotel stay. The team has multiple events on Thursday and Friday, with the sprint medley team running the final first thing Saturday morning. Make no mistake, these Lancers still have work to do, points to prove and medals to earn. But no matter what happens at state, they’ve already won. “I’ve been doing this a long time. Sometimes you get buy-in, and sometimes you don’t. This is probably the most buy-in I’ve gotten from a group,” Greenwood said. “This is not my most talented team. But this is a team I’ll remember because of how much they exceeded expectations.”

Obituary: Sheila Jones

Sheila J. Jones, 84, of Eldridge, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Ridgecrest Village in Davenport, following an extended illness. Private family graveside services will be held at Davenport Memorial Park.  A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Sheila’s memory to Grace Lutheran Church of Davenport or to the Alzheimer’s Association. Chambers Funeral Home of Eldridge is assisting the family with arrangements. Born in Davenport on Sept. 28, 1941, Sheila was the daughter of Richard and Evelyn (Foster) Dawes. She graduated from Davenport High School with the Class of 1960. On June 30, 1962, she married the love of her life, Harold “Bud” Jones, in Davenport. Together they shared nearly 64 wonderful years filled with laughter, adventure, and treasured memories. Whether traveling together, attending club activities, or simply enjoying time with family, Sheila and Bud built a life centered on love and companionship.  They were longtime members of the Izaac Walton League and the Mid-West Corvette Club. Before retiring, Sheila worked as a hearing reporter through contract work with Social Security where she was respected for her professionalism and dedication. Faith and service were at the heart of Sheila’s life. As a devoted member of Grace Lutheran Church, she generously gave of her time and talents, especially through quilting projects that provided comfort to those in need. She was always willing to lend a helping hand wherever it was needed within the church community. Sheila also found great joy in sharing her creativity in teaching jewelry-making classes at CASI for many years. Sheila had a gift for making people feel welcome and cared for. Her gentle nature, warm smile, and thoughtful spirit touched many lives and will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Bud; her daughter, Julie M. (Tony) Swisher of Davenport; her son, Jeffrey W. Jones (Angie Fields) of Davenport; her grandchildren, Joshua (Meghan) Kyle, Ryan Jones, Hannah Jones, Michele (Cody) Schoop, and Rachel (Nate) Broghammer; her great-grandchildren, Owen, Quinn, Jaxon, and Lorelai; her sisters, Janie Griebel and Deborah Starita, both of Las Vegas, Nev.; along with many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Terri Dawes and Marcy Dawes. Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.   Custom obituary

Obituary: Francis Fuhs

Francis Edward “Fritz” Fuhs, age 96, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2026, surrounded by family. Francis was born on May 29, 1929, to Edward Joseph and Clara Mary (Moore) Fuhs in Chariton. He lived a long and purposeful life defined by community service, faith, education, a love of nature, and devotion to his family. Fritz proudly served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War as a helicopter radio mechanic stationed in Germany. Following his military service, he attended Iowa State Teacher’s College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English and later a master’s degree in counseling. In 1956 he married the love of his life, Carol Cecelia Tracey, whom he met at the Newman Catholic Student Center during college. Together they built a loving family over their 59 years of marriage until Carol’s passing in 2016. For over 30 years, Fritz dedicated his career to serving as a middle school counselor with North Scott Schools. He was a compassionate listener and a trusted presence for the students whose lives he influenced. These same attributes carried over to touch the lives of his foster children, the neighborhood kids, and his children’s friends. A loyal sports fan, he could be found in the stands at North Scott basketball and football games for as long as he was physically able. In retirement, Fritz remained committed to his local community and teaching. He founded the AMPS (Area Maintenance Persons) litter pickup organization to keep local neighborhoods clean. He was recognized for his volunteer work, earning numerous awards for his contributions to Vander Veer Botanical Park and for tending gardens throughout the city of Davenport. Fritz continued to teach by leading College for Kids classes (Rubik’s cube, string tricks, origami) and Children in the Middle classes. Fritz had a deep love of the outdoors. He and Carol created lasting memories through family camping trips across the US and many travels abroad later in life; Prague was their favorite trip of all. A master gardener, he created and cared for an extensive perennial garden, along with a collection of cacti, a Zen Garden, and a thriving vegetable garden. Gardening was the center of his life and a source of great pride and peace. In his later years, when he was no longer able to tend to his gardens, it was something he deeply missed. One of Fritz’s favorite pastimes was playing euchre. He enjoyed twice weekly tournaments at CASI in Davenport for many years. Family and friends were victim to his bidding skills well into his 90s, a reflection of both his sharp mind and his love of friendly competition. Always ready with an opinion to express, Fritz authored countless letters to the editor — so many that his family later collected them into a book. He was also a published author, self-publishing two books, Retirement Sucks and Poetry in the Heartland, reflecting both his humor and his thoughtful perspective on life. Fritz was a faithful member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where he was the first parish council president and served in many other capacities through the years. Later he attended St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Davenport. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a father figure to many. He made all of his family members feel special and had a unique relationship with each one of them. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. Survivors include his sons, Anthony and Christopher (Kristin); daughters Angela (Nick) Sagan, Jennifer (Scott) Riemer, and Molly (Bill) Stone; foster sons Robin Behnke and Chuck (Betty) Behnke; and sister Patricia Hooten. He is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Carol; his brothers James, Ernest, Bernard, and Theodore; his sister Edith; and one foster child, Ken. Visitation was held on Friday, May 8, from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Davenport, with a Mass of Christian Burial held directly after at 10 a.m. Burial followed the services at Rock Island Arsenal National Cemetery in Rock Island at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Friends of Vander Veer, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, and Center for Active Seniors (CASI) in Davenport. The family extends their gratitude to the many caregivers and medical staff who provided compassionate care over the years.   Custom obituary

Obituary: James Kelly

James “Jimmy” Kelly, 70, of Donahue, passed away Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Harmony Utica Ridge, Davenport.  Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, assisted the family. Per his request cremation has been accorded and a private family memorial was held.  Burial was in Allen’s Grove Cemetery, Donahue.  Memorials may be made to the Donahue Fire Department. James Robert Kelly was born Oct. 2, 1955, in Davenport, to James Daniel and Marian Dorothy (Marti) Kelly. Prior to his retirement, Jimmy had been an auto body tech for Lindle Auto Sales. He loved to go fishing and work on cars. Those left to honor his memory include his son, James G. (Jodie) Kelly of Chicago; brothers Delbert “DC” Kelly of Donahue, and Richard Kelly of Davenport; sister Ruth Ann (Rick) Castel of Davenport; nieces and nephews Casey Kelly, Tim Kelly, Nick Kelly, Nicole Kelly, Brittney Kelly, and Alexis Kelly. His parents preceded him in death. Online remembrances may be expressed at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.     Custom obituary

Ryan Sempf named to United Way Worldwide Impact Council

Ryan Sempf, Chief Impact Officer with United Way Quad Cities, has been selected to serve on the United Way Worldwide Impact Council, a select group of leaders from around the world that helps shape the future of community impact work through the United Way network. Sempf is among 24 leaders chosen to serve on the [...]

Obituary: Robert and Beverly Boyle

A memorial service for Robert and Beverly Boyle will be held at the McCausland United Methodist Church on May 23 at 11 a.m. Family and friends are invited to come prior to the service at 10 a.m. for visitation. A luncheon will be provided after the services. Robert Myron Boyle, 90, and Beverly Helen Dannatt Boyle, 90, of Knoxville, Tenn., previously of Princeton, passed away peacefully March 25, 2025, and Dec. 4, 2025, respectively. Robert and Beverly were married June 30, 1957, living in Princeton, where they raised their two children, Clifford and Shari. In 1981, they moved to Knoxville, where they operated the family business, Highway Safety of Tennessee, Inc. During their retirement, they enjoyed gardening, reading and spending time with their family. They leave behind a legacy of navigating life working together and spending their days closely hand in hand.   Custom obituary

View the Scott County Sheriff's report from the May 20 NSP!

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 9:33 p.m. — Blud Crepus Adjovi, 30, Davenport, was arrested on an outstanding intrastate warrant, following a traffic stop near North Division and West 4th streets, Davenport. 10:06 p.m. — Dewayne Oneil Phillips, 55, Silvis, Ill., was charged with OWI – 1st offense and cited for driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked, operation without registration, and improper use of lanes, following a traffic stop on Northwest Boulevard, Davenport.  THURSDAY, MAY 7 1:02 a.m. — Joshua Michael Fedrick, 45, Davenport, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 2nd offense and possession of drug paraphernalia, and cited for an improper bicycle light, following a traffic stop near West 65th and Brady streets, Davenport. FRIDAY, MAY 8 12:58 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near 162nd Avenue and 290th Street. A vehicle driven by Michael William Thumann, 25, Long Grove, pulled into the intersection at 162nd Avenue and 290th Street and was struck by a vehicle driven by Clair David Friederichs, 64, Dixon. Thumann was cited for failure to obey a stop sign and yield the right of way. 2:21 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 500 block of East 53rd Street. 2:49 p.m. — Deputies responded to a shots fired call near West Lombard and Gaines streets. 4:07 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a missing person in the 300 block of North 5th Street. 4:50 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 3200 block of Middle Road. 6:46 p.m. — Alexys Kayle Williams, 23, Dixon, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, following a traffic stop in the 30600 block of Big Rock Road, Dixon. 7:03 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 3700 block of Creek Hill Drive. 9:40 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near Park View and Valley drives. A vehicle driven by Janice Eileen Cook, 68, Davenport, made a right turn from Valley to Park View Drive and struck a vehicle driven by Kristin Paige Barfield, 35, Eldridge. Barfield was transported by Medic to Genesis East Medical Center. Cook was cited for failure to obey a stop sign and yield the right of way. 10:08 p.m. — Erica Chamese Williams, 38, Davenport, was cited for operating a motor vehicle without an interlock device, driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked, and violation of financial liability coverage, following a traffic stop near Eastern Avenue and Winding Hill Road, Davenport. SATURDAY, MAY 9 12:42 a.m. — Cheyenna Sue Nofsinger, 38, Dixon, was cited for violation of a no contact or protective order, possession of a controlled substance (non-marijuana) – 3rd or subsequent offense and operating a non-registered vehicle; and Nathan Thomas Mattyasse, 37, Low Moor, was cited for violation of a no contact or protective order and possession of a controlled substance (non-marijuana) – 3rd or subsequent offense, following an incident in the 14700 block of 275th Street, Long Grove. 2:09 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 3500 block of 53rd Avenue. 3:50 a.m. — Tamara Sharese Longmire, 31, Coralville, was arrested on an outstanding intrastate warrant, charged with providing false identification information, and cited for driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked and operation without registration, following a traffic stop near West Lombard and North Fairmount streets, Davenport. 8:46 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a traffic hazard near mile marker 282 on Interstate 80 West. 9:13 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 200 block of Ferry Street. 11:33 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of property damage in the 14000 block of 110th Avenue, Davenport. A tent blew into a vehicle, causing minor damage. 4:55 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 200 block of North 2nd Street. 5:02 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 700 block of West 58th Street. 6:01 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance. 6:48 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a juvenile problem in the 22800 block of 277th Avenue. 8:46 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 10800 block of 158th Street, Davenport. 9:04 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint in the 17500 block of 246th Avenue. 9:48 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near Main Street and West Kimberly Road. 9:54 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1800 block of East Kimberly Road. 10:00 p.m. — Teisha Marie Jacobi, 44, Eldridge, was charged with OWI – 1st offense and possession of a controlled substance – 1st offense, following a traffic stop near Scott Park Road and 277th Street, Long Grove. SUNDAY, MAY 10 12:23 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance near West 3rd and Ripley streets. 3:03 a.m. — Tyran C. Collins, 39, East Moline, was cited for possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 3rd or subsequent offense and possession of drug paraphernalia, following a traffic stop near East 53rd Street and Interstate 74 East, Davenport. 5:29 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 700 block of West Iowa 80 Road. 7:25 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 3500 block of North Plainview Road. 12:47 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 2300 block of West Locust Street. 2:36 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 28000 block of 162nd Avenue. 3:35 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. 7:57 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near East 11th and Mound streets. 8:54 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near 300th Street and 220th Avenue, where a vehicle driven by Greysen Burton Tuftee, 20, Long Grove, struck a deer that entered the roadway. MONDAY, MAY 11 12:39 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a missing person in the 4600 block of Lakeview Parkway. 7:57 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 10:38 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near East 53rd Street and Tremont Avenue. 11:22 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 13000 block of 110th Avenue. 3:25 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near 235th Street and Great River Road. 4:05 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 2700 block of Sturdevant Street. 4:53 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 100 block of South Bellingham Road. 8:20 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a missing person on Manor Drive. 10:20 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 31700 block of 57th Avenue. 10:23 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint in the 17400 block of 214th Street. 11:45 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 400 block of South Dittmer Street. TUESDAY, MAY 12 1:58 a.m. — Erich Paul Gruetzmacher, 39, Davenport, was charged with driving while barred (habitual offender), following a traffic stop near Utica Ridge Road and Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf.  8:38 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 10:27 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 10:34 a.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 6:24 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 2000 block of Emerald Drive. 8:31 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 23500 block of 115th Avenue. 9:06 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near mile marker 133 on Highway 61 North. A vehicle driven by Jeremy Allen Helslander, 47, Davenport, was northbound on Highway 61. Helslander reportedly slowed due to the presence of wildlife in the ditch area. He was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Nicholas Anthony Cregan, 33, Onslow. 9:42 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 2300 block of Rockingham Road. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 7:16 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 11300 block of 140th Street. 7:58 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft. 9:35 a.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint near South 1st Street and Ruby Court. 2:01 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 13800 block of 118th Avenue. 5:52 p.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 800 block of West Donahue Street. 6:13 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near West Locust and North Division streets. 7:28 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 24500 block of Valley Drive. 8:31 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 300 block of South Marquette Street. 9:44 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 100 block of 3rd Avenue. THURSDAY, MAY 14 12:36 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 100 block of Park Avenue South. 1:19 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on Park Avenue Court, Park View. The parties advised they would stay separated for the rest of the evening. 1:32 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a burglary/home invasion in the 200 block of South Gaines Street. 8:07 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 12100 block of Utah Avenue. 9:30 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 2100 block of Middle Road. 10:13 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 13000 block of 116th Avenue. 3:33 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near West 71st Street and Northwest Boulevard. 3:34 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 4800 block of State Street. 4:04 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 3500 block of North Plainview Road. 7:44 p.m. — Symone Deanna Anthony, 22, Davenport, was cited for driving while barred (habitual offender), misdemeanor to violate registration provisions and violation of financial liability coverage, following a traffic stop in the 2300 block of Spruce Hills Drive, Bettendorf. 8:23 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 1600 block of Parkway Drive. FRIDAY, MAY 15 7:02 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 11300 block of 140th Street. 8:58 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. 9:12 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft on Lincoln Avenue. 9:12 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem on Park Crest Court. 10:01 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 11:11 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 6900 block of West River Drive. 11:35 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance near West 6th Street and Western Avenue. 11:37 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a burglary/home invasion in the 2700 block of Magnolia Drive. 12:48 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check near South Concord Street and West River Drive. 1:52 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance on Park Avenue Court.

View the Eldridge Police report from the May 20 NSP!

MONDAY, MAY 11 9:13 a.m. — Matthew Robertson, 49, of Eldridge, was cited for operation without registration, following a traffic stop near West Davenport and North 3rd streets. 12:54 p.m. — Compliant of a suspicious vehicle in the 2100 block of West Lincoln Road. Handled by officer. 1:09 p.m. — Hailey Loeffelholz, 18, of Davenport, was cited for improper use of a handicapped parking space, following an incident in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 5:29 p.m. — Dominique Nuci, 34, of Davenport, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop near South 1st Street and Trails Road. 5:41 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 1200 block of West Scott Court. 6:39 p.m. — Jessica Trudell, 43, of Davenport, was cited for no insurance and operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop in the 800 block of East LeClaire Road. 10:33 p.m. — Complaint of suspicious subjects in the 500 block of South 8th Street. Handled by officer. 10:40 p.m. — Diana Roush, 58, of Davenport, was arrested for driving under suspension, following a traffic stop on Highway 61. 10:54 p.m. — Complaint of a fire alarm going off in the 300 block of East Franklin Street. The call was turned over to the fire department. Handled by officer. 11:25 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 8900 block of North Division Street. Handled by officer. TUESDAY, MAY 12 4:52 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 200 block of North 8th Street. 4:35 p.m. — Cody Rodas, 28, of Davenport, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop near South 1st Street and East Blackhawk Trail. 5:38 p.m. — Assisted another agency with a traffic stop on Highway 61. 8:46 p.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 100 block of South Buttermilk Road. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 9:28 p.m. — Devon Judge, 30, of Eldridge, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear – interference-bodily injury, and Kyla Mustain-Richard, 26, of Moline, was cited for operation without registration, following a traffic stop near North Buttermilk and West LeClaire roads. 10:04 p.m. — Complaint of suspicious juveniles in the 200 block of South 1st Street. Handled by officer. 10:32 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious subject in the 500 block of South 16th Avenue. Handled by officer. 11:33 p.m. — Complaint of suspicious juveniles lighting fireworks and TP-ing in the 800 block of West Hickory Street. Handled by officer. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 8:28 a.m. — Complaint of a minor accident between two vehicles in the 200 block of East Iowa Street. The drivers exchanged information. Handled by officer. 11:33 a.m. — Assisted a resident in the 700 block of Muirfield Circle. Handled by officer. 7:31 p.m. — Complaint of a disturbance in the 100 block of North 8th Street. Handled by officer. THURSDAY, MAY 14 6:40 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 300 block of West Heather Glen Drive. 7:28 a.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle near East LeClaire Road and North 1st Street. Handled by officer. 9:40 a.m. — Complaint of fraudulent activity in the 300 block of Country Club Court. Handled by officer. 10:57 a.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle near East LeClaire Road and South 18th Avenue. Handled by officer. 11:39 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 600 block of East LeClaire Road. 12:58 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 100 block of South 5th Street. Handled by officer. 4:17 p.m. — Complaint of suspicious juveniles in the 100 block of South 4th Avenue. Unable to locate.  Handled by officer. 6:27 p.m. — Complaint of a natural gas smell in the 100 block of South 27th Avenue. The call was turned over to MidAmerican Energy. Handled by officer. 6:31 p.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver on Highway 61. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 7:34 p.m. — Complaint of a family of birds in a storm drain in the 1500 block of Fox Ridge Road. Handled by officer. 8:13 p.m. — Complaint of suspicious activity in the 100 block of North Scott Park Road. Handled by officer. 9:18 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 11:17 p.m. — Complaint of juveniles causing a disturbance in the 500 block of South 8th Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 11:36 p.m. — Complaint of juveniles lighting off fireworks in the 500 block of South 8th Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. FRIDAY, MAY 15 9:45 a.m. — Complaint of debris in the roadway near North Cody and East LeClaire roads. The call was turned over to the public works department. Handled by officer. 4:26 p.m. — Complaint of juveniles riding scooters in the roadway in the 200 block of North 6th Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 8:49 p.m. — Assisted another agency with a traffic stop in the 3000 block of Utica Ridge Road. SATURDAY, MAY 16 9:27 a.m. — Assisted another agency with a report of a suspicious vehicle in the 18100 block of 270th Street. 9:55 a.m. — Report of a parking complaint near South 9th Avenue and East Iowa Street. Handled by officer. 11:59 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle near Slopertown and South Buttermilk roads. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 12:04 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 3600 block of South Hillandale Road. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 12:29 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle near West LeClaire Road and South 6th Street. Handled by officer. 12:40 p.m. — Shawn Atwater, 42, of Davenport, was cited for operation without registration, following a traffic stop in the 8900 block of North Division Street. 1:05 p.m. — Complaint of a subject in the 100 block of North 8th Street being threatened. Handled by officer. 1:54 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 200 block of North 2nd Street. 4:19 p.m. — Report taken for an accident between two vehicles in the 400 block of East LeClaire Road. 4:22 p.m. — Kyla Mustain-Richard, 26, of Moline, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, following an incident in the 800 block of West Donahue Street. 6:52 p.m. — Bradley Adrian, 40, of Princeton, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for trespassing and no driver’s license, no insurance and operating a non-registered vehicle; and Troy Cline, 52, of Princeton, was cited for an open container violation (passenger), following a traffic stop in the 2300 block of East LeClaire Road. 10:40 p.m.  — Complaint of suspicious activity in the 1200 block of West Maple Street. Handled by officer. 11:44 p.m. — Complaint of a minor accident between two vehicles in the 500 block of South 5th Street. The drivers exchanged information. Handled by officer. SUNDAY, MAY 17 10:13 a.m. — Removed debris from the roadway on Highway 61. Handled by officer. 7:20 p.m. — Ethan Lofquis, 22, of Preston, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop on Highway 61.

Lancers unbeaten streak reaches 13

Ties are not sexy, but the Lancers aren’t complaining. A nil-nil decision against 3A No. 8 Pleasant Valley at home last Tuesday (May 12) kept this North Scott girls’ soccer train moving in the right direction. It was the team’s third consecutive tie against a highly-ranked foe. North Scott played a 1-1 match with 2A No. 2 Norwalk and a 3-3 match with 2A No. 7 Bishop Heelan at the start of the month. “We’re excited. This is the competition we need to play for state and our playoff run,” Lancer coach Dion Ayers said. “We’ll take it all day long. “The first 10 minutes were a little sketchy. We got a bit tired in the second half, and it started to show. Again, we use the word ‘grit.’ That’s the one thing this team continues to have.” The lack of goals between the Lancers and Spartans was not due to a lack of opportunity. North Scott put 15 shots on target, and Pleasant Valley put up seven. In the second half, Lancer goalkeeper Nora Barnett made a handful of terrific saves, including a punch save at the crossbar. Spartan goalie Andie Vanderschaaf was a brick wall and saved the most dangerous attack of the evening — a one-on-one opportunity from Lancer midfielder Camryn Jones. Vanderschaaf and Jones collided inside of the goal area, and the ball popped up and out of bounds. “Our defense did a really good job locking them down in the box,” Barnett said, “because I didn’t really have to deal with any close shots.” North Scott’s defense had the difficult task of containing Drake University soccer commit Joanah Jepsen. Lancer defensive midfielders senior Bella Mohr, sophomore Lydia Schnorrenberg and freshman Tannar Schild took turns rotating and tracking Jepsen throughout the game. “Joanah is a phenomenal player, but we really limited her tonight. That’s saying something,” Ayers said. “The Heelan girl (all-state forward Jaida Douch), she just ran all over us. Tonight, we tweaked our ideas. They did well. They did their job.” North Scott returned to its goal-scoring ways 48 hours later in a 5-0 win at Alleman Catholic. The Lancers went across the river and into the net with sophomore Reese Barnett scoring twice, and senior Kenzie Moeller, senior Paige Coon and freshman Sawyer Koberg all scoring once. Nora Barnett played 60 minutes between the pipes, making one save. Freshman Kelsey Clayton kept the door shut with one save and preserved the team’s tenth clean sheet of the season. “Right now, we are focused on managing this team carefully and making sure everyone is healthy for the final push of the season,” Ayers said. “It was great to see extended minutes from Ellie Wilske, Mallory Deutmeyer, Lydia Schnorrenberg, and Myla Hanson. We also welcomed Teagan Schmidt, Brinley Fitzgibbon, and Remy Blocker into the lineup. This group continues to work hard and is in a good place heading into the final week of the season.” North Scott still has not lost a game since its second contest of the season, to 3A No. 5 Bettendorf, on April 7. At 11-1-3, North Scott is now the fourth-ranked team in Class 2A. Earning home-field advantage throughout regionals, North Scott learned its fate last week. The Lancers will start by playing the winner of Davenport North and Mount Pleasant in the semifinals on June 2. These potential foes have a combined record of 1-23 this season. When North Scott advances, it will see a Southeast Conference school in the regional final on June 4. 2A No. 13 Burlington is in the bottom half of the bracket and received a free pass to the semifinals. There, it will play the winner of 2A No. 14 Fort Madison and Keokuk.

North Scott makes program history with No. 2 substate seeding

North Scott’s efforts during its demanding regular season were rewarded by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The Lancers earned a No. 2 seed in the Class 3A substate soccer bracket reveal last Tuesday (May 12). It marks the first time in 11 years the Lancers will host a substate semifinal game. “That made my day. I’m very pleased,” Lancer coach Troy Bendickson said shortly after the announcement. “The No. 2 seed gets to host, and that’s huge. The nice thing is that those games we didn’t get (due to rainouts) didn’t hurt us. There was no way we’d get a one seed, so I’m glad that didn’t hurt us.” North Scott was bracing for a No. 3 seed after its loss to 3A No. 3 Davenport North on May 4. Now, the Lancers and Wildcats are on a substate final collision course. “North is comfortable. It’s close and our fans can be there,” Bendickson said. “We like their facility and their coaches. We like North, so we don’t mind going.” First, the Lancers will need to get past No. 3 seed Fort Madison in the substate semifinal on May 27. This will be the first meeting between the teams in the Varsity Bound era, which dates back to 2010. The Panthers are 9-4-4 on the season, but they own the third-weakest strength of schedule out of 40 teams in Class 3A, according to Varsity Bound’s Power Rankings. The Lancers, at 5-6-1, have played the fifth-toughest strength of schedule. Despite this disparity, North Scott is not going to treat Fort Madison lightly. “We’ll prepare like they’re Argentina,” Bendickson said. “Over the years, they’ve had relative success. They haven’t had any state success, but they’re a team to be reckoned with.” North Scott has 12 days between its regular-season finale on May 14 and its substate semifinal game. The Lancers are still looking into adding an additional game during this time, like they did last season with Western Dubuque. The challenge will be staying engaged during a potentially prolonged period of downtime. “We’ll manage the guys over the next two weeks. We’ll do things off the pitch and not get run down from just training,” Bendickson said. “That will be our job to figure out. “There could be games with other teams that have (first round) byes. Keeping them competing is important. Playing Western Dubuque last year was good for us. Another home game for our kids and fans would be great.” MAC slate ends with PV, Assumption North Scott played twice on the road last week to conclude its Mississippi Athletic Conference slate of games. The Lancers fell to Pleasant Valley 4-0 and tied with Davenport Assumption 1-1. In the match against the Knights last Thursday, both teams scored in the first half. Sophomore Yedidiya Schwartz scored his second goal of the season for North Scott. The Lancers attempted eight shots, putting five on goal. The defense limited Assumption’s chances as sophomore goalkeeper Scott Hartin only needed to make four saves. Pleasant Valley dominated Monday’s (May 11) match from start to finish. North Scott had just one shot on goal in the match. Meanwhile, the Spartans had 13 such opportunities.

A 'season in a nutshell' type of week

At seemingly every 18-hole meet this season, North Scott is able to post two or three solid scores. That matching fourth score remains elusive. It was the case at both of last week’s meets: the Mississippi Athletic Conference championships on Monday (May 11) and the Dubuque Senior Invitational at Bunker Hill Golf Course on Thursday. The Lancers placed third as a team at the MAC meet with a 382 team score and fifth at the Dubuque meet with a 367 team score. “This week was kind of our season in a nutshell — close, but not quite where we want to be,” Lancer coach Zeb Hubner said. “We did a lot of good things, but not enough good things. Hopefully, with what we’ve got coming up, we can keep building off of it.” North Scott took its annual trip across the river to Midland Golf Course in Kewanee for the conference championship. Its third-place finish matches the result from last season, but the Lancers were two strokes behind Bettendorf for second place this year. Senior Addison Eckhardt placed fifth as an individual, winning her fourth medal at the conference tournament. Her remarkable consistency at this course earned her third, fifth, seventh and eighth-place finishes at the tournament during her high school career. She is heading into the regional meet on an upward trajectory, and she is looking to play her way to her third state golf meet. “Addison played solid getting fifth,” Hubner said. “I feel good about the way she is playing. I feel good about where she is at preparation-wise and mindset-wise. “Getting third, that’s where we were seeded. To be so close to second, you get that ‘oh man’ moment, especially as you see the scores,” Hubner said. “AJ (Blevins) fought pretty good to get a 96. Bryn (Stephens) did some nice things to get a 99. It’s one of those things where, OK, third is solid. But you think ‘what if?’ A couple of putts here, chips, whatever it happens to be, we can find those two strokes easily.” On the par-69 course at Bunker Hill, Eckhardt shot a 78, senior Aubrey Toohey carded a 92, and sophomore Anna Nicholson put together a career-best round of 96. “Aubrey had a 52-40 split. The 52 was the first nine holes she played. She battled back and did a really nice job,” Hubner said. “For Anna, one of our goals was to break 100 this season. She played really well.” Still, the team’s impediment to better performances remains a fourth good round. At both meets last week, North Scott’s fourth-best score was 102 or higher. “You look at (the Dubuque Senior Invite), 78, 92, 96, but we couldn’t find the fourth score. Unfortunately, it’s been the trend we’ve seen in the season. We can’t quite seem to find a way to put it together for four people for a full round,” Hubner said. Now, the only thing that matters is what happens on May 20. It’s the meet North Scott has built towards all spring, and it gets to play it at Glynns Creek Golf Course. The Lancers played practice rounds there over the weekend to get even more accustomed to their home course. “We talked a lot about how the score in the practice round does not matter. Use these 36 holes to really do some internal scouting,” Hubner said. “Here’s how I can manage myself around the course to turn in a team score of 345 to 350. If we do that, I’ll be happy. Hopefully, that would be enough to get it done. I think there’s a chance it would. That would require us to play our best round of the year — to put it together for a full day in a way we haven’t done yet.” In Class 4A, the top two teams at each regional site qualify for state. For individuals, only the top six places and ties advance. While North Scott has home-course advantage on Wednesday, it will take an act of God to keep top-ranked Pleasant Valley, which won the MAC team title by 69 shots, from punching its ticket. That leaves just one team qualification spot for 4A No. 14 North Scott and its other main competitor, 4A No. 7 Dubuque Senior. “If we shoot 345 to 350 and we don’t make it,” Hubner said, “we’ll shake Dubuque Senior’s hand and say ‘good job.’ I think we’ll have a real chance. We just have to do it.” The Class 4A state meet is at Waverly Municipal Golf Course on May 28-29.

Putting pen to paper

Wednesday afternoon was decision day at North Scott High School as nine student-athletes made their college commitments official. From left:  Carter Unwin, St. Ambrose University (Cross Country, Track and Field); Nolan Reese, University of Dubuque (Track and Field); Evan Kruse, University of Dubuque (Football); Addison Allen, Simpson College (Volleyball); Natalie Nwatchock, University of Dubuque (Track and Field); Sam Shiltz, Black Hawk College (Baseball); Cody Powell, University of Dubuque (Wrestling); Brooke Rocca, Hannibal-LaGrange University (Volleyball); Marin Robertson, University of Northern Iowa (Dance).  

Boys' tennis season comes to close at district tournament

It was the news that sent a concussive blast throughout the state: Lucas Persson entered the doubles draw. The two-time singles district champion had his mind solely set on trying to qualify with his younger brother Isaac at last Saturday’s state qualifying tournament in Eldridge. “I’m pretty sure every coach was shocked,” Lancer coach Hugo Flores said. “But Lucas made his decision way back at the beginning of the season. He wanted to go a different route. Obviously, he’s already qualified for state in singles. He wanted to go for doubles and join his brother and give themselves a chance to qualify.” This season, Lucas and Isaac paired together to place second at the River King Invitational on May 2. While they fell in all four conference matches, they were extremely competitive with Pleasant Valley and lost to Bettendorf in a match tiebreaker. Lucas’ talent level and accolades helped them earn a seed, the No. 4 seed. “I was trying to aim for them to get the third seed, but they don’t have a winning record playing against stronger opponents. I tried my best,” Flores said. After a first-round bye, the Persson brothers matched up against Bettendorf’s traditional No. 2 team of Otto Von Maur and Johnny Gauna in the quarterfinals. It was a tale of two sets. North Scott blitz Bettendorf in the first set, 6-1. A tight 6-4 second set went the way of the Bulldogs. Then, in the third, it was 6-0 one-way traffic for Von Maur/Gauna. “There were a lot of errors in the third set. That was a tough set and a tough way for them to go out,” Flores said. This tournament is not the end for Lucas’ career in the scarlet and silver. He still plans to play mixed doubles with Maddy Jepsen next month in Marshalltown. It did, however, close a chapter on the most successful North Scott boys’ tennis player the program has ever seen. “I told him that it’s just tennis. It’s just a game,” Flores said. “He’s had so many wins that he put into this program. With the numbers he’s put up, he will always be recognized here.” North Scott’s second doubles entry at state qualifying, junior Jacob Link and freshman Camden Wenck, picked up a win in the first round. They easily defeated Clinton’s team of Lucas Hilgendorf and Ryan Schmitz 6-1, 6-1. In the quarterfinals, they ran into Pleasant Valley’s No. 2 team of Grant Cabay and Partha Katreddy, losing 6-1, 6-0. With Lucas Persson’s graduation, Link and Wenck will be a strong contender to take on North Scott’s No. 1 doubles position next season. “I like how well they perform in doubles. I like their playing style together,” Flores said. “They have great chemistry, and they both push each other. They are both great at the net. Give them an overhead, and both of them can put it away.” North Scott put two entries into the state qualifying singles draw. Both freshmen, Aiden Feller and Lachlan Suarez, fell in their first matches of the event. From the start of the season, North Scott’s mission remained the same. This was a foundational season on which to build a new crop of Lancer contenders. With his majority underclassmen roster, Flores has seen tremendous growth and potential in his team. “They are on the right foot when they compete against higher-level opponents,” he said. “They’ve competed against players who have played tennis for many years. For my guys, it’s the first time many of them have picked up a racket. For them to keep matches close is pretty impressive. Hopefully, in a couple of years, they’ll be just like them or even better.”

Community colleges plan for less property tax revenue growth

Iowa’s community colleges are bracing for less revenue from property taxes and shorter-term partnerships with area businesses as legislation passed just a few weeks ago awaits the governor’s signature. In its 2026 session, the Iowa Legislature passed bills capping fixed-rate levies at 2% growth and making changes to the job training programs community colleges use to partner with businesses looking to train employees. Emily Shields, executive director of Community Colleges for Iowa, said financial impacts of property tax changes could come in as high as $30 million over the next five years. These caps will affect community college general funds, Shields said, as wells as plants and equipment funds. She acknowledged that the system could have been facing a much larger financial impact if varied levies had seen changes like those happening to fixed levies. “We have seen, on average, about 5% growth over the past few years, so capping that at 2(%) does have some impact on what we’re bringing in on those levies,” Shields said. “However, to your question, capping our variable levies was on the table, so that not happening is a much better impact for us.” The organization looked back at the past five years of property tax collection at Iowa’s community colleges to estimate potential financial impacts in the future, and when taking into account the compounding effects of multiple years, $30 million in impacts over the next half-decade was what Shields said they found. If variable levies had been included in the legislation, Shields said the impact would have been as much as $134 million. Variable levies held by community colleges are restricted by purpose, she said, one of which is insurance — a rising cost for institutions. Shields said the system should expect to see a $4 million loss in one year, representing varying impacts on different community colleges depending on where they’re located and how local property taxes are set. “That is not nothing, but certainly something the colleges can plan for and work with, and we’re really grateful for that,” Shields said. Des Moines Area Community College and Iowa Lakes Community College are two institutions expecting a larger impact, Shields said. DMACC Controller Ben Voaklander told the community college board of trustees in April that while property tax legislation had yet to be agreed upon, the college won’t see losses as much as a smaller base of growth in its fixed levy funds. The 2% cap is better than the 1.75% he predicted at the time of the meeting, he said, but growth will be restricted to between $250,000-$300,000, limiting future revenues and necessitating more caution from officials when determining what projects to invest in. “Each $1 of tuition generates about 250,000 at the college, so when property taxes this year went up 900,000 that helps to soften the tuition increase,” Voaklander said. “But going forward that’s going to be a little more difficult, because we’re not going to see any sort of larger growth in our property tax revenue, it’s going to be pretty much set at that right between that 250 to 300,000 for the next several years.” Tuition increases to offset reduced property tax revenue growth was a concern of the board of trustees in April, but Voaklander said the college isn’t going to “put this on the backs of students.” The college will instead continuously look for ways to be more efficient. Construction and dealing with deferred maintenance are two areas where the college will need to budget carefully and be more strategic about addressing problems or new opportunities, he said. Melissa Haukap, director of continuing and professional education at Iowa Lakes Community College, didn’t provide exact numbers on property taxes for the college but said it is a funding source for program delivery, and college leaders know balancing fiscal responsibility of tax dollars with college needs is a “key emphasis” of what they do. “I think the biggest concern in rural areas is just access to funding sources and knowing the impact that that has for employers and our workforce in this region, and having accessibility to high quality training that they need,” Haukap said. “But we’ll be able to plan for and make adjustments to ensure that we can do our best to still provide that training that’s needed in our region to help support the local industries.” Community colleges glad for continuing 260E program Another change coming for community colleges after the legislative session relates to new job training programs they enter into with businesses through bonds. While current contracts made through the state’s Industrial New Jobs Training (260E) Program  are funded with 10-year bonds, Iowa Lakes Community College Industry and Business Training Consultant Atkinson said new bonds will be limited to seven years. Administrative fees are also changing from 19.5% to 15%, which Atkinson said will reduce revenue but in a way that the college can account for and work around. “We were able to negotiate with the governor and the Legislature around some things that we think will improve the program,” Shields said. Shields added that she is looking forward to the process of reviewing the 260E program this year. Community colleges have held concern for the program since a study group in October 2025 recommended its sunsetting. College and business officials spent their annual “day on the hill” telling lawmakers about the benefits of these partnerships for both parties, as well as the state, and spoke against the program’s elimination in a legislative subcommittee. Voaklander commended businesses across the state for expressing their concerns to the Legislature, saying it helped keep the program alive. College officials were happy to see the program survive the session, and that their present partnerships will not be affected. Over the past 10 years, Atkinson said, Iowa Lakes has sold a bond each year, amounting to $13.3 million in training dollars. Business leaders were also glad for the program’s continuation. “In the smaller communities like ours, businesses want to grow, but it’s always a challenge to have opportunities to fund their training, to fund their growth, and 260E has been a great component to help do that,” Atkinson said. It’s also vital for the students having their employer’s support to gain new training and skills, Atkinson said, and if the 260E program ends up going away, he said it will “significantly impact the number of students we get, especially from the companies.” Another directive in the legislation is to have a study group scrutinize the program this year and come up with recommendations as to possible further changes. The study group will be made up of community college officials, administrative representatives, lawmakers, businesspeople and others involved in economic development, Shields said. Atkinson said the study group will look at the legislative language, Iowa code, the rules that surround it and the definition of “what a new job is” in crafting recommendations, all of which he believes will make the program stronger. “Collaboration and support of our local economies is central to everything that we do, and we have a longstanding history of meeting those regional training needs that exist and collaborating with business, and that’s something that won’t change,” Haukap said. “It’s something that we’ll work through together, and adjust to the funding that’s available.”

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When every second counts, AirCare, provided by University of Iowa Health Care and Air Methods, delivers expert emergency medical care.

The missing men of the American marriage market

A new study suggests the growing educational and economic divide between men and women is reshaping marriage and family life in America — leaving many women with a shrinking pool of economically stable partners.

Confederate Cemetery

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.Very few heroes apply for the job. Most, like the Rock Islander whose story this is, change the course of history not…

Steep drop in number of people with Affordable Care Act health coverage, analysis finds

Enrollment in Healthcare.gov and the other marketplaces is plunging by 5 million, the new paper from KFF finds. Last year, Congress failed to make a deal to keep the coverage more affordable.

15 books our critics can't wait for this summer

A gothic horror tale, a creepy science-fiction romp, a sweeping romance, an intergenerational saga, a book about birds — here are the fiction and nonfiction our critics are most looking forward to.

NTSB hearing will probe cause of fiery UPS jet crash that killed 15 in Louisville

The nation's top safety investigators will launch a two-day hearing beginning Tuesday into what caused a UPS cargo plane to crash shortly after takeoff in Louisville last year, killing 15 people.

These men voted for President Trump. They have very different views of how he's doing

Two Black men from Georgia who voted for President Trump in 2024 have very different views of how the country is doing now, in the first installment of Swing Shift from NPR's Tamara Keith.

Putin visits China to reaffirm Russia ties

The Kremlin has said Putin and Xi plan to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries, but also "key international and regional issues."

Mark Fuhrman, ex-detective convicted of lying during OJ Simpson trial, has died

Fuhrman was one of the first two police detectives sent to investigate the 1994 killings of OJ Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles.

Colbert's last episodes: What happened on 'The Late Show' last night

Stephen Colbert spent Monday's show revisiting material that never made it to air, performing for a studio audience made up entirely of his staff.

Trump says he's called off Iran strike at request of Gulf allies

President Donald Trump says he is holding off on a military strike on Iran planned for Tuesday because "serious negotiations" are underway to end the war.

Late Monday night t'storm update

We're watching storms roll in from the West tonight but as of 12:15 am, there are no warnings for our local area. Here's an update from Chief Meteorologist Andy McCray after midnight: That being said, we should plan on some thunder and lightning in the Quad Cities before 1 am. The storms and rain will [...]

3 people taken to hospital, 1 charged after disturbance turns into fight

Officials said a domestic disturbance turned into a fight between several people.

Property tax reform impacts Central DeWitt Schools renovation plans

Property tax reform passed by state lawmakers is impacting Central DeWitt School’s plans to renovate it’s facilities.

Community meeting discusses ICE in the Quad Cities

8 people were arrested following a raid at a Davenport restaurant in April.

Quad Cities citizenship class prepares permanent U.S. residents hoping to naturalize

World Relief Quad Cities helps immigrants who have been in the U.S. legally for years prepare for the citizenship exam.

Scott County Sheriff's Office investigating crash involving school bus

An initial investigation found that a North Scott school bus was traveling on 270th Street when the driver, according to police, failed to yield at an intersection.