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

Wednesday, September 9th, 2026
	More much-needed rain for the Quad Cities It's been a dry start to the month of September, but that changed overnight. Moderate to heavy downpours are likely Wednesday morning. The rain will hold highs down to around 80° today. Here's your full 7-day forecast.
	Cargo jet tried to abort unsteady landing before Miami crash, flight data indicates Flight data suggest an Amazon cargo plane tried to abort an unsteady landing at Miami International Airport before smashing into a van and killing five people inside, according to information investigators released Tuesday.
	National Guard member arrested in DC, accused of drawing gun on fellow Guard member A member of the Georgia National Guard deployed in Washington, D.C., as part of a task force to fight crime, has been arrested for pulling a gun on a fellow Guard member in an alleged dispute over regulation haircuts.
	TSA brings back gate access for some people without plane tickets 25 years after 9/11 The move is a start toward reviving a tradition that largely disappeared after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks 25 years ago this week.
	U.S. military says it destroyed 5 Iranian oil tankers after attacks on Navy warship The U.S. military said it destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday in response to the latest attacks on its warships and American targets in Jordan, the latest burst of back-and-forth strikes.
Tuesday, September 8th, 2026
	The Steadfast Dog This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.If you passed through fourth grade any time before 1947, you, too, memorized Eugene Field's poem, "Little Boy Blue."…
	Rejuvenate Housing finishes 6th renovated property The nonprofit aims to revitalize legacy neighborhoods in the Quad Cities.
	Bettendorf breaks ground on new police station Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2027.
	How Davenport Police use training and co-responders to handle mental illness episodes Davenport Police Chief Greg Behning says a scene needs to be safe before a mental health co-responder can intervene.
	Davenport police arrest 7 people in illegal gun bust Police said they recovered five illegally possessed firearms, some of which had been modified.
	4 injured after school bus crashes in rural Stockton According to the Jo Daviess County Sheriff's Office, the injuries are believed to be minor.
	Sterling City Council approves moratorium on data center applications The 180-day moratorium included a temporary pause on applications for battery energy storage systems as well.
	How Davenport Police use training and co-responders to help with mental illness episodes Davenport Police Chief Greg Behning says a scene needs to be safe before a mental health co-responder can intervene.
	Police responding to scene in rural Mercer County Officials with the Mercer County Sheriff's Office said the investigation is ongoing, and no details can be shared yet.
	Rob Sand questions how much opponent vetted running mate following news of criminal investigation Rob Sand questioned whether his Republican opponent for Iowa governor, Zach Lahn, property vetted his running mate.
	Police responding to scene in Aledo Officials with the Mercer County Sheriff's Office said the investigation is ongoing, and no details can be shared yet.
	How a simple sandwich recipe represents hope (BPT) - A sandwich is an easy lunch you can quickly make in the morning as you help your kids get ready for a new school day. But the real beauty of a sandwich is that it's infinitely customizable. The only limit is your child's imagination. That's why this back-to-school season, Nature's Own — the nation's No. 1 selling loaf bread brand — and Make-A-Wish are inviting families to bring a little more creativity to the daily school lunch ritual with its Sandwishes campaign.The campaign features one-of-a-kind sandwich recipes as unique as the wish kids behind them. Whether your child prefers a fresh and savory sandwich like Olivia's Bright Harvest Bacon Bite, a sweet treat like Eliana's Banana Boost Super Swirl or a cheese-forward lunch like Luke's Mediterranean Magic Melt, the digital cookbook has plenty of creative recipes to try. The spark behind the campaign is simple yet profound: Sandwiches may use the same ingredients, but no two are the same, just like wishes. It's the combination of ingredients like a smear of avocado, a surprising pop of berry jam or slices of crisp apple that takes an ordinary lunch and transforms it into an extraordinary meal.A wish comes together in the same way. When you combine a child's imagination with care, coordination and community support, what may seem like a typical request to visit a theme park, meet a celebrity or travel to a tropical location becomes a treasured memory that has a lasting impact beyond the day the wish is granted."When I found out my wish was being granted, I had just gotten out of a six-week stay in the hospital and PICU," said wish kid Elizabeth, the creator of the Berries N Cream Dreamwich. "I had missed competing at cheerleading worlds and was facing a life-changing diagnosis, so having my wish granted gave me hope and something to look forward to. Being part of Make-A-Wish still reminds me of that."Isabella, the chef behind the Jam-Packed Joywich, was inspired by her wish to give back to the community that gave her hope."As I got older, I discovered a love for volunteer work and working with charities," she said. "As I moved into high school, I found a career that would allow me to do that: corporate social responsibility. Now a junior in college, and after completing my internship with Make-A-Wish, I'm pursuing the dream of giving back so I can share the same hope I received with other kids and families."A slice of hope for the back-to-school season The partnership between Nature's Own and Make-A-Wish isn't limited to sandwiches. The bread brand has committed $500,000 to support Make-A-Wish through 2026, helping fund life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The Sandwishes campaign builds on this financial support by giving families a simple way to be part of the mission by exploring wish kids' recipes and learning how they can help bring more wishes to life."We're grateful to Nature's Own for helping bring our wish kids' creativity to life in such a joyful, accessible way," said Leslie Motter, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. "Through the Sandwishes campaign, families can connect with the imagination behind each wish while helping Make-A-Wish deliver hope and joy to children with critical illnesses. Partnerships like this make it possible for us to reach more children and families with the life-changing power of a wish." To explore more delicious wish kids' recipes that you can sample this school year and learn more about the campaign, visit NaturesOwnBread.com/Wish.
	What's ahead for the race for Illinois governor? Election Day is only 56 days away, and the numbers are clear: Darren Bailey's campaign for Illinois governor hasn't gotten the same push it did in 2022, and the campaign is changing strategies by going out of state for support. Our Quad Cities News Illinois Capitol Bureau chief Alex Whitney tracks campaign 2026 for Your [...]
	Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band member dies after sudden cardiac arrest University of Iowa third-year student and member of the Hawkeye Marching Band Derek Phillips died Tuesday morning. Phillips suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during the Hawkeye football game on Saturday, according to a statement by his family. Phillips spent time in intensive care unit at a University of Iowa hospital. His family said in the [...]
	Severe t'Storms rolling through Iowa city Tuesday night Severe storms have erupted and moved across Iowa this evening. As of 9 p.m. those storms are pushing through Iowa city. There's a severe t'storm warning in effect for Johnson County until 9:15. There's also a tornado warning in effect for the Cedar Rapids area until 9:15. The storms are producing winds of around 60 [...]
	Rejuvenate Housing celebrates restored Davenport home, and new $1-million grant At a special open house Tuesday afternoon at 613 W. 13th St., Davenport, Rejuvenate Housing was rejuvenated itself with a $1-million grant from the John Deere Foundation.
	Crisis co-responder couldn’t leave squad car during Davenport shooting, chief says Davenport's police chief says a mental health clinician couldn't leave the squad car during an Aug. 31 shooting because the scene wasn't safe. A man remains hospitalized.
	Free petting zoo, book bash, will come to Longview Park, Rock Island The Petting Zoo in the Park will bring farm animals from Miller’s Petting Zoo to Rock Island’s Longview Park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. .at 1300 17th St., on Saturday, Sept. 12. Free and open to anyone, the event is supported by grants from gold sponsor Rock Island Township and silver sponsor South Rock Island [...]
	Sterling City Council approves temporary ban on data center applications The 180-day moratorium included a temporary pause on applications for battery energy storage systems as well.
	Rejuvenate Housing announces three-year, $1 million grant from John Deere Foundation Rejuvenate Housing announced a new three-year, $1 million grant from the John Deere Foundation to renovate homes in Davenport on Tuesday, while showing off its latest renovated house.
	3 kids, 1 adult hurt in Stockton bus crash All the students and kids on the bus have been accounted for.
	Iowa prepares for Cy-Hawk rivalry game Iowa and Iowa State are coming off convincing wins heading into Saturday’s Cy-Hawk matchup.
	3 juveniles, 1 adult injured after school bus crashes in rural Stockton According to the Jo Daviess County Sheriff's Office, the injuries are believed to be minor.
	Bettendorf Rotary seeks grant applications The Rotary Club of Bettendorf seeks applications for grants of up to $5,000 from qualified non-profit organizations in the Quad Cities, a news release says. Applications will be available here on Sept. 15. The application deadline is Nov. 1. The Bettendorf Rotary Club Grants Committee accepts applications from non-profit organizations that provide basic human services, [...]
	City of Bettendorf takes two big steps toward building new police station On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the Bettendorf City Council approved a resolution to begin construction of the new Bettendorf Police Department, moments after a ground-breaking at the site of the new building at 4501 Devils Glen Road, according to a news release. “This is a monumental day, and it would not be possible without the support [...]
	Democratic candidate kayaks Des Moines River to highlight water quality Democratic candidate for Secretary of Agriculture Chris Jones spent five days kayaking 100 miles of the Des Moines River, an effort tied to a central issue in his campaign: Iowa’s water quality.
	Apple harvest faces challenges after warm spring, late frost A tough growing season brought warm weather and a late frost, but heavy summer rain helped Gravert's Apple Basket Orchard prepare for the season.
	Bettendorf breaks ground on new police station City and construction officials celebrated a ceremonial start to construction of Bettendorf’s new police station on Tuesday.
	Davenport Police Department releases name of officer involved in shooting The name of the Davenport police officer involved in an Aug. 31 shooting has been released by the Davenport Police Department. According to the news release, Officer Matthew Lovelady has cooperated and has been interviewed by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI.) The officer has 16 years of law enforcement experience, which included assignments [...]
	University of Iowa marching band member dies after collapsing at Saturday's game The family of Derek Phillips shared on his Instagram page Monday night that they had made the "heartbreaking decision" to remove life support.
	Adult, juvenile suspects arrested on QC firearm violations Five adults and two juveniles were arrested on firearm violations in Davenport. According to a release from the Davenport Police Department, officers were dispatched Sunday, September 6 at 7:15 p.m. to the 3400 block of Pacific Ave. in reference to a large gathering of people using drugs and causing noise and traffic issues. Upon arrival, [...]
	Iowa nonprofit prepares relief mission to flood-hit Nepal An Iowa nonprofit that has spent years helping students in Nepal is shifting its focus to humanitarian relief after devastating flooding hit communities where the organization has worked.
	KWQC+ to preview Cy-Hawk game KWQC+ will stream an exclusive preview of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series on Thursday.
	Rock Island-Milan superintendent talks progress in annual “State of Schools” Dr. Sharon Williams, superintendent of Rock Island-Milan School District, gave the annual “State of the Schools” address Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the QC Botanical Center, Rock Island.
	Carl Sandburg College president announces retirement Carl Sandburg College President Seamus Reilly has announced that he will retire from his position at the end of his contract on June 30, 2027, after nine years leading the institution, according to a news release. “It truly has been an honor to lead Carl Sandburg College over the past nine years,” Reilly said. “I [...]
	Dozens flee Davenport police, high-powered firearms recovered Davenport police say they’re recovering more and more firearms illegally altered to make them more dangerous.
	Rock Island-Milan schools highlight progress, challenges for new school year The district's annual State of the Schools address highlighted gains in graduation, reading and math, while outlining ongoing challenges and its five-year strategic
	Rock Island State of the Schools Address highlights growth and goals for future Rock Island-Milan Superintendent Sharon Williams spoke to the Rotary Club of Rock Island and Rock Island Kiwanis Club on Tuesday about the district's goals for this year.
	Rock Island to begin fire-hydrant flushing The City of Rock Island’s Water Treatment Plant has temporarily switched to free chlorine whichis an approved water treatment practice widely used to maintain water quality, according to a news release from the City of Rock Island. During this period, some residents may notice a stronger chlorine smell in their tap water. The water remains [...]
	Another hot day coming up Tuesday (but not as bad as last week!) After a super hot and humid week last week, it's about to get hot again Tuesday. That being said, it won't be as bad as last week. Highs will reach the upper 80s to around 90° (last week it was 95° and 96° for 4 straight days.) The heat index should hit the lower to [...]
	Davenport police identify officer who shot armed man during Rockingham Road response Police say Officer Matthew Lovelady fired one shot at a man who was armed and suicidal during a response to Rockingham Road on Aug. 31.
	Davenport police chief releases name of officer who shot armed person last week Police held a press conference Tuesday afternoon, giving an update on the Aug. 31 shooting of an armed man by a Davenport police officer and gun violence prevention efforts.
	Davenport officer who shot armed person on Aug. 31 identified by police chief Police said officers were called to the 3700 block of Rockingham Road for a person who was armed and suicidal.
	Soles For Children hosts QCA giveaways Cold weather will be here before you know it, and a Quad-City organization is helping to ensure that kids have the shoes, coats and more they need. Erwin King and Allie Caves joined Our Quad Cities News with details on the Soles For Children giveaways in the QCA. For more information or to donate, click [...]
	Traffic Alert: Part of 4th Street down to one lane A section of 4th Street is down to one lane Tuesday.
	Man charged in deadly 2025 Davenport motorcycle crash booked into Scott County Jail after arrest in Mexico Samantha Burke died after the motorcycle she was riding on, driven by Alex Uthoff, crashed in May 2025.
	Spoon River Valley teacher Jennifer Burdette named National Rural Teacher of the Year Spoon River Valley CUSD #4 teacher Jennifer Burdette has been named the 2026 National Rural Teacher of the Year by the National Rural Education Association (NREA) in recognition of her leadership, dedication to students and commitment to rural education. Spoon River Valley serves students in Fulton and Knox Counties. NREA announced the award on Aug. [...]
	New report shows the economic toll of ICE raids A new study shows the steep economic cost of 2025's ICE raids in Chicago. Fear kept many immigrants home, draining the area of more than $1.26 billion in lost retail, restaurant, and sales-tax revenue.
	Davenport police address officer involved shooting, separate illegal firearm incident The Davenport Police Department held a press conference on an Aug. 31 officer-involved shooting and a separate Sept. 6 incident involving illegal firearms.
	New game Word Medley from Knox College professor, graduate Sometimes, a dream needs a little technical help to become a reality. Peter Schwartzman and Brij Patel are the brains behind Word Medley, a new online word game. Schwartzman has been playing competitive Scrabble for over 30 years and has written seven self-published word works under the authorship of Dr. Earth. He is the mayor [...]
	Woman’s leg partially severed in East Moline motorcycle crash A woman was severely injured in a motorcycle and car crash on Saturday.
	Iowa State Fair announces 2027 theme Fair officials made the announcement just weeks after a record-breaking 2026 season.
	Scaling multi-unit real estate: Conforming loan limits vs. cash-flow financing Scaling multi-unit real estate: Conforming loan limits vs. cash-flow financingReal estate investors who want to scale multi-unit real estate portfolios face two issues. Tax optimization strategies and income constraints cause them to hit a wall when they reach 3-5 properties if they don’t understand how DSCR loans and cash-flow underwriting work. However, as Griffin Funding, a mortgage and home loan lender, explains below, asset-based financing based on property net operating income (NOI) can continue to scale.The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced last year that conforming loan limit values (CLLs) would rise in 2026, with the baseline for one-unit properties up by $26,250 to a new high of $832,750. At the same time, the two-unit limit crept up to $1,066,250, while four-unit properties increased to $1,601,750.Bear in mind that these figures are dependent on median house prices in a given area, meaning that some regions have even higher CCLs. For instance, in Los Angeles County, the two-unit limit now sits at $1,599,375. Griffin Funding The Reality of Two- to Four-Unit Conforming Loan LimitsConventional financing through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac relies heavily on strict baseline thresholds that set caps based on property size. As mentioned, the standard caps allow up to $1,066,250 for two-unit properties and $1,601,750 for four-unit properties across standard cost areas. High-cost markets offer elevated ceilings, but accessing those funds takes even more time and involves additional bureaucracy.Even when falling below the CLL threshold, agency guidelines impose severe restrictions on the borrower behind the loan. Traditional lenders evaluate personal W-2 income, demand two years of full tax returns, and hold borrowers to a debt-to-income (DTI) ceiling that tops out between 45% and 50% depending on how the loan is underwritten. The long-standing rule of thumb is tighter still: the 28/36 rule puts housing costs at 28% of gross monthly income and total debt at 36%.The central problem with this traditional model is how banks calculate rental income.When writing off legal tax deductions to optimize annual real estate cash flow, tax returns will show artificially lowered net income. This accounting practice works great for reducing tax obligations, but it inadvertently destroys personal DTI calculations for future conventional acquisitions.Cash-Flow Underwriting as a Means of Shifting Focus to Property NOIDebt service coverage ratio (DSCR) financing completely reframes how lenders evaluate investment risk by shifting focus away from personal paychecks. Instead of analyzing W-2s, cash-flow underwriting evaluates whether the asset generates enough net operating income (NOI) to cover its own monthly principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI).When scaling a multi-family portfolio, real estate investors can utilize cash-flow-based DSCR loans to qualify based on property rental revenue rather than personal debt-to-income ratios. This fundamental shift removes the personal income ceiling entirely. A DSCR loan allows multi-unit investors to qualify for capital up to $4.5M based purely on the building's gross rental income, skipping personal DTI limits and tax returns entirely.DSCR is calculated by dividing gross rental income by the cost of servicing the debt, which in this case is made up of PITI. So, for example, a property generating $10,000 per month in lease revenue against a monthly total mortgage payment of $8,000, yields a DSCR of 1.25. Lenders generally look for ratios between 1.0 and 1.25 to approve financing without demanding personal income documentation.Comparing Financing StructuresChoosing the right debt structure depends on whether borrowers prioritize raw leverage or rapid portfolio expansion. Investors evaluating multi-unit options generally consider three main trade-offs. Agency loans offer lower interest rates but enforce strict personal DTI limits and maximum property counts. DSCR financing skips tax return verifications entirely by focusing strictly on property lease performance, and cash-flow loans streamline closing timelines because underwriters analyze real estate appraisals rather than personal tax histories.Because DSCR loans evaluate the real estate entity itself rather than a borrower’s personal paycheck, properties can be acquired directly inside an LLC or asset protection trust from day one. This avoids the deed transfer headaches and due-on-sale triggers common with conventional agency financing.Expanding StrategicallyRelying exclusively on conventional agency loans can eventually force real estate investors to hit a wall created by paper income limits. While conforming financing offers competitive long-term interest rates for initial acquisitions, scaling a sustainable two- to four-unit portfolio often requires shifting to asset-based debt solutions. Leveraging cash-flow underwriting means active real estate investors can continue acquiring cash-flowing multi-unit assets based on the financial merits of the buildings themselves, maintaining steady momentum regardless of tax return adjustments.This story was produced by Griffin Funding and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Kenya's foreign trader crackdown sparks fear among migrant communities Kenya's president orders a crackdown on foreigners running small businesses, amid accusations of xenophobia.
	Dorm room reality: How to stay fresh in college Dorm room reality: How to stay fresh in collegeYou were doing fine at home. Same shower routine, same general approach. Three weeks into dorm life, something feels off. It's not that you've stopped trying. It’s the environment that’s changed, and your routine hasn't caught up yet.How to stay fresh in college isn't about more effort, though. It's about a smarter routine built for the environment you're actually in. AXE, the deodorant brand for guys, offers solutions to the challenges you may be facing in the transition from home to the dorms.Why Does Dorm Life Make Staying Fresh Harder?Shared living changes the conditions in which your routine operates. Here are five reasons it feels harder, most of which aren’t about your hygiene.1. Shared bathrooms = less timeYou're not the only one who needs the bathroom first thing in the morning. That means shorter showers, less time to towel-dry, and rushed product application. A damp underarm doesn't bond with antiperspirant the way a dry one does.2. Packed schedules cut routines shortClass is at 9 a.m., lab is at 11 a.m. and lunch is in 20 minutes. The leisurely morning routine from home doesn't fit a college day. The full towel-dry doesn't make it. The proper deodorant swipe or spray doesn't happen. Each skipped step shows up later.3. Limited storageA dorm doesn't have a full bathroom cabinet. You're working with a shared shower caddy, a small drawer, and whatever fits in your backpack. The full lineup from home won't transfer. The goal is to choose four or five things that do the job.4. Skipped or rushed showersMiss one shower because the bathroom was full or the hot water ran out, and that's not just one day off. Bacteria build up on skin and clothes, and the freshness problem grows.5. Close spaces raise the stakesWhen you live within five feet of other people around the clock, you notice scent more. There's science behind it, too."We usually can't smell our own body odor very accurately because of a process called olfactory adaptation, often called â€˜nose blindnessâ€™,” explains Unilever research and development manager David Waters. “When your brain is constantly exposed to the same smell, like your own scent, it quickly tunes it out so you can notice new or important odors instead. Other people aren't adapted to your scent, so they're often more sensitive to it than you are."But when you’re constantly changing environments, from your room to the corridors and the lecture hall, nose blindness doesn’t work so well. You catch a whiff of yourself in moments you wouldn't have at home. The fix isn't piling on more product. A consistent routine that keeps things under control is all you need.Shared Bathroom Challenges and FixesShared bathrooms aren't just inconvenient. They actively work against your hygiene routine if you don't adapt. Here's what's going wrong and how to fix it:Shorter showers: Shower time drops in a dorm. There is less time for body wash to work and less time to rinse thoroughly.The fix: Go off-peak at mid-morning or late evening. This means more space, more hot water, and less time pressure.Rushing the towel-dry. Damp skin means your antiperspirant can't bond properly and won't work the way it should.The fix: Walk back to your room damp, dry off properly, then apply antiperspirant. Give it a minute before you get dressed.Constant humidity. Communal bathrooms stay warm and humid all day. Wet product applied here won't set the way it should.The fix: It’s the same as above. Apply everything in your room, not the bathroom.Reduced privacy. Moisturizing, shaving, and other grooming steps get rushed or skipped.The fix: Move them to your room. Adding two extra minutes there beats skipping them. Your Dorm Grooming Kit: Keep It SimpleA dorm grooming routine works when it's stripped back to college essentials. Trying to replicate the full home setup in a shower caddy is where routines break down. Here's what should be in your kit:Choose one quality body wash to handle the daily cleanse. Look for formulas that are antibacterial and odor-targeting.Pit protection: Look for 48-hour sweat and odor protection in a stick.Use a body spray for a midday refresh between classes when a shower isn't happening.A shower tool, like a loofah, builds better lather with less product, cutting the time you need.Microfiber towel: This fabric dries faster than cotton, takes up less storage space, and keeps the bathroom-to-room walk less wet. What to leave at homeMultiple body wash variants (one for gym, one for every day)Specialty products you don't use more than once a weekAnything requiring elaborate storage or refrigerationFewer products used consistently beat more products used occasionally.More Hacks that Make a DifferenceStaying fresh all day at college comes down to a few more key tweaks.Apply antiperspirant the night before"The most effective way to apply an antiperspirant is in the evening, before bed,” says Unilever R&D scientist Matt Annecharico. “This allows ample time for the antiperspirant gel plug to form in the sweat duct, as there is less movement and sweating during sleep."One application the night before protects you through a morning shower and into your day. No more rushed morning swipe on damp pits.Change shirts more oftenManaging body odor in college is about more than showers and sprays. Annecharico explains: "Clothing doesn't just absorb sweat; it changes the climate sitting on top of your skin, which directly determines how much your body sweats. Breathable fabrics and natural fibers allow for more evaporation, while clothing that is synthetic and fits tight does not allow for as much evaporation, which means more sweat can occur."Synthetic shirts hold bacteria longer than your skin does. In a dorm, the person next to you is always close enough to notice. Change them more often.Stay on top of laundryDon't let workout gear or sweaty shirts sit damp for days. Hang things to air out between washes if the laundry cycle is backed up. Damp clothes in a pile get smelly fast.Try to sleep moreWhen you're sleep-deprived, your body's cortisol levels remain elevated, which just means more stress sweat the next day.FAQsWhy does body odor feel more noticeable in shared living?Sharing with roommates heightens your senses, while shared bathrooms and rushed schedules mean that the routines to manage B.O. are also rushed. Wearing synthetic clothing and limited laundry cycles adds to bacterial buildup.How do shared bathrooms affect your grooming routine?Shower time is reduced, which means you’re rushing the basics. Shower off-peak when you can and towel-dry in your room. Apply antiperspirant the night before to remove this step when you’re rushing in the morning.What's the easiest way to stay fresh when time and space are limited?Take a daily shower with an odor-fighting body wash. Apply deodorant or antiperspirant to clean, dry armpits. Keep a body spray in your backpack to stay fresh between classes and change shirts more often than you think you need to.What deodorant works best for dorm life?A long-lasting antiperspirant applied the night before protects your pits from sweat and odor. Add a body spray for a quick refresh during the day. Both fit in a shower caddy or backpack.How often should you shower in college?Once a day, and again after gym, getting sweaty or when the weather’s hot. Miss more than a day or two in a dorm, and B.O. builds fast.Dorm life isn't designed with your routine in mind. Shared bathrooms, packed schedules, and close quarters all make staying fresh harder at college than it was at home. But harder doesn't mean impossible.This story was produced by AXE and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Busy airports for private jets during back-to-school season Busy airports for private jets during back-to-school seasonNorth America and Europe account for over 80% of global private aviation flight hours. In the U.S. and Europe, the late August to early September (aka back-to-school season) marks a transition period. The end of summer vacation, the start of the school year, and the beginning of business travel season have people moving around, trying to catch a flight to their destinations.For charter flight operators, this time of year brings a predictable surge that includes congestion at airports and scheduling of crews. Those who can prepare in advance for this increase in business will position themselves to improve customer satisfaction and pull in new flyers looking for comfort and flexibility, Jettly reports. Jettly What Really Fuels the Late-August SurgeData from tracking intelligence show that late August consistently ranks as the second-busiest period of the year for North American business jet movements (behind late July). This may seem counterintuitive given that the heat of summer has died down and the holiday season hasn’t started yet.1. The End of SummerThe end of August is the mandatory hard stop for summer leisure travel. This means that families spending their summer in second-home destinations (Aspen, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, the Hamptons, or in Europe) are returning to their main residence in big cities en masse.2. The Start of Business Travel SeasonJune, July, and parts of August tend to be slower for private business flying. But this doesn’t mean that private flight operators are left in the dust, planes grounded, and crew unemployed. It just means that the demand is headed elsewhere.Digital marketplaces see a surge in charter requests from families and holidaymakers heading to summer destinations, making mid-summer one of the busiest times of the year for private jet activity.Come late August/early September, the demand shifts back to business travel as C-suite executives and business owners hurry back into meetings and talks about mergers and acquisitions.3. The Start of the School YearThe back-to-school season means that many students will head to school. When flyers have a lot of luggage to carry around (typical for the beginning of a new school year), they may not want to navigate airport crowds in addition to trying to find their way to their dorm or accommodation from a major air hub.As a result, many students coming from wealthy families will take the private aviation route. Some may even be accompanied by family members who want to usher them into the new year.One major advantage operators can market to potential flyers (besides the added comfort and increased luggage allowance) is that a private aircraft can land directly at small regional fields. For instance, for a flyer going to Ohio University, operators can take flyers to the Gordon K. Bush Ohio University Airport (KUNI), located about 10–12 miles southwest of the main campus.Busiest Airports During Back-to-School SeasonAs a general rule, the private jet airports that tend to get busy when there’s a spike in air traffic (like during holidays or at the start of summer) will also be crowded when the new school year starts. However, the ones located (and serving) one or more major universities will be the most troublesome.Teterboro, KTEB, NJConsistently ranked as one of the busiest private jet airports in the U.S. and the world, KTEB is the primary private aviation hub for the New York tri-state area. As such, it serves as the primary hub for families returning from summer estates or moving students into Ivy League and Northeast universities.Westchester County, KHPN, White Plains, NYKHPN functions as a primary northern gateway for families moving students into elite independent prep/boarding schools and colleges across the Northeast. Additionally, many students from out of state or abroad use it to reach nearby institutions such as Yale University, Columbia University, and local liberal arts colleges.Air Hubs in EuropeThe situation is a bit different in Europe, since there aren’t as many private air hubs as in the U.S., which can make things dicey during high-traffic seasons.For the end of summer, expect the usual culprits to work at capacity:Paris Le Bourget (LFPB)London Farnborough (EGLF)Nice Côte d’Azur (LFMN)Olbia Costa Smeralda (LIEO)These are classic summer vacation hubs frequented by wealthy Americans, but they also serve as the main entry point for students coming in for study.Operators Must Plan Logistics Around Flyer NeedsBesides the annoyance of finding a convenient slot and strict landing and parking mandates, the busy season also brings higher prices. When planning for vacation, it’s always good practice to plan for the return as well. The back-to-school season is chaotic, and this extends to private air travel.This story was produced by Jettly and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Pre-game grooming routine: Shower, layer, protect Pre-game grooming routine: Shower, layer, protectWhy your pre-game routine mattersA solid routine not only prepares your body, but also your mind. When you take a few minutes to reset and stick to easy, repeatable steps, you can calm your nerves, manage stress sweat, and feel more in control. Adrenaline can ramp things up fast, but prepping your skin and body helps you stay one step ahead, Dove Men + Care reports.Step 1: Shower RightThe goal is to get clean without drying out your skin. A warm shower opens your pores and helps wash away sweat and buildup. Skip the hot water as it can damage your skin and leave it dry. If you’re still using harsh soaps, it’s time for a change. Swap them for a mild or plant-based body wash.“Mild cleansers, when properly formulated, can wash away dirt and grease while ensuring minimal or no interaction of skin’s own proteins and oils,” explains Unilever R&D Manager Bivash Dasgupta. This is why a quality body wash will work with your skin, not against it, leaving it clean and moisturized.Shampooing your hair can happen every other day, especially if you have dry hair, while using a conditioner regularly will help with softness and strength.Step 2: Exfoliate Like a ProExfoliation clears away dead skin, leaving your face and body smooth and refreshed. Use a gentle face scrub and body wash or one product that’s gentle enough for both areas. Keep it light, no need to scrub hard, and exfoliating twice a week is plenty.Step 3: ShaveNow that your pores have opened up with the steam, use a moisturizing shave cream to help your razor glide easily. Rinse off with warm water and follow up with a soothing balm to calm redness and sensitivity. Wait a few minutes to let it absorb.Step 4: Lock in HydrationMoisturize your skin with a lightweight, non-greasy face lotion to lock in hydration without the shine. Some come with a built-in SPF (essential when you’re outdoors at the game).Step 5: Keep Things FreshApply antiperspirant to dry underarm skin to lock in long-lasting sweat and odor protection for your game day.Pro tip: Pack a travel-size antiperspirant in your bag or go for a whole-body deodorant if you want coverage all over.The low-down on antiperspirantsWhen it comes to staying dry and fresh, knowing your options is key. From everyday use to game-day sweat protection, the right antiperspirant will keep you covered.But is it bad to use antiperspirant every day? The short answer is no. Questions about antiperspirant safety come up often, but daily antiperspirant use is generally safe and effective for most people."Long-term use of antiperspirants is safe when used as directed, and they even begin to work better the more you use them," explains R&D Manager at Unilever, Jamie Regan.Choosing your protectionSelecting the right product depends on how active your day is and how much sweat defense you need. Here’s a quick guide:Deodorant (non-antiperspirant): Ideal for non-game days with low activity or when fragrance is your main goal. A deodorant’s job is to mask odor, but it can't stop sweat.Regular antiperspirant: Provides 48-hour protection to keep you dry and comfortable.Clinical-strength antiperspirant: Made for heavy sweating or high-pressure moments like game day. It uses a higher concentration of active ingredients to provide maximum protection, and some of these products can work up to 96 hours. But being powerful doesn’t mean harsh. Many products are non-irritating, dermatologist-tested and paraben-free.Applying for best resultsGet the most out of your antiperspirant by following these three simple steps:1. Dry your underarms thoroughly after your shower.2. Apply a thin, even layer of antiperspirant.3. Allow the product to dry completely before dressing.Pro tip: Apply at night. Sweat glands are less active while you sleep, giving the product time to absorb fully and work harder the next day.FAQsWhy do I sweat more before a big event?When you’re gearing up for something big, your body releases adrenaline. That triggers “stress sweat,” which comes from different glands than your usual sweat. It’s a bit richer, so when it mixes with bacteria on your skin, the smell can be stronger.Does having a routine reduce stress sweating?Yes. Sticking to a routine helps your mind feel calmer. When you’re less stressed, your body produces less adrenaline, and this means less stress sweating.What’s the best deodorant for game day?It depends on what you need. If odor is your main concern, a good deodorant will do the job. If you’re expecting some nerves or want to stay dry under pressure, go with an antiperspirant. Daily antiperspirant use has been shown to be safe.Should I apply antiperspirant in the morning or at night?While many people apply antiperspirant in the morning, applying it at night is more effective. It gives the ingredients time to settle and start working while your body is at rest and you’re sweating less.From shower prep to sweat and odor defense, building a daily routine with consistent steps adds up to confidence you can count on. Taking care of yourself also reduces stress and gets you mentally ready to perform, whether on the field, at work, or in social situations. When your self-care habits are solid, showing up prepared becomes second nature.This story was produced by Dove Men + Care and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Davenport man arrested after allegedly harassing, stalking woman A Davenport man is facing charges in Scott County District Court after chasing a woman and her friend in his car through traffic and throwing a hammer at her car.
	PHOTO GALLERY: Skydivers drop in on Donahue Days Donahue Days helped wrap up the summer festival season. NSP photos by Noah Glasgow.
	Survey: Is AI replacing insurance agents for entrepreneurs? Survey: Is AI replacing insurance agents for entrepreneurs?Entrepreneurs are using AI tools for insurance research at rates comparable to insurance agents and peer networks, according to a new ERGO NEXT survey of small business owners.Of those who have used AI, most trust the information they receive, signaling that entrepreneurs are becoming more comfortable using digital tools to navigate complex business topics that have traditionally required human expertise.However, the data does not point to a future where AI replaces advisors altogether.Instead, entrepreneurs appear to be using AI as a complement to human expertise, combining the speed and accessibility of technology with the judgment and experience of trusted advisors.Key findingsOur survey of 501 small business owners reveals:36% of entrepreneurs have used an AI chatbot or search tool to explore business insurance options.94% of entrepreneurs who have used AI for business insurance advice trust the information provided.31% of entrepreneurs who have used AI for business insurance advice trust the information provided more than other sources.Continue reading to learn more about how small business owners are using AI and other sources to learn about and purchase business insurance.AI is now part of the business insurance decision processOver a third of entrepreneurs (36%) have used an AI chatbot or search tool like ChatGPT or Claude to explore business insurance options. That’s surpassing 33% who have consulted other business owners and 31% who have consulted an insurance agent.That parity is significant. It suggests that business owners are increasingly comfortable turning to AI, but they’re not abandoning human advisors. The future of AI in insurance is likely to be collaborative, with technology supporting, not replacing, professional guidance. ERGO NEXT With AI trust high, adoption could climbAs more business owners turn to AI tools for insurance research, confidence in the information these platforms provide is remarkably high. The survey findings suggest that trust is becoming a key driver of AI adoption in insurance-related decision-making.Among entrepreneurs who have used AI for business insurance advice, 94% say they trust the information they receive. Nearly one-third (31%) trust AI tools more than other sources, while 63% trust them about the same. Only 7% say they trust AI less than traditional sources of information.For many entrepreneurs, AI tools provide a fast, accessible way to learn about coverage options, understand industry terminology and prepare for conversations with agents or insurers. ERGO NEXT Insurance agents will play a more strategic role as AI plays a greater role in insurance adviceToday, 64% of small businesses that have insurance are underinsured.In the coming years, growing AI adoption may help close that gap by making insurance information more accessible and easier to understand.And as entrepreneurs gain access to more information and a clearer understanding of their options, agents have an opportunity to focus less on explaining the basics and more on providing tailored guidance.MethodologyERGO NEXT Insurance surveyed 501 U.S. small business owners, founders and sole proprietors about their business risk profiles. The respondent pool consisted of 250 entrepreneurs in their first year of business and 251 entrepreneurs in their first two to five years of business. The survey was conducted from April 29 to May 12, 2026.Frequently asked questions about small business insurance researchHow is AI being used in insurance today?AI is increasingly being used in insurance research to help consumers understand coverage options, compare policies, comprehend insurance terminology and identify potential risks. According to ERGO NEXT research, 36% of small business owners have already used an AI chatbot or search tool to explore business insurance options.Is AI changing the insurance industry?Yes, AI is transforming how consumers research, purchase and manage their coverage. While insurance agents remain important advisors in this process, AI tools are becoming a trusted source of information, helping business owners make more informed decisions.Do small business owners trust AI for insurance information?Among small business owners who have used AI tools, 94% say they trust the information from those tools the same as or more than other sources, according to a 2026 survey from ERGO NEXT.Do small businesses use insurance agents?Yes, 31% of small business owners say they’ve consulted an insurance agent when researching the right type of insurance for their business, according to a 2026 survey from ERGO NEXT.This story was produced by ERGO NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	You might find your next job through your financial app You might find your next job through your financial appMore than 20 million involuntary job separations happen in the U.S. each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For many workers, the next step is navigating an increasingly complex hiring process that relies on automation and digital screening, often without the tools or visibility to understand how those systems work. EarnIn, an earnings management and payroll company, examines how financial apps are trying to help address the discrepancy between job seekers and job posters.According to the World Economic Forum, more than 80% of companies use automation or AI somewhere in their hiring process. Resumes are scored, ranked, and filtered often before a human sees them. The workers hit hardest may also be the ones least likely to have access to the recruiters, resume coaches, and professional networks that make these systems navigable. In many cases, the problem is a lack of access to the tools that translate ability into an interview. In a 2025 Checkr survey, 58% of respondents said they believe that it is impossible to land an interview or get a response through traditional job boards and job search websites.The incumbent model can't fix this because it was never built toJob boards are built around employer demand: The employer is the customer, and the candidate is the inventory. Success is measured in postings, promoted listings, recruiter subscriptions, and application volume — not in whether a worker actually gets hired.But more applications don't produce better outcomes for workers or employers. They produce noise: application black holes, algorithmic filtering, ghost jobs. According to iHire’s 2025 Online Recruiting Report, 59% of candidates said applying for jobs and not hearing back from employers was a top job search challenge, while 51% of employers said they were frustrated by candidates ghosting them. Qualified candidates can face months of rejection; employers, drowning in volume, lean harder on the same platforms, which are incentivized to solve for quantity, not quality.Change who pays, and you change the productThe job board model shares the same structural flaw as many other recommendation platforms. When a company earns money from what it recommends, those recommendations end up working for the payer, not the user. The fix is considering a different business model. Costco makes its margin on membership fees, so it has no reason to steer you toward a higher-margin brand. It can simply carry the best thing at the lowest price. When the revenue comes from elsewhere, the recommendation can be based on what's best for the user.The same logic extends to how the tools themselves can be free or nearly free. Shopify gives merchants software for almost nothing and makes its money when those merchants actually sell, through payments, financing, and transaction fees. Building tools that genuinely help a small business grow is the business model, because Shopify profits when its merchants do. Job search can work the same way. When a company's success depends on customers remaining employed, earning income, and improving their financial health, its incentives are naturally aligned with helping people maintain and grow their earnings.Why financial platforms are positioned to helpFinancial platforms have scale. Financial services contribute more than $2 trillion annually to the U.S. economy, and financial apps have become a routine part of how many people manage their finances. That reach matters because a job search tool is only useful if people can find it, and financial apps are already part of many people’s daily routines.Then there's the data. Platforms connected to workers' financial lives can see things a job board can't. Whether through payroll, banking, earned wage access, or other financial tools, changes such as reduced hours, a disrupted paycheck, or a job transition can show up in earnings data in near real time, often before a worker has updated a profile anywhere. A job board doesn't know when someone has been laid off, but a platform connected to earnings may. That changes the starting point for help. That creates ways to connect people with jobs, financial resources, skills training, and higher-paying opportunities as needs evolve.Workers use job boards episodically, when they need work. Financial platforms, by contrast, may already engage with workers before, during, and after a job transition. That creates new ways to support workers with jobs and resources tailored to their needs. The question "where will people find their next job?" has had the same answer for decades: a job board. But as hiring grows more automated and traditional models are strained, that answer looks increasingly fragile. Looking forward, the more interesting answer may be the financial app already on your phone.This story was produced by EarnIn and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	How to build business credit as a small business owner How to build business credit as a small business ownerAccess to cash and credit is a small business’s lifeline. Your business’s credit rating shows lenders, suppliers, and other vendors how financially stable your business is, as well as how well you’ve been able to manage your cash and pay your business debts on time.Establishing a strong business credit score is the first step to helping your business get ahead, such as by making it easier to secure financing when you need it—and with the most advantageous rates and terms possible.Whether you’re just starting out and building credit for the first time, or you’re running an established business with an existing credit history, it’s important to know how to approach the ongoing process of building business credit throughout your business’s lifecycle.In this article, Bluevine shares what you need to know to establish, maintain, and build business credit, from getting to know your business credit score to learning how a strong credit profile will open new doors for your business.What is a business credit score vs. a personal credit score?Business credit scores and personal credit scores are similar in many ways. They both measure how likely you are to repay your debts, which can influence lenders' decisions to extend credit to you (or, in the case of business credit, your business), and on what terms. When it comes to accessing loans or financing for your small business, some lenders will look at both personal and business credit scores to make a decision about a small business's creditworthiness.What is a personal credit score?Personal credit score is what most of us are familiar with, since it plays a large role in everyday life, whether it's applying for credit cards, securing a mortgage, financing a car, or the like. Personal credit score measures your personal payment history, credit utilization, and other key factors to determine your creditworthiness as an individual. A few things to remember about personal credit scores are that they are connected to your Social Security number, range from 300-850, and can be found through reports by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.What is a business credit score?Like your personal credit score, a business credit score measures financial health and creditworthiness, with the key distinction being that the score pertains to your company as opposed to you as an individual. Business credit scores are important information for any business loan, but not everyone knows theirs—a May 2026 Bluevine survey showed that 49% of SMBs don’t even know their business credit score.Unlike personal credit scores, business credit scores are linked to you by your employer identification number (EIN) or business tax ID number. They also typically range from 0 to 100. Like personal credit scores, business credit scores are reported on by three major credit bureaus, but the big three for business credit are: Experian, Equifax, and Dun & Bradstreet.You might have different goals for each score, but when all is said and done, the goal for both is the same: to establish yourself as trustworthy, and boost your value in the eyes of potential lenders.Understanding the scaleAs mentioned above, business credit scores typically range from 0 to 100, with zero representing a high-risk business and anything above 75 typically signaling to lenders that your business is a low-risk borrower.How to check your business credit scoreJust as you’d check your personal credit score by referencing reports from major credit reporting bureaus, the same applies to checking and verifying your business credit score. When it comes to your business credit score, there are three major credit reporting bureaus: Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax. While the credit report from each bureau might provide a slightly different score depending on the weight given to different factors, each report will generally look at and provide the same information about your business.Here’s where things aren’t quite the same as checking your personal credit score: While the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to free copies of your personal credit reports once a year as a consumer, the same federal law doesn’t apply to business credit reports.You may still have access to a free snapshot of your credit score—for example, Dun & Bradstreet offers free monthly business credit score insights, and Nav provides a free summary based on your collective score from all three major business credit bureaus. However, it’s important to note that these free services won’t give you the full picture when it comes to your business.Reasons to check your business credit scoreBefore discussing how to check your business credit score, it’s important to know why you should do it. Bluevine's 2026 Small Business Financing Report showed that 56% of SMB owners didn't check their business credit score before applying for financing in the last year. Not great. Here are four reasons why it’s a good idea to check your business credit score frequently.1. Mistakes happenA vendor or lender may report incorrect information, or some other business’s data can mistakenly end up on your report. If you don’t check, you won’t know.2. Credit scores changeWhenever new information is reported by your lenders and vendors, your credit reports—and, by extension, your business credit score—will likely be updated to reflect the latest information.3. Fraud can occurBusiness credit fraud and identity theft are growing scourges and may result in negative information on your credit report. Monitoring your report on a regular basis could help ensure that you catch any suspicious activity early and avoid bigger problems down the road.4. You could get better financingBusiness owners who understand their business credit are 41% more likely to be approved for financing, according to data from Nav. Unlike with personal credit reports, anyone can buy a copy of your business credit report at any time—with or without your knowledge or permission—in order to evaluate how risky it is to work with you. Diligently staying on top of your score can guarantee that you’re aware of the picture that prospective lenders and partners are getting when they look into your business.What you’ll see when you check your business credit reportEach ratings agency has its own process for collecting and verifying data, but the main sections are pretty similar. Here’s a list of the things you’ll typically find as you review your business credit report.1. Business profileThe first thing on your credit report will be a section that gives a snapshot of your business, including your business name, address, status of incorporation, years in operation, sales, and size.2. Business credit scoreEach business credit report will provide your business credit score, along with a brief description of how to interpret that score and the different factors that are impacting it.3. Risk ratingYour report will include a risk score between 1 and 5 (1 indicating the lowest risk; 5 indicating the highest) to signal the financial stability and creditworthiness of your business.4. Credit summaryThis section of your credit report will highlight details about your credit history and performance, including credit line, days beyond terms (DBT), balance history, bankruptcies, and payment trends.5. Payment historyThis section offers information about your business’s last several years of payment history, showing payments to vendors in addition to lenders and highlighting payment trends, such as continuous on-time payments.6. Legal filings, collections, and liensWhile you’ll get a snapshot of this information in your credit summary, this section of your credit report will break it all down further, giving you more specifics around any negative marks on your score that could serve as a red flag to prospective lenders.Common mistakes that can hurt your business credit scoreUnderstanding how to build strong business credit is just one piece of the puzzle; making sure you have the right tools to continuously protect a strong credit score and avoid throwing your business off track is the other.Here are seven common mistakes that can negatively impact your business credit, whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for some time.1. Maxing out your business credit cardMany lenders prefer to lend to businesses that keep their utilization rate under 30%. This means that if you’re constantly maxing out your business credit card, this could negatively impact your overall business credit score. The good news is that, even if you’re regularly using your credit, you can ask your lender when they issue reports to credit bureaus and simply make sure to pay down your balance before the end of the reporting cycle every month. This will help ensure that credit utilization doesn’t ding your score.2. Missing loan paymentsMissed or late payments are a red flag to lenders and signal that your business is at higher risk of defaulting on a loan. For this reason, failing to make on-time payments on business loans—even just once or twice—could cause your score to drop.3. Ignoring errors on your business credit reportAgain, mistakes happen, so taking for granted that the information on your credit report is accurate could ultimately hurt your score. It’s important to regularly review your business credit reports for errors and, if you spot any, to follow the appropriate dispute resolution process to request a correction.4. Applying for new credit too oftenApplying for multiple new business credit cards or loans within a short period may signal to the credit rating agencies that you’re in a financial pinch, and they’ll see you as a higher-risk borrower. This will ultimately hurt your score and your chances of accessing credit in the future.5. Not using business credit at allResponsibly using credit can be an important part of building credit. Even if you don’t need credit or financing right this minute, it’s still a good idea to establish a business credit history. Federal agencies, state/local agencies, and many larger companies tend to screen potential partners and vendors by checking their business credit. So if you want to be eligible for these potentially valuable contracts, it’s essential that you build and maintain a good business credit track record.6. Exposing your business to fraudCriminals can steal sensitive business information, like your business’s tax identification number, and use it to open credit lines or get business loans in your business’s name. Keep sensitive company information safe, such as by keeping an eye out for phishing scams, and monitor your business credit regularly.7. Working with vendors that don’t report positive activity to credit bureausMany vendors don’t report to the business credit rating agencies at all, so your history of on-time payments could be going unnoticed where it matters most. To make sure your payment history counts, open a vendor account or line of credit with a company that reports to one of the three business credit bureaus: Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax.How to improve your business credit scoreOnce you are aware of what information is important to the business credit rating agencies, you can take the steps necessary to positively impact your score. Of course, the best way to achieve a strong business credit score is to start off on the right foot and build that score over time. That said, if your business credit score is less than optimal, all is not lost. Improving your business credit is possible, but it could take time.Keep in mind that, like your personal credit score, negative marks on your business credit report should naturally fall off your report within seven years. However, bigger derogatory marks—like a bankruptcy—can take up to 20 years to fall off your report.This story was produced by Bluevine and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	Judge weighing arguments to halt Illinois’ ‘medical aid in dying’ law ahead of Sept. 12 start Illinois is set to become the first Midwestern state to allow terminally ill adults to take life-ending medication prescribed by physicians when the law goes into effect late this week.
	Man extradited to Scott County after being arrested in Mexico over a year after fatal crash The man who was arrested in Mexico last month after being on the run following a motorcycle crash has been extradited to Scott County.
	PHOTO GALLERY: Democrats, Republicans, Independents—oh my! Election Day approaches—and political campaigns were in full swing for Labor Day in McCausland. NSP photos by Noah Glasgow.
	A practical 2026 guide to accounts payable for SaaS companies A practical 2026 guide to accounts payable for SaaS companiesFinance leaders at scaling SaaS companies can’t run accounts payable like a back-office payment queue. The finance team is protecting burn, gross margin, and budget accountability. Spend now spans subscriptions, cloud usage, cards, and contractor invoices. That mix raises the stakes well past paying vendors on time.Traditional accounts payable (AP) tools and playbooks tend to assume companies buy physical goods against a purchase order (PO). That assumption creates exceptions for recurring digital spend. In a scaling SaaS company, vendor obligations center on software subscriptions and cloud infrastructure. Contractor invoices sit on top of that model, and much of the spend arrives without a PO or the record two-way matching needs.The result is a process built for a different business. Controls miss things they should catch, and renewal reviews often happen after the charge has already hit the books. SaaS AP needs controls built around vendor relationships, renewal calendars, usage-based billing, and distributed approvals. The controls should create an audit trail without forcing most recurring spend through a PO workflow.Done well, AP gives finance defensible burn and gross margin numbers. It also ties vendor obligations back to budget owners, so the workflow matches how the business spends. That combination turns AP into a system that finance can build board reporting on, rather than a monthly scramble to reconstruct what already happened. Use the information below from Brex to help inform your decision.What is accounts payable for SaaS companies?Accounts payable for SaaS companies is everything that happens between a bill arriving and the finance team paying and recording it. The process consists of intake, validation, approval, payment, and general ledger (GL) entry, in that order, which is why a well-run accounts payable department treats each stage as a discrete checkpoint rather than one blurred task. Traditional AP builds that sequence around physical goods, POs, and two-way matching. SaaS AP builds it around contracts, recurring charges, and usage-based billing events instead.Finance often needs tighter visibility into vendor management, since much of the spend keeps recurring, whether or not anyone checks it. For many scaling SaaS teams, AP spend arrives without a PO, cloud bills are variable and usage-driven, and tool renewals trigger automatically by contract. That visibility gap tends to show up first in the renewal calendar, where nobody notices a tool auto-renewed until the charge is already sitting in the ledger.Contractor invoices may land monthly in multiple currencies with no standard format, and generic workflows may not fit this model. That’s why some software finance teams run accounts payable management through spreadsheets and card statements, then reconcile disconnected tools at close, well short of a genuinely paperless accounts payable setup. The workaround holds up until invoice volume grows past what a spreadsheet can track without dropped line items.AP quality feeds gross margin when finance codes cloud and tooling spend as cost of goods sold. It also drags on operating efficiency when subscription and contractor operating expenses go against the budget. AP records support startup burn rate, so the finance leader owns what happens next.An underdeveloped AP function at a SaaS company can make burn, gross margin, and budget reporting harder to defend, turning AP quality into a board-level concern.Why is AP harder at SaaS companies than at traditional businesses?Traditional AP assumes a PO, a receiving record, and predictable billing. SaaS spend breaks each of those assumptions in a different way. Finance runs into five recurring friction points.Much SaaS spend may not have a POMany vendor obligations across subscriptions, cloud, and contractors never generate a PO, even in a disciplined procurement management environment. Routing and approval workflows built for traditional AP have to account for both PO- and non-PO-based invoices, and Payables Place research shows that PO-matched invoices can move through approval “straight-through” while non-PO spend routes to manual review. Running standard AP workflows on a PO-first model creates frequent exceptions for SaaS companies. SaaS AP has to validate spend against contracts, vendor records, and invoice-matching approvals instead of relying on PO matching alone.Software auto-renewals move faster than approval cyclesAuto-renewal clauses can turn inattention into overspend when nobody actively manages them, since unused entitlements and overlapping tools tend to accumulate quietly on their own renewal timelines once a software stack grows past a handful of tools. A company running a large application stack faces a near-constant stream of renewal events. Each one can hit the card statement without a prior-period review, locking in another year of spend nobody reapproved. A renewal calendar that opens a review window before the notice deadline gives finance time to check usage, renegotiate, or cancel before the cycle repeats.Cloud infrastructure bills arrive late with variable totalsCloud infrastructure bills for usage across products, environments, and teams on a single invoice. The invoice isn't available until the billing period closes. Finance works from estimates until the bill lands, and the amount can shift materially during a launch or migration. Without allocation coding that splits cloud spend by product, environment, or customer segment, the bill lands in the GL as a single undifferentiated number. Finance can’t act on a number like that.Global contractors operate outside standard AP termsA SaaS company's contractor base can span multiple countries, currencies, and billing formats, and invoices may arrive in nonstandard layouts that don't align with the contract's statement of work. Without standardized onboarding, the AP team spends time chasing missing tax forms and correcting banking details. IRS instructions explain that Form W-9 provides taxpayer identification for U.S. payees, while Form W-8 provides foreign-status certification for non-U.S. payees. Requirements vary by payee type and jurisdiction, and many finance teams loop in a tax professional to confirm the specifics.Recurring charges complicate the closeAt month-end, the AP team may have to accrue for cloud usage that won't be invoiced until the following week, subscriptions billed midcycle, contractor invoices still in review, and finance amortizing annual prepayments. When card charges, bill-pay invoices, and ERP entries sit in separate tools, an accurate accruals schedule requires reconciling across multiple data sources. The close runs longer, and the burn figure drifts from actual committed spend. A vendor register that feeds both AP and close workflows fixes this, which is one of the more direct ways for a finance team to automate accounting processes without a full system overhaul. It shows expected timing, owner, and coding before the close even begins.How the 4 SaaS spend categories require different controlsSaaS spend spans four distinct categories, each behaving differently enough to need its own control approach. Cloud infrastructure, software subscriptions, contractors and agencies, and marketing spend each carry a different primary risk, so a single blanket policy will not catch all of them. Matching the control to the category is what keeps AP from either over-policing routine subscriptions or under-checking the vendors that carry real financial exposure. Brex Cloud infrastructureCloud infrastructure can be one of the largest single-vendor AP obligations at SaaS companies, so it needs cloud spend management built around variance controls for usage-based billing. A budget range with an alert threshold that fires on actual or forecasted spend gives finance a signal before the invoice even posts, a pattern that shows up consistently across the AP automation software built for usage-based vendors. That signal matters most for SaaS companies, where a single unmonitored spike in compute or storage usage can move gross margin before anyone in finance notices.Unusual spikes route to finance review before finance codes and posts the bill. Default coding rules can split the bill between cost of goods sold (COGS) and operating expenses (OpEx) in the GL, based on functional purpose, the company’s accounting policy, and applicable standards. For committed-use contracts, such as a one-year reserved-capacity commitment with a cloud provider, AP teams also track usage against the commitment.Unused reservation spend becomes visible before the commitment renews, so finance can catch margin pressure before it turns into a board-reporting surprise.Software subscriptionsSoftware subscriptions are often a high-count, high-churn spend category for SaaS companies. Finance needs visibility into the following details.Which tools existWho owns them internallyWhat they cost on an annualized basisWhen they renewWhether usage still justifies the spendA department head may put some SaaS tools on a credit card without going through a formal procurement request first, which is exactly the kind of shadow spend a vendor list is built to catch. A vendor list with named internal owners and renewal flags gives finance an operating record, with flags set 60 to 90 days out, so there's time to act before the notice deadline, and it supports the kind of documented accounts payable policy that holds up at audit. Card programs that support ghost cards issued per vendor with spend limits help finance cap and shut off spend at the source. Getting this right turns the software stack into a managed portfolio instead of a loose set of recurring charges, and it gives budget owners usage data to defend renewals with.Contractors plus agenciesContractors and agencies bring high-value, contractually driven spend that carries real compliance risk. Finance teams commonly keep verified banking details on file before the first payment, along with applicable tax documentation collected at onboarding for U.S. and international contractors. A repeatable process for collecting, validating, and storing supplier bank information is a standard AP security control against payment fraud.The IRS weighs behavioral control, financial control, and the nature of the relationship when it decides whether a worker is an employee or a contractor. Misclassification can create employment tax exposure for the business, which is why classification decisions for recurring or cross-border engagements often go through counsel. That distinction becomes harder to draw cleanly once a contractor works exclusively for one company across multiple renewal cycles, which is often when classification risk quietly increases. Standardized invoice templates, approval paths, and a documented accounts payable document management process reduce the monthly chase for missing information and keep GL entries consistent enough to support project-level profitability reporting.Standardized invoice templates and approval paths reduce the monthly chase for missing information and keep GL entries consistent enough to support project-level profitability reporting.Marketing, growth, ad platform spendMarketing ad spend on platforms such as Google, Meta, and LinkedIn can be card-based and variable, driven by campaign budgets that shift week to week instead of fixed annual contracts. Spend can scale up fast with no invoice-side gate, so finance needs campaign-level coding. Campaign coding maps each charge to the right budget line and channel for customer acquisition cost and attribution reporting.Agency retainers add contractually driven monthly charges that require statement of work (SOW) reconciliation, just like contractor invoices. Scope changes and budget increases route to the budget owner before the spend runs, and each ad charge is coded to its campaign at capture so it feeds the AP workflow without a manual reclass later. That upfront coding discipline is what separates a marketing budget finance can defend from one that only gets explained after the fact.The result can be cleaner customer acquisition cost (CAC) reporting and fewer surprises in marketing OpEx, as long as coding discipline and data quality hold up. Finance can see which channels are driving spend before the card statement becomes the only record. Seeing spend early helps marketing move quickly, and it keeps accounting from untangling campaign spend after the fact.How SaaS finance teams build an AP workflow for recurring spendBuilding AP for SaaS spend means designing intake, approvals, and the vendor lifecycle around recurring, PO-less spend from the start, and then enforcing those controls at the point of spend before charges reach close. Each piece below, intake, approvals, the vendor lifecycle, async routing, and point-of-spend controls, works on its own, but they compound when built as one connected system. A finance team that gets the sequence right rarely has to touch a vendor relationship twice before the numbers are clean.A single intake channel for spend requestsMany SaaS finance teams run every new vendor engagement above a set dollar threshold through a single intake management form, completing before anyone signs. That single gate replaces the ad hoc mix of Slack messages, email chains, and after-the-fact discovery that most finance teams inherit as their default vendor-intake process. The form usually captures five fields.Vendor nameBusiness ownerBudget lineContract termRenewal dateNone of the five fields are optional, and once someone submits the form, it routes straight to the approver that the tiering rules assign. Vendors already sitting in the register skip this form completely. They flow into the renewal review calendar instead, on their existing schedule. New vendors go through intake, while existing vendors go through renewal review. Splitting intake from renewal review turns an AP process from something that must be rebuilt every time into something repeatable. The business still moves fast, and finance sees the vendor before the first invoice arrives, which is most of what it takes to keep track of invoices and payments without a dedicated system yet in place.Approval workflows built around contract value plus riskMost SaaS finance teams start with a dollar threshold for auto-approval, usually somewhere between $500 and $2,000 a month, depending on how much risk they're willing to carry without a human in the loop. On top of that number, they build three tiers and assign each one an approver. Those tiers exist so that routine renewals never touch a human approver while genuinely risky spend always does.Routine, recurring charges below the threshold auto-approve when the vendor is already on the approved register.New vendor spend, above-threshold renewals, and scope changes route to the business owner.Infrastructure commitments, annual contracts above a materiality threshold, and sole-source engagements go to finance leadership.The AP platform then attaches the approval record directly to the invoice or charge, so an auditor can find it without digging through email. Email threads are a weak system of record for material vendor obligations. That audit trail also matters outside of a formal audit, since a vendor dispute or renewal negotiation often hinges on being able to show exactly who approved what and when.The SaaS vendor lifecycle inside APSaaS finance teams commonly map every vendor into one of five stages, each with a clear owner and action. The stages run in the same order for nearly every vendor, from the first conversation to the day the relationship ends. Treating them as a fixed sequence, rather than a case-by-case judgment call, is what makes the process repeatable across a growing vendor list.Evaluation happens before anyone signs. Finance confirms the budget line and names a business owner.Contract execution happens the same week someone signs, when the team logs the payment terms, renewal clause, and cancellation notice window into the vendor register while the details are still fresh.In-life management runs every month, reconciling actual usage against seats and licenses paid for to catch seat creep before it compounds.Renewal review starts two to three months before the notice deadline, when the vendor’s flag pulls it into review so finance can check utilization and renegotiate or cancel before the auto-renewal fires.Cancellation happens the same day a vendor is cut. The card or the ACH payment authorization is revoked, per the contract terms and internal policy.Five stages, five owners, one register replaces the ad hoc habits most SaaS finance teams are still running on. The result lines up with the broader accounts payable best practices that mature AP functions follow, even though most of those frameworks were never written with SaaS-specific spend in mind. Building the lifecycle around a single register is what makes those practices operational instead of aspirational.Async approvals for a distributed finance teamDistributed teams tend to map approvers by time zone, then build the escalation rule around the gaps between them. Each approver gets a fixed response window, such as 24 hours. Approvers get a mobile-friendly request with the vendor context, remaining budget, and any anomaly flag attached. If they don’t act inside that window, the invoice escalates automatically to a named delegate, someone who can approve without waiting for the original approver to wake up. Urgent payments route to the business owner and the finance reviewer at the same time, rather than waiting on one before the other. The platform logs every approval action and attaches it to the record, so invoice-to-pay work keeps moving around the clock instead of stalling overnight.Controls at the point of spendBudget limits, approval rules, and vendor coding sit directly inside the card and bill pay platform, before the charge ever reaches a spreadsheet. Controllers who set up controls this way spend less time chasing exceptions after the fact, because the system enforces the policy at the moment someone tries to spend.Where virtual or vendor-specific cards are supported, a major tool can carry its own card with a limit matched to the contract amount. A card capped at the contract amount can block a charge above that limit, so an unauthorized renewal is declined rather than paid, and cancellation can mean suspending one card instead of chasing a refund afterward.Financial close process for SaaS APClosing the books on SaaS spend means estimating what hasn't been invoiced yet, reconciling card and invoice data, and correctly coding cloud and software costs, all before the numbers reach the board. Each of those three tasks, estimating, reconciling, coding, depends on the same underlying vendor data, which is why teams that struggle with one of them usually struggle with all three. Fixing the vendor record first is what makes the rest of the close move faster.Building the accruals schedule from the vendor recordA SaaS company’s month-end accruals workload might be bigger than its vendor count alone, because many charges are recurring, variable, or time-shifted. Cloud usage invoices arrive after the month closes, annual subscriptions get prepaid and expensed in monthly increments, and contractor invoices can arrive after the work period ends. Accounting treatment for each depends on company policy and applicable standards, so many finance teams work through the specific classification, accrual, and amortization decisions with an accounting professional.A reliable accruals process starts with a current vendor record, maintained continuously rather than rebuilt every close, that includes the following details.Billing frequency for recurring vendorsTypical invoice timingCurrent-period estimateInternal owner and payment methodMaintaining that record in the AP or spend platform keeps the close less dependent on memory and ad hoc spreadsheets, and gives reviewers a shared source for recurring obligations. For variable cloud charges, a documented estimation method, such as a month-to-date daily average or a trailing three-month average, holds up under audit far better than a number plugged from memory. Reviewers who can see the estimation method behind the number are the ones who catch a bad assumption before it repeats for three months in a row.Reconciling card charges with invoicesSaaS finance teams can improve close accuracy when reconciling card charges and invoice-based AP in a single workflow. In fragmented environments, the two live in separate tools, and finance reconciles them separately at close. Reconciling them separately can double the work and leave gaps where charges disappear. A tool that switched from invoicing to card billing midyear can slip between the two processes, and so can a cloud provider with both a monthly card charge and an annual reserved-instance invoice.One vendor-level view across payment methods catches those gaps. When bill pay, corporate cards, and spend management are integrated into a single platform, finance can use the AP aging report to review vendor obligations across payment methods. Close-time reconciliation becomes more of a verification step at that point. Unified spend data also feeds the accrual and amortization schedules that SaaS accounting depends on, reducing both manual work and close-time investigation.Classifying cloud spend as COGS or OpExClose-time coding decisions for cloud and software spend flow straight into the statements that the board and investors read. Companies commonly treat cloud infrastructure serving customer-facing production workloads as COGS. Companies commonly treat internal tooling, development environments, and general and administrative as OpEx, subject to accounting policy and applicable standards. Coding spend by its functional purpose, the actual job the infrastructure does, keeps that split defensible at audit.Getting the split right takes vendor-level coding defaults configured in the AP platform or ERP, so classification doesn’t depend on individual judgment at each invoice. Consistent coding lets a finance leader report gross margin by product line, hosting cost per customer, and software spend as a percentage of annual recurring revenue. It also cuts the manual reconciliation exercise that the leadership otherwise repeats each quarter.Which AP metrics matter for SaaS finance leaders?The right AP metrics fall into three groups. Process health metrics, SaaS-specific control gaps, and the board-level numbers the CFO already tracks each answer a different question. Reading them by spend category, through consistent accounts payable reporting, shows where the process may break down.Process health metricsInvoice cycle time counts the number of days it takes to fully process an invoice. Ardent Partners’ State of ePayables 2025 puts the average invoice processing time at 8.2 days, with top teams processing invoices 79% faster than the rest of the market.Cost per invoice measures what it costs to process one invoice end to end. Ardent Partners puts the average cost at $9.84, with top teams running 79% lower per-invoice costs than their peers.Exception rate measures the share of invoices that need manual intervention. Ardent Partners' research puts the average exception rate at 18.4%, with top teams seeing exception rates 47% lower than the rest of the market. A high rate on contractor invoices usually signals onboarding gaps, while a high rate on cloud bills points to coding ambiguity.Splitting these accounts payable metrics by category, cloud, subscriptions, contractors, and marketing, shows finance exactly where to fix the process first, rather than treating a slow invoice as a single undifferentiated problem.SaaS-specific control metricsThese checks catch problems that standard AP benchmarks were never built to see.Shadow IT ratio compares active vendors to vendors in the approved register. A gap means spend nobody approved, like a marketing team expensing a design tool on a personal card.Seat utilization compares seats paid for against seats assigned. A gap means unused licenses draining the budget.Renewal-window compliance tracks the share of vendors that entered pre-renewal review before auto-triggering. Low compliance means the renewal calendar isn’t working.Board-level metricsAP quality ultimately feeds three board-level numbers.Burn accuracy depends on complete accruals and consistent COGS coding for cloud and tooling spend.Gross margin stability gets distorted by inconsistent cloud and software coding.General and administrative spend as a percentage of ARR is only meaningful once finance tracks and prunes subscription and contractor spend.A finance leader who can tie AP improvements to a tighter burn forecast and less unbudgeted software spend has a real story to tell the board. The story rests on real-time spend data across invoices and cards in one dashboard. That real-time view is also what separates a board conversation grounded in current numbers from one built on a stale export from three weeks earlier.Building AP around the SaaS spend modelSaaS tech companies need an AP playbook built for subscriptions, cloud infrastructure, and global contractors. Controls have to match the spend, and approval logic can’t assume a PO. The vendor lifecycle needs renewal deadlines on a calendar, async routing for distributed approvers, and close mechanics for charges that don’t produce timely invoices.It starts with the vendor record. A maintained list of active vendors turns renewal reviews, approval routing, and accrual schedules into repeatable processes that finance doesn’t have to rebuild each month. A well-maintained list typically includes each vendor's billing frequency, renewal date, and internal owner.FAQs about accounts payable for SaaS companiesWhat software do accounts payable teams use?AP teams may pair an ERP or accounting platform such as QuickBooks, NetSuite, or Sage Intacct with AP automation or spend software. For SaaS companies, the platform also needs to handle card-based spend, recurring billing, invoice capture, approval routing, and payment execution.Is AI taking over accounts payable?AI is already handling the AP tasks that take the least judgment. It pulls data off invoices, flags duplicates, suggests GL codes, and routes approvals, one of several ways AI in accounting is changing day-to-day finance work. AI-assisted capture like this is especially useful at SaaS companies, given how many vendor invoices come in and how differently they're formatted. The finance leader's job shifts toward exception handling, policy design, and vendor relationships.What is SaaS accounts payable automation?SaaS accounts payable automation applies AI and workflow software to the invoice-to-pay process at a SaaS company. It replaces manual data entry, email approvals, and spreadsheet tracking with automated capture, rule-based routing, and integrated payment execution. The goal is to process more invoices with the same headcount, without losing the controls a distributed, subscription-heavy spend model demands.How should SaaS companies manage software subscription payments?SaaS companies should manage subscriptions through a vendor record with named internal owners, renewal flags, and, where supported, per-vendor virtual cards. Finance teams commonly set renewal flags 60 to 90 days before the notice deadline, giving them time to review usage before auto-renewal. Matching card limits to contract amounts is another way teams keep subscription spend actively managed.How long does it take to implement AP automation for a SaaS company?Most SaaS finance teams can implement AP automation in a few weeks, though timelines vary with vendor count, ERP integration complexity, and how many approval tiers need to be configured. A company with a clean vendor register and a single ERP typically moves faster than one migrating years of contracts and approval history at the same time. Teams often phase the rollout, starting with invoice capture and approval routing before adding automated payment execution.What is the difference between two-way and three-way matching for SaaS AP?Two-way matching compares an invoice against its purchase order, while three-way matching adds a receiving record that confirms the goods or services arrived. Most SaaS spend has no purchase order or receiving document, so SaaS AP teams often validate invoices against the vendor contract, the approved vendor record, and usage data rather than relying on invoice matching alone.How is days payable outstanding calculated for a SaaS company?Days payable outstanding measures the average number of days a company takes to pay its vendors, calculated as accounts payable divided by cost of goods sold, then multiplied by the number of days in the period. For SaaS companies the number is only meaningful once recurring cloud and subscription costs are coded consistently, because inconsistent COGS coding distorts both the payables balance and the cost figure behind it.This story was produced by Brex and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	9 signs your auto shop has outgrown spreadsheets 9 signs your auto shop has outgrown spreadsheetsExcel was released in 1985. Forty-one years later, here you are, still using it to run your shop. Spreadsheets are wonderful. Your schedule is on there. Your techs’ repair orders (RO) and updates for the day are found on it. Your service advisors use it to track customers. It’s going well, until it isn’t.It’s 7:45 a.m. You’ve got two cars scheduled for bay 2, a customer standing at the counter asking where his Impala is, a tech wondering what the first repair of the day is, and a sticky note from yesterday with a callback number about a brake job that’s suspiciously missing. By the time everything is sorted out, you’re already behind.The problem isn’t with the spreadsheet, the whiteboard, the sticky notes or even the paper. These work just fine when you’re doing five cars a week. It stops working the day yesterday becomes a blur, and your spreadsheet isn’t helping either. The thing is, you don’t usually notice until the end of the month, when you’ve already lost money and customers.So, how do you know it’s time to switch to something better, like auto repair shop management software? Way.com shares nine signs to keep an eye out for.Sign 1: You’re double-booking bays or missing appointmentsYour service advisor is going through your spreadsheet and sees that a quick repair is scheduled for 2 p.m., an hour from now. They assign a junior tech to it and move on. Now, it’s 2 p.m. and two of your techs are booked for the same bay. The service advisor is baffled because they’re sure they only scheduled one tech.Another day, another issue. A customer who had called earlier about replacing the timing chain arrives. But you had nothing written in your spreadsheet, so your techs don’t have the capacity to take it on. There goes another customer out the door.Shop management software solves this by tying scheduling directly to bay and technician availability in real time. Double-booking becomes much harder, not just something you have to remember to avoid. Appointments are automatically displayed in the system’s calendar, so you don’t have to worry about missing them.Sign 2: You can’t answer “Where’s that car?” without walking the floorYour service advisor is looking at the spreadsheet, updating the status of the cars. Except she can’t tell which cars are in which bays. She has to walk out to the shop floor and write it down manually. An hour later, she’s back to check again. Before noon, she has walked out to the shop floor five times.This can be avoided with automated status updates. Your service advisors get notifications every time a car moves to the next stage, so they know exactly where each car is in the shop.Sign 3: Inventory runs out mid-jobYour tech just finished his diagnosis on a Toyota. He checks the spreadsheet to make sure the parts required for the job are available. He starts the repair and reaches for an alternator from the shelf, only to realize it’s not there.It’s easy for a manual inventory tracker to be out of sync, especially with multiple techs pulling parts throughout the day. With shop management software, you get real-time inventory status and notifications of which parts are running low. You can also create a purchase order right then and there, instead of scrambling to place an order across town mid-repair.Sign 4: Customers call to ask for updates you don’t haveA customer calls for an update on the Camry. Your service advisor has to walk to the bay, find the car, interrupt a tech mid-repair, and write down the status in their notebook. Multiply that by a dozen calls a day, and it adds up to a lot of laps walked around the shop floor.A shop management system tracks each vehicle’s status: what time it was brought in, which bay it is in, the diagnosis, the parts yet to be delivered, who’s working on it, and how long it will take. Everyone has access to the same information, so your service advisors can answer your customers’ questions without leaving their desks.Sign 5: Estimates take longer than the actual repairA customer just brought in their car for a windshield replacement. Your service advisor is digging through old invoices, calling a parts supplier, manually calculating labor time, and inspecting for hidden damages to write the estimate. The advisor is spending more time quoting the job than a tech spends doing it.During this delay, your customer will start comparing your shop to your competitors, which could lead them to walk out before they even receive the estimate.Shop management software has built-in labor guides and parts catalogs, so your service advisors only need minutes to create an estimate. You can also send the quote directly to the customer via SMS or email. You’re more likely to get a “yes” than if you send an estimate a couple of hours later.Sign 6: You have no idea which services are actually profitableYour shop has developed a list of services that you’re confident in. Your spreadsheet holds the numbers, but you have no idea which services are the money-makers, nor do you have the time to go through them. You may think brake jobs are the winners, when seasonal check-ups are what’s more profitable.Reporting solves this problem. You get real-time reports based on revenue, job analytics, tech efficiency, and RO conversions. This lets you see which jobs are worth chasing and which are costing you money.Sign 7: Payroll and invoicing eat your SundayIt’s 10 p.m. on a weekend, and you’re sitting in front of the spreadsheet, manually reconciling timecards, matching invoices to payments, and double-checking totals that you’ve been working on for hours.Integrated invoicing and payroll tools pull directly from the work orders and time tracking that are already in the system, so the reconciliation is mostly done by the time Sunday rolls around.Sign 8: You’re losing repeat customers, and you don’t know whyRobert has been coming to your shop for a while now. But one day, he stopped, and you don’t know why. Without a system to track who’s due for what, it’s easy to lose customers who have become familiar faces.Shop management software triggers reminders and follow-ups to help you send out timely texts or emails that keep your shop in mind. It can be as simple as sending, “Hey Robert, it’s been a while since your last oil change. Visit us this week, and we’ll throw in a free tire check.”Sign 9: You’re turning away work because you’re at capacityBusiness is doing well, but at the end of a particular month, you notice you’re saying no more often. Recently, you had to turn down a walk-in on Tuesday because every bay was booked according to your spreadsheet. When you look later, you notice Friday had an open bay. If you’re at capacity and turning work away with no visibility into which days or techs actually have room, you might be leaving money on the table even during your busiest weeks.A system that shows real capacity across your bays and techs makes it possible to route overflow work to the right day or tech instead of defaulting to “Sorry, unfortunately, we’re full. Could you come back another day?”Quick recap: Spreadsheet vs repair shop management software Way.com What to do nextIf at least one of the signs applies to you, you’ve probably outgrown spreadsheets. Maybe you haven’t had a reason to switch to software yet. Most shops don’t move on to a shop management system after a single chaotic day; they move when the bad days pile up.Here’s what the implementation might look like:Your existing spreadsheets are migrated to the software.A trial run is conducted to check what’s working and what isn’t.A shop-wide implementation takes place. Depending on which solution you choose, you can generally complete the migration in about 12 to 15 days, so you can start using the system without losing weeks to the transition. Keep in mind that it might take you and your team a week or two to get used to the new system. Training and daily huddles can help make it easier.This story was produced by Way.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
	North Scott Press — September 9, 2026
	North Scott Food Pantry turns 50 The North Scott Food Pantry is turning 50, but its organizers aren’t resting on their laurels. While details on the early days of the food pantry are somewhat hard to come by, Janalee Keppy has compiled a scrapbook over the years. As near as she can figure, the first iteration of what would become the North Scott Food Pantry was established in 1976, with representatives of Eldridge United Methodist, Faith Lutheran and St. Ann’s Catholic churches leading the charge. In the early days, the location of the food pantry, or “food reservoir,” as it was often called, rotated monthly between the churches. By the early 1980s, the food pantry also became associated with the North Scott Human Services committee. But as the human services organization wound down its work by the end of that decade, the food pantry came to be associated with the North Scott Clergy Group. It found a more permanent home at Faith Lutheran Church. While the food pantry relocated to a spot on North 2nd Street for a few years in the 2000s while the Eldridge Preschool was at Faith Lutheran, it moved back to the church in 2011 and has been there ever since. The food pantry also established itself as a 501(c)(3) organization in 2011. Keppy became involved with the food pantry when the previous representative from Eldridge United Methodist Church stepped down in the late 1990s, and, like other volunteers, she remembers when the pantry took up a single room in the Faith Lutheran basement. Then, the pantry was only open on Friday mornings. “It was packed tight,” said Keppy. “And if you had three, four people, that was a busy day.” Today, the pantry has moved into multiple rooms throughout the church basement, with several refrigerators holding meat products, as well as bread products donated from Panera. There are also rooms filled with empty boxes where the food gets sorted and stored. It’s also expanded its hours to be open two days a week, Tuesdays from 5:30-7 p.m., and Fridays from 9:30-11 a.m. The North Scott Food Pantry runs on volunteers, and in its earliest days, the driving forces included Ruth Blanche – generally recognized as the first chair of the pantry board – Eunice McCubbin and Maureen Van Loon, among others. Later, Lu Wiese led the food pantry through the 1990s, and longtime volunteer Carol Kuehl said Wiese also helped bring her on board. “Lu Wiese was the one that got me,” said Kuehl. “I knew her well through church and she said, ‘Why don’t you come, if you’re not too busy, and we can chit chat.’” Like other volunteers, Judy Shannon came on when someone else from her church stepped down. And Deanna Nielsen started working with the food pantry in the early 2000s, shortly after her oldest daughter went off to college. Along with Keppy and Kuehl, they gradually moved into leadership positions as older volunteers stepped away. How it works For people needing to use the food pantry’s services, the only requirement is that they must live within the boundaries of the North Scott School District. There is some paperwork that needs to be filled out, which includes information for the state and federal government, as well as establishing the size of the household. But Nielsen said, for the most part, as long as you can provide proof of residency, food is available. One visit is allowed every 28 days. “We don’t ask them if they’re in need. They just come,” she said. Although the food pantry prefers photo identification, they will accept something like a utility bill to show proof of residency. “If you have a utility bill from the last 30 days, you probably live there,” explained Nielsen. “The majority of the people that come are honest about it,” said Kuehl. “But we have a reputation, so to speak. You get quite a bit of food out here. Farmers and people are just very generous with donating. But every once in a while, somebody comes out from Davenport, and they’ll say, ‘I live on West Kimberly Road,’ and they’re stretching it. We do give them emergency food.” The North Scott Food Pantry is also different from some other pantries in the area in that it’s a client choice pantry. “We’re not just giving them a box of food,” said Nielsen. “They pick out what food they want.” “It depends on the size of the family whether they get three vegetable or six vegetable cans or whatever,” said Kuehl. “And how much meat and bread,” added Shannon. “We start everybody out with two pounds of hamburger and a pack of hot dogs,” said Nielsen. “We’re very lucky that we have a good relationship with Hy-Vee, just like we did with North Scott Foods. We have vouchers, so each family gets two vouchers for milk for the month. A dozen eggs, although lately we’ve been having fresh eggs, so they don’t get the voucher, they get fresh eggs. And $5 in produce. “When I started, it was a bag of potatoes,” she continued. “Lu thought the bag of potatoes was really important, because that was a staple. Everybody had meat and potatoes. But we switched it over to $5 in produce.” However, like everyone else, the food pantry is feeling the economic pinch, and Nielsen said they might have to reevaluate the produce situation, because $5 doesn’t go as far as it used to. The food comes from a variety of sources – including Hy-Vee, where volunteers stocked up during a recent 99¢ sale. “When Hy-Vee walked in, we all held our breath to see if they would support us the way North Scott Foods supported us, and they stepped up and did,” said Shannon. “We were really lucky there,” said Keppy. The North Scott Food Pantry is also lucky enough to have multiple other sources of food, including generous donations from the public. That includes the Student Hunger Drive, donations to postal carriers and at the Scott County Library and area churches, food drives at local elementary schools and the junior high, and the North Scott girls’ basketball team’s annual shopping cart race, just to name a few. Food also regularly comes from the River Bend Foodbank, which purchases food in bulk so food pantries can get it from them at a significant discount. Once a month, they also get a delivery from the Midwest Foodbank out of Peoria, Ill. The Midwest Foodbank provides some additional items besides pantry staples. “It’s a little different, what they provide,” said Keppy. “We think it’s maybe new items that are being developed or items that didn’t sell, so they might be soon to expire. It’s a lot of crackers and things like that. So, it’s good for our people to have, in addition to what we provide.” The pantry gets a weekly delivery of bagels and other bread products from Panera, and they recently started a food rescue program with Hy-Vee. Some food, including dried beans, comes from the USDA. Nielsen said area farmers have also been very generous in providing meat products, fresh produce and eggs. And, of course, volunteers are always keeping an eye out for deals in the shopping circulars. They also offer non-food items, which frequently come from Dollar Tree and big box stores like Sam’s Club and Ollie’s. That includes paper products, like paper towels and toilet paper, as well as some cleaning products, including dish soap. More recently, they also started offering some other products, like toothpaste, salt and pepper shakers, and feminine hygiene products. Clients have been especially appreciative of the feminine hygiene products, which come in packets of 10 and clients can take two per month, because they are particularly expensive. “It’s kind of like a surprise for our clients, because some of them do come monthly,” said Nielsen. “We have families that come, and elderly people that are on a fixed income. Those are the ones that I think we see really regularly. We’re on their schedule. And then there’s even young people, single, young people. So, it’s just a real variety.” “Only about 30% of our people get SNAP benefits,” she continued. “We’re serving the people that are the working poor, I think. They just can’t make ends meet.” Shannon agreed, saying recent changes to SNAP have also made things more uncertain for some clients. She said she’s heard many stories from clients who are having difficulty making ends meet, including some elderly people who rely on Social Security and are on an extremely fixed income. “And they come in so thankful,” said Shannon. “They’re so glad they can get things from here, because it really helps them.” Kuehl said the food pantry recently received a phone message from a client who recently moved to Davenport. The woman said she had appreciated the support she got from the North Scott Food Pantry – not only the food, but the fellowship – because she was finding it more difficult to receive those resources in Davenport. “When you get a phone call like that, you realize that it’s not just that we think we’re doing good,” said Kuehl. “We’re being told we’re doing good.” That’s what keeps the food pantry’s volunteers going, and they say they want to help everyone who needs assistance. “I know there’s more needy people in the community, and I haven’t figured out a way to get them to come in,” said Shannon. “Some of them are embarrassed to come in, but others just aren’t coming.” “Our motto is ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors’,” said Nielsen. “That’s a big thing. And the Lutheran Church here, we have, once a year, our Outreach Sunday and it’s ‘God’s work, our hands.’ And that’s really what it is here. There’s no judgement for people. It’s their decision to come.” Volunteers come to the pantry regularly. “I have three ladies that all they do is sort,” said Shannon. “A couple that work the food, and I have two guys that always come and push the carts out.” She said her car is usually full of food donations for the pantry, much of which she brings out from St. Ann’s. Following a dip in clients in the aftermath of the pandemic, the pantry is starting to see an uptick. Nielsen said they’re currently averaging about 60 families per month. “We had gone up to about 80 families per month before COVID,” she said. “Then we really dropped after COVID – we had a year there where we probably only saw 45 families. But it’s creeping back up to pre-pandemic. “They’ve had some evenings where 15 clients, 15 families go through in an hour and a half,” Nielsen continued. “You have to really move.” Shannon said the pantry saw about a dozen clients on a recent Friday morning. “Our normal, I would say, is about seven or eight families,” said Nielsen. “You’re not so rushed, and you can take some time with them. When you think about it, it’s probably about 10 minutes per family.” As the food pantry gears up for the holidays and prepares for its annual donation from the Student Hunger Drive – which came to 8,000 pounds last year – they’re still in need of some items right now. Namely, hot and cold cereals, and side dishes, such as noodle and rice packets. They regularly post monthly needs on their Facebook page. Board members are also looking forward to the pantry’s biggest fundraiser of the year, a golf outing sponsored by the St. Ann’s Knights of Columbus that will be held Sunday. Last year, the outing raised more than $22,000 for the food pantry. The outing was recently named in honor of the late Matt Costello, who organized the event and lined up sponsors for many years. “The North Scott community supports us so well,” said Nielsen. “We are so blessed.” In addition to food, there are other ways to give to the food pantry. Although they have a good roster of volunteers right now, the board said they’re always appreciative of newer people, as older volunteers cycle out. For more information, call 563-285-8444 and leave a message on the voice mail, or email northscottfoodpantry@gmail.com.
	Building bridges in Donahue Funds raised by Donahue Days this year helped build a pedestrian bridge over the drainage ditch that separates the town playground from nearby ballfields. Jon Ferrel built the bridge, volunteer Katie Madden said. The town had placed palates over the ditch in previous years. American Ready Mix provided concrete for footings, and Eric Hamann of 442 Welding built light holders and a custom sign, Madden said. Finishing touches were provided by volunteers Joel Kelley, Andy Cronkleton, Kevin Marple, Tony Bolles, and Randy White.
	Owner of Rivercrest Estates silent as dozens of tenants face water shutoff The City of Princeton has not heard from Mary Diercks, owner of the troubled Rivercrest Estates mobile home park, since officials said they planned to shut off water service at the park later this month. “Not a phone call, not a text, nothing,” Mayor Travis Volrath said. The city has given Diercks until Sept. 17 to pay overdue bills and make extensive repairs to water infrastructure at the park. Substantial leaks—which brought the park’s water usage to one million gallons last month—put strain on city pumps and city finances, Volrath said. Diercks has not responded to repeat request for comment from the North Scott Press. The decision to shut off water services could leave dozens of Princeton residents in uninhabitable trailers. “They say the trailer park’s going to be closed down,” resident Don Smith said. “I hope it won’t.” In late August, city officials brought community services groups and Rivercrest tenants to Virgil Grissom in hopes of preempting the crisis a shutoff could trigger. The public was not allowed access to the event, in the interests of privacy, officials said. Volrath said residents from 15 of the park’s 48 lots attended the meeting. Officials have said that no more than half the lots are inhabited. Lori Elam, Scott County Director of Community Services, said the meeting “went well.” Community Services can provide residents with the first month’s rent at a new property or purchase bus tickets for travel back to family. So far, no residents of the park have reached out to follow up with those services, Elam reported last week. “And that doesn’t surprise me,” she said. Residents were still thinking, figuring out what they want to do. “Hopefully by next week we’ll start getting some calls.” Elam said several residents believed that Diercks would pay overdue bills and that water service would return. City officials have stressed that it would be nearly impossible for Diercks to complete the infrastructure repairs they have requested before Sept. 17. Iowa Legal Aid brought its “justice bus”—a private trailer where potential clients can speak with attorneys—to the Grissom meeting. Volrath said five attorneys were present to meet with Rivercrest tenants. Molly McDonnell, director of Iowa Legal Aid’s Davenport office, could not be reached for comment. Volrath extended thanks to Jodi Freet and Brian Payne of Scott County Emergency Management for assistance organizing the Grissom meeting. Last fall, Diercks told the NSP that residents did not reliably pay lot rent and that she could not afford to make repairs.
	Return of the Football Contest is just perfect Did we make it too easy, or was it just the schedule? Either way, there were 15 perfect entries in the first week of the 2026 NSP Football Contest. John White of Davenport was the big winner. His tiebreaker of 40 was the closest to the total number of points in Auburn’s 17-16 win over Baylor. For his efforts, he’ll receive $50. Maddox Drummond of Donahue and Jeff Kress of Eldridge tied for second, with matching tiebreakers of 45. They’ll each receive $17.50. Others with perfect entries, and their tiebreakers were Dick Erps (50), Reilly Kashmarek (52), Mary Kashmarek (58), Mike Mossage (57), Ken Moss (58), Steve Kuehn (59), Doyle Fox (60), Lisa Mealer-Burke (58), Hayden DeCook (62), Keaton Murphy (67), Cole Ernst (63), and Derrick Berry (52). Making up the honor roll were those who missed one: Judy Bergert, Joan Hennigan, Scott Kashmarek, Marty Lillis, Martha Pearce, Lyn Claussen, Matt Torres, Bryan Janoski, Tom Janoski, Michael Burke, Mike Murphy, Clay DeCock, Cindie Jensen, Carson Kress, Keaton Kress, Kyle Smith, Mark Tomsche, Teagan Fletcher, Payton Dieckman and Troy Harmel. Thirty-two missed two and 21 missed three. There were 102 entries. Games missed most frequently included Davenport Central over Clinton, Eastern Washington over UNI and UNLV over Hawai’i. Other winners were North Scott over Cedar Rapids Washington, Central DeWitt over Davenport West, Cedar Rapids Xavier over Western Dubuque, Indiana over North Texas, Pittsburgh over Miami (Ohio), Iowa State over Southeast Missouri State, Auburn over Baylor, Iowa over Northern Illinois, LSU over Clemson, and Northwestern over South Dakota State. Eleven weeks remain in the contest, with a new slate of games in this week’s paper. Be sure to visit our sponsors to pick up your entry forms: Porter Insurance, DuTrac Community Credit Union, ORA Sports Medicine, Farm Bureau Financial Services – Tony Burkhart, First Central State Bank, Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors – Nancy Billups, King’s Material, Eldridge Body Shop, Amhof Trucking, Iowa 80 Truckstop, and Steve’s Auto.
	Monarch butterfly party Sept. 12 at Nahant Marsh Nahant Marsh Education Center will host its annual Monarch & Friends Party, a free, family-friendly celebration of monarch migration and the incredible diversity of insects and other invertebrates found at Nahant Marsh. The event will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. – noon. Visitors will have the opportunity to catch, tag, and release monarch butterflies, including wild monarchs captured on the prairie during the event. The morning will also feature hands-on activities, educational exhibits, nature crafts, and opportunities to learn about monarchs, native bees, dragonflies, beetles, spiders, moths, and other important pollinators and invertebrates. Nahant Marsh staff will also be available throughout the event to provide more information about monarch migration, conservation, pollinators, the importance of urban wetlands, and the educational and research work taking place at Nahant Marsh. Monarchs are beginning their annual migration south, traveling thousands of miles to their overwintering grounds in Mexico. Monarch tagging helps researchers better understand migration routes and population movements. The event also highlights the important roles that countless other insects and invertebrates play in healthy ecosystems. Nahant Marsh Education Center is located at 4220 Wapello Ave. in Davenport. For more information, visit nahantmarsh.org/monarch-party.
	Grant writing 'boot camp' to be held in Altoona Nonprofit, government and education professionals can receive feedback as they develop a project idea into a funding proposal during a Grant Proposal Boot Camp Oct. 7-8 in Altoona. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Community and Economic Development unit will offer the two-day, in-person workshop from 9 a.m. to noon both days at ISU Extension and Outreach Polk County, 1625 Adventureland Drive, Suite A. Grant Proposal Boot Camp is designed for participants who have a project idea and want dedicated time to move it toward a complete proposal. The workshop covers key components of grant development, including drafting executive summaries, setting measurable goals and objectives, building logic models and planning for evaluation. “Our Grant Proposal Boot Camp gives participants time to work through their ideas while receiving guidance and feedback throughout the process. They can leave with a clearer project plan, stronger proposal components and specific next steps for completing their application," said Lindsay Henderson, community development specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. Participants are encouraged to arrive with a fundable project idea and bring a laptop or tablet, along with any draft proposal materials or early project notes. Registration is $150 and closes Oct. 4. For more information, visit the Grant Writing Workshops webpage or contact Henderson at lindsayh@iastate.edu.
	Our Savior to celebrate 50th anniversary Sept. 20 It has been 50 years since congregants in rural LeClaire united to build Our Savior Presbyterian Church. The church has invited past and current members, friends, and neighbors are to commemorate the anniversary with a picnic, games and historical display Sunday, Sept. 20 on the church grounds, 22530 240th Ave. “We are excited to celebrate this monumental anniversary with our friends and neighbors,” Pastor Margaret Heidenreich said. She joined the congregation this year. “This community has welcome me with open arms, support, and vegetables! I am excited to celebrate this anniversary with all of you,” she said. Activities on Sunday begin with church services at 10 a.m., followed by a picnic meal to feature pork chop sandwiches, hot dogs, sides, and desserts, according to a news release. Games and historical displays will entertain all ages. Our Savior Presbyterian Church was founded by the union of the Argo United Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian Church of Summit in 1972. The building in rural LeClaire was completed four years later, in 1976. “During the past 50 years, Our Savior Presbyterian Church has worked to grow our faith and support each other through weekly worship services, Sunday School classes, Bible Study,” and other activities, the church wrote. Its charitable work supports local food pantries, donates quilts, and provides other support to its community.
	Senate debate to air Oct. 7 on Iowa PBS Iowa PBS will host Iowa Press Debates: U.S. Senate on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. at Iowa PBS studios in Johnston. Hosted by Iowa Press moderator Kay Henderson, candidates Ashley Hinson (R - Marion) and Josh Turek (D - Council Bluffs) will answer questions from reporters and discuss their platforms, concerns and future plans. Henderson will moderate the debate with Iowa political reporters. Iowa Press Debates: U.S. Senate will air live on statewide Iowa PBS and be streamed on iowapbs.org and YouTube. The Iowa PBS television network reaches all media markets in the state including broadcast coverage across all 99 counties of Iowa. The debate will be held at Iowa PBS studios in Johnston without a live audience. Additional Iowa PBS debates will be announced as they are confirmed. Learn more at iowapbs.org.
	University of Iowa partnership to expand healthcare education pathways The University of Iowa is partnering with a graduate healthcare institution to provide UI graduates more opportunities to further their education in different areas of medicine. Midwestern University, a graduate health sciences institution with locations in Arizona and Illinois, announced in a news release last week it has signed an articulation agreement with the UI to provide guaranteed interviews and acceptance into certain programs. “The University of Iowa has long been recognized for excellence in the health sciences, and this partnership builds on that strength by creating additional opportunities for our students to pursue advanced professional education,” said UI Executive Vice President and Provost Kevin Kregel in the release. “By expanding pathways to graduate study, we’re helping more students access high-quality educational opportunities that prepare them for meaningful careers in healthcare.” Starting with students set to enroll at Midwestern University in fall 2027, the release stated qualifying UI students will have guaranteed admission interviews for Midwestern programs including osteopathic, podiatric, veterinary and dental medicine, as well as pharmacy, optometry and other areas. Students who “meet specified academic criteria” could also receive guaranteed acceptance into certain Midwestern programs through the institution’s college of graduate studies and its college of health sciences nurse anesthesia program, according to the release. Both Midwestern campuses are included in the agreement. This articulation agreement provides a smoother, more transparent path from undergraduate to graduate study, the release stated, allowing students to more easily achieve their academic and professional goals. “Midwestern University is proud to partner with the University of Iowa, an institution renowned for its rigorous academic standards and dedication to student excellence,” said Midwestern University Provost Y. Gloria Yueh in the release. “This agreement reflects our shared commitment to creating seamless pathways for high-achieving students as they prepare to become leaders in human and animal healthcare.”
	North Scott FFA sees success at Iowa State Fair North Scott’s FFA Chapter saw tremendous success at the Iowa State Fair this year. In addition to three chapter awards, including 1st Place Overall Chapter in Horticulture, several students also earned individual awards. Grant Hoffmann showed the Reserve Champion Overall Breeding Heifer in the Breeding Beef show. Andy Klindt was Champion in Forages, Grasses & Legumes in the Farm Crops show. Molly Mose showed the Champion Purebred Carcass and Reserve Overall Live Carcass in the Swine show. Cael Mess was a big winner, winning several dozen ribbons in Horticulture and Floriculture. He also showed the top flower in the Floriculture show and was the top sweepstakes exhibitor in the Horticulture show. FFA Results Ashley Mose: Swine — Hereford gilt (blue ribbon) Grant Hoffmann: Breeding Beef — Reserve Champion Overall Breeding Heifer Evan Keppy: Farm Crops — Late Season Soybean Exhibit (5th Place); Mid-Season Soybean Exhibit (5th Place) Jeremiah Shimkus: Rabbit Andy Klindt: Horticulture — Table Vegetable (Reserve Champion); Jumbo Vegetable (Reserve Champion); Premier Exhibit Award (Champion). Farm Crops — Forages, Grasses & Legumes (Champion); 8th Overall Individual Hayden Burmeister: Meat Goats — 2 does (blue ribbon). Swine — Chester Gilt (7th Place in Class); Chester Gilt (8th Place in Class); Yorkshire Barrow (9th Place in Class, Champion on The Rail Carcass) Molly Mose: Swine — Champion Purebred Carcass, Reserve Overall Live Carcass; Poland Barrow (4th Place in Class); Poland Barrow (6th Place in Class); Spotted Gilt (3rd Place in Class) Gracyn Koehler: Floriculture — Dahlia (5th Place Overall) Jordan Jones: Meat Goats Mikie Shimkus: Rabbit Aaliyah Shimkus: Rabbit Grace Clark: Photography Ally Hart: Farm Crops — Early Season Soybeans (6th Place Overall); Mid-Season Soybeans (3rd Place Overall) Amelia Bunce: Horticulture — Cherry Tomatoes (6th Place Overall); Floriculture — Red Dahlia (6th Place Overall); Farm Crops — Late Season Soybeans (2nd Place Overall) Braiden Schmit: Rabbit Grant Wilson: Breeding Beef — Reserve Champion Angus Breeding Heifer Cael Mess: Horticulture — Vegetable Container Display (Champion); High Point Exhibitor Award; Premier Presenter; Acord Squash (1st Place and 3rd Place); Anaheim Peppers (3rd Place); Annual Champion – Lisanthis (Best of Show); Bell Peppers (1st Place); Broccoli (2nd Place); Butternut Squash (3rd and 5th Place); Carrots (1st and 2nd Place); Cauliflower (1st Place); Cherry Tomatoes (1st and 4th Place); Garden Display (1st Place); Herbs (1st and 7th Place); Jack O’Lantern (3rd and 6th Place); Largest Cabbage (1st Place); Largest Onion (4th Place); Largest Potato (4th Place); Largest Pumpkin (3rd Place); Largest Tomato (2nd Place); Other Pumpkin – White (2nd Place); Other Pumpkin – Candy (3rd Place); Pickling Cucumbers (4th and 6th Place); Pie Pumpkin (2nd Place); Poblano Peppers (1st Place); Processing Tomato (7th Place); Red Cabbage (1st and 4th Place); Red Onions (1st and 2nd Place); Red Potatoes (4th and 6th Place); Slicing Cucumbers (3rd and 8th Place); Spaghetti Squash (8th Place); Summer Squash (2nd and 4th Place); Sweet Corn (1st and 3rd Place); White Onions (1st and 2nd Place); White Potatoes (4th and 7th Place); Yellow Onions (3rd Place); Yellow Potatoes (1st and 2nd Place); Zucchini (2nd and 3rd Place). Floriculture — Champion Any Other Flower – Lisanthus; Award of Excellence (Grand Champion); 5th Overall Individual; Purple Lisianthus (Champion Annual and Overall Best of Show); Cactus Dahlia Hot Tamale (3rd Place); Dahlia Mixed Honeymoon (5th Place); Dahlia Pom Sno Ho (3rd Place); Decorative Purple Dahlia Bold Accent (5th); Marigold Inca (1st Place); Mini Dahlia Red Figaro (2nd Place); Orange Zinnia Benary’s Mix (3rd Place); Pink Zinnia Benary’s Giant (4th Place); Pink Zinnia Benary’s Giant (5th Place); Pink Zinnia Pom Benary’s Giant (6th Place); Pom Blend Dahlia Lee’s Seredipity (7th Place); Pom Pink Dahlia Sno Ho (2nd Place); Pom Red Dahlia Cornell (6th Place); Pom White Dahlia Center Court (5th Place); Purple Waterlily Dahlia Arabian Nights (3rd Place); Purple Waterlily Dahlia Arabian Nights (5th Place); Red Mini Dahlia Red Figaro (6th Place); Red Zinnia Benary’s Mix (3rd Place); Salmon Gladiola Mixed (3rd Place); Waterlily Dahlia Caliente (4th Place); White Lisianthus ABC (3rd Place); White Pom Dahlia Center Court (6th Place); White Zinnia Benary’s Giant (6th Place); White Zinnia Benary’s Giant (7th Place); Yellow Zinnia Benary’s Giant (4th Place) North Scott: Floriculture — 4th Place Overall Chapter. Farm Crops – 9th Place Overall Chapter. Horticulture — 1st Place Overall Chapter
	Iowa Barn Foundation tours to be held Sept. 19-20 If you are looking for something different to do on a September weekend, consider taking a self-guided tour of Iowa’s historic barns. The Iowa Barn Foundation is holding its 26th Annual All-State Barn Tour on Saturday and Sunday, Sept.19-20, featuring more than 100 barns across the state that will be available for visiting inside and out from 9-5 both days. Iowa is proud to host the largest barn tour in the world! The fall tour highlights barns that have received a restoration grant from the foundation and those that have received an Award of Distinction or Preservation Award for restoration funded by the owner. Many of the owners will be on hand to share their memories and regard for the structures and answer your questions. The self-guided fall tour is free and open to the public, made possible by member donors. An interactive online tour guide can be found at iowabarnfoundation.org/barn-tours. Questions can be emailed to iowabarnfoundation@gmail.com. As a volunteer-led non-profit, the Iowa Barn Foundation’s goal is to maximize member donations to provide restoration grants to save the state’s historic barns. Since being founded in 1997, the foundation has given out $2.6 million dollars in grants to help save over 300 barns. The foundation does not receive any government funding, so it is 100% dependent on private donations to fund its programs. Area barns include: Bickett-Rate Historical Preserve Barn, 600-225th Street, Tipton (Cedar County) - West of Tipton (Or south of Mechanicsville) on County X40, to County F28, go south to Buchanan. The farm is off to the west of the village of Buchanan. The restoration of the barn was completed in August 2020. This red painted barn near the unincorporated village of Buchanan, was built in 1922 near the historic Hannah Morse Fowler Hall House. From 1891-1995, the site operated as an agriculture co-op. The gabled barn has centrally located sliding door access on both the north & south elevations. The barn includes a passage door access for the farmer on both east ends of the north & south sides and a smaller hinged passage door access for livestock on each corner of the barn’s south side. A central driveway provides access to the interior for the storage of hay, grain, and machinery (Restoration Grant). Driscoll Barn (New for 2026), 683 Dixon Ave, Mechanicsville (Cedar County) - From Mechanicsville, go south three miles. On X 40, turn right on 160th Street and go to Dixon Avenue. Go south a mile on Dixon to the barn. This barn was built in 1875. The pre-drilled and precut segments of the barn were brought to Mechanicsville by train from Chicago during the winter, unloaded from the train, placed on bobsleds and carried 5 miles to the farm by the neighbors. In the spring all the neighbors assembled the barn on its current site. The barn measures 56’ x 42’ and has always been used for livestock, hay and straw storage. The barn is still being used today for a few cattle and horses. The barn has always been well maintained and is still in good condition (Preservation Award). Koopmann Barn, 1951 205th St, Bennett (Cedar County) After purchasing the acreage with this 1880s barn in 1993, the owners took steps to ensure it will last for years to come. First steps included a new asphalt roof, siding repairs, and door replacements. Over the past thirty-one years, it has housed peafowl, ornamental pheasants and chickens. It has also been used for storage of pots and greenhouse equipment as well as a home for several generations of farm cats. The original configuration was for housing horses, and the barn is now in the process of being fully restored. A new metal roof was installed in 2020, and new siding/window installation was completed in 2025. It is being restored with no specific purpose in mind, and nest boxes have been installed in the tall hay loft area for both kestrels and barn owls (Preservation Award). Schwien Dairy and Cattle Barns,1667 190th St., Clarence (Cedar County) - From Clarence, go south on County X64, then turn left (east) onto 190th Street. The beautiful Schwien dairy barn (Award of Distinction) was moved eight miles cross country in 1979 from the Cedar County Home Farm. Original tie stalls and calf pens were put back in the barn after the move. The barn was used for tie stalls only, next to the milking parlor which sits right next to it. Two unique ventilation tunnels go from the first floor, thru the hay mow floor up to thru roof. There is also a four bay cattle barn on the property which was built about 1900 using wooden pegs. It was damaged during a storm in June of 2014. It was repaired with a matching grant from the Iowa Barn Foundation (Restoration Grant). Tenley Farms Barn, 681 120th St, Mechanicsville (Cedar County) - 3/4 of a mile NW of Mechanicsville, 2 miles N off HWY 30 Bank barn was built in the 1860s with storage for grains, hay, and straw in the upper level. The bottom of the barn was redone in the 1950’s where Richard (Father) and Dennis (Son) Tenley milked cows for several decades. Dairy cattle and draft horses were housed in the barn at that time also. Milk house was added in the 1970s. Barn currently used to house and milk dairy cows as part of a direct-to-consumer farming operation. Approximately 350 gallons of raw milk is bottled in the milk house weekly and sold directly to the farm’s customers (Award of Distinction). Schroeder Barn, 2738 130th Street, Wilton (Muscatine County) - Take Exit 271 off I-80 and go south 5 miles on IA 38 to 130th Street. Go east for 1/4 mile. Built in the 1940s, this barn features a balcony haymow on both sides of the ground floor alleyway. Original hay trolley and track are still intact. South side of barn was never painted, so was left that way (Restoration Grant). The Old Barn - Muscatine County Conservation, 3300 Cedar St, Muscatine (Muscatine County) - Located in Discovery Park just east of the Muscatine County Conservation office building, turn off Highway 22 onto Houser Street, take a right on Harmony Lane, and follow to the end. 1926 Gothic-arched roof dairy barn designed by Louden Manufacturing Company in Fairfield. The barn remains from the Muscatine County Poor Farm/County Home Farm. The barn has been restored to its original state with the addition of a metal roof, staircase, and an elevator for accessibility. The historic landmark is maintained by the Friends of the Old Barn non-profit organization. It is used to host events to educate on the richness of Muscatine County’s agriculture history (Award of Distinction). Frye Barn, 11150 New Liberty Rd, Walcott (Scott County)– From Exit 292 of I-80, go northwest on IA 130 towards Maysville The Frye farms were settled in 1881. This dairy barn was built around 1921 by great grandfather William Frye, grandfather Arnold Frye and great uncle Alfred Frye. All siding is original. All stone and brick work was tuck-pointed in 1996. The farm was designated a Century Farm in 1981. The barn interior, including the hay mow, is essentially unchanged with the exception of window replacements in 1995 (Restoration Grant). Herb’s Crib, 23553 200th Avenue, Davenport (Scott County) - Exit US 61 at Exit 127. Go east on LeClaire Road three miles. Then go south on 200th a half mile. Herbert Schneckloth, prominent Iowa farmer, whose family emigrated from Germany in 1854, built the landmark round crib in 1926. Work on the 50-feet in diameter structure was done with hand tools. The foundation was dug and poured by hand using a shovel and one-third of a bag of home mix at a time. Handmade forms were used to pour the concrete. The ventilation block tile and matching solid tile were brought from Adel by train and horse-drawn wagons (Restoration Grant, Heritage Farm). Knoll Crest Farm - Nebergall Round Barn, 9478 145th Street, Davenport (Scott County) The Nebergall family had the barn built in 1914 by Benton Steele, a prominent round barn builder from Kansas. The 56-foot diameter design has a two-pitched gambrel conical roof with cupola. The lower section is constructed of hollow clay with the upper section constructed of wood. The barn originally housed dairy cows and draft horses (Award of Distinction).
	Memories of Sept. 11 always come back Maybe it’s just a sign I’m getting old, but whenever the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks comes around, despite my understanding of linear time, I’m often taken aback thinking about the fact that there are adults walking around that have no memory of a pre-9/11 world. So, I wonder what their understanding of that day is like. If you lived through it, how do you explain that day? Ask any Millennial and they’ll tell you a story that usually starts with, “I had just started college and …” In my case, that’s literally true. I was two weeks into college. I’d never lived on my own before, there was only one other person from North Scott at the same college, and everything was new. Sept. 11 was a Tuesday. I had an early English pre-req class that day. My classmates and I dragged ourselves into the basement classroom and waited. And our professor didn’t show up. Somebody went and asked the building secretary what we were supposed to do. That’s the day we learned, if your professor doesn’t show up to class, you can just leave. Somebody wrote a note on the board. “We were here. You weren’t.” And we all groused out of the building, complaining that we’d gotten out of bed that day for no good reason. I went back to my dorm room. I didn’t have class again until the afternoon, but I didn’t want to totally fall asleep, so I flipped on the TV. The Today show happened to be on, and I left it there for noise. Katie Couric and Matt Lauer were their usual chipper selves, but something was going on. They went to a live shot of the World Trade Center, where smoke was pouring out of one of the buildings. Everyone was confused, but they thought maybe a plane had struck the building. Was it intentional? Was it an accident? Nobody knew, but they said they’d keep an eye on it. Then the second plane hit. I remember the Today show team went completely silent, except for audible gasps. Things somehow happened very quickly and very slowly after that. What I remember most about the day was how it seemed to contract and expand as events unfolded. Eventually, my floor mates started to come in from their early classes. They didn’t know anything was happening yet, but you could tell who turned on their TV as soon as they got in their room because yelps and screams started to emerge as more people got back. A girl in the room next to mine burst into tears. “Are we going to die?” she asked. One of her roommates reminded her that we weren’t anywhere near New York City. That did nothing to quell the girl’s tears. Although we still didn’t know each other very well, my floor mates and I started wandering into each other’s rooms. Every door was propped open. Across the hall, somebody just started flipping through the channels. Every station had switched to some form of the news except for Cartoon Network and QVC. Even MTV tried covering the news with their veejays, before finally giving up and just switching to a feed from CBS. By this point, they were talking about terrorism. Then, as we watched the World Trade Center smolder and smoke, we heard a vague report about an explosion at the Pentagon. I don’t remember when we heard about the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. I remember them cutting to a shot of the Pentagon with smoke pouring out. I remember calling home at some point. And I remember suddenly feeling the need to go for a walk. As I stepped outside, I remember it being so quiet. No one was driving. There was hardly anyone outside. My school was in the flight path for the Des Moines International Airport, and we could usually hear planes. But they were all grounded by that point. I walked into the student center, where a huge group was gathered around one of the large TVs in the lobby. They were just watching, and no one said anything. Every TV in the building was on a news station, and it was a cacophony of anchors. But the images were the same. Back in my dorm room, my roommates were finally back from class. We sat on my bed and watched as the towers collapsed. Did we understand we’d just watched thousands of people die live on TV? As afternoon approached, a girl from my freshman seminar walked into my room. We just sort of shrugged and headed off to class because we literally didn’t know what else we were supposed to do. Seminar was in the library that day. We were supposed to be learning about the peer tutoring center. Instead, as the center director muttered something about rescheduling, she helped my professor drag an ancient portable TV into the room. As my professor fiddled with the bunny ears, Tom Brokaw came into focus in black and white. He was talking with some guy about Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. We knew about al-Qaeda. We knew they were responsible for terrorist attacks elsewhere. Even though they’d attacked a U.S. Navy ship, the USS Cole, about a year earlier, that was still the prevailing thought. Despite living through the World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, terrorist attacks were still things that happened ... other places. They didn’t happen in the United States. We thought we were somehow immune. Later, one of my roommates got off the phone with her parents. “They told me to go to the gas station,” she said, dazed. So, we did. Because we didn’t know what else to do. Turns out my roommate’s parents weren’t the only ones with that idea. There was a line at the nearest gas station. We lived with the TV on for 24 hours a day for nearly a week. George W. Bush made speeches. There was footage of first responders digging through the rubble at all three attack sites. The school ordered extra copies of the free daily newspapers in the student center, including The New York Times and USA Today. I think I still have mine tucked away somewhere. One of the ecumenical groups on campus asked the school to keep the chapel completely open. They organized memorial reflection times. Come to the chapel, they said. If you want to pray, you can pray. If you want to cry, you can cry. If you just want to sit, you can do that, too. So, we did. By the end of the week, there was a story in the student newspaper about a group of students who were studying in London for the semester. They went to a memorial service at Westminster Abbey and saw Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. And they said it was weird being away from the United States. They were sad and scared. We were all sad and scared. That’s the thing, for me, that would be the hardest thing to explain to someone with a post-9/11 worldview. The split-second change that happened in the world. The overwhelming feeling of mourning. Everything was fine, and then it wasn’t. There is, of course, a coda to the story, even if it took nearly 10 years to materialize. I was working that night, at another newspaper, and they were starting to wrap up in the newsroom when we got word that President Barack Obama was going to be giving a speech. A quick check of Wikipedia informs me that the announcement of the speech would have been at about 8:45 p.m., so this was highly unusual. In any event, I trotted out to the press room to tell the operators to start pulling page plates off. Speculation was rife. Presidents don’t just give late night speeches. I was still on Twitter then, and suddenly Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson posted that bin Laden was dead. Everyone was confused, because why was that something Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would know? But then news agencies started confirming Johnson’s announcement. As Obama started speaking, people gathered outside the White House, and they were celebrating. Inexplicably, a beach ball appeared, and people bounced it through the air. Personally, I just felt old. The memories from that day came flooding back. As well as memories of everything that happened in the interim. This is ineloquent. I don’t know how to explain the way of the world before Sept. 11, and I don’t know how to explain the stark dividing line between pre- and post-9/11. But the feeling — the knowledge that everything had irrevocably changed — was instant. I know that we all suddenly felt weight on us that wasn’t there before. It was just a Tuesday, after all. Until it wasn’t.
	Remembering “the man,” Wendell Berry The Midwest is a boring place, and no one ever leaves. It is an old joke that when settlers came out of the east, dull and easily contented ones stayed in the Midwest. “Good enough,” they said, setting the enduring character of the place. Wendell Berry’s ancestors stopped in Port Royal, Ky., just over the Appalachian ridge along the Indiana border. Berry, a farmer, writer and environmentalist who died last week at 92, spent nearly his entire life in Port Royal. He kept a small organic farm and wrote novels, poems and essays, most of which argued that cruelty and carelessness in the natural world was at the root of cruelty and careless in much of American life. Berry’s arguments inspired the modern Slow Food movement and its careful attention to the social costs of agriculture. “Eating is an agricultural act,” Berry famously wrote in 1989, a sentence so stupefyingly obvious that it is essentially just stubborn. It nevertheless inspired a generation of writers and ordinary people to consider the public as well as the personal effects of what they eat. It is in this right that Berry became most famous: humble practitioner of an antique form of life, inviting—or inciting—others to join his cause. I have been reading Wendell Berry off and on for many years. My copy of his selected essays, The World-Ending Fire, is ink-stained from a former newspaper job where I helped to run the printing press and would pick up the book when the machine inevitably shut down. Berry, naturally, distrusted machines. He never owned a computer. I liked Berry when I picked him up. Too much. Sometimes reading a morally and spiritual pure writer like Berry gives you a kind of vicarious moral and spiritual purity, which is the sort of self-satisfied feeling Berry disliked. But there was another reason I took to Berry: my parents had taken to him, too, so much so that when I was six years old, they left the city where we lived to bring an old New England dairy farm back to life. My parents have a Berrylike abundance of will and singlemindedness, but they are neither of them especially literary. I do not know how much Wendell Berry they have actually read, and how much they got secondhand, through writers like Michael Pollan and Alice Waters who transformed his writing into a public mission. I never saw a Wendell Berry book on the shelves of our house. If they had any sense or affinity for his politics, it was only insofar as they could be assimilated to a broader environmentalism and belief in hard work they both maintained as ordinary liberals. When I called my dad last week, he said that Berry was “the man.” I think for them he was a kind of symbol. Berry has always been a great deal angrier and more sophisticated than most people suppose. No one quietly becomes a symbol. “I must declare my dissatisfaction with movements to promote soil conservation or clear water or clean air or wilderness preservation or sustainable agriculture or community health or the welfare of children,” Berry wrote at his prickliest in 1998. “They are not radical enough, they virtually predict their own failure whole leaving the causes in place. Ultimately, I think, they are insincere; they propose that the trouble is caused by other people; they would like to change policy but not behavior.” Berry’s arguments were prescriptive in a deep moral sense. To follow Berry one had to adopt his attitude toward the land and human culture, both of which he understood as granular things tied together by the idea of place. Then one had to actually find a place, where one could live, eat, raise a family, perhaps farm, and probably worship. (As a Christian and a critic of abortion Berry has always had an uncomfortable position among political progressives. My parents took me to Hebrew school.) A political cause was only necessary—only possible—once you had your own life and house in order, and something threatened it directly. In 1967 helped block construction of a dam in eastern Kentucky. He joined a sit-in at the Kentucky State House in 2011 to protest pollution caused by the coal industry. When something else bothered him, he wrote out his thoughts and his views for himself, uncompromisingly. Berry was the humble practitioner of an antique form of life, not only because he farmed a marginal acreage in the backwaters of Kentucky, but because he believed personal conscience to be sovereign over every aspect of life. Because it was sovereign it could never be compromised, it had to be kept independent, even willful. He did not allow others to act of think for him. Culture might serve as a guide to action, but only because real culture was identical with the free exercise of conscience in view of one’s particular place in the world. As a consequence of growing up on the farm, I naturally have the sense of place that Berry saw as fertile ground for a decent life. I also have am appreciation for agriculture, especially the diverse kind that Berry preached and my family adopted: chickens, pigs, cows, garden vegetables. Only when I left the farm for college in Chicago did I feel compelled to read Wendell Berry, to make sense of my feelings of remorse for home. Of course I liked what he had to say. I was in the unique, somewhat extraordinary position of owing much of my life and childhood to his writings and the movements they inspired. I had Berry in mind when I decided to move to eastern Iowa and declare it “good enough.” I was picking a new place and Scott County seemed as good as any. I could not farm more than a few porch herbs, but I could write, and I do so with as little compromise as possible.When I accepted the job, I asked Erin Gentz and Scott Campbell if they would help me find a farming family in the rural county with a spare bedroom or garage apartment I could rent, though that came to nothing. Scott County inevitably suffers from the forces of human exploitation and environmental degradation that Berry howled about. It is not redeemed by its agricultural way of life, because that way is set by the mandates of corporate meatpacking and crop insurance and state subsidies and international markets. Berry knew that all of these conspire to destroy the diversity and human scale of Midwestern agricultural as it once was. Berry will live many afterlives, and some of them may be in Iowa. Chris Jones, the Democrat running for state secretary of agriculture, wrote last week that “Berry saw how this country took the dignity away from labor in the name of efficiency, and how this tore the soul from rural America.” Jones has promised a new agriculture agenda that would encourage on-farm diversity and bring more local food to Iowa schools. Republican Zach Lahn, candidate for governor, reads Berry’s poetry to his children and has promised to tackle agriculture giants. He told Tucker Carlson last fall that “a lot of my campaign comes down to a question I came across while reading an essay by Wendell Berry.” The question, if I have identified the essay correctly, is “What will this do to our community?” Berry would have bristled at either appropriation—he distrusted movements even as he seeded them. He was a kind of prophet, singular and relentless. He was as intransigent as the draft horses he led into his nineties. May “the man” rest in peace.
	1986: John Langenhan named principal at Virgil Grissom Sept. 9, 1976 • There would be no contest for North Scott School Board, as incumbents Robert Carter and Dr. Marvin Elliott were the only candidates to file their papers for the Sept. 14 election. In addition to school board, North Scott voters were also being asked to consider reapproving a capital improvement levy, which would require a simple majority. • Approximately 350 families were camping at Scott County Park as part of the state convention for the National Campers and Hikers Association. Young campers planned to conduct a teen queen contest, which would be held at Happy Joe’s in Eldridge. The Eldridge Businessmen’s Association was also providing special offers at local businesses. • An unusual fire destroyed the home of the John Davis family in rural Eldridge. Firefighters extinguished a blaze in the kitchen, but one day later, the fire reignited and engulfed the entire home. No one was injured, but the Davis family lost all their belongings, and the community was rallying around them to get temporary housing, clothing and other items. • North Scott sophomore Teresa Davis was headed to New South Wales, Australia, to participate in a student exchange program at the Kinross-Wolaroi School in Orange, where her uncle was a teacher. Toni White, a student at the school in Orange, was set to attend North Scott High School for the fall. White would return to Australia two weeks before Davis was scheduled to depart and planned to show her the sights. Meanwhile, White said the U.S. and Australia were very similar, and her only major adjustment was learning to drive on the right-hand side of the road with left-side steering. • A reception was scheduled at Faith Lutheran Church in Eldridge to celebrate Rev. and Mrs. Ronald Jesperson’s 35th anniversary of joining the ministry. Rev. Jesperson was ordained in 1941, three weeks after he and Delores Holmgaard were married. They had served congregations in Nebraska, Texas, and elsewhere in Iowa, before accepting a call to join the Eldridge church in 1970. Mrs. Jesperson was also a home economics teacher at North Scott High School. Sept. 10, 1986 • A local option sales tax measure proposed by Davenport could force the rest of the county to participate if voters approved the measure in the November election. If approved, county sales tax would increase from four to five percent on Jan. 1, 1987. The increased sales tax was project to raise more than $9.8 million, which Davenport wanted to use for property tax relief, capital improvements and economic development. Davenport mayor Thom Hart said he didn’t want to force other communities in Scott County to enact the increased tax, but that was the way state law required the measure to be put forth. He also said maintaining Davenport’s economic viability was important to the whole county. • John Langenhan, a sixth-grade teacher at Virgil Grissom, was named the new principal of the Princeton elementary school. One of 30 applicants and six finalists for the job, Langenhan said he was “looking forward to continuing my commitment to quality education and to the Princeton area.” He had been a teacher at the school for 10 years and said it had always been one of his goals to be in administration. Karen Lortz, who previously held the position, left the district to take a job near Cedar Rapids. • Scott County supervisor David Dahlin resigned from the board. He had previously served as county clerk before being appointed to the board in January to fill the seat held by Thom Hart when he became mayor of Davenport. The seat was up for election in November. • Lois Porter of Davenport, formerly of Eldridge, had attended her first Pythian Sisters annual state convention in 1936, and enjoyed it so much, she had attended every state convention since – except for one year when the convention was cancelled due to World War II. She joined the Pythian Sisters in 1925 when she was 16 and held many titles within the organization, including Grand Chief of Iowa during the war, which required her to travel around the state. Her husband, Joe, and her father, Albert Oetzmann, were members of the Knights of Pythias, and her sister, Verna Warnecke, was a member of the Pythian Sisters chapter in Walcott. The service organizations did many charitable works, including providing wheelchairs and crutches to people in the community. • The North Scott boys’ golf team upset Davenport Central at Duck Creek Golf Course and carded a school record 193 in the process. John Franklin took medalist honors with a 36. Chad Kazos followed with a 38, while Buddy Louck and Matt Dobbe fired twin 39s and Mike Schneckloth turned in a 41. This was the Lancers’ third consecutive win, putting their season mark at 3-4 so far. Sept. 12, 2001 • The North Scott School Board resolved a controversy involving rental fees for school facilities. In August, a non-profit group that wanted to host a volleyball tournament protested the fee. They said they could have been charged as much as $300 to use the facilities. Superintendent Tim Dose was the policy was reexamined by the board’s policy committee. They recommended not charging a facility fee but instead charging for the cost of a supervisor and custodians. “We’ll see how it works,” he said. • Two fires kept rural firefighters very busy. The first, on Sept. 5, broke out in a barn on the Karl Otte farm in rural Princeton. The barn, which was made of wood and full of hay, was destroyed, but firefighters were able to save several nearby buildings, including a hog shed and a milk barn. They also had to return to the farm several times over the next few days to put out hot spots. McCausland fire chief Rob McCaughey said the cause of the fire was believed to be electrical. On Sept. 7, firefighters responded to a fire near the Interstate 80/Maysville blacktop crossing where a machine shed owned by Scott County Lawns caught on fire. Six Davenport firefighters sustained “blast injuries” when a box of fireworks stored under a wooden bench inside the building also exploded. The cause of the fire was yet to be determined. • The Eldridge City Council haggled over, and eventually tabled, an ordinance that would have seen the mayor’s pay increase from $2,400 annually to $4,800. Mayor Larry Rauch said he wasn’t “willing to work for nothing. I’m just not that humble. And I don’t see everybody else turning back their paychecks. So, I would appreciate a raise.” However, only three council members present at the meeting, and Marc Brandt was not in favor of the raise. Brad Noel and John Strazewski said they favored an increase to $3,600. They decided to table the issue until council member Tom Knapper returned at the next meeting. Meanwhile, Rauch also announced he planned to run for reelection in November and said he wanted to see some new faces on the ballot. • Duane Miller of Eldridge helped play host to a group of international labor officials visiting the Quad Cities. The group featured members from Taiwan, Namibia, Australia and Egypt. Miller helped guide a tour of the AT&T Pioneers Museum at the AT&T Building in downtown Davenport. He said, in addition to questions about the artifacts at the museum, group members also asked about labor relations, including unionization. They planned to meet with various union workers for the City of Moline and the UFCW Local 431 office in Davenport before touring the Oscar Mayer plant. Later in the trip, they were also set to visit the Ron and Marcella Schneckloth farm. • One week after a disappointing 13-7 loss to Muscatine in the season opener, the North Scott football team bounced back with a 20-0 win over Clinton at home. Fullback Ben Anderson scored three touchdowns on the night. Meanwhile, defensive end Jimmy Goddard, who worked at the Wal-Mart in Clinton, said he had a plan for the next day. “Some of my coworkers have been heckling me all week as to who was going to win the game. So, now I feel it necessary to wear my Lancer Power Football shirt to work tomorrow.” Sept. 14, 2011 • Nearly 100 McCausland residents turned up for a meeting with representatives of the U.S. Postal Service. Also present were members of the Scott County Board of Supervisors and representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin and U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley. While USPS representatives had few answers as to why the town’s post office was on the chopping block again, organizer Lloyd Claussen said he was pleased so many residents showed up to demonstrate support. • Princeton residents showed up to a city council meeting to protest a decision to change the name of Boll’s Community Center to the Princeton Community Center. The council had made the change in March on a recommendation from the Community Center Board because much of the business for the center came from out-of-town residents. Regardless, the council had bigger concerns about the community center, because it was losing money. • Low reading proficiency scores for North Scott eighth graders may have been a statistical anomaly, curriculum director Sue Kane reported to the school board. While a July report indicated that only 39% of eighth graders were reading at grade level, that was only according to one standardized test, the Basic Reading Inventory. According to the ITBS/ITED test, eighth graders were testing in the 86th percentile, and in the 82nd percentile on the MAP test. Junior high principal David Griffin said vocabulary caused the main issue in the BRI test. • The North Scott volleyball team finished second at their own invitational, defeating Cedar Rapids Xavier, Clinton, Davenport West and Central DeWitt before falling to Iowa City High in the championship. Emily Hermiston had 28 kills on the day. Hannah Lindaman dished out 97 assists, and Anna Boffeli finished the day with 58 digs. • Members of North Scott’s Homecoming court included Kasey Denison, Paige Ehrecke, Hannah Wilkerson, Shalynn Eldredge-McMillan, Lauren Cota, Nicole McCombs, Ellen Jelinske, Mary Cunningham, Lindsay Puls and Kerri Golinghorst, and Ben Ihrig, Thomas Cawiezell, Patryk Cotti, Keenan Feldpausch, Brian Speer, John Kinney, Austin Belk, Devin Johnson, Brandon Polzin and Tanner Johnson. Retired teacher and coach Steve Mohr was named grand marshal of the parade. Sept. 8, 2021 • A memorial trip around Scott County was planned by area first responders in honor of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. After stopping at area fire stations, the procession would culminate in LeClaire, where a steel beam from the World Trade Center would be permanently installed. The memorial would also feature two walls, representing the Twin Towers, and a pentagon shaped base. County Emergency Management Agency director Brian Payne was set to speak at the installation. He remembered watching the attacks in class as a sophomore at Davenport West High School. “The think I remember most is the country coming together as one,” he said. “I saw the country truly banded together. Some angry, some sad, but still together.” • There would be a contest in Eldridge in the November election, as Frank King announced he would take on incumbent mayor Marty O’Boyle. Meanwhile, April Rus, Tisha Bousselot and Dan Collins were circulating papers for council. Incumbent Brian Dockery previously announced plans to run for reelection. • Meanwhile, there would also be a contest for North Scott School Board, as Frank Wood took out papers. Incumbents Donn Wilmott, Tracy Lindaman and Mark Pratt had already announced they planned to run for reelection. • As city administrator Lisa Kotter remained on paid leave pending the results of a harassment investigation against her, the Eldridge City Council was considering officially promoting wastewater superintendent Tony Rupe to assistant city administrator. He had been filling the role in an interim position since previous assistant city administrator James Martin took a job with Scott County in July. • The North Scott boys’ golf team finished third at the Davenport Assumption Invitational, behind Pleasant Valley and Burlington. Junior John Dobbe placed ninth with a 78. Drew Sacia (82), Zach Johnson (85), Evin Pieper (85), Carter Loehr (86) and Eli Engelkes (90) rounded out the scoring.
	Healthy aging should be the expectation, not the exception This year, America has lost several people who were part of many of our childhoods and early adulthoods, including Dolly Parton and Chuck Norris. Their deaths came as a shock to many of us because they appeared to be living full, active and independent lives. Perhaps that's because many of us still hold a narrow view of aging. We often picture older adults as frail or living in skilled nursing facilities, making death seem less surprising when it occurs. Yet that stereotype doesn't reflect the reality most people want for themselves or their loved ones. As a community nutrition expert and healthy aging advocate, I want everyone to have the opportunity to live a long, active and independent life. September is Healthy Aging Month, a time to recognize that aging well should be the norm, not the exception. The need to support healthy aging has never been greater. Every day, approximately 10,000 Americans turn 65 years old and by 2034 (only eight years from now), adults age 65 and older are expected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. Nutrition’s role in healthy aging Nearly one in five Iowans is age 65 or older. In fact, 65 of Iowa's 99 counties have at least 20% of their residents in this age group. Many older Iowans enjoy good health; however, chronic diseases, mobility limitations, food insecurity and social isolation remain important challenges. The good news is that nutrition plays a key role in helping older adults maintain their health, independence and quality of life. Healthy aging starts with access to nutritious food. That means living near stores that offer a variety of healthy options, including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products. It means being able to afford those foods without having to choose between groceries, medication, housing or other necessities. Opportunities to connect Healthy aging also means having opportunities to connect with others, such as through congregate meal programs, where older adults can enjoy nutritious meals while building friendships and reducing social isolation. For individuals who cannot leave their homes, home-delivered meal programs provide both nourishment and an important connection to the community. Equally important is access to reliable health and nutrition information that empowers people to make informed food and lifestyle choices that support their long-term health. Community support Supporting older adults as they age in place requires more than individual effort. Communities and policymakers play an important role in creating environments that support healthy lifestyles, from reducing food deserts to improving access to safe places for physical activity. While these larger changes take time, resources are available right now that can help older adults improve their health and maintain their independence. Healthy aging is about much more than adding years to life. It's about adding life to those years. By making sure that older adults have access to nutritious food, social connections and reliable health information, we can help more people remain active, independent and engaged in their communities for years to come. Sarah L. Francis is Morrill Professor and extension state specialist in food and health at Iowa State University.
	Let's look after one another Providing healthcare is the way we take care of each other. Medicaid supports the elderly and disabled. In 2025 legislators passed The One Big Beautiful Bill. There are $900 billion in cuts for the next decade, which mean state cuts. Iowa has a high cancer rate and needs those dollars for treatment! Before voting, check on the candidate’s record and share with family and friends. We must look out for each other! Rebecca Oliver Moline
	Lancer runners beat the heat at Pleasant Valley Spartan Challenge There are no timeouts or halftime breaks in cross-country. The searing summer heat is a constant obstacle on the course. Even with an 8 a.m. start time Saturday to avoid the worst of the heat, North Scott’s runners posted some standout performances in their lone race last week at Crow Creek Park. The Lancers made the best of their situation this week as training was significantly impacted. “Heat and distance running don’t usually mix very well. I think if you asked the kids, they would tell you racing was pretty miserable,” Lancer coach Amy Knoche said. “We often talk about how racing should be uncomfortable, and Saturday definitely put that to the test.” The cross-country team moved practices to before school each day and reduced the total time spent outside. Tuesday’s originally scheduled meet in Clinton got axed, so the team’s typical weekly mileage was lower than usual. This only added to the complexity of the weekend’s Pleasant Valley Spartan Challenge, which is one of the premier races in the Midwest featuring teams from Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota. “We told them to go out a little conservative, and if they were feeling good after the halfway point to really start racing,” Knoche said. “Crow Creek is already a tough course with all the hills in the last mile, so adding the heat made it even more challenging. “I thought the kids responded really well. They all finished on two feet, which can sometimes be the goal on a day like Saturday. It wasn’t necessarily about running fast times; it was about racing smart, competing, and getting through a tough day.” The standout performance came bright and early with junior Natalie O’Flahrity crossing the finish line in 20 minutes and 55 seconds and placing 25th overall. It was the third-fastest Lancer girls time at the Spartan Challenge since 2018, only behind times set by Bailey Boddicker and Faith Nead. O’Flahrity’s time led North Scott, and it was more than 40 seconds faster than both of her races at this site last year, which included the state qualifying meet. “Natalie got the day going with a phenomenal race. I think she probably wished (the district meet last season) had gone a little better. So, in a way, Saturday was a bit of redemption for her,” Knoche said. “Talking with her after the race, she emphasized trusting her training, having confidence in herself, and going into the race with the right mindset. Those are all things we talk about, but it was great to see her put them into action on a tough day.” Senior Khloe Hamilton was only nine seconds shy of the time she set at Mount Vernon, running a 21:32 race and finishing 40th overall. North Scott had the same top four as it did at Mount Vernon, with sophomores Vivian Ohsann (23:24 — 75th) finishing third and sophomore Zoey Ayers (24:36 — 89th) finishing fourth. Junior Brylee Rathe scored for the Lancers with her 25-minute 19-second race. Senior Emma Reif and freshman Kayla Stortz were merely steps behind at 25:26 and 25:33, respectively. On this brutally tough day, two Lancer boys found personal records: sophomore Logan Carney in the junior varsity race (23:08) and sophomore Bryton Dougherty in the varsity race (18:04). Dougherty was the second-fastest Lancer and finished in the top half of the 140-runner field. “Bryton absolutely crushed it,” Knoche said. “Crow Creek is a tough course to PR on. To add the heat on top of that makes his 20-second PR even more impressive. Talking with him after the race, he said this was the best his legs had ever felt going into a race. He knew there was going to be adversity during the race, and he had the right frame of mind to accept that, deal with it, and overcome it. It was great to see him make that leap.” Senior Parker Hamly led the team with a 17:27 time and a 32nd-place finish. He and senior Ben Clayton (18:09 — 65th), along with Hamilton in the girls’ race, finished with nearly identical times from the Mount Vernon meet two weeks ago. “Consistency is key in the distance world, and Parker, Ben and Khloe bring it every day,” Knoche said. “To back up their times from last week, especially in those conditions, says a lot about their experience and their ability to race smart. They continue to be dependable for us, and that’s something we really value.” The next five Lancer boys all finished within 30 seconds of one another: junior Zeke Skyles (19:06), freshman Jeremiah Stanley (19:08), sophomore Cooper Esch (19:24), freshman William Crawford (19:32) and Miles Unwin (19:36). Compared to last week, this Thursday has a chilly 81-degree forecasted high temperature, which runners hope will make for another personal-record haven at Cedar Rapids’ Seminole Valley Park. Afterwards, North Scott will look ahead to its home meet on Sept. 15 at Scott County Park.
	Gary Hamann to mark 80th birthday with Sept. 26 party Gary Hamann of Walcott will celebrate his 80th birthday with a party on Saturday, Sept. 26. All friends and relatives are invited to join him from 4-7 p.m. at the Walcott Legion, 121 Bryant St., Walcott.
	Obituary: William Carter William K. Carter, 66, of Princeton, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, at his home. A memorial visitation will be held from 3–5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf. Memorials may be made in care of the family. William was born on Nov. 20, 1958, the son of Kenneth K. and Lowenne R. (Osterberg) Carter. William enjoyed many things, but nothing brought him greater joy than his guitar and spending time with his loving family. Those left to honor his memory are his son, James (Heather) Carter; his grandchildren, Erica Voshell, Anthony Carter, Veronica Carter, Devin Engle, Erica Engle and Alex Engle; six great-grandchildren; his sister, Jolene Springsteen; and his brother, Paul (Cindy) Carter. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother-in-law, Mark Springsteen. Online condolences may be shared with William’s family at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com. Custom obituary
	North Scott Class of '76 holds reunion The North Scott Class of 1976 celebrated their 50th class reunion on Aug. 21 and 22. On Friday the 21st, there was a get reacquainted get together at Double Barrell in Eldridge. On Saturday the 22nd, the fun started first with a tour of the RIC building followed by a tour of the High School. Then a gathering was held at the Isaak Walton League. Besides Illinois and Iowa, classmates came from Tennessee, Ohio, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Nevada and Minnesota.
	Youth Mental Health First Aid program offered Oct. 22 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid training for adults who work with youth ages 6 to 18. This educational program is designed to help adults help young people with mental health challenges. The program will be offered in-person in Scott County on Oct. 22. Youth Mental Health First Aid introduces common mental health and substance use challenges in youth and reviews typical adolescent development. Participants will learn a five-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. “Participants learn how to comfortably talk to a child or teen about mental health. It’s not an easy conversation, but it is important and can save a young person’s life,” Danielle Day said. ISU Extension and Outreach will offer Youth Mental Health First Aid in person on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Scott County, 875 Tanglefoot Lane, Ste B, Bettendorf, IA 52722. The program will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This program is being offered at no cost thanks to sponsorship from ISU Extension and Outreach, Scott County. Lunch is provided and registration is required by Oct. 8. Register online for the program at https://go.iastate.edu/BSZYWD. For more information, contact Dawn Dunnegan, at dunnegan@iastate.edu.
	UNI foundry center receives state funding The University of Northern Iowa will use state funding to expand the capabilities of its foundry center. The Cedar Falls university announced that the Iowa Economic Development Authority has awarded UNI with $970,000 through its Strategic Infrastructure Program. Funds will go to purchasing new equipment for the Foundry 4.0 Center, an off-campus facility focused on exploring new technologies for the foundry industry alongside the university’s Metal Casting Center. “This funding will go a long way to keep the facility and equipment operating in a way to support ongoing research,” said Stewart Carter, head of UNI’s Department of Applied Engineering, in a news release. The funding will be used to purchase a 3D sand printer and an induction furnace for the foundry center, according to the release. The center will use the sand printer to “create complex molds and cores directly from digital designs,” the release stated, cutting down on time and effort. The induction furnace will increase the center’s capacity to melt metal for research and industry work. With this new equipment, the foundry center will be better equipped to support student learning and collaboration with Iowa companies, the release stated. Metal Casting Center Associate Director Nathaniel Bryant collaborated with industry partners to show the center’s need for new equipment and submitted the application for funding, the release stated. “This is quite a humbling moment for me,” Bryant said in the release. “UNI has given me so much, and it is about time I am able to give back something notable. This is only the beginning of more great things to come from the Metal Casting Center.”
	Bettendorf to break ground on new police station The ceremony is at 4 p.m. and KWQC will livestream the event.
	View the Scott County Sheriff's report from the Sept. 9 NSP! THURSDAY, AUG. 27 4:04 a.m. — Daviana Monae Kirkwood, 21, Davenport, was cited for OWI – 1st offense, no valid driver’s license and violation of financial liability coverage, following a traffic stop in the 3800 block of South 1st Street, Eldridge. FRIDAY, AUG. 28 11:37 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 13800 block of 118th Avenue, Davenport. The individual returned to the store to pay for the items and received a lifetime notice of no trespassing for the property. 4:01 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 100 block of Depot Street. 5:48 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 6:01 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 4200 block of North Elsie Avenue. 6:07 p.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 11100 block of 140th Street Place. 10:16 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a missing person in the 1000 block of Reynolds Street. SATURDAY, AUG. 29 12:29 a.m. — Derrick D. Conn, 39, Milwaukee, Wis., was cited for possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense, following a traffic stop near North Division and West Lombard streets, Davenport. 1:00 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near Coonhunters Road and 127th Street, where a vehicle driven by Slaud Idanan Lafosse, 84, Blue Grass, struck a deer that entered the roadway. 1:53 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1700 block of State Street. 2:33 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 7200 block of Northwest Boulevard. 3:58 a.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 17900 block of Great River Road. 6:00 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near 110th Avenue and 130th Street, where a vehicle driven by Kossi Sekpona, 47, Silvis, Ill., struck a deer that entered the roadway. 7:51 a.m. — Cali Mae Stoddard, 30, Blue Grass, was charged with domestic abuse assault – 1st offense, after deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 11800 block of 100th Avenue, Davenport. 9:28 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 10200 block of 298th Street. 12:30 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 100 block of South Genessee Street. 3:18 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 11300 block of 140tj Street/ 10:46 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check near 300th Street and 220th Avenue. 11:20 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an assault in the 4800 block of State Street. SUNDAY, AUG. 30 2:17 a.m. — Jessica Dorene Barr, 35, Davenport, was cited for OWI – 1st offense, following a traffic stop near 60th Avenue and New Liberty Road, Walcott. 3:07 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. 5:44 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near Slopertown Road and North Division Street. 6:34 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 700 block of West Iowa 80 Road. 10:54 a.m. — Aaron M. Voorhis, 37, no address given, was cited for driving while barred (habitual offender), following a traffic stop on 270th Street, Eldridge. 8:50 p.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 28100 block of 120th Avenue. 9:15 p.m. — Dallas Rye Overstreet, 20, no address given, was arrested on an outstanding interstate warrant, following an incident in the 5400 block of Valley Drive, Bettendorf. 9:55 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on Park View Drive. 10:53 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 600 block of North Highway 67. MONDAY, AUG. 31 7:37 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 13800 block of 118th Avenue. 8:44 a.m. — Deputies responded to an indecency/lewdness complaint in the 400 block of West 4th Street. 9:01 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 6900 block of Grove Crossing Court. 9:20 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 500 block of Belmont Road. 9:39 a.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 10:32 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 2300 block of West Locust Street. 10:58 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 700 block of Fillmore Street. 12:48 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a juvenile problem in the 9500 block of 160th Street. 1:42 p.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 2:14 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 600 block of West 14th Street. 2:15 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 700 block of 3rd Street. 3:26 p.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 4:21 p.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 3200 block of South 16th Avenue. 9:03 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 23300 block of 115th Avenue. TUESDAY, SEPT. 1 12:23 a.m. — Jamie Lee Johnston, 45, no address given, was arrested on an outstanding intrastate warrant, following an incident in the 22300 block of 20th Avenue, Stockton. 5:38 a.m. — Deputies responded to a motor vehicle accident in the 4800 block of State Street. A vehicle driven by Randy James Perkins Jr., 44, Davenport, was travelling through the parking lot at Arconic. He reportedly failed to properly stop at a stop sign and struck a pedestrian in a crosswalk. The pedestrian self-transported to an area hospital. 6:24 a.m. — Elias Eldon Burke, 40, no address given, was cited for possession of a controlled substance, driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked and operation without registration, following a traffic stop near mile marker 292 on Interstate 80 East, Davenport. 7:38 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 600 block of Belmont Road, Bettendorf. A vehicle driven by Lori Lynn House, 47, Bettendorf, attempted to make a left turn out of the parking lot at Pleasant Valley High School. She drove into the path of a motorcycle operated by Samantha Sue Royse, 36, Bettendorf. While the vehicles never collided, the motorcycle dumped out due to an abrupt stop. Royse and a passenger on the motorcycle were transported by Medic to Genesis East Medical Center. House was cited for failure to yield on a left turn. 8:54 a.m. — Kylie Rebecca Wilson, 23, no address given, was cited for unlawful passing of a school bus, following an incident in the 10500 block of 140th Street, Davenport. 9:23 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 4800 block of State Street. 3:21 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 1700 block of West 7th Street. 5:41 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 11000 block of 141st Street. 6:54 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 8:28 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 100 block of Park Avenue South. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2 12:43 a.m. — Richard G. Titus, 46, no address given, was arrested on an outstanding interstate warrant and charged with possession of a controlled substance (non-marijuana) – 3rd or subsequent offense, assault on persons in certain occupations (bodily injury), interference with official acts (bodily injury) and public intoxication – 1st offense, following an incident in the 2300 block of West River Drive, Davenport. 2:07 a.m. — Marcus Leonard Taylor, 56, no address given, was charged with failure to appear on a warrant, contempt (violation of a no contact or protective order) and providing false identification information, and cited for driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked and violation of financial liability coverage, following a traffic stop in the 100 block of West 65th Street, Davenport. 9:45 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 600 block of North Highway 67. 10:29 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 11:31 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance near North Division Street and West Dover Court. 12:27 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 600 block of West Oak Street. 12:51 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 16900 block of 275th Street. 1:05 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 600 block of West 4th Street. 3:46 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 700 block of East 14th Street. 5:28 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 2900 block of North Plainview Road. 6:17 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a burglary/home invasion in the 200 block of Filmore Street. 6:21 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 5900 block of 230th Street. 6:56 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a missing person in the 27100 block of 183rd Avenue Place. 8:19 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 25500 block of 210th Avenue. 8:34 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near West 35th Street and Wisconsin Avenue. 9:50 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 600 block of North Highway 67. 9:52 p.m. — Annalisa Silva Teneyuque, 29, no address given, was charged with OWI – 1st offense and cited for violation of financial liability coverage and failure to maintain control, after deputies responded to the scene of a motor vehicle accident in the 11200 block of 140th Street Place, Davenport. THURSDAY, SEPT. 3 1:08 a.m. — Bobby Ray Ulman, 47, no address given, was charge with OWI – 1st offense and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 2nd offense, following an incident in the 2300 block of West River Drive, Davenport. 2:06 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a burglary/home invasion in the 3200 block of Marquette Street. 3:48 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 2400 block of West 47th Street. 4:19 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near 140th Street and Interstate 280 East, Davenport. A vehicle driven by Jason R. Black, 53, Moline, was stopped at the end of the Interstate 280 exit ramp, waiting to turn onto 140th Street. He was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Khamel I. Glancey, 30, Moline. Glancey was cited for following too closely. 8:53 a.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 400 block of East 7th Street. 10:29 a.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 12:22 p.m. — Deputies responded to an abuse/neglect claim in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 1:02 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage. 2:14 p.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 3200 block of South 16th Avenue. 4:22 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 20600 block of 310th Street. 6:00 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an assault in the 4700 block of Tremont Avenue. 6:54 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident in the 2800 block of West Locust Street. A vehicle driven by Thomas R. Shipman, 75, Port Byron, Ill., was traveling through the grounds of the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. Shipman’s vehicle struck an ice cream trailer that was parked. 6:56 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 10900 block of 160th Street. 11:06 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 700 block of North Meadows Court. FRIDAY, SEPT. 4 12:48 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft near East 46th and Brady streets. 1:19 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of West Kimberly Road. 5:02 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 500 block of West Prairie Vista Drive. 12:38 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 8300 block of 130th Street.
	North Scott turns slow start into strong finish It was far from the prettiest of wins, but North Scott got itself back on track last Friday. Behind a defense that allowed 144 yards of total offense, the Lancers defeated Cedar Rapids Washington 21-3 on a sweltering September night as the scarlet and silver improved to 1-1. “I told the guys anytime you win a football game, enjoy it,” Lancer coach Tony Stewart said. “Obviously, we wish things went down a little differently at times. But you get nine guaranteed opportunities, and we’re going to enjoy it.” Washington had 12 possessions in the game and did not run a play inside of North Scott’s 20-yard line all night. North Scott did not allow Washington any room to breathe on offense. The Warriors mustered just 20 passing yards on 11 attempts, and their jumbo formations were limited to 3.8 yards per carry. “The key was watching film, actually,” said senior Aaron Bergfeld, who led North Scott with 7.5 tackles and 1.5 sacks in the game. “Our coaches came up with this really smart move for our outside linebackers to stop that run, and we stopped them. And it comes down to everybody being physical. Our line stuffing the crap out of them. Our backers filling hard. Safeties, corners, everyone doing their job.” Washington went three-and-out five times, punted twice, lost two fumbles and turned the ball over on downs twice in its non-scoring drives. Senior Christian Perez was credited with one forced fumble while juniors Evan Kuhn and Drake Reitz recorded the recoveries. The Warriors’ lone points came on a 47-yard field goal with eight minutes remaining in the second quarter. “Once we know those teams are broken, we are going to keep our foot down and stomp them. That’s kind of what we did tonight,” Bergfeld said. “After last week, it feels incredible to get this done. All the guys are tired. Some are hurt. But the feeling of pushing through all of it and coming out with the ‘W’ is just unmatched.” “If the defense plays like that every week, we’re always going to have a chance,” Stewart said. “We have to do a better job on the offensive end at times.” While the Lancer offense was ice cold in week one, it showed flashes of its explosive nature from a year ago. It also showed it still has a long way to go to get back to that point. North Scott did not punt in the first half of Friday’s game. That sounds great, except that the Lancers threw three interceptions and turned the ball over on downs twice. All three interceptions came within the first four drives. The other drive ended in a beautiful end zone ball to senior Ryder Maher delivered by senior Miller Haedt for the game’s first points. Junior Conlan Panther entered the game at quarterback for the Lancers’ fifth drive, with Haedt next to him in the backfield. Haedt rushed for 20 yards on the first play. He sustained an injury on the next play and did not return. “That was not a reactive thing with Miller. We have full confidence in Miller at quarterback,” Stewart said. “I know he had a few picks, and those are things we’ll work through. We had planned, so we could get more dynamic, with (Haedt) at running back and Conlan in the game. When I talked to Miller, he said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ “You saw the first two runs. I’d love to say I regret it, but I don’t. That’s exactly what we were looking for. Miller is a running quarterback anyway. He got hit on that second play and dinged his shoulder. It could’ve happened on any regular running play. It’s just really unfortunate.” Midway through the third quarter, with the scoreboard reading 7-3, there were more than a few nervous fans on the home side of Lancer Stadium. Then, Landon Gronewold happened. The junior wide receiver took a simple 10-yard out route 68 yards down the home sideline, shaking one defender and outrunning three more for a game-breaking touchdown. It came off of a play action bootleg that Panther lobbied to run again. “I saw he was wide open. There was another play where I told our coaches to run that play because he was wide open, and I threw it to him again,” Panther said. “Me and Landon, we’ve had chemistry since we were kids. I knew he would get it done.” As Washington’s death-by-papercuts offense proved ineffective, Panther put the game away himself with a two-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Panther completed 11 of 23 passes for 157 yards and had a hand in both of North Scott’s second-half touchdowns. Senior Gage Wagner continued to lead the backfield with 14 carries for 87 yards. Haedt was trending toward a great day on the ground, with six rushes for 59 yards, before sustaining his injury. Gronewold ended the night as North Scott’s leading receiver with 77 yards. Senior Ryan Block hauled in nine passes for 67 yards, and Maher caught four passes for 44 yards and a touchdown. “I knew I had to help the team get the win. Miller going out with the injury, we had to step up,” Panther said. “All of our linemen played great. We have a lot of young guys, freshmen and sophomores, stepping up. Our run game and outside zone was there. Our passing game, it was there when it was needed.” Nothing came easy in this game with the extreme heat warning only complicating matters on Friday and throughout the week. North Scott practiced late at night for most of the week, and then switched to a 5:45 a.m. session on Thursday. On gameday, it became a mental battle. “We knew both of us were playing a lot of guys both ways. A lot of football. We had to mentally out-tough them so we could physically out-tough them,” Stewart said. “And it was a physical game. They have some good players. I thought at halftime our coaches got into our guys about toughening up. Make sure they’re staying on the field, not asking to come out, things like that. “I finally saw, in the second half, our seniors decided to step up and be the senior leaders they need to be. That’s not always easy, but they got it figured out. I think they’re starting to figure it out. We will need it all year.” The situational spots don’t get any easier as North Scott will take a 146-mile bus ride down Interstate 80 and south toward Pella High School for a ranked matchup. The Dutch eked by North Scott 10-3 last season and eventually made the state semifinals. Pella beat a good Ballard team 13-0 in week one, but dropped a 7-3 decision at home to Waverly-Shell Rock last time out. The Dutch are only averaging 3.4 yards per carry through two weeks. That is perhaps why they are throwing the ball more times than they run (61 passing attempts to 55 rushing attempts).
	'At the end of the day, a win is a win' The streak continues. For the fourth consecutive season, North Scott volleyball has won a five-set match. The Lancers are used to going the distance against elite teams like Pleasant Valley, Davenport Assumption and Clear Creek-Amana. Having to do so against Davenport North introduced an entirely new experience. From down two sets to one, North Scott got across the finish line 25-20, 21-25, 17-25, 25-16, 15-2 at home on Tuesday (Sept. 1) against the now 2-13 Wildcats. “I would hope we stop (the five-set streak),” joked Lancer coach Taylor Ingram. “I don’t want to continue that, to be honest. I’d rather take care of business in three. At the end of the day, a win is a win. We’ll take it, and we’ll move on.” Coming off of four excellent matches to start the season, everybody in The Pit expected to be in and out of the gym in around an hour. North went 7-24 last year, was 2-7 to start this year, and has not beaten North Scott in volleyball in over two decades. Instead, the match lasted more than two hours with North thoroughly outplaying North Scott in the second and third sets. “I don’t think we gave enough respect to North,” Ingram said. “They came ready to play. We came in very lax, and they took advantage. Kudos to them for winning two sets. I think they played very well. “We were working through some lineups and changes with different girls on the floor. Showing people different roles and how they would adhere to challenges. At the end of the day, a win is a win. That’s a positive. We’ll go back to work on what we need to work on.” The first set, 25-20, went more or less as expected. But North started the second and third sets in front and never looked back, stunning and quieting the home crowd. “I think it was more of a mental thing today. We came out nervous for some reason,” Ingram said. “We weren’t sticking to the things we were working on, and it showed. At the serve-receive line, I don’t know what happened.” North Scott only served at an 82.8 percent clip. North was not much better from an efficiency standpoint at 84.8 percent, but the Wildcats matched the Lancers with 15 aces. The home side put its nose in front in the fourth set, leading 11-6 and forcing North to call a timeout. Four straight Wildcat points brought the margin to two. From 16-14, the Lancers won nine of the next 12 points to take the set and force a decider. After rotating as many as 11 players into the game, Ingram found a lineup that worked. “They understood that they’re going to score points. Once we found our rhythm, calmed down, took deep breaths, we looked like us,” Ingram said. “We came out so timid and I don’t know why. We are great athletes. We are so deep in every role that we have. But I feel like we were playing to not make mistakes instead of playing to win. That’s what it looked like to us (coaches).” North Scott nearly pitched a perfect game in the fifth set. It only surrendered two points — both service errors. Service runs by seniors Eisley Weinert and Kamilah Eller clinched the match. “We made our serves, served aggressively and took care of first ball contact,” Ingram said. “Serving and receiving is going to win games. You can have bouncers all day long, but if you can’t pass the first ball, it does us no good. You can’t run an offense from the 20-foot line. We showed that tonight. Staying in-system, staying in-rhythm, and being calm in the chaos.” Weinert had six aces and 32 assists, both of which led the team. Eller had a team-high 17 kills on 32 attempts, and also a team-best .375 kill efficiency. Junior Adelynn Temple had 20 digs. Junior Brinley Schroeder joined her in double digits with 12 digs. North Scott had 18 blocks as a team, led by senior Katie Moeller with five and seniors Alyssa Schroeder and Sydney Soppe with four each. “We’re going to have nerves. A rebuild season. A whole new roster. We’re going to have those moments,” Ingram said. “That’s OK. I would rather have them now than later.” The win moved North Scott to 4-1 on the season. It also cemented its spot inside the Class 5A rankings, debuting at No. 14. Over the weekend, North Scott traveled to Mount Vernon for the Shirley Ryan Invitational, featuring top teams from across eastern Iowa. North Scott went 1-2 in pool play, defeating 4A No. 15 Pella (14-21, 21-17, 15-10) but falling to 4A No. 7 Davenport Assumption (9-21, 15-21) and Waterloo Columbus (21-23, 19-21). The matchup against Assumption provided partiular intrigue considering the two teams would square off three days later in The Pit for a best-of-five conference matchup. Assumption dominated the match and has now won consecutive contests against the Lancers. North Scott had just 12 kills in the match and had a kill efficiency of .070. Eller, Soppe and Brinley Schroeder all had three kills. Weinert distributed 10 assists and tied for the team lead with three digs. Eller, senior Olivia Graham and Temple also had three digs. The team struggled again from behind the service line. it had zero aces and an 81.5 serve efficiency. The win over Pella showed some improvements with a .172 kill efficiency and an 87 percent serve efficiency. Eller and Soppe each had five kills while Alyssa Schroeder and sophomore Kaylee Ervin had four kills. Ervin collected her kills on only four swings. Weinert had 12 assists while junior Kenna Kibler pitched in with seven. Temple led North Scott with eight digs while Brinley Schroeder backed her up with seven digs. The Schroeders combined for five blocks, with Alyssa rejecting three and Brinley swatting two. After Tuesday's rematch with Assumption, North Scott will head to Iowa City West on Saturday for a 12-school invitational.
	Iowa ranks first in participation per state in prep sports High schools are the heartbeat of Iowa’s sporting world, and the data is only getting stronger. The Hawkeye State ranked first in the nation in participation per state population in prep sports, according to the annual NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey released Aug. 27. Iowa ranked 31st nationally for population in the 2020 census, but was 21st in participation for the third consecutive year in the NFHS survey with 145,730 total entries. Per the NFHS survey, that is up 4.6 percent from last year, when Iowa still led the nation for the highest rate of participation per population. The Iowa High School Athletic Association oversees boys’ activities and featured 83,415 participants while seeing an increase in participants in all 11 sanctioned sports. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union governs girls’ sports and had 62,315 participants for its 11 sports, topping 60,000 for the first time since 2008-2009. “The results of this year’s survey demonstrate the continued importance of education-based athletics to Iowa’s students, their parents, their schools and their communities,” IHSAA executive director Tom Keating said. “To see an increase in participation, particularly when Iowa experienced a decrease in student enrollment, is a testament to the value of the programs our schools offer. We congratulate our administrators, coaches, and officials for their commitment to our young people through athletics.” The growth in Iowa’s boys’ sports was spearheaded by football, golf, wrestling, and track and field. These four sports combined to increase by more than 2,500 participants. IHSAA football featured 19,383 participants, marking its highest statewide total since 2015-16. Nationwide, football remains the top sport for participation with over one million boys listed in high school programs. Volleyball remains the top girls’ sport in Iowa with 11,480 participants. Of note, Girls’ basketball saw its first increase of more than 100 participants for the first time since 2007-2008. The survey indicated that more than 8.4 million participants were involved in high school sports in 2025-26, which is an increase of approximately 150,000 from the previous school year. Texas (911,405) and California (859,022) remained atop the list of state participation by a significant margin. Among the fastest-growing sports across the country are girls’ wrestling and girls’ flag football. Participation in girls’ flag football grew 48.7 percent last year and topped 100,000 participants. Girls’ wrestling is not far behind. Participation increased 19.9 percent from 2024-25 and has 88,771 participants. Overall, 75 percent of the share of national growth in high school sports is attributed to girls’ sports. Participation increased by 3.2 percent compared to 0.8 percent among boys. “We are pleased to see the number of students involved in high school sports continuing to rise every year,” NFHS executive director Davis Whitfield said. “Education-based sports within our nation’s schools is a privilege not available in most other countries, and we are thankful these opportunities continue to expand. “We salute the coaches, athletic directors, and school administrators for making these experiences happen, especially with some of the recent growth in several emerging sports. It is great to see new sport opportunities created to involve as many students as possible in high school sports.”

Wednesday, September 9th, 2026

Tuesday, September 8th, 2026