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

Tuesday, August 25th, 2026
	Augustana football nears 2026 season opener Augustana enters this season with 42 seniors on the roster. The Vikings are coming off a 7-3 record last season.
	Kylie Kelce visited Judy's Cafe in Galesburg! According to Judy's social media post, Kylie actually stepped in to help in the kitchen and served food to guests.
	Dubuque man sentenced to 2 years in prison for stealing thousands of dollars worth of brass 64-year-old Dennis Lee Maas stole brass ingots from his employer, then sold them to a metals business.
	Parts of Milan under boil order Anyone in the affected area should boil drinking water before it's used.
	Construction to begin on new Bettendorf recreation trail next week The trail will be on the east side of Middle Road between Hopewell Avenue and Forest Grove Road.
	River Band Food Bank changing NorthPark Mall and SouthPark Mall pantry hours The new hours will take effect on Monday, Aug. 31.
	Dolly Parton in the Quad Cities: The music, fans and impact Fans in the Quad Cities remember Dolly for her talent, kindness and generosity.
	Dolly Parton fans in the Quad Cities remember her music and impact Flags are at half-staff Tuesday night as America mourns Dolly Parton. She left her mark on the whole country, including a dive bar in Davenport.
	Coroner announces presumed cause of death for man found dead in Hennepin Canal Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson said that 44-year-old Kyi Pyu is believed to have drowned.
	UTV rollover crash injures 3 in rural Hanover Jo Daviess County deputies were dispatched around 5:38 p.m. on Aug. 22 to S. Blanding Road at W. Diggins Road after receiving reports of the crash.
	Motion to dismiss charges filed in case of Davenport parents accused of child abuse On Monday, the attorney for an adoptive mother accused of child abuse asked a judge to dismiss two of the charges against the Davenport woman, while the state resists the motion. After allegations of child abuse, Andrew Warrington, 49; and Kellie Warrington, 47; remain in custody on a $2 million cash-only bond each in Scott [...]
	Man cited after crash injures 2 in Jo Daviess County A Naperville man was cited after he and another person were hurt in a crash.
	Checking Josh Turek and Ashley Hinson’s missed votes claims against each other Ashley Hinson and Josh Turek are both accusing each other of skipping votes.
	SpeedyPie brings fresh pizzas to the Quad Cities in a unique way A new pizza vending machine is serving fresh, hot pizzas near the TBK Bank Sports Complex in Bettendorf, with plans for more machines.
	Rock Island man sentenced to federal prison for trafficking in fentanyl A Rock Island man was sentenced to five years in federal prison for trafficking in fentanyl during a hearing Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Davenport.
	Man found in Hennepin Canal is presumed to have drowned Kyi Pyu, the man whose body was found Friday in the Hennepin Canal, is presumed to have drowned after an autopsy performed Tuesday.
	Moline High School baseball, softball facilities set for $9 million overhaul The $9.15 million upgrade will bring synthetic turf fields, new dugouts, a fresh parking lot and more.
	Affordable housing shortage grows in Moline Renew Moline has purchased an income-restricted apartment building in downtown Moline as housing officials say the need for affordable housing continues to grow.
	Dolly Parton's Imagination Library brought books to children in the Quad Cities and nationwide In 2023, a child in Whiteside County found a special "enchanted bookmark" in their book that won them a special meet-and-greet with Dolly.
	‘We are heartbroken’: Sherrard High School cancels rest of 2026 varsity football season Sherrard High School’s varsity football season will come to a close this Friday.
	Sexual exploitation, grooming charges dropped against Des Moines man Scott County prosecutors dropped charges of sexual exploitation and grooming against a Des Moines man. Assistant County Attorney Derek Jones filed a motion stating that further investigation is needed.
	‘We are heartbroken’: Sherrard High School cancels rest of 2026 varsity football season Sherrard High School will cancel the remainder of its 2026 varsity football season after Friday's home game to prioritize player safety and focus on JV development.
	Davenport Speedway roars back to life for Season Championship night After a month off for the fair and rain, the Davenport Speedway roared back to life for Season Championship night. Track champions were crowned Monday night in all six weekly classes. Track champions at this time are unofficial, awaiting verification from track scorers and IMCA, a news release says. The Outhouse / Storage to Go [...]
	Proposed project in Bettendorf could bring more housing near downtown After years of focus on the development of the area surrounding the TBK Bank Sports Complex, a proposed project would target residential development downtown. The project would bring 168 new apartments to Bettendorf's State Street, replacing the Hillside Mobile Home Park. Businesses in the area say the project could bring new investment and economic activity [...]
	Community Health Care receives $3M in Illinois state funding The Rock Island health clinic was among 21 clinics across Illinois to receive a state-issued grant.
	Instagram head Adam Mosseri testifies in defense of Meta in child safety trial The social media giant is being sued by four states who allege it designed Facebook and Instagram to hook kids — and lied to the public about the risks.
	Community Health Care receives $3M in Illinois state funding The Rock Island health clinic has a five year plan on how to spend the state issued grant.
	Several strikes and counting: Residents say Kirkwood Blvd. train bridge needs new signs City leaders in Davenport are looking at addressing a well known problem with one of its several truck eating bridges.
	Galesburg man arrested after alleged inappropriate sexual conduct during grocery delivery Francisco Daniel Urbina faces four charges after deputies say he engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct and unwanted physical contact with a resident.
	Niabi Zoo names its 3 newest Pallas's cats Born in June, Everest, Luka and Aslan are just one of two Pallas's cat litters born in the country over the last three years.
	Only light rain through the end of August for the Quad Cities We had PLENTY of rain during the first half of August - and thanks to the rainy start, we're going to end up above normal for rain in August. Looking ahead, there's only light rain coming over the next 7 days: Overall, plan on more sunshine than anything else over the next several days!
	Davenport man sentenced to 18 years in prison for death of 2-month-old daughter Bryson A. Hall of Davenport has been sentenced to 18 years for the 2022 death of his 2-month-old daughter.
	River Band Food Bank changing hours for pantries at NorthPark Mall and SouthPark Mall The new hours will take effect on Monday, Aug. 31.
	River Bend Food Bank adjusts hours for mall pantries The River Bend Food Bank mall locations will have new hours starting next week.
	Presumed cause of death identified for man found dead in Hennepin Canal Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson said that 44-year-old Kyi Pyu is believed to have drowned.
	Moline man waives preliminary hearing in AI-generated child sexual abuse material case Bjorn Boydston pleaded not guilty to 10 felony charges and waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday, demanding a jury trial.
	Jo Daviess County Sheriff warns residents of phone scammers posing as deputies Jo Daviess County Sheriff Klaus Kretschmer warns residents that scammers posing as deputies are demanding wire transfers for fake warrants.
	Public records reveal precarious finances at Kansas school founded by GOP candidate Zach Lahn Tax filings show Iowa gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn's Kansas private school faced millions in debt
	Will Supreme Court’s order on mail-in ballots impact voting in Illinois? The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday temporarily lifted a lower court stay of President Donald Trump’s March 31 executive order limiting access to mail ballots nationwide.
	Rock Island man sentenced to federal prison for possession with intent to deliver fentanyl On August 25, a Rock Island man was sentenced to five years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Davaria Shargquil Lewis, Sr., 32, had 879 counterfeit oxycodone M30 pills containing fentanyl inside a vehicle, which officers found during a March 2025 [...]
	New Illinois law allows state to invest in union housing trustNew Illinois law Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker recently signed Senate Bill 3086 () into law. The bill allows Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs to invest in the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (https://www.aflcio-hit.com/), which focuses on building and preserving affordable and workforce housing, creating union construction jobs and generating returns for investors while fostering community development. Illinois State Sen. Ram [...]
	Jo Daviess County Sheriff's Office warns of increase in fraud complaints Sheriff Klaus Kretschmer reminded the public to be cautious when communicating with individuals online or over the phone.
	New Illinois law allows state to invest in union housing trust Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker recently signed Senate Bill 3086 into law. The bill allows Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs to invest in the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (AFL-CIO HIT), which focuses on building and preserving affordable and workforce housing, creating union construction jobs and generating returns for investors while fostering community development. Illinois State Sen. Ram [...]
	Rock Island man sentenced to federal prison on fentanyl charge A Rock Island man was sentenced to five years in federal prison on Tuesday for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
	Iowa voters can now request absentee ballots for Nov. 3 election Iowa voters can now submit their requests for absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 General Election.
	South Carolina U.S. senate runoff election will test Trump's endorsement The primary runoff in South Carolina between Sen. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman is another test of President Trump's influence. He's backing Darline, sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
	Sen. Darline Graham wins GOP nomination for U.S. Senate in South Carolina In a major win for President Trump who went all in for the political newcomer, Sen. Darline Graham beat out longtime Congressman Ralph Norman in a special election primary runoff in South Carolina.
	3 juveniles taken to hospital, 1 airlifted, after UTV crash in rural Hanover Jo Daviess County deputies were dispatched around 5:38 p.m. on Aug. 22 to S. Blanding Road at W. Diggins Road after receiving reports of the crash.
	Tree fall on car in Bettendorf Our Quad Cities News was in the 1000 block of Grant Street, where a large tree fell on a car. Traffic has been rerouted and there have been no reports of injuries at this time.
	Death Notice: Bonnie Amhof A funeral service for Bonnie Marie Amhof, 87, of Eldridge, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at Park View Lutheran Church. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Runge Mortuary, Davenport, is assisting the family with arrangements. Mrs. Amhof died Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. Memorials may be made to Park View Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be made at www.rungemortuary.com. An obituary will appear in the Sept. 2 edition of The NSP.
	Preliminary autopsy results show cause of death for body found in Hennepin Canal Preliminary autopsy results have been released on the body of a man found in the Hennepin Canal last week.
	Lighted Holiday Parade returns to Sterling Sterling is welcoming the Lighted Holiday Parade back to downtown Sterling on Friday, December 4 in coordination with Sights & Sounds. The parade will start at 5:30 p.m. and move through downtown Sterling before ending at the Library Plaza tree. Santa will then help officially kick off the holiday season with the annual tree lighting. [...]
	Traffic Alert: Grant Street closed due to police and fire presence Grant Street is closed due to police and fire presence Tuesday afternoon.
	Silvis passes new lawn, yard maintenance ordinances Silvis City Council has adopted amendments to its ordinances regarding grass, weeds, property maintenance and dangerous trees that are now in effect.
	REVIEW: Picasso at the Lapin Agile at Richmond Hill Players Barn Theatre Picasso at the Lapin Agile continues at Richmond Hill Players Barn Theatre in Geneseo, Thursday through Saturday, August 27 through 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 30 at 3:00 p.m.
	Review: Death of a Salesman at Black Hawk College Death of a Salesman by Mockingbird on Main continues in Building One of the Black Hawk College Campus in Moline Thursday through Saturday, August 27 through 29 at 7:30 pm. Enter the building through the south entrance and hang left where you will be swept up into this tale. Mockingbird’s collaboration with Black Hawk College has adopted the “pay what it’s worth” model, meaning you choose what to pay on your way out so cost is no excuse to skip this phenomenal show
	Hatebreed, September 5 Touring in support of their forthcoming album, Fatal Paradox set for release November 27, the Grammy-nominated metalcore rockers of Hatebreed headline a September 5 concert at Davenport's Capitol Theatre, lead vocalist and co-founder Jamey Jasta performing with his outfit more than 30 years after their debut.
	Waterloo man sentenced for making machine guns at home Federal judge sentences 35-year-old Nicholas Wilson of Waterloo to prison after ATF agents found converted machine guns in his home.
	7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience, September 10 and 11 On September 10 and 11, the chart-topping, Grammy-winning rockers of the Eagles will be celebrated when Rock Island's Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse hosts the return of 7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience, two evenings of beloved, iconic hits sure to include such chart-toppers as "Best of My Love," "One of These Nights," "Heartache Tonight," and "Hotel California."
	“Solitary Man: A Tribute to the Songs of Neil Diamond,” September 9 A beloved venue regular at Rock Island's Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse will take on the repertoire of one of history's most admired singer/songwriters in the September 9 concert event Solitary Man: A Tribute to the Songs of Neil Diamond, with Hauskins and a team of gifted musicians treating audiences to adored smash hits including “America,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” and “Sweet Caroline.”
	Robert Lester Folsom, September 7 Lauded by Post-Trash as " a breath of fresh air, mixing nostalgia of the past with a fervor for the present," 71-year-old singer/songwriter and performance veteran Robert Lester Folsom headlines a September 7 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, the artist touring in support of his critically acclaimed 2026 release If You Wanna Laugh, You Gotta Cry Sometimes: Archives Vol. 3, 1972-1975.
	Parts of Milan under boil order An email from the Village of Milan said a boil order is in effect for: All water used for drinking and cooking should be boiled before use. Click here to learn what to do during a boil order.
	3 kids injured, 1 airlifted after rollover UTV crash in Jo Daviess County Three juveniles were hurt, with one having to be airlifted, after a rollover UTV crash over the weekend.
	13-year-old reporting missing from Moline has been found Police were asking for the public's help locating a missing teenager. He has since been found and is reunited with his family.
	Requests open for Scott County absentee ballots Scott County voters can now submit requests for absentee ballots. Tuesday, August 25 is the first day for voters to submit requests for absentee ballots by mail for the November 3 General Election, according to Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins. Voters must request an absentee ballot to receive a ballot through the mail. Ballots will [...]
	Bob Log III, September 10 With his live show described as a "blues punk guitar dance party," and the artist having enjoyed frequent tours of North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Taiwan, and Iceland, experimental rocker Bob Log III headlines a September 10 concert event at Davenport's Raccoon Motel.
	Bragolin, September 6 Touring in support of their 2026 recording I Don't Like What It Does to Me, the Dutch dark-wave artists of Bragolin headline a September 6 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, Post-Punk.com stating that in the band's latest album, "The hooks arrive fast, the atmosphere never loosens its grip, and the songs move with a furtive elegance, as melody and menace circle each other like figures glimpsed through smoke and ritual light."
	Emily How, September 5 With her 2022 EP Flight Behavior hailed by The Prospectus as "an experience that envelopes one within a fireball of emotion," Illinois-based singer/songwriter Emily How headlines a September 5 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, The Prospectus adding, "For those new to Emily How, now is a great time to get acquainted."
	Sababa 5, September 4 Hailed by Spectrum Culture as a band that "has a knack for cooking up a good groove," the touring musicians and Tel Aviv natives of Sababa 5 headline a special September 4 concert at Rock Island venue Rozz-Tox, their 2026 album Çeva Va Ça Va lauded by YouAndTheMusic.com as "exactly what you want to hear from them; Middle Eastern global funk."
	Don Jovi, September 10 Presenting the ultimate celebration of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Bon Jovi, Galesburg's Orpheum Theatre, on September 10, will treat fans to the tribute artists of Don Jovi, lead vocalist Don Chaffin and his quartet of bandmates dedicated to honoring Bon Jovi's music with the highest respect and authenticity.
	2026 Senior Citizen Riverfront Golf Cart Tours, September 3 and 4 A beloved local tradition designed specifically for seniors continues into its 26th year when River Action, on September 3 and 4, hosts two days worth of self-guided Senior Citizen Golf Cart Tours, with his year’s event including a tour of the Arsenal Island taking place in the early evening, allowing for a normally unseen look at the Mississippi River and the historic island.
	North Scott Press — August 26, 2026
	“44th Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition,” September 5 through January 10 An eagerly awaited tradition featuring dozens of recent and debuting works in a variety of artistic mediums, the 44th edition of the Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition will be on display at the Figge Art Museum from September 5 through January 10, with the Davenport venue housing paintings, sculptures, installations, and more by artists living within a 200-mile radius of the Quad Cities.
	New North Scott administrators report to the principal's office The first day of the 2026-27 school year is in the books, and by today, all North Scott students will have officially reported to class. But more than a few of those students will have seen at least one important new faculty member. North Scott replaced multiple administrators this year, as Ed White principal Carrie Lane retired and Alan Shepard principal Chad Ruth moved on to a position with the Pleasant Valley Community School District. When junior high assistant principal Stephanie Fahrenkrog was hired to succeed Lane, that created another opening. Now, Fahrenkrog’s position has been filled by Stacey Ruff, a former teacher leadership coordinator for the Pleasant Valley Community School District. And Ruth was succeeded by Kory Esbaum, who formerly worked as an elementary principal for the Bettendorf Community School District. All three sat down with The North Scott Press last week to discuss their hopes for this school year. Esbaum: “I don’t ever want the principal’s office to be a scary place” While she’s new to the principal’s office at Alan Shepard, it’s hardly Kory Esbaum’s first experience with the Long Grove elementary school. Her oldest son attended Alan Shepard for kindergarten and first grade. This position is a return to the North Scott community for Esbaum and her family – her husband grew up in Dixon and is a North Scott alum – and she said she’s excited to return and “be a part of this great team, this great community. Not only at North Scott, but at Alan Shepard.” Esbaum has about 20 years of experience in education, including 14 years in the classroom. “My background is primarily early childhood special education – supporting students ages three to five, in fully inclusive classroom settings. I did teach kindergarten for a couple of years as we were navigating COVID, so that was a time.” After four years as an elementary principal in the Bettendorf Community School District, Esbaum said she was looking for a little bit of a change, and the position at Alan Shepard certainly stood out. “It’s not too big of a district, but it has that bigger district support, and very much that community feel. That tight community feel that you don’t generally get sometimes in kind of a larger space.” While she was working as a classroom teacher, Esbaum said she didn’t necessarily see herself going into administration, even as she pursued a post-graduate leadership degree from St. Ambrose University (where she also earned her bachelor’s degree). “When I was teaching in the classroom, I had welcomed a few student teachers. And there was always that kind of wonder about it. I really love coaching and supporting and helping adults grow in their practice. When I got my leadership degree, I was more focused on early childhood education, like that special education director aspect. I had many conversations with my professor where he would say, ‘Are you sure? Are you sure we’re not looking at a principal role here? Don’t lose sight of that.’” As a principal role presented itself in Bettendorf, Esbaum came to realize she enjoyed being able to coach and support staff while still being involved with students. “Not being too removed from the classroom – that’s kind of the added bonus.” Since coming on board officially on July 1, Esbaum has been working to get to know her staff, “I offered the opportunity to connect with teachers, as they wanted, for summer break. Something that came up a lot was, ‘Why Alan Shepard? What’s kept you here for so long?’ And it’s that community. It’s that we are together, we are supportive. We are here for each other. We are here for our kids. We are here for families.” That’s something she said she’s looking forward to continuing at Alan Shepard. And she’s working towards building a positive environment at the school, even as staff works through what promises to be an active school year, with new curriculum being rolled out. “That was part of my staff meeting on Tuesday. It starts with us. We need to show students you belong here and we’ve got some work to do, but we’re going to have some fun. This is a fun place to be, and even if we get through challenging things with curriculum and changing things, we’re going to dig in, but we’re going to do it together. And let’s have some fun.” Esbaum said seeing student growth is one of the things that makes her most passionate about education. “Seeing that growth in kiddos, and adults, that acknowledgement of ‘Hey, I can do this.’ “Yeah, we’re going to encounter things that are hard, but we’re going to come out the other side. We’re going to get to where we realize, maybe when I was down here, I looked at this mountain and I wasn’t quite sure. But one step at a time, together, we got there. It’s just being able to be there and celebrate those progressions along the way. All kids are working towards different goals, different outcomes. All adults are focused on different things, different growth areas. Just being able to lean in and support whatever their journey is, cheering them on and helping them along the way. And being there to celebrate that moment. That’s kind of the lightbulb moments – the big celebrations and the seemingly small wins throughout the day.” Celebrating the wins also means getting to know all students and staff. “I’m looking forward to getting to know everybody and being a part of this community. Working alongside teachers as they’re navigating some new things, taking it in and really doing all of that together.” Esbaum said her goal is to know everyone’s name – including all of the students – by Christmas. She said that might sound ambitious, but it’s something that’s very important to her while she builds relationships. “There’s a lot of students, a lot of families, different staff members in and out and across the district. But just being able to walk into a space and be greeted by name. That just feels like, ‘I matter here. I’m valued.’” She also plans to be a familiar face in the building, in classrooms, the lunchroom and recess. She said that won’t just help her get to know the students, it will also help her see ways she can help support the staff. “Especially as we’re implementing some new things that we’re really excited about and being able to make sure that I’m fully supportive and know that in the classroom, this is what’s going on.” As Esbaum welcomes a fresh start at North Scott, she also knows she won’t be the only new face at Alan Shepard this year. “All of our kindergartners are new. We do have some new students that are coming. It’s a fresh start for them, and it’s a fresh start for their families. I think, especially for our older students, sometimes that can be hard when you come to a space where everybody knows everybody. So, I’m going to just be leaning in and working closely with our school counselor and very closely with our classroom teachers, on, how are we welcoming our new kiddos and showing them what’s great about Shepard. Making sure they feel supported and welcomed and part of the crew.” And Esbaum wants students and their families to know that Alan Shepard will always be a safe place for them. “Everybody makes mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes are a little bit more difficult to talk about. But I want them to know that we will always talk about it. We will always talk through it and we will problem solve. If we’re looking at some challenging situations, the goal is always, ‘What can we do next time?’” She said she wants families to be part of the solution, especially if there are outside circumstances a student might be facing. “I don’t ever want the principal’s office to be a scary place. Some students come for a celebration. Like, ‘Your teacher told me about this thing that happened, and that’s so great. Let’s talk about it and let’s celebrate.’ “That’s another reason that I like to be out in the school, in the lunchroom and at recess as much as I can. So I don’t inadvertently become the person who is the ‘Trouble Person.’ Because I think that’s a societal thing – don’t go to the principal’s office. But it’s OK. Sometimes we talk about hard stuff, but we don’t always have to. I like to get to know people so then, if we have a challenge, we can talk through it and it feels like a safe conversation, because it is.” Building a safe environment for Esbaum means creating a space where students feel free to be themselves. “We have students, and we have staff, that need a variety of things in their spaces. That could be physical things, sensory things, learning needs. These could be social-emotional needs. Everybody’s needs are welcome. It’s really digging down and getting to know that student or family or staff member, to know and understand what do they need and how can we provide it.” And now, fresh off Unpack Your Backpack and preparing for the first day of school, Esbaum said she’s already grateful for the opportunity to serve North Scott. “I’m just so appreciative of the warm welcome and well wishes for a great year.” Fahrenkrog: North Scott ‘built me into the person that I am’ Stephanie Fahrenkrog says she’s a “North Scott Lancer through and through.” And indeed, she’s worked for the district from the very beginning of her career, even student teaching at John Glenn Elementary School as she completed her degree from the University of Northern Iowa. She graduated from Central DeWitt and married a North Scott alum. And now her children attend school in the district. But although she’s worked at North Scott from the start, Fahrenkrog’s new position as principal at Ed White is still something of a homecoming for her, as she returns to her roots in elementary education. After her student teaching experience, she was hired as a fourth-grade teacher and later a reading interventionist at Virgil Grissom, where she worked for five years before moving over to Neil Armstrong. After four years at the Park View elementary school, she began pursuing a master’s degree in reading and literacy and became an instructional coach, splitting her time between Ed White and Virgil Grissom. “That helped me get a broader perspective of elementary in general,” she said. “Being an instructional coach gave me that love of leadership and that drive to continue my education – from just leading teachers to being a part of the bigger picture when it came to working with students and families in the community.” That led her to pursue her administration degree from UNI. Halfway through that experience, she was hired as assistant principal at North Scott Junior High. “That was very exciting, but very unknown, also. I began my administration experience during COVID. That was a unique year. Coming not just into administration and leadership in general – that was all brand new to me – but at the time it felt like everyone was doing new things that year because it was COVID. So, I felt like it wasn’t as abrupt of a transition for me from elementary to secondary because of all the things that were new.” Fahrenkrog worked with other administrators to help develop the district’s Return to Learn plan following the pandemic. “I had an overwhelming amount of support going into administration, as I would have any other year. But going in during that Return to Learn plan and having hours upon hours of helping plan and making that successful to get our students back face to face really made the transition so much smoother and welcoming, knowing we were all in it together. And we had to be at that time.” But after six years at the junior high, Fahrenkrog said she wanted to continue to grow in a leadership position. She said, although she loved working with students at that level, she also knew she wanted to return to elementary, where she had “boots on the ground” experience in the classroom. “That was something I could never speak to, necessarily, at the secondary level. So, when this opportunity came up to pursue advancing in my leadership career, I definitely knew it was the right time. And it definitely called to me that I wanted to go back down to elementary, and I had experience in this building. “I never envisioned leaving North Scott,” she continued. “I have an eighth grader at the junior high, so I was able to have a year with him. But then thinking about the next step in my career, I did want to see where I could take my leadership skills.” Being back at Ed White has been a smooth transition, as Fahrenkrog said she already knew a lot of the staff from her time as an instructional coach. “That was really great, to feel very welcome right off the bat, from people who I had worked with, and then people who I hadn’t.” There were other advantages for Fahrenkrog. Coming down from the junior high, she already knew some of the Ed White families who have older students in seventh and eighth grade. And she’d worked closely with Ed White’s previous principal, Carrie Lane, and the assistant principal, Kevin Moses, on the administrative team. Fahrenkrog said she doesn’t anticipate too much of a major learning curve, going back to the elementary level. “I feel like I have enough experience with elementary to dig back to my roots and know what good instruction looks like. That’s no different at any level. I remember when I was going through some training as an instructional coach and thinking about having a conversation with say, an art teacher or somebody who teaches industrial tech. I don’t have any experience in any of those particular areas. And so, one of the big things I took away was that good instruction is good instruction. So, having those foundational skills and knowledge going back down to the elementary level, I think will benefit me.” She also said she feels fortunate to have had her years at the junior high to see how students transition from elementary to secondary grades, including their social skills and attention to things like organization and responsibility. “I’ve really taken a lot of time this summer to think about how we can start here to help prepare them for the next step, whether that’s kindergarten to first grade, sixth grade to the junior high, or eighth grade to high school. How can we start with those little steps down at the elementary level and be part of that journey?” Since April, when she accepted the position, Fahrenkrog said she’s been working to become as knowledgeable as possible about the building, including the staff, families and the elementary curriculum. The district introduced a new math curriculum last year and will roll out a new English Language Arts curriculum at the elementary level this year, so Fahrenkrog expects there will be both challenges and additional learning opportunities for students and staff alike. And she said she’s working hard to continue building on the culture of success and support at Ed White. “Our philosophy when it comes to education is ‘Students First,’ and that will always be at the forefront of our minds. But we can’t put our students first if we don’t put ourselves and each other first. So, building each other up, supporting one another … there’s a lot of things to navigate. And so, if we can’t do that together and build each other up, that’s something that’s going to make the days and years seem long. “I think that’s the biggest message that I would like to make sure I send to the staff, the students and the community – that we are here to support one another. Whether that’s academically, behaviorally, socially, whatever that might be. If we’re not supporting one another, it makes for a challenging position.” Success comes from support, and Fahrenkrog said she’s always been inspired by seeing the people around her succeed. “I think ever since I started – even as a classroom teacher – small successes, no matter what that might look like. Whether it’s a student, whether it’s another teacher, staff member, office staff, or anyone in between. My passion comes from seeing that glimmer of hope. There’s always room for growth. There’s always room to learn more and to help support one another to see the success in students. “Students, when they walk through the door the first day to when they leave at the end of the year, there’s so many things that happen in the middle and you get to be part of that journey. And that journey comes with successes that you’re able to witness on a day-to-day basis, week-to-week, month-to-month, to see those things happen. That’s where my passion comes from – making sure that we’re able to help students see the success in themselves and build confidence as learners. Because we want them to leave North Scott being lifelong learners, walking away from their education knowing that they can go out into the world and do anything and be anything that they want to be.” Fahrenkrog said she’s had a lot of time throughout her career to learn more about what students are capable of and said she’d like to play an active part in some mentorship opportunities, including having students from the junior high come over to Ed White and teach their younger counterparts about skills they might need as they grow older. As the year starts, Fahrenkrog said she’s looking forward to getting to know her “amazing staff” and watching them put their plans for the year into action. “I’m excited to see those passionate teachers and paraeducators and all staff members in the building, just day-to-day, because they’re so excited to have students back in the building and so excited to work with them. I think that’s the biggest thing I’m looking forward to. And also seeing the teamwork that is going to need to take place with some of the challenging things that we have coming across our plate. It’s going to be a lot of learning, but also a lot of building each other up and supporting one another, so that teamwork is going to be necessary.” Fahrenkrog also said she wants Ed White to be a place where students feel safe. “The word ‘safe’ can mean so many things. Safe to be themselves, safe to take chances and risks, safe to step outside their comfort zone and meet a new friend or try something new or share an answer from a math problem they’re not confident sharing. Also, that they’re safe to share things and they’re safe to come to adults and they’re safe in this building. Just stressing that this is a place where we want you to be who you want to be, and that you can be anything and this is the safe place to do it.” Looking back on her nearly 20 years in education, Fahrenkrog said she’s grateful for the opportunity, not just to grow her leadership skills, but to be able to do so at North Scott. “I always knew that I wanted to further my leadership skills, and I’m very fortunate to be able to do that in this building and do that in this amazing district that has built me into the person that I am. “My children are in this district. My husband graduated here. So, I’ve got a lot of North Scott connections and, even though I didn’t grow up in this community, it feels like I have.” Ruff: “We’re going to be learning together” As she takes up her position as the new assistant principal at North Scott Junior High, Stacey Ruff said she’s excited to serve the families in the community. “Everyone, since I’ve gotten here, has been nothing but welcoming, and you can feel the family atmosphere in the school and across the district. So, I feel really grateful for the opportunity to be back in a building.” Ruff certainly has classroom experience, but her previous position was as the teacher leadership coordinator for the Pleasant Valley Community School District. She began in education as a third-grade teacher but spent much of her career as a reading specialist for kindergarten through eighth grade. She has experience at the collegiate level, teaching at the University of Dubuque and Augustana College in their education departments. She also served as a volleyball coach, which she said was “a big part of my background.” But as Ruff looked to continue her career, she took advice from a North Scott connection. Bernadette Brustkern, who formerly served as principal at Ed White and North Scott’s curriculum director, was also the director of secondary education for the Pleasant Valley Community School District. Although Brustkern recently took a position as executive director of learning and results for the Davenport Community School District, she also gave Ruff some advice. Ruff said, “I had the fortune to work with Bernie Brustkern at PV, and through the three years that we worked closely with each other, just all the positive things she had to share about (North Scott).” She said she’s looking forward to having a more permanent base now that she’s at the junior high, rather than working at different buildings the way she did in her last position. “I’ve really missed that – that connection with kids and families and teachers in that capacity.” While middle school might not be the first choice for some people in education, Ruff said, “it’s kind of my jam. “I think the part that I like about junior high kids is, they’re trying to figure out who they are, and they’re in this land of ‘I can still be a little kid and have fun and still love learning,’ But you’re also able to have adult-like conversations. It’s just a fun, unique age, for sure. And you have to be a little quirky to roll with the punches sometimes.” For her part, Ruff said she didn’t necessarily ever see herself in an administrative position as she was beginning her career. “I always thought I was going to stay in the classroom. I remember when I was younger, taking my younger brothers and sisters and playing the teacher. They hated it; I loved it.” But her view on administration began to change as her career continued. “I think it’s just the impact that you get to have on kids. And in the positions that I’ve been fortunate enough to have, I keep getting a more expanded view of the system. The thing that I’m most excited about is still getting that view but still being in a building to impact kids and families.” Although her time at North Scott has been short, since she began, Ruff said she’s gotten to see the district’s “wonderful culture,” and she said she wants to continue to improve on that. “It’s not about changing but continuing to make it better. We know better; we do better. So, a culture where kids are first and we’re doing all that we can for them, academically and socially, and helping them be involved, because we know that when we have those kinds of relationships with kids, they end up excelling in the classroom. “Culture is really, really important to help people achieve and relationships are the foundation of all of that.” Although Ruff officially began her job on July 1, she was able to attend the district’s annual administrative retreat in June. She said she enjoyed “seeing the cohesiveness of the administrative team” and their willingness to work together to build on the district’s mission and vision. “My experience so far has been really wonderful. People are super welcoming and I’m just excited to be a part of that culture that’s so team oriented.” Now that she’s in the building and working closely with junior high principal Chad Jones, Ruff said she’s also had time to reflect on what she wants to make her position. “I think a big part of this role is helping our students be successful when they might be facing challenges – whether that is around behavior, attendance, things with academics. I feel like it’s helping be a problem-solver at the table with families to help them be able to be successful at school. I think a strength that I bring is that I have a lot of background in professional development. So, being able to add that into the work that we do here, as a teammate for Chad, I think will be a fun part of the role as well.” In the days leading up to the first day of school, Ruff said she was most excited to see students in the classroom again and to start making connections, not only in school but in the community. She said she was looking forward to being able to attend school events to get to know students, families, and other stakeholders in the district. “Seeing the kids here, being able to be a part of having a positive impact on their lives, that’s what I’m most excited about.” Ruff said she has a passion for learning and students, and “creating a culture of helping people achieve what they want to achieve. “Fundamentally, a value of mine is building people’s capacities, and my own at the same time. Any relationship, you actually get to build your own capacity, because you learn something from it.” Junior high can be a rough time for some students, with lots of personal changes, as well as being in a new school with more students. Ruff wants students to know that there is a team at the junior high ready to help them if they need it. “At this school, we have very high standards. But it’s not high standards without support. There is a whole team of people rallying for that student, to help them be successful, from the staff here to their own families as well. So, when there is a kid who might be having some challenges in whatever area, just know that those high standards are going to stay the same, but we’re going to find ways to help meet them.” And for students who might be a little nervous, they can know that Ruff is right there with them, sharing a new experience. She’s already had the opportunity to meet families at the junior high’s open house and orientation, and she said, “The cool thing is it helped me to connect with kids and the new things we’re going to be learning together. Ruff said she’s also been building relationships with teachers, and she’s asked them what they love about North Scott. “Every single teacher that I’ve met with said it’s the family atmosphere that’s here already; that people look out for each other and want to help people succeed. And I have felt that since Day One, for sure.”
	Dolly Parton, one of country music's most singular performers, has died at age 80 The artist was a star performer in country music, and went on to become one of the genre's most recognizable and universally adored ambassadors to broader popular culture.
	“I, Will: A Late Romance,” September 10 through 27 Opening its 2026-27 season with the theatre's 40th world premiere since its inception, Iowa City's Riverside Theatre debuts the period comedy I, Will: A Late Romance from September 10 through 27, its Emmy Award-winning author Scott Carter tackling a plague, a demanding king, an increasingly frustrated acting company, and a playwright wondering if his best work is behind him.
	DHS acknowledges the noncitizen numbers it touted on voter rolls were inflated The Trump administration claimed to have found 250,000 noncitizens on the voter rolls in four states. But the agency's communications with states since then indicate that data was preliminary.
	“A Foreign Affair,” September 9 With the second offering in its series a double Oscar nominee directed and co-written by seven-time Academy Award winner Billy Wilder, the German American Heritage Center continues its “The Lost Years of German Cinema: 1948-1963" film screenings with A Foreign Affair, which enjoys a September 9 screening at Davenport venue The Last Picture House.
	Residents face water shutoff at Princeton mobile home park Dozens of Princeton residents could lose water service at Rivercrest Estates, the troubled mobile home park, if owner Mary Diercks fails to pay overdue bills and repair damaged infrastructure by Sept. 17. Princeton Police Chief Freddy Almanza notified park tenants of the pending shutoff last week. Mayor Travis Volrath estimated that between 60 and 70 Princeton residents live at the park and stand to lose water. “A lot of them have paid their rent. They’ve paid their water bill. It’s not fair to them,” Volrath said. But Diercks has let leaks and damaged infrastructure go unaddressed for over a year, while continuing to bill residents for lot rent that pays the property’s utilities. The park used one million gallons of water during its last monthly read cycle, City Clerk Kisa Tweed said. Diercks has not paid a water bill since April, according to a shutoff notice shared with residents. Diercks could not be reached for comment. Don Smith, who has lived at the park since 1993, said he could not afford to move. “I was hoping to stay here the rest of my life. My home’s paid for,” he said. “I don’t want to lose my home. I love it.” Almanza served the shutoff notice to Diercks after she failed to answer messages from city staff, Tweed said. The city has placed a lien on the property for the unpaid water bill. Volrath did not disclose the sum of the unpaid water bill. He said the scale of damage to infrastructure at the park would make it nearly impossible for Diercks to make repairs by the Sept. 17 deadline. The damage has stressed the entire city water system, Volrath said. Princeton could ask county building inspectors to mark trailers without water service as “uninhabitable” in September, forcing residents to vacate. “Where’s everybody going to go?” asked Crystal Hackett, a former resident of the park who raised concerns about its failed utilities last September. Her daughter still lives at the park, she said. Residents and local support agencies were set to meet at a pair of information sessions Tuesday and Wednesday evening, Aug. 25 and 26. City officials organized the meetings, which would bring representatives from Scott County Community Services, The Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Iowa Legal Aid to the Virgil Grissom gymnasium. Those groups will provide residents with “every resource that they can to get them into a new living space,” Tweed said. The meetings are closed to the public and press to provide residents with privacy and an opportunity to speak openly, Volrath said. Princeton executed the shutoff in keeping with ordinances it passed last year to deal with ongoing problems at Rivercrest Estates. “The city of Princeton can stop a customer from excessive water use by sending a notification regarding high usage, conducting a water audit to identify leaks, and if the issue persists, potentially restricting water service or imposing additional charges on the customer’s bill,” Chapter 146.18 of the city’s amended code reads. The amended code also gives residents the authority to deduct the cost of water purchased during an outage from the cost of rent. They can also recover rent already paid during a period without water service. Last fall, Diercks owed over $50,000 in back taxes on the property, which is evaluated at just below $1 million. She settled the balance just days before the property would have transferred to the private investor who bought her taxes at the county tax sale.
	“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” September 10 With the film boasting a Rotten Tomatoes "freshness" rating of 93 percent and the site's critical consensus calling it "a twisty yet heartfelt look at relationships and heartache," director Michel Gondry's and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind enjoys a September 10 screening at Rozz-Tox, this Oscar-winning sci-fi comedy the latest presentation in the Rock Island venue's popular Filmosofia series.
	Preliminary timeline in place for North Scott superintendent search As Joe Stutting enters his final year as North Scott superintendent, the school board hopes to be able to announce his successor by January. At last Tuesday’s employee appreciation event, board president Tracy Lindaman laid out the preliminary timeline for replacing Stutting to district staff. Having hired search firm Ray & Associates to help with the hiring process, Lindaman said the board will meet with representatives of the company within the next two weeks for a work session. “During that time, we’re going to nail down the final timeline,” Lindaman said. “We’re going to go through all of what our desires are, the salary, the advertising, all of those basic things.” As the process moves forward, Lindaman said the board will start to reach out for staff and community input on the process, including surveys and focus groups. “Because we all know that the superintendent doesn’t just work with the board,” she said. “He or she works with all of you, the whole community. So, we want to get the right fit.” By October and November, the position will be openly advertised, and Lindaman said they plan to cast a wide net to attract interested candidates. Towards the end of November and into December, she said the interview process will start, with first round potentially including virtual and in-person interviews. The field will be narrowed throughout December to the finalists. Lindaman said the board hopes to be able to announce the new superintendent in January so that individual can be part of the planning process for the 2027-28 school year. Meanwhile, as he addressed staff, Stutting said he was “blessed” and “humbled” to have worked at North Scott. “It was three years ago when I told the board this was going to be the last contract I take. Because I really wanted to make sure we transitioned appropriately and to set North Scott up for success. Many times, superintendents do not go out on good terms,” he said. “We’ve seen it around the neighboring districts, and I really wanted us to think about it, to make sure. I really believe that we’re in the right position to bring somebody great in here to take North Scott to the next level.” Stutting’s final day with the district remains somewhat up in the air, as he acknowledged he had “thrown a wrench into this with my other venture that’s going on.” He is currently campaigning for Iowa Senate, and several factors are pending regarding the outcome of that election. “The board and I, after November, if things happen, we have a plan that we will finalize then,” said Stutting. “I am not worried about our school district, no matter what happens. We have a great administrative team, and we’ve got great staff.” With last Tuesday’s event being the last time he will likely be able to address the entire staff, Stutting reflected that this year will be full of “last times” for him. “And it is hard, because this is such a special place,” he said. “I have valued my time here, and my goal is to leave this place better than I found it. North Scott has always been a great district, and I would hope we have set ourselves up for success next year.”
	Walcott council tables Iowa 80 annexation request Walcott City Council would like to hear about the Iowa 80 Group’s development plans before they agree to annex 336 acres of county land into the city. Will Moon, late president and part-owner of the Iowa 80 Group, asked the city to annex parcels of farmland adjoining the truck stop on July 8. He died July 16. At a council meeting Aug. 17, the council voted 5–0 table the request and ask that a representative from Iowa 80 explain their plans for the properties. At the meeting, several members of the public questioned why the Iowa 80 Group and two subsidiaries, Avery Land and Farming and Exit 284 Land Development, wanted to bring their land within city limits. Ross Paustian, a Scott County supervisor and Walcott farmer, suggested the city avoid taking northernmost piece of land, which faces Y40 and the existing truck stop warehouses. “I don’t know why they want it in the city, and I don’t know why the city would want it,” Paustian said. “It’s very hilly, and I don’t see it ever being developed. Development is going to go on flat ground.” Paustian also noted that the Iowa 80 Group had recently sued the county to protest the $28 million assessed value of the 17 parcels which make up the truck stop. “If they win that court case, the city is going to get less property tax revenue from those properties,” he said. “Maybe you should ask yourselves, why would we approve an annexation when they’re trying to get from having to pay more property tax?” Kent Paustian, farmer and brother of Ross, also said the city should be circumspect in its annexations. “A couple of the parcels make sense as far as annexation, but like Ross mentioned, that parcel to the north—I don’t think the city wants to start leapfrogging around,” he said. Kent Paustian also said the council should focus development efforts within the town’s historical limits. “What I’m concerned about is, there’s no growth right here in the city proper,” he said. “That concerns me as far as our school… if the city isn’t growing, it’s dying, and there’s just no housing going up. We need more housing, especially affordable housing for younger families, which will bring kids to the town.” The family that currently farms a piece of the land up for annexation asked the city not to accept Iowa 80 Group’s request. “I don’t want to lose the property because I think my farm will go under then,” Deanna Herrick said. “Not very happy about it.” Councilwoman Bobbie Martinez proposed that the council should table the request and ask for clarification. “I don’t think it would be hard for us to ask for clarification,” she said. “Could somebody come and speak to us in person?” Councilwoman Lisa Mengler noted that the Iowa 80 Group might choose not to share development plans, or might not yet have any. The request for annexation listed the reason as only “future development.” Martinez also wanted clarification on whether the council could accept part of the request but deny another part. Fences to go up at splash pad Walcott will put a fence around the city splash pad for $9,165. The city council approved the project and bid from Sampson Fence 5–0 on the recommendation of the park board. The fence will feature two gates to limit unsupervised access to the splash pad. Run for Veterans will return Walcott City Council gave early approval to road closures for the April 2027 Run for Veterans. Over 400 runners participated in this year’s race, organizers said. They presented a medal of thanks to the council. Other news In other business, the council: • Set a hearing for Sept. 8 for amendments to the city land use map. • Agreed to establish a no-parking area and to permit food vendors to sell on city streets during fall sports games at Water Tower Park. • Approved Puck’s nomination of Jake Bruns to the Park Board and Kara Schinkel to the Planning & Zoning Board. • Agreed to sell a 2009 GMC 2500 former public works truck for $13,150, the high bid received on the government auction site GovDeals. They also agreed to sell a Ford F250 stock truck bed for $825.
	Princeton hires new law firm The Princeton City Council hired a new law firm Monday during a special meeting. Longtime city attorney Candy Pastrnak tendered her resignation, although she said she considered it “a transition, not a resignation.” She will continue to represent Princeton in a few outstanding legal matters, but all new business will be handled by the new firm. “Thank you all for letting me serve you,” Pastrnak told the council. “Our firm has served the City of Princeton for 11 years, and it’s been a pleasure to do so. “I had discussed with Kevin Kernan, and I had discussed with others that you would be wise to start looking. So, it was good that you started looking,” she continued. “I’ve only been around for three of those 11 years, but Candy’s always done us a good job. We’ve always been able to trust what she tells us,” said mayor Travis Volrath. “I appreciate everything she’s done.” The rest of the council members present, Keith Youngers, Lori Maher and Brandon Forristall, also thanked Pastrnak. The city’s new representation will be handled by the firm of Hinders, Updegraff, Franklin & Limkemann, P.L.C., which has offices in Norwalk and Davenport. Kylie Franklin, who serves the Davenport office, was present to introduce the firm. The firm’s website highlights its experience in municipal, business and employment law, and Franklin said the firm also represents area communities including Stockton and Riverdale. Franklin did her undergraduate work at Drake University and earned her juris doctorate from the University of Iowa. She has a background in litigation, municipal law and long-term planning work. Council member Lori Maher met with Franklin, together with city clerk Kisa Tweed and council member Zach Phares. “I feel like they’re going to be a perfect fit,” said Maher. “They’ve got a decent sized firm with four stakeholders or partners, four associate attorneys, and paralegals, and between all of those, they have so many different areas that they specialize in. It goes all the way down to things like wind turbines.” Franklin said that the firm itself is relatively new, but all of the partners came together from another firm. “We’ve been doing municipal work, some of us, for 10 to 12 plus years now. So, we’ve been around the block a little bit.” She said she has experience handling municipal nuisance or ordinance violations. As Princeton is looking to update some of its municipal employment codes, Franklin also said Brent Hinders, another stakeholder partner in the firm, is the preeminent employment law attorney in the state. Street closures The council also approved two upcoming street closures on River Drive. The first will be Aug. 29 from 4 p.m. to midnight, and the street will be closed from Vine Street to the dead end. The second closure will be on Oct. 3 from 2-5 p.m. and will stretch from Chestnut to Fillmore streets. Youngers abstained from the vote on the Oct. 3 closure because a family member made the request. Council members Kernan and Phares were absent from the meeting.
	Five lawsuits are among pending litigation before Scott County Supervisors The Scott County Board of Supervisors often enters closed session to discuss litigation pending against the county. Supervisor Maria Bribriesco has recently argued that the public should know which cases supervisors plan to discuss. So what litigation is pending before the county? Excluding a range of foreclosure and related property suits, which sometimes name the county as a defendant, supervisors face five lawsuits approaching trial or a possible settlement. They include: • A worker’s compensation suit filed by a former deputy sheriff, Travis Bulman. • A suit alleging that the county attorney’s office has failed to produce public records relating to the Davenport building collapse. • A negligence suit that seeks to hold the county responsible for injuries to a child at West Lake Park. • A wrongful termination suit filed by a former deputy sheriff, Josh Wall. • A suit from Riverstone Group over an asphalt recycling plant the board of supervisors refused to permit in Mount Joy. Travis Bulman v. Scott County Former deputy sheriff Travis Bulman has alleged that Scott County acted in bad faith when it refused to pay medical and disability benefits after he developed PTSD. According to court filings, Bulman was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after responding to an armed standoff at NorthPark Mall, a suicide at the Princeton gun range, and the death of a two-year-old at a Walcott Trailer Park fire, all in 2022. Deteriorating mental health led Bulman to be hospitalized four times between late 2022 and late 2023. He alleges that the county refused to pay disability benefits or the cost of treatment during this period. Bulman took his case to the state Worker’s Compensation Division, where a deputy commissioner ruled that the county had failed to properly investigate and respond to Bulman’s disability claims. The commissioner ordered the county to pay past claims and the maximum statutory fine. Now Bulman wants damages from Scott County. In court filings, the attorney’s office has argued that state law and previous judicial rulings exempt counties from paying damages on top of worker’s compensation. Bulman is represented by Bribriesco Law Firm. Supervisor Maria Bribriesco’s spouse and two sons work for the firm. Scott County has retained Simmons Perrine of Cedar Rapids as outside counsel. Jonathan Uhl v. Scott County Jonathan Uhl has sued the county for records related to the Davenport building collapse that he argues are public under Iowa law. Uhl has requested phone records from the county attorney’s office and a copy of a 2004 investigative report into the Davenport Building Inspection Department, known as the “Sweeney Report.” Uhl’s court filings allege that members of the county attorney’s office, including County Attorney Kelly Cunningham, have “stonewalled” his requests for over a year without clear grounds. In March, the Iowa Public Information Board ordered the county attorney’s office to sign an informal resolution stating that they had “failed to produce records in compliance with Iowa code” after Uhl requested but was denied a copy of a criminal investigation into the Davenport BID. Martin Eilers v. Scott County The family of a child injured on the inflatable obstacle course in West Lake Park has sued the county, County Conservation Board and County Health Department for negligence. In court filings, the family alleges that the county had failed to properly install, inspect and maintain the Wibit SportsPark, and to train staff to oversee and maintain safety aboard the inflatable, where their child was injured in 2023. The county has refuted the allegations in detail. The county paid the manufacturer to install the equipment, assigned lifeguards throughout the inflatable, mandated life vest usage, and capped users below the limit suggested by manufacturers, court filings report. The county argues that the plaintiff assumed the risk of injury and was the “sole proximate cause” of the accident resulting in injury. The county also argues that under Iowa law, Scott County should be named the soul defendant in the suit. Dates for a settlement hearing and trial have been set for next summer. Joshua Wall v. Scott County Former deputy sheriff Josh Wall has alleged that he was fired from the county in 2024 after raising professional concerns about Jennifer McAndrew Lane, a Department of Corrections employee and the wife of Sheriff Tim Lane. According to a petition filed earlier this year, Wall raised concerns about McAndrew Lane with County Human Resources Director Vanessa Wierman in June 2023, before relaying those concerns to State Sen. Chris Cournoyer in March 2024. McAndrew Lane kept a sex offender on probation despite the expiration of a court order and said she would appeal to the sheriff to “get her way” over other employees, Wall alleges in his petition. Cournoyer referred concerns to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, who relayed them back to Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham. Wall was fired shortly afterward in July 2024. “Sergeant Wall’s termination was in retaliation for his disclosures of ongoing violations of law or rule, mismanagement, and abuse of authority,” his petition alleges. An answer filed by Cunningham March 27 refutes Wall’s accusations in detail. Wall raised “interpersonal concerns” rather accusations of wrongdoing at a meeting with Wierman in June 2023, Cunningham’s filing argues. It denies that “any wrongful acts occurred which necessitated an investigation into McAndrew” but alleges that Wall improperly investigated McAndrew Lane, violating his responsibilities as a deputy sheriff. Cunningham’s filing repeatedly cites a Scott County Civil Service Commission decision which found Wall had conducted a “secret investigation” and been fired for “rogue investigatory behavior and improper reporting procedure.” The North Scott Press detailed the allegations in Wall’s petition on March 11. In April, Wall asked the court for a change of venue. The case is currently proceeding through Scott County courts. Riverstone v. Scott County Board of Supervisors Riverstone Group has sued the Scott County Board of Supervisors after they refused to permit an asphalt recycling plant in Mount Joy. Riverstone, which quarries and manufactures construction materials, purchased about $2.5 million worth of Mount Joy farmland in 2022 and 2023 after the county indicated a recycling plant would qualify for a special use permit, according to a petition the group filed later that year. The county denied the special use permit and has since denied, in legal filings, that it ever indicated the project would qualify for one. Riverstone continued to push the county to permit the plant in 2023, but faced several hurdles. The land was zoned for general agricultural use and set for annexation to Davenport, which indicated it would not permit the plant. And it was located near the Davenport Airport, raising concerns about dust the plant could produce. In a pair of decisions in late 2023 and early 2024, the county refused to rezone the parcel for industry or strip the parcel of plans for annexation. Neighboring landowners and aircraft operators, including the National Guard, supported the decision. Riverstone filed suit in response, arguing that the county treated Riverstone differently from neighboring landowners and illegally deferred to the city of Davenport’s opposition to the plant. Scott County has maintained that it was exercising its legal home rule authority in rejecting the request for a rezone. Attorneys for the county and for Riverstone are set to meet Sept. 16 to schedule a trial.
	Sadie Wagner promoted to city clerk in Eldridge Eldridge hired from within to find its newest city clerk. Sadie Wagner, who also serves as utility administrative manager, was promoted to city clerk/finance manager following the Aug. 17 city council meeting and Aug. 18 utility board meeting. Because Wagner will continue to perform utilities duties, 50% of her $92,746 salary will be paid by the utility board. Wagner will succeed the city’s previous clerk, Tracy Northcutt, who resigned in June. In a memo, city administrator Nevada Lemke wrote that the city chose this path in part because of Wagner’s existing institutional knowledge about Eldridge and city policies and procedures. “Throughout her tenure with the city, Sadie has gained extensive experience in virtually every clerk function performed within the city office,” Lemke wrote. “Her progression through multiple positions has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the city’s operations, financial processes, utility administration, customer service, records management, and interdepartmental coordination. Additionally, as part of her transition into the Utility Administrative Manager position, she successfully completed the city’s management training program. This investment has prepared her for increased leadership responsibilities and positions her well to assume the Finance Manager/City Clerk role.” Lemke also wrote that promoting from within would preserve “the positive workplace culture that has been intentionally developed over the past three years. Internal promotions reward dedication, encourage employee development, and demonstrate the city’s commitment to investing in its employees. An internal candidate also possesses invaluable institutional knowledge that cannot be quickly replicated through an external hire. This familiarity allows for a seamless transition with minimal disruption to city operations.” Further, Lemke said Wagner’s promotion will also lead to opportunities for assistant city clerk Tabbitha Kramer, who was hired earlier this summer. This will allow for cross-training, create a stronger internal succession plan, and allow the deputy clerk to take over some of the traditional duties of the city clerk. “Redistributing these duties creates a more balanced workload among administrative staff while allowing each employee to focus on areas of responsibility that align with their experience and career development,” wrote Lemke. As part of the transition, Lemke recommended holding off on hiring an additional employee for now as the city evaluates its staffing needs. “This approach will demonstrate the areas of greatest need based on the workload balance so we can appropriately define the duties that need to be fulfilled when we are ready to proceed with hiring.” Lemke’s recommendation was to eventually hire an entry-level clerk, which would allow the city to recruit an individual with “strong potential and develop them internally through progressively increasing responsibilities.” She said this would build institutional knowledge, strengthen employee retention and organizational culture and create a sustainable succession plan. Council rejects Townsend Farms drainage costs As construction continues on Townsend Farms 16th Addition on the south side of town, a drainage issue was discovered during earthwork. As the contractor began moving dirt on the South 5th Street extension to Lincoln Road, a low spot was found on the Townsend Farms trail, which caused standing water to accumulate on the trail. According to assistant city administrator Jeff Martens, speaking on behalf of city engineer Zach Howell, a temporary berm has been installed near the trail, which has alleviated some of the water. Meanwhile, the developer’s engineer came up with a plan to install drain tile, and updates to the construction plan, estimated at $12,190.50. The developer asked the city to pay half of the cost, as the engineering opinion determined the problem was caused by a combination of the construction and the subdivision design. Council members weren’t convinced. Jeff Ashcraft said he has ridden his bike along the trail several times since the problem was uncovered and he’s noticed the berm seems to be helping. He asked why the city had any responsibility. “Why was this not engineered properly and why are we accepting part of the cost, then, to repair?” Martens said it was his understanding that conditions in the area had changed since the city approved the engineering plan two years ago, and that risk was part of what the city accepted. He said that the city’s planning and zoning commission has been discussing making construction drawings valid for one year only. “If it’s not constructed within a year, they have to come back for reapproval. That way, we’d be more apt to catch something like this when conditions change,” said Martens. Council member Brian Dockery said when the engineering plan went through the approval process, it went through both city staff and the city engineer at Shive-Hattery. “When the bike path came in over the gas pipeline, I think our engineer missed that,” said Dockery. “So, I think they’ve got skin in the game also.” Dockery proposed the city pay a third, with the developer and Shive-Hattery paying the other two-thirds of the cost. “I don’t think it should all be on us,” he said. Council member Adrian Blackwell said he had also viewed the area. He said while the berm was working, it was only a temporary fix. “I don’t disagree with dividing it up in thirds, but whatever needs to be done, we need to make sure we do it right and not just a Band-Aid to fix, so the further this opens up, there’s no other issues when the rest of the subdivision gets built for possible additional flooding.” Council member Ryan Iossi said he didn’t believe the city had any liability. “When further land is developed, and Jeff, correct me if I’m wrong, but as an example, if you buy an undeveloped lot, and you’ve got a house on either side, your responsibility following code is to create your water runoff according to what’s already previously existing, right? And with that said, those houses to the north of the trail were existing already.” Iossi said, since the same developer did the previous addition, he questioned whether any of the cost should be borne by the city. “I’m just not in favor of paying for that,” Iossi said. He made a motion to deny the request and “let’s see what happens.” Dockery seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Winter decorating financial request also denied The council also denied a $2,440 request for the installation of seasonal greenery and solar string light displays during the winter months in downtown Eldridge. Lemke said she had spoken with Dave McCammant of MidAmerican Energy, who said this project would be eligible for a $500 community beautification grant. She said the rest could be paid for out of the hotel/motel tax fund, which also typically goes towards beautification projects. This fund also pays for flowers downtown during the summer. Dockery asked if the proposal was for an annual rate. Lemke said her understanding was this was a one-time project. “I know there’s an option to have them install again in future years. But I don’t know that the intent was for it to be a revolving proposal.” “I guess I’m not in favor of spending $2,440 for a one-time thing,” said Dockery. Ashcraft also asked if this was something the council typically paid for. Lemke said, while the council has paid for the summer flowers, it has not done any winter decorations. The Eldridge-North Scott Chamber of Commerce decorates the light poles. “I agree with Councilman Dockery,” said Ashcraft. “Considering the heftier things that we’re dealing with and trying to find funds to make sure we’re dealing with public safety. I know it’s only $2,440, but I think I’d pass.” Blackwell said he liked the festive decorations that go up downtown in the winter but asked if there was anything the city could do for beautification at a reduced cost. Lemke said she would talk with public works director Tony Rupe to see what his team could come up with.
	Donahue Pie Contest theme is apple Come celebrate Donahue Iowa’s Annual Frontier Days event on Sept. 6. Among many numerous events, food, and activities for all ages, there will be our Apple Pie baking contest. Everyone is invited to submit your baking creativity during the 20th anniversary of the contest. Pies must be made from scratch, double crust (lattice crust is acceptable) and baked in an 8 or 9 inch aluminum pan that will not be returned. Filling must be made with fresh or frozen APPLES. (No canned filling). All pies entered become the property of the Donahue Day Committee. The contest is open to juniors up to age 18 and (of course) seniors 19 and over. Please enter your pie after 10 a.m. and prior to 1 p.m. on Sept. 6 at the Donahue Sportsmen’s Park on the south edge of town. Please include your name, address and phone number on the bottom of your pan and only one pie per person will be accepted. Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd will be awarded in each age division. First place is $100; 2nd place is $75; and 3rd place is $50. All pies will be judged starting at 1 p.m. by three local judges. The pies will then be auctioned later that same afternoon. Among the bidders are local families, individuals and neighboring businesses. Proceeds are shared by the Donahue Fire Department and Donahue Sportsmen’s Club. For further information please call Linda Holdorf at (563) 370-2502 or Sandy Moeller (563) 529-2625.
	Crop report: Nearly half of Iowa corn in dent stage With 47% of Iowa corn acres in the dent stage, according to the latest crop progress and condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the crop is nearing harvest season. The 2026 crop is 5 percentage points ahead of last year’s crop in terms of the share in the dent stage. Corn acres in the dough stage reached 90% during the Aug. 17 through Aug. 23 reporting period, which is 3 percentage points ahead of last year’s crop. One percent of corn acres had reached maturity as of the reporting period. Soybean acres setting pods reached 88% during the period, which is slightly behind last year’s crop. Soybean condition was 77% good to excellent during the period and corn condition was 78% good to excellent, according to the report. Iowa subsoil and topsoil had mostly adequate moisture conditions, according to the report which put subsoil moisture at 66% adequate and topsoil moisture at 70% adequate. Iowa had “unseasonably” dry weather during the reporting period, according to State Climatologist Justin Glisan, who reported the statewide average precipitation was just over two-tenths of an inch, while the normal is more than nine-tenths of an inch. The dry weather, however, followed a particularly wet week where Iowa’s statewide average, at 2.60 inches, was nearly triple the normal for the Aug. 10 through Aug. 16 reporting period. Glisan reported a “shift to more seasonal weather” for the most recent reporting period, when the statewide average temperature was 71.1 degrees Fahrenheit – less than 1 degree above the normal for the period. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the weather conditions were “beautiful” throughout the last week of the Iowa State Fair, which he said had “fairgoers turning out in record numbers.” According to the Iowa State Fair, 1,218,834 people attended the event in Des Moines over its 11-day run, beating the previous attendance record from 2024 by more than 36,000 people. “As students and families settle into the routines of a new school year, farmers are keeping an eye on the forecast as crops continue to mature,” Naig said. “Warmer temperatures and near-normal rainfall into early September should help keep the crops moving along as we inch closer to the busy fall harvest season.”
	North Scott honors longtime employees At last Tuesday’s North Scott employee appreciation event, superintendent Joe Stutting hailed the staff. “I think about how lucky I’ve been for the last 12 years. I really got blessed to be picked for the North Scott School District. And it’s really because of all of you. “It’s been wonderful seeing the success of our students. All of the championships, all of the theatre things our kids have done, it just goes on. And every time I think we can’t do better, we have another group that comes in, and I just shake my head,” he continued. “But it isn’t just because we have talented kids, and we have a great, supportive community. It’s because of the staff.” Stutting praised the behind-the-scenes victories staff have improving the lives of students, even the ones that never receive public attention or recognition. He said, “Every one of you have been a champion for a kid and has made a difference in their lives, and that’s what makes North Scott a special place.” At the event, longtime employees and retirees were honored, and new staff were welcomed. Prior to the event, attendees received snacks provided by First Central State Bank. The longest serving employee honored at the event was Virgil Grissom custodian Jerry Kruse, who has been employed at North Scott for 40 years. Retirees: Cindy Greve, Barb Hyde, Matt Harrison, Terri Kilburg, Deanna Reed, Kerry Madden, Connie Reese, Carrie Lane, Brenda Renken, Terri Stockbauer 40 years: Jerry Kruse 35 years: Jennifer Swoboda 30 years: Denise Frauen, Laura Jacobsen 25 years: Lisa Brunning, Shamus Budde, Joellen Desanto, Stacie Kintigh, Mike McMann, Al Nelson, Dawn Rheingans, Bill Stahmer 20 years: Cindy Beal, Sara Braack, Nicole Dodds, Melissa Fredericks, Traci Hardeman, Rita Hart, Terri Stockbauer, Katherine Walloch, Nancy Woode, Sarah Woode 15 years: Christine Baguss, Shane Stenson DeBourcy, Amy Harris, Kyle Harris, Boise Schoonover, Violet Talbot, Tammy Willerth, Ashley Knobloch 10 years: Kari Ginger, Sarah Graham, Karee Hodge, Madelynn Kennedy, Jennifer Lamont, Bri Lawrence, Eric Lenze, Amanda Ohsann, John Osen, David Sorensen, Ashton Temple, April Thurman, Taylor Venhorst, Kent Greenwood, Elise Ward 5 years: Sarah Lovett, Ashley DeWispelaere, Zachary Berry, Kathleen Kroeger, Ashley Rentmeester, Hailey Gingerich, Lauren Salas, Chelsea Tyrrel, Anna Maass, Melissa Klingaman, Spencer Shepherd, Mark Boland, Lisa Paxton, Teresa Rossmiller, Emily Gronewold, Heather Speed, David Haberkorn, Nicolas Propes, Kelsey Slagle, Sidney Tingle, Ashley Kuhl, Jessica Kirby, Stephanie Peterson, Holly Timm, Luciana Maxwell, Rachel Biehl, Tarisha Edwards, Alissa Bolles, Jordan Wagner, Amanda Hill, Trista Cronkleton, Fred Foreman, Jennifer Kuhn, Emily Kruse-Cain, Madison Knoche, Sarah Franco, David Helton, Mark Beno, Kimberly Wolf, Kinza Maclin, Katie Madden New Hires: Set Espinosa-Morales, Teresa Claussen, Megan Moore, Jessica Cox, Kayla Benson, Ashley Badtram, Jaiden Seifert, Cedrick Whitfield, Rachel Davis, Joshua Roe, Rachel Christensen, Chad Matthaidess, Emily Bowman, Anna Bross, Thomas Peppers, Jennifer Johnson, Kory Esbaum, Lisa Jones, Emma Crandall, Stacey Ruff, Audrey Eganhouse, Erin Hughes, Whitney Moss, Jillian Dircks, Elizabeth Kent, Jana Poirier, Allison Gandrup, Brittany Hoffmann, Kaitlyn Stych, Shalynn Spiller, Wayne Huntley, Kaitlyn Petty, Tricia Campbell, Lisa Boynton, Demi Phares, Shawn Smith, Lindsay Brinson, Neleigh Weinert, Tami Jewell-Labath, Kaylee Paulsen, Kendra Goplin, Jessica Hilliard, Lindsey Schwarz
	2001: Eldridge council debates number of election precincts Aug. 26, 1976 • Just moments before the Eldridge City Council was set to fill a vacancy created with the resignation of Larry Rauch, a group of residents presented a petition asking the seat to be filled by election. Judd Awkerman presented the petition, signed by 17 residents, mostly in the North 7th Street area. Only 14 signatures were needed to call an election under a new law that recently went into effect in Iowa – at least 2% of the number of residents who voted in the last city election. In the November 1975 election, 666 residents voted. Mayor pro tem Dave Stephens said he regretted that the seat would have to remain vacant until November, causing the council to have to work with only four members. If no candidates submitted their nominating petitions to city hall by Sept. 8, the council would be able to fill the vacancy by appointment. • The North Scott School Board stiffened its policy on free athletic and activities passes for teachers, saying they would only be given to staff members who worked these events in an official capacity. The new policy said free passes would only be given to past and present school board members and their spouses, senior citizens, the school physician, members of the media, and 25 “conference” passes which would be allotted at the discretion of the principal. The new policy was implemented after members of the public felt there were too many people getting into school events for free. • Four Scott County residents testified at a U.S. Senate subcommittee field hearing at the Long Grove Community Center. LeClaire mayor Clarence Norton, Long Grove mayor Jean Roush, Eldridge public works director John Miller and rural Davenport farmer Eldon Krambeck shared their thoughts on the effectiveness of federal rural development programs. The hearing was chaired by Iowa Sen. Dick Clark and Iowa U.S. Rep. Ed Mezvinsky. • Seventy family members and friends honored Loretta Hirl of Davenport at a family dinner celebrating her 80th birthday. Born in 1896, Loretta Adair married George Hirl in 1914. The couple farmed in Scott County until their retirement in 1948. • A team from Donahue won the “Anything Goes Almost” relays at the Dixon Sweetcorn Festival. The team included Mary Lou Engler, Marilyn Gronewold, Charlotte Keppy, Lori Moore, Jim Henzen, Jerry Wuestenberg, D.C. Kelly and Ron Stoltenberg. Teams participated in six relay events, culminating in a beer drinking contest. Each member of the team was given three glasses of beer to drink through a straw in 60 seconds. The remaining beer was measured to determine a winner. Meanwhile, at the dedication of the Dixon Bicentennial Recreation Center, Hugo Rock, 89, and Mrs. Winnie McCabe, 88, were honored as the oldest residents in town. Aug. 27, 1986 • Plans for a swimming pool in Eldridge were discussed by the North Scott School Board and the Eldridge City Council. At the school board meeting, members heard a presentation from the construction firm that hired to build a pool at Pleasant Valley High School. The board voted to go ahead with preliminary plans for a pool addition, pending voter approval. Meanwhile, Eldridge city administrator Deborah Nier told the council about information she gathered on pools in neighboring communities, including Wilton, Bellevue, Bettendorf, Clinton and West Liberty. • Steve Brehmer won a special election for a vacant seat on the McCausland City Council. Brehmer garnered 52 votes. • New teachers at North Scott included Nancy Sunday, Cindy Van DeWalle, Joyce Orcutt, Ann Lange, Teresa Heggen, Pat Schirman, Chris Fox, Jean Mayes, Mary Sue Ryan, Janet Steffensmeier, and Wilma Kambel. • Joe Proske of Blue Grass earned second place honors in the dairy judging contest at the 4-H Dairy awards ceremony at the Iowa State Fair. He also tied for first place individual honors in judging Milking Shorthorns. Scott Bernick of Walcott won the state Holstein award and received honors as the top individual in the Jersey judging contest. • Returning runners on the North Scott girls’ cross-country team included Connie Moore, Beth Wilson, Tracy Schneckloth, Chris Rosmillso and Sandy Lambert. Aug. 29, 2001 • The Scott County Library System hired an architect and a construction manager to oversee renovations that would turn the old Slagle’s supermarket into a new headquarters for the library in Eldridge. “There’s a great deal happening, but it’s just not showing in the building now,” library director Anne Conner told the Eldridge City Council. Major gift fundraising was set to begin in September, with a grassroots campaign slated for March. Construction was expected to begin in June of 2002. • Iowa state law dictated that all communities with a population of 3,500 or more be divided into at least two voting precincts by the end of August. Eldridge missed the deadline as members of the city council disagreed over whether the town should be split into two or three sections and how the community should be divided up. Therefore, the state would make the determination for the town. At a city council meeting, members reviewed an ordinance that would see the town split north and south, with LeClaire Road as the dividing line. Tom Knapper, supported by Brad Noel, proposed three precincts. Knapper said he believed the council would one day have ward representation, with three aldermen from wards and two at-large members, and this was the time to make that delineation. John Strazewski and Mark Brandt said two precincts fulfilled the state requirement and if residents wanted three precincts, they could petition for the change later. Brandt said the town could increase precincts if this became a “viable situation. This is a classic example of bureaucracy in a small town of 4,000 people. I’m beginning to think we’re Davenport! And it’s almost embarrassing.” • A groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new hotel in Eldridge. Although construction hadn’t begun on the property, reservation requests were already coming in for the new Rodeway Inn, which was scheduled to open on Feb. 1, 2002. The three-story hotel would feature an indoor pool and whirlpool, a meeting and banquet facility, free continental breakfast, and more amenities, with rates starting at $49 per night. Owners Kirk and Teresa Foecking had pursued the idea of building a hotel on the same site five years earlier but decided the timing wasn’t right then. But now, “We decided if we don’t build it, somebody else will,” Kirk said at the groundbreaking. • Retirees honored at the North Scott employee appreciation event included Bob Rhinehart, Mary Ann Schanze, Ken Nevenhoven, Nancy Shilney, Deac Ryan, Pat Mason, Dean Bassett, Joyce Holland, Mary Sue Ryan, Dan Anderson and Loretta Barron. Employees with 30 years of experience included Mike Brown, Larry Haugland, Christie Nevenhoven and James Pfaff. • Captains of the North Scott football team included Tom Power, Adam Nolan, Jared Hamilton, Andy Wiese, Ben Anderson and Greg Green. Aug. 31, 2011 • Donahue planned to celebrate its 140th anniversary at Frontier Day. This was also the 40th anniversary of Frontier Day, as the original was planned to coincide with the town’s centennial in 1971. Plenty of activities were planned, including a memorial walk, a coed softball tournament and the annual Duck Race. • Representatives of the U.S. Postal Service planned to meet with McCausland residents to discuss the future of the town’s post office. The McCausland Post Office was on a shortlist being studied for discontinuation of service by the USPS because of a decline in service. If the McCausland Post Office were to be closed, customers with P.O. boxes would have the option of renting a box at the DeWitt Post Office. “DeWitt, from our post office to theirs, is about 10.8 miles, and that’s just one way,” said city council member Lloyd Claussen, who had spearheaded a previous campaign to save the McCausland Post Office. “The point is, how convenient is it for anybody?” • Rural Scott County mourned the loss of popular farmer Donavan Sievers in a tractor accident. Sievers was hauling hay near Plainview when the tractor rolled into a ditch. In an eerie coincidence, Sievers passed away just yards from where his grandson, Blake, had been killed in a similar accident six years earlier. “We take comfort that he’s with Blake,” said Sievers’ son, Lonny. “Dad loved him so much. They died within 100 yards of each other, and now they’ll be buried just as close.” • The North Scott volleyball team opened the season with a win over Pleasant Valley and took two of three matches at the MAC/MVC Challenge. After falling to Cedar Rapids Kennedy, the Lancers bounced back to sweep Cedar Rapids Prairie and defending state champions Iowa City West. “It is hard to get respect, but I think we earned some last week,” said coach Amy Schubert. • The North Scott football team won the opening game of the season, coming from behind to win in overtime, 26-20, over Pleasant Valley. Each team had four plays to score from the 10 in overtime. John Kinney picked off Spartan quarterback Grant Lang early in the extra period. With the ball back, Tanner Johnson lost a yard, followed by Louis DeFrieze bulldozing his way to a seven-yard gain. Johnson punched it in from four yards out to secure the win. Aug. 25, 2021 • North Scott schools saw an increase in the number of students, with 1,078 at the high school alone. Forty-five students selected online learning for the school year, compared to more than 600 the previous school year. “Every elementary class is bigger than the year before,” said superintendent Joe Stutting. “We are up kids in-seat in every single building. That’s a good thing.” • The New Liberty Fire Department was gearing up for its 40th annual steak fry, the main fundraiser for the department. In addition to the meal, there would be a car show, bags tournament, bounce houses and a performance by local band North of 40. • North Scott School Board incumbents Tracy Lindaman, Mark Pratt and Donn Wilmott announced plans to run for reelection as candidate filing opened. • The North Scott music department was well represented at the Bix Memorial Jazz Festival, with students Joe Drahozal (trombone), Nolan Blodig (alto sax), Lex Adkisson (guitar), Alex Upmeyer (tenor sax), Kyle Skinner (bass), Andrew Skinner (drum kit), and George Behnke (piano) participating in the Bix Youth Jazz Band. • Cross-country coach Amy Knoche was feeling optimistic about her girls’ team, and not just because they welcomed a new runner. Faith Nead, a transfer from Johnston, placed 37th at the last state meet. Knoche also welcomed back Bailey Boddicker, Kaitlyn Knoche and Reese Hilsenbeck, among others. “I think having Faith around is definitely going to help us,” said Boddicker. “And it’s good to have another running partner … We push each other at every practice, and we never know who is going to beat who.”
	Protecting Iowa public schools and tax dollars As State Auditor, I’ve been sounding the alarm on the unaccountable private school voucher program for years. Politicians who like to lie say it’s because I’m against private schools. That’s not true at all. What I am against is waste, fraud, and abuse of Iowa tax dollars, and the private school voucher program has been the second biggest invitation to all three since it was enacted. As it stands, the private school voucher system requires no accountability over how tax money is being spent. There are no audits to check. There are no limits on raising tuition, meaning that private schools can hike costs and make tuition as unaffordable as it was without the voucher, boosting their own bottom lines and once again blocking Iowa families from being able to afford it. There are no income limits, meaning the wealthiest Iowans are getting the same $7,500 per kid to send them to the schools they would most likely already send them to than low income or middle-class families. This year alone, the voucher program was estimated to cost $350 million in tax dollars. That’s money meant for our public schools being diverted to this unaccountable program. A report found that 80 percent of that money went to children that the Reynolds administration estimated would have been in private school anyway; meaning 80 percent of “school choice” funding isn’t giving a choice to anyone who didn’t already have it. As we face down a nearly $1.4 billion budget deficit, and as funding for our public schools is already not keeping up with inflation, we’re not in a position to turn a blind eye to the misuse of tax dollars. Insiders dub this program as “school choice,” but my question is: choice for who? There’s no “choice” for the families in rural areas, many of which don’t have a single private school in their district or within a reasonable distance to shuttle kids back and forth. There’s no “choice” for the families with students with special needs or disabilities, many of whom are turned away from private schools who cannot – or will not – serve their needs. Private schools are not mandated to take the public like public schools are. My thought there is pretty simple: if private schools want public money, then they should have to take the public. They should be audited and have rules for how the money is spent, like public schools. And we should put the income limits back on the program. I support Iowa families making the decision that’s best for their kids. For some, that might mean a private school. But we shouldn’t boost those private schools at the expense of our public schools and the hundreds of thousands of students they serve. This is personal to me. I grew up attending Iowa public schools when they were regularly ranked some of the top in the nation. Now, I’m sending my own two boys to Iowa public schools, and as a state we’ve landed somewhere in the middle of the pack. As governor, I’d work with members of both parties to enact common-sense accountability measures to protect tax dollars. Things like annual audits, limiting tuition increases, and implementing income limits are a few steps we can take to ensure Iowa tax dollars are being spent appropriately, and that we’re protecting funding meant for our public schools to get back to those top rankings in the nation.
	School choice: A fundamental freedom As an educator who’s spent years building a foundation for children, I believe that school choice is a foundational freedom that Iowans should have. Parents should be able to have more say over where their kids go to school and more say over where their tax dollars are spent. The Democrats like to frame this issue as though parental tax dollars belong to the Government–that any attempt by parents to take their kids to a better school is somehow robbing public schools. That’s false. Our goal as Iowans should always be to promote excellence in education, whether that’s at a public school or a private school–It just so happens that we can do both. The discussion around ESAs in Iowa needs to end the politics and prioritize the children. This is a distraction from the real issue, which is the decline of Iowa’s public education system that began before ESAs even existed. Attributing the failings of public education to ESAs is an attempt to divert attention from decades of decline. As governor, I will be the number one advocate for Iowa’s public school kids. In the 90s, Iowa schools were number one in the nation, and now they are 27th overall. Every child in this state deserves access to a world-class education, and my goal is simple: make Iowa’s public schools so strong that they can compete with any school, anywhere in the country. For too long, schools have been forced to teach to a test instead of teaching students to succeed. I will work to reduce excessive standardized testing, restore local control, and refocus education on mastery of reading, writing, math, science, and the skills students need to thrive. A classroom should not be a battleground for ideology. It should be a place for truth, discipline, wonder, and learning. I believe teachers should teach our children how to think, not what to think, and that political doctrine has no place in Iowa classrooms. Our public schools need more innovation. In the schools I’ve helped start, we start apprenticeships at age 11 or 12, where you’re out in the real world getting experience. There is more to education than just taking tests, and there’s no study guide for an apprenticeship. As public officials, we should be doing everything possible to improve education in public schools, while still providing the freedom for parents to decide where their tax dollars are going. Democrats arguing against school choice are completely ignoring the fact that our public education will still thrive, if leaders are actively advocating for it. As governor, I’ll do everything in my power to improve public education, and to make sure that kids in Iowa are receiving the best care that we can offer. Once again, we must cut out the politics and prioritize the children.
	City attorney airs Eldridge's "dirty laundry" At the Aug. 12, 2026, Eldridge special City Council meeting, there was quite a lengthy recitation by attorney Wright regarding the case against Keith Schneckloth. I have never seen such a disclosure of personnel matters made to the public by a municipality. I suppose the attorney felt that there were some public records related to the case against him, but still her diatribe was embarrassing. It would give me pause to think about working for a city that would disclose such personnel related details at a public meeting, on the City website, and on social media. The city attorney went so far as to threaten Mr. Schneckloth with the fact that the statute of limitations had not expired yet, and he could still face criminal charges. I don’t recall the City making such personnel matters so public when their city clerk stole tens of thousands of dollars from the Eldridge taxpayers or when other employees were terminated for far worse offenses. What is the City of Eldridge thinking when they allow their city attorney to behave publicly in such a manner? I feel sorry for all of the residents who are having to be disgraced yet again by city leadership as the City’s dirty laundry continues to make headlines in the Quad Cities and beyond. Judith Gilbert Eldridge
	Seniors suffer as Miller-Meeks keeps digging budget hole The same day the National Debt hit $40 trillion, Representative Miller-Meeks ran an ad celebrating her proposed bill, the Permanent Tax Relief for Seniors Act. The debt is accelerating faster than predicted, due in part to massive tax cuts under last summer’s Republican tax and spending bill, HR-1. HR-1 gave permanent tax cuts we couldn’t afford for the wealthiest Americans, directed a few temporary gimmicks toward workers and seniors, and hid benefit cuts until after the midterms. The “no-tax-on-tips”, “no-tax-on-overtime,” and enhanced standard deductions for seniors all expire in 2028. Miller-Meeks’ proposed legislation permanently extends the seniors’ $6,000 enhanced standard deduction. The revenue loss from HR-1 shortened Social Security Trust Fund solvency by one year. Unless Congress acts, the Social Security Trust Fund will only be able to pay 78% of scheduled benefits to all current and future beneficiaries by 2032. The average Social Security cut would be about $500 a month. Few would trade money on their monthly check for a year-end deduction. Especially when many retirees don’t earn enough to claim the full deduction and some beneficiaries - disabled workers, survivors, and dependents don’t qualify for the senior deduction. The longer Congress waits to address the Social Security Trust Fund shortfall and the deficit, the harder they are to fix. The solution requires tough choices. But Congressional focus is on winning elections, not solutions. So Miller-Meeks panders for the senior vote with the promise of making the enhanced senior deduction permanent. This would add $155.7 billion more debt over a 10-year budget window, but might win votes now. Interest on the debt is now one of the largest federal budget expenditures, more than annual Medicare spending. That’s money we don’t spend on schools, healthcare, roads and bridges, social safety nets, and making life more affordable. Increased government debt makes borrowing more expensive for everyone, including those with business loans, mortgages, student loans, credit card debt, vehicle loans, and more. Now we find ourselves with a $40,000,000,000,000 budget hole and a Representative who won’t stop digging. If Representative Miller-Meeks doesn’t understand budgets, she needs to find a different job. Kay Pence Eldridge
	Iowa measles outbreak grows to 17 cases, Illinois 5, health officials say Iowa public health officials confirm 17 measles cases with person-to-person spread across Bloomfield, Ottumwa, Clive, and Des Moines.
	Lancers show out at home meet, go shot-for-shot with state's elite If the first two tournaments are any indication, the team state tournament trophy is firmly up for grabs. The preseason rankings, which had North Scott at No. 3, Pleasant Valley at No. 2, and Dallas Center-Grimes at No. 1, had the teams pinned to the letter. Very little separated these three schools during the first week of the season, in which North Scott played within two strokes of both the Mustangs and Spartans in the first two meets of the year. North Scott shot a 296 last Monday at Glen Oaks Country Club, finishing behind Dallas Center-Grimes’ 294 and Dowling Catholic’s 295. Then, the Lancers set the school record on Wednesday at Glynns Creek Golf Course at 279 — only to be upstaged by Pleasant Valley’s own school-record-setting performance of 277. Despite falling short of gold team and individual medals, the Lancers are more than happy with their first week of action. “If you would’ve asked us before today that we’d shoot 279, we’d take it,” junior Andrew Vollbeer said after the Lancer Invite on Wednesday. “It’s a shame we got second. PV is really good, and we were right there. Obviously, we want to get first. It’s small margins.” North Scott smashed the school record by seven shots, 286, which it set at districts last October. Vollbeer and senior Jaxon Adkisson shot matching 4-under 68s at the team’s home meet, and placed second and third respectively. Junior Luke Leverenz posted a 2-under 70 and placed eighth in a logjam of cardbacks. Freshman James Vollbeer took the fourth scoring spot with a 1-over 73. He was followed by sophomore Michael Phillips’ 3-over 75 and senior Griffin Frank’s 6-over 78. “Today, we played awesome and came up just a bit short,” Lancer coach Mike Wuertz said. “73, if you take that as a fourth score, 99 percent of the time you’re going to win the meet. Overall, it was really solid golf today.” The scoring conditions were pristine with soft greens, low winds, and ideal temperatures. Pleasant Valley’s Dylan Everitt took advantage with his winning score of 5-under 67. Overall, 11 golfers were under par on Wednesday. Adkisson’s 68 matched high school career-best rounds from both his sophomore and junior seasons. Vollbeer beat his high school personal record by one shot. “I expected them to both play well. Jaxon works here, and Andrew is here all the time,” Wuertz said. “They put themselves in position to play really well. “I’m happy to see the top three play well. I think they are just scratching the surface at how good they can be. I think they can be even better.” The primary mission this season is to find a fourth scorer. As Wuertz said, they will take a 73 every single time. James Vollbeer was under par for most of his round. He totaled four birdies and 10 pars in his round. “He chipped in on his first hole and birdied No. 9, so he was two-under through five holes,” Wuertz said. “He was about even for a while, made a couple bogeys on 18 and 2, and made a long birdie putt to shoot 1-over. You can’t ask for much more from a kid who is a freshman and only hits it 220 (feet) off the tee. I’m very impressed.” Monday’s meet featured a 3 p.m. start and a 180-mile drive to Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines for the team’s season opener. Competing against 17 schools from as far north as Waterloo, as far west as Sioux City, and a large contingent representing the Des Moines metro area, this tournament was a great measuring stick for each team. Just two shots separated first place from fourth place, with Dallas Center-Grimes’ home course advantage being the difference. North Scott shot a 296, with Andrew Vollbeer placing fourth (even-par 71), and Leverenz tying for seventh (two-over 73) as individuals. “Glen Oaks was definitely a more challenging course, plus having to travel so far and it being our first meet,” Wuertz said. “We lost to that Dallas Center-Grimes team, ranked No. 1 in the preseason rankings, and that is their home course. Most of them are members there. That was definitely an advantage for them, and we hung in there with them. They all played pretty solidly. It was a good showing out there.” Last week’s results only solidified the rankings. In Sunday’s refresh, the top three teams and top seven individuals stayed the same. Andrew Vollbeer got a one-spot promotion, going from No. 9 to No. 8. North Scott’s only meet this week came on Monday when the team went up to Peosta for the Western Dubuque Bobcat boys’ golf invitational at Thunder Hills Country Club. The Lancers’ next five tournaments are all hosted by Mississippi Athletic Conference schools, starting with the Assumption Invitational at Emeis Golf Course on Sept. 2. “We’re heading in the right direction. We still have a lot more golf to play,” Wuertz said. “We’re still trying to hone in on a few more things, and hopefully continue playing well.”
	Jo Daviess County Sheriff warns of new scams There's a new scam in Jo Daviess County and authorities want the public to be aware. Sheriff Klaus Kretschmer said the Jo Daviess County Sheriff's Office has seen an increase in the amount of fraud claims. In one case, a scammer posed as a member of the Jo Daviess County Sheriff's Office and requested payment [...]
	North Scott returns nearly all offensive starters for highly-anticipated football season “Heeeeere come the Lancers!” From the vocal cords of Dave Struckman to the hearts of their opponents, the hype surrounding this year’s Lancer football team is deserved. One look around state media sees the Lancers as a consensus top-five team in Class 4A. One look at the roster, and you’ll see why. From last fall, North Scott returns: it’s top passer; it’s top two rushers; it’s top two receivers; two all-district linemen; it’s top two tacklers; and two starting defensive backs. More than half of this year’s roster, 31 of 58 players, are seniors who are looking to blast far past just the first round of the playoffs achieved last year. “We’re coming with a different intensity this year,” senior quarterback Miller Haedt said after last Wednesday’s practice. “We have a lot of experience this year, which helps. This year, we have a ton of leaders from last year, which makes practice go by so much faster. “When we get out here, we emphasize being quick and efficient. So far, it’s going well. Some days we’re off. Some days we’re on. It’s been good so far.” Second-year head coach Tony Stewart echoes those same sentiments about his team’s training camp efforts. “It’s been pretty good. It’s just like everything else. Some days are good ones and some days aren’t so great. There are two big things we’re talking about: don’t let your highs get too high, and don’t let your lows get too low. It’s never as good as it seems, and it’s never as bad as it seems,” Stewart said. “Yesterday wasn’t so great in my mind. Today, I thought they did a great job. That’s the way it goes. Now, we’re trying to be consistent.” Much like his players on the field, Stewart and his coaches learned lots from their first seasons in new roles last fall. There are no changes to the varsity coaching staff this year, leading to a much more streamlined offseason. “I feel like we’re ahead of schedule from where we were last year, from a team standpoint and coaching staff cohesion,” Stewart said. “I had a little more time to prepare and plan. Have a better transition on my end. “We’ve always trusted our coaches, but making sure we’re on the same page with things. It’s that cohesion, learning to communicate with each other more. Our practices have changed a little bit with how we do certain things. That’s how we learn and adapt and try to get better.” The cohesion and connection are similar at the player level, too. “This team is close. We’re a lot closer than we were last year,” Haedt said. “The coaches are pushing that a lot more, and it’s working. This year, our seniors are a lot closer with the freshmen and sophomores because they practice with us. We build a lot of good relationships with them.” “It’s a big deal. It all starts with the seniors,” Stewart added. “We’re going to need everybody, whether it’s in practice or on the field. It can’t be ‘us against them.’ It has to be ‘we.’ We talk about competing with each other rather than against each other.” Getting the gang back together Haedt, an all-district honoree in 2025, enters his second year as a full-time starting quarterback, and his third overall in the varsity quarterback room. Between his sophomore and junior seasons, Haedt completed 68.2 percent of his passes for 1,303 yards with 14 touchdowns. On the ground, he toted the ball 111 times for 458 yards with seven touchdowns. Haedt says the rushing threat remains in the playbook this year, and he’s seeing the benefits of all his reps. “The game was really fast at the beginning of the year. Throughout the year, it slowed down,” he said. “I learned a lot about staying in the pocket, too. Your reads are a big thing. At the varsity level, the defensive ends are quicker. You have to be a leader on the field, too. That comes with time.” Stewart is thrilled to have Haedt, who led the team in passing and rushing last year, back under center. “He’s embraced the role. I see him coaching up the younger guys. He’s been a good leader for us,” Stewart said. “He has a better understanding of what he’s looking for. We talk about ‘are you coming back a year older or a year better?’ He’s a year better.” Junior Conlan Panther is set to back up Haedt. After suffering a summer injury last year, taking him out of the equation for football season, Panther is finally able to show what he can do on the gridiron. “We’ve had some really good quarterbacks. He has one of the best arms I’ve seen in the last 18 years,” Stewart said. “From an arm strength standpoint, maybe the mechanics aren’t great, or he’s throwing off his back foot, but he’ll throw it 45 yards down the field on a rope. He’ll see the field for sure.” Senior running backs Gage Wagner and Jonas Schlichting were thrust into action last year following a season-ending injury to the Lancers’ starter. Wagner led all Lancer backs with 68 rushes, 279 yards and three touchdowns. Schlichting added efficiency on less work with 5.9 yards per carry and four touchdowns. “Some of the adversity we had last year, Evan (Kruse) with his knee, that threw Jonas and Gage into real-time reps,” Stewart said. “Gage Wagner, last year on the Monday of Xavier week, was our third-string running back. And he started. Now, it’s not new to him.” Junior Ethan Wheeler and senior Vincent Hugaert, the latter of whom features as a tight end option, have also taken reps at running back in training camp. North Scott has one returning all-state player this season. He got on the team as a returner, but senior Ryan Block butters his bread at receiver. Block caught 46 balls for 632 yards and five receiving touchdowns to go along with the two kickoff return scores he had last year. Last year’s No. 2 receiver, senior Ryder Maher, is also back and primed for a big season. He came on strong at the end of the year and finished with 26 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns. Both Stewart and Haedt talked up junior Landon Gronewold as a player to watch, as well, filling out a wide receiver room with senior Mason Anderson, junior Evan Kuhn and sophomore Finnegan Carlson. The area on the field with the most transition is in the trenches. North Scott lost the services of two all-state linemen and two more all-district linemen to graduation and players not returning. The team is not lacking for bodies, however, as many different linemen got reps last season. The most pedigreed of the bunch are senior Bryce Stewart and junior AJ Huber, both of whom were all-district selections. “We lost some key guys, but I like who we have back,” Stewart said. “The nice thing is, talking about working while you wait, we had some juniors last year who didn’t get as much playing time. They took the JV reps and games seriously and got better. This year, it’s their turn.” Seniors Carson Pike, Carter Laughlin, Keaton Schneckloth and Logan Ruth, and juniors Christian Keppy and Drake Reitz will be among the top prospects for time along the offensive and defensive lines. “Quite a few (will play both ways),” Stewart said. “Coach (Dale) Tuftee’s philosophy is to rotate guys a lot to keep them fresh. We’ll probably roll seven different guys on the d-line. Most of them, except for Christian Keppy, will play offensive line. Christian is a tight end.” With all of the pieces North Scott brings back on offense, the temptation is there to open and expand the playbook. There will certainly be some new wrinkles, Stewart says, but he emphasized making sure the team’s foundation is rock solid. “My staff reminds me enough where we need to stay simple. That’s what I’ve really learned,” Stewart said. “If you’re not simple, the kids don’t understand deeply. Are there some things that are new and different? Yes. But what I see is getting our base concepts, maybe some different looks, and having our kids understand how they are supposed to be run.” ‘We have coaches on the field’ The position group on the entire team that got Stewart the most excited is his linebacker duo of Hugaert and senior Christian Perez. Hugaert and Perez led North Scott in tackles last year with 35 and 34, respectively. “Our defense runs through them. They are two of the most passionate guys we have. They love football. Thinking about how much they care about this team, and how good they want to be, I couldn’t ask for two better guys,” Stewart said. Both were all-district selections last fall. On the peripherals, Hugaert forced one fumble and recovered two. Perez added one sack, three forced fumbles and one recovery to his resume. “We have coaches on the field,” Stewart said. “I hate scrimmaging because every time we get into a formation, Christian knows exactly what we’re doing. If he can figure it out, defenses will figure it out.” Behind them, Maher and Kuhn will lead the defensive backs unit. Maher tied for the team lead in passes defended, and the two each had one interception last year. The team will have two new starting safeties in the form of senior Tommy Schlichting and junior Landon Leppert. Look for seniors Renan Lewison, Keaton Smeltzer, Tayshaun Tirrell and Carlson to work their way into the rotation as well. North Scott will run its special teams by committee this season after Cole Green handled both the punting and kicking duties last year. Keppy figures to handle kickoffs while junior Scott Hartin works his way into PAT and field goal situations. “(Hartin) is a soccer player. He came out this year, and he’s got a great leg,” Stewart said. “I’m excited about him. We just have to get that ball going straight instead of hooking it like a soccer ball.” Hartin, as well as Haedt, will handle punts to start the year. State champs on deck This Friday, North Scott opens its season on the road against the defending Class 4A champions from Cedar Rapids Xavier in a game that will draw eyeballs from every corner of the state. Xavier is the consensus No. 1 team in Class 4A. North Scott is No. 2 in a handful of preseason polls, including the Saints’ hometown paper, The Cedar Rapids Gazette. The Saints return a whole host of starters, chief among them first-team all-state quarterback Cash Parks. Last year’s game at Lancer Stadium, which Xavier won 31-0, was not a fair fight given the large number of North Scott players who were ineligible for the game. The vibes in the Lancer locker room are completely different 51 weeks later. “What I love is that our kids are excited for that challenge,” Stewart said. “Xavier is a great team, a great program. They’re rated No. 1. We tell our kids not to read your own press; don’t read anybody else’s press. I’m stealing from Curt Cignetti, who stole from Nick Saban: There are no self-imposed limitations ever. When you go against an opponent, and you mentally have a self-imposed limitation, you have no shot. I’m excited, and they’re excited.”
	Obituary: James Fletcher James “Jim” William Fletcher, 88, born March 4, 1938, in Davenport, passed away peacefully on Aug. 16, 2026. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. at Our Savior Presbyterian Church in Argo. Visitation was Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 4-7 p.m. at The Runge Mortuary in Davenport. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Please share condolences with the family at www.rungemortuary.com. Jim was born in Davenport in 1938 to Eldon and Helen (Wooder) Fletcher. He graduated from DeWitt Central High School and began his career at Alcoa shortly after graduation. He enlisted in the Army and proudly served for four years. After completing his military service, he returned to Alcoa, where he worked in the Roll Shop until his retirement. He also owned and operated his own business, Argo Sewer Service. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Janet Hover, on Sept. 6, 1969, in Rock Island. Together, they raised their children: Anne (Glenn) Curtis, Davenport; Daniel Fletcher, Mt. Vernon; Sandi (Bill) Spurrell, North Liberty; and Melissa (Curtiss) Carter, Davenport. He was also the father of three children from a previous marriage: Jim (Divina), Fall River, Wis.; John (preceded in death by his wife, Wendy) Fletcher, McCausland; and Juliee Fletcher Beaver, Houston, Texas. Each of his children held a special place in his heart throughout his life. Jim had many passions, including collecting Japanese swords, studying historical memorabilia, carving unique walking canes, and teaching his children to fish while sharing his love of the outdoors. His Christian faith guided his life, reflected in his strength, kindness, and willingness to help others. He also loved to sing, using his gift of music to bring joy and people together. In addition to his children, he is survived by his special friend, Sue Solomon, East Moline; grandchildren T.J., Ashley, Steven, Ryan, Ethan, Chase, James, Megan, Colin, Heidi, Mari, Ripley, and Ryland; 18 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister Judy (Mark) Flaherty; and brother Dave (Jim) Fletcher. He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet; grandson Michael “Mikey” Farrell; brother Duane; his parents; and his beloved cat, Paddy. Custom obituary
	“Part of the community”: Brothers Towing donates fire truck This past weekend, Brothers Towing of Stockton announced it would be donating a fire engine to the New Liberty Volunteer Fire Department. During the presentation of the truck, Josh Little of Brothers Towing spoke briefly about his and his team’s reasons for donating such a large gift, with them understanding how it takes a community to support something like a local fire department. “I know the heart and soul of volunteer fire departments is donations and community help,” Little said. “We might not be from New Liberty, but we’re from Scott County so we’re close enough.” Little also thanked the department for all the hard work they do. Following this, it was shared by the New Liberty Fire Department that the fire engine would primarily be used to help with mutual aid instances as well as with training other surrounding departments.
	View the Scott County Sheriff's report from the Aug. 26 NSP! SATURDAY, AUG. 8 10:40 p.m. — Izaiah Elijah Brown, 21, no address given, was charged with public intoxication – 1st offense and interference with official acts, after deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 2800 block of West Locust Street, Davenport. SUNDAY, AUG. 9 8:47 p.m. — Jamie Allen Ralston, 51, no address given, was cited for OWI – 1st offense, possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense, an open container violation and possession of drug paraphernalia, following a traffic stop near Highway 61 and 267th Street, Long Grove. THURSDAY, AUG. 13 12:59 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near Valley Drive and 249th Avenue. A vehicle driven by Lillie Grace Voges, 18, LeClaire, was southbound on Valley Drive. Voges reportedly slowed in anticipation of turning. She was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Benjamin Jacob Hulshizer, 18, LeClaire. Hulshizer was cited for failure to maintain control. FRIDAY, AUG. 14 8:05 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 3600 block of East 53rd Street. 10:12 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 4600 block of Cheyenne Avenue. 10:24 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 1000 block of Valley Drive. 10:55 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 15900 block of 107th Avenue. 11:11 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance. SATURDAY, AUG. 15 5:47 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 21000 block of Napsinekee Drive. 7:19 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 500 block of Walker Street, Walcott. An individual was served a lifetime notice of no trespassing for the property. 9:16 a.m. — Stephanie Ann Watkins, 65, Davenport, was charged with 5th degree theft, following an incident in the 2300 block of West Locust Street, Davenport. 10:41 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 2300 block of West Locust Street. 1:32 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident in the 2900 block of North Plainview Road, Walcott. A vehicle driven by Anthony Lamont Wilson, 55, Manvel, Texas, was southbound on North Plainview Road. Wilson reportedly attempted to change lanes and turn into the driveway of a business. He struck a vehicle driven by Eduard Oster, 64, Center Point. Wilson was cited for failure to maintain control. 3:04 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 500 block of West Scott Drive. 4:01 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a missing person in the 400 block of South 14th Avenue. 4:23 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 5:21 p.m. — Autum Renee Blieu, 23, no address given, was charged with driving while barred (habitual offender) and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense and cited for violation of financial liability coverage and driving with suspended/denied/revoked license or registration, following a traffic stop in the 300 block of North Downey Street, Walcott. 6:31 p.m. — Nancy Pearl Robbins, 58, Lilburn, Ga., was charged with dominion/control of a firearm or offensive weapon by a felon, after deputies responded to a report of an assault in the 500 block of Walker Street, Walcott. 7:29 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a missing person in the 3600 block of East 53rd Street. 8:48 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint on Apache Court. 8:56 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance. 11:53 p.m. — Lisa Ann Lewis, 42, no address given, was charged with domestic abuse assault – 1st offense and making a false report to law enforcement authorities, after deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 15900 block of 107th Avenue, Davenport. SUNDAY, AUG. 16 1:01 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 3600 block of West 83rd Street. 1:11 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1100 block of Mound Street. 1:22 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 2800 block of West Locust Street. 1:50 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fireworks complaint in the 700 block of Davenport Street. 2:15 a.m. — Deputies responded to a weapons complaint in the 2600 block of West Locust Street. 9:43 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check near 200th and North Main streets. 10:05 a.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 500 block of Belmont Road. 11:04 a.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 13100 block of 83rd Avenue. 2:07 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 7100 block of West 60th Street. 4:43 p.m. — Shelica Simone Clifton, 37, no address given, was cited for possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense and a window tint violation, following a traffic stop on Grove Road, Eldridge. 6:18 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 700 block of West Walcott Road. 8:41 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near Devils Glen Road and 53rd Avenue. 10:31 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance near Hillandale Road and West 60th Street. MONDAY, AUG. 17 7:29 a.m. — Bret Matthew Greenslade, 53, Davenport, was charged with a controlled substance violation, a drug tax stamp violation, possession of a controlled substance (non-marijuana) – 3rd or subsequent offense and possession of drug paraphernalia, following an incident in the 600 block of Paul Revere Place, Davenport. 8:37 a.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 15900 block of 107th Avenue. 10:07 a.m. — Clint James Kutcher, 55, Walcott, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) – 1st offense, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense, following an incident in the 300 block of East Flagg Street, Walcott. 11:36 a.m. — Deputies responded to a shots fired call in the 18800 block of 270th Street. 12:06 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 17900 block of Great River Road. 1:19 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 1400 block of West Front Street. 3:05 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 700 block of West Walcott Road. 3:57 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a burglary/home invasion in the 1400 block of West 12th Street. 7:23 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 100 block of South Park View Drive. 8:29 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 17800 block of Great River Road. 9:45 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance on Park View Drive. 10:40 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a juvenile problem on Park View Drive. TUESDAY, AUG. 18 2:02 a.m. — Timothy Jon Keister, 59, Davenport, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 3rd or subsequent offense and possession of drug paraphernalia, following a traffic stop near West Locust and Brown streets, Davenport. 3:04 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1900 block of West 40th Street. 7:32 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near Main Street and Walcott Road, Walcott. A vehicle driven by Chelsea Marie Preston, 20, Davenport, was stopped at a stop sign, waiting to make a right turn. She was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Jeremie Michael Brandenburg, 44, Walcott. Brandenburg was cited for failure to stop within the assured clear distance. 10:46 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 17900 block of Spencer Road. 10:59 a.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 100 block of Elmhurst Lane. 11:23 a.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 3200 block of South 16th Avenue. 1:54 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance near West 4th and Gaines streets. 2:11 p.m. — Deputies responded to an indecency/lewdness complaint in the 500 block of Fillmore Street. 2:27 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance near Ripley and West 9th streets. 5:19 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 14500 block of 61st Avenue. 5:49 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near Clay and Washington streets. 6:15 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 2800 block of North Plainview Road. 8:46 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 100 block of South Park View Drive. 11:44 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 20300 block of 300th Street. WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19 12:32 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 400 block of North Juniata Street. 1:56 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance on Park View Drive. 2:05 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 2500 block of North Zenith Avenue. 2:51 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 2300 block of North Division Street. 8:49 a.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 400 block of West 4th Street. 8:57 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 400 block of West 4th Street, Davenport. 10:01 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of West 3rd Street. 11:14 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 11600 block of 140th Street Place. 11:18 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an assault in the 200 block of North Cody Road. 2:13 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near North 15th and Holland streets. 2:22 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 17900 block of Spencer Road. 2:36 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 200 block of Myrtle Street. 4:39 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 17500 block of 70th Avenue. 4:42 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a burglary/home invasion in the 600 block of Douglas Court. 5:28 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 11300 block of 140th Street. 7:42 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 6300 block of Brady Street. 11:41 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 3700 block of West Locust Street. THURSDAY, AUG. 20 7:05 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 2300 block of West Locust Street. 7:05 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 2200 block of West Kimberly Road. 7:06 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 1800 block of East Kimberly Road. 10:04 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on Greystone Court. 10:37 a.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 400 block of West 4th Street. 3:13 p.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 400 block of East LeClaire Road. 8:59 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near 280th Street and 140th Avenue. FRIDAY, AUG. 21 3:00 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 2100 block of West 58th Street. 10:37 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near 238th Street and 284th Avenue.

Tuesday, August 25th, 2026