Storm Lake residents are faced with the prospect of spending $100 million for a new water plant. Our present operation on Abner Bell Road is at capacity, treating five million gallons a day, more …

A Storm Lake native will be honored Nov. 3 by Iowa State University for a gift that endows a newly created dean’s position in his name. The estate of the late Gary Swenson is funding the …

While the city wrestles with its water challenges, we had our own problems at our honeymoon cottage on Cayuga Street. After noticing a small wet spot in our front yard, we called Trent Werner of …

People across America are getting more upset and nervous every day about where life is heading here. What does it take to make a nation happy? It turns out that Finland may have the answer. The …

While we were in Northern California last week for our son’s wedding, we spent a day on a wine-tasting event in Napa, the center of America’s wine country. I am not a wine …

If you dear readers wondered why this column did not appear in last week’s Times Pilot, Mary and I were in Northern California for the marriage of our son Justin to a wonderful woman, Piper …

I’ve never cared much for poetry, unless they’re dirty limericks. I much prefer prose when a person wants to explain their thoughts. But there is one poem I love — the only one …

Now Trump wants to send military troops into Chicago because he thinks the Windy City is overrun with crime that only he can control. He ought to know about crime, convicted felon that he is. I …

This weekend we celebrate Labor Day. It’s supposed to honor the hard-working men and women who empower America, but mostly it’s a day that marks the end of summer. Meanwhile, a lot of our …

I’m surprised at how many readers have asked me about my tomatoes this year. Actually, no one has asked me, and that doesn’t really surprise me. But I’ll tell you about them …

President Donald Trump seized control this week of the Washington, DC, police force, ordering the military and FBI to patrol the streets to stop a supposed crime wave in our nation’s capital. …

Interest is running high for the 13th running of “Storm the Lake,” the Hy-Noon Kiwanis Sprint Triathlon/Duathlon set for Saturday, Aug. 16. As of Monday this week, there were 91 …

Hats off to MidAmerican Energy for its response to power outages in the aftermath of all too many storms this summer. We were hit with another thunderstorm in the wee hours of Monday, which …

We’ve been doing a fair amount of driving this year, from coast to coast, and while the country may be divided on a lot of political issues, one thing everyone seems to agree on is that speed …

I never went to business school. I was a glorified English major in college. But I feel I’ve earned a PhD in economics running this small business for the past 35 years. My business …

Last week we celebrated not only the Fourth of July but also the 35th anniversary of The Storm Lake Times. Our first edition came out just before the Fourth in 1990, and featured the upcoming …

Art and I were in Los Angeles for a few days last week. No, we weren’t auditioning for roles in a new “Dumb and Dumber” movie. We were there to see what’s happening in the …

If you watched CBS Sunday Morning last weekend, you may have noticed that former Storm Laker Dave Diamond was mentioned prominently in one of the features. CBS correspondent Anthony Mason was …

I hope all fathers out there had a good Father’s Day last Sunday. I did. We headed out to northwest Indiana at the invitation of our daughter Bridget and her husband Branden. As we sat …

We celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday. It’s a good day to also celebrate George Washington, who was the “Father of Our Country.” George did not have any children of his …