During a visit to the Chicago area over the weekend we attended the opening day of the Chicago Auto Show on Saturday. My son-in-law Branden and I needed something to do while our wives went shopping. …

For the past 35 years I have written an annual accounting of the state of affairs of this newspaper. As I have noted each year, we do this to maintain the trust of our readers, since the founders of …

In 54 years in journalism I’ve met a lot of great people in law enforcement, from local police to county sheriffs to state police all the way to the FBI. Many became good friends. All of the …

If you have a cellphone — and just about everyone does — you’ve probably had to put up with innumerable attempts by scammers trying to steal your money: emails from Nigerian princes offering to …

With the college football championship ready to be settled Monday night, we’ll be rooting for Indiana University against the University of Miami. We have quite a few long-standing connections …

In 1997 the motion picture “Wag the Dog” focused on a President of the United States who was in big political trouble after having inappropriate relations with a minor girl. To quash the bad …

As we consider New Year’s resolutions this week, I’d like to suggest that in 2026 we all try to be more generous, not just financially, but spiritually as well. This came to me last week, …

For a lot of families today Christmas season begins at Thanksgiving (or before) and lasts until the Epiphany, Jan. 6. Not at the Cullen homestead on Geneseo Street when I was growing up. We …

When I was a kid in the late 1950s, going to Midnight Mass on Christmas at St. Mary’s Church was a big deal. It was a coming-of-age moment. I don’t remember at what age I was allowed to go. It …

For years our schools have emphasized to kids that they shouldn’t bully others, especially online. Our Storm Lake schools teach our students to be nice to each other. We’ve had many …

One of the biggest fallacies in American politics is that we don’t have enough money to build roads and schools, provide healthcare for all, solidify Social Security, service the national debt …

Loyal Times Pilot reader Nancy Nelson of Linn Grove recently sent us this note: “In the heat of the last few days I’ve been avoiding doing real work by finding things I can do in a …

We have a lot be thankful for as we celebrate Thanksgiving next week. At the Times Pilot, we’re especially thankful for all the generous readers who have helped clothe deserving kids through …

My bride Mary and I celebrated our 40th anniversary on Oct. 19. That isn’t remarkable; lots of people celebrate 40 years of marriage. But our wedding happened to occur at the same time as the …

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 …