About a year or so ago, I participated in a statewide event known as Iowa Youth Congress. Iowa Youth Congress, or IYC for short, focused around helping high school students learn more about how the … more

The following is information provided by Art Staed, an Iowa Legislator from Eastern Iowa Food is essential to every human being. This past holiday season generous amounts of nonperishable food were … more

Part I can be found in the Jan. 19 edition of the Reporter-Democrat. The next day, Garrett returned to the library. He stopped making excuses now that he’d returned the book, and he did … more

No matter what kind of reading you enjoy, reading can inform, inspire, and entertain. We may be able to relate to a story, whether true or imaginary, or it may take us to a place of escape. Reading … more

Most people want to avoid the subject of substance abuse in Iowa. It is not pleasant because it disrupts families, causes worry and for the addict it is living a life fraught with poor choices and … more

In a new year, we likely feel a variety of emotions as we reflect. Perhaps there is a yearning for what was, a deep-rooted hope for the future, or a soaking in of the here and now. Regardless of … more

Plains Area Mental Health Center released its annual report last week. In 2021-2022 the number of clients served reached 8,120 within a dozen communities where they have locations. The Certified … more

Have you ever heard of the song that asks, “How do you measure a year?” “In daylights, in sunsets In midnights, in cups of coffee In inches, in miles In laughter, in strife In five … more

When’s the last time you checked in with yourself? I’m talking for real; how are you really? Has anyone asked you that lately? Maybe they have, but we are quick to jump to the easiest … more

Looking around at the people who make Emmetsburg all that it is, I can’t help but notice the multifaceted nature of each individual, group, and organization. In small communities, it is often … more