There were folks who doubted Chad Sweitzer way back in November when the New Hampton boys basketball coach said his team could contend for a top-two finish in the Northeast Iowa Conference.  And those same folks figured the sixth-year coach was wa

Janice “Jan” Streich, 59, of Ionia (near Colwell), passed away Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017 at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.A funeral Mass for Jan Streich will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb.

For the past few years, serving in the Legislature, I have done my best to work for common sense solutions.I try to avoid partisan politics and support legislation that makes Iowa (and particularly North Central Iowa) a better place to live, work

Dear New Hampton superintendent in 2037;I’m writing this letter in February 2017, because with all my bad habits, there’s a chance that even though I’ll only be 71 when you open this envelope, I’ll be “looking up at the grass.”I have no idea if yo

As a country, we make a habit of looking forward, not backward.But I’m going to ask you to turn your attention back a few weeks, to Barack Obama’s January 10 farewell address to the American people.I’ve been reading presidential farewell speeches

Young girls had the chance to dance the night away on Friday night at the Father/Daugher Sweetheart Dinner and Dance held by the New Hampton Parks and Recreation Department and the New Horizons Chamber.This was the sixth year for the dance which h

A 41-28 lead had turned into a 45-43 deficit and New Hampton’s girls basketball season was on the brink of extinction Saturday night.  Yet, the Chickasaws were still supremely confident that their season was going to be extended another day.  “I d

In the toughest district in the state, six had to be enough for the New Hampton wrestling team on Saturday.  That’s the number of Chickasaws who advanced out of the Class 2A district tournament in Decorah as New Hampton crowned five champions and