From a strike to butterflies to politics and puppies
...a click for all reasons
Laura Belin takes a look at what needs to happen for Christina Bohannan to beat Mariannet Miller-Meeks, while Art Cullen says Storm Lake gets sucked dry so the world gets cheap meat, and if Joe Biden wondes why his approval numbers stink, he should take a look at Storm Lake. It’s rare for columnist Deb Engle to weigh in on politics, although it’s hard to avoid thinking about it when you live in Iowa during presidential caucus season. Read her My Presidential Platform.
Dave Price discusses the UAW strike, and why it matters. And another veteran broadcast journalist, Dave Busiek, writes a fascinating piece about the crucial steps taken when hiring a new local television anchor.
The Okoboji Writers’ Retreat took place Sunday through Wednesday and was a column topic for many members of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative who attended. Full disclosure: Julie Gammack edits this roundup but was too busy with a new puppy to do her recap, so she wrote about the pup’s first day in his new home. Naturalist Larry Stone is a wise, informed steward of conservation practices who sees and hears things in nature most citizens know nothing about. His report from leading the workshop, Listen to the Lake, is special. Our own Robert Leonard summarizes his highlights from attending the retreat, while Cheryl Tevis was prompted to post Lake Okoboji: Timeless…and Ever-Changing about the importance of the venue where the retreat was held, Iowa Lakeside Labs. She lays out the historical significance of the founding and mission, being carried on through director Mary Skopec. Jody Gifford wrote from her perspective: 275 Writers Retreat Into the Woods, and Gifford also provides an update on the closing of Mercy Hospice House.
Laura Belin was there, too, and her take from Okoboji - along with the radio show audio she does each week - is included in this post.
Teresa Zilk relates to the necessary work of resilience and reinvention in her September Letter to Monarchs.
Immigration
What’s better: Life in a meatpacking plant or a fulfillment center? Alison McGaughey writes about an immigrant who wants to know. She works as an adult literacy/ESL instructor, and in this week’s post has this line to her compelling column:
Despite the fact that they work second shift and often don’t get home until 1 a.m., they still manage to come to class five mornings a week and stay for three hours. In many semesters, and with hundreds of students over the years, I’ve never heard a complaint.
From the Coast of Vietnam to Cedar Rapids: Jessica’s Story is told by columnist Jane Nguyen, whose column, The Asian Iowan, is a part of the collaborative. This is the first of a two-part story.
And thanks to Christina Fernández-Morrow for her story about Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival in Hola, Iowa.
Hudson, Iowa, has a new police chief who is busting stereotypes. Read about Daniel Banks in this new column by Patrick Kinney, from his View from the Cedar Valley.
Reporter John Naughton, unleashed from the sports beat he handled for decades, delights readers and those he comes across with his ‘fashion’ sense.
Columnist Jeff Morrison introduces readers to many topics they didn’t know they wanted to know. See why in his piece, It’s a town-eat-town world…Boonesboro died, but Melcher-Dallas lives. And he brings maps.
Mary Swander continues to school readers on the world of the Amish, her neighbors in the part of the state she refers to as Buggyland. In her column this week, You Didn’t Keep Score, she starts with how they bury their dead. Another custom that makes sense, if you think about it.
Where do you find your joy? asks columnist Macey Spensley, in her piece where she writes about being intentional when thinking about love.
Poet Suzanna de Baca ponders joy coming from the journey, not the destination, in her contribution this week.
IOWA WRITERS’ COLLABORATIVE
Have you explored the variety of writers we have in the Iowa Writer’s Collaborative? They are from around the state and contribute commentary and feature stories of interest to those who care about Iowa. Please pick five you’d like to support by becoming paid. It helps keep them going. Enjoy: