Every so often I get asked what I think about farmland prices. Farmland ownership works as a longterm investment. At least farmland can be physically walked upon while stock values in some instances disappear entirely. There have been better times than others for best opportunities to buy farmland but the timing for selling is most often dictated by other factors such as settling estates and alternative investments opportunities.

Well its been a awhile.

There’s no way to get around it ― I had a stroke.

Wednesday night, Aug. 7, I had spoken with Publisher Brad Hicks about 6-ish and was getting to go home around 6:30 p.m. when I noticed something wrong with my right arm. It was shaking uncontrollably and I couldn’t make it stop.

I tried to stand up. My right leg wouldn’t work either.

Felt like putting my head down for a minute might help. Nope. Made it worse.

I heard some good news the other day. America’s hospitals are saving more premature babies due to improved medical capabilities. On the other hand, there is also the claim by far left abortionists that abortions should be legal up to the viability of the baby outside the womb. You’d think we’d be celebrating the fact that babies born as early as 21 or 22 weeks of gestation are surviving and thriving, given the proper care and support.

No matter where you garden there never seems to be enough time to grow and enjoy all your favorite vegetables. Start preparing now to extend your growing season and continue enjoying garden fresh vegetables even after the first frost.

Some vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale and Brussels sprouts tolerate frost and even taste better after a slight chill. Most of these can tolerate temperatures as low as 24 to 28 degrees.

Trade may soon not be as globalized as it once was but the world financial system still is. The U.S. increased interest rates more than other countries which incentivized an inflow of foreign capital to take advantage of our higher returns that firmed the U.S. dollar. As U.S. interest rates begin to decline, the cost of financing the U.S. debt should incrementally be reduced as well.

I question if absentee voting by mail is realistic in Iowa. Request forms must be picked up only at the auditor’s office, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, or printed from online, or a voter may request a form to be mailed to them by calling the Auditor’s Office.

So far, students at Spencer High School have been attending classes for a week. Personally, the new school year has been exhilarating, but exhausting.

As any high school student will tell you, school is very, very tiring. But for many, school is only the half of it.

The 2024 Clay County Fair, powered by SMU, is set to take place from Sept. 7-15, bringing a much-needed celebration of community spirit to Spencer and northwest Iowa.

Starting last weekend, the fairgrounds began coming to life. Despite the challenges presented by the historic flooding in June, the Clay County Fair will go on as planned this September, reaffirming its vital role in uniting the community.

Well, the 2024-25 school year has begun — to the dismay of some, and to the applause of many. I saw someplace that there are over 45 million senior citizens in America. Put another way, approximately one in seven are 65 years old or older. Besides their years, their experiences are many and valuable. I see where Sister Jean, the very senior cheerleader of the Loyola Ramblers men’s basketball team, turned 105 yesterday, Aug. 21. Quite an accomplishment, I’d say.

Q: What made you start doing your annual 99 county meetings?

Entertainer Dave Rowley has gathered a few of his musician friends together to play a gig at the Pearson Lakes Art Center each summer for the past 20 years. On Tuesday evening, Aug. 13, they took to the stage in the Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre for their 21st and final show.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father except through me,” John 14:6.

These words have kept coming to me for quite a spell now, as we keep hearing these words, only in a different text of interruptions on the radio and TV ads. They are trying to instill in our minds that they are our best choice to be the leader of our nation in the upcoming general election in November of 2024.

At the end of this week, Spencer High School is returning for another year together. My summer was one of relative relaxation. For the most part, I kept myself sufficiently busy at my internship here at the Spencer Reporter. I also bid adieu to friends leaving for college and strengthened bonds to my friends still here.

Since 2022, more than 100 million birds have been impacted by bird flu — scientifically known as highly pathogenic avian influenza — which is a contagious disease that is extremely fatal for domesticated turkeys and chickens. Of those over 100 million birds, nearly 25% have been in Iowa– making our state the epicenter of this crisis while devastating producers, destroying flocks, and impacting entire communities.