Ain’t nothing free in this life! I’ve heard that phrase before, and I’m sure you have as well. I actually mean it, though.

While this might surprise some of you, a pastor doesn’t just work for a couple of hours on a Sunday morning. Ministry truly never stops. Part of the job of a pastor is to engage with the people around him.

The cancer rate continues to increase in the land between two rivers.

Today, someone else will learn they have (the dreaded word) cancer. It could be you; it could be your neighbor. It could be an Iowan caught in this toilet between two rivers.

The state is slugging its way through a disease that’s not giving up. It appears cancer research and medical practice are doing all they can to help.

Are we sidestepping other issues that may lead us to the cause?

Clay County fourth graders got to participate in the annual Energy STEM Bash field trip on Friday, May 9. Energy STEM Bash is held at the Clay County Fairgrounds and teaches fourth graders about different forms of energy, from hydroelectric energy that can power our homes to the energy that our bodies generate from the food we eat.

President Donald Trump reportedly surprised some of his own aids with his choice of leading off with a U.K. trade agreement. Then again, it was the lowest hanging fruit and easiest to get put together on short notice. They have been working on a trade agreement with us since Brexit. The U.K. parted with the EU and so was left without a dance partner. Their obvious first next choice was with the U.S.

Each May, we recognize Hyperbaric Awareness Month — an important time to spotlight the life-changing impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, in treating complex wounds and improving patient outcomes. At Spencer Hospital, in proud partnership with CutisCare, a national leader in medical-grade HBOT, we’re committed to raising awareness about the power of this therapy and the critical need for access to advanced wound care in rural communities like ours.

We would like to take this month to honor and thank three Spencer ADA Council members who have generously shared their time and gifts with persons with disabilities. Stevie Shively, Ann Vandehaar and Janee Boever have been with the council almost from the start. Stevie brought her many years of service to kids with disabilities in the Spencer Community School.

Last Monday, I traveled to Des Moines to the Capitol to watch the debate on HF639. This is a bill that would give some protections to landowners in the path of Summit Carbon Solution's proposed CO2 pipeline. This bill doesn't ban eminent domain for CO2 pipelines, but it does tighten the requirements that have to be met before eminent domain can be used. The main thing is they have to meet common carrier status. In other words, it has to be for public use or benefit.

Summer is synonymous with fun outdoor activities like barbecues, lawn games, hikes and gardening. But it can also mean unwanted pests like mosquitoes and ticks. Employing a few preventative strategies can help minimize the annoyance and reduce the risk of tick- and mosquito-borne diseases.

Dud was heading home in his pickup truck when he saw the strange goings-on at the Bahdziewicz place. Abraham Lincoln Bahdziewicz was out in the family’s large garden with a full complement of kids who were happily hopping around. Some of the kids came from the neighborhood, but most of them were homegrown Bahdziewicz kids.

Let the party begin.

Congratulations high school graduates whether you wear your cap and gown, and receive your hard-earned diploma this weekend — as Spencer and Sioux Central grads will — or in the coming weekends.

While you have wrapped up a journey which began 13 or more years ago, made many friends and have lots of fond memories, there’s still lots of life yet to be lived. You, and only you, will decide how you live it.

As we near the one-year mark since the flood that shook our community, many hearts are still healing. We remember the waters that swept through streets, homes and lives, leaving behind both physical and emotional wreckage. For many, the loss of what once felt secure still lingers.

There’s a passage of Scripture that speaks directly to anyone still feeling the effects of that storm — or walking through one of their own.

As our nation faces a growing demand for a skilled and adaptable workforce, there has never been a more critical time to invest in community colleges. These institutions serve as the backbone of local education, providing accessible, affordable and high-quality training for millions of Americans.

May! It is such a busy month that surprises me every year! Last year I left myself a note in my calendar that May and June fill up fast and to be cautious with scheduling! It is some of the best advice I have given myself. 4-H livestock is very busy as well! State Fair sheep/meat goat weighed in last week. May 15 was a big deadline, but now that it is passed, we look to the next items.

I am glad that we took the opportunity a couple of years ago to attend the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, while both Charlie Munger and Warren Buffet were running the show. I have referred to the late Munger as my fantasy mentor, as I love his take on many things, particularly crypto.

“Fight or Flight” could have easily been called “Bullet Plane,” an homage to the Brad Pitt vehicle, “Bullet Train,” from 2022. Pitt takes on an assignment aboard a speed train in Tokyo, with the mission to be completed before the train reaches its destination.