Snow storms can be a fairly frequent occurrence in Iowa. These storms bring out emergency responders, panicked grocery store shoppers, and the familiar orange trucks clearing Iowa’s roads. But just how much does a snowstorm cost the state?

Wellsir … ol’ Dud did ‘er again, he shore ‘nuf did. This here’s Alphonse Wilson, known around these parts as Windy Wilson, esquire, LTD and DDT at your service as always. Free to you and worth every blessed dime.

See … t’other day I got into a little chat with Dud Campbell, and he says to me that I need to get me one a-them computers so I can be moderate like ever’body else. Had the nerve to just come out and say that!

Growing houseplants when curious cats are in the house can be challenging. We want our cats to be safe and happy while keeping our houseplants intact. You can accomplish both with a few simple strategies.

After rescuing Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) from the microscopic quantum realm at the end of “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” Scott Lang aka Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and his girlfriend, Hope (Evangeline Lilly), Janet’s daughter. have seen significant life changes. In the aftermath of “Avengers Endgame,” Scott has written a best selling book detailing his life, and Hope is heading up her father’s company in search of ways to benefit humankind.

In my last article in January, I wrote of new year and new opportunities that we often associate with in the month of January. Our mission at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is to help Iowans live their best lives through research-based education, and that goes year-round. We always have the best of intentions to live our best lives, but every new skill takes the same thing, practice (and sometimes perseverance, when we fail).

We recently made the trip to the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Why did we travel nearly eight hours to Des Moines and back to go to the Capitol?

Friends, things are moving along nicely at the Statehouse. On Feb. 7, the House passed a 3% increase to state spending in our K-12 schools. We are already being criticized by some that we haven’t contributed enough funding to keep our schools competitive. In fact, the narrative is that Republicans are destroying education in the state.

The opposition uses things such as Iowa used to be the number one state in the nation in reading scores.

Late last year, the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency quietly finalized and expanded the definition of the Waters of the United States rule and, as a result, cemented the federal government’s increasingly intrusive role in regulating bodies of water — both large and small. Under this new definition, more than 97% of Iowa’s land, including our productive farmland, would be subject to federal regulation.

PART 1 OF A 4 PART SERIES

Last year at this time, my column centered around the disappointment my son felt after falling just short of the opportunity to represent his school and join his teammates on the mat in the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines for the Iowa State Wrestling Tournament. For a high school wrestler in the Hawkeye State, this is the ultimate goal. For many wrestling fans, the Iowa high school event is considered the pinnacle of prep competition.

On Monday I started my day receiving a draft of a bill I recently filed for a constituent and approving another bill to be drafted. One bill is a companion to Rep. Megan Jones' bill in the House regarding the use of fake money or movie prop dollars. The other bill deals with state sales and use tax.

It’s coming up on St. Valentine’s Day, so I thought I should share the love story of Coalie and Wilma, and every word is true.

Coalie was one of Sequoia-Kings Pack Trains’ mules. Coal black of course, and if he should get a good shot, you could be kicked. Pack mule, not riding mule. Wilma was a little brown mule belonging to Rock Creek Pack Station out of Bishop, some 40 miles north of us.

“When we avoid difficult conversations, we trade short term discomfort for long term dysfunction.” — Peter Bromberg

The Spencer area voters received a boost of encouragement by Iowa House Rep. Megan Jones of Clay County on Monday, Feb. 6, when House File 196 was introduced, championing a public who wish to secure audience with their locally elected school board officials during regular or special meetings.

Whether you want to create a tropical oasis indoors or dress up your decor, plants are the answer. A few plants set on the floor, hanging from the ceiling or displayed on a table can beautify any room, boost your mood and reduce stress.

ISU Extension and Outreach in Spencer will provide volunteer income tax assistance again this year.