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Local Columns

On Nature: Birds Warn of Climate Change

In olden days miners took Canaries into the mine to give them an early warning if toxic gases were present. Now birds in the natural world are giving us a warning. Over the past 50 years, more than 60% of the wintering North American bird species have shifted their winter range northward, ...

Dengler Domain: Green

Nothing is better than seeing fields of green. While it can be debated on what type of plants should be creating the green, seeing the beauty of growth is amazing. Winter can be dreary with the browns and grays, but nothing puts the soul and mood in a better place than seeing green. As I drove ...

Heather’s Highlights: County Government and You, May 2026

School is out and summer is welcomed in my household! We had our first HomeBase Iowa application and approval by the Board of Supervisors in May. I’m very excited that we got our first approval to help a gentleman that is currently serving in the military and decided to purchase a home ...

Dengler Domain: Z.C.B.J. Hall

Reading the recent North Tama Telegraph article about the Z.C.B.J. Hall in Clutier needing new siding brought up old memories. When my grandma, Ferne Pohlman, moved to Clutier from the farm after my grandpa, Vernon, had passed, she built the house standing across the street to the east of the ...

On the Record with Sheriff Schmidt

It’s been a busy last couple of months at the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, and it is about time for an update from me! First off, I want to recognize our staff, especially the deputies. Right now we are short a deputy, and with Deputy Trevor Killian retiring, we’ll be down two. Like a ...

A Fair View: Vote for Amanda Kriegel for Treasurer

I would just like to put this out to the voters of Tama County. After the last year and five months it is obvious the only stable offices in the administration building are the Treasurer, Auditor, and Recorder. The supervisors have messed up a lot. It is obvious that (Supervisor) Heather ...

Laity Reflection: Go to the Well

Many of you may have grown up on a farm or visited a friend where there was a hand pumped well in the farmyard. On a hot summer day there was nothing as refreshing as pumping that cold well water out into the cup or ladle and taking a long cool drink. This week I've been thinking about another ...

Where Is Your Heart This Summer

Matthew 6: 19-21 says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your ...

Heather’s Highlights: County Government and You, April 2026

Road construction along with dust, gravel, mud, and dust control were the main topics for discussion in April when Highway 63 from the 96/63 junction to Toledo closed on April 20. The Iowa DOT closed the highway to remove the pavement and replace it with asphalt, while making it a “Super 2 ...

Dengler Domain: Let farmers save some seeds

When it comes to seed saving, it is an interesting exercise for farmers. In Iowa, where corn and soybean hybrid seed is dominant, seed saving is non-existent. Protected by Plant Variety Protection certificates and utility patents, the seed companies treat their corn and soybeans seeds like ...