About: Margaret Vander Weerdt

What makes a great newspaper? The Associated Press Managing Editors Association pondered this question and found that a great newspaper is characterized by four traits.

1. Integrity: Maintaining vigor-ous standards of honesty and fair play in the handling of stories and treatment of news sources and the public. Treating disputed issues with impartiality. Providing a forum for...

I think I like legends because of how interesting they can be. Legend is defined as “a nonhistorical or unverifiable story handed down by tradition from earlier times and popularly accepted as historical.” This holiday season there are many legends. Through the years, I’ve saved a few and even found one in my box of...

I’ve been thinking about Thanksgiving even though the unseasonably warm weather doesn’t seem like late November. How often are we mowing lawns in Iowa this time of year? Did you know this Thanksgiving, the state of Iowa will be represented in the spotlight of the nation’s historic holiday tradition as President Obama pardons the National Thanksgiving...

What sticks to the roof of your mouth? What goes best with jelly on bread? What comes creamy or chunky? The answer is peanut butter. November is National Peanut Butter Lovers Month. Americans will celebrate by eating more than 65 million pounds of peanut butter during the month of November. Southern Peanut Growers, representing southeastern peanut...

“Election choices range from bad to worse” screamed the headline. I clipped the article with this headline back at caucus time. At the time, I had no idea how bad could get worse but it did. I’m a registered Independent so at caucus time when asked, I told people I’d let the Republicans and Democrats...

Thank you to the reader who shared this article with me after someone shared it with her and someone before that shared it with them: Words gone as fast as the buggy whip! Sad really! The other day, a not-so-elderly (65) lady said something to her son about driving a jalopy, and he looked at her...