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Local Columns

Just Jonathan: 2025, Put your head down and work

Another year with the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle has passed us by, faster than anyone may want to admit. With the New Year fast approaching, I want to take this opportunity to give a rundown of my year. Ups and downs, leaps and bounds, late nights and early mornings — everything was on the ...

Magic Mike 6XL: 21st Century Loser

Well, this is my last column of the year, and believe me when I tell you, I am not going to forget 2025 anytime soon. Chances are, I will at some point, Alzheimer's and insanity run in the family, but until then, it shall be stuck in my head. This year has been complicated, crushing, exciting, ...

Merry Christmas from the Shedas!

The other day I was a-thinking. Yea, I do think every now and then but not too darn much so as to get a headache. But I was thinking, (money being no object), what would I give all of you for Christmas if I could. New cars for everyone came to mind; huge raises for all; the Christmas ...

Magic Mike 6XL: Rockin’ around the Christmas pineapple

I have been rattling my brain tonight to try and think up some of my family's Christmas traditions to talk about. I didn’t come up with much. There are two reasons for this. One: it seems like every Christmas changes in some way, and two: our traditions aren’t the norm. First off is the ...

Just Jonathan: Things Are Looking Up

Over the last couple of weeks, I think I’ve been pretty candid about the up-and-down nature of my life – what’s been weighing on me, what’s been interesting to me, and my general musings. All pretty typical for this column. But if I’m being honest, it’s felt a little less than ...

Magic Mike 6XL: Snowball War: What’s It Good For?

Once again, snow is on the ground, and chilly fun is being had by all. Snowmen are being made, snow angels are being crafted, and gladiatorial combat is being had with the snowball. Growing up, I didn’t usually have someone to have a snowball fight with. My Ma always obliged for a short ...

Just Jonathan

There are certain truths in life: snow falls in Iowa before we’re ready for it, the Wi-Fi drops right when you need to upload something important, and I will become sick at the most inopportune moment possible. Every time. Without fail. It’s truly remarkable how consistent I am at this one ...

Just Jonathan: Running for my life!

There’s a certain point in every semester when all the neat little boxes on my calendar stop behaving like boxes and start behaving more like small campfires — scattered everywhere, all burning at once, and I’m just standing with a garden hose with little to no water pressure. Welcome ...

You’ll Figure It Out: Traditions, traditions, traditions!

Wow! Here we are beginning the month of December. What a time of excitement as we start our journey towards Christmas. The Christmas lights are starting to appear throughout the town, the volunteers are ringing the bells for Salvation Army, the snow is falling & falling & falling and ...

Heather’s Highlights: County Government and You, November 2025

Happy December! I hope everyone had a great November and Thanksgiving. A Letter of Engagement was signed with Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce for Economic Development purposes. Supervisor Doland and I met with John Hall, President and CEO of Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce multiple times ...