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Remembering RAGBRAI’s rhythm

Morning rises over the main campground like a hymn whispered through canvas and corn. Tents glow in the dark, wheels murmur awake, and somewhere — always somewhere — a rider is already eating pie for breakfast. Because on RAGBRAI, fruit is not dessert unless it's tucked into a crust and handed to you by someone's grandma who calls you "hon." The road opens at six, and you drift toward the Breakfast Town where pancakes steam, bacon snaps, and the pie table is already thinning — a quiet truth of the ride: joy comes early and often. Pass-thru towns appear like small blessings, ...

RAGBRAI

Boy why city closed 13th street beats me. They tell management at the Embers that they will have the street blocked and residents can't get cars out of garage.  I got my lawn chair out and a cooler to set and watch the bikers go by.  All we saw was bikers going down main st. Just to let whoever was in in charge my opinion is  was you missed it. We got a nice Veterans home the bikers could see along with a closeup of helicopter from National Guard. It seems to me the bike route should have shown off 13th street, the Veterans home than up Summit to one of the south streets going south ...

Mysterious and massive drone invasion over Marshalltown

The date was a year ago, July 26, 2025. I was in my back lawn when I glanced up to the sky and see what appeared to be a huge flock of snow geese over Riverside Cemetery. I looked back up because something didn’t seem right. I’ve never seen a flock of snow geese attempting to land at the ...

Chain linked data chickens

Month after month it has been frustrating for me to see the agendas being discussed at the council meetings. The business of the day consists of chickens at the Appleberry Farm, what type of fencing to use on the Center Street viaduct and the possibility of a data center being incorporated into our community. I'm not saying these aren't important topics -most topics regarding a town of our size have their obligations- however, THESE are the things consistently discussed?? It is encouraging to see the council finally let the Mason family keep their chickens on the property even if it is ...

Being Christian

Some strong Trump supporters see him as a voice for Christianity against those who are not believers. This viewpoint should be questioned. For example in 2017, 2018, and 2019 our country had extensive forest fires. Canada sent firefighters to assist us in a time of need. Currently, Canada is fighting its own forest fire. Trump's response is to punish them for their "filthy air" by putting stronger tariffs in place. Somehow his response does not seem to be that of a true Christian. Jesus cared about and helped all. He might see Trump's response as sinful — perhaps even in the ...

To Mark Rohde

This response is for Mark Rohde. Hello Mark, I know you from days gone by but you may not remember me. I read your articles in the T.R. "More names and titles for God." Would it be right to classify those Old testament sayings merely as actions taken by God on behalf of his people, and not additional, personal names? In Exodus 3:13-15 God tells Moses that his ministry will be to God's people-the Jews. He instructs Moses to tell the people that "I am who I am". By His own authority, He names Himself. God only has one name and it is forever the same. He was in the beginning with ...