By CARLA OFFENBURGER COOPER, Iowa, Feb. 18, 2017 — My husband Chuck Offenburger and I were invited by Charity Nebbe, the host of the “Talk of Iowa” show on Iowa Public Radio, to be on the air with her Friday, Feb. 17, to tell our cancer stories. Our 30-minute conversation with Nebbe has subsequently received…
By CARLA OFFENBURGER COOPER, Iowa, March 7, 2017 — There are a lot of thoughts going through my head right now – so many are being sent directly to my heart. It’s all mindboggling really. They’ve exhausted me. But I’m writing them down to share with you in a later column. What I want to…
IDA GROVE, Iowa, March 15, 2017 — Photographer Don Poggensee says “spring came early this year,” and the proof is that the annual north-bound migration of ducks, geese, eagles and many smaller birds has been “in full swing the last several weeks.” Poggensee observes that winter “has tried its best to hang on,” and thus…
U.S. Rep. Steve King, the 8th term Republican congressman from rural northwest and north central Iowa, is all over the news again, for more public remarks that many consider bigoted and racist. That has prompted requests for us to re-publish our column from 15 years ago, when King was just arriving on the national scene.…
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER PEOSTA, Iowa, Feb. 6, 2017 — His mind wanders easily and frequently. He barely hears at all. But the 92-year-old monk Father Jim O’Connor, our trusted spiritual mentor, can still drop you with his humor. “Oh,” he cooed when I said something nice to him during our latest visit here at New Melleray Abbey…
