By CHUCK OFFENBURGER COOPER, Iowa, July 30, 2015 — For many of us who have worked for newspapers in Iowa, the Cullens of Storm Lake have become genuine heroes. John Cullen in 1990 did what so many of us have dreamed of doing, at one time or another – starting our own newspapers. Most of…
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER COOPER, Iowa, Aug. 3 2015 — There are more lines in their faces than there were 20 years ago, but I can see the same excitement for adventure in their eyes. About 40 people from our 1995 bicycle ride across America are now doing a reunion ride from Iowa City to Washington, D.C., and…
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER COOPER, Iowa, July 25, 2015 — When I reached Vern Terlouw by phone on a recent early morning when it was already hot, the 83-year-old farmer in the Sully area southeast of Des Moines was doing about what you might think a guy like him might be doing. “I’m sitting out here…
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER COOPER, Iowa, July 19, 2015 — Maybe this means I’m getting old. Or, my goodness, could it mean I’m finally growing up? Two bicycle rides that really mean the world to me are rolling without me, and I’m O.K. with that. You probably know that RAGBRAI XLIII — the 43rd adventure for…
By CHUCK OFFENBURGER IMOGENE, Iowa, July 7, 2015 — This little town of 69 in southwest Iowa has been surprising people for well over a century. Unusually big things seem to happen here. After watching it my whole life, now it strikes me — maybe Imogene has been like it is because of the continuous inspiration of the huge,…