Assistant editor and sports editor at the Times Citizen. He grew up on a farm in Alden and has worked at the Times Citizen since 2002. Opinions are his own. Follow him on Twitter @Twinkieites.
Justin
Mount Vernon's body language cried out for mercy, and the Mustangs finally received it when Jenny Wibholm's kill touched the floor, ending Monday's 3A Regional Final. Read more
All sports editors - I think - would agree with me when I say that it takes a good working relationship with a coach to adequately cover an athletic program. Read more
Marcos Vila has scored over 50 goals during his only high school season, while produced plenty of eye-popping numbers that have made those outside of Hardin County take notice of the Iowa Falls-Alden boys soccer program. Read more
With hard work, anyone can improve their athletic abilities in the weight room. It doesn't cost money to establish a relationship with weights, but without that dedication, a debt will be paid in the win/loss column. Read more
Born and raised in Michigan, graduate of the University of Iowa. She’s a reporter (mostly sports, with some news and features thrown in) for the Times Citizen. Follow her on Twitter @mvanwingen.
Marissa
The other day my husband and I were discussing our upcoming trip to Michigan, and it made me realize something I never really thought about before. Read more
Ever since I can remember, I’ve always struggled with my weight. Read more
When did it become regular practice for parents to complain to coaches (or teachers) and take matters into their own hands? Read more
Sometimes I hate the niche that I have found in my writing. Just because... it can be so hard. Read more
Sara
A native Iowan, Sara Konrad Baranowski has been editor of the Times Citizen since 2007. She’s a wife, mom to twins and news junkie who appreciates a good waffle as much as a good story. Follow her on Twitter @skonradb.
A wise friend of mine believes we’re wrong to talk about work/life balance. Balance, she argues, implies that there are two sides and that they can be separate and equal. But most of us know that’s not possible. Inevitably, if I’m giving parenting my best effort, I feel like I’m slacking at … Read more
There are certain stories that, when it’s time to publish, I wince in anticipation of the reactions I’m sure they’ll elicit. School calendar coverage is one of them. Be it snow makeup days, the number of school days in a year, or any variation thereof, it almost always turns ugly, especially… Read more
Some of my earliest memories are of my hometown library. Sorting through the plastic bags that held books on tape. Competing in the summer reading challenge. Sitting in the 1980s-modern chairs to leaf through a book and decide whether it was worth taking home. Read more
The excitement I felt to attend the Class of ’98’s 20th reunion last month must rank in the top five plot twists of my life thus far. Read more
Tony
Tony Baranowski is Director of Local Media for Times Citizen Communications. He believes smaller is better when it comes to media, but bigger when it comes to beer. He’s a connoisseur of both. Dad to twins, fan to Cubs. Follow him on Twitter @tonyapb3.
Two weeks ago I spent some time wandering around the square and off into residential areas of Eldora and Pine Lake State Park. It was a pretty wonderful way to spend a Thursday afternoon. Read more
I admit it - I was a little leery of jumping into the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) program at Pineview Elementary in Iowa Falls. After joining my kindergartner twins for lunch and recess on their birthday, I wasn’t sure I could survive an entire day in the eye of that storm. Read more
I’ve never been to a game the Chicago Cubs lost. I think I’m up to six or seven now, every one of them with some circumstance that made it a notable, if not remarkable, win. Home runs. Extra innings. Near no-nos. Read more
Today another police shooting of an unarmed man is in the news. For the sake of this blog post and all of our sanity, let us dispense with the majority of the controversy that surrounds the seemingly increased frequency of these events. Read more