The Elbert Files

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The Elbert Files: Our buffalo cat

Cooper, our 18-pound, 13-year-old orange cat has a new name.

Most of the 15 cats Amy and I have parented over our 49 years of marriage had multiple names and backstories, including Cooper.

“The Buffalo” …

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The Elbert Files: Agricultural evolution

Iowa’s agricultural economy is a series of contradictions wrapped in an enigma.

The enigma is the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the massive federal agency that controls the farm economy, along with other divergent functions.

The …

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The Elbert Files: A case of bad wiring? 


Sculptor Tony Smith’s “Willy” in Des Moines’ Pappajohn Sculpture Park.

It had been a long time since I’d seen my friend, K.C., and I wanted to ask him a question.

I found him in the …

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The Elbert Files: Woodland’s women

A note from Dave Elbert: Last week, I wrote about men at Woodland Cemetery; this week is about women buried there. You can sign up for a Sept. 7 tour of women’s graves at the …

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The Elbert Files: Men of Woodland

Author’s note: Today, I focus on men buried in Woodland Cemetery. Next week, I’ll introduce you to the cemetery’s interesting women.

Imagine how upset you might be if the name on your tombstone was carved …

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The Elbert Files: Weather impacts

Climate change is transforming two key pieces of Iowa’s economy – agriculture and insurance.

Although many Iowa farmers are not convinced that shifting weather patterns are the result of human activity, they do adjust to …

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The Elbert Files: Central Iowa’s wooden speedway

It’s difficult to imagine today, but 109 years ago Valley Junction was briefly the home of a mile-long, banked, oval racetrack made of wood. 

Yes, wood. The undercarriage was wood. The racing surface, including banked …

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The Elbert Files: Okoboji’s 2024 flood

Even before railroads began promoting Iowa’s Great Lakes region as a tourist destination in 1882, people from Des Moines traveled 200 miles by horse and wagon to hunt, fish and relax on the sandy beaches …

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The Elbert Files: Caitlin Clark is pure joy

Caitlin Clark is a great distraction. At a time when many things seem to be going off the rails, the girl next door from West Des Moines has Iowans of all stripes cheering as she …

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The Elbert Files: Bicycle histories

The first time I met Des Moines Register columnist and RAGBRAI founder Donald Kaul was Monday, June 14, 1971.

I was between journalism jobs, working on a construction crew, burying telephone cable near Williamsburg, Iowa, …