We'll meet in the Market Street parking lot and clean up around downtown. If we end up with a lot of volunteers, we'll send some of them to U.S. Highway 34, near the Church Street on and off ramps.

Despite the challenges, Hall was enthusiastic about discussing improvements to the train depot, canopy and platform, ... He also e-mailed pictures of other community projects.

The project in Ottumwa was discussed with Amtrak and the Iowa Department of Transportation as part of a larger multi-station renovation project,

Is there a project? Is it feasible to apply for grant funds? We won't know the feasibility of it until we have additional information.

Landmines distinguish themselves because once they have been sown, once the soldier walks away from the weapon, the landmine cannot tell the difference between a soldier or a civilian - a woman, a child, a grandmother going out to collect firewood to make the family meal.

Are you mad?" I ask.
"I was." He glances at the ceiling then back at me. "Or confused, anyway. The whole thing threw me through for a loop. I thought I'd finally met a guy at Underwood I could relate to, and it turns out he wasn't a guy at all."
I swallow. "I can see how that would be weird."
"In a way though, I was relieved."
"Relieved?" I echo. "Why?"
He looks around embarrased. "Let's just say you had me questioning my sexual orientation.