Local Editor, Cedar Falls
Patch Email: alison.gowans@patch.com
Facebook.com/CedarFallsPatch
Twitter.com/CedarFallsPatch
Phone: 319-850-3474
I'm a born and raised resident of this town.
After graduating from Cedar Falls High School, I studied journalism and international studies at the University of Iowa and spent some time as a reporting intern at The Gazette in Cedar Rapids. After a brief stint in Minneapolis, I took off for the Peace Corps.
Two years as a community health education volunteer in Swaziland, a tiny country in Southern Africa, broadened my horizons and my perspective. But I missed home - the green summers, vibrant fall leaves and the promise of spring after a long winter. (Not so much the winter itself.)
I missed the people of this place, family and friends and neighbors. It was time to come home, and what better way to reintegrate into my community than through Patch? So here I am, wondering what the next few years will bring.
Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.
Politics
The current acerbic political climate disheartens me. At this point I'm less concerned with parties and labels than with intent and ideas. If someone can convince me they have the country's best interests at heart and of the merit of their policies, they'll probably have my vote. I'm a registered Independent.
Religion
I believe in God. I'm still working out the details of what that belief entails and probably will be for the rest of my life.
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad still wants a public referendum here in Iowa - just the third state where gays could marry.
Police followed a trail of pigs on the highway Monday after they fell from an apparently unsecured door on a livestock trailer.
The following information was provided by the Cedar Falls Police. It does not indicate a conviction.
The following information was provided by the Marion police. It does not indicate a conviction.
This week's featured home: 3260 Newcastle Road in Marion.
This week's featured home: 121 Sandahlwood Circle in Cedar Falls.
Job hunting in Marion and the Cedar Rapids metro or simply curious about who's hiring? Check out a few job openings here.
The following information was Cedar Falls police. It does not indicate a conviction.
Hagarty has represented Ward 1 for three terms, since 2002.
Kajtazovic, 26, is the youngest person ever to serve in the Iowa House. The Democrat has represented Waterloo for two terms.
Waterloo Police said the man had been swimming with friends and family when he drowned around 5 p.m. Sunday.
The following information was provided by the Marion police. It does not indicate a conviction.
Authorities said the woman was caught in a trench cave-in just before 2 p.m. while working along San Marnan Drive near Sunnyside Country Club.
Black Hawk County Sheriff's Department said they found a middle-aged man dead at the scene at 3137 North Elk Run Road.
The following information was provided by the Marion Police. It does not represent a conviction.
The following information was provided by the Marion Police. It does not represent a conviction.
The following information was provided by the Cedar Falls police. It does not represent a conviction.
The following information was provided by the Marion police. It does not indicate a conviction.
