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.
With the recent snow fall in the metro area, snow plows and salt trucks need to be able to remove snow in all public right-of-ways to help ensure safe travel throughout town.
With snow still coming down Friday morning, classes were delayed or canceled and snow emergencies were in effect.
The following information was provided by the Cedar Falls Police. It does not represent a conviction.
Cedar Falls parents received an email that the high school was "alerted of a potential threat" Tuesday.
A quick roundup of local news links, including progress on an Iowa education reform bill, contention over a bill to restrict political activity by the Board of Regents and some photos of Taylor Morris riding with professional rally driver Ken Block.
Job hunting in Marion or simply curious about who's hiring? Check out a few job openings here.
A Cedar Falls woman won the first of nine prizes of $10,000 playing the lottery's "10X Cash" instant-scratch game.
Consumers are disposing of unused medicines by flushing them down the drain, adding pharmaceutical pollution to water supplies. In addition, medicines thrown in the trash can end up in landfills if not first picked up by children, pets or anyone rummagi
How much snow will Winter Storm Q dump on Cedar Falls, what will the road conditions be, and will it cancel school? We'll keep you updated.
At the UNI vs. Creighton men's basketball game a University of Northern Iowa Panther fan hit a half-court shot.
Looking for help with your income tax return? Accounting students at the University of Northern Iowa are standing by to help.
The Little Free Library project aims to promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide.
The following information was provided by the Cedar Falls police. It does not represent a conviction.
Rep. Bruce Braley has announced he will run for Sen. Tom Harkin's senate seat when Harkin retires in 2014.
The following information was provided by the police. It does not represent a conviction.
Wicked winds are blowing in a storm that later this week could dump close to a foot of snow on Cedar Falls.
The awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to service through volunteerism in the Cedar Valley.
The student section came through in true Panther style at the men's basketball win against Creighton.
It's that time of year again. Get out your wallets and get ready to snack on some of your favorite sweet treats, courtesy of the Girl Scouts of America.
A quick roundup of local news, including a possible new way of funding the regents universities, a city council update, the Iowa Senate voting to increase school funding and a possible development for an empty Cedar Falls corner.
