Dave Sires (R-Cedar Falls).

As we look ahead to Thanksgiving and the holiday season, I wanted to take a moment to share what I have been up to as summer transitioned into fall.

The end of summer always brings one of my favorite local traditions, the Doggy Dip at the Falls Aquatic Center. This year was extra special because Jill joined in on the fun for the first time, and she had an absolute blast.

Early this fall, I had the chance to attend the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo and sit down with KXEL’s Jeff Stein for a thoughtful conversation about the issues that matter most to Iowans. I also had a terrific visit with the 8th grade iJAG students at Bunger Middle School in Evansdale. Programs like iJAG make a real difference by helping students build confidence, career skills, and a strong sense of purpose. If you’d like to learn more about their mission, you can visit: https://www.ijag.org/about/

More recently, Lisa and I had a great time at the La Porte City Waste Management Open House. We enjoyed touring the facility and chatting with the team who keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Spencer Rose, the Wastewater Facility Manager, even gave Lisa a “Mr. Hanky” cookie, because when you work with wastewater, you’ve got to keep a good sense of humor! As someone who’s wastewater-treatment certified, I always appreciate opportunities to meet other dedicated professionals in the field and see how different communities manage their systems.

As we head toward the upcoming legislative session, things are already picking up. My inbox continues to fill with messages from Iowans across the district. The top concerns I’m hearing about remain the use of eminent domain and Iowa’s high cancer rate. I encourage you to keep reaching out as your thoughts, questions, and ideas truly shape my work ahead.

Lisa and I want to extend our warmest wishes to you and your family. We hope you have a happy Thanksgiving and a very merry Christmas!

State Senator Dave Sires represents Iowa Senate District 38 including Cedar Falls, Hudson, Traer, Dysart, Evansdale, Elk Run Heights, Gilbertville, Washburn, LaPorte City and Mount Auburn. Contact Sen. Sires at dave.sires@legis.iowa.gov.