Editor’s note: This column originally ran in the June 29, 2017 edition of the Sentinel-News. The editor’s 2012 Ford Focus is now completely paid off and rusting, and he wants a new Ford Bronco Sport.

Unfortunately, there are no taxis in northwest Iowa to take out his Focus while parked perfectly legally on the street.

Unless I blow off my hand with an M-80 sometime, July 4, 2014 will go down as the worst Independence Day of my life.

The holiday started off with potential. It fell on a Friday that year, so I decided to visit old college buddies in Iowa City for the three-day weekend. We...