Fairfield News

It?s perfectly understandable why so many folks care how farmers care for the land; it doesn?t just need to be protected because it feeds us, but because our fertile soils and watersheds always have and always will be Iowa?s most valuable asset.But there?s a growing concern that some well-intentioned folks have taken efforts to be sustainable to a whole new level, calling for the sacrifice of property rights, ...

To the editor:Since 1969 there has been a much used expression that states: ?If they can put a man on the moon, why can?t they ____?? You fill in the blank.With that in mind, the expression can be altered just slightly so that it applies locally and it would go something like this: ?If they can create a very smooth railroad crossing at Ninth Street, why can?t they do it at Fourth Street, B Street and D Street??...

To the editor:Hero or felon?Dec. 11, 2011, when CNN acclaimed Robin Lim (a former Iowan) as the ?Hero of the Year,? midwives and mothers the world over rejoiced. ?Mother Robin? earned the title for her humanitarian work in Indonesia, where she has founded two free, midwife-staffed maternity clinics.Ironically, the very practice of midwifery which has gained Lim international renown could have landed her a ...

Last nesting season there was much increased interest in the Decorah Eagles? Nest Webcam, with millions of hits on the website. Schoolchildren, retirees, working folks with access to a computer, college students, in short, just about everyone, myself included, was tuned in to the happenings at the nest in Decorah.I was fortunate enough to be an official nest monitor for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources ...

To the editor:Fairfield 1st Fridays Art Walk is pleased to announce the youth art exhibit at the Fairfield Public Library was a success! We encourage everyone who did not have a chance to enjoy this exhibit on art walk night to stop by before Saturday, Jan. 14, to view it. Fairfield?s youth, grades kindergarten through 12th, were represented at this event and exhibited a large collection of whimsical, fun, and ...

To the editor:Our family went to see Harvey, the Pulitzer prize-winning play Saturday night, at the Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts. It was absolutely wonderful theater that takes us back to James Stewart and the early 1950s. The show has a great cast, (splendid acting), funny and intelligent dialogue, and charming music that brings back memories from days gone by. We encourage those who love theater to ...

To the editor:Last night I witnessed a wonderful thing. Last night, in the super crowded Commons of the Fairfield High School 800+ Jefferson County Caucus Goers smiled, opened doors for one another, cracked jokes, visited, waved and were just plain neighborly.This was quite remarkable since I, wearing my Ron Paul button, and my neighbor wearing her Santorum button and the lady seated next to me, buttonless, but ...

To the editor: Ron Stearns (?Homosexuality shouldn?t be condoned,? Dec. 22) is not describing how the world really works. He claims ?it is the parents who teach their children prejudice.? No, you cannot evade responsibility that easily. It is ALL adult authority figures who teach children by words and example to despise, mock and bully: teachers, coaches, shopkeepers, clerics, politicians, TV personalities ...

To the editor:For 12 years now the strategy has been not to talk to me or listen to me. But as far as I?m concerned you all have had the facts put in front of you. If you choose not to listen you?ve made your choice.Around 2.5 years ago you chose to run me out of town. What does this all prove? The scripture is true that a prophet gets no respect in his own country.The president and governor both know of me ...

To the editor:What could be more brilliant than going to the silent source of order, the blueprint, the DNA within the plant, to create positive advances in agriculture and medicine? Imprecision has created unintended consequences. For example, a corrective gene may miss its target, the defective gene, and hit an essential gene, mutating it (Fagan 1995).From Iowa State University, research finds the corn borer ...

To the editor:I was pleased to read in the Dec. 28 paper the nice write-up on the Nady family?s gift to the city [?Nady family donates 48 acres to Fairfield?].In our 14 years of trail building, I had never met such generosity. The donated land, as many know, is worth close to one million dollars as developable, high-end residential land. Bob Nady, with the support of his wife and children, chose his roots, his ...

To the editor:In his Dec. 22nd letter to the editor [?Homosexuality shouldn?t be condoned?], Ron Stearns argues that homosexuality is simply a matter of bad behavior which ought to be corrected. While his intentions seem pure and gentle, his message is a hurtful and alienating one ? emanating from a fundamental misconception of homosexuality.Mister Stearns begins by detesting abuse and promoting kindness, a ...