Opinion

To the editor:How coincidental. The day I received my tax bill from Jefferson County is the same day The Ledger reported that The Jefferson County Health Center had a net income of 2.3 million dollars last year.I need someone to explain why the residents of Jefferson County were taxed over 1.2 million dollars designated for the hospital, when the hospital had a 2.3 million dollar net income. I believe the ...

Dear Keota School District Patrons,June 30, 2016, will be my last day as Keota?s superintendent. For the last seven years, it has been an honor and privilege serving as your superintendent.I will always cherish the many positive relationships I have formed in the Keota and Harper communities. The students, teachers, and other staff members have been wonderful to work with and I have enjoyed getting to know the ...

June 27, 2016Washington, Iowa Dear Editor:I am thrilled to live in a community like Washington, where interest runs high in when, where and whether a new Washington County YMCA should be built. I am also concerned that this lively debate is not fueled by mere emotions. We all need to live in peace with the result of the upcoming bond vote and the Y?s building campaign.The best way to keep emotions from ...

June 20, 2016WashingtonTo the Editor:I could not believe the postage stamp size pictures of Johannah Vittetoe, first runner-up in the Miss Iowa Pageant, and Lexi Marek, also in Miss Iowa Pageant, and Makenzi Marek in Outstanding Teen Pageant, that were in The Washington Evening Journal on Tuesday, June 14, 2016.?We saw you at the farmers market!? pictures are 10 times as big. These young ladies deserve the ...

June 21, 2016Washington, Iowa To the Editor:I?d forgotten how great community theater can be until, as the grandmother of one of the fairy tale characters, I became aware of all of the fun and talent in ?Shrek the Musical? at the Washington Community Theater. What a delight to have this wonderful show on a local stage with actors that you might have a personal connection with. They may be your teacher, your ...

June 20, 2016Washington, Iowa To the Editor:There will be a bond referendum vote Aug. 2, 2016, to build a new Y. The Y is a wonderful asset to our town and is a great organization through which parents and families can learn the importance of volunteerism. However, it is not a public institution or an arm of our local government; therefore, I believe a new Y building should not be financed with public ...

To the editor:Much has been bantered about in the national news about Obama?s Stimulus Plan, officially known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Before anyone draws conclusions about it, take a good look at how this Act has helped our own community in the last two years.Here are just some of the titles of articles in the Fairfield Ledger that cite how the American Recovery and Reinvestment ...

To the editor:Fairfield 1st Fridays Art Walk is grateful to everyone who participated in Art Walk?s 10 year anniversary and ?Bark in the Park? themed Art Walk. We had an exceptional turnout on the square and a ?doggone? fun good time!A HUGE thank you goes to our August Event Sponsor, US Cellular on the square. As a means of showing community support and introducing themselves to Fairfield, US Cellular generously...

June 10, 2016Washington, Iowa To the Editor:If anyone is interested in the Headliners 4-H Club in ?Down Memory Lane? on June 3, 2016, complete records from 1960 to 1984 as well as various older records are available to read in the genealogy section at the Washington Public Library. Sara Murphy

June 14, 2016Washington, Iowa To the Editor:I would like to make three points about the upcoming YMCA Bond Issue vote.First, it seems to me that the fundraising campaign has not been fully completed as it was originally proposed. To date I understand that there has been $2.5 million raised through supporters? donations. Of that total, $1 million has been from two generous donors. That means that just $1.5 ...

April 25, 2016Washington, Iowa To the Editor: Last week an individual submitted a letter to this paper expressing his thoughts regarding the possibility of the city council approving a bond referendum for the proposed new Community Y. ?Only so much taxpayers can do? was the heading. Who would disagree with that? No one in their right mind wants higher taxes. However, at the risk of being perceived as the ...

After working nearly 22 years at The Journal, I am retiring. My last day of work will be this Friday, April 29.On July 6, 1994, I started my new temporary part-time job as a typesetter here. I learned how to type up and format legal publications and how to compose ads. I did that job for about nine months before I went to work at the Columbus Gazette in Columbus Junction as the news editor. I was there for five ...