Opinion

In my last newsletter I summarized the progress made on the state budget. This week I am going to give you the final story on Mental Health reform for this year (SF 2315). I want to assure you that if there are problems with the execution of the plan, it will be addressed in future sessions of the General Assembly. I also recognize the local issues with the current system as identified by local officials in ...

May 29, 2012Washington, Iowa To the Editor: As a group who makes our livelihood in production agriculture in Washington County, we feel compelled to weigh in with respect to the land use and planning ordinance otherwise known as zoning. It appears that opponents of zoning are quite vocal. Please allow us to explain an alternative view.While we almost always fall on the side of more freedom rather than less, ...

Even though the students will be done on Thursday, that doesn?t mean that the Washington CSD will be quiet this summer. In fact, this may be one of the busiest summers for the school district ever. As early as Friday of this week, ?The Big Move? will begin.There will be a lot of shifting taking place this summer. The first step will be to move the junior high staff out of their rooms. That will happen by the end ...

You cannot parallel park a canoe.However, if the wind is strong enough and from the right direction, you actually can get pretty close. But then, that?s usually not on purpose.Teaching canoeing, I find, is always an adventure. And I don?t even have to get out on the water!Most of my canoeing programs occur at Marr Park, on the large pond. At 5.7 acres, it provides a nice area to introduce canoeing to children. ...

May 15, 2012Keota, Iowa To the Editor:As we look ahead to Memorial Day weekend, with its countdown to the last day of school, the opening of swimming pools, and the running of the Indianapolis 500 race, let us stop for just a moment and look back at the month of May in another time ? May 1918.America was engaged in a world war ? the first time this young country had joined forces with other nations to defend ...

To the editor:[In response to ?Sathoff ?attempts to hoodwink public,?? Dec. 8.]I would like to compliment the Ledger for their consistently thorough delivery of local news. Having been a reporter at the Ledger some years ago, I know first-hand that the dedication and work ethic of the reporters who bring us the community news cannot be matched by other papers the Ledger?s size. Essentially, four or five ...

To the editor:Thank you, Andrew Edlin, for your very good letter of Dec. 8 about homophobia [?Homophobia has evil consequences?]. You said it very well.? Teresa Mottet, Fairfield

Tuesday night, I was The Ledger?s third string reporter to cover the Libertyville City Council meeting.I?m slow at taking notes, refuse to carry a tape recorder and type 25 words per minute when I get back to the office to write a story. I?m not sure if I?d hire myself.My plus side is that I usually know something about what?s being discussed, the council members know me and I know them.There?s a ...

To the editor:As a walker at our local hospital I was surprised to see some attractive Christmas wreaths being displayed this week. Jefferson County Health Center in Fairfield is having a wreath decorating contest within their 18 plus departments at the hospital. They are presently on display in the front area by the main entrance. If you are looking for a variety of Christmas wreaths here is your chance to ...

May 2, 2012West Chester, Iowa To the Editor:There has been a great deal of press about bullying. No one seems to have guts enough to ask the right question, or address the real reason.Why does someone bully someone? They believe themselves to be superior to the one they are bullying. Makes no difference whether it?s on the playground, school halls, the computer, or anywhere. The computer is anonymous, not as ...

The 2012 Session of the 84th Iowa General Assembly has finally come to an end. We were only three weeks over schedule this year compared to the marathon session last year when we ended on June 30.The best way to sum up my thoughts on the last two years is that I am pleased, but not satisfied. We made progress in many key areas, but there were other issues left unresolved. We had split chambers, which made it ...

Saturday, May 12, 2012, the Riverside First Responders will recognize their 30th anniversary from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Riverside fire station with an open house. The open house events will include the Washington County K-9 unit, UIHC Air Care, area ambulance providers, a rescue demonstration by the Riverside Fire Department, and blood pressure clinic. Refreshments will be provided.In 1981, a federal program ...