To the editor:I am writing this letter to all the moms and dads who will be sending their children to school for the first time. I remember how that felt. I want to encourage you to volunteer at your child?s school.I was a working mom with two kids in school and a preschooler when I went to a site team meeting. I got excited about the possibility of starting a parent/teacher organization at Pence. There ...
December 20, 2011Washington, Iowa Deer Hunters To the Editor:This letter is to alert you of the substantial reduction of the deer herds in Iowa.In the ?40s and ?50s the white tail deer in southeast Iowa along the Skunk River were almost extinct. In the ?60s they started to repopulate and in the ?70s they opened the first deer season. You applied for a license and received an antlered-deer-only...
A number of people told me months ago that the coming winter was going to be very cold and snowy. When I heard that my heart sank because I knew that if that were true I might not make it home to celebrate Christmas in my hometown of Pocahontas. Two years ago there was a bad snowstorm just before Christmas and I had to cancel my travel plans. I did not want the same thing to happen this year.Fortunately for me ...
There are many things about our calendar and ways of keeping time that leave you scratching your head. We have seven months of 31-days and yet we shortchange February by giving it a measly 28 days (and 29 every once in awhile). The calendar most of the Western world uses is the Gregorian Calendar, which is named after Pope Gregory VIII who introduced it in 1582. At the time of its introduction much of the Western ...
In case you haven?t heard, one of the University of Iowa?s sorta famous writer/professors has written a scathing attack on Iowa, published in ?The Atlantic,? questioning why Iowa is first in the nation with the political caucuses. Good question. And it?s a question a lot of Iowans are asking, although we definitely enjoy the notoriety, not to mention the money it brings into the state. The problem is, it?s OK for ...
To the editor:Our country is in tough financial shape ? no doubt about it. As a nation, we need to cut spending and learn to live within our means. It amazes and saddens me that President Obama is willing to cut funding for Medicare, Medicaid, and even our military ~ but will NOT cut even one penny of the 349.6 million dollars that annually goes to Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood makes enough money, ...
To the editor:As I suspected, Gov. Branstad has vetoed legislation that would have kept local Workforce Development offices open. Now is not a good time to cut back on employment services that we need. If people don?t like what the governor has done, then they should contact the state Legislators and ask them to pass a legislative override. ? Alan Laird, Ollie
To the editor:?If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.? (II Chron. 7:14)We would like to invite people from Van Buren County and surrounding areas to join us in prayer for our nation Saturday, August 6 at Heritage Baptist Church, 22401 ...
To the editor:I would like to address some of the concerns that have arisen regarding the proposed dog park in the field at the entrance to the Lamson Woods wetlands.Although the dog park will be utilized by many people, it has been shown in many other area dog parks that only two or three people and their dogs are likely to utilize the park at any given time throughout the day. Contrary to what some ...
With Christmas fast approaching (the time of giving), here?s an impressive story of benevolence and sacrifice.Ninety-year-old Robert Henry (Bob) Mapes, formerly of Fort Madison, now of West Point, lived a varied and interesting life of farming, laying railroad track, military service, mechanics and raising champion Suffolk sheep. He was always a big proponent of education, so it wasn?t all that unusual that ...
In this article, I will address three different topics related to the school district. First I will discuss the upcoming legislative session and the key topics related to education. Second I will give you an update of what is happening with the school facilities and give a timeline in terms of what will be done when. Finally, I will address the topic of anonymous letters and phone calls and why I can?t and won?t ...
The lyrics of ?Santa Claus is Coming to Town? in this day and age comes with a new understanding of what it means to be seen ?when you?re sleeping? and ?when you?re awake.? Santa?s companion, ?The Elf on the Shelf,? also has kids under surveillance 24-7. I haven?t read ?The Elf on the Shelf,? but my granddaughters have and so they know at least two entities are watching them be naughty or nice.A few weeks ago, ...
At the GOP presidential debate in Iowa last week, Mitt Romney made headlines when he challenged Rick Perry to a $10,000 bet. Perry had accused Romney of deleting a line in his book ?No Apology? between hardback and softcover editions that he claimed showed that Romney wanted to expand Massachusetts? health care plan to the nation. Romney denied the accusation and bet $10,000 that Perry could not prove the charge. ...
To the editor:As part of negotiations for an increase in the debt ceiling, some in Congress have advocated cutting $14 billion dollars in Medicare that supports rural hospitals. Such drastic cuts would completely decimate the rural health care system and harm rural seniors? ability to access care.These cuts would greatly affect the Jefferson County Health Center. We need to tell our U.S. Senators Chuck ...
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