Opinion

By Senator Charles GrassleyAmericans from sea to shining sea celebrate the birth of our nation every Fourth of July.On this day in 1776, the American experiment was born for which generations to follow would enjoy unalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.And yet, observances for the historic founding charter signed on September 17, 1787, are eclipsed by the fireworks, parades ...

By Curt SwarmGinnie came to me in a panic. ?I can't find Roomba!?Roomba is a computerized vacuum cleaner I gave Ginnie for her birthday.I know, you shouldn't give your wife a vacuum cleaner for her birthday, but she loves it.It's like an old friend. Turn Roomba loose in any area of the house, and she vacuums better than we can the old fashioned way.She's short and compact and whirls under furniture like a ...

To the Editor,Recently, I have walked in the street where there are no sidewalks or where someone is mowing the grass. Two different kind gentlemen have stopped their mower so they wouldn't throw grass or sticks out at me as I walked by. I always stop and thank them for their consideration.God bless them!Juanita Griest, Mt. Pleasant

Human kindness is overflowing.Pure, unbridled joy was experienced by many last Thursday night in the Washington High School Auditorium. We came to celebrate Spirit Night and to crown the 2017 Homecoming King and Queen.Settled snug in our chairs, the lights went down and the curtain up.We watched as teams filled the stage, cheerleaders ?fired us up? and the band played the Demon Fight Song.Introductions were ...

Within the last few weeks, our birds have changed their behavior. At some point this last month, the birds stopped focusing their energies on raising young and began preparing for fall. It?s a subtle difference, but if you pay attention, you can feel it.Every so often now, at our hummingbird feeder, a male stops and visits. Usually, we have only females, which can be told by the lack of their namesake ruby ...

By Brooks Taylor, Mt. Pleasant News Imagine having the best day of your life as a 12-year-old and then being ridiculed for it for years afterward.You probably never heard of Cody Webster. That?s OK, you have plenty of company, unless you live in Washington state.Webster peaked early, reminiscent of one of my boyhood friends who was 5-10 as an eighth-grader and the best basketball player on the junior high ...

To the Editor:I have been a Hospice of Washington County volunteer since its inception in 1989.I was in the first volunteer training class offered, as I strongly felt the need for local hospice care in the Washington area. As a registered nurse at the Washington County Hospital, I saw many patients and families who would benefit from the services our hospice could offer.Hospice of Washington County is a ?Not ...

Isn?t it amazing that the moon is exactly the right size and exactly the right distance from the earth to completely block out the light from the sun?Is this happenstance? Me thinks not. Me thinks there is an order and power in the universe far beyond man?s ability to comprehend and understand while living.The day before this solar event, a pastor friend put out an ?E-Clips? message advising us to place no ...

Iowa continues to lead the nation with a high school graduation rate that has increased five years in a row. More than 91 percent of students in Iowa?s Class of 2016 graduated within four years.This is good news that we can build upon by ensuring all Iowa high school graduates have the knowledge and skills to succeed in college and job training.After all, our students are our future workers, innovators, ...

To the editor:Over the last few weeks, the Opinion page has been filled with letters regarding the new pool and gym proposal. As with any community project, there are people on both sides of the fence. Personally, I think that it is great that folks from all walks of life are involved in this, whether it is writing a letter voicing your opinion, attending the public meeting a few weeks ago, or the members of the ...

To the editor:My children, grandchild, nieces and I have all enjoyed the outdoor pool over the years and I was really up for the idea of a new one. Now, however, I have concerns.First, we are not looking at $3 million for a pool but as seed money for a $10 million project. If approved by vote the $3 million will not be accessed until $7 million more has been raised for a gym. What the exact breakdown is for ...

?Everything in these two rows of tables, fifty cents,? I told the dark-skinned couple as they moved slowly down the aisle, stopping occasionally to pick up an item and inspect it, an old-style eggbeater, a slightly used George Foreman grill, complete with instructions.I had joined the throng of ?garage sellers? who blossom during Old Threshers in Mt. Pleasant, deluging the landscape with hawkers (including every ...