Opinion

My name is Dave and I am a designated driver.I wonder how many people caught that the first line of the column is meant to be an homage to Alcoholics Anonymous. In any event, that is me. I have a good time at clubs, but still remember what happened the next day. I don?t spend all my money on a splitting headache. Mostly, I don?t have anything to apologize for the next day. To that person who went out the other ...

To the editor:I?d like to thank the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center for featuring the Pam Tillis Trio last Friday night. It was one of the greatest shows that I have ever seen. ? Arnie Wolfson, Fairfield

The Washington County Conservation Board takes the public trust for the balance of management of our properties extremely seriously. Most of you already know that the Sockum Ridge Recreation Area represents a little over 200 acres of woodland, much of which is one of Iowa?s greatest resources, an upland oak/hickory dominated timber. We are currently doing active management in approximately 28 acres out there, ...

Oct. 10, 2016Washington, Iowa To the Editor:My family and I recently moved to Washington.My 10-year-old son?s bike was stolen. I just wanted to express how impressed we are with the Washington Police Department?s quick response and sincerity while recovering and returning the bike. Chasity Lindsey

Who is Harry Potter? That was my first thought in November 2001 when my editor told me he planned to go to the newly released movie ?Harry Potter and the Sorcerer?s Stone? and write a review for the newspaper.My editor at the time was a much bigger fan of fantasy and science fiction literature than me. I ended up stuck trying to think of a witty comeback for him when he announced he was going to the movie. Not ...

To the editor:Apparently Craig Hackert drove by a beginning farmer?s organic field and concluded that organic could not feed the world (Ledger, Sept. 13). Perhaps we need to take a broader view.Long-term research at Iowa State University has found that well managed organic corn and soybean production produces yields equivalent to conventional production in Iowa. Granted, it takes more intensive management for ...

This column is for the young folks, who were not born during the times often spoken of by their elders as the ?Good Old Days.? To hear some tell it the younger generation does not read newspapers, but instead get their information from the Internet and social networking sites, so perhaps my efforts are wasted.Of course, being old myself, (other?s description, certainly not mine!) I am partial to newspapers. I ...

Sept. 27, 2016Washington, Iowa To the Editor:I went to Gary Sheetz?s celebration of life, a fitting tribute to a legendary farmer.Let me tell you about the Gary I knew. I moved to Washington County in 1970, 200 miles from the farm I grew up on. Fresh out of Vietnam, no family here yet, antisocial, scared to death I would lose everything. Everybody very closely watching every move I made. Gary was the first ...

Have you ever been in a fire? Or evacuated from a building because of a fire?I can answer yes to both of those questions.My sophomore year of Central High School in Davenport was when my high school caught fire and it happened on National Smoke Out Day.I was in the band room playing my bass clarinet. I asked permission from my band teacher to go use the restroom and left. Immediately when I entered the hallway ...

Brighton, Iowa To the Editor:I was driving west on the four lanes and suddenly a little dog darted into traffic, causing screeching brakes and swerving vehicles.I stopped to rescue her, then pulled into a gas station to check for an ID tag ? nothing. I then drove around the neighborhood in search of a frantic owner ? nothing. Deciding to check for a microchip, I drove to PAWS and More Animal Shelter to have ...

Oct. 3, 2016West Chester, Iowa To the Editor:I had to go to the emergency room two weeks ago. I had to choose Iowa City or Washington and chose Washington, and I am glad I did.I spent two weeks in the Washington hospital. I want to thank the people and would recommend Washington County Hospital to anyone. It is a caring place. I received excellent care from the people who took care of me. They are all ...

August 23, 2016West Chester, Iowa To the Editor:This is a horrible affliction, and we need to figure a way to stop it immediately.Luckily, we have just such a method. Years ago, we could kill mosquitoes easily. Do the letters DDT mean anything to you? This is absolute death to mosquitoes, and it lasts a long time.We used it everywhere ? farms, cities, all over. It actually lasted too long; we stopped using ...