with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley Q: Why is an “all-of-the-above” energy policy good for the economy and national security? A: The United States has entered a new era of domestic energy production that is setting the stage for energy independence. Thanks to remarkable innovation and investment, American businesses and entrepreneurs are driving job creation and economic growth by tapping into…
Read MoreCategory: Opinion
Letter to the editor – Mike Coyne
Dear Editor: In the late 1970s it was an honor and pleasure for me to serve as the Director of the Agriculture Division of the Iowa Development Commission (IDC) under Governor Bob Ray and Jefferson’s own Del Van Horn who served as the Director of the IDC.
Read MoreTracing past lives
~a column by Colleen O’Brien When I was in high school, I went through a period of interest in past lives. I don’t remember how the interest came to me because I grew up with a dad who was, despite his native Irish feyness, a no nonsense, proof is in the pudding kind of thinker. I suspect my interest was…
Read MoreGreene County Dems hold county convention
Greene County Democrats gathered March 12 at the Jefferson municipal building for the annual convention with 62 delegates and guests present. Dale Hanaman, Greene County Democratic chairperson, led the meeting. The main business was to elect four delegates to the 4th Congressional District Democratic convention on April 30 in Ames.
Read MoreQ&A: National Ag Day
~with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley Q: What should non-farmers know about farmers? A: First, I like to point out what should be obvious. Food does not grow on the grocery store shelf or even at farmers’ markets. It’s planted, nurtured, fed and raised before being harvested, marketed and sold to consumers.
Read MoreWho’s to blame? All of us or just him?
~a column by colleen O’Brien When we were learning history in high school, I was either asleep or taught a scrubbed version. Except for Miss Price, who had us all researching the Holocaust in Hitler’s Germany, I was not exposed to the evils that men do. We learned nothing of white Europeans wiping out the natives in the New World;…
Read More2015 bipartisan index for Congress released
Grassley fifth, Ernst 38th, King 416th WASHINGTON – Sen Chuck Grassley (R-IA) ranks fifth in the Senate in a new bipartisan index of how much senators work across party lines on bill sponsorship and co-sponsorship. The rankings for 2015 are from the Lugar Center, led by former U.S. Sen Richard Lugar, and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – John McConnell
Thoughts for the public – Being one of the new members of the Greene County School board, I would like to thank everyone that voted for me and continues to give me support for making the decision to get on the board. Just being on the board for a few months now, wow, is there a lot to take in.…
Read MoreGrassley names new bill for Kevin Wills
WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley on March 1 introduced legislation with Senator Chuck Schumer of New York to help families locate missing loved ones who have Alzheimer’s disease, autism or other related conditions that may cause them to wander away from their caregivers. The legislation, titled Kevin and Avonte’s Law, will reauthorize the expired Missing Alzheimer’s Disease…
Read More‘A pornography of pessimism’
~a column by Colleen O’Brien David Brooks, talking head, columnist and political know-a-lot, calls this election year a “pornography of pessimism.” Gotta love the English language and one of its superb wordsmiths, however you might disagree or agree with his politics. With a cast of thousands running for president and other offices, all of them yelling about the dire state…
Read MoreTree Tracings
~by Valerie Ogren for the Greene County Genealogical Society Meeting notice: The Greene County Genealogical Society will meet Saturday, March 5, at 10 am in the basement meeting room of the Jefferson public library. Jerry Roberts, master story teller, will share with us “Stories My Grandmother Told Me.” Guests are always welcome – and this is one you surely don’t want to miss.…
Read MoreSilly Billy, funny and wise
~a column by Colleen O’Brien I heard poet Billy Collins read his poems the other night. This was my second time in just under a year that I paid money to attend one of his readings. I’m beginning to feel like a groupie, but I can live with that. He is so worth it I’ll pay to see him whenever…
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