~a column by Colleen O’Brien Years ago I told my husband I didn’t like or dislike a certain president, I simply felt sorry for the guy because in my opinion he was not smart enough for the job. My husband, who disliked the fellow intensely and thought he was ruining the country, said, “You know what happens to people like…
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Letter to the editor – John Thompson
Another Columbus Day has come and gone with a bunch of college beatniks stepping out of their drum circles to fuss about Christopher Columbus. They decry the racism of the term “Indian” as opposed to the more politically friendly, “Native American.” Frankly, I do not know why a term originating from Columbus’ misunderstanding of where he put down port is…
Read MorePolls and pols
~a column by Colleen O’Brien The first televised presidential address aired Oct. 5, 1947. President Harry Truman broadcast a speech from the White House. At that time — 1947 — there were only about 44,000 TVs in the country. People got their news from the Motorola radio in the living room, from Movietone News at movie theaters and from daily…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – John Thompson
As our nation suffers through another tragedy of some crazy fanatic unleashing violence on a community college in Oregon I am struggling to not just jump on a partisan rant. I would prefer to talk about something that can save your life.
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Tina King
To the editor, My treatment at the Greene County junior varsity football game Monday night, Oct. 5, held at the field in Grand Junction was beyond unprofessional. There is simply no excuse for a school employee to swear at anyone, but an employee certainly swore at me.
Read MoreBranstad, Reynolds set goal for post secondary training
Ambitious goal aims to give Iowans the skills needed for rewarding careers and provide Iowa employers with the skilled workforce needed to grow and innovate DES MOINES – A new report released Monday by the Branstad-Reynolds administration in collaboration with the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (Georgetown Center) projects that from 2010 to 2025, Iowa will add…
Read MoreA brave guy visits the land of the free and the home of the brave
~a column by Colleen O’Brien I have yet to talk to anyone who doesn’t like Pope Francis after having “met” him more intimately last week. He is a positive fellow and he speaks forthrightly, no pulling back from controversial subjects that 99 percent of our representatives at all levels shy away from as if there are more important things to…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – John Thompson
To the editor, Last weekend in Des Moines residents celebrated the 14th annual Latino Heritage Festival. On Sunday I volunteered at the Polk County GOP booth filling balloons for kids. Many presidential candidates posted staff at the event to answer patron’s questions.
Read MoreTree Tracings
~by Valerie Ogren for the Greene County Genealogical Society Meeting notice: The Greene County Genealogical Society will meet Saturday, Oct. 3, at 11 am in the basement meeting room of the Jefferson public library. (Please note change of time.) Speaker that day will be Rick Morain. He will share some family memories and tell about “Preserving Your Stories” to pass on to…
Read MoreWorld Rivers Day Sunday, Sept. 27
Communities across the globe are celebrating World Rivers Day on Sunday (http://worldriversday.com/). The observance was founded 10 years ago in Western Canada, and now is being celebrated in dozens of countries. World Rivers Day is a good time to take stock of our rivers in Iowa – a state bordered by our nation’s two greatest rivers, and laced with 70,000 miles…
Read MoreQuestion all famous folk
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Because we live in Iowa, home of the first caucus in a Presidential election year, we get all the candidates sometime in the two years prior to the vote; in this case, November of 2016. They’re flocking to Iowa already, in case you haven’t noticed, and it is indeed a privilege, for they come here…
Read MoreGOP holds fundraiser, reps of seven presidential candidates on hand
The Greene County Republicans’ annual fall fundraiser included the announcement of candidacy by Kirk Hammer for county sheriff. According to GOP party chair Roger Olhausen, Democrat sheriff Steve Haupert has already announced he will not run for re-election in 2016. Republican chief deputy Jack Williams, who ran against Haupert in the last election, has already announced that he also is…
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