May 26, 2023 ~by Sen Joni Ernst Today and throughout the weekend, all across our state, Iowans will come together to place small American flags in the grass along memorial sites and roadways to honor our fallen military heroes. Patriots. It’s slow work—a minor sacrifice of time and comfort in recognition of the massive sacrifices we can never repay. By…
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The view from my window
May is Mental Health Awareness Month ~by Mary Weaver Recently the Greene County board of supervisors issued a proclamation, encouraging Greene County citizens to increase their understanding of mental health. An internet search for a definition of mental health was found from the Centers for Disease Control. Mental health is…. “emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think,…
Read MoreI grew up calling it Decoration Day
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Memorial Day, hurrah! It used to be one of my favorite holidays because the whole family would travel around the area visiting graveyards to wipe down gravestones and place fresh flowers and take a moment to remember the dead. More importantly to children, it was significant as school ending at last and endless summer beginning,…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – E. Thompson re: PTSD
To the editor, There are few things that remind us of the cost of freedom more than seeing a flag-draped coffin containing the body of a fallen service member being carried off a military transport plane. However, there are unseen costs of freedom: one of which is the emotional damage being carried within the service member who is able to…
Read MoreCommencement speech according to Mom
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Do you remember the speaker at your high school graduation? Me, neither. I recall only that our speaker was male. Were females invited as speakers at such events in 1962? If the fellow in my gym gave us good advice that afternoon, I don’t recall it. As far as I was concerned, he was the…
Read MoreCapitol Roundup
The food freedom year in Iowa ~by State Senator Jesse Green May 12, 2023 This year has had many big pieces of legislation get signed into law. As a result, there are some other issues that did not get much coverage. I was really proud of some of the “food freedom” laws passed this year that will give Iowans more…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – J. Brunow re: gun safety
To the editor, I begin an unpleasant discussion. Shootings are increasing. The murders resulting are increasing. Not enough is being done at the national or state level to prevent these murders and serious injuries. It is time to begin a discussion of local action for prevention. I cringe when I hear “The solution to bad people with guns are good people with guns”,…
Read MoreView from My Window
~by Mary Weaver This column was going to be about mental health services that are needed, and services that are available in Greene County, but the person I wished to interview had unforeseen circumstances occur that derailed the plan. A future column will focus on mental health. Rather in a switch of topics, I will be sharing some of the…
Read MoreThe Capitol Roundup
~by State Senator Jesse Green, SD24 May 5, 2023 Greetings from the Golden Dome. We have just completed our last week of session! The moment we adjourned was a special moment I will never forget. The National Day of Prayer Ceremony was going on while we were finishing up, and I was honored to give the prayer for the event…
Read MoreGov Reynolds’ statement on 2023 legislative session
Gov. Kim Reynolds on May 4 released the following statement in response to the conclusion of the 2023 legislative session: “Iowa’s national profile is rising, and Americans are taking notice as states around the country are looking to Iowa as a beacon for freedom and opportunity. This year’s historic legislative session saw transformational education reform that kicked off a national…
Read MoreEnd of an era – Rippey branch of Peoples Bank closing
To the editor, We received an unexpected letter on May 1 that the Peoples Bank branch in Rippey will be closing effective July 31, 2023. This will end a long tradition of two banks in Rippey with the First National Bank chartered in 1905 and the Rippey Savings Bank, now Rolling Hills, opening its doors the same year. The First…
Read MoreLetter to the editor, D. Weaver re: SF 542 relaxing child labor laws
State Sen. Jesse Green, a Republican who represents Boone and Greene County, stated that “the Left had fun twisting this bill and some of the words for use in the media to try to fearmonger and poke holes in this bill” when he described Senate File 542, the youth employment bill. Jesse Green went to Facebook to post after the debate…
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