~a column by Colleen O’Brien Living in Florida has become precarious unless one is not pregnant or likely to be so. My granddaughter flew into Florida to visit me, her Gramma Collie. Impressed and delighted was I, looking forward to my little girl/grown woman at four months pregnant and 30 years old, healthy and eager for parenthood. But when she…
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Penance? Patience? Pitifulness?
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Most of my life I’ve not been a name-caller, either by nature or nurture. But about eight years ago, I realized my Irish was rising steadily as I fell under the malice of a spiteful fellow and have been aping him ever since: if he’s getting away with it and making my blood boil, I’m…
Read MoreBoulders and straw
~a column by Colleen O’Brien June 27 is the date set for what I expect the history books to label “The Stupid Debate of 2024.” Or, with more accuracy, “Virtue v. Vice.” “He Who Pretended to Know How to Be a United States President and Thinks He Can Pull It Off Again So He Won’t Have to Go to Prison”…
Read MoreView from my window: Government representation
~by Mary Weaver We are familiar with the adages, “All politics is local,” from former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill; from Benjamin Franklin in 1867, “ A republic, if you can keep it”; and “Democracy is not a spectator sport”, from Michael Moore. I used my voice last week by calling a Greene County Community Schools board member. I…
Read MoreView from my window – People, friends, volunteers
TOGETHER – The more we get together, together, together, The more we get together, the happier we’ll be. ‘Cause your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends. The more we get together, the happier we’ll be. PEOPLE – People, people who need people, are the luckiest people in the world. We’re children, needing other children, and yet…
Read MoreHomeless Coalition now under Clergy Association
June 1, 2024 To the editor, After several years of volunteer service, we have made the decision to hand over day-to-day operation of the Greene County Homeless Coalition to the Greene County Clergy Association. We got involved in this work before the pandemic, when Andy was editor of The Jefferson Herald. With the retirement soon after of Pastor Julie Poulsen…
Read MoreBait and switch
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Have you ever had a “friend” who gave you really good street drugs for three or four months, and about the time you were asking him to hurry up and get back to you with more, he started charging you for the drugs? It’s a bait and switch game that leads to things lethal. I…
Read MoreView from my window – Due dates
~a column by Mary Weaver Memorial Day weekend will soon arrive. A time when families gather to remember loved ones and kick off the summer season. Graduations are past, final grades issued, the corn and beans are in the ground, and in general life seems less regimented. As an aging parent, adult children become overly protective. Just as when they…
Read MoreDue diligence
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Donald Trump has never deigned to make amends for anything he’s ever done, and everyone who’s ever been in his inner circle has witnessed and/or paid for being close to his toxic scheming amid his violent, reactionary behavior (remember his throwing a hamburger against the wall?) So, for voters this fall, the question has to…
Read MoreThe View from Here: A lesson on Iowa governmental finances
~a column by Mary Weaver I am struggling to understand what is happening fiscally to Iowa government at all levels from the township, cities, counties, and at the state level. I vowed to understand this so I could share it with you readers, but this is very complex with a steep learning curve that I must admit I did not…
Read MoreCapitol roundup – End of session review
~by State Sen Jesse Green, SD 24 May 2, 2024 The following is a review of a few bills we were able to pass this session: SF2204 strengthens Iowa’s foreign ownership laws. This will give us a clearer picture of who is buying our land and why. LLCs have bought up a large percentage of land in recent years and we…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Conditions reported at juvenile detention facility raise questions
To the editor, At the board of supervisors meeting on April 29, Supervisor Dan Benitz described conditions at the Eldora facility for young people who have been adjudicated to be delinquent. Benitz said there is high staff turnover because staff are assaulted “on a daily basis with urine and feces thrown at them.” I have taught young people adjudicated to be…
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