~a column by Mary Weaver I occasionally research and create a document for the Women’s Caucus newsletter about Iowa women who defied history, breaking glass ceilings and making Iowa a better place to live. A recent search led me to Eunice Viola, “Ola” Babcock. She was born in Washington County, Iowa, 152 years ago. She attended Iowa Wesleyan College, taught…
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Green announces bid for second term in IA Senate
Iowa Senator Jesse Greene announced his campaign for a second term in the Iowa Senate representing District. The district includes all of Greene and Boone counties and a portion of Story and Dallas counties. He lives on Boone. “When I ran for the Iowa Senate in 2020, one of my biggest goals was to give all Iowa parents the same…
Read MoreBiden honors ‘sacred obligation’ to care for veterans and their families
~a column by Chris Henning Veterans Day has a place in my memory down throughout the years. This year is especially poignant: my father, George Henning, an Army tank mechanic who served with the 14th Armored “Liberators”, liberating concentration camps in France and Germany in WW II, would have celebrated his 101st birthday on November 1. In my extended family…
Read MoreRural population accounts for decline in county population
To the editor: Although my direct family is mostly gone from Greene County today, we first began to populate the area in the late 1800’s. Graves of my descendants can be found in area cemeteries throughout the county. “Spelunking” old newspapers published in Greene County has become a casual pastime. The old publications have provided fascinating glances into the day-to-day activities…
Read MoreFlags rise as our hearts and minds turn towards our veterans
~by Sen Joni Ernst, R-Iowa On Veterans Day, all across Iowa, flags will rise as our hearts and minds turn towards those who bravely served our nation. Calls of gratitude will go out to the more than 150,000 veterans in our great state – grandparents, parents, siblings, and neighbors who left a life of comfort to shoulder the weight of…
Read MoreView from My Window – Celebrating Veterans Day 2023
As a nation we will be celebrating Veterans Day this Saturday, November 11. Give pause that day and reflect on those who have served in the military. While I cannot say I come from a military family, I support those in the military. My father was given a deferment during WWII because he was a farmer. My husband was drafted…
Read MoreM. Saddoris re: Kading project, city council election
Letter to editor: I am replying to comments made about our opposition to the large housing project insinuating that it is something to do with “who might live there.” I can assure you that it has nothing to do with anything other than the fact that there are “taxpayers” and “tax consumers.” A community can NOT GROW or THRIVE without…
Read MorePublic education – Part of the ABCs of democracy
Dear editor, Rural Iowans value public education. We know that regardless of race, religion, or zip code, all Iowa children deserve access to a quality education. We write because the current Iowa education policies of diverting public dollars to private, often faith-based schools, while underfunding public schools, are hurting rural Iowans. The school is the heartbeat of a rural community,…
Read MoreThe good news
~a column by Colleen O’Brien As much as I’ve enjoyed/hated/done it anyway, my writing columns for the past eight years making fun of #45 (now advertising himself as 45-47: precisely what I fear) or mentioning his latest lies, I’m tired of it for the day, so will make my day by listing a few of President Biden’s accomplishments, which somehow…
Read MoreThoughts after the party, Part 2
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Months prior to my 80th birthday party, my sister wrote a fable for me because I was in a major decline. I had told her I felt physically awful (rheumatoid arthritis); mentally feeble (where is my phone, my purse, my car key? Oh, locked in the car!). And I was tired all the time, uninterested…
Read MoreView from My Window – Where are you looking when you talk to me?
This past week my grocery store checker and carry out assistant both said the right words without any eye contact. The first was the checker, an estimated mid-aged teenager. Most likely the manager had taught her to ask, “Did you find everything you needed?” All well, but she was clicking the cans through the scanner during the statement and didn’t…
Read MoreDecision on Kading housing project should be for financial reasons, not who might live there
~by Victoria Riley, GCNO publisher The proposed construction of workforce housing in Jefferson’s north central neighborhood has brought dozens of residents to the last two city council meetings. While the work of Greene County Development Corporation usually goes unnoticed by most residents, this project – 80 to 140 or so rental units built by Kading Construction to be managed by…
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