~a column by Colleen O’Brien It dawned on me when reading an article about Gen Xers that I did not know what a Gen Xer was. I knew the term Baby Boomer – those born between 1946 to 1964 – because there was always a lot written about them as I was growing up. Because I was born in 1943,…
Read MoreCategory: Opinion
Letter to the editor – D. Launter, Road trip to save money on groceries
To the editor, With grocery prices soaring and container and can sixers shrinking, it makes it hard on some families to buy food. I have a suggestion to help alleviate some of these high costs and stretch your food dollar. My recommendation is to head to southeast Iowa to Davis and Van Buren counties, where Mennonite stores are located. At…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – GCMC CNO says vote ‘Yes’ on gaming question
To the editor, I wanted to send a letter to the community of Greene County in support of the Grow Greene County. Since moving to Jefferson last year, I have been struck by the support that this organization has provided to fund projects that have enhanced the lives in this community. One specific example of this philanthropy and how it…
Read MorePaid by the hour
~a column by Colleen O’Brien In the tradition of young girls going to work in America, I arranged for my first grown-up job by talking to a neighbor. Babysitting seemed the logical next step up from selling Kool Aid on the corner. I babysat three times and had to give it up because I learned that children were horrible and…
Read MoreTime to row on, with the current
~a column by Colleen O’Brien The way I remember the Roe vs. Wade decision of 1973 that legalized a woman’s right to choose is that it had a lot to do with equality of access to abortion in ALL states, not just a state here and there. When it came to their own wombs, that hopscotch kind of healthcare for…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – D. Lautner on the gaming referendum
To the editor, With the football season starting, I believe our school system needs to tweak its curriculum. After all, we are trying to give our students the best education that money can buy. I believe each graduate needs to have one credit in casino playing and one credit in sports betting to earn a degree from high school. After…
Read MoreWidow words
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Writing, for me, is an inquiry into what I think. When I write, my thinking clarifies. I learn things I didn’t know I knew. I can even get well, writing. I therefore think that writing is magic. I think writing not only can get the story out of me but reveal to me why I’m…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Hogs threaten county trails
To the editor, The Raccoon River Valley Bike Trail, which runs through Greene, Guthrie, Dallas counties and on to Des Moines, has been nominated for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame and has been an undeniable asset to our community for over 30 years. The DNR’s North Raccoon Water Trail has nine access points in Greene County with Squirrel Hollow…
Read MoreI seem to be stuck on this
~a column by Colleen O’Brien When the Republicans passed a bill during the last administration to give the uber wealthy a tax break, the McConnell Republicans and the previous administration were not worried about the debt. Today they are pretty worried about it – the other side is writing the budget demands now, you see. But it’s not the debt…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – ACCESS services
Dear Editor, Everybody and every child in Greene County and beyond, deserves a safe and supportive home. ACCESS (Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support) is an agency working locally to prevent homelessness. ACCESS is a non-profit that strives to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence as well as other violent crimes. We do this in a variety of…
Read MoreGotta love words
~a column by Colleen O’Brien I just came across a word I’d never seen before. This is always a thrill – not because I know so much that I never have to look up a word but because people who write a lot tend to use the same words again and again. I’ve never known that I had occasion to…
Read MoreA letter to our elected officials
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Dear Senators, Congresspeople and other federal, local and state government elected employees of all political persuasions, please tax us all. Do not let some of us, including yourselves (for example, members of Congress have written into law for themselves a $3,000 annual income tax deduction for maintaining a second residence*), escape paying taxes. Taxes are…
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