~a column by Colleen O’Brien This country enjoyed a brief respite for sensible people when Joe R. Biden was elected honorably – without ANY cheating or lying – President of the U.S. by a majority of the people of the U. S. But the nightmare soon returned, in the form of mayhem and murder, televised across the world under the…
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Capitol Roundup
~by State Senator Jesse Green February 19, 2021 It is week six already! We have been getting quite a bit done lately so time seems to go by more quickly. We passed several bills this week, and I’ll highlight a couple of the big ones. Education was the highlight of the week once again. The Senate and the House came…
Read MoreThe Capitol Roundup
~by State Sen Jesse Green February 13, 2021 The fifth week of the legislative session included more debate on important education issues, as well as continuing our work in subcommittees and committees. One of the bills the State Government Committee discussed this week is Senate File 163, which provides an extension for professional and occupational licenses for those working on…
Read MoreThe Capitol Roundup
~by State Sen Jesse Green February 4, 2021 This was the fourth week of the legislative session. We continued our work on many important issues in subcommittee and committees, and also had some more floor debate. One of the bills we discussed was Senate File 231, allowing a person holding a special minor’s driver’s license who resides on a farm…
Read MoreNostalgia, redux
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Looking into old boxes as I putter around my house in reclusive pandemic mode, I find two years’ worth of columns dated 1984 and ’85. “That’s 37 years ago!” I exclaim aloud, unbelieving that that much time has elapsed. I do not feel nearly 40 years older, I think, not looking in a mirror. The…
Read MoreNaylor invites all to IA Organic Assoc workshops
To the editor, As my husband and I have transitioned our farm to organic, the experience has been very rewarding, as well as quite challenging. Even though my husband has been farming for over 40 years, connecting to other farmers, to researchers, and to professionals has been an important aspect of this organic learning curve. To assist more Iowa farmers…
Read MoreA gift to the people of Greene County
~an editorial by Janice Harbaugh The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower, a gift from Floyd Mahanay and built over 50 years ago, has become a spot of joy to people of the county, musicians, and visitors since the bells actually became playable several years ago. The Bell Tower Community Foundation and the Greene County board of supervisors have been acting as…
Read MoreSnowbird says Covid exposure is due to someone else’s stupidity
Sad but true story. Mr. and Mrs. John Doe for some unknown reason decided to get a Covid test on Thursday, Jan. 21. They then went about their business doing all the activities available to them within the RV park, specifically the sewing room and the main hall, perhaps the swimming pool and, who knows what else. On Monday they…
Read MoreCapitol Roundup
~by Sen Jesse Green January 29, 2021 Greetings central Iowa friends and neighbors! This week at the Capitol was very exciting. I finally had the opportunity to push the “YEA” button to let your voice be heard. To keep building on the farm illustrations I’ve been using the past couple weeks, we are finally starting to ‘bale some hay’ here at the…
Read MoreAh, poetry
~a column by Colleen O’Brien We were warned that the presidential inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. would be different, unlike other inaugurations. And they were right. There were hardly any people. This wasn’t because no one wanted to attend, it was the imperative to distance because of the coronavirus. The Biden Presidential Inaugural Committee managed it well. There were…
Read MoreLetter to the editor: M. Weaver opposes state funds for non-public schools
Dear Tori, I am writing to inform your readers about Senate Study Bill 1065 that allows “scholarships” for individual student choice of schools. These funds can be used for homeschooling with the funds going directly to the parents, charter schools, or private schools, all which allows tax payer dollars to leave Greene County Schools. Per pupil cost for Greene County…
Read MoreErnst statement on impeachment trial
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) released the following statement after the House of Representatives delivered an article of impeachment against former President Donald Trump to the Senate: “Violence, no matter your party affiliation, is wrong. Destroying homes and businesses is lawlessness. A mob attack on the U.S. Capitol is inexcusable. The political rhetoric that has reverberated throughout this country for too long…
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