~a column by Mary Weaver I am saddened, as well as shocked by the horror stories erupting statewide about the deplorable and life taking situations occurring in Iowa nursing homes. Stories of gangrene resulting in amputations, a story of a person choking in their own saliva, a story of a person freezing in the winter of 2023 when the alarm…
Read MoreCategory: Opinion
Nancy Houska encourages donations to Greene Backer campaign
To the editor, It is hard for me to believe we have already entered the 2023 holidays and will be flipping the calendars to 2024 in just a few short weeks. I love this time of year, when people are filled with the spirit of the season and we carve out special memories with family and friends. This is also…
Read MoreAG Bird offers tips to avoid being scammed
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird today announced her top five tips for avoiding online shopping scams. Online shopping scams are reportedly the second most common form of fraud in the United States. Americans lost $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022 alone. “While we’re all taking advantage of the online shopping deals this season, so are the scammers,” said Bird. “Online…
Read MoreMore anecdotes from a trip to the Med
~a column by Colleen O’Brien I asked the front desk clerk for a good place to eat supper. “Supper?” she asked in her Italian accented American “Dinner,” I corrected myself. “Ah, si,” she said enthusiastically. “Our favorite place!” She smiled broadly and waved her left arm across my face and pointed. “Out the door,” she said, “turn left, two blocks,…
Read MoreTurkey Foundation recognized for 50 years of impact
The National Wild Turkey Foundation (NWTF) was recognized for their 50 years of mission fulfillment with a proclamation issued by Governor Kim Reynolds, acknowledging the NWTF’s impact both locally and nationally. Fred Long of Jefferson is a board member and legislative committee chair for NWTF, and his efforts were able to bring the proclamation into existence. “Policy is about relationships…
Read MoreA couple anecdotes from abroad
~a column by Colleen O’Brien After 10 days of ignoring American political news, I am home again to the onslaught of even more dire happenings than ever. The quiet vacation was at first vaguely uncomfortable – where is my newsfeed? – and then my vacation became perfect. I packed away my phone for lack of WiFi on the boat I…
Read MoreView from My Window – Funds could be spent better than sending state troopers to Texas
~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…
Read MoreGreen 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…
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