~a column by Colleen O’Brien To the gentleman who sent a letter to the editor about a column I wrote . . . Dear Reader, I was thrilled! to get it. Columnists around the world seldom get Letters to the Editor. It’s because columnists keep writing every day, twice a week, once a week — so the readers know there will…
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View from my window – November, Diabetes Awareness Month
November is American Diabetes Month®, a time to raise awareness about diabetes as it is one of the fastest growing chronic diseases in the world. According to the National Diabetes Association, nearly one in two Americans has diabetes or prediabetes. In Iowa approximately 10.1 per cent of the adult population is diagnosed with diabetes, with an additional 70,000 people living…
Read MoreThe columnist’s wish list
~by Colleen O’Brien I went into a bookstore that is not a chain, planning to buy books for the family for Christmas . . . doing something ahead of time for once . . . and found a couple of books for the grands, a couple of books for my daughter . . . and 11 for me. I bought…
Read MoreA turning point? The state of American citizenship
~by Sen Jesse Green, Iowa Senate District 24 November 20, 2025 How dire is the current situation facing Americans? Is this the most divisive era in generations? Are we experiencing something unprecedented that other cultures and societies have never encountered? Can we rebuild a sense of unity once again? These are questions many are pondering. I do not believe what…
Read MoreOne more news cycle that unhinged me
~by Colleen O’Brien I just wish when Trump says to a reporter, “You’re the worst. You’re from Bloomberg/ABC/CNN/the Times, right? I don’t know why they even have you….” that the reporter would reply, “You’re the president who ‘won’ with the lowest number of votes ever, right? I don’t know why we even have you….” And walk away. I wish all…
Read MoreLetter to the editor, D. Lautner re: ‘The Lady’
To the editor, This is in reference to your 1600 word beat down of our president dated 11/05/2025. Most readers failed to progress through the third paragraph due to the length of the article, which didn’t keep their attention. I, however, made it to paragraph 13 in which you stated, “To fight back in a moral rather than a physical…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Jacque Andrew re: The Children’s Center
To the editor, THANK YOU to all who attended the ribbon cutting for The Children’s Center playground last week! There has been so much support for this project for the benefit of our youngest citizens! Now that this project is completed, it is time to once again thank all who have had a hand in its success! It wouldn’t have…
Read MoreOnly a year ago
~A column by Colleen O’Brien On a blustery Sunday in the Midwest, I watched giant snowflakes fall and disappear on the still warm asphalt as I was hit by whining gusts of wind whistling around me at up to 30 mph. The preview of winter weather whipped my hair like an eggbeater and scattered fat flakes and red and yellow…
Read MoreUncle Sam wants you!
A veteran looks back December 1, 1969, was a changing day in my life. On that day was the first military draft lottery since WWII. The lottery used birthdays to determine the random order in which you would be chosen for military service in 1970 during the Vietnam war. At that time I was a senior at Northwest Missouri State…
Read MoreOpen letter to the Greene County supervisors re: bitcoin mining, submitted by R. Nielson
To the Honorable Members of the Board of Supervisors, Greene County, lA, 07 NOV 2025 An Open Letter Concerning Bitcoin Mining, as reviewed in the Jefferson Herald newspaper I submit this letter of opinion under Citizen’s duress, and in disagreement to the creation and/or operation of any such venture enterprises in Greene County in exchange for a tax abatement with…
Read MoreView from my window – Quilts of Valor awarded to Greene County veterans
On Sunday, Nov. 2, there was a special awards ceremony at the David M. Mosher VFW Post 9599 in Jefferson. Six military veterans received recognition from Perry Piecemakers Quilts of Valor. The ceremony began with leader Pat Mundy providing an explanation of the founder, Catherine Roberts, having a vivid dream in 2003 of a soldier in anguish that was lessened…
Read MoreWhat to do now?
~a column by Colleen O’Brien When a government whose business is the welfare of its people honestly enhances a population, those people then work with strength because they trust that government, and goodwill and generosity flow both ways because they have reason to trust one another. Sounds like a pipe dream, doesn’t it? But these are words that stand behind the…
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