~a column by Colleen O’Brien Reading a couple of current books on the history and politics of Russia for a project, I am learning about Vlad the Putin and Vlad the Impaler (15th-century prince of Romania the Russians wrote about because his impaling deeds were so horrible people felt drawn to them in order to be horrified).
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Letter to the editor – Jefferson Matters board
Letter to the Editor, Jefferson Matters: Main Street’s board of directors on behalf of our committees wants to applaud the Jefferson RAGBRAI committee for their extraordinary work to showcase Jefferson on July 23. The signage, hospitality, vendors, entertainment, buses, and campgrounds gave the positive impression of not only the downtown but the entire community.
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Dick Finch
To the editor, Wild Rose asks for city to build $1.4 million dollar frontage road so it will enhance the value of their property – Drees property and Reuter Farms property. In 1976 I sold property at the corner of Mulberry and Hiway 30 to Binns Equipment for a John Deere dealership.
Read MoreDoes holding rallies work for the betterment of the country?
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Wild fires burn in California; the polar ice cap melts; storms brew in the Atlantic and the Pacific that wipe out habitats animal, vegetable and mineral; wet places turn dry and dry places turn wet. The news folks tell us all about it, and then the news turns to political rallies.
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Bruce Banister
To the editor: Trump calls the press “the enemy of the people”. Fact is, Trump is the enemy of the people. Trump is no friend of the truth. He has declared bankruptcy numerous times leaving others holding the bag, he has cheated workers out of their wages and he lies constantly.
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Craig Hertel re: Sgt Stubby: An American Hero
August 6, 2018 To the editor – My most sincere thank you to the Floyd W. Brown Post 11 of the American Legion of Iowa for sponsoring the free showing this past weekend of Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero. Admittedly, I was not aware of the story of this WW 1 canine hero.
Read MoreBigglyness and weeniness
~a column by Colleen O’Brien I am surprised, in a kind of fearful way, when I see the faces and hear the tenor of the voices at a midterm “rally.” These faces and voices belong to people whose chosen candidate won the prize, and they are this angry? They are hateful in visage and voice. What would they be like…
Read MoreAre you a tiny-house person?
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Upon visiting a house advertised as a “tiny house” in a neighborhood near me, it dawned on me that long ago my husband and I had become tiny house folks without knowing it. The term wasn’t around when we started out, so we thought of ourselves as merely living in smaller houses than most people…
Read MoreThe press and the prez
~a column by Colleen O’Brien “There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of a comfortable past which, in fact, never existed.” This is a quote from Robert F. Kennedy in 1964, speaking to the fact that his brother Jack…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Katlynn Gannon-Mechaelsen
To the editor, I am Katlynn Gannon-Mechaelsen and I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself. For those that are unaware, I am running for the office of Greene County treasurer in the November 2018 election.
Read MoreTeens brave the status quo
~a column by Colleen O’Brien “Here are the rules,” said the teenager at the podium. “No rudeness. No backstory of your own. No revealing of your party affiliation. Questions only.” So started a town meeting conducted by students from Lakeland, Florida’s Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School on the subject of gun laws. On Valentine’s Day, a shooter entered that school…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Bruce Banister
To the editor: We didn’t elect “Crooked Hillary” but, instead the people chose “Traitor Trump”. It is obvious that he is in “Thug Putin’s” pocket. Devious Donald prefers to take Putin’s word over the facts from our own intelligence agencies. Iowa Senators Grassley and Ernst issued weak, cowardly comments. They are terrified to stand up to the liar-in-chief.
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