Category: Opinion

If you haven’t already read GreeneCountyNewsOnline’s recap of 2017 and preview of 2018 under the News tab, go back and take a look. Some major community projects saw completion in 2017 while others are just getting launched as 2018 begins. Stories in 2017 made us proud, angry, sad, excited, optimistic – all those things that make life such an interesting…

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~a column by Colleen O’Brien Here we are, three days into 2018, with a few things to think about. I thought that 2016 was a tough year until the onslaught of 2017 hit – it was relentless. And I’m one of the tens of millions who escaped being shot while at a concert or in a church or being run…

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~a column by Colleen O’Brien Our stories matter. We explain ourselves by our stories; we are our stories. Especially at this time of year, when we are full of memories both good and bad about our lives, when we’re about to enter into one more brand new year of possibilities – vowing to be better, kinder, more forgiving – it’s…

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~a guest column by Roxanne Hanney In light of our recent national dialog about sexual harassment and assault, I read with interest an article in last Sunday’s New York Times by actress Salma Hayek. She, like many others in Hollywood, added her story to the growing list of Harvey Weinstein’s victims. In the conclusion of her piece, she said that…

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To the editor, It is appalling that the city intends to spend $140,000 on signage so people can find their way to the square. You have to be kidding. What a colossal waste of money. Sincerely, Bruce Banister, Jefferson

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~a column by Colleen O’Brien The phrase “killing the messenger” has had a long run in this old world. It goes back to the Greeks as so many of our words and sayings do, this particular one from Plutarch: “The first messenger, that gave notice of Lucullus’ coming was so far from pleasing Tigranes that he had his head cut…

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A lot can happen in 40 years. Forty years ago, we didn’t have cell phones and instant access to whatever our heart’s desire. Scranton, Rippey, and Grand Junction had thriving schools and numerous businesses. Small family farms dotted the east side of Greene County. And those farmers were friends, families, and neighbors trying to do what was best for the…

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~a column by Colleen O’Brien Calling themselves “angelic troublemakers,” the not-for-profit group Indivisible works to teach voters how decision are made in our government, the government that ignores our views in favor of donors. They believe that the government needs fixing, as do the politicians, and that we, the people, can do it.

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~a column by Colleen O’Brien I think that Trump was indeed the catalyst for women speaking up against sexual predation. During the campaign for President of the United States, his chuckling denial of any harm done by grabbing women below the belt . . . in fact that women like it . . . was the incubator of women’s public…

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Dr John Paschen, Democratic candidate for U. S. Representative Iowa 4th District, will be in Jefferson to speak and meet with members of the community on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 7 pm at the Thomas Jefferson Gardens Welcome Center,  202 E Lincoln Way in Jefferson. Paschen, from Ames, is a well-known pediatrician there. He is particularly interested in hearing from…

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I want to send out a sincere Thank You to the woman who helped cover the cost of two used tires for my truck on Nov. 9 at McAtee Tire. By her doing that it allowed me to go visit my Army buddy who I had deployed with to Iraq in 2007. If she hadn’t helped me out I would’ve…

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~a column by Colleen O’Brien I spent two days in Boston with my own tour guide, a friend who had lived thereabouts for 40 years. It was a privilege following her around. Being led by someone I know who knows everything about the streets we traveled is the best way to learn a new city. She was good at pointing…

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