I learned something very surprising this week, so surprising that my response was, “that’s crazy.” And I said, “that’s crazy” a second time, and a third time. “That’s crazy!” I learned the number of criminal trials that can be held each year in Greene County is limited to 10. “That’s crazy!” may be what you’re thinking, too.
Read MoreCategory: Opinion
To be or not to be … addicted
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Last week I submitted to my writers group a possible column that I was calling “To be or not to be . . . angry.” It was about our president, and I had been struggling with it for days, ambivalent, writing and rewriting. I couldn’t understand my confusion, but I knew I could get help…
Read MoreLetter to the editor -Chris Henning
Re: Your voice and your vote matter – caucus with Democrats Feb. 5 To the editor, Much has happened politically since the 2016 caucus nationally and in Iowa. The election of Donald Trump as president; the re-election of Republican Steve King to Congress; the re-election of Republicans Chip Baltimore and Jerry Behn to represent Greene County in the Statehouse; the…
Read MoreNorthey releases Iowa Water Quality Initiative 2018 legislative report
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey on Jan. 24 highlighted the Iowa Water Quality Initiative 2018 legislative report during his presentation to the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee. “It is exciting to continue to see significant growth in the water quality efforts underway all across our state in both rural and urban areas. This report is an attempt to…
Read MoreFragile democracy
~a column by Colleen O’Brien I saw the film “The Post,” which in a nutshell is about our need to protect and champion freedom of the press. Then I saw “Darkest Hour,” which is about Churchill, the Prime Minister of England, who stood up to Hitler’s Nazis as they were about to push the entire English army out of France…
Read MoreNorthey’s statement on funding for water quality efforts
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey on Tuesday issued the following statement regarding final passage of SF 512, which provides nearly $300 million for water quality efforts in Iowa over the next 12 years. “Passage of this long-term water quality funding bill with bipartisan support is a tremendous next step as we work to continue scaling up the water quality…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Linda Ross, Elderserve II
Dear editor, The Greene County Congregate Meal Program (Elderserve II) has great appreciation for the residents of Greene County who support the program. Funding from the county and city of Jefferson is a vital part of our operation along with support from various clubs, organizations, churches and numerous individuals who have given of their time and finances throughout the year…
Read MoreThe Behn Report
January 19, 2018 In the Legislature Now that we are in the second week, we’ve started to listen to presentations in our committees, and meeting with many groups and departments to discuss funding and priorities for the year. In the ways & means committee this year, we will be working on tax reform.
Read MoreAlways lessons to be learned
~a column by Colleen O’Brien At a community breakfast in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King on Saturday, I heard two speakers talk about subjects that tailgated remarks made by President Donald Trump two days prior. It was pure coincidence, a kind of magical realism that in a timely manner denounced the bad manners and accompanying constant anger on the…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Bruce Bannister
To the editor, McClure Engineering, who now employs Zack Mannheimer, are back at the trough asking for more money to do a “housing plan”. $93000 has already been squandered on “Vision 2020” planning which produced not one useful, feasible idea. Why would anyone consider hiring these people again? Lutz’s main message was that they “needed to be paid” and would…
Read MoreThe great relief of the mundane
~a column by Colleen O’Brien A new acquaintance told me a story of her “coming through” major cancer surgery, as she said. She had been ill a long time, she had been doing chemo a long time, she had lost her hair a long time ago, along with her strength and her will. She thought she would be dead within…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Greene County Early Learning Center
To the editor, The Greene County Early Learning Center has great appreciation for the support from the community. Grants, donations, fundraisers and volunteer hours make it possible for the center to continue to be successful.
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