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Tension is building in the legislature as we near the first funnel date March 11. To remain viable for debate on the floor, bills must have passed through the committee process by this date. There are exceptions: bills passed from the House, leadership bills, and any bills in the Ways & Means and Appropriations Committees.

We believe that Iowa parents know what is best for their children. They want options that match their Iowa values. Parents understand that early childhood is not a one-size fits all program. The House Republicans are committed to empowering parents and communities to identify the needs of their children. We want to allow them to develop and enhance these services.

Two of the prettiest female high school graduates I have ever known, one a relative, went on to study statistics in college and have carved out careers in actuarial science. I was always tempted to ask, what’s a nice girl like you doing in a job like that?

Anyway, that thought came to me when I read that Iowa ranks second in the nation in percentage of high school students who graduate.

While the educators were feeling good about that, the allied statistic that only a third of those graduates are prepared for college was almost overlooked.

DES MOINES – Iowa lawmakers promised that they would work tirelessly to transform the state’s economy.

And they will. Right after they finish arguing about the cigarette tax, declaring war on deer, learning about civility, debating whether the state’s universities are run by monkeys, locking up cold medicines and carefully weighing the merits of daylight savings time, spinner hubcaps, secret compartments and channel catfish.

They swear it’s the very next thing…hey, is that free ice cream in the cafeteria?

We all have times when we just can’t get our point across. Maybe it’s a complex issue or something very simple. But we all know that there are those frustrating moments when, no matter what we say or how we say it, we are just not understood.

Tuesday, March 1, t-shirts and tickets to the 2005 girls basketball state tournament will be on sale at the Waukon Senior High cafeteria from 4 to 7 p.m. Also, old jerseys will be available for resale.

The Booster Club will offer charter buses for all games and fans can sign-up to ride Tuesday, March 1. Cost to ride is $35, which also covers the cost of a game ticket. Charter buses will load at 1 p.m. next Tuesday.

Stephen Swart fell into the 189-pound consolation bracket yesterday at the state wrestling tournament. The junior was pinned by fifth-rated Ty Copsey of Glenwood during quarterfinal action last night. After falling into the consolation bracket, Swart planted Cody Crique of Chariton on the mat in 4:37 to ensure a podium finish. During today's 2:15 p.m. session, Swart will face Mike Moser of North Fayette. The Waukon wrestler upended Moser during district action last Saturday, although Moser ultimately earned the runner-up position to qualify for state.

A John Deere 3300 two-row combine, originally a trade-in model from Bodensteiner Implement of Elkader, now belongs to the Waukon FFA Chapter after Waukon Implement general manager Tom Kuennen worked out a deal with Elkader dealer Bob Bodensteiner to bring the donation to reality.

The Waukon Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations from community residents for Waukon’s “Person of the Year” honor, and this is the final week to get those nominations in. This is the eighth year the Chamber will bestow the honor upon a Waukon resident fitting the award’s criteria.

The Waukon Senior High School trio pictured above has been invited by the Iowa High School Athletic Association to sing the National Anthem at the 2005 Iowa High School Boys State Basketball Tournament Thursday, March 17. (Left to right in above photo) Seniors Rachael Hagen and Erin Torkelson and junior Alison Blake will perform prior to the start of Thursday’s evening session, which begins at 6:30 p.m.