Viewpoints

To the Editor:

Senator Grassley’s recent editorial supports the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP) and the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). My five attempts to him questioning this have received “canned” responses failing to address the concerns Iowans face with their health care.

Multiple letters sent to Iowa’s other five congressional office holders in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have been totally ignored. “Please explain why you support the RHTP that will provide Iowa with $209 million over the next five years but voted for the OBBB that cuts $2.7 billion from Iowa’s rural health care needs over the next decade?”

To the Editor:

If you were President, and had all the billions of dollars that Trump has spent on his ego, through wars, ballrooms, paving over the rose garden, gilding all the rooms in the White House, painting the reflecting pool blue, and I don’t know what else we haven’t heard about, what would you do with it?

Would you fund such “unnecessary” things as preschool for all children, maybe free meals, breakfast and lunch. We know kids learn better when they are not hungry. Maybe a new health system, where everyone has access to medical care, no matter how rich or poor. A great way to help that would be funding local hospitals and clinics, raising wages for the nurses and aides, and all the people who are instrumental in keeping the doors open.

Why not help students afford to get the education and training they need to fill our need for health workers, and all the general trades that are crying out for new high skill workers.

To the Editor:

Regarding the problematic role of 200 Main Street in the Main Street right-of-way (Hwy. 9) project. Come Fall 2027 the project is scheduled to begin.

As you may have observed, the condition of the building’s rear exterior is in need of work with bricks and stones from time to time having tumbled to the adjoining sidewalk and alley. Thus, the alley exit/entry is barricaded.

Because of the critical location of the building in the right-of-way project, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) hired a consulting firm to evaluate the physical condition of the building’s interior and exterior. Given the age and condition of the building’s exterior they expressed concern about the impact of vibrations from construction activities too close to the building.

To the Editor:

WinnMed is proud to partner with LifeServe Blood Center to meet 100% of our blood product needs. In fact, hospitals across our region solely rely on LifeServe for this same critical support. As a community-based blood bank, LifeServe ensures that blood donated locally is used to care for patients within our own communities.

While the American Red Cross also conducts blood drives in northeast Iowa, it is important for the public to understand that Red Cross donations are distributed nationally and are not used to maintain a consistent supply for local hospitals. LifeServe remains the only community blood bank serving most of Iowa, directly supporting the patients and providers in our region.

To the Editor:

We need A new Senate Majority Leader. Iowans need someone who can do the job, and if they are unable to deliver they need to go.

Senator Mike Klimesh indicated he was going to protect property rights for landowners, and unfortunately he did not meet the challenge of protecting the citizens of Iowa’s property rights. This has been an issue for almost the last five years now. A sane person would  think that property rights should be one of the top issues or at least near the top to open the session at the State Senate, not at the 11th hour and not even then. It was never brought up in the Senate.

Since Mr. Klimesh didn’t meet  the challenge for Iowans, he should try something else that would suit him better. We need people who say and do what they say they will do. That  will develop a bit of trust in our politicians. Surely someone else will do a better job.

Brenda Barr
Hancock County
 

It was one of those days, where as a parent of three sick littles I hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep. We were living in a third-floor apartment outside Lynchburg, VA. The day before, the downstairs neighbor, an artist, had complained that we were being too loud. Apparently, all the tiny feet running up and down the hall above him were not conducive to producing the next Picasso - I get it.

My husband was in the back room trying to get some sleep after working the night shift as a $9 an hour janitor - the only job he could find. I was sitting on our navy blue couch - one child on each side of me and the baby on my lap wanting to nurse again for the umpteenth time. All crying, all snotty-nosed, hair uncombed, no one yet dressed for the day. And God help us all if they ran down the hall and once again disturbed the downstairs Michelangelo.

To the Editor:

The cornerstone of democracy is its citizens’ right to vote. Now is the time to use our voices in this democracy.

Courageous citizens have demonstrated their willingness to represent a district in national, state and county elected offices. During the primary election campaign, candidates asked voters what issue is most important to them. Our vote can match issues that affect our children, family and community with a candidate we believe will best address our concerns.

A neighbor to neighbor project is a non-partisan volunteer effort with the purpose to encourage citizens to vote in the primary election. Project volunteers have five questions to ask, and every citizen can ask themselves the questions.

To the Editor:

Congratulations again to Steve and Jane Johanningmeier for being selected as 2026 Master Farmers. They deserve it. As a neighbor since they moved to the farm on our west, they’ve grown and thrived.

Dare I say it, two farmers in Paint Creek township in Allamakee County working the same watershed singled out by Wallaces Farmer, my parents in 1963 and Steve and Jane 59 years later, is notable. Could it be the Tama/Downs and Fayette/Dubuque soils make great farmers? Could it be the family and neighbor support that drives success?

We rented their ground before they moved to Sunny Side Up farm, now Distant View. I got the business for my very (very) crooked rows of corn stretching to their future house. As a high school junior, I might be forgiven for inattentive driving. If only I had precision farming tools of today.  However, I’m glad I did it and glad I’m done.

Tomorrow, May 14, is Ascension Day.

While not as widely known as other Christian holidays, it is one of the Church’s great feasts. Observed forty days after Easter, Ascension Day marks the moment when the risen Christ ascended into Heaven as his disciples watched in wonder.

In many parts of the world - especially Germany - Ascension Day remains widely celebrated. Churches hold special worship services, bells ring, and families gather outdoors. In some villages, processions and festivals fill the day with music, food, and community. For many German immigrants who settled throughout this area, Ascension Day was once an important part of church life and family tradition.

But Ascension Day is not simply about Jesus returning to the Father. In fact, the story points us toward what comes next.

To the Editor:

Affordability is real and a crisis even though Trump tries to deny it. Prices for groceries, gas, and health insurance have skyrocketed. Why is this happening? Connect the dots.

Trump illegally imposed massive tariffs on countries which resulted in higher prices paid by consumers.  Ordinary Americans are now paying more to feed, clothe, and provide necessities for their families. Although only the U.S. House of Representatives has the power to impose tariffs, our elected representative did absolutely nothing as small businesses closed their doors, workers lost jobs, and farmers lost markets.