Viewpoints

... that I have noted here before that this column is turned in a week before publication date, and so readers have history over events cited.
That said, I grew up hearing that robins arriving in Iowa from the south would “get snow on their tails three times” before the spring weather settled down. On this Monday before Easter, it has happened once, and forecasters are saying it would happen again Thursday and maybe Easter Sunday.
My mother used to remind me that old wives have experienced more things and so know more things than young people.

To the Editor:
It’s apparent that Allamakee County may be funding a major portion of the costs to construct the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center in Lansing. Whether we like it or not, a substantial amount of our tax dollars are going to that project.
Although grants (some of which are supported by tax dollars) will cover a large portion of the costs and local business and personal donations will help, the final costs will outweigh the revenue in hand. Our supervisors have committed County financial support to build the Center by signing construction contracts last fall. This was before a good share of funding was secured.
Construction has begun and still there is a notable financial shortfall. What incentive is there for the fundraisers to proceed with their duty if the County has guaranteed financing?

To the Editor:
Hello! I am a fourth grade student in North Carolina. In fourth grade, we do state reports and I have chosen your state! I am very excited to learn more about the great state of Iowa as I work on my report.
I am writing to you to ask you to please publish the letter below in your Letters to the Editor section of your newspaper. It enhances my learning about the state when I hear from actual people who live in and love their state!
Thank you for considering helping me with this project!

Sincerely,
Elena Walker

Please meditate on the following scriptures: Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23.
What is victory? What is defeat? What makes somebody a winner? And somebody else a loser?
One day, not too long ago, I went to a semi-pro basketball game and I saw a big, tough basketball player come off the floor and in anger shove a manager who was offering him a towel, back up against the bench and over on his behind. I was disgusted. The big, tough basketball player was not a winner. He was a pitiful loser.
Outward appearances do not tell the story. The biggest person, or the person with the biggest mouth, is not necessarily the winner, even though he may look like it at the moment.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

Editor’s Note: The following was originally published in the March 13 issue of The Witness and was submitted to The Standard by Bob Hager of Dorchester. It is being reprinted here with the permission of Witness Editor, Dan Russo.

To the Editor:
Bill #2345 has passed through the Iowa House of Representatives.  It seems the intent of this bill is to assure that gasoline taxes collected at Iowa pumps are spent as intended, for our roads and bridges. In part, it says:
“An act requiring annual reports by county engineers on the use of road tax fund moneys to replace or repair structurally deficient bridges under county jurisdiction.  The engineer of each county shall certify and file a report detailing the manner in which moneys received by the county from the road use tax fund were used to replace or repair structurally deficient bridges under county jurisdiction.”

To the Editor:
In the last few weeks I’ve heard a lot with respect to the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center currently being built south of Lansing. I’ve attended a Board of Supervisors meeting when the project was discussed to make sure I had both sides of the issue.
Though I support the project in theory, I disagree with the implementation of it without having the necessary funding secured, and I have no confidence in the project’s ability to generate the necessary revenue, year after year, to fund itself.

The congregation I serve is blessed with a sizable number of children and youth who participate in the life and ministry of our church. Twenty to 25 of them regularly participate in Christian education activities Wednesday nights, and many in that lively group worship regularly with their families Sundays.
Over the years, I’ve often heard parents express anxiety about bringing their children to church. Their concern usually goes something like this:
“My kids only go to church because I make them go. It’s bad enough when they are going to  Sunday school where they get to have fun, but when they’re just sitting in church on Sundays and they don’t get anything out of it, it seems rather pointless to make them go.”
I get that. I really do.
Not every Sunday at our house includes our three kids jumping out of bed and leaping with joy at the thought of going to church.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"