Viewpoints

To the Editor:

In his letter of September 6, Jacob Galema has a couple of things right. We need to reduce/eliminate waste and fraud in the government.  And we need to end corporate welfare. On everything else he is wrong.

His plea to support his “dude Bernie” requires that you give up the notion of self reliance and self determination and let the government take care of you. That is not what made America great and it will certainly do nothing to improve it.

I am not willing to give the government any more power at the expensive of individual freedom. I will continue to promote that as long as I can take a breath. We do not need any more power handed over to the government.

To the Editor:

Once again, it seems that roads are becoming very busy with farm equipment. It is the season when ag equipment will be traveling area roads more frequently, as local farmers begin to harvest the crops.

So, as you drive to work or are just on a weekend road trip, please take extra caution and pay attention for farm equipment. They are only traveling at one-third to half the speed of most vehicles on the road.

Here are some tips to keep you and them safe on the roads. Pay attention to their flashing amber lights, these are their way of telling you they are slower than you and also which direction they are possibly going to be turning for a driveway. If you pass on the highway, be courteous and move over and do it in a marked passing zone because it is the law, even if you’re just passing a tractor! 

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that I have noted here before that the way a newspaper or television reporter feels about a story often indicates how that story will be treated.

A case in point is the effort by Iowa’s largest newspaper to make it appear the city of Waukee will cut a check for $213 million to Apple so Apple will locate a data center there.

Apple has said there will be 50 people employed at the center so opponents have done the math so it appears it will cost the city over $4 million per job.

Played down is the fact the city will actually be paying nothing to Apple. Instead, the city will “forgive” a portion of property taxes on the site for 20 years. It will collect $76 million in property taxes during that period.

What would the city get if Apple doesn’t build? Perhaps nothing. What if some other use is made of the property? Who knows?

To the Editor:

For a while early this spring, there was talk of not opening the swimming pool in Lansing this summer. Luckily, enough community-conscious people were able to make it happen. As a group, the Lansing aqua-size class would like to send a huge expression of thanks to all the individuals that made the pool opening a reality.

We come from Lansing, New Albin, DeSoto, Ferryville and all places in between. We, wholeheartedly, applaud the efforts of all those who made the pool opening a reality this summer.

When you think of a swimming pool, you may get a vision of young kids jumping off the board, kids of all sizes and ages cooling off on a hot day, but we would venture a guess that a group that appreciates the pool just as much or more is the group of individuals who gather three times a week at 5:00 to join in group exercise in the pool.

To the Editor:

Not to belabor a topic, but a unique opportunity may exist for someone or an organization, business, etc. because the main event of the summer, RAGBRAI, locally generated many attractive outdoor displays with a bicycle theme in various settings. All one needs is a camera, a good eye and a little imagination.

It could be a contest, of sorts, with the best 12 or 24 pictures chosen for a 2018 calendar (maybe two photos per month). These could be sold depicting and promoting Allamakee County, with all or some of the profits going toward building or creating new or better bicycle or walking trails right here for local families to use.

It is not too late, as a few fall leaves may add more authority to the picture or scene. This could be sponsored by the Chamber, the County Tourism Office, local banks or even a county newspaper. It would sell; a Norman Rockwell-style, old-fashioned-looking calendar depicting smalltown Iowa rural America.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that I don’t understand why Navy ships keep having accidents with commercial vessels at sea.

As a member of the air group aboard our carrier, I did not spend time on the bridge, but did visit a few times. Mostly it was to see how the air officer kept track of where our planes were aboard our carrier. But I was tangentially aware of radar operations.

We traveled with destroyer escorts, and they were usually visible from weather decks. But once in a while, we had to rendezvous with an oiler for transfer of fuels, and the two ships always seemed to find each other.

To the Editor:

Yes, it finally happened. RAGBRAI XLV hit Allamakee County and Waukon, and what a sight it was with thousands of people and bicycles everywhere. Not since Dick Sparrow and Ray Sweeney brought the 40-horse hitch to Waukon have so many strangers graced our streets - only this time they stayed for a while.

It was one of those “you almost had to be there” moments. I hope many pictures were taken for sharing with locals and others years from now. I was asked by a friend in another state, “What exactly is RAGBRAI?”.

To summarize it, RAGBRAI is a combination of a big tent chautauqua, a carnival (without big rides), a traveling road show, a smaller version of the Iowa State Fair, a food extravaganza - both local and mobile, an outdoor rock concert, and the summer Olympics, all rolled into one. The only thing missing was a religious revival, and maybe some of that took place also.

To the Editor:

I would like to make some clarifications. I am not a Democrat, I don’t think we should abolish capitalism, I have a copy of the Constitution on the bookcase next to my bed, I don’t want free stuff, and I don’t hate the military. Saying we spend too much on our military doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate everything our service men and women do for us every day.

I do believe government is a necessary part of living in a civilized society. We can’t be the greatest country in the world while letting our people die from lack of healthcare at the same time. In other countries they actually get things for the taxes they pay. The truth is capitalism (without regulation) is not bound to protecting people from corporate greed and the ability to profit off of our elderly, our sick, our vulnerable, our students, our incarcerated, and essentially everyone. Eliminating order to create more “freedom” doesn’t work.

To the Editor:

I want to express my appreciation to all Allamakee Community School students, staff, alumni and community members past and present for the honor bestowed upon me in naming the Waukon High School outdoor athletic area the “Richard Hermeier Sports Complex”. I am so proud of all the school facilities, staff and students that represent my humble beginnings.

This school and Waukon High School athletics have had a profound influence on my entire life and I am grateful to express my love and gratitude by continuing to contribute financially to the Waukon athletic facilities and programs. I ask that all of you find it in your heart to show your allegiance to Waukon High School and keep the Waukon Indians number one. No contribution is too small.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that I delayed writing this today until the partial eclipse had happened. Should not have bothered. I realize we were in the 85% or so area, but it seemed a bust, after weeks of hype. Cloud cover didn’t help.

I suffer from that disease quite common to older people, called retention deficit disorder, but I think the one in 1979 was more impressive here. I remember a couple of the young photographers at the newspaper set up on the roof to photograph it, after making elaborate plans.

And I remember when my Navy-trained “artful dodger” photographer, unhappy with an eclipse photo, used a flashlight and two round discs, one white and one black, and made a beautiful representation in his darkroom. Drew raves after publication, and we never told!

You younger folks will get another chance to see a partial here, in April of 2024.