Viewpoints

Wed
18
Jan

And then I wrote...

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that I have never made New Year’s Resolutions. Always figured I was having enough trouble keeping promises more or less forced upon me, like the 10 Commandments and a slew of legal “don’ts.”

This year, I am tempted to resolve to learn a new word whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Example: Due to things involved with the holidays, I neglected to order more books for winter reading. I am addicted to reading, and when I am finished with one book, like any addict, I am wondering where my next book will come from, as others worry about their next hit or drink.

Wed
18
Jan

Wexford Wanderings

by Hugh E. Conway

Wexford School

Upon arrival, pioneer families first built a shelter, often in the form of a log cabin. Then, pioneer communities established the essentials for habitation, resources to survive, and a faith community with a church for worship. The family then reached out to nearby neighbors to set up and build a school allowing their children to get at least the rudiments of an education. Iowa has always been a state highly devoted to learning and the development of an effective education system.

Wed
18
Jan

Letter to the Editor: Reasonable solution

To the Editor:

They have this gender thing going on in North Carolina and Virginia in their schools. If certain students don’t know which restroom to use, my wife, Phyllis, has the solution: give them a porta-potty.
There would be very little cost to the taxpayer. What do you think?
Act kindly, act boldly and strong. Stay well.

Kindest regards
and God Bless,
Ozzie Quandahl
Waukon

P.S. Has anyone else thought of that solution?
 

Wed
11
Jan

And then I wrote...

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that there is a single panel cartoon which appears in daily papers called “Pluggers.”

I appreciate it because I relate to it. Mostly, it features an old guy who relates to things of his youth much better than to anything modern.

I thought about that when a famous actress and her famous actress daughter died within a few days of each other recently.

“Mom” was a year or so older than I am and so was at her peak of popularity when I was of an age to appreciate her song and dance and blonde beauty. I saw most of her movies.

Wed
04
Jan

And then I wrote...

by Dick Schiling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that there were frequently repeated television commercials during the holiday season by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. They featured photos and stories about animals which had been abandoned or mistreated by their owners. I am certain the response was “how could anyone treat an animal that way?”

Weirdly, those commercials coincided with debate in many nations, including the United States, about treatment of Muslim immigrants.

And in my own case, with two books I was reading that described in great detail the mistreatment of groups of people because of their race.

China Dolls was written by Lisa See, and published by Random House in 2014.

The Invention of Wings was written by Sue Monk Kidd, and published by the Penguin Group at Random House, also in 2014.

Wed
04
Jan

Word for Word - Pastor Duane Smith

Happy New Year!

This is an exciting time of year! We look forward with great anticipation wondering what the year ahead will bring. We make resolutions that we fully expect to carry out but usually don’t. Most of these resolutions focus on our health (eating right, more exercise, losing weight, running marathons), attitudes (being happier, friendlier), relationships, giving up bad habits or vices, etc. One person’s New Year’s resolution was that they were going to stop making resolutions!

Wed
04
Jan

Word for Word - Pastor Steve Oden

“Peace on Earth, God’s Will  to Men”

There is an interesting story behind  the poem by Henry Wadsworth-Longfellow composed on Christmas day in 1863 during the American Civil War. The poem, “Christmas Bells,”  tells of his own despair upon hearing the ringing of Christmas church bells. Two years prior, Longfellow’s personal peace was shaken when his second wife of eighteen years, to whom he was very devoted, was tragically burned in a fire. 

Wed
04
Jan

Letter to the Editor: Mentors needed for Youth Mentoring Program

To the Editor:

In four to five hours a month, you can be a positive influence in the life of a child. The Youth Mentoring program for Helping Services allows area youth to connect with caring adults who help them to develop to their fullest potential. In Allamakee County, this mentoring program was established in 1998 and continues to provide mentoring services for area children.

Currently, the Youth Mentoring program is in search of mentors and will be conducting a mentorship drive in January. As a mentor, you are able to give a little help and show attention to an area youth. It may be a chat on the phone, watching a movie, or playing a board game. It could be bowling, hiking, baking, or visiting museums - whatever the activity, mentoring is a connection of one child to a responsible adult.

Wed
04
Jan

Letter to the Editor: Beat the winter blues at the Waukon Wellness Center

To the Editor:

To the community:

Christmas and New Years are wonderful occasions to celebrate. However, it is also a time for over indulging on food and beverage.

Too many cookies and too much fudge, pie and punch? Too much sitting at gatherings or watching bowl games? Need to get out of the house and beat the winter blues?

The solution lies at the Waukon Wellness Center. It is a wonderful facility to help us get moving again. One can pedal a bike, walk on a treadmill, or bring a friend to walk the track with you.

There is something for everyone!  When you have completed your exercise you can take advantage of the coffee corner and socialize.

The Wellness Center not only offers a chance to exercise but also come together for socialization.

Waukon is so fortunate to have this wonderful facility so I hope you give it a try.

Suzanne Hahn
Waukon

 

Wed
28
Dec

And then I wrote...

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that sometimes, placing a question in an entirely different context seems to help understanding.

As I am writing this early the afternoon of Monday, Dec. 19, television stations are breathlessly covering the on-going casting of votes by members of the Electoral College. All of them are assuring us that President-elect Donald Tmmp will get almost all of the votes he won in the various states, and thus officially be elected president.

But the role of the Electoral College still seems to be widely misunderstood, or if understood, resented by a number of persons. Some of the protestors apparently are young and so lack a frame of reference. Others are rabid supporters who feel robbed by the defeat of the election’s early odds-on favorite Hillary Clinton. And others are confirmed leftists for whom the entire United States election method is suspect.

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