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Today we honor a dream of justice

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, being observed today, is an appropriate time to recall an exceptional person. But more importantly, it’s a time to recommit the nation to the cause for which King died and the legacy he left for all of us. The famed civil rights leader, assassinated April 4, 1968, was a preacher with a message as important today as it was more than four decades ago. He saw God’s words as fundamentally connected to his call for equality, nonviolence and justice. King’s religious faith was the heart, center and soul of his work. Without God’s word, King believed, there ...

Flu shots provide potentially lifesaving protection

With the whole world seemingly focused on how fast the COVID-19 vaccine can be administered, we must not forget the importance of an older vaccine: the flu shot. Just about everyone has called in sick at some point, saying they had the flu when they were sniffling, sneezing, maybe running a fever and generally feeling lousy. Those symptoms definitely add up to an illness, but the problem is not really the flu. Influenza, as it is properly known, is much, much worse. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, influenza is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. ...

Centrist coalition helped pass relief bill

For months, Americans’ pleas for Congress to give us more financial help in coping with COVID-19 have fallen on political ears — much worse than merely deaf ones — in Washington. Exactly why lawmakers were unable to agree on a second CARES Act is open to debate. Republican loyalists believe the problem is with Democrat leaders’ chicanery. Democrats contend the problem was just the opposite of that. That tells us much about the matter, of course. It was a classic political standoff, with politicians avoiding blame by faulting their opponents — while the American people ...

It’s time to do what is necessary to stop spread of COVID-19

The COVID-19 crisis continues to be the major news story daily. If we want it not to be, we need to start taking it seriously. COVID-19 is not the flu. It is both more contagious and more deadly. Its virulence, or how easy it is to pass on to others, is exacerbated by the fact that without testing, there is no way to tell who might be carrying the virus. That means that every person you meet could have COVID-19 and give it to you. It also means that you could have it and spread it to every person you encounter, and never know. Hamilton County Public Health officials are seeing a ...

Support our restaurants, small businesses

The decision by many to shelter in place during this pandemic has been wise, but it’s been hard on many. Our local small businesses, who depend on our money to stay open, have been especially hard hit. Some restaurants have attempted to adapt by switching to carryout and delivery only, but it hasn’t made up the loss of dine in customers, who in most cases, were most of their business. Salons have been hit hard as well, since they depend on people coming in, and aren’t allowed to make housecalls. Retail stores have lost all of their foot traffic because they aren’t allowed to ...

Good for business, good for the community

The Webster City City Council approved a small business loan program Monday night in response to the Covid-19 crisis. The council set aside $250,000 for the loans, to be issued in increments of $2500 and $5000. Businesses with gross annual revenues of less than $500,000 with 20 employees or less and who have been closed as part of state mandates will be eligible. Funds can be used for the following purposes: - Rent or mortgage payments - Payroll - Utilities - Other expenses associated with keeping the business viable Loan repayment will be deferred for 1 year, but loans can be ...