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School pictures: Smile pretty kids

Each school year most American children participate in an annual rite known as “school pictures.” I’m guessing many school pictures have already been shot, printed and delivered by early November. It’s a familiar process. Notes are sent home to parents alerting them to the day school photographs will be taken. Most mothers take extra care on the appointed day to be sure little Johnnie and Susie look just right for their school pictures. Early on I was enthused about school pictures. As I grew older and realized my looks had peaked at age three I grew to dread the annual ...

Halloween for all ages

If the numbers of people downtown during last night's Trick or Treat event are any sign, it seems that Halloween is a very popular holiday. The streets were full, tons of candy and books and more were distributed to the excited children and their families. And the business people were all smiles, greeting what seemed like a thousand children and their parents visiting the downtown area. When the weather cooperates, and it certainly did, this is a wonderful way to get the entire community back on the streets, reminding us that downtown Webster City is a truly fun experience. We saw ...

The Bootcamp crew of Jewell

Editors note: The following column was the winner of the “There’s No Place Like Home” photo and writing contest which was held in Jewell this past month. The entries were to include a photo that captures the spirit of the community. Congratulations to Suzy Bunk Bahr for the winning entry which we are including today as a guest column below: "The Bootcamp Crew" One of my favorite things to do is share time with this group. Leaders and warriors, they inspire me in so many ways. They welcome everyone! All you have to do is just show up, and you will feel like you belong. This ...

Shift your thinking and help lift the spirits of others

As we near the end of this years election cycle, it seems fitting that we begin to shift our thinking to a more positive focus. The campaigns of our elections this year don’t make the list of things I’m grateful for, but the end of the campaigning is certainly on my list. Shifting to positive outcomes is critical for our state of mind, to allow us to hope for a brighter future. The best possible outcome for us all, is to find we have elected good leaders, who will do things in the best interest of all. That is my focus. But there is so much more. We have so many things ...

Looking at the outward appearance

My old high school more than 60 years ago was small. The building housed grades K-12 so it wasn’t unusual for a high school student to run into elementary kids. One afternoon while walking through a nearly empty lunchroom I met two boys, probably about second or third-grade, walking the opposite direction. When our paths met, one of the boys looked up at me and, pointing to his friend, said, “He says you’re Lurch. Is that true?” In real life, Ted Cassidy, the actor who played Lurch in the 1960s The Addams Family television series was 6’9” tall. I’m only 6’7” but a ...

Should not take the newspaper for granted

To the Editor: Local newspapers are the informational lifeblood of a community. Some time ago Pulitzer Prize recipient Art Cullen, editor of the Storm Lake Pilot, wrote an article capturing the importance of local newspapers to their communities. That article is summarized here from another source: “Cullen’s article emphasizes that local newspapers like the Storm Lake Times are vital for community cohesion because they connect residents, foster trust, and keep people informed about issues that matter most in their daily lives. He argues that local papers serve as the ...