Breaking News

Local Columns

Another manner of speaking

When I was a teenager I tried to be a “far out groovy cat.” My ‘55 Chevy was “cherry,” my school was “cool,” and my friends were “outta sight.” When I agreed with them, I would say, “right on, man.” Every generation has its own slang vocabulary and in the ‘60s we had a lot of slang. Some slang terms carry over for generations and others come and go in a matter of years. “Broke” (as in no money) can be traced back to the 1930s but “salty” (as in “very nice”) appeared and died within the ‘60s. Back in the ‘50s something that was very nice was ...

Tante Antje wanted ‘blake threat’

One of the many ways in which my parents blessed their six children was introducing us to their aunts and uncles. Our mother was particularly close to her Aunt Annie, one of her father’s older sisters. We knew Aunt Annie by her German title: Tante Antje. We visited Tante Antje frequently and she often visited our home, usually several days at a time. Tante Antje, the third of seven children, was born in 1882 in an East Frisian village in northwest Germany. According to family lore, Antje’s oldest brother, Hinderk, wanted to go to America. Hinderk, however, suffered from some ...

It’s going to be quite a day

This is the third installment of a series about the upcoming Honor Flight, transporting about 120 veterans for a one-day tour of memorials in Washington, D. C. Honor Flights have been flown for two decades, providing a wonderful, insightful service to veterans who have served during the ...

Because they take themselves lightly

It’s been at least 30 years since the photocopied list of “church bloopers” made the rounds. These lists claimed that all the items were excerpts from actual church bulletins. Here are a few reminders: — Remember in prayer the many who are sick and tired of our church and community. — During the absence of our pastor we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when A.B. Doe supplied our pulpit. — A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow. — At the evening service tonight the sermon topic will be “What is ...

Ready for the Honor Flight

On September 18, the Brushy Creek Honor Flight will celebrate its 26th flight, leaving Fort Dodge and taking veterans from World War II, the Korean and Vietnam war eras to our nation’s capital to visit their memorials. In last week’s Daily Freeman-Journal I described this program, a ...

‘… These tears I can’t hold inside.’

It was a Sunday in late February 1960. I was 12 years old and we were visiting my paternal grandparents. After Sunday dinner, my father and grandfather were visiting across the room from where I was quietly reading. It was a strange week for my family. Dad was fired from his job on Friday and two days later we’re at my grandparents’ home. I heard Dad tell my grandfather about his job situation. And then I witnessed my grandfather do something that shocked me. My grandfather began crying as he consoled his 33-year-old son. This was uncomfortable to see. From an early age I had ...