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Local Columns

New Year’s Eve traditions around the world

Years ago I thought it was necessary to welcome the new year with a celebration of some sort. At the very least, I thought one should stay up until midnight to usher in the new year. During my high school years a classmate hosted a New Years’ Eve party at her home. We were country kids — ...

Blessings

“When I'm worried and I can't sleep I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall asleep counting my blessings.” I love that song. You probably know it. Written by Irving Berlin and sung by Bing Crosby in the movie “White Christmas,” it’s a mellow reminder that things could ...

Why should kids have all the fun?

Teenagers have a lot of fun. Several photos of our church’s middle school and high school youth groups having a good time at their respective Christmas parties were posted on the church’s Facebook page recently. I felt a twinge of envy. It’s been a long, long time since I was involved ...

Safety Patrol duty and a traffic violator

While far short of qualifying for Mensa, I was gifted with a good memory. So it is that I can distinctly remember something that happened nearly 64 years ago. My father took a job with the grain elevator in Sibley, Iowa, and we moved there in February 1960. As it turned out, Dad’s job ...

Without this community’s support, there will be no Sandi’s Attic

When the fire started, Sandi Davis shoved Emerald into a cardboard box and fled her downtown store. Then she watched as firefighters fought the blaze in the building to the west of her place, Sandi’s Attic. On Tuesday, she sorted through what was left of her retail consignment shop. Water ...

Is it Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?

Every year about this time we begin hearing complaints from whose who believe their right to wish others a Merry Christmas has been taken away. Or they complain that someone wished them “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” As a follower of Jesus who sincerely believes Jesus ...