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An outside perspective from a mayor's point-of-view

Letters to Editor

To the editor: I'm Kurtis Bower, the current mayor of Roland, Iowa, and a Story County resident. You might be thinking, "What's his interest in our issues if he doesn't live here?" I campaigned to be a state representative in the Iowa House of Representatives, and during the campaign process, I got to know so many of you and I care about all of you. I find it amazing that many of you take an interest in your local governments and the processes that they undertake. I can tell you that as a sitting mayor of a small town, whenever you discuss money, it is often an unpleasant, but ...

Just be in the room

Local Columns

For the past year, I have been sitting in many, many meetings, sometimes the only one present outside of staff or other media. This sounds tedious. But one thing I’ve learned. It’s important to be there. Most of these meetings include elected officials, voted on by me, my neighbors and the community. And I appreciate the time it takes to work in these positions. These are not easy jobs if they are reading the materials and studying the issues. So I respect those who have taken up the challenge, campaigned for the positions, and then find themselves placed in a totally new ...

Supports use of electric cars

Letters to Editor

To the editor, As communities across the country grapple with rising fuel costs, air pollution, and the growing impacts of global warming, one solution is becoming increasingly clear — the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Electric cars offer a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. By producing zero tailpipe emissions, they reduce air pollution and improve public health, especially in urban areas where smog and poor air quality disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. When you factor in that EVs cost roughly 50% less to fuel, and ...

Tipping should be for good service, not automatic

Letters to Editor

To the editor: Tipping used to be something people did to reward good service. Now it feels like it’s being requested everywhere, all the time, no matter what kind of service is actually provided. I recently ordered a coffee through an app. Before I had even driven to the window or received my drink, the app was already asking me for a tip. How am I supposed to judge the service before the transaction has even happened? Another example was at Casey’s Arena in Des Moines. I grabbed my own slice of pizza, filled my own drink, and checked myself out at a self-service kiosk. Yet ...

Saying goodbye to old technology

Local Columns

We had to say goodbye to an old family friend last week. Our VHS recorder/player died. I’ve owned a VHS unit for more than 40 years. The dearly departed VHS machine was number three. The first VHS player came at great expense. I purchased it from an advertising client who operated a large appliance and electronics store. I never asked for a discount but Bill always gave me one. The technology was relatively new at the time, early 1980s, and a major purchase for our young family. With the discount, it cost approximately $400. This was a good VHS player but not top of the line. I ...

Finding gratitude in every season

Local Columns

Living in rural Iowa teaches us a lot about seasons. We watch the fields turn from brown to green, then green to gold. We celebrate the rain when it’s needed and pray for it when it doesn’t come. We know what it’s like to endure long winters, muddy springs, hot summers, and busy harvests. Life has a way of reminding us that every season eventually changes. The same is true in our personal lives. Some seasons are filled with joy—weddings, new babies, family gatherings, good health, and answered prayers. Other seasons feel much harder. We may be carrying the weight of a ...