These two simple, run-of-the-mill school spiral notebooks sit on the bookshelf in my office. They don't look like much really-just your basic lined paper school notebook. Pretty unimpressive, at least till you open one up.That's when you'll see line after line in each notebook filled with the ...
Amazon, that online repository of books and just about everything else, recently released its list of 100 books to read in a lifetime. As I thumbed through the digital listing of books, I was amazed at how many of the books I had actually finished.Of course, there were a several that I hadn't ...
In preparation for upcoming floor debate and moving forward with proposed legislation, week four at the Capitol has consisted of many subcommittee meetings for multiple bills. After subcommittee meetings are held, these bills will return to their respective committees for discussion and ...
To the Editor:A farm bill is working its way through Congress. If passed, it will pay 62 percent of the farmer's crop insurance. The Des Moines Register reports that travelers have lost 2.5 billion this winter due to weather related issues. Airlines lost 75 to 150 million just in January.In ...
To the Editor:As someone who has benefitted greatly from local counselor, Tom Follett, MSW, I was disturbed to learn of a suspension of his license.Tom goes above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to helping people in their process of and journey to healing. The compassionate care and ...
To the Editor:I humbly appreciate the excellent news coverage The Daily Freeman-Journal and KQWC has done, when American Legion National Commander Dan Dellinger and his entourage visited our Post. Here at the American Legion Post 191, we try to make all veterans feel at home. If you have served ...
Here we go again. Robins. More robins. Despite our "yo-yo" up and down temperatures of minus 10 one day and plus 14 the next day and a weather pattern of rain, sleet and snow, cloudy and snowy, the robin sightings continue to roll in.Last Sunday morning, I was out and about, driving around the ...
Next Christmas when your rich relatives brag about their trips abroad, join in the discussion. Crow about your trips to exotic places and no one will have to know you never left Iowa.Introducing the Tight Wad Iowan World Travel Service. Yes, folks, we will take you on a world tour on a very ...
Moving is on my mind these days, and not only because of the column on that topic that my cohort columnist wrote last week.This move isn't mine, though, but someone in my family who is moving to another state. A cold northern state at that, and he's heading there in February, so you know that ...
My January 17 column focused on the literary legacy at Kendall Young Library, this week I will explore the artistic legacy that can be found in the library building and in the town of Webster City.The artistic legacy starts with the structure of the building itself. While comparable library ...
This week started off fast with the 46-0 passage of SF 303, a bill eliminating the income tax on veterans' retirement pay. Now, we are more competitive with other states that have NO income tax at all, or do not have income tax on any retirement income. The bill also illustrates how quickly ...
To the Editor:I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended the Faith United Methodist Soup Supper. We were able to make a profit of more than $900 and are sending all of the profit to Upper Des Moines Opportunity to be used in the food pantry. This could not have been ...
To the Editor:We would like to thank the Webster City Wrestling Family, the community of Webster City and the surrouning schools for coming out to the fundraiser to support Brandon (Jessen). A huge thanks also goes out to all those who donated baked goods and helped at the fundraiser.It is ...
Lots of "trail talk" this week from here and there about this and that. First off is an interesting note I received from Bob Woodruff of Ames about last week's column about warming and cooling. Woodruff, a meteorologist says the ironic thing about all this is that along the Arctic Circle from ...
This month marks the 40th anniversary of the big move. In January 1974 my wife and I and our one-year-old son left our families and hometowns behind and moved three hours west to what seemed then to be the big city of Sioux City.Though we were happy and comfortable in Webster City a series of ...
So there I was, driving around the parking lot of a local big box store on a busy Sunday afternoon, looking for a parking place. But it wasn't happening. All the spaces were occupied. There were plenty of pedestrians, too, of course, busy shoppers walking from their vehicles to the store ...
Despite the bitterly cold night, a huge crowd of area business people. local government officials and volunteers turned out for the annual Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce banquet Wednesday night.I enjoyed the evening with several co-workers and welcomed the chance to mingle with other ...
Week two at the State House has consisted of reflection on the past and looking to the future. As Americans, we are blessed with freedoms and liberties, in which we must never forget the importance of.Monday we celebrated Martin Lutheran King Jr. Day. Across the state people converged to ...
Jam of the Week: "Tea Leaf Dancers" by Flying LotusThe internet is interesting in many ways. Not just the fact that a communications network initially developed to share research and military information is now largely used to share cut cat videos, but that too.One exciting thing that people ...
Howdy, pilgrim. Let's talk about this global warming thing. They almost had me convinced. Now, I'm not so sure. Right out of the chute it gets confusing. It's not a one and done thing anymore. I'll be honest with you, I didn't see any of this stuff coming.I'm still not sure and I'm still not ...