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An intense and persistent fear

Local Columns

What scares you? Spiders? Snakes? Heights? Public speaking? Death? Congress? I am fascinated with phobias which, my dictionary says, are “an intense and persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things, animals, or people.” What makes the fear a phobia is the “excessive and unreasonable desire” to avoid the things which scare you so intensely. That would include an intense and persistent desire to avoid spiders, snakes, heights, public speaking and death. And Congress. We all have a phobia or two. I have a fear of small, confined spaces. It’s called ...

What's missing from houses these days?

Local Columns

Take an afternoon drive around an urban or suburban area anywhere in the Midwest. Look at the houses. What is missing from these homes that would likely have been there 50 years ago? Give up? How about a television antenna? Fifty years ago you would have found a television antenna on most residential rooftops. The advent of cable television initiated the disappearance of the rooftop antenna. Then satellite receivers took even more. When commercial broadcast TV went digital in 2009 the new technology eliminated the need for some rooftop antennas. Nowadays internet streaming makes ...

Webster City Community Schools. Public funds should not fund private schools

Letters to Editor

To the editor: I attended the Webster City Community School Board Candidate Forum on October 27 and was very impressed with the quality, sincerity, passion and commitment of each of the candidates. As the former Hamilton County Treasurer of 26 years and a 12-year past member of the school board, I feel I am in a unique position to be equally passionate concerning the state of Iowa’s economy and Iowa schools — public tax dollars should only be spent on public schools. The school voucher program or “educational savings accounts” was approved by the Legislature starting in ...

Knowledge talks, wisdom listens

Local Columns

When I learned to read I quickly became a little nerd, reading anything I could get my hands on. It’s amazing what a kid can learn by reading, especially when he finds stuff he shouldn’t be reading. While I have learned a great deal from reading, I’ve learned even more from listening — to parents, mentors, friends, bosses and peers. The earliest bit of wisdom I recall was from my mother. “Don’t tell lies!” she warned as we walked to school on the first day of kindergarten. Her words are well-remembered because I was a bit of a prevaricator at the time. I learned it’s ...

Scot Ely would be a strong addition to the school board

Letters to Editor

To the editor: I would like to share my support for Scot Ely, who is running for the Webster City School Board. I've had the opportunity to talk with Scot, and I truly believe he would be a strong addition to the board. Scot is focused on keeping our schools safe and welcoming for every student.He values strong academics and believes our tax dollars should be used wisely and responsibly. I know he will work hard to build good partnerships between families, teachers, and the district. I appreciate his common-sense approach and genuine care for our community. Please join me in ...

Ariel Bertran is ready to lead with vision, integrity and passion.

Letters to Editor

To the editor: As a proud member of this community and a local business owner, I have been closely following the school board and city council campaigns. One name stands out to me in the school board race: Ariel Bertran. Ariel is a community leader and a dedicated mother with children in our schools. She is driven, dedicated, and hard-working. She believes in our teachers and is committed to giving them the support, respect, and tools they need to succeed. She believes in our students and is determined to create the programs, experiences, and resources that help them reach their full ...