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Opinion

Iowa’s wind generation will be an exportable energy source

Letters to Editor

To the editor: While reading the editorial in last Friday’s paper (September 20) I found myself agreeing with most of the statements about Reynolds, Feenstra and eminent domain. I also wish that we would have gotten the three windmills that had been proposed for the hill north of Webster City and the river bluff south of town, but the wind farm by Blairsburg precluded that becoming a reality. I disagree with the statement that wind energy is inefficient and characterizes it as only possible because of government support. It’s the same support that was used after World War II ...

There's a ribbon for that

Local Columns

Anna Woodward gave me a ride after the open house at Community & Family Resources Wednesday and there in the passenger seat of her SUV was a giant roll of ribbon. It’s no secret that the pace of ribbon cuttings has ramped up recently. And with good reason. Webster City has long pined for new manufacturing. That a firm will roll out mass quantities of cookies is a real sweet surprise. After watching firms close that manufactured laundry appliances, central vacuums and other products for decades, Webster City is now home to a cookie factory. Tic Tac Dough, the new bakery and ...

Basic Elements of Economic Development

Letters to Editor

To the editor: To the typical person, economic development is a single, simple, one-time announcement. However, from the other side of an announcement are years of planning, research, revising, anxious days and sleepless nights. For example, the volunteer Board of Directors of the Riverview Early Childcare Center began in 2022 working on identifying what would best serve Webster City’s child development. First identifying what the future likelihood would look like for the infant through the 12 years of age population. First Children’s Financial was consulted and assisted ...

Our emergency responders deserve the best equipment

Letters to Editor

To the editor: 911 Dispatcher: "911, what is the location of your emergency?" Caller: "1857 387th Street" 911 Dispatcher: "OK, what's going on there?" Caller: "I just found my mom. She's not conscious. I can tell if she's breathing …" And so, a family's normal daily life is instantly turned upside down. Is my mom alive? How will my kids find out? Will my mom be OK? Are we going to the hospital? Will she make it to the hospital? Oh God, who will help me? Dozens of questions flash through the mind. The next few minutes will seem like hours. Emergency personnel, many of ...

Another manner of speaking

Local Columns

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 ...

The Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight is propelled by volunteers

Editorials

When a 737 roared into the sky above Fort Dodge Regional Airport just as the sun began to brighten the horizon Wednesday, one of the most unique and heartfelt tributes to area veterans was back in action. About 120 veterans were aboard that plane, going to Washington, D.C., for free to see the nation’s war memorials. The trip was the 26th one conducted by the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight. The first took place in 2010. Since then, about 3,600 veterans from 228 Iowa communities have made the journey. The Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight is largely the vision of one man: Ron Newsum, ...