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Kloberdanz's experience, dedication uniquely qualify him for re-election

To the editor: Next Tuesday the voters of Hamilton County District One will face a choice between two highly respected candidates that are seeking the office of Hamilton County Supervisor. Although Iowa law requires a candidate to seek the office of County Supervisor on a party label, it is in reality an administrative position that oversees the County’s business and is not in any way political in the exercise of its statutory authority. The background experience together with any personal interaction one may have encountered with a candidate will and should always be considered ...

I have struggled to find something funny to say

In these final fractious moments leading up to joy for some and bitterness for others, I have struggled to find something funny to say. Yeah, I know. I literally laid awake this morning trying to think of something that would make us all laugh. I came up empty. But then I remembered my best friend Cheryl, whose antics have been a huge portion of my life since I was 13. It was Cheryl who walked with me a half mile or so on a frozen gravel road when I told her never to hit the brakes when your car goes into a slide. Then showed her why. It was Cheryl, on her way to an important job ...

A note from the editor:

As we near the November 5 election, please take note of the special deadlines that will be in place regarding your submitted opinions and letters to the editor that pertain to the election. The last submitted opinion or letter will be published on Friday, November 1. That means that your submissions must reach the editor no later than Thursday, October 31, by noon. As always, letters and opinions must be signed with the writer's name and town of residence and accompanied by a working telephone number for purposes of contact. Thank you.

Please vote for our friend Mary Clausen for Hamilton County Supervisor

To the editor: Not many people have the opportunity to remain friends with kids you went to elementary school with. But we have. We’ve grown up with Mary. We’ve known her through her teens to current day. And one thing is constant. If someone was in need— she was there. Whether it was a school activity that needed volunteers, bringing awesome cinnamon rolls for coffee at church, making decisions in church committees, receiving awards in her professional career — or volunteering in her community — you could count on Mary to do what she promised she would do. Her career ...

When Huisinga met Peterson

A few days past, I encountered two people I did not know as I went outside to retrieve that all-important mail (which, as usual, was hardly worth the effort). They introduced themselves and handed me a local candidate’s “door hanger” for the upcoming election. This began a normal (for ...

Tipping outhouses and other treats

Get a bunch of guys 70 years and older together at this time of year and the conversation just might turn to Halloweens of yore. One-upmanship sets in as each man brags about Halloween pranks in which he was involved. One Halloween in the early ‘60s some of the guys (I wasn’t in on this one) placed a farm trailer on top of an overhang at our high school gym entrance. The school superintendent walked into our study hall the next morning and with an obviously accurate sixth sense called out about a half dozen names. The guys left with sheepish grins and moved the trailer to the ...