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Something new

Local Columns

What makes us so resistant to change? It seems many developments — especially technical developments — are unwelcome for the first few years. Case in point: electric vehicles. I am amused by the memes and comments on Facebook that ridicule electric cars or EVs for short. Certainly there are hurdles to clear before EVs become common on our highways A friend purchased a new EV within the last year and loves it. He is aware of the vehicle’s shortcomings (like range) but plans his trips accordingly. I don’t anticipate ever owning an EV because engineers keep designing cars ...

Like manure, that stuff is better spread around

Local Columns

“But it wasn’t the money. Like manure, that stuff was better spread around.” That’s a line from near the end of a novel I wrote. It refers to the life-changing infusion of funds won by the book’s heroine, an Iowa farm woman whose dreams collide with a trans lounge singer in Las Vegas. It’s a goofy storyline, in some ways, and I can elaborate on it another time. Its point, though, is crucial: It wasn’t about the money; it was about what she would do with it. With that in mind, I sat down with Dean Bowden the other day to ask him what makes him tick. Many of you know ...

Flashback to France in another time

Local Columns

I’ll admit it; I’ve been a bit “hooked” by the 2024 Olympic Games. Maybe it started back in 1996, when our family went on a grand adventure to the ’96 Atlanta Games. I still vividly remember being on the subway when the chaos in Centennial Park happened. Having to evacuate off the ...

Congratulations to Arts R Alive, Bowden and Harrenstein for promoting public art

Letters to Editor

To the editor: Arts R Alive sponsored a wonderful event at West Twin Park last Thursday evening. The citizens who work hard to promote and realize that organization’s agenda are to be commended. They managed to provide for the public a friendly gathering of adults and children, light refreshments, live music by Jive for Five, and an ongoing commitment to the enrichment of public life and community-building. The importance of public art was clearly and leisurely demonstrated by the most recent installation of beautiful sculptures, comments by local philanthropist Dean Bowden, and ...

Experiencing the Party Line

Local Columns

My first non-farm job was at our county seat radio station. In the spring of 1966 Mr. Orton, our school newspaper advisor, introduced me to the radio station owner who offered me a part-time job. While attending junior college I worked part time at the station and that led to a full-time job. It was a dream job: 70 hours a week, six days a week beginning at 5 a.m. and every other Sunday, two holidays each year and less than $100 a week. But, hey, it was show business! Within the first year the boss promoted me to writing the local news which was right up my alley, but I still had ...

Feed in the time of Floyd Woodard

Local Columns

Diane and I recently had our second grandchild arrive: our first grandson. The little guy is settling in with his parents in Minneapolis and soon will be meeting his cousin, our granddaughter who lives in Ellsworth. In the meantime, we’re watching our son’s two “fur babies” to lessen ...