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Webster City Area Chamber encourages continued support for downtown businesses following fire

Local Columns

Commerce extends its heartfelt thoughts to all those affected by the recent fire at J Watts Electric LLC. This unfortunate incident, which also led to the temporary closure of neighboring businesses including The Webster Theater, Gilbert Jewelers, and Sandi’s Attic, and Platinum Connect, reminds us of the unpredictable challenges our local businesses face. The Webster Theater will still host the free movie sponsored by Karl Webster City — “The Gremlins Special Edition” — at Jefferson Gym on Saturday December 2. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Showtime is 2 p.m. The parade route ...

We need to take a deeper look at our long-term needs

Letters to Editor

To the editor: I’m astounded that with the projected expenditures, we approved moving forward on a splash pad and even more by a follow up letter that said we should instead do an aquatic center. There have been offers of donations toward the splash pad, but they don’t cover even half of the projected expense or the expense for the water which is projected to increase 50% in the next two years. It would also take away income from the current pool which we will have to address if we then want to keep the pool going. The idea of an aquatic center and the money needed for that ...

About that splash pad

Local Columns

People have asked: How can we impact local decisions? In this case, they are referring to the City of Webster City’s proposed splash pad for East Twin Park. If you joined the conversation late, here’s the Cliffs Notes: On November 17 in this space I challenged people to put their name where their mouth is by openly expressing their opinions on issues that potentially impact all of us. Then I proceeded to dive into the punchbowl by saying I, for one, think the splash pad stands way down in a long list of major expenditures this city is facing and cannot avoid. In response to ...

Let's not spend our resources on a splash pad

Letters to Editor

To the editor: There are expenses that our city government must undertake. Namely, those being the wastewater treatment plant, the water treatment plant and the electrical utility needs. Being on a fixed income we don’t like these expenses, but we accept them as necessary. On the other hand, there is a proposed city expense that we wish not to accept. That is the proposed splash pad for East Twin Park. Earlier, the city was advised to avoid extra expenses. Another argument is that the state of Iowa is in a serious and lingering drought. The flushing of thousands of gallons of water ...

Weighty thoughts on being heavy

Local Columns

Going through scores of old family photos recently reminded me of something for which I need no reminder: I’m the heavyweight in the family. From age four on, every photograph shows a chubby me. While the rest of my family was of normal proportions, I was wearing “husky” jeans from JC Penney. At one time in my childhood I actually wondered if I had been adopted by a skinny family. My first experience with dieting occurred during the summer between seventh and eighth grades. As a remedy for Osgood Schlatters Disease (knee problems) my doctor prescribed a diet and that summer I ...

Jane Curtis hit the nail on the head

Letters to Editor

To the editor: Jane Curtis hit the nail on the head! We’ve been strongly advised that Webster City needs to “tighten our belts.” Though the splash pad is an interesting idea, it is not necessary at this time when it would only serve a very limited age group, is extremely costly, and would put an ongoing annual upkeep expense on not only our pocketbooks, but those of our children and grandchildren. Especially with this large water rate hike in these current times of drought. Wouldn’t it be more prudent to put that money toward a new aquatic center that would bring in revenue, ...