Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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When I first drove into Iowa to visit my son and his family, I was puzzled by the terrain: vast, flat farmland with little islands scattered at what seemed to be about half-mile intervals; islands of trees, in clumps, in every direction, as far as the eye can see. I asked my son how these huge trees grew in clumps all around the farmland. He explained that each clump of trees was surrounding a farmhouse, because without the trees, the winds could roar across the fields and the homes would have...
What an absolutely crazy two weeks it’s been here in northwest Iowa. I speak for the entire region when I say I’m sick of seeing soiled junk on curbs. Until it dries out for an extended period of time, everyone will remain on edge whenever rain is in the forecast. My heart aches for the thousands of people affected by devastating floods in Rock Valley, Spencer and elsewhere. The hopeless feeling of watching a river destroy your home is unimaginable, and the rebuilding process will be a monumental task. Seeing a unified effort to help those aff...
Hearts are heavy across the region due to massive flooding that brought untold levels of damage in Rock Valley, Spencer and elsewhere. Recovery will take years, and there's little folks can do but lend a helping hand right now. The sky was a geyser late last month. More than a foot of rain fell in some parts, which is obviously more than our ground, streams, creeks and rivers can handle. The deluge led to record flooding that displaced thousands of people. Homes were destroyed, businesses shutte...
Author’s Note: This is the sixth of a series of devotionals from Psalm 146. “Who gives food to the hungry.” – Psalm 146:7b In this series of articles from Psalm 146, we are finding that our hope and trust cannot be in a “prince,” or a “son of man” or “we the people.” So we are finding that we need to shift our hope and trust to the Lord God, our Creator, who is also our amazing provider for all our needs, both of body and soul; who “gives food to the hungry.” More importantly, the Lord G...
Memorial Day marked the unofficial start of summer as barbecues and road trips kicked off posthaste. The calendar’s flip brings with it a reminder to remember one simple task to save lives during the “100 deadly days of summer.” It’s perceived everyone wears a seat belt, but data shows that’s not true. In 2023, 45 percent of traffic fatalities in Iowa were unbuckled, translating to 123 lives lost. In a Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) survey of over 1,450 Iowans, 88 percent reported always buckling up in the front seat; only 67 percent a...
Summer season – hearts sing. Summer season – outdoor things. Robins chirping high on a limb; hummingbirds hovering by delphiniums. Grass growing lush and green; wind blows every day it seems. Blooming flowers galore – dianthus, peonies, daisies and more. Heat radiates from sun; shade of trees welcome. Birdbath filled to brim; full feeders hung from tree limbs. Reading outdoors on deck; birds splashing in birdbath getting wet. Sipping sweet tea, watching a nuthatch on tree. Feathered friends flit and stop by; finches, orioles, colorful to the e...
Summer’s march continues in earnest. Father’s Day is now behind us, and it’ll soon be the Fourth of July. It seems like 2024 will be the fastest year on record – in my mind, anyway. My Father’s Day was a relaxing one. I went golfing with my dad at Meadowbrook to start the morning, and I think I’ll be sending a refund request for the dozen or so golf balls I lost. It was my first outing on the greens this year and my first ever at the rural Hartley course. I don’t golf often, but I can say it was the most challenging nine holes I’ve ever pla...
A beautiful sight to behold Hartley's new pool a welcome addition to City With a Heart Hartley children have been able to enjoy something they haven't experienced in four years – a pool in town. The ribbon was cut on the city's new aquatic center late last month following two years of delays. That saga is well known by now and there's no need to dwell on the details. Hartley finally has its pool, and residents in the City With a Heart can be grateful for that. The facility has been well r...
School’s been out for two weeks and we’re still adjusting at my household. The kids are fine, but the parents are still hashing it out. So it goes with competing schedules that have one kid here and the other one there, with two parents who have their own obligations. Oliver has been busy with educational camps hosted by local libraries and ISU Extension & Outreach this week. That’s great for him, because his insatiable appetite for learning necessitates that his brain stays busy. He’s been enjoying them greatly and hasn’t really bugged me...
Author’s Note: This is the fifth of a series of devotionals from Psalm 146. “Who executes justice for the oppressed, ...” – Psalm 146:7a As we continue our look at Psalm 146, we are finding our hope and trust cannot be in a “prince,” or a “son of man” or “we the people.” The solutions offered by man are temporary, self-defeating and oftentimes, self-destructive. Our hope and trust can only be in the Lord God, our Creator, who keeps truth forever. Further, our hope and trust can only be in the...
May 19-25 marks National EMS Week, where Americans salute our quiet guardians who are there for us in our time of need. Here in rural Iowa, their presence is an immeasurable blessing. This year marks National EMS Week’s 50th anniversary. It’s a time to show our gratitude toward EMTs and paramedics who provide lifesaving care across the nation every day. EMS Week is also a time to educate the public about EMS and the essential service it provides our communities. Paramedics, EMTs and other EMS professionals work diligently to care for their pat...
In today’s digital age, we find ourselves engulfed in what seems like an endless sea of information. Our social media feeds overflow with memes, news articles, and posts from friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances. Streaming platforms bombard us with a new TV show every week, and even our text messages overflow with ads, links, and requests for donations. Among the deluge of information, we also contend with a rise in mis-, dis-, and mal-information, often from bad actors trying to sow d...
Robert Frost has a poem talking about promises to keep and miles to go before you sleep. Do you ever think about the things you need to accomplish in your day? It’s not such a big deal for me since I’m retired, but there are still days I wonder if it’s possible to accomplish all the things that need to be done. After a long winter, springtime is finally arriving. There will be lots of mowing, trimming, planting and fertilizing needed to make our corner of the world a prettier place. I still...
• May 26, 1949 Commencement exercises for the Moneta High School were held at the Moneta Hall. Rev. Harrison Dawes, pastor of the Methodist Church at Eagle Grove, was the speaker. Marianne Meyer was valedictorian of the class of six graduates and Renee Lynam was salutatorian. Kenneth Weber, son of Pastor and Mrs. A.C. Weber of Hartley, was one of five winners of the Kinnick Scholarship at the State University of Iowa. The one-year scholarship was renewable if the holder maintained a high level of scholarship, leadership and participation in c...
The events of the past six months in Israel and Gaza have me wishing it were possible to have just one more lunch with a friend who died four years ago. My friend was Jewish. In today’s vocabulary, he would be called an ardent Zionist. He had little patience for people who disparaged Israel. But he also was a proponent of dialogue and diplomacy. He never hesitated to call me for lunch after The Des Moines Register’s opinion pages published something he disliked. Our lunchtime conversations and...
To the editor: If you’ve driven around Hartley or anywhere in our area, you’ve seen flags in varying stages of weather/wind distress. The American Legion Family can help solve that problem. As a service to our community, we are selling United States flags. We have both 3x5 and 4x6 flags. We are selling both sizes for $25 each. Flags are available at Jackie’s Floral Center or by contacting Kathy Wacker at (712) 459-1179, or Renee Crist at (712) 229-2555. We will have flags available at the Memorial Day program. Please keeping flying your flag...
To the editor: Bill Barr stated that Donald Trump should never be back in the White House. He is dangerous to our democracy. However, he has also stated he will vote for Trump. Mitch McConnell has made similar comments. This is because they are Republicans, so they have to vote Republican. All citizens regardless of their party affiliation should vote for candidates that will work for the good of the country. As an Independent voter, one of the first things I look for with any candidate is their ethical and moral integrity. I guess individuals...
Reminders come in several forms. Sometimes it’s the ding of a phone; other times it’s a Post-It note. Last week, it was tornadoes. A scourge of dangerous twisters ripped across Nebraska and Iowa last Friday, wreaking havoc and leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed, and many people are homeless now – they’re just feeling lucky to have escaped with their lives. That will count as a huge victory down in Minden. Drone footage from the small Pottawattamie County community revealed a harrowing scene a...
I’m always a day late and dollar short. That counts in life, and it also counts in the yard. We should have planted grass last week. There are plenty of barren patches in our yard – partially thanks to my heavy herbicide use last year, and partially thanks to other factors, like the two dogs’ “business.” Regardless, we did not get anything planted, and April’s showers are making me kick myself that I won’t have May grass. Still, there will be May flowers...if you count dandelions. That’s not to say I haven’t been busy. Thanks to the help of a...
To the editor: The Muslims will use my argument from my previous letter to the editor against me, so I apologize for my shortsightedness. Let me review history. Two and a half centuries ago, the Christian God wanted to show the world one more time what He could do, so He assembled a bunch of men who were just brilliant and then He greatly blessed our country. Our forefathers used the biblical understanding of the depravity and corruption of man to form a system of government with separation of powers and a bill of rights, to try to prevent...
On my 36-county tour, I have met with families, small business owners and childcare providers who are rightfully concerned about the skyrocketing cost of childcare. As a father of four, I agree that we need real solutions to lower costs for our families, especially as inflation eats away at paychecks and gas prices are on the rise. While my children have grown up, I remember the days when my wife and I had to balance our jobs with raising our four kids, and ultimately, sending them to daycare....
“Unsustainable” is a fascinating word, especially when it is used in government and politics. Merriam-Webster, the dictionary folks, tell us unsustainable means something cannot be continued or supported. But in governmental affairs, that definition sometimes gets changed. Instead of something truly being incapable of continuing, the word often means the person using the term simply does not want that “something” to go forward. Understanding this distinction can help us better parse the stateme...
To the editor: There was a story from many centuries ago about a King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who worshipped Baal, who let them do what they wanted. A prophet named Elijah challenged the leaders to a showdown. They built an altar on Mount Carmel and offered an animal sacrifice. Elijah thought the God who consumed the sacrifice with fire would be the real god. The leaders of Baal called out for their god to consume the sacrifice. Elijah mocked them saying maybe your god is in the bathroom or maybe he is asleep. Call out louder. When it was...
Author’s Note: This is the fourth of a series of devotionals from Psalm 146. “Who keeps truth forever, ...” ” – Psalm 146:6b As we continue our look at Psalm 146, we are finding our hope and trust cannot be in a “prince,” or a “son of man” or “we the people.” The solutions offered by man are temporary, self-defeating and oftentimes, self-destructive. Our hope and trust can only be in the Lord God, Jesus Christ, our Creator (John 1:1-5). Further, the Lord God is worthy of our hope and trust is in...
This will probably come as a big disappointment to all of you evolutionary scientists out there, but it was announced the other day by a leading expert in the field that we, humans, have evolved about as far as we are going to. That’s right – there are no huge, bulbous heads in our future. Eyes that can see through solid steel will not be forthcoming. Limbs that stretch to fantastic lengths are probably not in the offing for us. In short, we are what we are going to be. There is a reason for...
