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Sayonara Samara

You know those whirly-gig helicopter seedlings that soft maple trees shed in the spring by the gazillions, clogging gutters and sprouting little trees in all the places you don’t want trees, like your flower bed, cracks in the sidewalk and your manicured fire bush hedge that you’re so proud of? Those seedlings are called samaras. As a kid we used to bite off the seed, and put the blade on our tongue, blow and make a buzzing sound, like locusts in the fall. We have a huge soft maple tree at the back of our house. In fact, Ginnie and I were married under that tree ten years ago. In ...

Immigration and border control are a couple of the most serious issues facing the U.S. The debate over how many legal immigrants should enter the country, how to improve the legal immigration process, who should be granted legal status, and how to address the folks who break the rules is never-ending. It’s easy to fall into the trap of having the ‘answers’ to long-running questions like these be black and white. Some would say let everyone in. Others would say let no one in. Grant amnesty to every illegal immigrant, or deport them all back home. These options are the wrong fit ...

Iowans are compassionate people. We believe in hard work, personal responsibility, and following the rules. That’s why most Iowans support legal immigration and welcome people who want to come here the right way, contribute, and build a better life for their families. But Iowans also believe in the rule of law and that borders matter and the public safety of Americans is paramount. For four years under Joe Biden, Washington acted like enforcing immigration law was somehow optional. Democrats across the country agreed. The result was chaos at the southern border and consequences ...

Appreciation for vendors and community partners

On behalf of our healthcare team, I’d like to extend our sincere appreciation to the local food truck vendors and community partners who supported our team members during Nurse’s Week and Healthcare Worker Appreciation Week. Throughout these weeks, your presence on-site and your ...

This occurs when officials fail to use their eyes and ears

At the risk of blurring the increasingly fuzzy line between church and state, here is a Gospel reading for public employees and elected officials, according to Matthew: “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.” Unfortunately, it does not take much looking these days to see government leaders bedeviled by lousy optics and burdened by tone deafness. Perhaps it is a lack of vision or just a refusal to listen. Either way, these officials are doing and saying things that leave the taxpayers who pay their salaries perplexed. These episodets extend ...

Brass Tacks from Rural Iowa: A session to remember come November

Earlier this year, I wrote that I didn’t have high hopes for this Iowa legislative session. In that regard, they didn’t disappoint when they gaveled out on May 3rd! After a lot of bluster last session with no action, this year lawmakers finally passed some form of property tax reform. But don’t try and figure out how it’ll work in the long run. Based on how some lawmakers are pitching it, I don’t think they’re too sure how it’ll work. And the people who have to make it work for their counties (the Supervisors) feel under attack. Lawmakers gave families on SNAP more ...