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In support of Ted Switzer

To the BCLUW Community, As a member of the BCLUW community, I am writing in strong support of Ted Switzer for the BCLUW School Board. Ted is only a few years removed from walking the same halls our students walk today, and that recent experience gives him a unique and valuable perspective. He and his wife, Emma, have chosen to make this community their home — showing a clear and genuine commitment to the future of BCLUW. With their first child on the way, they quite literally have skin in the game when it comes to the quality of our schools and the strength of our community. Ted ...

Mike Ladehoff for Mayor

I google to fin out what makes a good Mayor for small community. Here is what it says: • To have a strong communication skills. Clearly convey ideas and listen to community concerns. • Community engagement. Actively involve residents in the decision making process. • Visionary leadership. Set a clear vision for the community’s future and work towards it. • Problem solving ability. Address issues proactively and find practical solutions. • Integrity and transparency. Maintain honesty and openness in all dealings. • Collaboration Skills. Works effectively with ...

Please don’t teargas the chicken

As I sit here in “war-torn” Portland, Oregon, there are no firebombs, no cars ablaze. Yes, there are a few folks peacefully picketing outside the ICE facility (one in a chicken suit) and an “emergency naked bike ride” is planned for next week. Yes, Portland is weird. It revels in being weird. And true, in 2020 there were riots here when Portlanders were justifiably tired of blatant police brutality. It’s still not Utopia, but neither is it the “hell hole” described by our quickly declining president. While protesters are literally knitting sweaters, Kristy Noem’s ...

E911 changes

After reading Rhonda Braudis’ article about the changes to the career of an emergency dispatcher, I am compelled to add some ancient history background to the changes she has seen. My wife and I moved to Marshalltown in 1974; when we arrived, I maintained all of the radio communications for Marshalltown PD and Marshall County Sheriff. They shared a common base station, located in the basement of City Hall, which was manufactured in 1949. It was controlled by two remote controllers (each about the size of two bread boxes), one each on a filing cabinet in the tiny PD office in City ...

Legionnaires’ disease

Where are our elected officials? They should be demanding accountability from the state officials about who and where the disease originated from. It is in the public interest and a safety issue and not let the state officials put it off. After all 70 some people and 2 deaths are wanting to know how they got sick.

“Worst of the worst” is a lie

The case involving former school superintendent Ian Roberts is regrettable. Yes, he lied on parts of his resume and said things that weren’t true. But at the same time, Roberts was well-regarded by many students, parents and school officials. As Des Moines Register reporter Courtney Crowder wrote: “The fire he kindled in some students marked the first time a person in power believed in their abilities, saw their potential.” That said, his arrest by ICE agents could’ve been handled much differently. It seems like it was done as a show of force and power, and to intimidate ...