The recent T-R front-page article entitled “Show of support — citizens gather for Marshalltown Strong CommUnity event,” states that the organizers “sought to start a conversation about the issues of police brutality and systemic racism”. There are currently more than 800,000 sworn ...

Thinking of those whose lives have been forever impacted through recent events. The pendulum swings back and forth testing the limits of its momentum, but eventually it finds its resting space. It is with the same patience, wouldn’t you agree, truth can be found. Sometimes ...

We recognize that many are hurting and angry in the face of dual challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the scourge of social injustice. Our condolences and prayers go out to those that have lost their lives, too early, due to injustice. And also to those working to ensure the public ...

It became evident early in the coronavirus virus pandemic that older adults and those with certain medical conditions are at higher risk for complications and death, and that nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable. The Iowa Veterans Home has been able to limit the impact on our ...

Reading the “Marshalltown Police Leading The Curve” article June 11 reminded me of my letter to you last year disapproving the public art rocks set for placement at the new Marshalltown Police and Fire Station. In that letter I stated that the hundreds of thousands of dollars allocated ...

June 15 to 19 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Week. Throughout the week, communities in the USA and all over the world will sponsor events to highlight the growing tragic issue of elder abuse. The United States Administration on Aging estimates that as many as 1 in 10 older Americans are ...

Even though JCPenney filed bankruptcy, you’d think the mayor and city council would have done something to keep the Marshalltown store open. Penney had wall-to-wall clothes, shoes, jewelry, a catalog department, beauty department, etc. I can’t believe Marshalltown couldn’t do ...

Police Chief Mike Tupper is owed a great debt of gratitude by all Marshalltown citizens. How lucky we are to have a thoughtful, intelligent, professional servant leader as our chief of police! In addition to running a professional and effective department, it is evident that Chief Tupper ...

Minimum wage in Iowa in $7.25 per hour. Surrounding states — South Dakota, Illinois and Minnesota — have raised minimum wage, but Iowa’s wage remains stagnant. Other states acted to increase because as inflation continues to rise, the minimum wage has not changed. Our legislature has ...

After viewing the video on television of the policeman putting his knee into the neck of a handcuffed George Floyd in Minneapolis until he died from suffocation, I was shocked and wanted the police officer to face the appropriate charges. I believe the majority of the country likely felt the ...

Ever since Adam and Eve’s failure in the Garden of Eden, humans have had to work with emotions that were not there in creation’s beginning. Sin allowed Satan to offer his violence as an alternative to God’s love. All kinds of feelings emerged. It was God’s love against the hostility of ...

Dean Fisher effective in the Iowa house? Why didn’t he convince fellow Republican then governor Terry Branstad to keep the state juvenile home open in Toledo, Iowa? Branstad closed it down. Dean Fisher wasn’t effective in keeping it open.

Sometimes we just need a laugh. The wife and I were driving to Des Moines from Marshalltown and along the highway were around seven or eight dead raccoons. The thought crossed my mind, “Why don’t we put up raccoon crossing signs like we do for the deer?” Then I thought about the show ...

I am writing this letter to congratulate the 2020 graduates of Marshalltown High School and the surrounding school districts. It has been a very difficult year for these seniors and their parents, dealing with the coronavirus outbreak, social distancing and missing out on the fun spring sports ...

In her May 7 update Gov. Kim Reynolds spent considerable time defending meat packing plants, and her new testing program. Noting that one in 48 Iowans have been tested, Iowans were urged to be proud of the program and our recognition. While it’s apparently true that about 66,000 tests have ...

 The book of Romans is sometimes called the Ten Commandments of the New Testament. Within its contents are two special Timelines: • The laying aside of Abraham’s covenant with the Jews and • The New Testament inclusion of the gentile world into the family of God. Because ...

After being cooped up by cold weather and COVID-19 for the past few weeks my wife and I took a short trip to Pella this past weekend to get a look at the tulips and some springtime color from the safety of our car. What we saw were hundreds of people walking around the town at relatively ...

I have attended few city council meetings in my years in Marshalltown. However, I was keenly aware, growing up in a Minnesota small town, of the responsibilities my father felt in his more than 25 years as mayor. In many ways it was a thankless job; no one hesitated to complain and few offered ...

I am a physician in Ames, and I became a doctor because I wanted to help people. That’s why it’s so frustrating to see Senator Joni Ernst voting to allow insurance companies to discriminate against patients with pre-existing conditions. We are in the midst of a public health crisis, and ...

I am a frequent trail user for bicycling. I enjoy riding bicycle on the trails while viewing the nature along the trails. The nice wide trail makes it easy to maneuver. There are some trails near where I live. Some of the areas of the older trail need to be resurfaced to insure safety for ...