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Why I’m supporting the Local Option Sales Tax renewal

Why would I want to support the Marshalltown Local Option Sales Tax (LOST)? Isn’t it just another tax? How is LOST different? If I travel to Des Moines for an event, most of what I purchase has a one percent additional sales tax. Within Des Moines, 50 percent of what they collect goes to Des Moines residents’ property tax relief. This reduces their levy rate. The other percentage goes to community improvement. In Ames, 60 percent goes to property tax relief, the other toward community betterment. I looked around and it looked like no matter where I went to an Iowa community, I pay ...

Marshalltown’s generosity is appreciated

Generosity throughout Marshalltown​​​​​ contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Across the U.S., the project collected 10 million shoebox gifts in 2023. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2023, the ministry is now sending over 11.3 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide, including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster. Through shoe boxes — packed with fun toys, school supplies, and personal care items — ...

Mark Giannetto for county supervisor

I realize it’s still January, but we all know how quickly time flies. We will soon find ourselves at a very important time on a national level as well as at our county level — election day! November will bring electing to fill an opening on our Marshall County Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors controls the budgets, makes changes in rules/regulations affecting the county, makes decisions regarding properties/buildings/equipment within the county, as well as employees/staff of Marshall County. The Board of Supervisors members are very influential people in the county ...

Iowa’s AEAs need your support

During the Iowa Condition of the State address on Jan. 10, Governor Reynolds proposed a significant overhaul of Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs). The proposal, and subsequent bill (House Study Bill 542) appear to stem from a lack of understanding of the intricate workings of a system that has proudly served the students and families of Iowa for half a century. Iowa’s AEAs have a strong track record of delivering essential educational support to schools and communities, especially those in rural areas grappling with unique challenges. The Iowa AEA system is the backbone of ...

Celebrating a centennial

In 1952, our family moved to Central Iowa. In 1953 Marshalltown celebrated its 100th year of being a community, so our LeGrand family helped celebrate. Fifty years later, my hometown, Hawarden, had their Centennial (1983). After decades of absence, memories were still vivid. It was good to see the community again. Hawarden’s first name was Calliope, in 1866. Steamboats would chug up the Missouri river, enter into the Big Sioux, then head for Sioux Falls. Along the way, the ship’s Calliope would belt out tunes. That’s how we became Calliope (Cal-e-ope.) Many towns across Iowa, went ...

Shame on Gov. Reynolds

How much hatred must Gov. Reynolds and the Republican legislators nave that they can willingly take food from the mouths of Iowa’s poorest children? If it’s not hatred, then it must be a political move that allows them to turn their backs on the most needy members of their constituency. Are they afraid that those children will rise up and vote against them in this year’s elections? There has to be some logical explanation for turning down millions of free money to feed these children. The only explanation that the governor and some legislators can give is that there are ...