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Saying something

In the wake of so much violence in our culture and terrorism around the world, we are often enlisted as citizens to be watchful and report. “If you see something, say something.” It is time to apply this same vigilance to what is happening in the political landscape as the country counts down to caucuses, primaries, political conventions, and an election. I see a Republican candidate who is unfit to serve in office polling well above his rivals and who is expected to win the Iowa Caucuses in a few short days. It is time for all responsible Republicans to say something. Businesses, ...

SHIIP saves clients big money

SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) completed its annual open enrollment on Dec. 7, 2023. Marshall County and Tama County SHIIP volunteers saw 1,410 clients during the seven-week period of open enrollment. UnityPoint Health Marshalltown sponsors the volunteer program for our area. Approximately 35 percent of the clients seen changed their drug insurance company for 2024. That change resulted in an approximate savings of $860,000 for our clients for their prescription drug plans. Thank you to our volunteer staff of counselors and schedulers. Our schedulers are: Betsy ...

Ways to engage at the 2024 Iowa Republican Caucus

Dear Tama County Voters, As Iowans, we have a unique opportunity to impact policy that governs our lives. The Iowa Caucuses will be held Jan. 15, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. At the caucuses, there are many ways to make a difference. In Tama County, we will gather with our neighbors at precinct locations according to your registered party. Republicans assemble to caucus with other republicans and democrats assemble with other democrats. As chairman of the Tama County Republican Party, I will outline the different ways that you can engage at Republican caucuses. The most popular way to engage ...

Protect our farmland

Are you concerned about global warming? What would you say if Tama County has a machine that captures 305,000 tons of carbon dioxide and emits enough oxygen for 2,209,000 people to breathe every year with no carbon footprint, no cost at all. Too good to be true? Not at all. It’s a byproduct of the county’s cornfields. Hunger in the world is rampant, and the corn could really help with that. Unfortunately, the farmers that tend the fields still have to use diesel fuel, but farmers are doing what they can. The reduction in passes over the fields since I started farming in ‘74 ...

Ordinance changes shouldn’t be rushed through

Iowa has a specific law that lays out how cities in our state can pass new ordinances that govern the way by which citizens in those communities must abide. The laws states: Ordinances and amendments to ordinances must be passed by the majority at three council meetings before becoming final. However, city councils can waive the requirement to have three votes to approve an ordinance or amendment by approval of at least three-fourths of the council. What’s troubling to me is that city councils across Iowa — Marshalltown included — have started waiving the second and third ...

A Christmas story

When I was in seminary, in 1953,and living in Maryland. Eileen and I got into our 1940 Pontiac and headed for Iowa, to celebrate Christmas with our parents, living in Fort Dodge and Perry. It was a rainy rainy day and traveling through Marion, Ohio, I stopped our car, in the heart of downtown business district. When I got out of our car, Ginger, our dog decided to get out too. I was not aware that she got out of our car. Well, I got the windshield wipers fixed, got back in our car and on our way to Iowa. About a mile out of Marion, we looked in the back seat of our car and there was ...