As 2024 wraps up, I’m reflecting on the past 12 months. What memories did our family make, how did things go on the farm, and how are things going in my community and across the state? One of my biggest memories is about Summit Carbon Solutions and its controversial CO2 pipeline. Two days ...
The news of Jimmy Carter’s passing takes me back to 1976, a year that marked my own passage to adulthood. As the bicentennial year dawned, I took first notice of Carter upon his victory in the Iowa Caucuses. I followed his campaign through my high school graduation and into the summer, when I ...
Telegraph Note: We are republishing this column first published by The Conversation on Aug. 18, 2020, in light of recent news President-elect Donald Trump may again attempt to privatize the U.S. Postal Service. The U.S. Postal Service is under threat of collapse and privatization. This comes ...
Far too often in society, citizens are thought of as consumers. A citizen is a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized. A consumer is a person who purchases goods and services for personal use. To make a more well-rounded society, people ...
Every Monday is “another watchful Monday” ongoing in Tama County for three years. What is different? A new board of five supervisors who care about our county, our land, the citizens and God’s people. Already they are working to make us more financially accountable and transparent with ...
In addition to Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Day, Iowans have another reason to celebrate during the last week of the year. On December 28, 1846, President James K. Polk signed a bill admitting Iowa into the Union. This year, Iowa will celebrate its 178th birthday. Let’s take a look ...
Tom Vilsack deserves a better exit interview than what he recently gave to Politico’s Jonathan Martin. Vilsack came across as irritated, which is familiar enough. The Democrats lost rural America. That’s a big part of the problem, and he is supposed to be Mr. Rural America. The former ...
Winter is finally here. And as I look around at the nooks and crannies where I feel a draft, I’ve been thinking about the thousands of Iowans struggling to keep warm. So many people could use assistance to make some needed repairs, insulate or find other ways to weatherize their homes. But ...
Rural small business owners and agricultural producers can decrease energy costs through energy efficiency measures and the installation of renewable energy systems such as solar, with the help of the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Grants are now available for up to 50% of eligible ...
The Tama County Board of Supervisors are attempting to enter a contract with the Human Resource director, Tammy Wise. At their latest meeting, there was a vague item under HR. This brought several questions from the chairman, Mr. Hilmer, as he had not had time to review the contract and had ...