Et Cetera

On Saturday, Nov. 8, VFW Post 8884 members and auxiliary members distributed poppies in several businesses in the Vinton area, including: Fareway, Theisen's, Johns Quick Stop and Ehlingers. The VFW presented certificates of thanks to each business. Donations from the poppy project go towards emergency funding for vets, youth education, supporting the van which takes Benton County vets to VA facilities at no charge to the them, and other support for veterans and their families.

The following student(s) are named to the Fall 2014 Dean's List at Mount Mercy University. Students with a semester grade point average of 3.60 or better, and who are graded (letter grade, not pass/fail) for six or more semester hours, are eligible for inclusion on the Dean's List. Atkins, IA   Kelly Goodwin-Ackerman,

The students listed below graduated from Mount Mercy University in December 2014. A commencement ceremony will be held Sunday, May 17, 2015, at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Atkins, IA   Carol Kae Huber, Master of Business Administration Luzerne, IA   Jennifer Lynn Wonrau, Bachelor of Science Urbana, IA   Jader Assiel Perez, Bachelor of Business Administration  Shaun Michael Vogt, Bachelor of Applied Science, Magna Cum Laude Vinton, IA   Hollie Garwood, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Cum Laude  Kimberly Sue Howe-Rouse, Bachelor of Business Administration  Hannah Tesar, Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude Founded in 1928, Mount Mercy University offers students a personal, practical and faith-inspired education that distinctly blends professional career preparation and liberal arts with a strong curriculum grounded in leadership and service.

At Iowa State University's fall 2014 commencement ceremonies, 1,806 students received degrees. Iowa State awarded 1,492 undergraduate degrees, 207 master's degrees, and 107 doctor of philosophy degrees. Of the students receiving bachelor's degrees, 264 graduated "With Distinction" (cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude).

Upper Iowa University is pleased to announce the names of its October 2014 graduates, followed by the degree earned and respective honors. Paige Lohf of Luzerne, IA, Bachelor of Science: Nursing in Nursing , Cum Laude from UIU Nursing-Online; Robert Mangrich of Dysart, IA, Bachelor of Science in Management , Cum Laude from UIU Waterloo; Honors qualifications as follows: Summa cum laude is awarded to those with at least a 3.

Noah Dargy, a Senior Engineering major of Shellsburg, was among approximately 950 Bob Jones University students named to the Fall 2014 Dean's List. The Dean's List recognizes students who earn a 3.00-3.74 GPA. Located in Greenville, S.C., Bob Jones University is a biblically faithful, Christian liberal arts university focused on educating the whole person to reflect and serve Christ.

On December 28, 2014 Bethlehem Lutheran recognized by presenting the December 2014 gift of $101.00 to the V-S Fine Arts Century Club.  This organization is about monetary assistance for the band, choir visual arts, speech and drama programs.  It is no secret that the school budgets are very tight and there are often times where no extra money is available to support these programs.

     When I look back on my own personal history of Christmas, I can think of several years when the holiday had special meaning for me.       There was the year when I, despite being extremely unskillful with tools, fixed a bike for a boy in our town and delivered it to his house on Christmas Eve. His bike had been run over by a truck and needed some work.

It’s when families came together during the holidays at Gramma's house; when a picture comes to mind of a fireplace in the living room radiating warmth; a mixture of sweet and savory smells wafting throughout the home; family members who can't wait to get to Gramma's to be with everyone they've been missing all year long and rushing through the door, with packages and favorite dishes to share, to help keep the heat in.

Multisyllabic expressions are intermittently an essential aspect of my preferred modus operandi for communications, as well as entertainment. In other words, I like to use big words, not only for more effective communication with other people, but also, sometimes, just for the fun of it. Sometimes I even invent my own wordish concoctions. So, when we had a Christmas Hymn Synonym contest at a church Christmas party a few years ago, I found a funderful idea for a column.