THANK YOU to the Vinton police department and the Vinton firemen who helped block intersections and get us down the highway, through town and over the river bridge Friday.

Imagine how crazy and crowded Benton County would be if every person in Iowa moved here. Now add every person in Nebraska. And North Dakota. And South Dakota.

Dear Smokey the Bear, I raised them right. I told them NOT to play with matches. We explained clearly WHY the metal hanger should NOT go in the microwave.

To the Editor: Here is another view to Kurt Karr’s opinion: Bill Keller asserts:   "they (our government) create nothing .

I would have been amused by Bill Keller's outlook, expressed in his recent letter to the editor, if it weren't for the many millions who are under the sway of similar thinking.

Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa has a personal policy of visiting all 99 counties within the state at least once a year.  Last night – February 16, 2016 – was our turn for the year.

It all starts with a dream. “Let's go away on a trip! What could possibly go wrong?” he says. “Just everything!” she says.

Being a fiscal liberal is mainstream, but being a fiscal conservative is extreme? Redistribution of wealth is mainstream, but earning wealth is extreme? Being a Secular humanist is mainstream, but being an evangelical is extreme? Blaming America first is mainstream, but putting America first is extreme? Leading from behind is mainstream, but leading from the front is extreme? Being a socialist liberal is mainstream , but being a conservative is extreme.

It's appropriate, with all the love they have for each other, that both the Democrats and Republicans running for President met for debates during the week or weekend of Valentine's Day.

As a.... Reporter I came home tonight still wound up from an accident scene. Having been in the positions (except the cop, but having hung around enough people in law enforcement, I've heard enough war stories to appreciate the thankless job that they do) I think I can understand where everyone is coming from.