Opinion
Harold Nelson remembered
Last Friday, Vinton lost a truly unique person when Harold Nelson passed away.
I knew Harold had a serious medical condition but the last time I saw him at the Benton County Democratic Central Committee in November, I thought he was looking better and told him so. I am glad that I had to opportunity to encourage him and that is why when I saw the announcement of his passing in the paper I was shocked and saddened.
How 'schizophrenic' Iowans should respond to Atlantic Monthly article
Iowans are yelling, and we should, about an article by a University of Iowa professor that says some not-so-nice things about our state. The article, recently published in the Atlantic Monthly magazine, was written by Professor Stephen Bloom, who calls Iowa (among other things), a "schizophrenic, economically-depressed, and some say, culturally-challenged state.
Letter to the Editor: Writer criticizes resolution procedure
As a former resident I like to follow hometown news and Vinton Today is a wonderful place to do just that.
A recent story about storm debris removal has caught my interest. I was surprised to read where a resolution to award a storm debris removal contact was "passed" on a vote of 3 to 2 (Ms. Vermadahl was not at the December 8th meeting).
How Romney's friends are insulting Iowa voters
"….truth embraceth truth…"
The book used in the church where Mitt Romney brags (in one of his earlier TV ads) about attending all his life includes those three words from the The Mormon "Doctrines and Covenants."
But in the most recent TV ad that that mentions Romney, truth gets kicked in the teeth.
Being Anonymous isn't all that bad
Dear Editor,
I just wanted to take a minute to write about your policy that requires folks leaving comments to attach their name.
While I understand the importance of making sure comments that might be offensive are not anonymously cast about, this policy opens up the potential for harassment from those who see the comments.
What the Lincoln Highway has to teach presidential candidates -- and voters
Another season in Iowa presidential politics is nearly over, and yet again, every one of the people who would be our nation's leader has missed the most important lesson that Iowa has to offer.
One of the coolest things in Benton County is the Youngville Café, the brightly painted historic gas station at the intersection of Highway 218 and Highway 30, which historians know as the Lincoln Highway.
Cold Cases: How old and unsolved murders can still affect a community today
I had just begun working part-time in the news business, when in May of 1992, I learned some of the most important journalistic lessons from my participation in a story – one I did not write.
The uncle of my wife was killed, along with another bicyclist, when he was hit by a car on a county highway west of Cedar Rapids. The story was on TV all night, and we saw it over and over as the family gathered at the aunt’s house, dealing with the shocking, tragic loss.
Pastor's Blog - Advent
The Christian season of anticipation and preparation just preceding Christmas is called Advent. If you choose to attend church during Advent, you will probably see candles lit each Sunday in remembrance of the coming of our Lord into our world, both as a babe and as a King. Who is this Jesus, who was born in a manger in Bethlehem, 2000+ years ago, and will return to earth someday riding on a white horse to become King to all? Let’s take a look at Holy Scripture for a glimpse.
How to survive another winter driving season
I once had the enlightening experience of working with a teenage girl who had already wrecked her car two or three times.
She did not seem to make the connection between driving decisions and unpleasant results.
One a day when the weather was more appropriate for staying home (especially for certain drivers), this girl was driving to Cedar Rapids on Highway 30. Where are all the presidential candidates?
Is it something we said?
Over the six to eight months of the multi-facited battle that has become the race for the 2012 Republican nomination for President of the United States, something has struck me as odd. And what is funny about it is that it is exactly the same thing that happened four years ago.
Think back a bit to 2007.