Opinion

  Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-29 Our heroine, bound hand, foot and every where in between by heavy ropes is tied to a set of railroad tracks.  Helplessly she struggles as the train roars down the track and the villain with the cheesy moustache wearing a black hat and frock coat rubs his hands and chortles in glee.

     Go ahead. Click play. Then keep reading.  [VIDEO]           The questions that Alan Jackson asked our nation on Nov. 7, 2001 -- less than two months after 9/11 -- are questions we should hear again as we commemorate the 10th anniversary of that awful day.         "How will you remember 9/11?"      The solemn question filled the speakers at the Vinton Palace Theatre Saturday morning as we watched the Iowa/Iowa State game on the big screen.

Click to read  A Tragedy Unfolds the first poem in the series  The tears still flow from my eyes despite The ten years since that day The world stood still and hell broke loose And terror came our way 　 The towers gone forever now The field holds 93 The Pentagon is now repaired But some cannot be free 　 Free from fears and all their pain The details very clear Their loved ones gone but still remain So loved and oh so dear 　 Around the world they’re being built Memorials to those Who lost their lives on that sad day From hateful, evil foes   　The firefighters, rescuers And those who came to aid Are heroes in our hearts and minds Who’s deeds will never fade 　 On this day, a special one We lift them up to Thee We pray they’re gathered close to You Some Perched upon your knee 　 The ten years since has still not healed My broken heart or tears And ten more years, when they have past The pealing bells we’ll hear 　 For this dear land and all who live Within these mighty states Shall never cede this land to those Who’s lives are filled with hate 　 My heart goes out, this ten years since To those who lost their lives To those who tried to rescue them The husbands, children, wives 　 My tears still flow for all of those Still here to grieve and cry And pray that there will never be More terror from the sky 　 It’s now ten years, I’m just more proud I’ll shout as loud I can It’s in my blood, my heart and mind YES, I’m American.

Ten years since my tears did flow...sequel to A Tragedy Unfolds A Tragedy Unfolds   The tears flowed from my eyes today, When I heard the awful news. To think that such a cowardly act, Could tear our hearts in two. 　 The tears flowed ever faster, And more and more they came. It seemed they flowed for victims, Still, yet without a name.

It's a date and time everyone remembers. It's the event that our generation will always remember.  At the time, we were living in Washington AND Independence. Washington had just been hit with a storm similar to our July storm around September 9th, 2011.  We had just returned to Washington, opened the door to our apartment to find the ceiling had collapsed.

Matthew 16:13-20 If you were at a party, and you saw someone slip something into someone's drink, and they wouldn't believe you when you told them, what would you do?  Would you be willing to create a scene, knock the drink out of his or her hand, risk looking like a fool? Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was.

  I’m a Trekkie. In other words, I love the TV show Star Trek. That’s the original one, not all of that spin-off nonsense. Anyway. One of my favorite episodes was called “Day Of The Dove.” The premise was that 40 crew members of the Enterprise crew were trapped on board with 40 Klingons, and a creature that was forcing them to fight.

The guys and gals downtown always have my attention. I am especially amazed at the window displays, as well as the arrangements inside the stores.   I commented to one of the store owners downtown that I am always in wonder at how she can take something old, that on it's own, looks like it needs painted or changed in some way to make it useful, but she sees something else in it.

  Dear Editor,   I just wanted to share a story for everyone to read, about a young lady that lives in the community of Vinton.   She is 17 years old, going to be 18 at the end of this month. She did something that I dont believe in today's society happens very often anymore if ever.   She thought about her team, her teammates and Vinton Shellsburg first.

       In decades of Jerry Lewis MDA Telethons, this is probably the funniest line:     "You know there were all of these rumors about us breaking up, when you weren't here when we started the show, I thought they were true."     Jerry spoke those words to Dino --Dean Martin-- when Frank Sinatra surprised him by bringing Martin to the stage.