Opinion

Dear Advertisers and Community

Most months I try to drop a little note of thanks to our advertisers...it seems I've run into a good sort of problem, it's been crazy busy! I don't know if the area folks realize ho...

A much more serious contest on a more dangerous field

A helicopter awaits to transport an injured eastern Iowa Marine in Afghanistan.        A few years ago, a Vinton-Shellsburg baseball player was at the plate. A fastball came too far inside. He turned to get away. He couldn't move fast enough. &n...

Your consideration requested

  To the Editor:   This letter is written for the person or persons who are visiting thegrave of Steve De Witt and leaving a mess in the cemetery when they have left. We thought ...

Life ain\'t always harder after high school

      I've got some very good news for some of you graduates regarding something you may have heard during a graduation ceremony: It's absolutely untrue.   &nbs...

I just saw something I\'ve never seen before...

Ok, I admit it, I'm still a city kid. The other night while driving home, something ran across the road that looked like a gray blur. I've gotten used to seeing deer on the road, so...

The Old Country Church

A few nights ago, I spent the evening in one of the seats my grandparents and aunts and uncles sat in. I went to a tiny country church about 30 miles from my home. I never get over how you...

Why the USA PATRIOT Act needs a new name

       When you walk into the nearest Social Security office, the first person you see is a man with a gun. The first words you hear are "Why are you here?" &n...

Hard choices vs. easy news

       The pundits are often saying that politicians are letting us down because they fail to make the "hard choices." Energy policy. Fiscal policy. Middle East p...

What a grandpa wants...

        For the first time in a very long time, we have very little new news to put on Vinton Today. And since I have written before that TV stations and newspapers should b...

The second-best graduation speech for the VSHS Class of 2011

       Congratulations! Today is your day!      No, wait. That is someone else's graduation speech, the best one ever written or shared during a ...