Letter to the Editor: It's Time to Reach Students in Rural Iowa

VINTON TODAY
December 15, 2025 1:02 pm

Dear Editor, For too long, higher education in Iowa has drifted from its core mission: preparing a highly skilled workforce and anchoring talent in our communities.

Twisted Knickers: National Parks

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
December 9, 2025 10:44 am

I have to admit that politics at every level is exhausting and I'm exhausted from all of it. I never thought I'd say that because I love politics. I think I'm just tired from the constant eye rolling that I seem to do.

Letter to the Editor: RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA . . . redux . . .

VINTON TODAY
December 5, 2025 11:50 am

Dear Editor,  It would seem the Democrats have chosen a successor to the RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA hoax.   It would seem that President Trump is issuing ILLEGAL ORDERS .

Letter to the Editor: Questions

VINTON TODAY
December 2, 2025 9:41 pm

Dear Editor,I have a few questions for our residence military veterans, specifically John and Bill, who regale us with military stories of the younger selves.

Letter to the Editor: Civil rhetoric in our politics.

VINTON TODAY
December 1, 2025 4:17 pm

Dear Editor, Politics has never been civil.  Much as we might like it to be, it will never happen.  The agendas - platforms of the national parties are too far apart.

This Maryland Man is no Leonardo DeCaprio

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
November 18, 2025 7:44 pm

Back in the good ol' days when late night shows were actually funny, Jay Leno had a segment that he called, "Stupid Criminals." In this week's episode would have been the story about a Maryland man.

Letter to the editor: The school improvements real deal

VINTON TODAY
November 18, 2025 4:53 pm

Dear Editor, A few years back the Vinton-Shellsburg school board sent a survey to all voters on a proposed school bond for some facility improvements. The goal was to decide if voters would support the needed upgrades and if so they’d have this bond on the ballot the coming year.

Snippets: Science, Sneaker Smooching, Smelter, Splicing, Sunny, Sobs and Spouses

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
November 18, 2025 12:43 am

ScienceThe Olympic Games have had an epiphany. According to an MSN story, "Transgender women are set to be barred from competing in female categories at the Olympic Games following a landmark scientific review that found permanent physical advantages from being born male.

Letter to the Editor: "Rules of Civil Conversation"

VINTON TODAY
November 18, 2025 12:35 am

Dear Editor,Aren't we all tired of the finger-pointing blame game? Can we have ONE CONVERSATION where neither side mentions party affiliation in their narrative? Republicans AND Democrats (read: ALL OF US) are to blame for where we are!Everyone gets so bent out of shape on the TRIGGER words they are programmed to respond to! Many would rather argue til they are blue in the face than concede that they were wrong.

Des Moines: New Headline, New Nonsense, No Newsflash

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
November 16, 2025 1:37 pm

Nurturing nonsense, neglecting nuance, and now nuking a noble employee is normal for the Des Moines Public Schools. Naturally, I need to remind you that this is Des Moines Public Schools, the non-award-winning, non-credible, non-sensible nerve center that once knighted the notorious Ian Roberts, the non-citizen, non-degree-having, non-author, nocturnal navigator of a police chase, as their noble leader.