Opinion
Letter to the Editor: What we leave behind
Dear Editor As someone who has retired within the last year, I find myself looking back on my life and comparing my childhood to the childhood we experience today. No, I don’t mean passing notes in class instead of texting, or having fun on playground equipment that is now considered too dangerous. What are we, the generation that experienced lead poisoning to a far greater extent than any other, leaving those who come after us? What are they inheriting?Yearly record-breaking heat waves, so severe that lives are at risk world-wide.
Letter to the Editor: Has the question of where are we headed been answered?
Editor: As I think through my now, 81 years on this planet, I wonder what is our legacy? What are we leaving our younger members? Do we have problems that require solutions? Is there a logical sequence to follow to solve these problems? Are the solutions political or are the politicians responsible for these problems? Can the “people” more readily solve the problems than a big overreaching top-down government? I remember some of the sequences –1.
Reading my mind: Corny

Letter to the Editor: Better Together Animal Rescue Supports Doing Away with BSL
To the Editor,Our names are Peyton Frank and Taylor Frank, Co-Directors of Better Together Animal Rescue in Vinton. We are writing you today regarding the current Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) in Benton County.Benton County long ago adopted BSL banning Pit Bulls, or those resembling as such, from Benton County. As Co-Directors of the only animal rescue in Benton County, animal advocates and citizens of this County, we are in favor of laws and regulations that protect our community members.
Letter to the Editor: People, Pets and Policies to Benton County Lawmakers
Dear Benton County Supervisors and Cities in Benton County, I’m a past chair of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee and a coauthor of the ABA Book, A Lawyer’s Guide to Dangerous Dog Issues. Currently 2 Iowa towns and one North Dakota town are facing lawsuits in federal court because of their breed "specific" laws targeting "pit bulls".
Letter to the Editor: Thank you to caring people in Vinton
Dear Editor, An elderly couple in Vinton took it upon themselves to clean up the landscaping area around the Vinton Library recently. They pulled every single weed by hand! I know this because it was my brother and sister-in-law, Lowell and Mary Ellen Mahr. They didn’t tell anyone they were planning to do this or they would’ve had helpers, like myself! Vinton has had a big, ugly, negative spotlight on them recently regarding our library but we can’t forget that our town is filled with amazing, generous, caring folks, like Lowell and Mary Ellen.
The town/county is going to the dogs, just not Pitbulls
In Chapter 6 of the Vinton City Ordinances, under "Dangerous and Vicious Animals" number 1 on the list that is prohibited are animals like liions, tigers and bears (oh my) you also can't have jaguars, leopards, cougars, lynx, bobcats, wolves, coyotes, foxes, badgers, wolverines, weasels, skunk, mink, raccoons, monkeys, chimpanzees, alligators, crocodiles, scorpions, snakes that are venomous, or constrictors, Gila monsters (I had to google this one, it's a venomous lizard) or bats.
Letter to the Editor: Make sure criticisms are appropriately directed
Dear Editor No one is going to suggest the economy is where we want it to be right now. But it's important to keep in mind that economy is not a domestic issue - it's a global issue impacted by global events. The American government can have some positive influence over the direction of the global economy, but only if it chooses to. What are the two largest factors affecting the global economy right now? Resurgence of COVID across the world, but particularly in China, where they've instituted region-wide lockdowns in major world ports.
Letter to the Editor: Where are we Headed?
Dear Editor: Where are we headed? As we look for solutions to our Nation’s problems, it is important to know who we are and where we are headed. Our form of government, our ideals and our essential freedoms are made for moments like those before us. They are not problems, but roadmaps to solutions only if we follow the right road.
Reading my mind: Duck!
