To the editor: Thank you Iowa for making the 2019 Iowa State Fair a record-breaker in so many ways! And thank you, too, for your support of the Blue Ribbon Foundation that for the past 27 years has put your generous donations to work preserving barns and buildings across the fairgrounds. From the first fair…

To the editor: I would like to address the issue of increasing penalties for animal abuse which came up at the town hall meeting. Neither Representative Dolecheck or Senator Costello believe that we should enact  meaningful legislation to protect those who cannot speak for themselves.  Senator Costello said we already have laws to addressing this…

To the editor: Please caucus for Bernie Sanders. He will create a Medicare for All, single-payer, national health insurance program to provide everyone in America with comprehensive health care coverage, free at the point of service. No networks, no premiums, no deductibles, no copays, no surprise bills. Medicare coverage will be expanded and improved to…

To the editor: The library would like everyone to know that we have been weeding VCR tapes from our system and we are giving them away. If you have a machine that will play these, we will be glad to give them to you. We have a good selection of adult and children’s movies. Just…

To the editor: Do you remember these. Trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship…We taught these in school but now our government’s administration must have forgotten them. Some say it is just politics. However, the Trump administration seems to use instead name calling…lies…bullying ….collusion with criminals…sexual harassment and the list could go on and on….America…

To the editor: My name is Jim Sheldon I was born and raised in Des Moines.  I married Carol Shay in January of 1971.  We have lived in the Des Moines area ever since. I just wanted to pass on how much I enjoy your paper.  The articles are a joy to read.  I really…

To the editor: Live your best life, that seems to have been the quote of 2019.  What happens when that dream is taken from you?  How do you go on living your best life? Think about that for a minute.  How is it possible to remain in the present mindset?  How do we continue to…

Dear Family, Friends, and Community Members: Mount Ayr Community High School Speech team has a unique opportunity this spring. We will be hosting the District Individual Speech competition on February 29, 2020. The competition will bring 19 other schools from Southwest Iowa and nearly 300 students to Mount Ayr. We are very excited to host…

To the editor: A few days ago I had the misfortune of overhearing two middle aged men using extremely racist comments to describe an African-American professional athlete. This is a mind-set built on inherited stereotypes and misinformation, regardless of the geographical location. Martin Luther King once said, “Ever since the birth of our nation while…

To the editor: Congratulations to our wonderful young community members that are showing such great concern for the loss of businesses which we really need to keep for this to be a viable town. Thanks you and I pray for your success in this current problem and in attracting other needed businesses. Florence Abarr Lawhead…