Opinion

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” The quote is said by Jesus in John 8:32 in reference to his undeniable divinity. I, on the other hand, will take this solitary sentence on a different route. I want you to imagine a prison cell ― which shouldn't be terribly difficult considering that you are standing in one right now. ...

In just 15 minutes you can plant a beautiful garden guaranteed to brighten your spirits and indoor décor this winter. All you need is a container with drainage holes, potting mix and some tulips, daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs. Once you have gathered the needed materials, you can get started planting...

You must excuse this college football fan when she says she cheers for both Iowa and Iowa State (except when they play each other and then I must admit I cheer for the land grant university). Purists will swear that I’m not a real fan, sort of a state-supporting dilettante who just can’t make up her mind. ...

If you’ve been reading SDR for the past week, you’ve no doubt seen a series I’ve been working on. The five-part series, “The Mettle Behind the Medal,” was a labor of love that started off as a fleeting thought. That thought was, “What if I highlight veterans stories for a week on Veterans Day?”...

November is National Hospice Month, and for many people it’s also the beginning of the holiday season when extended families gather to celebrate. These gatherings often include updates and discussions about caring for loved ones who are no longer able to care for themselves. This is when it is good to understand how hospice can help...

Well we're less that a month and a half away from Christmas. Are you done shopping yet? Not much chance of it sneaking up on you since Christmas decorations started showing up before the last Halloween costume could be sold off the shelf. So whether or not you're ready or I'm ready, it's rapidly approaching...

In 2017, the Iowa Legislature passed HF 566 which merged municipal, school districts, community college districts (merged) and area education agency boards into one date. According to a fiscal note published by the Legislative Service Agency over the prior four municipal elections the voter turnout was 21.3%. During that same time, the voter turnout for the school board elections was averaged out to 6.5%...

You are what you read. Do you prefer fiction? Nonfiction? (Make-believe or true?) No matter what you are reading, the themes are usually about greed, scheming, loving, living, dying, adultery, coping and hoping. A new word I've discovered is "supertexts." (The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership, Steven B. ...

Postscript from the previous columns: I was most impressed by the quality and sophistication that the editors of Successful Farming and Farm Journal magazines put into their periodicals nearly a century ago. They were lengthy, thoughtful and intelligent on many topics. ...

It's too big, folks. The mental health situation is too big to condense into a column for you. Earlier this year, our family of papers did an entire series on mental health in northwest Iowa, and the beast is rearing its head again. There's some potential for a game of musical chairs among the mental health regions in this corner of the state. ...

Against my better judgment, I am responding to a Letter to the Editor that was printed in the Monday, Nov. 18, Spencer Daily Reporter that rankled me. The writer stated that anyone who didn't agree with her were not intelligent or moral. Her rhetoric indicated that she is not a fan of the president. ...

George Thorogood and the Destroyers had a great song released back in 1982. Do you remember "Bad to the Bone"? These days, however, the title that reflects the lives of over 40% of us is "SAD to the Bone." Despite the progress and prosperity of the last few years, more and more of us complain of loneliness, sadness, despair, doom and gloom. ...

After hearing and reading the misinformation the public believes on the impeachment process I hope this helps which is all easily researched online. As often demanded of them, Congress is doing their job and upholding their oath to defend the constitution. If you believe otherwise it says it all about your allegiance, intelligence, morals or all three...

A direct translation is “something for something.” In the international political world it means “I’ll do this — if you do that.” U.S. federal law prohibits a foreign national from directly or indirectly making a contribution or donation of money or other things of value in connection with a U.S. ...