Category Archives: Opinion

I think I like legends because of how interesting they can be. Legend is defined as “a nonhistorical or unverifiable story handed down by tradition from earlier times and popularly accepted as historical.” This holiday season there are many legends. Through the years, I’ve saved a few and even found one in my box of...

The skyrocketing price of prescription medications is a national issue that won’t go away. While it hits consumer pocketbooks hard, hospitals and their patients feel it, too. We see the problem every day at Pella Regional Health Center, where we spend $6.2 million per year on medications. The increases are staggering, even for many commonly-used drugs...

I’ve been thinking about Thanksgiving even though the unseasonably warm weather doesn’t seem like late November. How often are we mowing lawns in Iowa this time of year? Did you know this Thanksgiving, the state of Iowa will be represented in the spotlight of the nation’s historic holiday tradition as President Obama pardons the National Thanksgiving...

What sticks to the roof of your mouth? What goes best with jelly on bread? What comes creamy or chunky? The answer is peanut butter. November is National Peanut Butter Lovers Month. Americans will celebrate by eating more than 65 million pounds of peanut butter during the month of November. Southern Peanut Growers, representing southeastern peanut...

I grew up in southwest Iowa on my parents’ farm. Our parents instilled in me the importance of hard work -- and when our work was done, we would go help a neighbor who might be in need. This story is not unique. Here in Iowa, we work hard for everything we have and then help...

I’m still out in California hoping to go to the NHRA drag races this coming weekend. I’m not sure the anguish I suffer to get there is worth it. The plane trip never goes smoothly for me. I lose things and make stupid statements to whatever poor passenger has the misfortune to be seated next to...

“Election choices range from bad to worse” screamed the headline. I clipped the article with this headline back at caucus time. At the time, I had no idea how bad could get worse but it did. I’m a registered Independent so at caucus time when asked, I told people I’d let the Republicans and Democrats...