Of a blue convertible and other tales

It seems life is full of small miracles. To wit: earlier this month I managed to fly to and from Los Angeles with nary a single mishap. Imagine!

Salute to detasselers

Pea harvest underway at Seneca

150 Years Ago

We want all the good butter we can get, on subscription. Corn, oats or potatoes will be received at this office on subscription, at the best prices the market affords. We want a few loads of good wood at this office, for which the highest market price will be allowed on subscription.

125 Years Ago

Mismanagement and the Teachings of Jesus

To the Editor:

The Department of Homeland Security has posted a controversial video online that lionizes their work, claiming to be delivering divine justice to evildoers. The video quotes Isaiah 6:8, which describes the prophet’s acceptance of a mission from God, and includes an excerpt from the folk song “God's Gonna Cut You Down.”

A press release from Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley

WASHINGTON – The One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes Iowa and America safer, stronger and more prosperous. It prevents Iowans from being hit with the largest tax increase in American history and brings certainty to Main Street and manufacturers by making critical business tax provisions permanent.

Tax cuts for Iowans

More or less

Over and under. More than and less than. The difference between these words may seem miniscule to most of you, but it matters to us writers and editors and grammarians. The Associated Press has lightened up on its stylebook rules for the usage of these words, but I haven’t.

“Cruise the Museum” car show, Aug 23

The Kossuth County Agricultural and Motorsports Museum is now open for visitors every Saturday and Sunday, or by appointment. The admission is $7 per person and provides access to all the exhibits as well as the Benschoter Train Depot and the Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum.

Firecrackers allowed in Swea City

150 Years Ago

Ice Cream Sociable. --- The ladies of the Universalist Parish will hold an ice cream sociable at the Baptist church on Wednesday evening next. Everybody invited.

125 Years Ago

Who do you stop to listen to?

Back when I was in elementary school, 40-something years ago, there were a series of creative ads on TV for a big wall street brokerage firm.  Normally kids don’t think much about ads for big stockbrokers.  But these ads were different.  The tagline was simple, clear and memorable, “When EF Hutton talks, people listen.”  Kid’s on the playground even used that line.

Let Freedom Ring

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).

Memoir describes grief and survival

A Widows’ Guide To Becoming A Handyman

Susan Huehn

Ice Cube Press

ISBN 9781948509

$21.95

The first question a person should ask before writing a memoir is pretty simple: Would other people be interested in reading about my life?

For Susan Huehn, author of A Widow’s Guide To Becoming A Handyman, the answer is a resounding YES.

Of the many house moves in my life

175 Years Ago

Major William Williams, who took over the old fort at Fort Dodge in 1853 and laid out the present city, came to the fort in 1850 as a settler for the troops stationed there. In 1856, when the little Algona settlement began to grow, he sent a stock of goods up to be sold to the settlers.

All remained sober on July 4th

150 Years Ago

Remember Skype?

It was more than two decades ago when my friend Eric introduced me to fascinating technology that allowed him to make a video call to his family in another state from his computer. It was something he called Skype, and that company name eventually became a verb for many of us. Sure, the early calls looked a bit like Max Headroom pimping New Coke, but we all felt a bit like the Jetsons with this newfound know-how.

Life is full of very difficult questions. Why do good things happen to bad people? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is there injustice? Why is there oppression? If there really is a God, why doesn’t He do something about it? Why would a loving God allow these things to happen? Why? Just why?