... Physical monuments to the history of a nation that saved the world from tyrants and perpetuated freedom better than any other modern society are coming down, and the invisible monuments erected to prevent some people from advancing are rightly being exposed.

Last week Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Larson signed an Order establishing court-sponsored mandatory mediation rules for all family law cases. In 2020 Larson directed each Iowa judicial district to submit a plan for mandatory mediation of family law cases before trial. Her Order just approved and implemented those plans effective March 1st, 2021. 

I grew up in a family of missionaries. They are people who feel called by God to take the message of Jesus to non-Christian parts of the world. My grandparents, Pastor Thure Holmer and his wife Celia, sailed from New York, New York to India a week or so following their marriage in 1912. It took 40 days to make the trip. Because of the length of the journey and costs involved, their time of service was ten years before they could set foot in America again. 
 

It occurs to me that I haven’t written about the care and feeding of my stray cat, Christopher Robin, lately. For any of you who have been anxiously awaiting an update, be anxious no more. (I’m sure there must be at least one of you - right??? If not, humor me.)
 For those of you who might be newcomers to Inkspots, Christopher Robin is the offspring of Saint Francis, the first stray to venture onto my porch for dinner. 
 
Read Inkspots in the Feb. 25 Advance.

Is it voter suppression? Or is it voter motivation?
Read On the Side in the Feb. 25 Advance.

So what happens when two PTSD victims converge in a lonely cabin during a Colorado blizzard?
That’s the setup for “Halfway to Someday,” a psychologically engaging novel by Osage, Iowa, author Layla Dorine.
 
See all of Michael Tideman's book review in the Feb. 25 Advance.

The door is open for rural Kossuth County residents who are concerned about the snow removal process. 
At a recent board meeting, the supervisors followed up on a request to Doug Miller, the county engineer, to determine whether the county’s practice of removing snow primarily in the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. fits with what other counties are doing and whether there is an advantage to residents to move the times.
 
See the full editorial in the Feb. 25 Advance.

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to teach my son about the concept of mercy. My family and I had come down with COVID-19 and that meant that we had to stay in our house together. And I’ll be honest with you, after the first seven days, it got kind of rough. Now please understand me, I love my wife and kids. But it’s tough to be trapped in the house for two weeks, with no break, and no escape.

this is a press release and statement from the Office of U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley:
 

Grassley Statement on Impeachment Trial

... Of course this doesn’t mean we should behave like fools and put God to the test, needlessly placing ourselves in direct harm. So taking some precautions against danger is a prudent idea. But if caution prevents us for a prolonged time from receiving the things of the Lord, such as gathering together at church and receiving the sacrament of the altar, then that caution isn’t prudent. There is something more necessary than earthly life: Jesus is the one thing necessary!  ...

... While some might scoff and say, “Well, that’s never going to happen,” they ought to consider the impact California has on this country. 
All by itself, California has the sixth-largest economy in the world. 

... Around the time of our opening, we began to notice research for historical novels about the existence of German POWs in the U.S. during WWII. We have consistently received inquiries by authors who wanted to know more about the prisoner of war story. This interest led to the writing of historical novels that are based upon the existence of prisoners of war in the U.S. during WWII, or using Camp Algona as a base for their story.

Here are excerpts from letters to the editor in the Feb. 11 print edition of the Advance, where you can read them in their entirety.
... Now is the time for our communities to make every effort to put the last year of hardship behind us and move forward together.  The best chance to do this will come from vaccination.  ...

... Putting Algonans in a position to own the power that’s generated is a way to ensure they get access to power, and that it comes at the best possible price. ...
 
Read the full Editorial in the Feb. 11 print edition of the Advance.

... Things had been so much easier before, but now they had the third little girl. The mom walked down the hallways of the church carrying a dozen items and two little ones. The mom stated that she had just changed the child, and now the little one made a squeaking noise that necessitated another bathroom trip.