There was one constant during the hubbub in Kossuth County a couple of years ago about a proposed wind farm development. That constant was a complaint from some parts that the county wound up relying too much on input from the wind farm developers in terms of the language and regulations that were used. 
 
Read the full editorial in the May 13 Advance.

It would be easy for a law enforcement officer who has pretty much seen it all to say the changing times are enough of a reason to hang it up. Cops across this country are resigning and retiring in droves because of the dangers of serving. In some cities, officers are targets of all types of verbal and physical attacks. Their profession is being marginalized and their departments defunded.

As we recover from COVID-19, Iowa is confronted with many challenges, among them a growing workforce shortage and declines in higher education enrollment. The percentage of high school graduates pursuing education or training beyond high school has declined for three years in a row for the first time in history. At the same time, the demand for skilled workers to fuel economic expansion greatly exceeds the number of people with the skills to fill open positions. 

To the Editor:
May is National Foster Care Month. This is a time to celebrate the families who are making a life-changing impact for Iowa children and teens, and it is also a time to raise awareness for kids who urgently need safe temporary foster homes or forever adoptive families. 
 
Read the full letter in the May 13 Advance.

In the northern part of Kossuth County, the North Kossuth School District and North Union School District share a superintendent, business manager, human resources person and transportation director. It all adds up to each school district receiving an estimated $150,000.
 
Read the Our Kossuth County column in the May 13 Advance.

Have you ever had writer’s block before? I’m thankful that it is not a frequent problem that I face, which is nice because my role as pastor requires me to do a lot of writing. However, this week it’s my turn to write the “Pastor’s column” for the newspaper and that pesky writer’s block has hit me. 

Here are this week's letters to the editor topics and writers. Read the full letters in the April 29 edition.
Concern over comment made by senator
To the Editor:
I would like to express my great concern regarding Senator Ernst’s remark quoted in the April 15 issue. 
Eulan Schuller, Burt
 
Diocese should honor people, not a plan
To the Editor: 

I love when congregation members criticize my sermons! I assume this is the case for most other pastors as well. 
Perhaps you’re thinking: “But Pastor, doesn’t it hurt your feelings when someone criticizes your sermon?” Nonsense! When it comes to preaching the Word of God, the truth and clarity of the preached Word far surpasses the feelings of the pastor in importance. 

"No government should be without critics. If its intentions are good, then it has nothing to fear from criticism."
- Thomas Jefferson
We are about a week or so from wrapping up the legislative session, so I wanted to spend a little time discussing the budget, and the investments of the Iowa House Republicans. 

A $100 million increase in broadband infrastructure. 

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Randy Feenstra (IA-04) released the following statement after House Democrats passed legislation that would make Washington, D.C. a state:

In a recent conversation with my almost five year old grandson, I learned that in his words “sometimes the bad guy just comes out and you have to cry and cry.” He had just been released from being grounded for an action that was dangerous for someone so young. Hopefully, he will have learned from his experience.

... It is unbecoming, in a democratic republic, to have leaders who want to change the rules because they want total control. In fact, it’s the type of thing you see from losers in various games. Some people, if they can’t win on the merits, they try to change the rules. More nefariously, it’s what you would expect from tyrannical leadership...
 
Read the full editorial in the April 22 Advance. 

We are inching into my favorite month of the year – May. 
Hooray for May!
It’s the month of May baskets, violets, May poles (okay, I’ve never actually seen a May pole, but I love them anyway), and, most of all, promise.
When I was little, May meant all those things plus the last day of school, which was blissful. It wasn’t that I didn’t like school – I did, as much as any kid does, but there was such a sense of being free, free, free!
 

Here's an excerpt from the April 22 Our Kossuth County column, this week written by John Bilsten of AMU:

Here's an excerpt from this week's Out of the Past column in the April 22 Advance: