What is Kossuth County EMS? In July 2019, the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors was asked to help solve the problems facing EMS (Emergency Management Services) in Kossuth County. The problems brought to the board were the shrinking volunteer pool and the financial shortfalls we are facing in our county. This is not just in Kossuth County but is an issue in the state of Iowa and across the nation.
Read the complete column in the March 5 Kossuth County Advance.

Political discussions are too often driven by moral beliefs, societal views or party loyalty. Most people have an inability to accept, and in many cases even absorb, information that may run counter to some of their baseline beliefs.
In other words, they can't comprehend ideas that run counter to their own. It's a shame because there are a great many brilliant people living in our country with interesting ideas to solve problems. And they will never be heard.

The 2020 Census is officially underway. The Census kicked off in January with population counts in remote Alaska.
In February, census takers began visiting group quarters, such as nursing homes and correctional facilities. In March, households will start receiving official notices by mail instructing people how to respond to the household guestionaire. For the first time, the 2020 Census will allow responses by phone, online or mail.

Once in a while, some random memory from my past pops into my head for no discernible reason. If it's a funny memory, I tend to laugh out loud. At those times, I'm always grateful if no one is around to question my sanity.
When people are around and I laugh, especially if it's a solemn occasion, I pretend I wasn't laughing and cough into my sleeve as if I had been coughing all along. I don't suppose it fools anyone, but it makes me feel better.

We got to an early start at the Smithsonian and were waiting when the National Museum of Natural History opened. A man at the information desk told us that a voluntee guide would soon be available and where to meet him if we were interested.

Iowa must publish report cards reflecting school performance under state and federal law. Report cards help stakeholders understand how their schools are serving students and empower them to contribute to local conversations.
West Bend-Mallard Community School District ranked in the top three categories on the most recent report card.
Read the complete column in the Feb. 27 Kossuth County Advance.

When Daryl Morey tweeted his support of pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong last year, certainly he couldn't have expected the resulting backlash.
Morey is the general manager of the Houston Rockets, and for those of you who are not sports fans, the Rockets are members of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Today, Morey is more than that – his words are a political basketball, if you will, between two of the world's economic powerhouses.

Families United Action Network (FUAN) announced that state Sen. Amy Sinclair and state Rep. Mary Wolfe have introduced a FUAN-recommended bill to stop the practice of suspending driver's licenses or traveling privileges for unpaid child support.
Currently, the practice of suspending driver's licenses inhibits the ability to work and/or find work when sanctioned, and it does not help promote payments of fines and fees.
Read more in the Feb. 20 Kossuth County Advance.

Magic realism is most convincing when it places ordinary characters in extraordinary situations.
That's exactly what South Dakota State University associate professor Steven Wingate does in his novel, "Of Fathers and Fire."
Read more about the book in the Feb. 20 Advance.

Algona's long goodbye with Kmart comes to an end this Sunday. The store will close with far less fanfare, I'm sure, than the day it opened way back when.

It seems like we just turned the calendar to 2020, yet here we are in the middle of February. The chamber operates on a calendar-year structure, so with the turning of the new year, we also welcomed new officers and new board members on our board of directors.

Here are topics I won't be writing about today: Politics. Well, okay, I might as well admit I caucused in the wrong precinct room at Algona High. It was fine, though. My vote counted, and I didn't figure out my mistake until the next day. Don't tell anyone – makes me look not too bright.
Second topic I won't be writing about today: Bats. I haven't had another unwelcome guest since my last column. I am knocking on wood furiously as I type this.

As a small rural state, Iowa always has to fight for relevance. Our paltry six electoral votes make us the equivalent of a corner of New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth.

In the coming months, households will receive information in the mail about participating in the 2020 Census. The census is mandated by the United States Constitution which requires the federal government conduct a count of every person in the United States every 10 years.

I tried to emulate St. Francis of Assisi, who, it is said, loved all God's creatures. Really, I did. But I don't think even St. Francis loved bats. Statues of him (I have one in my yard) always show him cradling a fawn or puppy in his arms with other cute critters sitting at his feet. There's never a sign of a bat.