Dear EditorDix Financed by Big Money from Out-of-DistrictBill Dix, the Republican Senate Majority Leader from Shell Rock, is supported by big contributors from outside his Iowa Senate District 25, not by small donors in Butler, Grundy, Hardin and Story CountiesDix raised $460,946 in political ...

Dear Editor,I had a significant member of our town once tell me, "Well, we can't just roll over and die!" Of course he was talking about spending millions on a project our city did not need but he thought was the answer to our city's future. I don't think maintaining our parks, our cemetery, ...

Dear Editor,A few people have asked me why don't I leave the council alone, ie: let them perform their function without observation or criticism. I feel it is not only my right to comment on our council's activities but my obligation to do so. Given a reason, I would just as readily compliment ...

Dear Editor,In January's City Council meeting our Council voted to give away the entire $180,000.00 to the daycare expansion all at one time. That's right, as a lump sum. Anyone that has ever managed a project or built a house knows that you only get the money from your bank (in this case our ...

Dear Editor,Most of you know about the story of the boy who cried "wolf." The story ends with that boy being eaten by the wolf because he had called wolf too often and no one listened when there really was a wolf. Maybe that is what is happening in this town. Maybe I have complained about our ...

Dear Editor,Some in this town feel I have a negative attitude toward our City Council and its propensity to give away our money. They may be right given our council's apparent perspective of seeing the sun rise higher over our city's bleak financial horizon by giving away our tax dollars. I, ...

Dear Editor,The city budget for 2017 saw a reduction of almost $60,000.00 total in city services such as the cemetery, park, EMS, etc. In 2018, the story will be the same. If this happens again in 2019, which it almost certainly will due, in part, to fiscal mismanagement by our council and ...

Dear Editor,The misuse of our city's tax dollars continue as our misguided City Council handed over $180,000.00 to the daycare expansion project at the Jan. council meeting. When they promised the money in late spring of last year, they didn't set a deadline for the daycare board to raise their ...

Dear Editor,What can our city do to ensure our Main Street keeps all of its store fronts full? Remember, our Main Street is the face of our community. Also reflect on how so many towns have lost their Main Street and now appear to be dead to anyone that travels through them or considers them ...

Dear Editor,As we look at a new year, let us take time to consider our city's finances and those that take care of those finances. I hope 2018 finds our city in a stronger financial condition than it was at the onset of 2017. I hope our City Council is able to establish and maintain proper ...