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Opinion

Fairy Tales Part 3: Shrek

Local Columns

Shrek is a 2001 animated comedy movie featuring the voice acting of Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy. The movie begins with a telling of a fairy tale from a beautiful gilded book, much like the beginning of Disney’s Snow White and Cinderella.The story is the traditional St. George fairy tale: the ...

Fairy Tales Part 2: Deconstruction

Local Columns

One of the pillars of our cultural inheritance is the fairy tales that have been handed down through the generations. These stories are memorable because they are logical, enjoyable, and profoundly true, steeped in the biblical truth of Christian medieval Europe. They are second only to the ...

Meggers’ Memo: Week 1

Editorials

As the 2nd session of the 91st general assembly kicks off, house republicans will continue to remain focused on the issues Iowans care about the most. From meaningful property tax relief to public safety as well as honoring our veterans, here’s what is happening at the Capitol. ...

Brass Tacks from Rural Iowa: A Session of Urgency

Editorials

It’s the start of a new year, which means another Iowa legislative session begins. While I’m hopeful some good will come out of the Golden Dome in Des Moines, I’m not holding my breath. Eminent domain and ways to protect Iowans from Bruce Rastetter’s pesky CO2 pipeline are sure to ...

District 53 Newsletter: Jan. 15, 2026

Editorials

The 2026 Legislative got underway this week with the usual pomp and circumstance of speeches from the House leadership and the addresses from Governor Reynolds, Chief Justice Christensen of the Iowa Supreme Court, and Major General Osborn, Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard. Governor ...

An update on the county budget

Editorials

We have turned the page on another year at the Tama County Board of Supervisors. Mid-January means that it is time for budget hearings and discussions. When the new board took over last January, we promised transparency and made a commitment to the taxpayer to use sound budgeting principles. ...

Dengler Domain: Freedom

Local Columns

What everyone wants is freedom. It does not matter if it is from the government or from industry. Everyone wants to be able to make the best decisions for themselves without outside influence. The centralization of decision making is not great for experiencing freedom. This is why when one owns ...

On Nature: Cattle and Conservation

Local Columns

It is good at the start of a new year to look back for positive environmental stories. Especially noteworthy this year are two locally-led, cost-sharing projects that demonstrate the compatibility between cattle and conservation. They are Iowa’s Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Project, ...

New Creation, New Beginning

Local Columns

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV). When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior that individual is joined to Jesus in His death and resurrection: “We become a ...

A year in review as sheriff

Local Columns

This past year as Sheriff has been challenging, eye opening, and rewarding. Overall, I truly love being Sheriff. A portion of the year was spent preparing for and handling a full murder trial, while also preparing for a second. What many people do not see is how much work happens long before ...