Letters to the Editor

After Mayor Bill Peduto of Pittsburg and other local officials requested President Trump not to follow his plan to visit the city — also after refusals to accompany him by Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan and Republican Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey — Trump came anyway...

The Republican Party has a very vocal reverence for the United States Constitution — or at least the first 10 amendments. District 1 State Representative John Wills devoted multiple columns of his legislative update to explaining the Bill of Rights earlier this year. But when it comes to Amendments 11-27, that reverence apparently ends...

I am responding to a recent Letter To The Editor titled "Brett Kavanaugh is a Winner." The writer stated that the "letter signed by 1,000 law professors from the elite colleges" which asked Congress to reject Brett Kavanaugh’s appointment meant little. His reasoning, because "most colleges these days are dominated by liberal thoughts. It is very hard to find a conservative professor anywhere on campus."...

I’m so tired of hearing how bad Dems or Reps are. We've always had people passionate and vocal about their beliefs, and some that also got out of hand, on both sides. However, since Trump took office (actually when he became a candidate), people have become irrational and unyielding in their beliefs and defenses and more violent verbally and physically … on both sides...

It's negative ad season. How many days in a row or total days in this election cycle have you heard or seen negative political ads? Want to bring back more civility to campaigning? Here are some suggestions for rewarding candidates who run positive and issue-focused commercials and protesting those who resort to negative, fear-based ads...

On November's ballot, Arnolds Park voters will see a proposal to increase the Arnolds Park hotel-motel tax by 2 percent. If passed, Arnolds Park's hotel-motel tax would increase from 5 percent to 7 percent, a 40 percent increase. This would be on top of a 5 percent sales tax for a total tax of 12 percent on lodging bills. Those of us who host lodging guests in Arnolds Park believe the excess tax is not needed and would be detrimental to Arnolds Park tourism, the city's primary industry...

I want to thank Paul Johnson for being a Dickinson County Supervisor for the past 16 years. Paul was an environmental watchdog who did an outstanding job of protecting our county from environmental and economic pollution. Too often developers would wait for summer residents to leave for the winter then sneak...

On behalf of the American Red Cross, I wish to express my deep appreciation and say "thank you" to every donor, volunteer and support person who participated in the Oct. 15 blood drive in Spirit Lake. A special thanks go to Grace Lutheran Church for providing a wonderful place for this to happen...

In a recent Letter to the Editor titled "Brett Kavanaugh: A Winner – For Now?" the writer makes several allegations about our newest Supreme Court Justice. He begins with a letter signed by over 1,000 law professors from the elite colleges. Just in case you are not aware of it, most colleges these days are dominated by liberal thought. It is very hard to find a conservative professor anywhere on campus...

Which party threatens pensions and Social Security, runs up deficits, and borrows from reserves? It is not mine. Which party awards corporations for denying proper health care to Iowans? It is not mine. Which party gives tax breaks that benefit the rich and large corporations more than everyday citizens? It is not mine...

A letter, signed by over 1,000 law professors from elite colleges and universities around the country, sent to the U.S. Senate urged them to reject Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court. They cited that his lack of judicial temperament disqualified him for any court. ...

As Iowans engage with candidates across the state in preparation for voting this November, the future of Iowa's workforce and access to affordable higher education must be a priority. As student leaders at our regent institutions, we call on each candidate to expressly state their position on public higher education in Iowa. ...

To the residents of Arnolds Park: We hear the phrase "life isn't fair" all the time. While it may be true, I would contend that most people, when given the opportunity, will do the fair thing. That is why I appeal to you today. I firmly believe you will be fair...

Listening to what Mrs. Ford said, "she only thought Mr. Kavanaugh was going to rape her," but that a rape didn't actually occur; the crime was not committed. Is that all it takes in this country to crucify someone now is to "think" they're going to do something? Especially 30 years later? She also mentioned during her testimony that at this party people on a stairway were having a conversation. ...

Her name is Justice. She cannot see. She carries a sword … and a balance. She, and no partisan interest, is the arbiter of the law. My advice in running for the Iowa House has been to avoid discussing national issues. Some issues are both national and local though, and I make my own decisions...

In a recent Letter to the Editor titled "The Risk Dr. Ford Is Taking" the writer asks if the victim of sexual assault should let someone know. We all know Dr. Christine Blasey Ford is already in the middle of the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination process. She had sent a July 30 confidential letter to her California Congresswoman with a sexual assault allegation against the nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The letter was passed along to California Senator Diane Feinstein...

The accusations and media coverage against Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh are appalling. Thirty-six years late in coming, memories coaxed decades later by attorneys and counselors, with details missing, recollections dead wrong, zero evidence brought forward on the eve of the nominee vote. ...

What should a sexual assault victim expect if she accuses the person who assaults her? She will be shamed, blamed, threatened, called to be lying or mixed up. Much courage is necessary and sometimes the courage doesn't come right away. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford had a decision to make. Should she remain silent and avoid the hurtful notoriety or does America need to know about the actions and character of a nominee to the Supreme Court of the United States for a life time term?...

I want to send a huge thank you to everyone who attended my benefit concert on Sept. 6 at First Lutheran Church. The outpouring of support from the community has been incredible and I am forever grateful. The surgery to remove my brain tumor was very successful; the symptoms that I was suffering from have completely disappeared including the loss of my memory and my vision. ...

Homecoming 2018 is right around the corner, and the Student Advisory Council is excited to announce that this year's homecoming begins Monday, Oct. 1, and festivities will cease on Saturday, Oct. 6. The council has been discussing the themes, dress up days and activities that surround homecoming prior to the start of the 2018-19 school year...

In a recent Letter to the Editor titled "Trump: Protect my friends, punish my enemies" the writer agonizes over things that President Trump says. If you don’t like what President Trump says, turn the channel, turn the page or stop listening. It is like the old expression "it will feel better when you stop beating your head against the wall."...

I listened and watched the ethanol plant rep demonstrate how cleanly alcohol burns. Our conversation shifted to swapping shared memories of farm chores and concluded that our respective career paths were definitely influenced by our childhood experiences on our parents' farms...

After extensive investigation, the D.O.J listing numerous offenses by Representatives Chris Collins (R - New York) and Duncan Hunter (R - California) — avid Trump supporters, indicted them for insider trading and improper use of $250,000 of campaign funds for personal use. In a surprising response about the upcoming November elections President Trump said, "Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good Job Jeff."...

Young Molly Tibbetts is dead. Brutally murdered, stabbed to death repeatedly, by an individual who was in our country under a false identity, illegally. The premise that this is just one of those things that happen, that domestic violence and murder occurs all the time within naturalized citizens in the United States is one of the most specious arguments I have ever heard...

We do our best to celebrate Labor Day by not working … but we celebrate in honor of those who do. As with Memorial Day, it's much too easy to forget why we have set aside time to pay our respects and just play instead. Let's not do that. Labor builds America. ...

In a recent Letter to the Editor titled “Once again, he missed the invite list” the writer begins with a lament that President Trump did not receive an invitation to some functions. The implication seems to be that how many party invitations a President receives is a reflection of how well he is doing in his job. Looks like another way to measure “Trump Derangement Syndrome”...

  The end of the summer season has arrived, but we can still remember the laughter of children enjoying inflatable attractions at Florence Park and the sound of feet hitting the pavement during the Pioneer Days run. We saw the dedication of a new park. Firetrucks and floats from throughout the region gave us unforgettable sights and sounds. Milford honored two of its finest residents as part of the annual parade. ...

On Saturday, Aug. 25, our country lost a national hero, revered by millions of Americans – Senator John McCain. President Trump disagrees. In a televised interview in July of 2015 he said: "He is not a hero, I like heroes that were not captured." McCain's plane was shot down during a raid on North Vietnam and McCain was captured. ...

What if: • China doesn't bow to American tariff pressure? For the Chinese, bowing indicates respect. • The Renewable Fuel Standard keeps being undermined by waivers? • After a $12 billion bailout, farmers need more help from programs defunded because of the $12 billion? What if more family farms fold?...

I am writing to commend Gov. Kim Reynolds on the great job she is doing as governor of Iowa. She worked her way up. She was a county treasurer, state senator from her district, she was our lieutenant governor and now she is our governor. She was mentored by one of Iowa's best governors, Terry Branstad, who is now U.S. Ambassador to China. She even went back to college to learn more about governing...

In a recent Letter to the Editor titled "Emma Lazarus Words on Immigration," the writer begins with the Emma Lazarus poem on the State of Liberty, but then descends into complaints that President Trump does not follow international or United Nations law. I could be mistaken, but I thought the United States was sovereign nation that controls its own destiny...

On behalf of the American Red Cross, we wish to express our deep appreciation and say "thank you" to every donor, volunteer and support person who participated in the Aug. 16 blood drive in Spirit Lake. A special thanks go to Grace Lutheran Church for providing a wonderful place for this to happen...

The Iowa Great Lakes Rotary Club would like to thank everyone who helped make our second annual Boji Brew Fest event a great success. It took place the afternoon of Aug. 4 at the Arnolds Park Central Park shelter house. Thank you to the members of PEO, Chapter PA, who volunteered along with our club members to make set up, ticket sales and tear down run smoothly. Also, thank you for recruiting your spouses to help!...

Both of America’s major political parties have problems with elitism and self-interested politicians. American politics are dogged by extremism that encourages personal attacks and discourages debate. Money corrupts government's ability to represent the people. Negativity thrives...

The plaque on the Stature of Liberty reads: Give me your tired, your poor Your huddled masses, yearning to be free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door...

In a recent Letter to the Editor titled "A check on Our Values" the writer begins with the statement "Republican conservatism used to center on: free trade, family values, fiscal conservatism, limited government and strong international leadership." I believe they still do...

There is no "one size fits all" when it come to the issue of local control. One can argue back and forth about municipalities and their traffic cameras or whether local sheriffs should be able to provide information about the status of gun permits. One can argue that it shouldn't be necessary for the state to grant school districts funding flexibility before they can hire security personnel. One can argue that the state ought not prevent local governments from setting their own minimum wage...

To the editor, The mayor and city council of Arnolds Park wish to publicly support and applaud the work of Imagine Great Lakes. It has been a very positive experience working with them as they plan the beautification work that will benefit the entire Lakes Region in the years ahead. They have kept us fully informed as they begin to implement their exciting positive ideas. We look forward to working with them in the future...

WATER QUALITY, has been a priority in Dickinson County going back as early as 1900. The first Okoboji Protective Association bulletin in the early 1900s, reported concerns about water quality of local lakes. The priority for the protection of water quality has been consistent for almost 120 years, if not more. ...

The lake road along the east side of West Okoboji Lake, from Monarch Cove on the north to the site of the former Inn on the south, is a three-mile stretch of narrow, two-lane pavement marked by several sharp curves and blind hills. It's a road where large vehicles associated with delivery, services and construction are often parked in clusters along the roadsides blocking almost an entire lane, sometimes for hours at a time...

I support bipartisanship. I dislike extremism. I write to support the position of the man I am running against. At the Dickinson County supervisors meeting on July 24, the Republican representative to the Iowa House District #1, John H. Wills, confirmed his intention to make a request of Governor Reynolds. I support his intent...

Not many high school athletes get the opportunity to end their careers with a win. I was lucky enough to do just that. We had a great season, ending with a record of 29-8 and fifth overall in class 3A. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Spirit Lake community for being such a big part of my years in softball. ...

Republican conservatism used to center on free trade, family values, fiscal conservatism, limited government and strong international leadership. These are admirable values that I totally agree with. It's hard to see these values embraced by our Republican conservative administration today...

Much has been made recently, as it should be, of Iowa’s 2018 U.S. News and World Report’s No. 1 overall ranking as a state. While there is much to celebrate, an overall good quality of life should not keep us from looking at and dealing with challenge points — the bad...

Our government should be smart, efficient, fiscally sound, non-intrusive when possible and regulatory where appropriate. It should be seen as a boon, not a burden, to "we the people" who comprise it. America's economic system is built on individual free enterprise. Much of our economic and social strength is based in healthy, fair competition. On the other hand, an overdriven model of privatization can take our greatest strength too far and make it a weakness...

On June 30, 2018, hundreds of thousands of people from Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. to the Highway 71 bridge in Arnolds Park joined protesters in all 50 states to show their objection to the "zero tolerance" policy implemented by the Trump administration. ...

In a recent letter to the editor titled “How Bad Must It Get?” the writer criticizes the President for a myriad of faults — one recent, while the rest are a rehash of old news. This "Trump Derangement Syndrome" begins with an investigation by the former New York Attorney General. ...

In the final hours of its 2018 session, the Iowa legislature passed a ban on taxpayer-funded paid advertisements in political campaigns. That ban took effect on July 1 and prohibits lawmakers from using taxpayer-funded resources to promote their written names or likenesses in newspapers and elsewhere for paid advertising in a campaign. The prohibitions under the new law exempt "common and frequent constituent correspondence."...

Pardon my anger … but who (passed the Iowa fireworks law)! I'm sorry if this was you Gov. Branstad, but, last night in my neighborhood … guys were setting off BOMBS of some type and it sounded (and I felt like) it was a war zone and we were getting bombed on — like Iraq or somewhere! I couldn't even hear my TV, and hot ashes were falling on houses and on canvas gazebos, not to mention my dogs were in panic over this, and I thought one of them was going to have a heart attack!...

In the last six months, we have been inundated with views concerning the flag and patriotism. I would like to offer several additional comments. Many of us like to display the flag as a sign of our patriotism and pride in our country during this week of celebration of the independence of our country. I heartily encourage these displays, but let's do it right. I see many instances of poor flag etiquette every year. The most common is displaying the flag at night...