Le Mars Daily Sentinel: Opinion

Making room for the party (05/08/08)
An early Happy Mother's Day to the moms out there. Thanks for all you have done, continue to do, and always will do. Being a parent is a thankless, but essential job in our society. Without your efforts, who knows where we would be? Oh yes, I think I have an idea of where we would be. Living like feral animals, not wearing clean underwear and our eyes would have stayed crossed from crossing them one too many times...

A happy ending to voting mess (05/08/08)
The 2000 presidential election and the entire debacle that took place in Florida, where it appeared that many votes were cast incorrectly due to antiquated butterfly style punch ballots caused a national outcry for change in the way that we vote. It has taken the federal government several years to make up their minds on exactly how to ensure accurate voting and the privacy of the ballot box, but it appears that they have finally made up their mind...

Looking to save money? Don't spend it (05/07/08)
Truth, as the saying goes, is quite often stranger than fiction. Some of the best stories also contain the greatest amounts of irony. File this story under that category. The State of Iowa, seeking to gain greater efficiencies, hires a consultant to study state government. The state paid an out of state consultant, Chicago-based A.T. Kearney Inc., $3.7 million to recommend efficiencies that save the public $2.7 million...

Move it on over (05/06/08)
Driving is a privilege in our society, even though many of us often view it as a right. Laws governing the operation of motor vehicles have been written to ensure public safety and many observe them well. It is always good to remember that every time we get behind the wheel, we are driving what can become a two ton killing machine. It all depends on the operator...

'Straight talk' about subsidies (05/05/08)
Oh, the joys of being a "presumptive" presidential nominee. You don't need to campaign against primary opponents, you get to build your staff and campaign war chest, and you get to let the candidates from the other party bash each others brains out while you sit back and enjoy...

Hoping for more than a breeze (05/02/08)
Although it may not seem like it today, there will come a time soon when we all switch our thermostats from "heat" to "cool" and concerns about a constant and clean source of electricity will begin to become news. With all of the talk about high oil and gasoline costs, as well as high natural gas costs, many consumers are looking into electric heat pumps to heat and cool their homes...

Food and fuel? (05/01/08)
Lately, a trip to the gas station after a trip to the supermarket can leave many families low on cash. Ever increasing food and fuel prices leave many to wonder where it all will end. As is the case with any change that effects many, easy solutions or culprits are sought. In the food and fuel debate, it seems there are no easy solutions...

Charlene, we're glad we knew you (05/01/08)
I often say that we spend more waking hours at work with people that we get to know than we do with the people we love. The reality of life is that we must work to make a living and, while not always essential, it is much better to get along with the people you work with...

Sack it up, we'll take it (04/30/08)
Spring is here and all around town people are cleaning up their yards, sprucing up their homes and renewing friendships with fellow walkers after a long and cold winter. We recently celebrated Earth Day, and awareness of our actions and inactions and the way that they impact others has been increased. Saving the world is a big job, but if we all do our part and take personal responsibility and do a little bit, it will make a difference...

Looking for the good news (04/29/08)
With all of the doom and gloom in the headlines: high gasoline prices, high food prices, recession, it is often quite easy to get caught up in the entire bad news as a self-fulfilling prophecy. Yes, it is true that the economy has seen better days, but for every bit of bad news, if you look hard enough, you can find some nuggets of good news...

Keeping the change (04/28/08)
1982. Michael Jackson releases what will become the largest selling album in history, "Thriller." John Belushi dies at age 33 of a drug overdose. "Cats" opens on Broadway. "E.T. - the Extra-Terrestrial" is a hit a the movies. Remember? Seems like a long time ago, doesn't it? According to the University of Michigan's Consumer Confidence SuSurveyreleased last week, confidence in the economy has sunk to 62.6, the lowest since -- you guessed it -- 1982...

It all changed April 20, 1999 (04/25/08)
Le Mars police have been busy making trips to the middle and high schools for the past three springs. The reason? Bomb threats. Thankfully, the threats were not true. The majority of the trips the police made were to investigate who left the notes. This spring has been troublesome, with two notes this month, the latest this week...

Combination windows will set you free (04/24/08)
It appears that after a few false starts, spring is indeed here to stay, nearly a month after it's official arrival. Some folks in my neighborhood have been out doing yard work and the number of folks out walking in the evening is growing. Heck, they have even been able to have track and golf meets. This is no small feat, considering snow cancellations earlier this month...

Bobcats: Good news, bad news (04/24/08)
Positive changes in the environment have resulted in some endangered species making comebacks all over the nation. The bald eagle, once considered to be on its way to extinction, has made a comeback and is officially no longer an endangered species. In fact, they have become a common site along rivers during the winter migration season...

New SILO bill will benefit all (04/23/08)
After a couple of weeks of politicking, the Iowa Senate yesterday approved legislation that will make the School Infrastructure Local Option Sales Tax (SILO) statewide until 2030 and change the distribution of funds. The one-percent sales tax, currently collected in all 99 counties in the state becomes a statewide tax and the per pupil distribution formula will change, ending the inequity in the current tax...

Bumps in the road (04/22/08)
Le Mars' downtown, like many communities, is undergoing a transformation. As recent as a decade ago, who would have guessed that the Internet would be used for as much commerce as it is today, or that the "big box" stores would be in towns with populations under 10,000?...

What goes up... (04/21/08)
Must come down, the old saying goes. There seems to be an exception to every rule and law in nature, and it seems that oil and gasoline prices are the current exceptions to this law of nature. Friday, retail gasoline prices and crude oil futures set new records -- again. ...

Late night budgeting is worrisome (04/18/08)
As the federal income tax deadline passes and the Iowa income tax deadline approaches, people are focused on their finances. Many have changed their spending habits and adjusted their personal budgets, due to higher fuel and food costs. When average people have less money, they either find a way to earn more, spend less or borrow to make up the shortfall. That's the way budgets work...

Landmarks ahead (04/17/08)
21 days. As of last weekend, that's how many days my daughter, a senior at LCHS, had left before graduation. Wow. Where has the year gone? Where do any of them go? Time is relative, it seems, and the more you have of it, the longer it seems to last...

Love thy neighbor, hate their.... (04/17/08)
Living in a small community, and Le Mars is a small community, no matter what you would like to believe, it is not essential, but quite helpful, to know and get along with your neighbors. The benefits of getting along with your neighbors are too numerous to list here, but a helpful neighbor can keep an eye on your property when you are away, help with all sorts of things from remodeling projects to snow removal to babysitting...

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