Letters to the Editor: A different side

Congratulations to the Storm Lake Boys Basketball team on a great season. It was wonderful to see the camaraderie amongst the teammates.

There is a mural painted in Chautauqua Park saying “Storm Lake Diversity Stronger Together…”

I think the boys showed a different side of that slogan. It should be strength through unity. We were treated to young men supporting the team effort yet from all of different backgrounds and abilities. A better mural would say “Stronger through unity that embraces diversity within the unity.” If each goes their own way, we have chaos and nothing is accomplished. All embracing a common goal can achieve greatness as shown by our youth in a basketball game. 

Instead of focusing on diversity, lets focus on assimilating and becoming one. I would challenge the Mayor, City Manager and City Council to consider this in their meetings. For in America we are “Out of many, one.” E Pluribus Unum!

Barb Ansorge, Storm Lake

A living classroom

Plants are essential to life in Storm Lake and around the world. They provide oxygen, food, shade and beauty to our city. For example, the white oak (Quercus Alba) is an important native tree that provides shelter and food for wildlife while also improving air quality. The sugar maple (Acer saccharum) not only offers beautiful fall color but also produces maple syrup and provides cooling shade during hot Iowa summers. Even plants like common milkweed (Asclepias syiaca) play a major role in supporting monarch butterflies and other pollinators. In our agricultural community, corn (Zea mays) is another powerful example of how plants support both our local economy and food supply.

One place that highlights the importance of trees is the Storm Lake Tree Museum. The tree museum helps educate residents and visitors about different tree species and their enviromental benefits. It serves as a living classroom where people can learn about conservation, biodiversity and the role trees play in keeping our air and water clean. The museum is important to Storm Lake because it promotes community pride, environmental awareness and appreciation for the natural world.  

Plants truly matter because they sustain life, support wildlife, strengthen our economy and beautify our city. I hope our community continues to value and protect the plants and trees that make Storm Lake a healthier and more vibrant place to live.

Ivan Reyes, Storm Lake High School student

Iowa conservatism

A year or so ago, I went to a birthday party at The Hideaway in my old home town of Ionia. It was for Dave, the former mayor/softball player/coach. The mayor that never ran for the office but was written in for every election. It was kind of funny it was word of mouth democracy. The bar was full of old-timers that we had grown up with, went to church with, played softball with and those that watched us play ball on the nicest softball diamond in Northeast Iowa. Some of us joked that in 10 years, most of us would be gone.

Now, this year I went to Ionia Days and was in the parade with other veterans that made it back from Korea/Vietnam, two of us didn’t. It was as good for me as going on the Honor Flight earlier last summer. People were waving at us on the pickups and firetrucks and we were throwing candy back at the kids. After that I thought that I would go to the ballgame they had at the park every year, but there was no game this year.

I don’t know why for sure but I am thinking it was because of the population of the town and surrounding communities. There were 136 graduates from New Hampton High School in 1965 and there are 92 in the senior class this year. That is a 32% decline. There are multiple reasons for that and one reason is our very conservative industry. The bigger the farms got because of that productivity increase the less population growth in our rural communities.

The conservative part of this is we keep electing people in this state that tell us they will cut our taxes. I have seen Senator Pat Grassley on Iowa Press three times in the past year touting the fact that they were so successful in that regard that the state accumulated $6 billion of our money and now they want to give it back to the taxpayer. The question I ask is, who is the taxpayer? Is it that big farmer, business guy or you and I, the citizens?

Let’s talk about that $6 billion. Who manages that kind of money? A bank? How much interest is that per year? And where does that interest go? I bet we could get Warren Buffet’s replacement, that guy from Des Moines, to give us 4% per year. That is $240 million per year. If we gave parents $250 per month per child, that would help support 80,000 kids just this year. Think of that. Then next year we could offer the same $250 per child, up to three, for parents from other states to move to our small communities and work their jobs remotely. We could start with a 10 year program and that money would turn over in these small towns. That would spur investment in our closed up shops on main street and put kids in our rural schools and so on and so on. 

We need a political upheaval in this state in order to do that. In the meantime, that ball diamond in Ionia still need kids to play on it.     

Rick Brown, Cedar Falls

Sinful state

I’ve always thought greed was the No. 1 problem, but it’s second on the list of the seven deadly sins. According to the Catholic Church, pride is No. 1 and that is the excessive arrogant view of yourself. Wow, I wonder who has that? It’s supposed to be the root of all other sins. Then greed is the excessive selfish desire for wealth and possessions. Sound familiar? Third is lust — intense sexual desire. No, I won’t bring up Epstien. Fourth is envy, the sadness or desire for possessing talent or happiness. Fifth is gluttony, the overindulgence of anything. Ever hear who has the most toys wins? I never liked that.

Billionaires have more money than they can spend, but instead of helping people and the planet, they take joy rides to outer-space and create crypto Ponzi schemes. Ever hear money can’t buy happiness? The rich are never satisfied, they always want more. This will make people mad, but I have to say it.  I’m not religious and here’s why. The Vatican has real estate worth 200-350 billion dollars. Sad if you’re not sure about 150 billion dollars. I credit my dad with this. A TRUE church would probably be poor because they would give all their resources to help the needy. What would Jesus do? Give or receive?

The sixth sin is wrath — uncontrollable anger and vengeance. Think Orange Bully. Seventh is sloth — extreme neglect of spiritual growth and duties. I’d say our so-called leader has them all. Romans 12:17-21 “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” VOTE BLUE.  

Dave Haynes, Duncombe

P.S. What ever happened to shame?