A Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper
Now that President Trump has single-handedly destroyed the biggest market for U.S. soybeans (China), and a bumper crop is on the way, the White House has come up with a big, beautiful plan to save the Midwest from total disaster — Tofurama!
Starting with a scrumptious all-tofu kickoff banquet, Americans will be urged to incorporate tofu into their diet in at least one meal every day (and the feds will be checking up on this). The USDA will be purchasing vast quantities of tofu for school lunch programs, where it will be featured every day (“Eat your tofu Timmy, or it’s no recess for you.”) Also, the U.S. government will be taking a 25% interest in McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, et al, with the requirement that tofu burgers be placed at the top of the menu.
Brazil may be laughing all the way to the bank, but we've got the Donald. Next target: U.S. pork producers.
Jim Walters, Iowa City
We wish to extend a big “thanks” to our sponsors!
Gold sponsors: Central Bank, Citizens 1st National Bank, Security Trust and Savings Bank, Tyson Turkey Division, Lakeshore Cyclery, Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint and Sports Surgeon, VT Industries, United Bank of Iowa, Mills Agency, Soto Drywall, Cruz Electric and ProRoofing.
Silver sponsors: DeAnda Auto Sales, Hamilton Law Firm, Members Mutual Insurance, State Farm Insurance, Sugar Bowl, 4 Seasons Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, Al’s Liquors, Stickers and Posters, Storm Lake Candy Company and Wind and Solar Specialist.
Bronze sponsors: Smokin’ Hereford BBQ, Anytime Fitness, HyVee Food Store, Marcus Lumber, Paxton’s Jewelry, Super 8, Zimmy’s Bar and Grille, Reding’s Gravel and Excavating, Rent-All,Inc., ISG, Dan Connell-Attorney at Law, Malarky’s Bar and Grill, McNaughton Wealth Management, Merrill Manufacturing, Jones’ Nursery, Midwest Guarantee Gutter and Brown’s Shoe Fit.
Special thanks to: City park staff, city street department, county road department, King’s Pointe Resort, Iowa DNR, Storm Lake Police Department, Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Department and BVRMC EMT staff, members of Buena Vista University soccer team, Storm Lake Bakery, Grand Central East, Bomgaars, Fareway, Dunham’s Sports, Hibbett Sports, Russ Chrischilles-Physical Therapist and Ann Wise, clinical director at Unity Pointe, KAYL Radio, Storm Lake Times Pilot, Naomi WolfTornabane for singing the National Anthem and the many volunteers and to the 106 athletes who participated.
We are grateful to everyone who helped us with the 13th annual Hy Noon Kiwanis “Storm the Lake” Sprint Triathlon/Duathlon. This charity fund raiser helps support our project of building a new city park at Fifth and Russell streets in conjunction with the Beaver Kiwanis Club and the City of Storm Lake. This charity event also helps many children and youth programs in Storm Lake along with the Field of Dreams that Hy Noon Kiwanis supports.
Duane Queen, Director
Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks speaks as if she has amnesia, or perhaps she hopes the rest of us do, when she blames Democrats for premiums for Obamacare going up most years. Perhaps she has forgotten that Trump promised to eliminate the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and to replace it with cheaper, universal care with better coverage. Instead, Republicans in Congress weakened the ACA by making coverage harder to keep and more expensive. They ended automatic re-enrollment, shortened open enrollment by over four weeks, imposed stricter income verification that delays subsidies, and eliminated repayment caps that once protected low-income families from large, unexpected bills.
Subscribers to Obamacare face unusually large price increases next year if Congress does not take action this year. However, Miller-Meeks failed to note that Congress could do something — vote to extend/renew the existing enhanced premium tax credit. The premium tax credits significantly increased Obamacare enrollment, especially for working people who don’t have employment-related insurance. But Miller-Meeks is very critical of that successful policy. In a familiar pattern, while Republicans criticize what is currently working, they offer nothing except vague generalities echoing the grandiose but empty promises we heard from Trump during his first campaign.
When there’s a choice of spending on health care for ordinary families versus giving new complex tax breaks accessible only to the wealthy, we know whose interests the Congressional Republicans will serve. But there’s time for Congress to fix this particular problem; we need to remind Republicans we are paying attention.
Sue Ravenscroft, Ames
For some time now, I’ve been meaning to write to commend you and your staff for how much more I get out of the weekly edition of the paper than the earlier “twice-a-weeks.”
I thank you first for the excellent coverage you've given Early's current dual plights — its water systems problems and the soon-to-be closure of its only school. I spent my first 17 years in Early in the 40s and 50s, perhaps the town’s heydays.
I’ve noticed and appreciated the fact that there are not only more letters to the editor, but better ones, too. A Crestland classmate and lifelong friend of mine in Overland Park, Kan., provides some of them. I liked the picture of you and your St. Mary's classmates at your 50th reunion — especially the sight of my cousin Sue DeGarmo, just one of several from Early.
The writing you provide personally is of the quality one would expect of a Pulitzer Prize recipient. Your longtime columnists Rick Morain and Randy Evans are also playing in the Big League. What prompted me to write today, however, is the column Joan Zwagerman contributed on Social Security in the Aug. 22 edition. If she’s not syndicated by now, she should be. Kudos to her!
Knowing the struggles many papers are having today to keep their noses above water, it's wonderful to be subscribing to one that is getting better and stronger.
Don Hill, Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here