A Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper
As much as all of us try to plan for any unforeseen circumstances in our lives, there are times when the unexpected happens and we need to re-evaluate our financial priorities. Such is the case when the severe storm took place on Good Friday.
A good example of such an emergency is the profound damage to the Buena Vista County Historical Society building. The historical society operates on a razor-thin budget and as a result, could not afford the sizeable insurance premium to cover damage to the structure. They are the storehouse of the history of Buena Vista County and are unquestionably important for preserving that history for generations to come.
This vital organization typically receives a minimal amount of funding from the City of Storm Lake and BV County, but their requests for this fiscal year were rejected. Why? Is it a greater priority to spend nearly a million dollars paying legal fees for the city and county to fight each other (which, as you know, comes out of our taxpayer’s pockets) instead of providing a fraction of that amount to the historical society (and frankly, other much-needed organizations like Ready, Set Grow.)
I am asking both city and county officials to set aside their egos and open their minds to what is important and re-think funding the BV County Historical Society.
Finally, a note to all citizens in the county: Please join me in donating to the society. Future generations will thank you long after you are gone. City and county officials: What do you say?
Brad Strader, Storm Lake
I would like to thank the Storm Lake Times Pilot for their continued and enthusiastic support for Witter Gallery. However, in response to Allison Moore’s article, “City Snuffs Funding Requests” in the April 11 edition, I would like to clarify a few matters.
First, Witter Gallery gratefully acknowledges and thanks the City of Storm Lake for its ongoing support. We are delighted to report that generous city funding for the new lighting project will move forward before the end of this fiscal year as planned.
Second, Witter Gallery does indeed fundraise. We must fundraise. Ella Witter’s generous gift to the City of Storm Lake in 1972 provided funds to expand the proposed blueprints for the new public library building to include a wing dedicated to supporting the arts in our community. But this funding did not provide an endowment or dedicated funding for the ongoing needs of the gallery. We know the importance of fundraising, but it barely covers our regular bills and staff. Fundraising does not cover upkeep to the physical structure of the building, which belongs to the city.
Many in the community have attended our events and/or answered our membership drive requests with generous donations. We thank you! We have also reinstated “exhibit sponsorships,” which provide targeted funding for particular exhibitions. Packets with requests for funding were sent out to the community and were answered by businesses who provided generous contributions. Thank you to those who have responded to our call for exhibit sponsors. We have three events in this upcoming year for which we hope to recruit more exhibit sponsors. We’ll be hosting a lighthouse walk, a fall fundraiser and a Christmas sing-along. Be sure to keep your eyes open for more information.
By no means does Witter Gallery intend to be greedy in our requests to the city for funding. We fully understand that there are many “outside agencies” and civic organizations in the community that have significant financial needs as well. If Witter asks for a certain amount of financial support from the City of Storm Lake, we will most likely only receive a portion of that ask since budgets are tight. All of Witter’s financial asks from the city are intended to better serve the Storm Lake community.
Witter has been a responsible steward of the resources provided by the city. We eagerly and proudly partner free of charge with many city-led and Storm Lake United events, including the Star Spangled Spectacular, Wood Wine & Blues, Miracle on Lake Avenue, Kid’s Fest, etc.
Witter Gallery has been a proud supporter of Storm Lake’s arts and art education opportunities for over 50 years, enriching our community with creativity and connection. Recent developments, such as the gallery’s renovations and the Mosaic Mural Project, highlight its evolving role in fostering inclusivity and engagement.
We look forward to your ongoing support for Witter Gallery!
Witter Gallery Board
The Trump White House is a firehose of lies that spreads chaos, confusion and hate-filled rhetoric every day. The list goes on and on. Trump is wreaking havoc on our economy — and my retirement funds — with disastrous tariffs and trade policies. He’s been disappearing law-abiding immigrants to foreign prisons without due process, attacking our global allies and independent news media, and trying to intimidate American universities by telling them what they can teach and who they can hire. And on the upcoming federal budget issue, Trump favors shredding our social safety net and giving huge tax cuts to billionaires.
Trump craves attention, he’s a bully. And as any grade-schooler will tell you, the best way to deal with a bully is to stand up to him.
When will Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst — and Iowa’s other elected Republicans — stand up to Trump, rein him in and tell him to back off?
Hugh Espey, Des Moines
Banning Maya Angelou’s book, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” robs U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen of a valuable resource of fierce resilience and wise instruction.
For nearly 40 years I taught Angelou’s book in four different courses in James Madison College at Michigan State University.
In my first-year writing course on the human life cycle, students deeply appreciated Angelou’s frankness, courage, resilience and skillful descriptive and narrative writing. In my course on research writing and the Great Depression, young women and men learned multiple ways in which African-Americans maintained hope amid hard times. “All my work is meant to say, ‘You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.’”
She persisted, overcoming the strikes against her even in the streetcars in San Francisco.
In my course on religion in American literature, Maya’s autobiography started with Easter and resurrection, showed the power of religious revivals, and ended with the birth of a new child. She described her victory over muteness, Joe Louis’s remaining heavyweight boxing champion of the world, and the power of “Lift Every Voice” in the face of a bigoted speaker at her junior high commencement. Because of their age, many youth in my course on American autobiography preferred Angelou to Benjamin Franklin, Dorothy Day, Black Elk and Alfred Kazin.
First-year students in particular learned how they too could overcome unexpected difficulties. Many white students resonated to a Black adolescent's search for identity and support from communities. Because of Angelou, one African-American thought more about her life and her courage — practicing and not practicing courage in class discussions, not drinking at parties and refusing to give up when she wanted to quit college. Another student read two more of Maya’s autobiographical volumes and persuaded her dad to read Caged Bird. “Reading, studying, discussing and ultimately seeing Maya Angelou was the high point in my entire freshman year,” wrote one young woman.
Maya Angelou made students think. What these young adults learned was the power of renewal — replacing the forces that diminish with the forces that replenish. They were inspired by Angelou’s love and courage. And they learned from a masterful crafter of words how to write more clearly and vividly.
Ron Dorr, Professor Emeritus, James Madison College Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here