Viewpoints

To the Editor:

I note that a good number of people around here are willing to travel to Branson, Nashville, Chicago or elsewhere to see plays, musicals or concerts. We lived over 40 years in Chicago and have been fortunate to have seen some wonderful stage performances.

Living here, we have been surprised to discover that there is an amazing amount of talent close by - an hour’s drive away in Lanesboro, MN. This town of 750 consists of a group of professional performers who constitute The Commonweal Theatre Company. Each year they put on five plays, each with about 40 performances. Unlike large venues, this small theatre allows a close view of the performers.

Two of their best shows are currently on stage - “Boeing Boeing,” one of the funniest shows we have ever seen, and “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a lively spoof of the pirate life, are currently playing there.  Boeing Boeing runs through August and Peter and the Starcatcher through October.

To the Editor:

The Iowa Attorney General’s office recently established a toll-free hotline for adult survivors to report child sexual abuse, especially by spiritual leaders and clergy.

To report past sexual abuse, Iowans can call 855-620-7000 to speak with a trained advocate. Alternatively, they can submit the online form at IowaAttorneyGeneral.gov/Report-Clergy-Sex-Abuse.

This is an important step to ensure justice, prevent future abuse and provide the support victims deserve. Anybody experiencing current or ongoing abuse should call local law enforcement immediately.

In addition, survivors of all types of crime can get free, confidential support and referrals from the Iowa Victim Service Call Center. Call 1-800-770-1650, text “IOWAHELP” to 20121 or go online to SurvivorsHelpline.org for information on services throughout the state.

Sincerely,
Janet Petersen
Iowa Senate
Democratic Leader

To the Editor:

I applaud the City of Lansing for getting the pool up and running this summer. I have two young grandchildren and this pool is the best for teaching them how to enjoy the water and to learn how their little bodies work in the water. The depth at the shallow end is perfect. It is such a pleasure to see the smile on their faces when they are able to play and learn in that two-foot depth. I totally agree with the statement it is a  “little gem of a pool”

Lisa Fruechte
New Albin

To the Editor:

I would like to let Waukon and the surrounding communities know that Robey Memorial Library has two copies of the Mueller Report available for checkout. Give us a call at (563) 568-4424 and we’ll put a copy on hold for you today!

Cate St. Clair
Director
Robey Memorial Library

To the Editor:

The Waukon City Council recently accepted a bid on sidewalk installation along Second Street SW and Eleventh Avenue SW. The Mayor vetoed this bid proposal and the council later overrode his veto.

This proposal includes a four- to five-foot sidewalk from the fire station to the south entrance to the City Park. The proposal they accepted will cause them to remove 25 trees planted by volunteers eight to 10 years ago. The City had instructed the volunteers where these trees should be located and they followed the City’s instruction.

To the Editor:

Bridges are landmarks; they are iconic structures that we associate with particular places. Some of them are just bridges, cement structures that carry traffic, but some of them are more significant: the London Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, and our very own Black Hawk Bridge in Lansing.

This bridge is named by several tourist sites as the most beautiful bridge in Iowa, but unfortunately, most  bridges have a limited life span and the Black Hawk Bridge is reaching its final days. It will be replaced and is included on the Iowa DOT five-year plan, so construction should begin before the end of 2024.

The Iowa DOT takes comments on its webpage for its upcoming projects. They have had several public meetings over the past few years, seeking input from area residents. There is no doubt that the bridge is necessary, as statistics have shown, so what can replace an icon, a landmark?

To the Editor:

After watching the Democrat Party Presidential debates and listening to follow-up statements by many of those candidates, I am convinced that the Democrat Party is well on its way to fulfilling a prophecy.

In 1887 Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2000 years prior: “A Democracy is always temporary in nature, it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A Democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury, with the result that every Democracy will finally collapse over loose fiscal policy.”

To the Editor:

At her recent town hall in Decorah, Senator Joni Ernst spoke about working with anyone right or left in Congress. One issue where Ernst could work together with Democrats is election security. Recently, Senator Amy Klobuchar put forth bi-partisan legislation, the Secure Elections Act, to protect our democracy from attacks and foreign influence. Ernst’s name is not listed as a co-sponsor. Instead, at the town hall, she blamed former President Obama for election interference.

To the Editor:

When it comes to the Mueller report, Mr. Engle will find out the true facts when Mr. Mueller will appear on live TV before all of the country in July. What I said about Iowa, the Trump party senators from Iowa are covering up crimes every day for this White House as they have no courage or morals. My, my, what ever happened to the Party of Lincoln, replaced by the Party of Trump?

Apparently Mr. Engle did not read the report either, as most Trump party members did not, or would just deny and blame Obama. There is at least 10 situations of obstruction of justice in the Mueller report, “but Mueller couldn’t indict a sitting president,” according to Attorney General Barr and the Department of Justice.

For your meditation: 1 Kings 19:16, 19-21; Galatians 5:1, 13-8; Luke 9:51-62

There is a difference between being narrow minded and being single minded. A narrow minded person wears blinders. Such a person sees only a part of reality, and seeing only a part he or she misses the whole thing. Such a person is probably bigoted and prejudiced, a real redneck.

But a single minded person sees all of reality and can distinguish between what is important and what’s mere window dressing. He or she sets their sights keenly on what is important and does not let the unimportant trivia distract he or she from the goal. Such a person is solid and reliable, a decisive person and a person of action. His or her prayer, Psalm 16, “I set the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I will not be disturbed.”

This is what Jesus is advising us to be. He says, “Whoever puts his hand to the plow but keeps looking back is unfit for the reign of God.”