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What is an “unauthorized alien”? Or better yet,what is an “authorized alien”? I am sure I don’t know either of these. An alien from Mars, Jupiter, or maybe Pluto?
So you have a Thesaurus, lets call it what it is, illegal.
Bob Ansorge, Storm Lake
Tired of high grocery and gas prices?
Tired of the war?
Tired of the tariffs?
Tired of increasing national debts and deficits?
Tired of the chaos?
Tired of a Republican controlled Congress doing nothing to stop an out-of-control president?
Nothing will improve if Republicans continue to get elected.
It’s time for a change. VOTE!
Pegg Havens, Storm Lake
I am writing to provide a character reference for Paul Merten, Buena Vista County incumbent supervisor-elect, who is someone I have known for 19 years in both personal and professional capacities. During this time, I have consistently observed qualities in Paul that reflect integrity, responsibility and a genuine commitment to his community.
Paul has demonstrated strong moral character and reliability in every interaction I have had with him. He approaches challenges with honesty and diligence, and treats others with respect and compassion. These qualities are evident not only in his daily conduct, but also in the positive impact he makes on those around them.
In my experience, Paul is someone who follows through on his commitments and can be trusted to act in a fair and thoughtful manner. His reputation for dependability and ethical behavior is well-earned and widely recognized by those who know him.
I respectfully offer this reference in support of Paul Merten for County Supervisor, confident that his character reflects the values our community upholds. If further information is needed, I would be glad to provide it.
Dawn Mentzer, Former Rolling Hill Chief Executive Officer
Caring Paws Rescue would like to say thank you to all who supported out recent Pies for Paws event. Special thanks go out to Lisa Funk and the Storm Lake Bakery for donating the delicious homemade pies, Ruth Whitmore and the Storm Lake Candy Co. for donating the yummy homemade ice cream, Orren Knoffloch and Lake Avenue Lounge for hosting our event and our wonderful helpers Quinn and Landon Randall and Blakely Brown. We sincerely appreciate all who came to enjoy pie and ice cream, made donations and your continued support. It was a very successful fundraiser thanks to each and all of you.
Beth Dawson, Co-treasurer, Caring Paws Rescue
Dear Mr. Sand, I am hopeful you will win the governor’s election. I will welcome the change you can bring into that office. You often speak of inclusion for “all the people” and it is on that platform that I write this open letter.
I want to bring to your attention the importance of transgender rights and what has been taken away. Our current governor has gone after transgender rights at the state level and more recently at the municipality level.
I am a 62-year-old transgender man — ironically snow plowing city streets of Des Moines and frequently Terrace Hill for a decade — if only she knew? I retired this summer from the city of Des Moines in the public works department; I was a truck driver. I was trying to last until age 65, but felt the weight of harassment and bullying from the director and administrators was too much, and so I came to my tipping point and left.
What makes my story a little different is that I was a public servant for the city of Des Moines, and so are my superiors. I will not have to face any more harassment and feel it is important that I give voice to the larger transgender community in Iowa, that bullying does exist for this vulnerable population Mr. Sand please don’t waiver on this subject.
Jude Cigrand, Windsor Heights
Iowa farmers are in the midst of a “Barmecide feast.” Except the Barmecide feast from a tale in The Arabian Nights finally turns out well for the starving man, Schacabac. The fate of Iowa farmers (today’s Schacabacs), won’t turn out as well unless Iowans turn the tables on our GOP congressional candidates in November.
In the Arabian Nights tale, a starving beggar named Schacabac begs for food at the gate of a Barmecide prince. The prince’s servants invite Schacabac in and set before him a sumptuous imaginary feast. Still possessing his sense of humor, Schacabac plays along with the charade, chewing imaginary succulent roasts and pretending to become drunk on imaginary wine. Impressed by Schacabac’s good sport, the Barmecide prince rewards him with a genuine feast and hires him to manage his household.
And so, a Barmecide feast has come to mean a lavish promised benefit not delivered.
Donald Trump (the Barmecide prince) promised a “golden age” of agriculture, featuring expanded markets, volatility protection, and lowered input costs. Iowa farmers (Schachabac), starving for stability, voted for Trump by a 40% margin in 2024.
Instead, farmers have been served empty plates by Trump and Iowa’s toadying GOP legislators, who have allowed trade wars and a Trump-created regional Gulf crisis to beggar their constituents. Ernst, Grassley, Feenstra, Miller-Meeks, Hinson and Nunn have pretended hospitality while carrying empty plates to farmers.
Nov. 3 is Iowa’s chance to end this political charade by voting for new servants: Turek, Dawson, Bohannan, James and Trone-Garriott.
Karen Heidman, Sioux City
I moved to Iowa more than 50 years ago because of the quality of life. That quality has gone down as the levels of nitrates and other farm chemicals in our water have gone up.
Giant agriculture and chemical companies have slowed or stoped every attempt by the majority of Iowans to improve our water quality. For decades they have spent millions to convince us that they are all for clean water and are working on it. Well, the streams, rivers and lakes in Iowa speak for themselves. Monsanto paid $7.25 billion to settle lawsuits before they were sold to Bayer. Much of the money flows out of our state.
No industry should be allowed to make the environment toxic in order to make more money. It’s time for real change. Regardless of how you may feel about other issues, please vote for Chris Jones for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.
Carl Homstad, Decorah
Good for Tennessee! Who knew that a state could be barbaric and incompetent at the same time? Liberals will whine about cruel and unusual punishment, but let this be a lesson to all 18-year-olds who were abused as children and experience mental health issues: we won’t just premeditatively kill you, we’ll torture you, too.
Dave Leshtz, Iowa City
Iowa Capital Dispatch reported that 11 advisory council members of the University of Iowa’s Center for Intellectual Freedom resigned. Regent Christine Hensley stated, “The Board of Regents looks forward to working with the remaining 15 members.” Hensley didn’t say whether any new members will join the council.
The resignations stemmed from a lack of “external support” for the center. Former executive committee chair Richard Lowery wrote in an email to Board President Robert Cramer, “[Y]ou have complete contempt for those academics who do not adhere to the dominant, leftist ideology on the university campus.”
OK, well, anyone who complains about “leftist ideology” on college campuses isn’t really interested in intellectual freedom. Lowery’s mad that council members aren’t getting help to push conservative views on students.
Personal experience tells me that students and faculty at public colleges tend to lean liberal. That’s just how it is. But this Center for Intellectual Freedom did not grow organically at the university. Students didn’t request it. Faculty didn’t recommend it. Republican lawmakers with little to no higher education experience shoehorned it in. It’s there only because people who attack anything that opposes their worldview commanded it. And like an invading organism, the university is rejecting it.
The meager enrollment for its initial classes shows the center’s unpopularity. Nobody asked for this. But now Iowa lawmakers are throwing millions of our tax dollars at it. And requiring incoming freshmen to waste time and money on classes they may not want or need.
Passing a law establishing a university center doesn’t guarantee its acceptance or success. And making something a law doesn’t make it right.
The lack of external support and low enrollment should be clues to Mr. Lowrey and his colleagues. Read the room, folks!
Gordie Felger, Hiawatha
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