opinion
People deserve well-thought-out reason, rather than opinion
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 2:48 pm
I have attended several Winneshieck County Supervisor meetings. I observed Dan Langreck during the sessions when people from his district presented life-changing situations due to weather-related events or other county citizens presented specific, well-documented facts. Dan Langreck comes to the …
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The mark of successful government is cooperation
Monday, September 23, 2024 4:27 pm
The County Board of Supervisor meetings are valued opportunities for citizens to learn about the responsibilities of local government, as witnessed by the constituents attending in person and online. I attend often and learn from everyone: supervisors, special community representatives …
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School board must be caretakers of taxpayer funds
Monday, September 23, 2024 4:26 pm
To the editor: “The Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) would give the district permission to use penny sales tax (SAVE) funds for infrastructure and technology needs through 2051. State law mandates that all SAVE money must be used for local property …
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Other reader says ‘it takes a village’ to return a car key
Monday, September 23, 2024 4:26 pm
Dear Editor, On Aug. 28, I think it was, I went for an early morning walk for about an hour. Some while after I got home, I went to grab my car key from my little purse, and realized that …
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Squeaky wheels and loud voices aren’t always worth listening to
Monday, September 23, 2024 4:25 pm
Dear Editor, With election season ramping up, recently there have been letters and articles which have criticized and cast doubt on the work and leadership Dan Langreck has put forth as Winneshiek County Supervisor and chair of the board. As …
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Reader says ‘it takes a village’ to maintain excellent education
Monday, September 23, 2024 4:24 pm
Dear Editor, Thank you to Seth Boyes, new editor of the Decorah Leader, for returning the opinion page and including letters to the editor. It is wonderful to have an opportunity for honest, civilized discourse in our local newspaper again. …
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Certification may improve culture, climate of county board of supervisors
Monday, September 23, 2024 4:24 pm
I would like to voice my concern about the current dysfunction and “cultural climate” of the supervisors on the Winneshiek County Board. By definition, “culture sets the long-term values and beliefs that shape how things are done, whereas climate reflects …
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The column every editor has to write from time to time
Monday, September 23, 2024 4:23 pm
It’s hard to complain about a local opinion page that’s packed full of letters to the editor. That’s a good thing. It means people are paying attention. It means people care. And they should. Just by skimming the letters printed …
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Seeing humanity in roadkill
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 3:47 pm
The Cedar Rapids Gazette recently published an article “Who picks up roadkill?” The “Curious Iowa” segment answered in fulfilling the question. A short revelation — 96 pages — written by Roger M Knutson, a long-standing biology professor at Luther College in …
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White whales are still out there — and they’ll still cost you
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 3:46 pm
Not sure how I manage it, but my home improvement ideas never work out well. The deck I was going to refinish never even got sanded. The broken tree branch that needed trimming bested me for at least three days …
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Iowans likely looking to Dakotas for decision on proposed Summit pipeline
Thursday, August 29, 2024 2:31 pm
A recent decision from South Dakota’s highest court may be the determining factor in whether portions of an $8 million carbon pipeline extend through northern Iowa. Summit Carbon Solutions aims to construct its pipeline across five Midwest states to transport …
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Of politics and people
Monday, August 26, 2024 1:25 pm
It would seem local politics is still a hot topic of conversation in our community — assuming that our opinion page is a remotely representative sample. I myself got a bit of feedback for my last opinion piece. And that’s …
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The road to better community involvement
Monday, August 26, 2024 1:23 pm
Dear, Editor. We are hopeful. Over two years ago, the Winneshiek supervisor board meetings were attended by very few folks. Today the house was packed to overflow. Not only attendance is huge compared, but online viewers are very numerous. The …
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‘A pattern of disrespect’
Monday, August 26, 2024 1:22 pm
A letter to the editor in last week’s Leader noted that, at the Aug. 5 public hearing on a rezoning request, Board of Supervisors Chairman Dan Langreck shouted at some members of the public and discouraged attendees from sharing their …
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Climate change is upon us
Monday, August 26, 2024 1:21 pm
Dear Editor: Recently, on June 25, a letter to the editor listed the ways in which Spencer, Iowa, residents had their lives upended with the recent extreme rain and subsequent flooding. No city services, businesses closed, no gas or electricity, …