Park by Penford skate park plan gains student backing
Metro High School students advocated for a skate park at the site Penford aims to buy and expand. They surveyed youth, prompting city commissioners to include a park in a publicity brochure and to weigh location benefits for area youth. Bonnie Severn North Liberty and Cynthia Adhikari Cedar Rapids add comments on obesity, public values, and sensitive issues.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gary C. Young
Penford
Bonnie Severn North Liberty
Salary tied performance for elected officials proposal
A citizen proposes linking elected officials pay raises to predefined performance targets. He suggests an independent board avoids cronyism, sets expectations for each official, measures outcomes, and adjusts salaries accordingly to reflect performance. Lonnie Bazal Elberon advocates transparency.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
COLES
Lonnie Bazal Elberon
Life begins at conception debate spurs rebuttal
Dr Peter Kennedy argues life starts at conception while Steve Udermann defends it urging readers to consider viability and sentience. The debate questions whether fertilized eggs count as life when many do not implant, inviting broader views on what marks life.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Peter Kennedy
Steve Udermann
Humans differ from pets in value and rational life
A guest column argues humans are in a distinct category deserving care from conception to natural death. It contrasts pets with people, noting humans possess rational thought, enduring life value, and society should improve life for all humans rather than end lives for convenience.
Traffic camera tickets should target registered owners only
State officials consider keeping traffic cameras but demand equal ticketing for all. The proposal suggests issuing fines to the registered owner rather than drivers, calibrating warnings on crosswalk timers, and even proposing GPS based civil penalties for offenses.
Voter ID debate in Iowa faces skepticism and questions
The piece argues voter ID laws are unnecessary and potentially harmful in Iowa, citing bipartisan input without guaranteed support, concerns about disenfranchisement, and references to broader national questions about voter fraud. It contrasts fears of illegal voting with evidence suggesting little organized fraud.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mike Wiser
Iowa
New York Times
Eric Lipton
Jan Urbina
Justice Department
Robert Ussery
The
Heritage Foundation
America
Jowans
Wisconsin
Shawn Dougherty
Cedar Rapids
Stray Cat Problem Plagues Neighborhood After Flood
Jean Henchal details a flood era surge of stray cats invading her yard since 2008. She cites garden damage urine spraying on windows and decks, escalating numbers with spring, and limited City Animal Control cooperation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
City Animal Control
Jean Henchal
Cedar Rapids
Potential Cedar Rapids Polk School Coe College Lab Partnership
A former Cedar Rapids teacher proposes a Polk Elementary School partnership with Coe College. The plan would use Polk as a lab school for Coe education students, offering hands on teaching with marginalized students and possible Cedar Rapids district funding terms.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Polk
Ronment
Johnson
Coe College
Polk School
Coe
Prospec
Tive
Linda Marple
Marion
Letters to the Editor Online Submissions List Names
Space limits prevent publishing all eligible letters in The Gazette. Readers can view additional letters submitted by Loren Myers Carl Hoffman Gary Rees Jim Beatty Alex Starkfleet Carol Horne Gary Ellis Larry Blades Sue Dirks Marian Arens Walt Simmons Robert Cribbs at the Gazette website under opinions letters to the editor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Thegazette
Loren Myers
Carl Hoffman
Gary Rees
Jim Beatty
Alex Starkfleet
Carol Horne
Gary Ellis
Larry Blades
Sue Dirks
Marian Arens
Walt Simmons
Robert Cribbs
Bullying concerns demand direct action in schools
Frank E Brigham of Oelwein responds to Jennifer Biocie's column urging stronger, clearer anti bullying measures. He argues bullying is a real, decades old problem in public schools and calls for precise educator guidance to protect students.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jennifer Biocie
Biocie
Bioche
Lisbon
Jerry Sandusky
Penn State
Brodie
Frank E. Brigham Oelwein
Letters Against LOST Vote Remain Unprinted Says Reader
A reader cites Todd Dorman's July Gazette piece on the March sales tax extension and claims supporters suppress opposition. He argues no opposing letters appear in print or online editions, asserting editorial bias by the Gazette Editorial Board, citing past support for a May proposal.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Thegazette. Com
Todd Dorman
Gazette
Loras Weber Robins
Voting for LOST will ensure C R's future
Doug Schumacher, a former west-side business owner and Cedar Rapids Small Business Recovery Group co founder, urges a yes vote on March 6 to extend the local option sales tax for flood protection on both riverbanks. He warns that another 2008 level disaster could jeopardize Cedar Rapids' future recovery.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Lam
Doug Schumacher
Also Mentioned on This Page
Cynthia Adhikari
David Johnston
Iowa City
Sycamore Mall
Panera
Washington St
Jesse Allen
Tom Kaut
Habitat For Humanity
Levere
C.R
Kindergartner
A'Taylah Phillips
Polk Elementary School
B Avenue NE
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