Iowa must invest in youth and quality of life
Robert George Wilson of Decorah, a sixth grade teacher in the North Winneshiek School District, argues in a Gazette column that Iowa suffers youth exodus due to low wages and weak recreation. He cites higher wages in neighboring states, limited public land and recreation funding, and a 60 percent super majority for school bonds as barriers to growth and quality of life. He urges investing in people and future opportunities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gazette
Dale Kueter
Iowa
Hiawatha
Terry Branstad
West Des Moines
Cedar Rapids
North Winneshiek
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Iowa’s
Little Chute
Robert George Wilson
Decorah
End of the possessive apostrophe debate looms
An 1884 tied Ladies Musical Society faces a long running dispute over using an apostrophe in Ladies. Some argue for Ladies' while others urge omission citing titles like Ladies Club and national bodies. Grammar opinions vary on plurals and possessions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
The
Ladies Musical Society
Independence
Buchanan County
Georgia Gray
Diners Club
Actors Equity
Teachers College of Columbia
Ladies’ Home Journal
National Governors’ Association
Children’s Hospital
Oxford University Press
Letters to the Gazette criticizes anti gay bias and promotes gay pride
The writer condemns Glenn Chatfield for equating gay and lesbian sexuality with pedophilia and urges defense of sexual orientation as a protected category. The column stresses that consent between adults is distinct from child sexual assault and cites Bowers v Hardwick as a harmful precedent.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Glenn Chatfield
Kirkwood Community College
Chatfield
Supreme Court
Bowers
Mourning Doves and Humane Action in Iowa Legislation
A call to action against a proposed Iowa law to legalize dove hunting. The piece condemns hunting, cites the chalked suffering of animals, and urges readers to contact lawmakers to protect mourning doves. It notes doves’ role in farmers’ pest control and questions the ethics of hunting during nesting. Kris Grandberg of Cedar Rapids signs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
Kris Grandberg
Cedar Rapids
Oprah sued over beef vow on TV show raises free speech questions
A reader discusses Oprah Winfrey being sued for 12 million tied to a show where she pledged to stop eating beef. The writer argues for the right to comment on food, notes personal beef avoidance, and weighs health concerns about beef and pork versus fish.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Oprah Winfrey
Livestock Manure Debate Amid Water Quality Concerns in Iowa
A Springville reader argues political hype inflates manure fears while urging balanced context on water quality. The letter contends nitrate readings relate to well depth and age, defends manure as fertilizer, questions Harkin study methods, notes Iowa hog inventory rebound, and claims media bias against agriculture.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
Mississippi River
Mississippi
Cedar Rapids
Denise Leubka
Springville
U.S
Sen. Harkin
Senate Agriculture Committee
Iowa State University
John Lawrence
Mike Rice
Mount Vernon
Linn County Pork Producers Association
Life sentence as ultimate penalty reflected in reader letter
A reader endorses life imprisonment over the death penalty and expresses a belief that long term confinement is a fitting punishment. The letter weighs the impact on victims' families and notes the author’s satisfaction knowing the criminals will spend decades paying for their crimes.
No to regressive Cedar Rapids tax increase says local resident
Gregory H. Plagmann urges Cedar Rapids voters to reject a proposed sales tax hike he calls regressive and unnecessary. He argues a $4 million annual payment for land and entertainment projects is not justified and questions the council’s priorities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gregory H. Plagmann
Cedar Rapids
Gazette letters seek readers’ opinions on city issues
The Gazette invites letters up to 300 words. Include your name, street address and daytime phone number. only your name and hometown will be published. Submit to Cedar Rapids Gazette Box 511 Cedar Rapids IA 52406 or via FAX 319 398 5846 or email gazette fylowa.infi.net.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
Warning signs for car wash carbon monoxide danger
A reader recalls the December 31 report of a man dying at a car wash and urges stronger safeguards. The letter stresses the rapid danger of carbon monoxide and proposes door devices or low openings to prevent exposure, citing personal loss from December 4 1997.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John
Rod Bayness
John Bayness
Aurora
Gazette Readers Letters Policy Summary
The Gazette pretends no verification of readers opinions in letters and offers equal opportunity for corrections. It states no endorsement or value judgment and notes potential future publication of contradictory or corrective letters.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gazette
Christmas Basket effort honored by St. Vincent De Paul
The St. Vincent De Paul Society of Cedar Rapids thanks all participants in the Christmas Basket program. It notes 260 baskets loaded and delivered to needy individuals with help from Metro High School students and Mount Vernon Road Hy-Vee providing boxes bread snacks and refreshments. Tom Zachar.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Metro
Mount Vernon Road
St. Vincent de Paul
Tom Zachar
St. Vincent de Paul Society of
Cedar Rapids
Also Mentioned on This Page
Carl Kane
Free Lance
the Gazette
Tom Harkin
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!