Letters to the Gazette and national policy critics
A reader questions Congress over Iran-contra while proposing a satirical plan to fund the ANC and Chile’s Pinochet regime. The letter extends to reflections on U S prosperity, debt, and civic responsibility. The writer praises Cedar Rapids residents for small acts of kindness and civic cleanliness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Congress
Tamerlane
Waldheim
Miami
Bahamas
African National Congress
Singlaub
South Africa
George Washington
Nelson Mandela
Mandela
Texas
Secord
ANC
Ellen Garwood
Lawrence Singleton
Ronnie Baby
Nicaragua
Botha
Chile
Jeff Klinzman
Westwinds Dr
Apt. 4
Iowa City
Save 16th Avenue Bridge
Resident urges Cedar Rapids City Council to repair and reopen the 16th Avenue Bridge quickly. The bridge has decayed for years and its closure harms local merchants in Czech Village, with pedestrians and cars diverted to the 12th Avenue Bridge.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
16Th Avenue Bridge
12Th Avenue Bridge
Czech Village
Cedar Rapids
When Iowa Legislators Ponder School Start Dates
The piece laments hot May classrooms and recalls legislators debating school calendars after Labor Day. It questions how many schools visited on warm days and whether attention spans suffered post recess. The writer favors returning control to local school boards.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
Hinzman Rinas feud prompts call to reexamine police chief
Community observers fault Police Chief Gary Hinzman for poor fact gathering and emotional reactions. They urge appointive authorities to reevaluate leadership and consider a truly competent head for the vital department.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hinzman-Rinas
Gary Hinzman
Hinzman
Phonebooks replaced in public phones after errors in Gazette
Northwestern Bell says public phones are checked monthly for directory presence and missing books are replaced within 72 hours. US WEST Direct directories can be requested at 1 800 422 USWD, and vandals or outages should be reported to 1620 2211.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gazette
Northwestern Bell
US West
US West Direct
Domino's commends Marion Police for prompt rescue
Domino's Pizza officials thank the Marion Police Department for stopping a pizza theft incident, reporting suspects were detained within minutes. The letter singles out Sgt. Busse and Officers J L Wellenhagen and D Hall for their professional response, praising the department's work.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Domino’s Pizza
Marion
Marion Department
Sgt. Busse
J.L. Wellenhagen
D. Hall
Adverse union pressure on IBP move to Sterling
The writer argues unions failed to organize Iowa Beef Processors in Manchester and raise costs, blaming a militant union stance for job losses. They say IBP’s move to Sterling, Illinois is understandable and criticize eastern Iowans for supporting anti-business legislators.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
Manchester
IBP
Sterling
Ill
Humanist-bashing in public schools and its meanings
The piece argues secular humanism is used as a political label rather than a religious one and critiques attacks on public schools. It notes humanism has Christian roots, condemns arrogance in opposing secular aims, and defends personal responsibility and student choice within education.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
America
Alaska
Augsburg
Jim
Tammy Bakker
PTL
Outlooks of Eastern Iowans on diverse views
The column gathers brief thoughts from readers in Eastern Iowa about a wide range of topics. It discusses literacy, sight vocabulary for children, and debates around labeling educational approaches as secular humanism despite research support from scholars in education and psychology.
Education department chair at Coe College weighs reading methods
Mount Vernon educator Roger Johanson urges balanced reading instruction amid debate over look-say versus phonics. He cites importance of comprehension, notes social inequality drives illiteracy, and endorses social justice aligned with Jesus teaching.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mount Vernon
Coe College
Cedar Rapids
R H Rowe warns of Medicare ruled gatekeeping in hospital care
Cedar Rapids physician R H Rowe argues that P R O and DRG driven rules deny hospital admission and reimbursement, forcing doctors to discharge patients prematurely. He warns rationing and government overregulation erode patient care and drive physicians from medicine.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
P.R.O
Des Moines
Peer Review Organization
Medicare
Protestations of innocence and the gap breach analysis
The piece critiques common phrases in public discourse noting that protestations of innocence imply protest rather than declaration and mocks the idea of breaching a gap. It cites Gary Hart coverage and PTL leadership calls as examples of illogical idioms. It argues language often misstates intent and meanings.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gary Hart
Hart
PTL
Also Mentioned on This Page
the Gazette
U.S
Kudos
C.R
Stouffer’s Hotel
Stouffer’s
Jeff Schaeffer
Dan Mellin
Domino's Pizza
Seventh Ave
Labor
Larry Conover
John Dewey
Roger Johanson
McGuffey
R.H. Rowe
M.D
Carl Kane