Firefighters face beer ban at Iowa stations amid insurance risks
Volunteer units across Iowa consider removing alcohol from fire stations to protect town insurance and avoid potential lawsuits. Fire Chief Ron Hills cites safety and public image concerns while noting social events can use permits. The Elgin volunteers are part of this broader trend toward prohibiting beverages on station property.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ron Hills
Tom Hancock
Iowa Firemen’s Association
Hills
Firefighters’ Association
Iowa
Elgin
Four Underdogs Triumph in Midwest Series Showdown
In a midseason labor dispute era, four favorites fell in the playoffs leaving four underdogs to advance. The Twins toppled Oakland, Angels beat the Yankees, Giants ousted the Braves, and the Cardinals swept the Diamondbacks. A Minnesota-St. Louis final would mark the first Midwest Series since 1987.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Minnesota Twins
Oakland Athletics
Anaheim Angels
New York Yankees
San Francisco Giants
Atlanta Braves
St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Diamondbacks
St. Louis
Arizona
Diamondbacks
Randy Johnson
Curt Schilling
Cardinals
Cardinal
Anaheim
Iowa
Angels
Cedar Rapids
Letters to The Gazette Best ticket out of poverty
A letter argues for renewing TANF with education and training. It cites Census data showing rising poverty and recalls that welfare reform cut rolls yet left many recipients poor. It endorses the Senate WORK Act as bipartisan, urging Iowa senators to back it.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
U.S. Census Bureau
United States
Congress
Frank Murkowski
Alaska
Bush
Iowa
U.S
Prayer Has Power Only Through God Not a Charm
A reader argues that prayer derives power from God rather than being a mystical charm. The letter rebuts claims about Mary Baker Eddy and Science and Health, noting alleged plagiarism from Quimby, and suggests studying Christian Science critiques for perspective.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
God
Mary Baker Eddy
Eddy
Taxpayer opposes Highway 100 extension plan
Linn County resident G Richard Johnson of Cedar Rapids criticizes the Highway 100 extension as outdated and costly. He urges a real bypass around residential areas and business districts and reopens planning to avoid wasting taxpayer dollars.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Linn County
Tower Terrace Road
County Home Road
Richard Johnson
Cedar Rapids
The Gazette Open Letter Guidelines For Submissions
The Gazette invites letters and guest columns with writers providing full name signature and daytime phone number while withholding street addresses from publication. Submissions must be 300 words or less for letters and may not repeat a writer within 30 days.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
the Gazette
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
Gazettecommunications.com
Timeframe for Iraq exit sparks debate on war policy
The piece argues that celebrations in Baghdad are unlikely until a foreign power leaves Iraq, predicting a U S withdrawal by 2015 or 2020 and warning of global repercussions from ongoing U S actions abroad. It questions President Bush's wartime strategy and its long term impact on future generations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Baghdad
United States
U.S
Iraq
President Bush
Democrats aim welfare for people over corporate gains
In response to a political cartoon, the letter argues Democrats prioritize people’s welfare through jobs, fair wages, health care, education, and environmental protection, contrasting with Republicans who push oil profits and Social Security risk. It urges rebuilding Amtrak to create good jobs during recession, noting Jim Leach as a rare GOP exception.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
David Hitch
Democratic Party
Amtrak
Democratic Divisions Shape Bush Iraq War Vote Fallout
The piece outlines how the 2004 presidential race will be shaped by the Iraq war vote. It notes Bush allies like Gephardt Lieberman Edwards and foes Gore Dean and Biden. It discusses Daschle Kerry and Lugar seeking revised resolutions and the political stakes before the November 5 elections.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bush
Iraq
Saddam Hussein
Kuwait
Saddam
House
Dick Gephardt
Missouri
Joe Lieberman
Connecticut
Sen
John Edwards
North Carolina
al Gore
Vermont
Howard Dean
Gore
Dean
Iowa
Gephardt
Congress
Senate
Tom Daschle
South Dakota
John Kerry
Massachusetts
Joseph Biden
Delaware
Foreign Relations Committee
Richard Lugar
Indiana
Kerry
Daschle
Also Mentioned on This Page
Mark Bowden
Jerry Elsen
Dave Storey
Scott Swenson
Peg Schmitz
DOW
Dow's
Science & Health
Phineas P. Quimby
Mark Twain
Walter Martin
Jim Leach
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