For nearly 61⁄2 years Dale Suderman has been gracing our Opinion section with his personal column, View From Afar. First monthly, then twice a month, our Chicago-based writer with deep Marion County roots focused his droll humor and keen insight on myriad topics, from Washington politics to the farmers’ coffee klatsch in Hillsboro. Dale connected the urban and rural worlds he knew and loved in a way that occasionally irritated, often enlightened and always entertained.
In April, Dale suffered a severe stroke. Although he continues to make progress, his rehabilitation will be long and challenging. We have been advised that his return as a columnist is tenuous. So, we sadly retire View From Afar for now, even as we hold Dale close to our hearts and keep praying for a significant recovery.
For now, a trio of staff writers will be filling his place in the lineup. As good as they will be, they will never fill that void in quite the way Dale has during his wonderful run with us. Godspeed, brother. You’ll always have a home with us. —DR
Authors Ken Reddig (left) and Wally Kroeker show off some of their favorite reading material. Behind them is the Red River, which flows through Winnipeg, their current place of residence.
This is a fond greeting from two former Hillsboro-ites who have a Kansas-shaped void in their hearts.
One of us (Ken) is a true native of Marion County—bred, born and raised—whose studies took him away in the late 1960s.
The other (Wally) is an import who spent seven years (1975-82) at the “pub house” (Mennonite Brethren Publishing House) on North Main and fondly remembers not locking his door on East Grand.
What a difference a year makes when talking about wheat yields. Last year was a pleasant surprise when rains saved the crop as it was approaching the critical growth stage.
This year, the wheat had the potential to surpass all yield expectations. That is, until the fateful day in early April when the most beautiful spring snowfall foretold another story.
This year, the harvest experience is not an encouraging one, by any stretch of the imagination. It does, however, reinforce the old notion that one year rarely repeats itself in the next.
The Pope, God bless him, issued a set of “Ten Commandments” for drivers last month, telling motorists to be charitable to others on the highways, to refrain from drinking and driving and to take time to pray before they even buckle up, according to an Associated Press story on the unusual document from the Vatican’s office.
Opinion 
