One good time

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 11 June 2008 06:35

We congratulate our sister city to the east for another strong Chingawassa Days festival this past weekend. The schedule of events featured a lot of variety, with activities that were bound to entertain people of every age at some point during the weekend. Concerts by the Diamond W Wranglers (formerly the Prairie Rose Wranglers) and of course Grand Funk Railroad were top-notch. Their significant name recognition in the region drew many people from well beyond Marion County.

Also striking to us was the enthusiasm with which Marion residents participated in the sometimes wacky events and contests. Their energy and enjoyment was contagious for us spectators looking on. These folks know how to let loose and have a good time.

As a result...

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Thanks, Dale

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 04 June 2008 10:44

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...

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Marking the path

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 28 May 2008 08:18

With the graduation season now ended, we add one last word of congratulations to the high school and college students who have earned their respective diplomas and are beginning the next stage of their life journey.

We have no sage advice or insight to offer that they haven’t heard, thought or read over the past few weeks. But most of us, whether we were there 10, 30 or 50 years ago, can recall that mix of excitement and dread as one very familiar stage ends and the next one is looms before us with no clear understanding or defined expectations.

If we look too deeply into the future, the outlook can be foreboding because even the familiar earth beneath our feet shifts from week to week with the undulating tremors of change. Graduates...

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Festival's fatal flaw

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 21 May 2008 07:25

The Hillsboro populous may or may not notice that the venerable Folk Festival will not be part of this year’s Memorial Day weekend calendar. That some folks may not notice its absence speaks to the reason for its demise.

The Folk Festival began as Adobe House Days, a celebration of the clay-brick house of that name and the heritage of the pioneer Menno­nites who settled here. With time, though, interest in the event waned. Local leaders sought to rebuild it by piggybacking an assortment of “non-ethnic” activities to refresh the event and draw in more people. The name of the event was changed to the Family Folk Festival, or something to that effect.

Ultimately, heroic efforts to attract a following simply were not equal to the...

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