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Spring means new life, discoveries
Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 03 May 2011 15:45
Fall used to be my favorite season, but now that I am older, I am adding spring to the list of my most-liked seasons.As a youth, fall was the best season because school was back in session and I liked seeing who would be in my classes that year and finding out how others had spent their summer.
It was also the time of the year when leaves were changing color and then falling to the ground, making for good times raking leaves into piles and jumping in them. Halloween was another highlight of fall with “trick or treating” and getting back home with piles of candy. It was also one of the few times my parents would give me free rein to eat as much candy as I wanted.
After October ended, there were still happy times coming with...
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Do-nothing politicians are our bane
Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 05 April 2011 14:57
Why can’t the federal government do anything that would help us for real?Why must our state politicians follow the federal lead?
Why is President Obama absorbed with being elected again when he didn’t accomplish what he should have the first time, other than giving good-sounding speeches?
Why don’t the Tea Party members want to do something real for the country instead of spending all their time on what to cut next?
Why must our politicians go off on tangents hoping to gain wide appeal instead of making real and lasting decisions about the fundamental realities that face us?
They all perturb me at a time when the country is in danger of sinking with its big old boots shoving the edges of the boat down further. I’m about to...
Jail project has led us to this point
Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 01 March 2011 16:19
My first assignment at the Free Press was attending a jail meeting in Hillsboro. Since then, it’s been something I have followed for more than 16 months.After two rounds of talks with constituents in the three communities, the question in November 2009 was whether to build a new 72-bed, $9 million jail using a one-cent sales tax increase to pay for it. The voters gave that proposal a resounding “no” vote.
After the voters spoke, the commissioners said they were going to back to square one and thought it wise to select a group of citizens that might have better ideas then what they put together.
According to the state fire marshal, the previous sheriff, the new sheriff, along with the county commissioners and the majority of the...
Stroke story intended as a warning
Written by Jerry Engler Wednesday, 02 February 2011 01:21
I had a stroke, Tuesday, Jan. 11. I am telling you my experience to warn you if you have similar symptoms.I was alone for it in a room at the motel in Marion. My family was snowed in at our farm north of Marion Reservoir, and, after a day covering the Marion County Commission on Monday, I hoped to make it to our Free Press staff meeting Wednesday. Tuesday is a day off for me since I work half-time at the paper.
With the snow outside, I was sitting on the bed looking at an old Topper movie with his comic ghosts, not realizing I was in danger of ghost status myself.
I began to have a numbness in my legs, like can happen if you’ve been sitting too long. I stood up to move around. I then realized the numbness wasn’t going away.
I...
Marion’s protest response a highlight
Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 04 January 2011 15:28
was the single most impressive thing that happened in 2010, it would have to be the response the people of Marion gave to Westboro Baptist Church protesters Dec. 14.Standing outside Marion High School, WBC protesters did their best to taunt people with signs, songs and bold attire, but no one was interested.
Many people were curious, but not one person approached the protesters. Instead, they allowed these visitors to speak their mind and move on.
In the true spirit of freedom, citizens in Marion did their part in stepping forward and strengthening our nation by defending the freedoms afforded to all of us.
No matter how different our views are from those of WBC members, or for that matter other groups, the right for them to voice...
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