Monday, May 26, 2008

Thank You, Veterans

Ricketts Fire Chief and American Legion Post #66 Second-Vice Commander, B.H. Meyer plays "Taps" after the 21 gun salute as part of Memorial Day observances in Charter Oak on Monday, May 26, 2008.

State Representative Clarence Hoffman cited a famous quote of President Theodore Roosevelt at Charter Oak's Memorial Day services,
“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
Hoffman explained that we need to appreciate our veterans because they have shown how much they care.

“Thank you for how much you care,” he told the veterans in the audience.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Send me your news tips

Yeah, it's that time of year again- school's out and I need something to do besides painting parts of my house and reorganizing my basement.

If you have any story ideas, or events for me to cover for the Mapleton PRESS this summer, please let me know. Send me names, phone numbers, or email addresses of people I should contact.

I'm especially interested in covering Charter Oak and Ricketts, but will be glad to write about Soldier and Ute too. For that matter, if you have ideas for Schleswig, Castana, Mapleton and Danbury I will be glad to pass them along to the PRESS office.

I am also looking for great ideas for Charter Oak Achievement Days AND anyone from the Missouri Valley area who has any story ideas about RAGBRAI.

Just look for the "Contact Me" button on the right side and it should automatically open your email program. Thanks and see you at Achievement Days!

Friday, May 2, 2008

God Bless the Parents Who Drugged us!

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question,

"Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"

I replied: I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.

I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather. I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four-letter word. I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad's fields.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think.

They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place

~Author unknown