Advice and definitions for city-dwelling farm writers

VINTON TODAY
January 7, 2011 10:34 am

       In order to enlighten us city folk journalists about the realities of farm life so we can write better stories about farming, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and the Iowa Newspaper Association sponsor occasional educational events for city-born farm writers.

Regifting etiquette: Making the most of Christmas 2011

VINTON TODAY
January 7, 2011 10:05 am

       After learning what you received for Christmas from friends, family, neighbors, customers, associates, and your ex-sister-in-law’s first husband’s second cousin, whom you may or may not have briefly dated in college, you now know exactly how many of those gifts you plan to give to someone else next Christmas.

'Moonbeam' history

VINTON TODAY
January 4, 2011 5:21 pm

       A 30-year-old nickname that made its way back to the headlines of early 2011 has had many in the American media digging up old newspaper articles to find out why, and how, California’s new – and former – top excecutive ended up being labeled as “Governor Moonbeam.

Keep Facebook about faces, PLEASE!

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
January 3, 2011 11:37 am

Tonight I turned on the computer after a few hours completely off line, checked into Facebook, had those warm fuzzies as I commented about how we had just had our whole family out for our Christmas get together, and how fun it was to see everyone around, and how I was feeling so blessed that everyone is happy and healthy.

Provoking your New Year's agitations with force and persuasion

VINTON TODAY
January 3, 2011 11:21 am

       Every year at this time, we hear people talking again about "resolutions."      Lose weight.

Old Long Gone Song: An ode to resolutions soon forgotten

VINTON TODAY
January 3, 2011 11:21 am

       It only takes, according to people who like to count this stuff, about 17 days for the average American to say, "Oh, never mind" to his or her New Year's Resolutions.

The sights and sounds of a prison in progress

VINTON TODAY
January 3, 2011 11:21 am

       In a few months, perhaps, the unwilling occupants of the new Benton County Law Enforcement Center will hear the sound most-often associated with prisons: The echo of a door clanging shut.

Why many in law enforcement are concerned about Iowa's new 'Shall Issue' gun law

VINTON TODAY
January 3, 2011 11:21 am

       If – under the new law that went into effect Jan. 1 – Mark Becker had walked into the Butler County Sheriff’s Office on the morning of June 23, 2009, and requested a permit to carry a handgun, that sheriff would have been required by law to issue him one.

A friendly visit from the Ghost of Christmas past

VINTON TODAY
December 27, 2010 5:31 pm

       For Ebenezer Scrooge, the Ghost of Christmas Past was sort of creepy and scary. And sad.      But for us, this year, it was kind of cool.

'The View' for men offers evidence there is no constitutional right to be heard

VINTON TODAY
December 27, 2010 11:06 am

       We were playing one of those “tell your secrets” board games.      The question I had to answer: Which of your five senses would you prefer to live without first, if you had to choose?      My wife knew what my answer would be: Hearing.