The little engine that could, and did...

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
December 21, 2010 11:00 pm

A couple years ago, we had a discussion in our house about careers and how it seems that in the newspaper business nothing was a sure bet.  Businesses were constantly being sold, bosses get moody, and you are suddenly out the door over a typo.

Winter driving safety: Don't be that guy.... or that one..or that one...

VINTON TODAY
December 20, 2010 3:40 pm

    I once had the enlightening experience of working with a teenage girl who had already wrecked her car two or three times.      She did not seem to make the connection between driving decisions and unpleasant results.

Christmas classics: Let them renew your faith

VINTON TODAY
December 18, 2010 8:38 pm

     Saturday was a great lesson for me. It answered a question for me that many married people at times have in their mind but dread to voice outloud:     "What would life be like if I were still single?"      Well, I got one answer to that question Saturday.

11:45 and most is well....

VINTON TODAY
December 17, 2010 11:30 am

Last week, I wrote about what it's like on a day when there is no news. See that story, if you have not already seen it, HERE. Today seems to be a day very much like that one.

Letter to the Editor: Crossing paths with a dishonest Christmas customer

STEPHONIE WILLIAMS
December 16, 2010 1:52 pm

       I would like to address my remarks to the Big Box Store Customer with whom I had the misfortune of crossing paths.

Big city reporters inspire one to want to carry a big stick

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
December 16, 2010 10:56 am

      As I'm sure you've read, we had a bit of excitement out here yesterday...more than I EVER want to see again!      Thank God, the outcome was only the loss of a material things, and unfortunately keepsakes and memories.

Every story affects somebody's neighbor; today it was mine

VINTON TODAY
December 15, 2010 4:02 pm

       Two significant newsworthy events – a minor house fire and a tragic double-fatality automobile/bicycle accident – in the year before it became my job to write about such events taught me a significant lesson: Every person involved in a fire, flood, accident or any other tragedy is somebody’s Somebody.

Journalism lesson: Avoiding the armpit pitfall

VINTON TODAY
December 14, 2010 2:26 pm

       Lots of people were probably thinking lots of things Friday night as the Vikettes prepared to play Marion.      “Is there something I forgot to do before I came here?”      “I should have stopped for supper first.

Growing Old in Vinton

VALERIE CLOSE, EDITOR
December 14, 2010 7:34 am

You know the smells in the air when you go to Cedar Rapids? Sometimes its bad, sometimes you smell Captain Crunch. I have the same relationship with old folks homes.

The Christmas that was, for me, the most like Christmas

VINTON TODAY
December 10, 2010 6:37 pm

       When I look back on my own personal history of  Christmas, I can think of several years when the holiday had special meaning for me.