It’s time for the annual graduation column. The column that is supposed to be light and funny and leave you with a bit of wisdom to carry with you for the rest of your life.

Dear Editor,To see one so young who exhausted did not bend his knee.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k9Si28k0Fk Do we have enough Americans who have the courage of convictions, who believe in the preamble to the Declaration and Constitution?  Who would not cave when things looked so bleak?  Seeing the front of the landing craft drop and hearing the bark of the German MG-42 machine gun can you go forward?  We have an auto- firearm range near my home each summer.

Are these really our two best options out of the millions of people in the United States? I'm guessing not, & we will never have a decent candidate because our government sucks just as much as the candidates.

Dear Editor.I agree there are more good officers than bad ones but the bad ones like the one that murdered Mr. Floyd should not have been allowed to remain on the force.

Dear Mr Paxton,Please accept this email as a token of support and appreciation for the work you do to enforce the law on behalf of the residents of Vinton.

I had a note a few months ago that it was time to visit the eye doctor. Then COVID arrived and I just put it off. Then I started using a magnifying lens to read the fine print.

This Mother’s Day, like everything else this year will be different. You probably won’t go out for lunch. And yet it will be the same, if you do get carry out you will probably be the one to clean it up.

Most of the time I love this job. And most of the time I'm the weird untraditional sort of "reporter" that isn't doing it like the big guys. I'm sure you wouldn't catch a single one of them giving a hug to a gal crying because she just lost everything she owned, Nor would you see them pondering if they should go to the nearest ATM and give the gal some cash to get her through.

A few years ago, when I was expecting the arrival of my first grandchild, I purchased a sheet of stamps and framed it for the baby’s room.  I told my daughter-in-law that the gift served two purposes.

Vinton native Jesse Hepker was very excited for his senior year. After being nominated by his high school choir teacher, Jesse was selected to represent his state as part of the Iowa Ambassadors of Music on a two week trip to Europe this July.