Opinion

The storms that came through Benton County put a strain on the plows like nothing we've seen, probably in my lifetime. With two foot of snow and temperatures that froze the snow solid, the roads were nearly impossible to clear. Just when we thought that was over, we had blowing snow causing drifting adding more issues to the already cleared roads, and more trouble for snow plows still trying to break through the roads.

Ice and I have an agreement. "Don't tread on me," says the ice, "and I won't throw you on the ground and give you a concussion." I have a lot of respect for that. So that is where the quandary of what to do came from. Since the streets are pretty smooth with snow coverage, and it's supposed to rain the next few days, that spells trouble for me, and I know it.

To The Editor,As someone who occasionally submits comments to the opinion page, I would like to ask the editor to abide by their own rules that are placed on the “Leave a Comment” page which a person has to click to agree before submitting the comment. These rules are:Your name is requiredBe politeWill you wish that you wouldn't have said this tomorrow? If so, edit your commentDisagree politely with ideas shared, don't make it personalVinton Today has the right to refuse any comments that are deemed inappropriateUnfortunately, these standards are being ignored by the editor allowing personal attacks between writers.

Editor:Previous article digestive gases:  Thus:DE:  your post; firstly I never said I did auto body work.  However I built an airplane out of aluminum and fiberglass.  And after six years of work I flew it for the first time.  I do have the experience as I was a jet pilot in the USAF and an airline pilot in all two positions plus Captain amassing over 17,500 hours in the air and over 31 years on the seniority list.

Immediately following the release of the caucus results and the announcement that Vivek Ramaswamy was dropping out, presidential "candidate" Ryan Binkley announced that he was now in the top four. The guy has a shot after all. With 765 votes out of a population of 3,123,899 I don't want to be one of Job's friends to this guy who is also a preacher, but now would be the time for a miracle.

I always say, "If it makes me laugh, you're going to hear about it." This one made me laugh. I have a four-year-old granddaughter who I think is sometimes too smart for her own good. I forget that she has ears like sonar and a mental capacity above that of what I think a four-year-old should. But then I'm her grandma and I should believe that about her right?Today I picked her up from preschool and because it's snack time/just about supper time, I asked, "Are you hungry?" She of course said, "Yes.

Thinking that because of a holiday, snowstorm, etc, there really wouldn't be much to put out, but apparently, I was wrong. In addition to the lengthy email, a "bonus" email went out over the weekend with important information. Best of all, we're all here to read it. It looks like it will still remain cold, I mean frigid for a few more days, so continue to stay safe and warm.

Editor:This morning I listened to KXEL radio, each Saturday morning they have a program, “the Car Doctor.”  I got in on the last part of one segment.  They were discussing Global Warming or if you wish “the Green New Deal”.  Some research has determined that Cattle with their unique digestive system (they are ruminants) emit more greenhouse gases than all of hydrocarbon transportation.

The City of Vinton is about to vote on and approve a roughly 200% increase in water and sewer rates.  The average home (family of four) is currently paying around $80 per month, this is going to increase to $220.Below is what I think are the facts behind the change.  I’ll admit that I am unaware of most City of Vinton dealings.  I am only going off of information as I understood it from watching one meeting on YouTube and looking at past meeting minutes.

...I did NOT have to walk both ways up a hill to get to school and back home. I was however expected to drive through 16" of snow to get back to college. Back in the day I went to a small Bible college in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania. The place rarely saw snow in the three and a half years that I was there. However, the rare times that it did snow, an inch or two, the place would be "campused.