January 7, 2015

By Jim Nowlan
Outside Columnist

As a self-proclaimed moderate, I try to look both Left and Right objectively. I have often mused about why the Democrats, the party of “the little guy,” do not dominate Republicans, the party of “the big guy,” as there are so many more of the former.

Recently my tennis buddies Tom and Flora gave me some clues. Tom worked his way up at Caterpillar, from the line, where he became a union steward, to foreman. Flora is a barber (and the best tennis player in our group). Both are quite thoughtful and hardworking, and longtime Democrats; at least they have been.

Over beers a couple of weeks ago, Tom expressed exasperation with the slackers in his world, the men and women who will grab at any opportunity not to work, such as abusing family leave days off work to care for family members. And about the guy who successfully claimed federal disability benefits and is now busy on top of his house putting on a new roof.

Then Flora chimed in. She told of the white guys she knows who get together to discuss how they can game the food stamp program and other social welfare benefits. Read More

December 31, 2014

by Jim Nowlan
Outside Columnist

Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner has pledged to roll back income tax increases and boost funding for education. I have suggested in this space that to do both this coming year would take greater prestidigitation than the great Harry Houdini displayed when thrown into a freezing river in a strait jacket and chains (Houdini survived, by the way).
So, what should the incoming governor do for education? If anyone asks my opinion (no one has), here are some thoughts.
Most schools hold school longer each year than we do, and for 6½-7 hours each day rather than our six. I found an old United Nations survey of school going. Of the 50 nations that responded, 42 went for more than 180 days (we are at about 175-180) and 20 held school for between 210-239 days per year. Read More

December 24, 2014

It's been 117 years since Virginia O'Hanlon sought the truth about Santa from the New York Sun.

In over a century, the lives of children — and their parents—have increased in complexity by a factor of ten.

Man landed on the moon, communism rose and fell, countries changed names and borders, Elvis begat Jagger, who in turn led to "gangsta rap". The kidnap and murder of children, which made world headlines for the Lindbergh family, now touches the lives of hundreds of families annually. Children begin learning at ages two and three about "stranger danger," AIDS and sexual abuse.

The age of innocence is gone.

But that doesn't mean that Virginia O'Hanlon's innocent question to an anonymous editor is irrelevant in today's world. Far from it.

Today, more than ever, we all need to be reminded of the good that dwells in even the meanest spirit, of the hope that fires our most ambitious dreams. That, yes, there is a Santa Claus, and he lives in all our hearts.

So here, as a Christmas gift to us all, is Francis Pharcellus Church's editorial response to Virginia, first printed in The New York Sun on Sept. 21, 1897. Merry Christmas.

"We take pleasure in an-swering at once and thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

'Dear Editor:

I am 8 years old.

Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.

Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.' Read More

December 17, 2014

By Tyler Harvey
Mo-Do Farm Bureau Manager

In the last month farmers have still been tirelessly working in the fields and trying to accomplish as much fall field work they can get done before the weather changes. In the past month numerous tractors, chisels, tool bars, and anhydrous ammonia tanks have been rolling around the area. With this I ask all of you to be cautious when coming up on the machinery. Even with a good amount of this machinery being smaller than planters and combines, caution needs to always be used. With the end of harvest and winter fast approaching, many farmers are working on cleaning and preparing their equipment for winter. With winter also comes informational meetings that farmers may take advantage of to learn about new seed, equipment, and other inputs that they use on a yearly basis. Winter time is also a time for farmers to start planning for the new year- even though machinery may not be running in the fields, farmers stay very busy with other aspects of farming. Read More

December 10, 2014

by Sarah Hudson Pierce
Guest Columnist

One of the best gifts we can give to our children is to write our stories down so that so that future generations will know where they came from.
Storytelling has become mostly a lost art. Before the days of television the family sat around and told stories while the children prepared to go to sleep.
I find few things more fascinating than researching my family history because I knew so little having grown up in an orphanage. I’ve located more living, long-lost relatives than anyone I know.
And within those family groups, I’ve received a few copies of stories written by my second cousin Mildred Pettis-Leighton who mentioned with fondness my mother’s visit with them one Christmas, shortly after my 25-year-old grandmother died in an underground sod house, in Woods County, Oklahoma, when my mother was only two. Read More