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Opinions

Fertilizing lawns right now not the right idea

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It’s that time again! The time of the year when the sun shines for a few days and the temperature begins to warm up.

Looking at the IRMAA’ provision

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Dear Rusty: About a month or two ago I was notified that my Social Security was being reduced from $1,583 a month to about $1,283 a month — a $300 deduction! They said it was because my income was over the limit on my last return. I filed my taxes “married — filing separately” because my wife has her own income. If we had filed jointly, I would not have had the reduction. My question is why wasn’t this told to us when we filed our Income Tax last year instead of a last-minute thing? I am a 77-year old and a 100% disabled veteran, which probably has no effect on this, but wanted to add that information.

Will Democratic Convention be brokered?

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Presidential conventions are looming in front of us. One convention’s outcome, the Republican convention, has been decided. Unless something totally extraordinary happens between now and convention time, Presidential Donald Trump will be nominated. There will be speeches and there will be enthusiasm, but the decision of who will represent the Republican party will be an anti-climax.

Lane remembers Pinkie Wilkerson

It was in December, 1997, when the late Pinkie Carolyn Wilkerson, Louisiana State Representative serving District 11, called right after the midnight hour (her usual telephone conversation time) and asked me to serve as Executive Director of Community Coordinating Council, Inc., a nonprofit organized in July, 1997, to provide enriching and educational experiences.

Can our rural roads be saved?

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The recent New York Times article "The Struggle to Mend America's Rural Roads" used Wisconsin as a microcosm for the infrastructure crisis that either directly or indirectly affects all Americans.

Church security comes with liability

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The church my mother and I attended when I was growing up never locked its front doors. Now it has an armed security team.

Confessions of an unashamed 'mom-shamer'

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I’ve learned a new word! My daughter informs me that according to some mothers I am guilty of “mom-shaming” and should be ashamed of myself. I am an un ashamed mom-shamer because I happen to believe that just as there is one proper way to go about training a dog (of any species), there is one proper way to go about raising a human being to responsible adulthood. That one proper way consists of three fundamental rules:

Time for some hoops craziness

It’s time. Time to get a little crazy.

Scattered eggs, no basket all part of 'Cathi World'

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I recently participated in a lively discussion about the multitude of idioms we casually toss around daily. For those not familiar with these expressions, it can no doubt be confusing. Idioms are words or phrases that aren’t intended to be taken literally yet usually have a cultural meaning behind them.

Women’s contributions matter

More than 100 years ago, women had little freedom. They couldn’t vote, own property or do much on their own. Now, we have women serving as the chief executive officers of Fortune 500 companies and making serious bids for the White House.

March 1 marked the beginning of Women’s History Month, where we as a nation and a community set aside time to consider the many contributions of women throughout history. Sunday, March 8 is International Women’s Day. It’s time to celebrate and honor what women have done for us locally, statewide and throughout the world.