Winding Roads: Campaign headache (11/01/07)
It's been a while since I've weighed in on the presidential campaigns. I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I listen to the reports of who is ahead of whom. Yet, I still know we need to listen now and then to get a sense of what each of these folks stands for. At least make an effort as many soldiers' lives are lost trying to preserve freedom around the globe so we can have our say...

Winding Roads: Preserve our resources (09/20/07)
Having been gone a short month, we were able to see and do quite a bit on a vacation. It was a learning experience in more ways than one and it got me thinking what is good and not so good for our country. It was a trip I was looking forward to as I simply wanted to see all the scenery I had heard about and then some. I had never been in Oregon, Washington or Idaho. I was a young girl when I was last in Montana...

Winding Roads: I got it--do you? (08/09/07)
What a week this has been for this country! I can only imagine the emotional turmoil that Minnesotans feel as they look at pictures of the bridge that dropped. Many have to drive across that bridge every day and to think it might have been them whose life was sacrificed due to the lack of proper maintenance...

Winding Roads: Staying on track (08/03/07)
I have been reminded of why being a reporter can be totally frustrating. Putting it quite simple, you just can't work on cruise control or else you are going to blow it. I did that last week when reporting on a special Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn board meeting. ...

Winding Roads: Let's be legal (06/21/07)
For three weeks the Hohbachs have been out east. I must say Ohio and Pennsylvania are two beautiful states. The rolling hills with all of the shrubbery and trees are inviting; at least in the Amish and Mennonite country. We really enjoyed it plus the roadsides were much cleaner than in the southwest corner of this country...

Winding Roads: Illegal aliens are a growing problem (05/10/07)
Have you folks been listening and really hearing what may very well happen if our "know-it-all" representatives approve amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants? For myself, it has really angered me to think about the increased tax burden placed upon many Americans to cover the cost of schooling, health, safety and other vital necessities for these people. ...

Winding Roads: Garden therapy time (05/03/07)
Spring is here! I do believe we have had sufficient rainfall to get all the crops, vegetables and flowers growing. I'm hoping to see five to six days of sun so I can watch Mother Nature turn on the colors. Once snow has left, I'm always anxious to see the green grass and leaves on the trees come forth. ...

Winding Roads: Troubling Times (04/26/07)
There are some blessings to getting old. You can do less and get by with it. You can say what you think and folks just let it go. So here's a few more things I'd like to see changed. We went into this past week hearing more than what we'd like about Imus. He really got himself a lot of free publicity with all kinds of thoughts on the situation. I'm not going there, I used to listen to him for a few moments each day when I drove into work and got a chuckle out of it the majority of time...

Winding Roads (04/12/07)
No one is more critical than me when it comes to watching our politicians. It seems there are more reasons to criticize them than there are reasons to praise them. Iowa's Senator Charles Grassley definitely needs a pat on the back though after holding firm when the leader of the Smithsonian Institute overstepped his authority spending our tax dollars having a good time. ...

Winding Roads: Where's it at today? (01/10/07)
Every year across the country newspapers like to dedicate an issue to the top news stories that they covered the previous year. This paper is no exception. The same is true for TV stations with programs at the local and national level. I listened to one of our Sioux City TV stations presentation of their top stories and I thought how pathetic it was that their top story was the arrest of a drug dealer. ...

Winding Roads: Adjusting the Christmas spirit (12/26/06)
I loved it when I asked one of my cooks of the week the question "What is your favorite pastime activity?" and about the second reply was shop 'til I drop." I loved it as that can certainly be mine, but many people do not like to acknowledge it as a worthy activity. Some folks actually hate to shop...

Winding Roads: Tough decisions ahead (12/14/06)
People have as many ideas what the government should do in handling the war effort as there are people. There are folks who swallow everything their political party puts out, hook, line and sinker. There are people who believe with their whole heart this government is doing the right thing fighting this battle...

Winding roads: Will the real guy stand up? (11/30/06)
Lately, it seems the news media is picking up stories that reveal an individual's inner self. You know, the favorites of many, such as Mel Gibson and Michael Richards of the "Seinfeld" TV show. These two men had a big following as they had portrayed themselves as kind, thoughtful and generous individuals who also had a sense of humor. So will the real guy please stand up?...

Winding Roads: Offices for sale (11/16/06)
Can you believe it? The money it takes to run for political office is astronomical. I really had no idea that the pay scale for fulfilling those offices was so great. I've never heard anyone I know say, "I want to be a politician when I grow up so I can become rich." Have you?...

Winding Roads: Helping everyone (11/09/06)
I think most folks do not mind lending a helping hand to those who need it. It is when our trust has been violated that we become thoroughly disgusted. Let me explain. I have heard similar tales before but thought those folks were talking beyond what they really knew and gave it no credence...

Winding Roads: Get in step (10/19/06)
I would hope by now that seniors would recognize the value of congregate meals. I understand that some folks like preparing their own meals as it is another way to stay active. The problem for some is that when they live alone, they just don't like preparing more food than they can eat in a day or two...

Winding Roads: Beautiful fall (10/12/06)
When you're busy as I am right now, fall just kind of sneaks up on you. This past week found the combines whizzing right through the bean fields in a cloud of dust. From a distance if there is more than one combine in the neighborhood going, it almost looks like a dust storm...

Winding Roads: Where's the service? (09/22/06)
Several weeks ago, a lady had written a letter expressing her dismay at the lack of service for repairing an appliance. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, she thought all of Cherokee did not have a decent repair man in residence to fill the bill...

Winding Roads: Time to build (08/16/06)
Winding Roads By Nancy Hohbach Time to build I'm about as frugal as the next guy or am I? Depends on what the money is going for. In the past, when the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn School District appeared to be shrinking in numbers, I was for holding the line when it came to dollars spent. But now the time has arrived to spend some and add on to our present buildings as will be proposed in an upcoming bond issue...

Winding Roads: Ordering of priorities (08/16/06)
Winding Roads By Nancy Hohbach Ordering of priorities Once again I considered myself to be quite fortunate. The Hohbachs plan on moving to town and I wanted to do some looking around to get some ideas. Hubby was already in Sioux City and didn't have to work so I decided to go and look around in the city...

Winding Roads: A woman's work is never done (08/16/06)
I know many a female who feel this is the truest statement that can ever be spoken. It can be a drudgery for many while others can take the daily routine and think nothing of it. Again, life is what you make it. Lately, I have been weeding just about every other day. It just amazes me how fast weeds grow when the plant life you are trying to encourage just barely hangs in there...

Winding Roads: Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain (07/25/06)
I don't particularly remember the drought of 1956 due to the fact I was concerned about making money for college and having a good time with friends before we parted our way. My family lived in town and I was totally unaware of what the lack of rain does to farmers. This is probably true for many folks who live in town and don't make a living from the soil...

Winding Roads: Get togethers and celebrations (07/17/06)
It's a good thing to always take time for family and friends. Many communities across Iowa did just that as they gathered for special events and reunions (family and class). It's a good thing (to borrow a phrase from TV's Martha) for many town's cash registers kept busy ringing with extra folks in town. Next to Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Fourth of July beckons family and friends to gather for some fun...

Winding Roads: Getting it under control (07/17/06)
For the last month I have discovered that I can control my emotions if I keep the bigger picture in my mind. The reason I'm getting into this is that I have learned I'm not alone in trying to overcome a very bad habit. Too many of us want to be in control and try to get things done in the manner we think is best. ...