Cherokee Chronicle Times: Opinion

Eat those veggies! (05/17/13)
Health experts have always insisted that we need to eat vegetables if we want to have a real healthy diet, and there are five key veggies that top the list as the healthiest: *Spinach -- Popeye was right. Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamin K, Vitamin A, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, Vitamin C, Vitamin B2, calcium, potassium and Vitamin B6. It's also a good source of fiber, copper, protein, phosphorous, zinc, Vitamin E, omega 3 fatty acids, niacin and anti-oxidants...

Library News (05/16/13)
It's always nice to announce something new happening at the Cherokee Public Library. This week I have the pleasure of letting people know about two projects. One is finished and the other is in the works. Last week we completed the installation of automatic push button openers on the Maple Street doors. ...

Couples coping with stress (05/16/13)
Coping with the daily pressures of work, family and marriage can strain even the strongest couples and experts offer vital pointers in healthy, constructive communication between spouses. Along with the recommendations of what to do to deal with each other and any stress that befalls us, such as setting goals, negotiating, being flexible, planning time together and laughing, is a list of what NOT to do that grabbed our attention...

Child labor laws nothing to scoff at (05/15/13)
With the school year entering its final days, a new, young work force will emerge as seasonal employees for employers in need of such part-time help. The requirements for these positions may be different than full-time employees, but the following checklist will help lead potential employers down the right path...

Basic Biittner : Cross one off the 'Bucket List' (05/15/13)
'The Bucket List' is one of my favorite movies. For the few of you who may not have seen the film, it deals with two men who are both terminally ill (played wonderfully by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) and each makes a "bucket list" of things they would like to do before they die (i.e., "kick the bucket"), and they proceed to do these things...

Children's injuries can be avoided (05/13/13)
Unintentional injuries in children are a serious public health concern. Not only are "accidents" the leading cause of death in children ages 3-8, they can result in long-term impairments -- such as traumatic brain injury -- as well as short-term impairments -- such as stitches or broken bones...

At The Library (05/09/13)
I enjoyed the Kids First Conference in Urbandale last week. The sessions I attended were very good. However, there were other sessions I know I would have enjoyed as well. I also found every speaker interesting and truly pumped up about libraries, librarians, and reading...

Travelers: What not to pack (05/09/13)
With most major airlines now charging for checked bags, many travelers are striving to pack more efficiently and fly with only a carry-on that some airlines are even beginning to charge for! The goal is simple: to visit your destination without running out of clean socks or overstuffing your suitcase. ...

Here's to you, graduates! (05/08/13)
"Where have you gone, Joe Dimaggio, the nation turns a lonely eye to you, ooh, ooh, ooh... Yes, those memorable Paul Simon lyrics from the 1960s movie, "The Graduate," ring true today as always, as many of us constantly search for deserving idols in Hollywood, collegiate and professional sports, television, music and theater...

Farmers, stay safe this spring (05/02/13)
The spring planting season is typically one of the busiest times of the year for farmers, and it is one of the times when most agriculture-related accidents occur. We urge all area farmers and farm employees to use some of these suggestions to prevent farm accidents:...

Expiration dates - Who can you trust? (05/01/13)
At first we were shocked to learn that the many and various food pantries and other similar charities across the country actually have volunteers and/or employees whose sole job is to read the expiration dates on donated food items and toss those that have expired...

Struck Strikes Out : An ode to Spring 2013 (05/01/13)
Tire chains are on the golf carts, come out and play a round. Ignore the snowin' and the blowin' and the frozen ground. It's April after all my friend, and time to tee it up. Crunch the drive, chip it tight, and sink that putt! Layer on the Under Armor and colored balls preferred...

Beware the con artist (04/29/13)
Spring is prime time for con artists as we all catch a slice of spring fever and begin contemplating fix-up jobs such as painting the house, barn, garage, or other outbuildings; shingling the roof; gutter repair or replacement; improving landscapes; trimming, removing, and/or planting shrubbery and trees, etc...

Tree care booklet beneficial (04/26/13)
The Arbor Day Foundation is offering a handy tree-care booklet designed to help people plant and care for trees. Anyone can receive Conservation Trees, a user-friendly booklet featuring illustrations, colorful photos and easily-understood descriptions, by making a $3 donation to the Foundation this month...

Iowans weigh in on litter (04/25/13)
A recent survey of over 800 Iowans completed for Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB) found that Iowan's have a high level of awareness of Keep Iowa Beautiful. The survey indicated that 55% of Iowans know about KIB. The following are some additional points regarding litter issues:...

At The Library (04/25/13)
I am pleased to say that my ankle surgery was a success. I feel like I have a new leg. I gladly gave up being the bionic woman. Did someone say there was a dance contest somewhere? I'd like to thank Sara Sutter for writing an article about the Young Adult Book Club a couple of weeks ago. ...

Properly prune those shrubs (04/24/13)
The one thing you can't do with a bad haircut is uncut it, so you just have to wait for it to grow out before you can fix it. That's how expert gardeners view the art and science of pruning a shrub. For many, it would be a perfect world if pruning shears came with instructions. Now, that's not to say it takes a PhD in horticulture to know how to prune. The basics are actually very easy to learn...

At the Capitol (04/22/13)
Each year the federal government doles out money to each state. This is block grant money used for community programs around the state. Iowa received $6.2 billion this year from the federal government for grant projects that included childcare development, low income energy assistance, community development, social services, child health services and mental health...

BASIC BIITTNER: Selective Memory (04/22/13)
I once possessed a steel-trap mind for remembering important historical events- those events which happened during my lifetime, of course, but also dates and events which occurred long before I came on the scene. For the most part, I still retain that ability, which I know is sometimes annoying to others (unless they're on my Trivial Pursuit team, of course). ...

Storms trigger power outages (04/22/13)
As Cherokee residents have learned in the past, power outages don't happen very often, but they do occur with enough frequency that should force families to be safely prepared if they're left in the dark. The following home safety tips are quite timely for this time of year:...

Every day Earth Day to Iowa farmers (04/19/13)
On April 22, millions of people around the world will celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day. The idea behind the day began back in the "hippie culture" of the 1960's, but was not officially observed until 1970. Earth Day is certainly a deserving holiday that recharges and encourages us to honor the planet and all living things that inhabit it...

Home