Earlier this year, our communities were hit by severe floods and powerful tornadoes that devastated homes, farms, businesses, hospitals, and schools. Crops were damaged, personal property was destroyed, and vehicles were totaled. Months later, families are still picking up the pieces and working to rebuild. But, even amid unthinkable tragedy, Iowans rallied around our neighbors to lend a helping hand because that’s just how we do things in Iowa.

Dear friends and family,

As the holiday season approaches, we at Shayla Bee want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we've shared this year and express our heartfelt gratittude for your unwavering support.

Like any other year, we have had our ups and downs. This year was a bit more challenging, to say the least, but with the help of our amazing supporters we were able to continue moving forward.

CLINT LOVEALL

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

“No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (The Living Bible)

This week's column is pretty cut and dry; I'm going to be attempting to teach you all how to write your own book, based on my own experience from this last year. These are tips and tricks that I think would have been useful to have the first go around, stuff I wish I knew, stuff I learned along the way, and some general tips that I've picked up on from the internet.

What a week, huh?

My life has been hit by a wave of unexpected changes this last weekend, some of it having to do with the election, most of it having to do with my personal life. Some drama with the family has gotten me down in the dumps. A game I like playing in my off time just got a huge update. There's a lot going on.

However, all of that seems so small compared to how things wrapped up.

You see, my partner and I broke up this weekend.

Red Rock Windmill project, a lot of recent news, ads and or conversation.

I thought this project died or just was never going to happen. Even though it has been nearly 20 years in the making, there is an application at the Emmet County Assessor’s Office.

The windmills are happening, there is nothing to be done. Wrong. The Emmet Board of Adjustment has not approved this application.  

Great civilizations are not conquered; they die from within. Our Founding Fathers knew this as they assembled in Philadelphia in 1787 to establish our Constitution based on a republic form of democratic government with three equal branches, each having checks and balances.

America’s wind energy industry is proud to employ veterans at a rate 80% higher than other industries, valuing their patriotism, service mindset, and mission focus.

In recent months, a group of neighbors in the Twelve Mile and southern Estherville Townships have learned of the Red Rock wind project, part of Invenergy, finishing the requirements for the submission of their application in Emmet County.  The wind ordinance for Emmet County, established in 2011, is the ordinance the application will be held to since it was submitted on Thursday Oct. 3, 2024.

In the Oct. 10 edition of the Estherville News there was an article titled "Red Rock ready for permitting." Joey Crowley, Invenergy project manager, is quoted, "the revenue earned by hosting turbines means farmers will spend the money upgrading equipment and infrastructure and take other steps to make their farms profitable and more likely to be passed down to future generations."

Another week, another update for my journey to becoming a published author.

This week, I discovered through my research a very helpful book, one that might have been good to know about before I really got into things, but a very helpful book regardless.

“We’ll always have Paris,” Rick tells Ilsa in the classic film Casablanca  in which Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman set for the ages Paris as a backdrop for romance. Some even consider the film as ginning up public support for the Allied invasion of North Africa in World War II.

Funding recommendations for the 2024 State Recreational Trails Program were presented at the Transportation Commissioner’s meeting in October with Phase II of the Clay County Connection receiving high marks and endorsement to award DCTB’s request of $520,000. Overall, the project is an integral part of the 135-mile Iowa Great Lakes Connection Trail, one of Iowa’s five trails of statewide significance, that will link several existing trails and lakes in Northwest Iowa.

Writing a book is tough work.

Probably not a newsworthy revelation, I know.

But wow, I really hadn't expected for it to be as tough as it was — though by the time I was finished, it all suddenly seemed so easy.

Why do political parties market fear? The short answer is, it works. One presidential candidate has referred to immigrants as “animals,” “stone cold killers,” the “worst people,” and the “enemy from within.” Apparently, that played well, so the Republican presidential ticket added dog and cat eating, Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio to the list. According to Springfield’s Republican city officials, Haitians are there legally, behave peacefully and support the community.