Letter to the editor

LETTER: Time to dump Trump’s Kool-Aid

Published by admin on Tue, 07/30/2024 - 12:02pm

To the editor:

“Don’t drink the Kool-Aid” is a commonly-used phrase warning against blindly following people and/or ideas that dangerously coax us astray from reality and our values. It has a very dark origin dating back to the fate of over 900 Americans at Jonestown in 1978.

In 2016, Donald Trump falsely and arrogantly proclaimed that “I alone can fix it” regarding any and all of America’s problems. His faithful followers have been drinking his flavor of Kool-Aid ever since.

LETTER: Raze city hall building to build new library

Published by admin on Tue, 07/30/2024 - 12:01pm

To the editor:

Lately, there’s been talk circulating about building a new courthouse and library and possibly moving the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department, or jail.

Around 2008, there were similar talks going on, but the situation was different. Back then, the sheriff’s department wanted a much-needed Evidence Storage Facility, and they were pushing to have it in the area of the Shawano County Historical Society’s property. At that time, suggestions were even made to move the society to the Mielke Arts Center property to make room for that storage facility.

LETTER: Oconto County would be lucky to get Steffen

Published by admin on Tue, 07/30/2024 - 11:59am

To the editor:

As a Howard resident and small-business owner, I have been fortunate to have David Steffen as my Wisconsin Assembly representative for many years. Now, with the 2024 redrawing of Assembly district lines, Steffen’s territory has expanded into Suamico, Little Suamico, Lena, Abrams, Oconto Falls and Oconto. This is great news for the constituents in those areas.

LETTER: Referenda put power in Republicans’ hands

Published by admin on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 6:18pm

To the editor:

Ever since his 2016 Republican National Convention speech, when Donald J. Trump declared “I alone can fix it,” it’s become a phrase we hear more and more frequently. It’s like everyone is clamoring for power. Power to control because only they know how to fix it.

Now, it seems the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature wants to get in on the action with permanent changes to our state constitution that gives them absolute control over federal funding “as only they see fit.” The governor cannot veto anything that is in the state’s constitution.

LETTER: Math doesn’t add up for turf field at SCHS

Published by admin on Wed, 06/19/2024 - 12:33pm

To the editor:

The recent article about the Shawano School Board’s consideration of passing artificial turf construction costs to taxpayers contained some math that I found interesting.

LETTER: Student essay hits the nail on the head

Published by admin on Tue, 06/11/2024 - 12:36pm

To the editor:

I just read the essay by Makenna Bubolz, a Shawano High School student, on the opinion page. My compliments to her on an essay that hits the nail on the head regarding so many points about our country and culture that we all need to consider, especially in this fractious time.

I’ve not travelled abroad except for a noncombat stint in Vietnam, but many I know who have travelled internationally come home understanding how good we have it, compared even to advanced societies, much less those in the developing world.

LETTER: Does Dale Mohr have conflict of interest?

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2024 - 1:39pm

To the editor:

After one year of a new town board in Little Suamico, one has to address Town Chairman Dale Mohr and question which hat he wears when he chairs the monthly town meetings. Dale Mohr wears the Oconto County UW-Extension community development agent hat. Dale is also Little Suamico town chair and Little Suamico plan chair. To myself, this is a major conflict of interest.

LETTER: Country in worse shape since pandemic

Published by admin on Fri, 04/26/2024 - 4:02pm

To the editor:

Prior to the pandemic, I recall a thriving economy, an abundance of oil that enabled the U.S. to provide for other countries along with much lower gas prices for all of us, no wars, respect for the laws of our country, and not being told we have to buy electric vehicles in the future, to name a few. We now have:

• Wars all over the world.

• Complete open borders, which goes against our immigration laws, allowing criminals and terrorists to come into our country which has been verified by law enforcement.

LETTER: Life’s not perfect, but it’s better

Published by admin on Thu, 04/04/2024 - 1:06pm

To the editor:

Remember our lives exactly four years ago? For many, it’s very hard to do. Hospitals were overrun, lacking the equipment and medicines to prevent people from dying. Make-shift triage centers were set up in parking lots, warehouses and sports stadiums. Refrigerated trucks were used as mobile morgues. Kids were out of school, and their parents were out of work. People hoarded toilet paper, and that was just the beginning of shortages, supply chain disruptions and price increases that have persisted even to this day.

LETTER: Take new look at failed referendum

Published by admin on Thu, 04/04/2024 - 1:04pm

To the editor:

Many are left wondering whether it’s worth going through the arduous planning and referendum process again. The harsh reality is that the reasons for pursuing a referendum in the first place haven’t gone away. On the contrary, the need for facility repairs and upgrades will compound as time goes on.

Learning from this experience as a district and as a community is the key to moving forward. We must take measures to ensure past mistakes aren’t repeated to increase the chances of future referendum success.