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The issues of taxes and fees will likely be one of the issues of the governor's race this year. Gov. Tim Pawlenty is proud of his effort to not raise any state taxes during his first term. In fact, it was a stand that played a major role in various issues before the Legislature as anything with the "T" word wouldn't clear the governor's office. The governor deserves credit for maintaining his "no-tax" position which he had taken. He was a politician of his word. However, in his quest for "no new taxes," Pawlenty was not completely honest with Minnesotans.
This has been the best December and January cross-country skiing since my start in skiing in Willmar in 1974. Frosty trail (golf course), Prairie Woods, Sibley -- perfect. Don Fisher Willmar
Please don't forget about my friends. Over eight weeks have passed since four members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams were kidnapped in Baghdad (one American, two Canadians, and one Briton). As a friend and colleague of the missing CPTers, I remain concerned for well-being. On their behalf, I continue to speak about why Tom, Jim, Harmeet and Norman and other members of CPT are in Iraq. CPT has been in Iraq since October 2002, first reporting on the effects of sanctions and trying to prevent the war.
WASHINGTON -- In 1786 the Annapolis Convention, requested by Virginia and attended by only four other states, called for a second gathering to revise the Articles of Confederation in order to strengthen the federal government. Some revision: The second meeting became the Constitutional Convention. It scrapped the Articles, partly because the Founders were alarmed by states legislating relief of debtors at the expense of creditors, often in ways not easily distinguished from theft. Something not easily distinguished from theft recently occurred in Annapolis.
The charm of businessmen in general is not only that they lack irony, but because they took business courses in college, they lack basic knowledge. That explains why they unknowingly suggest Anatole France, who in 1894 wrote, "The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread." In somewhat less literary language, Microsoft has just said the same thing. The speaker of this unintended echo of Anatole France was Brooke Richardson, a group product manager (whatever that is) for Microsoft.
I read with interest the letter from Ed Mickelson (Public Forum, Dec. 21). I agree the ACGC School Board and administrators are responsible for the financial condition of our school, but the public is responsible for making the money available for them. I wonder how many people who voted against the referendum went to the meetings to find out the obstacles they are against. It is said that we have lower enrollment, so we need less money. This may be true, but we are supposed to keep class sizes low and all the students who leave are not from one age group.
The Kandiyohi County Board and County Administrator Wayne Thompson made a serious error in judgment in deciding to choose the next county administrator without having any public discussion. Our concern at this point is the method of selection, not the person selected -- we hope Family Services Director Larry Kleindl is successful if he becomes administrator.
In response to Wayne Cook's letter (Public Forum, Jan. 23), a few corrections. I am not a "metropolitan reader." I live in Northfield, which is not in the metro area and is a town smaller than Willmar. I grew up in Willmar, and still have occasion to visit often. What has continually chapped my hide in Cook's many letters is his view that his "brand" of Christianity and his set of moral values are the only correct beliefs... the only morality that is acceptable. I find that type of thinking narrow-minded and non-inclusive. I consider myself a Christian.
It's been fairly quiet on the Highway 23 front. That probably will be changing in the not too distant future. The city of Paynesville will soon be asked for municipal consent, and the Region 8 Area Transportation Partnership will soon establish its future funding priorities. Let me start by complimenting the Minnesota Department of Transportation District Eight staff. In several years of working towards final design of the Paynesville area project, staff has been flexible, cordial, professional, and (perhaps most important) understanding.
Here we go again! On Jan. 6, there was another two-car accident at the intersection of Highway 71/23 and 26th Avenue Northeast. Traffic had to be rerouted for about an hour. This time there were six people involved. Three people were treated and released from Rice Memorial Hospital. The Kandiyohi County Rescue Squad and the Willmar Fire Department responded to the accident and assisted with extricating a passenger from one of the vehicles. My husband's vehicle was broadsided at the same intersection on Nov. 10.