The Ida County Courier asked several area officials, community leaders to share their hopes for the new year...
In 2011, I hope that . . .
As we enter 2011, we are bombarded with proclamations, new goals and, of course, resolutions. If we were to list the world’s greatest current needs, we would include peace throughout the world, improvement of the economy and jobs.
But there are no guarantees that we will ever live troublefree lives on earth. Jesus told His disciples that in this world they would have troubles. Paul told us that those who live godly lives would suffer. It is sometimes difficult to grasp the relationship of goodness with affl iction and joy mixedwith pain. God’s grace is sufficient. His promises are reliable. We can look forward with great anticipation to what He has in store for us. Every day will have its special moments, every trial its hidden blessings. 2011 is filled with 365 days that the Lord has prepared for us in His sovereign plan. Let us rejoice and be glad in them.
I am beginning my fifth calendar year in Odebolt as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. May 2011 be a year where positive attitudes are developed, where good people become better, where families are bonded, where the restless find peace, where love is alive, where God is understood and where Jesus Christ is Lord!
Rev. Mark Volkers
First Presbyterian Church Odebolt
I hope each and every one of us can appreciate and be thankful for all the benefits of living in a small Iowa community.
As curator of the Odebolt Historical Museum, I am continually reminded of Odebolt’s past–how it began in the late 1800s, with settlers full of dreams to establish better lives for themselves and their families, and grew into a flourishing community.
Yes, the community has changed over the years. We now have cars and tractors instead of horses, graveled and paved roads instead of dirt roads. Not nearly as many businesses line Main Street, but the one constant that remains is the people.
You can walk down the street or go into any local business and everyone smiles, says hello and asks how you and your family are doing. They really care.
Just look how many people line up outside the Odebolt Community Center when there is a benefit for a local person who is in need. That’s what small-town America is all about; to give their support for ‘one of their own.
I attended a funeral last year for a man born in Odebolt 90 years ago. He graduated from Odebolt High School, went on to college and then lived out of state for the rest of his life. But when he passed away, he wanted to be buried in Odebolt, even though he had not lived here for almost 70 years. When his son spoke at the funeral, he recalled his dad having such great memories of growing up in Odebolt that this was always the place he called home. I agree–what a wonderful place to call home.
Kathy Larson
Odebolt Museum curator
I hope we work harder at celebrating successes than we do at finding fault. Amazing things happen every day in our communities. Let’s talk about them. Let’s spend more time spreading the good news than finding fault in one another. We live in great communities filled with wonderful people and we have so much to offer one another.
I also hope we smile more, laugh more and enjoy each other more. Did you know that smiling relieves stress and makes your immune system stronger? I’ve even read that smiling lowers blood pressure and can act as a natural painkiller. Laughter is an internal workout that distracts us from our worries and that provides us with a physical and emotional release. And it goes without saying that both laughter and smiles are contagious.
And finally, I hope in 2011 we can join together in aiming beyond the status quo. Let’s challenge each other to not just “think outside the box,” but to “redesign the box.” I hope that we are not afraid to try new ideas, and that we can be supportive of each other every step of the way. This is a great place to live, work and play, so let’s enjoy it and one another.
Dani Trimble
O-A/BC-IG superintendent
I hope that the Odebolt Betterment Committee (OBC) stays committed to their ongoing projects to beautify our city. Also, may the city council continue its policy of abating unsightly nuisances. With the above forces working together, Odebolt will be a better place to live, work, own a business, raise a family and retire.
I hope the powers that be can make it possible for the men and women of our armed forces to return home safely to their homes and families.
I hope last, but not least, that our willing and able town and country volunteers keep up their good work that keep our city alive throughout the year.
Ron Rex
Odebolt mayor
Letter to the editor To the editor:
In the Sunday edition of the Des Moines Register Dec. 19, an article, regarding smaller school districts in Iowa, was eye opening. Some of these schools are not far from the Odebolt-Arthur School District.
The article states there are eight mergers expected in July, leaving Iowa with 351 school districts. The article also states that 10 school districts in Iowa right now are in the red with their general funds and are in their second and third year of spending beyond legal limits. The message was sending a chilling message to shrinking, mostly rural districts across Iowa: Make ends meet or else.
The districts included in the article are: Prairie Valley with an enrollment of 676, Ogden with an enrollment of 699, Southern Cal with an enrollment of 512, Pomeroy-Palmer with an enrollment of 211, Fairfield with an enrollment of 1,800, Clay Central- Everly with an enrollment of 394, Hamburg with an enrollment of 295 and North Central with an enrollment of 506.
Two other school districts of Russell and South Clay have already decided to close their doors. The school budget is financed by property tax and state and federal aid. The state limits how much a district can spend in a year to protect taxpayers and keep spending equal among districts that generate a lot of property tax and those that don’t.
A school’s spending authority is based largely on its income, not cash in the bank. The Odebolt- Arthur School District is not and has never been in financial trouble nor has the school spent beyond its legal limits due to the great work of the administration keeping within the budget. Another aspect of the financial success of Odebolt-Arthur is from its patrons who support continued academic achievement with tax dollars.
The Instructional Support Levy (ISL), which is used largely to pay teacher salaries, is up for renewal this year and is a very important part of Odebolt-Arthur’s general fund. The ISL is renewable by school board vote every five years or by public vote for 10 years. This year, the ISL was voted for renewal by the school board but was petitioned for a public vote.
Key facts about the ISL are: This is a renewal process, not a new tax or a raise of taxes, and has been used by O-A to support actual instructional costs for many years. As many cuts to spending as can be allowed have been made and, without the ISL, $175,000 will be reduced to the O-A general fund each year and will have a direct negative impact on the O-A district and academic achievement. The Odebolt-Arthur School Board has voted to pursue the ISL with a public vote on Feb. 1. A positive vote will help keep Odebolt-Arthur from becoming a statistic.
Paul Neumann
O-A School Board member
O-A School Board member
O-A/BC-IG Library book fund-raiser starts Jan. 8
The O-A/BC-IG Library fund-raiser with Barnes and Noble will be Saturday, Jan. 8 at the Barnes and Noble store in Sioux City and online from Jan. 8-13 at www.bn.com/bookfairs.
Barnes and Noble offers books, music, DVDs, educational toys and games, and gift products. Purchases from the in-store café are included in this fund-raiser. While at the store on Jan. 8, check out artwork by O-A/BCIG art students on display from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Falcon girls’ basketball team will play Lawton-Bronson at 11:15 a.m. at the Tyson Events Center. Following the game, the cheerleaders will be reading several children’s stories at the bookstore.
If you can’t make it to Sioux City on Jan. 8, consider visiting the Barnes and Noble website Jan. 8-13 and making a purchase on our behalf. Go to www.bn.com/bookfairs to start shopping, and please ensure you enter our school’s book fair ID, 10219707, on the payment page to ensure we receive credit.
If you are an existing BN customer, please remember to click change payment in the check out screen so that you can find the book fair option at the bottom. If you click that it is a book fair purchase, a box will come up that you can enter the book fair id. All orders must be shipped prior to Jan. 13, so pre-orders do not count toward this promotion.
All proceeds from the fundraiser go toward the purchase of books for the high school library. For every eligible item that is purchased online at Barnes and Noble on behalf of the school, Barnes and Noble contributes up to 12 percent of the purchase price to the school. In-store purchases return 15 percent to the school.
Falcons top unbeaten East Sac County boys
O-A/BC-IG handed East Sac County its first boys’ basketball loss of the season Tuesday, Dec. 21. The Falcons beat the Raiders 70-62 in Sac City. The game was the fi nal contest for the Falcons before the Christmas break. O-A/BC-IG posted a 6-3 mark in its fi rst nine games of the season. O-A/BC-IG will be back in action Tuesday, Jan. 4 with a home game against MV-A-O.
Third quarter surge pushes O-A/BC-IG girls past East Sac
The O-A/BC-IG girls used a 32 to nine scoring surge in the third quarter to tame East Sac County 81-42 Tuesday, Dec. 21 in Sac City.
The non-conference win kept O-A/BC-IG atop the class 2A rankings with a 9-0 record heading into the Christmas break. The Falcons will be back in action Tuesday, Jan. 4 with a home game against MV-A-O.
(The above articles are posted with permission from the on-line edition of the Ida County Courier at www.idacountycourier.com.)
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