Most of us, growing up, were taught by our parents to take out the trash. When we did it willingly without too much whining, our parents would express their appreciation. To not have done so would turn our homes into prime locations for television shows about hoarders. Shawano County Supervisor William Switalla did such a…

It’s common for us to feel sympathy for those who are dealing with tough situations — losing a house to fire or foreclosure, finding out about a terminal cancer diagnosis, having a loved one sacrifice his or her life while serving in the military, unable to cut through the long line at Walt Disney World…

It’s hard for anyone to ignore the latest kerfuffle going on in our nation’s capital. The issue surrounds President Donald Trump’s tweet against four freshmen members of Congress — all Democrats and all people of color — to “go back where they came from.” The fact that three of the four women Trump referred to…

Independence Day and the days surrounding it tend to bring out the patriot in most people as red, white and blue tell the other colors to take a break and let them handle the birth of our country. However, tis the season for political correctness, as well. No, I’m not going to go into my…

The first anniversary of the terrible newsroom attack in Annapolis, Maryland, passed by with minimal fanfare. In a way, it was rather refreshing, as we, as a society, seem to relish reliving dark days, but in reality, many folks in journalism are constantly thinking about it — while still doing their jobs. Not much has…

The old adage says that when life hands you lemons, you should make lemonade. What it doesn’t tell is that if your children try to sell that lemonade by setting up a stand, that action will bring lights and sirens to your neighborhood. As if there are not enough government restrictions in our lives, the…

Nat Werth has a lot to be proud of in his high school career. Becoming the valedictorian of your class is no easy feat, and with that honor, you get to give an address to your fellow classmates, teachers, assorted school staff and hordes of community members eager to know what 13 years of education…

We all know Murphy’s Law, where if anything can happen, it will. Now, I’m wondering if there should be a Stewart’s Law — one that says, if a comedian starts getting serious, you’d better pay attention. The naming of the law would be appropriate as Jon Stewart testified Tuesday before a House Judiciary subcommittee regarding…

They say that those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I would think that’s very likely to happen if the history in question was erased. Thirty years ago, the Tiananmen Square Massacre took place in China. The State Council declared martial law on May 20, 1989 after thousands of protesters attempted…

Graduation season is upon us, as hundreds of area teens are saying goodbye to one level of education and moving into the next chapters of their lives, whether it’s further education or starting new careers. It’s something that arrives before anyone realizes it, and there’s a reality check that hits grads hard. Things will change,…

Many of us know the first few caveats of the First Amendment for the United States Constitution — freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion. However, the last part of the amendment gives us the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. I wonder if the Founding Fathers intended…