Tribes of the Turkey River

Submitted by Terry Landsgaard

      I have been mentioning objects that are/were associated with hunting, like lances and clubs, as well as warfare.

     These kinds of objects, especially the clubs, were used generally among the various native American tribes because of the dual purpose, such as preparing food or combat. Even the styles of clubs did not vary much from tribe to tribe.

    
Wanted: Endangered Competent Congressional Act of 2024     

By Steve Corbin, Professor Emeritus of Marketing, University of Northern Iowa

      As an every three week op-ed contributor to newspapers in 39 states, I read a lot of various and sundry topics, seeking an opportunity to start crafting a research-based message that might be of interest to readers.

      A while back I read 2023 marked the 50^th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Next, a friend referred me to read an article published 10 years ago (Aug. 19, 2013) titled “There ought to be a law against an `incompetent’ Congress” (Diane Dimond, HuffPost Contributor).

      After reflecting on these two topics – endangered species and incompetent Congress – a little humor entered the noggin, research ensued, and a serious column came to fruition. Let me explain.

Letter to the editor

      Do they have these nanny tobacco compliance programs of sending an under-age deceiver into business places to entrap the clerk into a violation in any communist or dictatorship countries such as Russia, or North Korea, or Cuba? Or do we only have them in America, in what we're supposed to believe is the "Land of the FREE?”  

Representative Michael Bergan (far right) recently congratulated the Waucoma Fire Department for winning the volunteer firefighters annual chili cook-off at the Iowa Capitol. Among those participating in the award ceremony were (l-r) Makaela Kime, Iowa Firefighters Association 3rd Vice President and firefighter Mike Kime, firefighter Brad Wickham and Andrea Kime. (Photo submitted)

Greetings from the Statehouse
Submitted by Representative Michael Bergan

      This week has been far busier than the last one as many bills were passed through their respective subcommittees.         

      I have been assigned to work on five subcommittees this week. Two of which reflect adjustments to our state libraries system as clean up bills following realignment of state departments last year. One addresses licensing of nursing home administrators and another addresses technical changes to adult abuse evaluations. The fifth bill assigned involves services available through pregnancy resource centers. 

Greetings in Christ!

By Pastor Isaiah Stansbery
Have you ever stopped to consider how much control you actually have?  Perhaps this subject is on my mind this week because that was the buzzword on Sunday. We are in a series featuring Jesus’ 12-disciples and throughout this season we have been re-introduced to some of the lesser known disciples… and in the case of Simon the Zealot… we spoke of what he thought he could control—and what happens to a person when they give up control. 

 Tribes of the Turkey River    

    By Terry Landsgaard

     I was looking through a book called The Indians of Iowa by Lance M. Foster and discovered some interesting material on the various tribes that wandered through Iowa.

     The Ho-Chunk were not resident in Iowa for a very long period of time, basically 1841-1846, when they were moved to Long Prairie, Minnesota.  

A Fountain of Joy

By Garry Birth

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:11

We are nearly a month into this new year of 2024. How is it going for you? Have you continued to have the stress and distress of the old year that has passed? Or have you found joy in the new year, the days, and hours, and minutes that God has placed before you?

Open forum

      On Tuesday, Jan. 9, Governor Reynolds delivered her Condition of the State Address. In this address, she unveiled her plans for Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEA’S), with a goal of shifting the nine agencies' focus to solely be on Special Education Services. Although, AEA’s do provide these services to school districts and families throughout the great state of Iowa, there is so much more that the AEA’s provide as support to Iowa’s education system.

      Before starting at Heartland AEA, I admit that I knew very little about the agency. Sure, I knew that they were there to support special education students; however, as I’ve spent the past five years of my career with Heartland, my eyes have been opened to the good work all AEA’s do throughout the state. My hope is that by the end of this article, I can share the reasons why it is so important to keep our AEA’s intact and continue doing their good work throughout Iowa’s school districts.

Representative Michael Bergan met with Fayette County Economic Development and Tourism Director Mallory Hanson last week in Des Moines (Photo submitted)

Greetings from the Statehouse

By Representative Michael Bergan

      The second week of session has been shorter than usual with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and winter weather influencing travel and scheduling.  The workload has ramped up for me with the release of the Governor’s recommended budget. 

      As a member of the Appropriations Committee and chair of the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee, I have begun a series of meetings with department directors, commissioners and state-wide elected officials covering 13 budgets. Our initial meeting included presentations by IPERS Chief Executive Officer Gregory Samorajski and Secretary of State Paul Pate on their budget requests for FY 2025.

      The filing of several bills also affected the workload, as the bills are assigned to committees and subcommittees are assigned.  A bill that has generated a lot of attention is HSB 542, assigned to the Education Committee.  The bill increases starting teacher pay by 50% to $50,000 annually. The bill also restructures regional Area Education Agencies and delivery of Special Education and other services, providing individual school districts more flexibility in their own role in meeting educational needs in their districts. 

      I have received dozens of emails and phone calls from constituents with concerns over the proposed changes to AEAs and the disruption that is anticipated and feared. Many of the emails share information on Keystone AEA, their services, and testimony to the value of the services received by area schools, teachers, and students. 

Tribes of the Turkey River

By Terry Landsgaard

     There were several forms or types of clubs used in defense or other purposes.

One tribe favored placing a stone in a hide bag and attaching it to a 2-foot-long stick or pole.  The hide bag didn't fit tightly around the stone, so the stone shifted in its bag.

     Another tribe wrapped a 2-pound stone in hide and attached it to a stick that could be whirled around because the stick had been attached to a wrist thong that would allow that type of club action.