Madison Lammert

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Headin’ South | Mark’s Remarks

As I write, we have returned from our recent family vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains.  I sit in a living room littered with the unpacked cargo we brought in…

It’s terror. Period. | Planet Ryan

Like everyone else Sunday morning, I was shocked and saddened to learn that 49 American citizens were slaughtered and 50-plus more were wounded in Orlando, Fla., while simply trying to…

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I’ve always wanted to do that | Mark’s Remarks

Our little theater group just wrapped up a production of “Deathtrap” at the great Capitol Theater in Waterloo. It was, I think, the 15th show I’ve been in with Monroe…

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A Way With Words | Mark’s Remarks

Believe it or not, I took journalism courses and was editor of my high school newspaper. I was blessed to have, for at least a couple of years, the legendary…

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One Last Glimpse | Mark’s Remarks

Like most seniors, we had gotten out of school a week before and returned briefly that next week for graduation practice. All of us seemed more relaxed and happy, the…

Days of Old | Planet Ryan

Last week was one of those weeks for me that tested my multitasking skills thanks to a long list of work and personal commitments that all sort of ran together…

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So Much to Do | Mark’s Remarks

Do you ever start off the week with a seemingly endless list of “to dos”?  I’m sure we all have weeks like that. This is one of them. Indeed, as…

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The two faces of Facebook | Mark’s Remarks

Here I go again, writing about social media. I am afraid I can’t help but speak my mind about it from time to time. In my opinion, it has become…

The big leagues | Planet Ryan

In my last column, I wrote about my love for smoked meats. Usually, I wouldn’t go back-to-back on the same subject, but I’m so excited about a recent development, I…

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I’m smarter than you | Mark’s Remarks

As I grow older, I become less tolerant of the idiosyncrasies of people. That’s really not a good way to be, is it? I mean, if I feel this way,…