Opinions

During the past several weeks, there has been a great deal of discussion and controversy surrounding the resident geese who have made the Shawano waterways their home. Amid the public outcry, the fellas who gather at the Gresham Hardware Store added a touch of satire.

I have always enjoyed the musings of Tom Mehlberg. I loved his column; he had a way of saying things in a way only Tom could.

In regard to the recent goose issue, Tom posted: “This morning, a few of us Gresham guys were talking at the ‘Gresham think tank’ (Gresham Hardware Store) and how we Gresham guys would solve a goose problem like Shawano has. The first thing needed is for the DNR to give permission to corral the geese or gooses or whatever you want to call them. I must state if you are going to pick on a goose, you must also pick on a gander; you know, treat both sexes equal.”

To the editor:

I’m going to embrak on a mission, long overdue for me to do, seeing as I’ve been an intense listener to this art form for over 64 of my 76 years alive.

I will give a cluse, first of all, to what jazz is. In two letters of the alphabet, jazz is I.I., standing for impromptu improvisation. That’s it, folks, as brief as it can be. Jazz is spur-of-the-moment thoughts and ideas of one or many musicians, singers too, performing to the same entertaining end, which can be from swinging, hard driving upbeat to low down gut bucket blues.

To the editor:

Most people are thinking about the government in one way or another. I was sitting and listening to church. I’m trying to understand why people don’t understand how some feel about reading the book called the Bible.

People, this is a history book of years ago, and a man called Jesus.

Please don’t be afraid, for it can touch your heart like no other book.

The word “Christian” seems to have people very scared. What is there about that word? Please don’t be afraid of it, for it’s a feeling that comes from the heart.

Take time to look up the words, but don’t be afraid, for the words don’t hurt. Remember, the Creator loves you.

Sally Raddant,

Shawano

Shaking me awake, my husband’s words jolted me out of a deep sleep: “The Angus got out!”

Immediately, my eyes flew open and in the muddiness, I tried to comprehend what he saying. I sensed it was urgent.

“I got them back in! You’ll have to go out there when it gets light out and tie the gate up better until I get back home to fix it tonight! Listen, listen, you awake? Go in the milk house, there’s a thick yellow rope hanging in there. Cut it into three pieces and tie the gate up to the feed wagon on the cow yard. I gotta go!”

I could hardly comprehend “the Angus got out” without letting it soak in about what I’m supposed to do. In a matter of seconds, I went from shock to relief to anxiety.

A woman and her purse is a relationship that most men would not understand. Purses, no matter the size, color or design, are an object that a woman never wants to be parted from.

For the past several years I have been working on making my purse be much lighter. However, I find I need to carry several items with me, just in case they are needed.

I carry a purse calendar, even though I believe I could program appointments into the cellphone. However, that calendar also contains phone numbers, but, ah, well, those are programmed into the phone also.

Another needed item is my wallet. It has everything in there, money, credit and store cards, business cards, my driver’s license, the checkbook — you get the idea.

Other stuff needed in my purse are antacids, and breath mints, just in case they are needed. Plus, since I am a diabetic, I carry sugar pills, and a protein bar, in case those are needed.

Congratulations are in order for Ed Whealon and his supporters for staying true to his conservative fiscal campaign message and his commitment to becoming an active manager in the day-to-day operation of Shawano city government.

Even Tuesday’s terrible spring blizzard, dropping more than 11 inches of snow on the Wolf River Region, couldn’t keep voters from exercising their right to elect Shawano’s mayor. Despite treacherous travel conditions, voters went to the polls and awarded political newcomer Whealon a narrow victory over incumbent Mayor Jeanne Cronce in her bid to serve a second two-year term.

Whealon and Cronce are to be commended for conducting respectful and issue-based campaigns, offering voters a clear understanding of the priorities for their respective administrations should they be elected mayor.

Shawano was very fortunate two community-minded individuals, who both clearly love the city, stepped forward to answer the call for public service.

When were the “good old days”? I read a definition that said it was a period of time in the past that a person thinks were pleasant and better than the present time.

I saw some humor when someone said: “Remember when all we had was landline phones instead of cellphones and when the phone rang everyone in the house yelled ‘I’ll get it,’ and now if a landline rings nobody moves because it is obvious we don’t know who it is or they would call our cell phone.”

I loved growing up during the 1950s and 1960s, I just didn’t realize how lucky I was at the time. As a kid, I didn’t have to worry about an active shooter alert, I only had to worry about a tornado or fire drill and eating those awful goiter pills.

Spring? Snow? Winter? The calendar says spring, but I doubt our weather patterns can read a calendar, because as I look outside my window, it looks more like winter. Somehow that does not fit into most people’s plans for spring.

I had to clean several inches of snow off the car after finishing up my election work shift at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. When I got near my driveway I saw a huge bank of snow, left by the plow and wondered how I would ever make it in the driveway. However, I put the pedal to the metal and drove right through it. The car was fishtailing up my knoll that I call a driveway, so had to let up the gas so I wouldn’t hit the garage. But the car straightened up and kept going and I got parked safely. The garage floor may be wet with melted snow, but at least the car is not stuck in the snow.

On Tuesday, Shawano voters will head to the polls to elect their mayor for the next two years. Incumbent Jeanne Cronce, seeking a second term, faces former police chief Ed Whealon for the opportunity to lead the city through 2020.

Regardless of which candidate prevails, Shawano finds itself in an enviable position as both candidates are community-minded, dedicated and selfless individuals who have a true love for the city.

How then, should voters decide which candidate deserves their vote? Both are popular members of the community, but will this be a popularity contest, or will substantive issues facing Shawano guide voters?

The Shawano Leader’s editorial board tackled these questions long and hard as we contemplated our endorsement for mayor. We took into consideration all of the information made available during the mayoral forum and debate and in private interviews with both candidates. We weighed several factors.

To the editor:

Recently I sent the following email to Rep. Mike Gallagher, Sen. Ron Johnson, State Rep. Gary Tauchen and State Sen. Robert Cowles.

“I hoped you watched some of the coverage on the marches all over the nation on Saturday. I read an opinion piece in the Boston Globe that highlighted seven things that could be done with guns to save lives. I recommend the article to you and hope that you will take the time to read it. One fact that I did not realize. Twenty-two percent of adults in the United States own guns. Seventy-eight percent of adults don’t own guns.