Page 8 The Advocate News (Wilton-Durant, Iowa) Thursday, January 10, 2013

OpiniOn

Here's to an opinionated 2013

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We received 35 letters to the editor in s we begin the new year, I felt it was fitting to acknowledge our many October and the majority were political or supporting specific candidates. Its humbling opinion pieces from 2012. For those of you who are avid newspaper to know that when someone wants their voice readers, you may find that many newspapers heard or if they simply want to support both small and large print a list of authors their candidate or community they know who have taken the time and effort to compose that the AN is their avenue to be heard. We are your voice and we love hearing a letter to the editor. Its something thats been spinning around from you! Please feel free to continue sending us your my mental Rolodex for years and during the chaos that we know as holiday time, I letters: dsawvell@netwtc.net. Remember that letters must be signed/ decided to put an author addressed and are subject list together for the AN. to editing. Heres to an Call it a New Years opinionated 2013! resolution if you will. *** The list can be viewed Field of DreamsIve at right. You can derive done my best over the a few things from our years to give updates list. The majority of our By Derek Sawvell on the sale of the Field letters came from our of Dreams complex in hometowns. Yet we also had a nice balance of letters coming in from Dyersville. Since the 1989 movie starring Kevin Costaround the tri-county area and beyond. We also have a number of elected officials ner was filmed, the iconic ball field, house who do care about small-town Iowa. We have and bleachers have remained intact on the grown used to our weekly editorials from Jeff movie site. However, there has always been Kaufmann (R-Wilton) of the Iowa House, a controversy. The majority of the site, including the Wilton boy who loved to communicate with his hometown and constituents around the house, bleachers and much of the field, was owned by the Don Lansing family. Yet a piece area. As he retires from his Iowa House seat, Ill of the outfield, primarily left field and some of assume well hear from his son, Bobby, who center field of the ball diamond, was owned ran for and won his fathers seat and will be by another family. Therefore, when one would visit the site, sworn in later this month. We also received several editorials and two separate gift shops would be encountered commentary from U.S. Congressman Dave sitting not far from each other. One affiliated Loebsack (D-Iowa City), who now represents with the Lansings in the parking lot near the house and one with ties to the other owners. I virtually all of our readership area. As I spoke about last week with regard to believe it was aptly called Left and Center, Twitter, its nice to get commentary straight located down the third baseline. This Im sure will be all gone now that it from the source. Our newspaper provides has been reported that the sale of the property that. Some other things to note about the list are was finalized recently. An investment group that first, some of the authors you see wrote involving Hall of Fame third baseman Wade more than one letter to the editor. Also, due to Boggs plans to turn the site into a revenue 2012 being an election year, we can assume generating 24-field youth baseball complex. Go the Distance Baseball LLC closed on there was an influx of letters due to the electhe deal on the 193-acre farm, which made tion. Based on my quick math, we received 106 the Lansings $3.4 million richer. According to letters to the editor in 2012, an average of reports, construction on the complex is to begin around nine per month (editors note: letters this spring with the first tournaments slated from local politicians such as Kaufmanns for 2014. Its estimated that construction will create 1,400 jobs and generate approximately weekly columns werent part of that total). January was our quietest month as we $40 million for the area. I also read that Go the Distance has plans of received just one letter to the editor. Any guess as to which month produced the leaving the movie site field and house intact. largest amount of letters? I already gave you I sure hope that happens. As a typical Iowa buff of that film and lover of the site itself, Id the election hint! October.

2012 Letter to the Editor Authors

Durant Rich Harmsen Doug Reasner Wayne Lincoln Kim Lopez Tom Petersen Justin Nelson John Spencer Barbara Reasner Deana Cavin Steve Ralfs Bev Witmer Lynn Tuttle Brian Hammer Glenn Sorgenfrey Wilton Kirk Trede Colleen Hansen Kathleen Sass Jon Koppenhaver Connie Brown Joe Burnett Regeana Arrowood Ken Crawford Thelma and George Nopoulos Rob Metzger Wade Mackey Mark Patton Marilyn Kean Hilda Kummerfeldt Al Kroeger Tad Sheets Doug Nolte Ray Arp Bill Sterner Bennett Orville Randolph Muscatine Dianne Glenney Betty McMahon Tom Savage Dan Petersen Stockton Maureen Bitterman Tipton David Hunt Larry Hodgden Harry Denny Paul and Mary Jane Sesker Laura Twing Stephanie McNeill New Liberty Richard Budelier West Liberty Dave Bradley Jody Dvorak West Branch Clara Oleson Dorma Gunnells Jen Thomas Sam Osborne Laurale Hunter Wayne Frauenholtz Walcott Loren Claussen Buffalo Bonnie Remley Stanwood Paul Adams Jessica Bovey Iowa City Michael Brau site and was 4-4 in the divisional games. This week is where things get interesting as I see several pick em games. I find my heart seeing things one way and my head saying the other. My heart says the Ravens, Patriots, 49ers and Falcons will win in the divisional round. Rather than listen to my head, which has other ideas and is probably wiser I'll admit, I'll stick with those selections and withhold any Super Bowl picks until next week. Amanda Irish Courtney Gettings Tom Wall Laurie Tulchin Solon Patricia Ikan Lynn Gallagher Paul Deaton Kathryn Hove Sharon Lynch-Voparil Kurtis Voparil Eldridge Paul Seelau DeWitt Mary Rueter Letts Tom Furlong Rochester Jerry Sloan Des Moines Bob Krause State Reps, Congressmen and Organizational leaders Jeff Kaufmann Mark Lofgren Dave Loebsack Mark Lucas Tony Hakes Josh Byrnes Guy Vander Linden Sharon Steckman

Case in Point

hate to see its mystique get bulldozed over. It will be tough enough to sink in the magic of such a place with two dozen ball diamonds substituting those majestic rows of Iowa corn. *** NFL predictionsTypically in this space, I predict the NFL playoffs prior to the start and then also give Super Bowl predictions. I didnt do that last week due to space constrictions. However, I did make picks via our Facebook

Jam the Gym tickets available

Its Wiltons answer to winning a minilottery. The annual Jam the Gym Night raffle ticket sales are going on right now with 16 cash prizes for a total payout of $1,500. The grand prize winner will receive $750. For 23 years, the Wilton Athletic Boosters have sponsored Jam the Gym Night. Proceeds from the raffle ticket sales have gone to support all athletic activities from the purchase of cheerleading uniforms to the new scoreboard on the football field, The drawing will be held Friday, Jan. 18, during the boys and girls basketball doubleheader between the Wilton Beavers and the Durant Wildcats. You dont need to be present to win, but come to the game, enjoy a macho nacho meal (served in the high school commons by the boosters) and cheer for your favorite basketball teams to win. For more ticket information, please contact any of the following booster officers: Becky Hansen at 732-3208, Cindy Tietz at 563-3577837, Jennifer Hilty at 828-215-2400 or Terri Becker at 732-4202.

COllege news
Fusco receives degree
Tonya Kristine Looker Fusco of Coralville (formerly of Wilton, Durant and Bennett) has graduated magna cum laude from Ashford University in Clinton on Oct. 14 with a BA in health, human services and science. Fusco is currently employed at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in the orthopedic clinic. She had earlier attended McPherson (Kan.) College and had received her AA degree from Muscatine Community College.

Four GenerationsWhen Annabelle Lee Horton was born Nov. 18, she was welcomed into the world by multiple generations. Holding Annabelle is her mother Allison Lee Horton of Des Moines. At left is her grandmother Teresa Horton Bumgarner of Solon and at right is her great-grandmother Beth Looker of Tipton. Contributed photo

Email a letter to the editor (subject to editing/must be signed) dsawvell@netwtc.net Deadlines Mondays at 3 p.m.