CVB’s bid to regain trust a tough hurdle

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Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Lauren Deutz delivered a report to the City Council on Tuesday on the many accounting changes that have been made in the wake of the Darin Rahm embezzlement case. Rahm, the former CVB director, was sentenced to prison in July for more than three years for embezzling $256,000 from the CVB between 2015-2018. Deutz told the Council the CVB is now trying to rebuild trust with the community. That rebuilding trust process probably has been a tough road to travel after suffering such a large security breach that should have never happened in the first place. But the good news, according to Deutz, is that a new accountant has been working with the CVB to make changes in oversight. That’s a step in the right direction and should help in that rebuilding trust process.

Will farmers benefit from trade deal?

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It finally looks like the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is heading toward passage in Congress. It rewrites the 25-year-old free trade agreement that is blamed for shipping U.S. manufacturing jobs to Mexico. The agreement is projected to have only a modest impact on the economy, but it gives lawmakers from both parties the chance to support an agreement sought by farmers, ranchers and business owners. However, there are some in the farming community that are not yet sold on the agreement. Newsweek magazine quotes National Family Farm Coalition President Jim Goodman that the benefits of the trade agreement “have been greatly oversold to the U.S. Farm sector.” He said the deal missed the chance to address low prices for products by independent family farmers. However, in that same article, the deal does have the backing of the group Farmers for Free Trade, which said it would guarantee that their closest and most important markets, would be “free from tariffs and red tape.” Well, just like the passage of Obamacare, we will just have to wait for passage of the trade agreement to see how well it will work for farmers — especially the family farms.

Like Ed Sullivan used to say, ‘A really big shew,’ in Marshall

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The preview and photos on this weekend’s production “The Nutcracker” paints a most delightful entertainment presentation at the Schwan Community Center for the Performing Arts at Marshall High School. It’s amazing to think that more than 100 dancers and actors will be working together to pull off this holiday classic. Also, the colors on the set are vibrant and inviting. Don’t miss this production.

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