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Important advice for the ‘Sandwich Generation’

Local Columns

If you’re between the ages of 35 and 60, you may be feeling a financial pinch from both your growing — or grown — children and your aging parents or in-laws.1 You may also find yourself juggling your work commitments and the expectations of family members for your time and support. As a member of what’s known as the sandwich generation, you’re not alone. Unlike previous generations where children left their homes earlier and more permanently, today children tend to live at home longer — or move out and return over time, sometimes with their own children in tow. And parents ...

Nothing more important than our kids

Community Voices

Voters in the Marshall School District have an important decision to make when they go to the polls on Nov. 4. We’ll decide whether or not to approve the proposed levy referendum put forth by school officials. It’s considered necessary to avoid cuts in teachers, elective classes and activities. I’ve heard from some who plan to vote yes and others who plan to vote no. It’s important to consider both the concerns that have been raised and the needs of our students. Among the concerns I’ve heard are that the levy will be indexed for inflation, that we funded a new grade ...

School district facing serious financial challenges

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: As a board member at Marshall Public Schools, I’m grateful for the trust this community has placed in me. Over the past years, I’ve learned a lot about our district’s finances, so I want to explain why the board decided to bring an operating levy to voters this November. The district is facing serious financial challenges — but these challenges did not happen overnight. Since the early 2000s, the state’s complex school funding formula hasn’t kept up with the rising costs of education. More than 85% of our budget comes from state funding — but that total ...

Ask a Trooper

Local Columns

Question: Can you explain what the lines on the highways and streets indicate? I feel like a lot of people can’t figure it out. Thanks. Answer: Pavement markings direct and regulate traffic. White lines separate lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction. • White dashes: You can change lanes where this marking is present. • Shorter and thicker white dashes: The lane is ending. • Solid white line: You should not change lanes. Solid white lines also mark crosswalks, stop lines at intersections, parking stalls and the edges of a roadway. • Double solid white ...

Do we support our children?

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: Not too many weeks ago I remember watching a Marshall School Board meeting and Russ Labat appearing to express concern for the safety of children crossing streets near a school. I find it somewhat ironic that he doesn’t seem to realize how important an affirmative vote on the referendum is to the quality of the instruction once those children arrive safely in those schools. I recently visited with a paraprofessional in our schools who was not only concerned for her job, but was more worried about the extra help which may not be there for our children. Well-informed ...

Fascists traits adds up to fascism

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: It is not name calling to say someone is a Nazi when they act like a Nazi, anymore than it is to say a forklift driver is a forklift driver. Nazism is defined by intense nationalism, anti-intellectualism and dictatorial rule. Would anyone say those characteristics are not those of Trump? Furthermore, he uses fascist techniques of identifying scapegoats, disdain for human rights, controlling mass media, rampant sexism, trying to intertwine religion and government, suppressing labor, protecting corporations and overt cronyism. Open your eyes, supporters. Maybe you ...