OTTUMWA —
It won’t be hard to find the color pink today. Hundreds of runners, walkers and supporters will gather at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event at Ottumwa Park this morning racing to raise funds for the organization dedicated in fighting breast cancer.
It’s a sad reality that every year thousands of women, and even some men, are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Years ago it was a considered a death sentence. Today, there are countless survivors, and thanks to research, medical advances and shear willpower, those survivors continue to stand up against the disease.
Not too terribly long ago, uttering the word “cancer” was taboo, frightening, and in some cases, mentioning the word in mixed company was considered inappropriate.
But no longer. By talking about cancer, survivors have shined a light on the disease. They have raised awareness and money. Early detection efforts, such as yearly physicals, mammograms and self-breast exams, have yielded good results.
We support all those who run or walk today, knowing their efforts really do make a difference.
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Bike racks attached to the Ottumwa Transit Authority’s fleet of buses is a good idea.
Contingent upon more research and funding options, the installation of these bike racks would be a good way to promote the city’s desire to become a healthier place to live and may encourage increased bus ridership.
Other communities similar in size to Ottumwa have successfully installed racks on their buses, and riders easily and quickly place and retrieve their bikes with little difficulty.
We support the idea of more follow-up, and hopefully cyclists will soon utilize the OTA buses for their use.
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Finally, here’s to all the moms out there. We hope you have a wonderful day on Sunday and that you know that we appreciate your hard work, time and the sacrifice it takes to be a loving parent.
From those of us lucky to have a mother, or a special aunt, grandmother or someone else acting as a surrogate mom, we know that honoring you should not just be reserved for one day in May. Rather, we should celebrate mothers every day for the love and patience they exhibit.
For many, and we don’t say it often enough, we offer a collective “I love you” to all those mothers. Here’s hoping you have a terrific Mother’s Day!
Opinion
May 12, 2012
Saturday Saidits
Our Opinion
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- Beep-tech I was reading about the new Google Glass that can be an app you attach to your glasses -- like having your own personal computer through the looking glass. Might be handy, I don't know. Or maybe it's just one more distraction to remove us from real l
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- Plenty of summer fun in southeast Iowa region Time to don the shorts, shades and sunscreen. Now that school is out for the summer, southeast Iowa has a variety of events and family oriented fun that is sure to pique the interest of those looking for something to do close to home. Here's just a s
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- Thankful for excellent educators Editor's note: The following includes excerpts from a 1981 retirement for Alice Lee. While strolling by the shores of the Des Moines River, I ran into an interesting group. Now, you must understand that this wasn't the normal family group you often
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Who was James Otis?
Most Americans can associate some names with our country's fight for independence from the English Monarchy, which began in earnest in 1775: Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and Adams. Few, if any, would credit James Otis. Here is why they should. It
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