Editor

Letters to the Editor

Do your homework:

Election day is rapidly approaching. The media is full of commercials, pro and con, for various candidates. Many of these ads are misleading at best. Make informed decisions for your vote. Look at their past actions and what they support.

Republican politicians generally support Trump policies while Democrat politicians almost always support Biden policies. Which policies are you better off with?

Don’t rely on one information source. Seek out reliable sources of information on the candidates and what they really support. Don’t just vote. Vote informed.

I would like to reach out to the Colby Cross Country runners that are representing our town, our community, at the WIAA State Cross Country meet in Wisconsin Rapids, this Saturday, October 29th.

Hornet harriers: For some of you this will be another trip to ‘Rapids for the biggest meet of the year, the hopes and aspirations for future visits. Maybe this is your first trip down. This coming Saturday may also be the last time, for some of you.

The State meet was one that I had the opportunity to compete in my senior year at Colby High School. I had the race of my life the week prior in Arcadia for the Sectionals meet, and was able to sprint for the last qualifier spot in the final 100 yds. My memory of that day is clear, and my mind races around each turn, every straight away, the moment I dug my toes in on the last mile and sprinted, when I crossed the finish line and went to find my coach (Scott Sigenthaler) to tell him “we did it.”

The moment can feel awfully heavy, as if this is going to be the ‘race of your life.’ Maybe for good reason; it is the race that will have the best runners in your Division. But what I want to share with you is to make sure that, from the moment you jump off the bus, when those last warm ups come off, while you wait for those two cold seconds for the starter gun to go off at the start; you soak it all in.

I remember so much to the start of the race, but once my memory gets to the 1st mile it loses pace, and it’s lost. Even if it was for a moment, I wish I could go back to experience my third mile, fighting through that last 100 yards, hugging mom after the race, so that I could remember it again. It is easy to think past the little things, but it is the little things that build into moments, that last forever in your memory. And as you get older, the memories will be one of the things you’ll cherish; because even as things in your life change, those memories will always be there. And the best part is no one can take them away.

Maybe that is what I want you to think about this race: a definitive moment of your life that will always be yours. The hard work, the blisters on your feet, the moments you cried in pain, and joy; it all paid off. This race is a celebration for you, because you are about to finish what you have started. Once that gun goes off, all you need to remember is to run your best, seize your moments, and that CTown is proud of you. Good luck.

Following WWI German citizens had an uncertain future because of very poor economic conditions, climbing unemployment and political instability along with profound social change. It was much like we have in our country right now. People were disgruntled with their government. The country even went into a depression. Of course, it wasn’t exactly the same, but I see many parallels to what’s happening now in our country to what happened back then in Germany.

People are angry with our present government, and rightly so. The wealthy have become too wealthy, many of them do not pay their fair share in taxes while the middle class is picking up the difference. Because many hate the government, we have much lawlessness. The problems are many, but with the government we have now, we can still vote (yes our votes count), no one is coming to your door with a ballot and a gun to make you vote their way--yet.

When people become unhappy and vehemently angry with their government, as we have now, it is ripe for fascism. People want change so badly, they grab at anything that they think looks better without thinking it thoroughly through. That’s what happened in Germany when Hitler came into power. Google WWI on a computer and you will get a complete history of how Hitler hoodwinked the people.

Be CAREFUL who you vote for! Although I’m unhappy with both parties-that’s why I’m an independent--I’ll opt for a party with which I can work to make changes for the better. Not fascism which strives for complete control of its people when changes are next to impossible.

Grace Dietel-Ensign Dorchester