I give a barb to Gov. Walker and I hope he's recalled because of his insistence that he will not raise the individual income taxes on the wealthiest 1 percent. It is a way to raise revenue so you don't have to take cuts on various programs and taking stress burdens off the property tax. One of the cuts I heard the State Attorney General Van Hollen is going to make is to "reduce sex assault victim grants" according to The Monroe Times of December 5 by 42.5 percent, according to his own statistics. My Republican friends tell me the governor got elected to do the job he's supposed to do. So giving the rich a tax break which forced the attorney general to cut a program he himself favors, particularly when it involved underage children, just doesn't seem to make any sense. - Anonymous
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A huge barb to the Humane Society. Per Webster's Thesaurus humane (syn): lenient, tender, tolerant, compassionate, forgiving, kind, thoughtful, kindhearted, gentle, merciful. From my own dealings and comments from family and friends in regards to our local "Humane" Society, it is not where the humans are concerned anyway. It is supposed to be an organization in place to help and support our community, not make us feel like we are inconveniencing them when we have concern about a homeless animal. Some time, back with different persons were in charge, there was a community effort in which I was part of to help control the stray cat population by spaying and neutering those that could be caught. I myself have taken in 3 "feral" cats who became very loving and affectionate. I now find 12 more in my neighborhood. Could this be because they were refused by our Humane Society who is state and county funded to help our community? I haven't heard a positive comment from anyone who has dealt with them in the past two years. Maybe it's time for a change there. I really don't see a new building doing anything to change the service or attitude of those running the shelter. - Anonymous
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A blossom to all who assisted in anyway to the successful Santa Reception. On behalf of the Monroe Noon Optimist members, I would like to thank the following people who helped make the Santa Reception another success: Santa and Mrs. Claus, Colony Brands, Mary Soddy and Creative Photography, Ms. Katie Doyle and the Monroe Middle School chorus members, Jr. Optimist members, Wisconsin Community Bank and staff, Monroe Times, WEKZ and most of all, the children and their families for making the Santa reception a great success. We hope everyone had a great start to their holiday season and we look forward to sharing this event with you again. - Jean Sinkule and The Monroe Noon Optimist club
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A blossom: This morning, I had the opportunity of witnessing a group of volunteers unloading boxes of food items for the Green County Food Bank. The truck's sign read: "Second Harvest." Also, a truck from St. Vincent De Paul's arrived to drop off items at the Food Bank. I said to myself: "God bless our community's volunteers." During this holy season of giving, let's continue to thank God and express our gratitude for and to volunteers, who freely donate their time and talents as gifts of compassionate love to our less fortunate sisters and brothers. - A Grateful Reader
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Just how scared is Gov. Walker in being recalled. He's trying to get a rule that takes effect Dec. 16, that any gathering over four people is a mob and requires a permit. Three people is acceptable and four is not. You couldn't enforce it and just think, our cars are made to haul six to 10 people, could all be considered illegal. We might be talking about something the government didn't want us to talk about. I fully support the Beloit Daily News reprinted in our paper on Dec. 7 "Be Wary of Barriers to Free Expression." So my barb is to mostly Republicans, who are confused if we should or shouldn't stand up for the Constitution and free speech. Otherwise, we end up with a dictatorship. The ballot box is always the right way to solve problems. - La Vern and Linda Isely
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A huge barb to Turner Hall. On Friday night (Dec. 2) at their tree-lighting ceremony, Santa and his friend arrived. Children got excited when Santa arrived but scared of his friend who was dressed in black with just his face showing and a black bag on his back with sticks in it. The way Santa talked to the children was very disturbing. Santa had a red book and asked children if they had been good or naughty. Then he said, "if you're naughty I will have to take the sticks out of the bag and spank you." Then Santa said he would come in the middle of the night to their home, take and put them into the black bag and take them to the woods so the animals would eat them. This was a very disturbing story for children to hear. Some children were very frightened and upset. This story is one that they will never forget. There were people at the lightning ceremony who were making comments about how Santa and his friend were talking. Why upset the children when Christmas and Santa are very important to them? Santa is supposed to be jolly and a kind person. Hopefully next year Turner Hall will use better judgment before this happens again, for this occasion is supposed to be a joyous and family-oriented celebration. - Anonymous
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A huge barb to the Humane Society. Per Webster's Thesaurus humane (syn): lenient, tender, tolerant, compassionate, forgiving, kind, thoughtful, kindhearted, gentle, merciful. From my own dealings and comments from family and friends in regards to our local "Humane" Society, it is not where the humans are concerned anyway. It is supposed to be an organization in place to help and support our community, not make us feel like we are inconveniencing them when we have concern about a homeless animal. Some time, back with different persons were in charge, there was a community effort in which I was part of to help control the stray cat population by spaying and neutering those that could be caught. I myself have taken in 3 "feral" cats who became very loving and affectionate. I now find 12 more in my neighborhood. Could this be because they were refused by our Humane Society who is state and county funded to help our community? I haven't heard a positive comment from anyone who has dealt with them in the past two years. Maybe it's time for a change there. I really don't see a new building doing anything to change the service or attitude of those running the shelter. - Anonymous
•••
A blossom to all who assisted in anyway to the successful Santa Reception. On behalf of the Monroe Noon Optimist members, I would like to thank the following people who helped make the Santa Reception another success: Santa and Mrs. Claus, Colony Brands, Mary Soddy and Creative Photography, Ms. Katie Doyle and the Monroe Middle School chorus members, Jr. Optimist members, Wisconsin Community Bank and staff, Monroe Times, WEKZ and most of all, the children and their families for making the Santa reception a great success. We hope everyone had a great start to their holiday season and we look forward to sharing this event with you again. - Jean Sinkule and The Monroe Noon Optimist club
•••
A blossom: This morning, I had the opportunity of witnessing a group of volunteers unloading boxes of food items for the Green County Food Bank. The truck's sign read: "Second Harvest." Also, a truck from St. Vincent De Paul's arrived to drop off items at the Food Bank. I said to myself: "God bless our community's volunteers." During this holy season of giving, let's continue to thank God and express our gratitude for and to volunteers, who freely donate their time and talents as gifts of compassionate love to our less fortunate sisters and brothers. - A Grateful Reader
•••
Just how scared is Gov. Walker in being recalled. He's trying to get a rule that takes effect Dec. 16, that any gathering over four people is a mob and requires a permit. Three people is acceptable and four is not. You couldn't enforce it and just think, our cars are made to haul six to 10 people, could all be considered illegal. We might be talking about something the government didn't want us to talk about. I fully support the Beloit Daily News reprinted in our paper on Dec. 7 "Be Wary of Barriers to Free Expression." So my barb is to mostly Republicans, who are confused if we should or shouldn't stand up for the Constitution and free speech. Otherwise, we end up with a dictatorship. The ballot box is always the right way to solve problems. - La Vern and Linda Isely
•••
A huge barb to Turner Hall. On Friday night (Dec. 2) at their tree-lighting ceremony, Santa and his friend arrived. Children got excited when Santa arrived but scared of his friend who was dressed in black with just his face showing and a black bag on his back with sticks in it. The way Santa talked to the children was very disturbing. Santa had a red book and asked children if they had been good or naughty. Then he said, "if you're naughty I will have to take the sticks out of the bag and spank you." Then Santa said he would come in the middle of the night to their home, take and put them into the black bag and take them to the woods so the animals would eat them. This was a very disturbing story for children to hear. Some children were very frightened and upset. This story is one that they will never forget. There were people at the lightning ceremony who were making comments about how Santa and his friend were talking. Why upset the children when Christmas and Santa are very important to them? Santa is supposed to be jolly and a kind person. Hopefully next year Turner Hall will use better judgment before this happens again, for this occasion is supposed to be a joyous and family-oriented celebration. - Anonymous
