E-Edition

Kessler’s Faith In Action Defines His Legacy

Grace College's Coach K is more than statistics and accomplishments as he “retires.”
Fish Therapy Has Many Possible Applications For Skin Diseases

In previous columns I have discussed insects, bacteria and animals that have a medical application. There is another aquatic species to add, a small fish called Garra rufa, now being used in an experiment to treat individuals with skin diseases like psoriasis.
News Views: Yellowstone Is Not About To Blow

I was reading about the Yellowstone supervolcano the other day.
If Philosophy Fascinates You, Get To Know Montaigne

I did not have the opportunity in college to study philosophy or learn about philosophers and therefore had little interest in the subject. This recently changed after I discovered a small book titled “Montaigne” written by Stephan Zweig — it captured the essence of Michel de Montaigne's life and accomplishments.
God Judges Abortion, But He Also Has Mercy

My more and I were in the living room watching the news when there was a report about abortion. “How can anyone kill a child?” she lamented as tears rolled down her cheeks.
U.S. Polio-Free Since 1979, But Vaccine Still Necessary

When I was young, many years ago, my parents did not allow my brother or me to go swimming at our local pool because it was thought to be the source of infantile paralysis.
From The Mayor: Process In Place For Selecting Vendors And Contracted Services

The city often enters into contracts for the acquisition of goods and services and public works projects. Let’s talk about how the city handles the selection of vendors and contracted services.
Mysterious Diseases Have Baffled Doctors Throughout History

I am fascinated by historical mysterious diseases that appear suddenly and then strangely disappear.
All The News That Fits The Narrative

How about those high school students from Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky, eh?
Touch – The Unsung Sense

Touch, according to the author, has become a new science, and neuroscientists continue to learn more about how skin is busily sensing our relationships to others.
Hate Crime Law Isn't A Bad Idea

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb is urging Republicans in the state legislature to pass a hate crimes law.
Two More For The Intelligence Hall Of Fame

Last year I wrote a column about two of the smartest men who lived in the modern era (1700 to the present). On further deliberation and careful thought I nominate two others to consider.
TCU Offering Help To Members During Government Shutdown

As the partial government shutdown drags on, Teachers Credit Union has announced a package of relief measures available to members who are being affected.
It’s Certainly Not About The Money

Now that Democrats have dug in on their refusal to spend $5.7 billion on some sort of border barrier, I thought it might be fun to point out some expensive things that do get approved.
Tuberculosis Is A Major Challenge To Global Health

In a “Remember When” column written a few months ago, Kristina Smiley described an event that occurred 50 years ago pertaining to required tuberculosis (TB) testing in Warsaw Community Schools.
Not Sure People Want Electric Cars
Column: City Of Warsaw Happy With Results Of 2019 Tax Rate

Two weeks ago, at the last city council meeting of 2018, the final municipal property tax rate for 2019 was approved.

We were all very happy with the result.
Viruses Are Complex - And Essential - Life Forms

Viruses may be the most bizarre of all life forms, although they are not truly living.
News Views: The Politics Of The Wall

If you ever wondered what’s wrong with politics and government, look no further for evidence than “the wall.”
Zebrafish — An Amazing Tool For Biomedical Research

Those humble zebrafish swimming gracefully in your aquarium have become excellent models for studying childhood cancer and a host of other diseases.
Guest Column: Thought Crime Legislation Puts Your Liberties in Grave Danger

As the Indiana General Assembly prepares to convene in January, legislation is being proposed that seeks to criminalize the thoughts of Hoosiers.
Christmas Is Hollow Without Jesus

I’m sure the shepherds wondered why their celestial visitors came to them, lowly agricultural workers. They were instructed to go to Bethlehem and see this child who had been born.
Explosive E. Coli Bacteria Can Be Harmless, Even Beneficial

E. coli can double its population in less than two hours under the right conditions, which means that it has the potential to make people, especially children and the elderly, very sick.
Hold All Of Them Accountable
Old-Time Hokum Still Exists In Medical Field

The widespread availability of quack medical products was instrumental in the enactment of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938 and the Medical Device Amendments in 1976.
The World Doesn’t Need Fake Religious Folks

I wonder if there are times when people look at followers of Jesus (I’m including myself) and see us being synthetic.
Why Trump?

News Views
State, National Organizations Work To Improve Services For Cities

The latest census estimate (July 2017) for Indiana puts our population at almost 6.7 million.

Of that total, 66.3 percent (over 4.4 million) live in a Hoosier city or town. The City of Warsaw population is estimated at 14,478.
Scorpions Are Scary, Nasty – And Have Much To Teach Us

Scorpions deserve multiple entries in the Guinness Book of Records; they are some of the biggest, meanest, longest-lived, most sensitive, most maternal, least fraternal, slowest and quickest creatures among the arachnids and insects.
As Bad As Things Seem In The World, Trust That God Knows The Future

One reporter was talking about the issues of our day and saying that this is one of the darkest moments in our history. I almost laughed out loud.
If You Weren’t Thankful This Year, Don’t Blame Your Body

If someone next Thanksgiving asks you what you are thankful for, I have a suggestion. Why not describe all the things your body does to keep you healthy and alive, the automatic processes you have no control over.
Madagascar Home To Priceless Biological Treasures

Madagascar, a huge island off the southeast coast of Africa, is primarily renowned for its high biodiversity. Proportionate to land area, there is no other zone in the world with higher concentrations of biotic endemism (restricted to a certain country of area) across different species.
Don’t Give Up – Jesus Can Reach The Darkest Soul

It seems at times when we pray the sky is built of brass and our prayers bounce off of its surface, not getting to heaven.
Snow’s Medical Genius Behind Many Modern Practices

One of the past unsung heroes in medicine is John Snow, a pioneer in a number of fields.
Veterans Deserve Our Thanks

This Sunday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. Please take a moment of silence to remember the sacrifice that has been given for liberty since the Armistice on Nov. 11, 1918.
Ig Nobel Awards Spur Laughs, Then Scientific Curiosity

Anyone with a sense of humor and a predilection for science will enjoy a visit to the Annals of Improbable Research website and the annual list of Ig Nobel awards.
Looking For Glimmers Of Hope In Tragedy

No matter how many laws we pass, no matter how hard we try to keep people safe, bad things will happen.
Family Most Important Factor For Happiness

Only one of the seven dwarfs is Happy, which humorously tells us that many people are not.
Where We Are Is Not A Good Place

I’m surprised more unhinged individuals aren’t flipping out in this political environment.
Venom-Based Remedies Used For Centuries

Venomous reptiles, bugs and marine life have notorious reputations as dangerous or life-threatening creatures, but all can be sources of new classes of drugs capable of treating diabetes, autoimmune diseases, chronic pain and other conditions.
Termites Serve A Surprising Number Of Useful Purposes

Although known as "white ants," termites are not ants and their relationships with other insects remain unclear.
Where Are All Of The Conservatives?

Remember the good old days when conservatives cared about debt?
I Gave Up On God. He Didn’t Give Up On Me

In 1994 a good friend of mine was totally mistreated by a congregation, which for me was the final straw. I quit going to church.
Elephants – Large, Leathery, Lumbering And Lovable

Elephants indeed are large, leathery, lumbering and loveable, a reminder of what prehistoric animals were like. But there is more to elephants than alliteration.
Election Shines Light On Role Of Townships

I have to be honest. I haven’t really thought a lot about township government throughout my career in the newspaper business.
Kavanaugh-Ford Conflict Illustrates Stench Of Sin In America

Two were thrown in the dust of the American stage on Sept. 27. People gathered with stones in their hands, ready to support their side and destroy the other.
Hospice – One Of Life's Most Valuable Services

The website for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, states that the term "hospice" can be traced back to medieval times when it referred to a place of shelter and rest for weary or ill travelers on a long journey.
Scientists Thrill To Unfamiliar Paths On ‘The Most Unknown’

I try not to spend too much time in front of the TV, but every once in a while I catch a program worth viewing.
#MeToo Comes To Confirmation Hearings

Wow, that whole Supreme Court nomination mess went off the rails, didn’t it?
Banner Of Life Carried Nearly Half A Century

Mary Louise Lowe has been fighting for life and the rights of the unborn for just under 45 years, when a Right to Life group was formed in Kosciusko County.
Gut Colonies Make Us Superorganisms

It is almost impossible to believe, but there are approximately 100 trillion micro-organisms (most of them bacteria, but also viruses, fungi and protozoa) living in the human gastrointestinal tract.
A Look At A Few Current Topics

Following are a few observations on current topics in the news.
The Mediterranean Diet Is Worth Adopting

The Mediterranean diet is known for its cardiovascular disease-fighting properties. The Mayo Clinic calls it the "heart healthy diet."
Assessing The Coming Blue Wave

I usually don’t make predictions with regard to politics.
Churches Need Higher Standard In Age Of Sexual Abuse

Children have been abused and targeted by priests, pastors and leaders. High-profile men in houses of worship have used their power to be sexually inappropriate with women. They are without excuse; their sin puts children and women in horrible situations.
Blood-Sucking ‘Medical Device’ Creeping Back Into U.S. Medicine

When I was much younger, it was not uncommon to purchase leeches at the local drug store and use them to treat a black eye. Modern medicine in the United States would generally find such use archaic and abhorrent. Not so in Russia.
If You Commit Crimes,You Should Be Punished

If you commit crimes, you should be punished.
Science Reveals Much About Ancient Iceman’s Life

Finding the body of a person who died 5,300 years ago would be most rare. But it happened in 1991 when a group of hikers found a frozen corpse and his belongings in the mountainous border between Austria and Italy.
News Views: Fake Letters And Politics Of Division

There is a man in Leesburg named Jacob Sprunger and the Times-Union owes him an apology.
Bees, The ‘Soul Of Summer,’ Helped Shape The Natural World

Bees evolved alongside the flowering plants, and their most remarkable traits all developed in the context of that relationship.
Relief Efforts After Tornado Show God In The Midst Of Life's Storms

The last column I wrote appeared in the Times-Union on July 19 — the same day an EF3 tornado went through the center of my hometown, Marshalltown, Iowa, causing massive destruction.
Doomsday Clock Marks Looming Apocalypse

The Doomsday Clock was conceived by University of Chicago scientists who had helped develop the first atomic weapons.
Pancreatic Diseases A Challenge To Diagnose And Treat

Even in the 21st century, when medical discoveries abound, the pancreas carries an aura of mystery.
Trump’s Words Don’t Match His Policies

Only President Donald Trump knows why he says what he does.
Missing Wheelbarrow
Dems Underestimate Putin
Real Enemies Of America
Even Today, Menstruation Shrouded In Shame, Secrecy

In some places women are considered polluted, even toxic, while on their periods, and an oppressive regime has evolved around this natural bodily function.
Shining A Light On Untold Stories

An outfit called Judicial Watch released a bunch of government reports July 10.
Lessons Learned In A Small Church Build Foundation For Life

I tell people that I had a “drug problem” when I was growing up — my parents drug me to church every time the doors were open.
Ticks Are Much More Dangerous Than We Thought

Residents in the Midwest are generally aware that ticks carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. But ticks are responsible for other fatal diseases as well.
Continued Insect Decline Could Be Harmful To Earth

Not too many years back, smeared tiny wings, legs and antennas made vision difficult during midsummer drives. Nowadays, a drive through northern New York, for example, yielded barely a blemish.
A Socialist Who Likes Tax Cuts?

Last week I wrote about the Democratic Socialist who won the U.S. Rep. primary in New York’s 14th District.

Here are a couple more observations.
North Buffalo Construction In Full Swing

From The Mayor

I’m sure you have noticed the North Buffalo Street project construction ramping up this summer.
Obedience Is Part Of Faith

While driving through town there is a sign that catches my attention. In the middle of a red heart on a white background are the words “Obey Jesus.”
The Act Of Breathing Keeps Our Bodies Pretty Busy

Several years ago a siege of bronchitis caused me to suffer with a severe cough that in turn resulted in sudden shortness of breath, gasping for air and likely my demise. Fortunately, a trip to the emergency room, a Medrol dosepack and two inhalers solved my problem. Since then I no longer take the simple act of breathing for granted.
Are Americans Ready For A Socialist?

It’s fun to watch the pendulum of politics swing.
NEWS VIEWS: Both Sides Behaving Badly

President Donald Trump reversed his position on zero tolerance immigration enforcement and separating families at the border.
Failures Don’t Have To Define You

A person may be down but they are never out of God’s grace and mercy.
Mosquitoes Most Deadly Enemy Of The Human Race

Mosquitoes are our most persistent and deadly enemy. They have killed great leaders, decimated armies and decided the fates of nations.
Evolutionary Flaws Leave Humans Less Than Perfect

Natural selection has resulted in a body form that should be fantastically robust, strong, resilient, clever and mostly successful in the great rat race of life. But it is not perfect.
Life’s Final Journey Nothing To Worry About

A recent issue of The Economist contained some startling information on the aging population.
Let’s Fire All Who Spew Vile

Roseanne Barr tried hard to apologize for tweeting some really vile stuff, but alas, it just wasn’t good enough.

For those who missed it, during a discussion on Twitter about former Obama aid Valerie Jarrett, Barr tweeted, “muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.”
Vietnam Vets The Best The U.S. Has To Offer

My life changed on April 29, 1975. I was a senior in high school at Marshalltown, Iowa, and we anxiously listened to the news coming from Vietnam.
Vietnam Vets The Best The U.S. Has To Offer

My life changed on April 29, 1975. I was a senior in high school at Marshalltown, Iowa, and we anxiously listened to the news coming from Vietnam.
Angier’s Writings Full Of Wordplay And Wit

Those of us interested in science and medical writing should be aware of a contemporary author, Natalie Angier.
Warburg Paved Way For Today’s Cancer Research

I have written about a number of outstanding doctors and research scientists, including James Parkinson, David Nachmansohn, Emory Rovenstine, John Sulston and others, but Otto Warburg may be the most important of them all.
The More Things Change ...

After the Parkland, Fla., shooting I wrote this:
Here’s Hoping Fairgrounds, Neighbors Can Settle

A group of homeowners has filed a complaint against the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds in an attempt to stop motorized racing.
Roundworms Facilitate Grasp Of Genetic Coding

A number of simple organisms are used as models for biological research, but perhaps the most unusual and likely the most important is the roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans.
Prayer United Warsaw Against The Klan

News spread around Warsaw in April 1999 that the Ku Klux Klan was going to have a rally at the Kosciusko County Courthouse on Saturday, May 8. A few leaders gathered to discuss how the city should respond.
Genetic Research?Owes Much To The Fruit Fly

Most everyone knows that fruit flies gravitate toward bananas and most overripe fruit and almost magically appear in kitchens around the world. Less well known is that this insect species has been used by thousands of scientists around the world for more than 100 years to study genetics and developmental biology.
It’s OK To Hurl Slurs If You’re A Lefty

Joy Reid is a liberal MSNBC host (I know, redundant) who hates Donald Trump.
Leprosy – Not Yet A Thing Of The Past

While leprosy is classified as rare, it still strikes some 200,000 people a year, including 200 in the United States.
Doc Bowen’s 100th A Time For Reflection

Dr. Otis R. Bowen was born Feb. 26, 1918, in Rochester.
Study Of Eels Leads To Nerve Gas Antidote

Nerve gases paralyze the nervous system and are the deadliest weapons used in chemical warfare. They are odorless, stable, easily dispersed and invisible, and have rapid effects when absorbed through the skin, swallowed or inhaled.
City Works To Make Government More Accessible Via Website

As the “go to site” for city information, our newly redesigned City of Warsaw website (www.warsaw.in.gov) has added another critically important public service feature.
Good Or Bad? It Depends

Facebook is being criticized these days for the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Women Unite Under Banner Of?Love To Serve Others

The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary began 50 years ago.