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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.
Experimenting On Humans Controversial But Useful

In the Netherlands, according to a recent report, 17 healthy volunteers took part in a controversial experiment in which Schistosoma mansoni parasites were permitted to burrow into their arms.
What's So Good About Good Friday?

I always thought that “Good Friday” was an interesting concept. How could anything be good about a day over 2,000 years ago when an innocent man was crucified on a cross?
The Heart — A Symbol And Its Function

The symmetrical heart symbol is a far cry from the actual fist-sized mass of tissue we all carry inside of us.
Schools: Where Perception And Reality Collide

This past week youths all across America walked out of class in schools in an effort to prod adults all across America to do something about gun violence.

I think it’s a good thing to exercise your right to free speech and assembly.
Why Do I Find Poetry So Inscrutable?

Robert Frost, one of America's great poets, wrote: "Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words."
Bed Bugs – Creatures Of The Night

For those of us who travel frequently, there is another major hazard to consider — bed bugs! Once nearly eradicated, these blood suckers have made a rapid comeback in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.
Humans Final Straw In Passenger Pigeons’ Extinction

While I was not witness to the demise of passenger pigeons, my mother was, and so was anyone else alive in 1914.
Not Sure Laws Are The Answer

The national conversation has turned once again to guns following a mass shooting in Florida by a 19-year-old miscreant named Nikolas Cruz.
We Can’t Stop The Clock, But Maybe We Can Slow It Down

I have taken a keen interest in the process of aging and all that it entails the older I become. One reason may be the change in attitude regarding the perception of what it means to all of us.
Government: It’s All About The Money

President Donald Trump came out with his plan to rehabilitate the nation’s infrastructure last week.
Students Heading To College Can Control Their Own Financial Future

Not long ago, the prospect of living in Mom and Dad’s basement after college made students cringe.
Atwood Native A Pioneer In Field Of Anesthesiology

Emery Rovenstine was a dominant figure in anesthesiology in the United States between 1935 and 1960. His extraordinary research and writings had an enormous impact on the specialty and continue to this very day.
Things That Don’t Add Up

This week, a compendium of things that just seem a little bit off to me.
School Board Term Limits Questioned

Back in December, the Warsaw Community School Corporation Board of Trustees passed a resolution to extend board members’ term limits.
There’s Plenty Of Crooked To Go Around

When it comes to the Russian collusion investigation, I can say with certainty I have never seen anything quite like this before.
Math Can Be Surprising Useful, If We Don’t Let It Scare Us

Calculus was defined by humorist Dave Barry as “the branch of mathematics that is so scary it causes everybody to stop studying mathematics.”
Some Oddities In The News

Following are some things I think are odd.
Female Council Member

I have a small nitpick with the story that appeared in Friday's article regarding Sue Ann Mitchell's historic selection as council president.
As Human Vision Improved, Sense Of Smell Decreased

Dogs have a scent sensitivity many thousands of times greater than humans. In fact, this ability is one of the more curious facts in nature.

Humans, however, and other primates have relatively good senses of smell.
Tell-All Book Is Big News

Author Michael Wolff has made quite a name for himself with his Donald Trump-bashing tell-all, “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.”
Rep. Banks Calls For Support Of Iranian Protesters

Last week, citizens in Iran’s second largest city – Mashhad – took to the streets for what began as protests over Iran’s economy and the rising cost of basic goods such as milk and eggs. These frustrations illuminated the reality that Iranians desire more than basic goods. They thirst for basic freedoms.
Art Museum Proposal Faces Hurdles

In spring 2016 my wife, Mary, and I saw “Van Gogh’s Bedrooms” at The Art Institute of Chicago.
Mayor Thanks City Employees, Says They’re Dedicated Professionals

The bitter cold we have experienced recently kept many people indoors over the Christmas holiday.
Circadian Rhythms — Another Of Nature's Wonders

Scientists are increasingly finding new ways circadian rhythms affect us. For example, circadian rhythms can influence hormone release, eating habits, digestion, body temperature, sleep and even the sense of smell. Disruption in circadian rhythms can lead to the increased incidence of many diseases, including metabolic disease and cancer.
I'm Averse To Social Media

I am not averse to technology, but I am averse to social media.
Drug Ads Becoming More And More Annoying

If you hadn't noticed the amount of television time devoted to drug ads, then you may not be viewing as much as I do. It appears they consume more time than the actual program.
The 'W' In Christmas

Gleaned from the internet and author unknown, here is a little story for Christmas.
Salt — Widely Used But Often Misunderstood

Salt (sodium chloride) has been used for millennia and yet most people have no idea about its effect on health or its history.
Rep. Banks Urges Ditching Medical Device Tax By New Year's

Last November, the American people sent a message to Washington: Get things done. With Republican control of both chambers of Congress and the Oval Office, the time to enact pro-growth, pro-innovation policies that benefit American workers and businesses is now.
A?Cancer Journey Ends With A?Light At The End Of The Tunnel

It all began in August, 2016.

After a routine, annual mammography, followed by a 3-D ultrasound, a Breast Diagnostic Center (of Ft. Wayne) physician showed me an approximate 3 millimeter area of tissue that appeared to be cancer. It would require needle biopsy for confirmation.
Giraffes Unlike Any Other Creature In Many Ways

According to a recent article in the Smithsonian magazine, giraffes are disappearing from Africa before scientists can even begin to understand them.

Losing these magnificent animals to poachers would be a tragedy for a number of reasons in addition to the fact that people love watching them.
Early Childhood Provides A Foundation For Learning

Decades of research confirm the deep connection between high-quality early childhood education and subsequent academic success, and yet, as a society, we put early childhood initiatives at the bottom of our budgetary priority lists.
In Support Of Moving The Capital Of Israel To Jerusalem

We are approaching the season of the year when many of our thoughts will turn to Jerusalem.
Politicians Aren’t Honest About Taxes

If you are looking for a pure example of demagoguery, look no further than the debate over the tax bill.
Candidate Says Ending Net Neutrality Regulation Is A?Bad Idea

Small business owners, how do you feel about your website being blocked or slowed because bigger companies are paying internet providers more than you are?
Local 7th-Graders To Attend Commemoration At Pearl Harbor

Planes appeared. Bombs fell. Ships sank.

Men died.

Dec. 7, 1941.
Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Errors, Has Health Benefits

Mindfulness is awareness, cultivated by paying attention in a sustained and particular way; on purpose, in the present moment and nonjudgmentally. It is one of many forms of meditation.
Event Aimed At Opioid Crisis Planned Dec. 11

There’s an important community event scheduled for Dec. 11. It’s billed as a community call to action with regard to the opioid crisis.
Several Public Works Projects Slated for 2018

With 2018 just around the corner, I thought it might be good to spend a little time discussing a variety of public projects that are slated to commence next year.
What Matters These Days?

This sexual harassment thing is spinning out of control, isn’t it?
My, How Times Have Changed

It’s easy to see that we’re living in different times.
Spanish Flu — May It Never Return

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that seasonal influenza is responsible for more than 20,000 deaths annually.

While 20,000 deaths is something to be alarmed about, it pales in comparison to those who died in the great Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918-19.
Brazile’s Rant And More Tragic Gunfire

Donna Brazile’s new tell-all book was all the rave this week.