A View of the Valley

by Linda Schwanke Among the rotten things circulating on social media was a vicious rumor going around the Valley last week that wasn’t true. I’m not going to repeat it because that would only feed the frenzy. Once started it spread like wildfire because the people repeating the rumor decided not to check whether or not it was true (I did) and just go ahead and repeat it. I can only image, like all untrue things repeated on social media, the anguish it caused. Take time to actually verify whether or not something is true before repeating something. Better yet don’t repeat things at all.  We need to be better than this, people, we really do. By and large the Valley is filled with good people. Don’t make us smaller and petty. Our world does not need that. Be careful what you say. Be careful what you do. Grow up and act like adults are supposed to act.  As adults, we need to act responsibly and in the best interests of everyone.  Our communities are in the process of nominating responsible adults for local government positions: trustees, village presidents, town chairs, supervisors, clerks, treasurers and school board representatives. This is one of the things that real adults do. They step up and take office to help make the place we live the best it can be. I’m in the process of writing up my annual list of questions for the candidates running for office. Last year’s list of questions was: Please provide your name, the office you are running for, a photograph of yourself and a brief biography including information which you feel qualifies you for this office. Why are you are interested in running for office? What are the most critical issues facing the residents of your community and how do you propose to respond to them? What changes, if any, do you intend to prioritize?  How do you balance the need for services with the burden paying for those services puts on taxpayers? Each year, the questions are similar but different. This year, in light of the fact that our lives have been turned upside down by so very many things, I’d like you to help me out. What questions do you have for the people who will run local government offices? Do you want to know what their values are? Do you want to know how they feel about the pandemic? The economy? The environment? Their plans for the future? What do you value in an elected official?  You can call me, text me, email me or write me a letter. My contact information is below but I’ll print it here, too: my number is 574-3159, my email is homenewseditor@newspubinc.com and the postal address is Home News, P.O. Box 39, Spring Green WI 53588. Do whatever is easiest for you. The Constitution of the United States of American, written by men, and later added to by women and other men, begins: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” And, in the memorable phrase of President Abraham Lincoln, “democracy is government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Both apply to all of us. All of us. We are the people. And the people we elect, from the smallest municipality to our entire country, as we have seen demonstrated so forcibly recently, matters. Ask questions. Be part of the grown up world. Work together to be the best that we can be. Stay in touch. My number is 574-3159. Email me at homenewseditor@newspubinc.com or write to me at the Home News, P.O. Box 39, Spring Green WI 53588.  The news deadline is 12 noon on Mondays.  Visit our website at homenewsrv.com Get in touch with Gwen for sports or features at homenewssports@newspubinc.com. If you need a display ad, Dave Pronold can be reached at homenewssales@newspubinc.com or by calling him on his cell at 588-4777. Display ads, or ads that are in boxes, are due by 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. The classified ad deadline is noon Thursdays the week prior to publication for both the Buyer’s Guide and Home News. Classified rates are $13 for the first 10 words, then 30¢ per word for each additional word. Call (608) 767-3655 or email classifieds@newspubinc.com  Legal notices are due by 2 p.m. on Fridays, email them to legals@newspubinc.com Call the NewsPub central office at (608) 767-3655 for subscriptions and all other information Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, although afternoon hours can vary. Closed Fridays.