Opinion

The first calf of the season

GUEST COLUMN, Jackie Mundt, Kansas Farm Bureau

This season’s first calf arrived a little over four weeks early this year. For humans this may not seem that impossible, but calves born more than four weeks early rarely live past a day or two. The little guy weighed in at 35 pounds, half the size of a typical newborn.

Our mama cows have great instincts and we typically don’t interfere unless they need help. Our premature calf was born to a heifer who was monitored more closely for her first delivery. Since the baby was tiny, it was a quick and uncomplicated birth.

Calls for pluralism honorable, but actual intent is far from it

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

Barack Obama has a poor track record in getting people elected, and yet he continues to lecture America on what we should be doing to bring our nation together.

In principle, I agree, but in practice, what Obama is asking for is not cooperation at all.

In Obama’s speech Thursday to his own Democracy Forum, Obama pushed the concept of pluralism.

Tuna time

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

“He’s on vigil,” my husband, Peter, said, watching our cat, Felix.

Peter, who never had a cat before Felix, has become the resident cat expert. Of course, he has a sample size of one, so all his generalizations about cats are based on Felix.

Newest student club will ACE the parade

SAINTS PERSPECTIVE, SCCC President Brad Bennett

The Christmas parade will light up Kansas Ave. this weekend, bringing people together to celebrate the holiday as a community. While the Saints participate in nearly every parade that takes place in Liberal and many of our surrounding communities, this parade always brings memories to mind of the year my family came back to Liberal for good.

Over the years, Lindsay and I have judged floats, walked in the parade with our daughters, handed out candy, and taken a ride down main street in the college pickup. Sometimes there are goats to keep us company, and sometimes the Grinch shows up. It’s always special.

Recycling wind turbine blades: A farmer’s ingenuity

GUEST COLUMN, Todd Bowman, Center for Rural Affairs

Wind turbine blades play a crucial part in clean energy generation, but their disposal poses a growing challenge. Luckily, innovative solutions provide new ways to keep them out of landfills.

As the wind industry grows, there is an increasing need for replacement of older wind turbine blades with larger, more efficient ones. With a lifespan of approximately 25 years, the sheer number of blades and other components that will eventually need to be decommissioned will strain current repurposing and recycling capabilities, leading to increased landfill waste if new solutions are not developed.