Opinion

     Last month was “Brain Awareness Month” and the Monticello community did a fabulous job of “Painting the Town Purple” to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease; supporting the Alzheimer’s Association campaign “The Longest Day” to end Alzheimer’s.

     As we all know, the brain changes as we age. Mental decline is common and one of the most feared consequences of aging. The good news is there are things you can do today to keep your brain sharp and maintain healthy brain functioning as you age.

     In May of 2017, my dad got a job in Oregon. The whole family was ecstatic about it. Oregon is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the world, with forests, ocean, mountains, and of course, the City of Portland. About a month later, my family took a trip to see him. It didn’t take too long before our visions were turned into reality.

     Everyone thinks of Oregon entirely as a lush piece of land with trees and waterfalls. What most people don’t know is while part of the state has all those things, the other part is desert.

To the Editor,

     I have worked at Jones Regional Medical Center for the past 14½ years. During that time, I have had the privilege of being involved in building a new hospital, an expansion project and seeing healthcare in our community go from the perceived “band aid” station to a pillar in our entire Jones County area community. It is now the first stop for many to receive healthcare and a great source of community pride!

     Our rural communities have rich histories, natural beauty and hard-working people. Most rural residents love where they live and want to stay put. Many others would like to relocate and enjoy the small-town Iowa lifestyle.