By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher Poor Emilie. This week the sad-faced blonde caught my attention on a CNN commercial that depicts her grim tale of losing her health insurance after the Affordable Care Act (better known as Obamacare) took effect. I admit that I...
Rural residents are trapped in propane hell
By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher I dreamed last night that I was surrounded by cords and cords of dry, split firewood stretching as far as the eye could see while I gaily tossed a few pieces in the fire box and grinned in satisfaction as the flames roared to...
Small-town communities have advantage of knowing their communities
By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher If you thought Amazon's idea of delivering packages with mini-drones was kind of creepy, then you're going to love its latest patent: it's called "anticipatory shipping." In a delicious bit of irony, Amazon filed for the patent...
Proposed state law bad for the worker
By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher If you feel like things are going downhill for the common person, then welcome to the Wisconsin Legislature. In its latest scheme to return us to the 19th century, a bill is now circulating to allow retail and manufacturing...
2013: A recap
By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher Now you see it, now you don't. 2013 has come and gone, and if you are over 50, you may be thinking, "How in the heck did we get here?" And if you are like me - so old you can't recall what happened 10 minutes ago, not to mention...
The late Pete Hutchens embodied quiet charity
By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher "Grip and grin" photos are what we in the media cynically refer to as the check-passing photos in which good deeds are recognized. There is no room for photographic creativity. One looks the same as the other, with only the...
Christmas is time to return to Whoville
By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher Many of us have Christmas traditions. Perhaps it is an ornament that evokes special memories, a sweet treat we whip up only for the holidays, or the care we take in choosing just the right Christmas card. As for me, I can't...
Are you ready for drone delivery?
By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher The arrival of the Brown Santa (the UPS man) with a Christmas package reminded me that his cheerful face might one day be replaced by a drone swooping down to the office and depositing my orders. In case you missed it, Amazon...
Fast-food workers deserve better
By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher It's amazing how the oddest events can make your day. On Wednesday I pulled through the drive-up window at Burger King in Sparta, and the young woman handed me a white envelope with the words "nice lady's change" written on it....
Veterans deserve more than platitudes
By KAREN PARKER | County Line Publisher Oops: That tricky English language always sets booby traps. Readers of last week's column might have caught the reference to our "546 subscribers." That should have been " our 546 zip code subscribers." I'm not sure I would drag...
