With National Park Week being celebrated April 21-29, I was excited to see the Rock County Board pass a resolution asking Congress to address the backlog of maintenance needs in our national parks. The county board joins more than 160 gateway cities and towns across America that have taken s…

A Wednesday Sound Off caller claimed an April 6 article in Science magazine, starting on page 58, promised the end of our need to be concerned about CO2-triggered global warming because "... the amount of nitrogen in our atmosphere is much greater than was previously believed, and this nitro…

Marine biologist Rachel Carson, best known for her book ”Silent Spring,” wrote, “The real wealth of the Nation lies in the resources of the earth--soil, water, forests, minerals, and wildlife… Their administration is not properly, and cannot be, a matter of politics.”

I would like to bring to attention the use of drug court programs given to individuals that have substance abuse problems and raise awareness needed to expand drug court, so that more individuals can get help from it. The Rock County Drug Court program was started in 2007 and was designed to…

When will our nation's leaders come to the understanding that the U.S. should not act as the primary and, in most cases, unilateral arbiter of foreign nations' internal conflict. Syria is a prime example! Disgust and humanitarian concern over genocide in a foreign country is certainly justified.

Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra once said, "If you've passed the point of no return, turn back!" That's bad advice for an airline pilot, but for Paul Ryan it was reality.

As a soon-to-be graduate with a degree in social work, the importance of advocacy and being politically involved, both locally and nationally, is becoming abundantly clear to me. I was given an opportunity to let my voice be heard, and it was an experience I’ll always be thankful for.

Your three-part series on the referee shortage and Tuesday editorial, "Kick out parents who taunt refs," were excellent and appreciated. I've been sitting in gyms for more than 40 years, and the issues you addressed are exactly what is happening.

My sympathies to the newspaper industry for the recently imposed tariff on Canadian newsprint adding to costs.

The opioid epidemic--prescription and illicit--is the silent killer that is racking up casualties across every demographic.

Our nation is beginning to understand that the largest step we can take toward ending violence in our schools is to address the mental health needs of our students. Not all families have access to mental health care for a variety of reasons. Most students would need to get their parents to m…

As I understood it, the Delavan-Darien School District referendum was to upgrade the football field and certain upgrades to certain areas of the school. I don't understand after the defeat that the school system has said it may have to let up to 22 teachers go. Makes no sense.

We need a change in Madison this year. It's time for a new governor.

Each year, Wisconsin law requires property assessors throughout the state to estimate the value of taxable property. The estimates, called assessments, are used in property tax calculations. Unlike many local government services, there is nothing heroic or exciting about the property assessm…

I would like to commend art teacher Christine Fredricks for having the foresight to give a short, meaningful explanation (Page 5A, Tuesday) of mandala art along with the artwork of her student, Caitlyn Dickman. This type of information, along with the process Caitlyn used, really adds intere…

Paul Ryan will not seek re-election! Wow. I, for one, have felt the embarrassment and shame as a resident of Janesville being ridiculed by friends on our choice of congressman. It wasn't so bad at the beginning of the "Trump era." He didn't endorse Donald Trump at first. But once Trump was e…

I truly enjoyed Sports Editor Eric Schmoldt’s series on the subject of local sports officials (and lack there of). I officiated hockey for nearly three decades at youth, high school, small college and semi-professional levels. The fan abuse existed but not in a manner as described in the articles.

From one liberal to the “50 Miles More” marchers, something is missing. On April 3, Nasim Najafi Aghdam opened fire at YouTube, injuring three people before committing suicide because she disapproved of the company’s policies. Aghdam’s state highlights a common link: mental illness. Students…

I would like to say "thank you" to the man behind me who laid down $1 bills to complete my medicine payment to the clerk at Walgreens on West Court Street on Friday as I counted out my payment for a prescription. I ran short of change before I finished paying the bill and began to get a chec…

There is so much negative in the world and this country today. How to stop it? To begin with, we need new rules like not allowing kids who are born here to illegal parents to “automatically” become U.S. citizens. That has to stop. I found out no politicians want to tackle this, but people ke…

Gazette reporter Jim Dayton's Wednesday article ("Newcomers McKenna, Martin set to join Milton School Board," Page 1A), where he labeled Milton School Board member Brian Kvapil as "polarizing," shows Mr. Dayton's glaring lack in vocabulary and comprehension. If a public servant such as a boa…

Mental health reforms should be part of students’ demands

I would highly recommend Capt. Jude Maurer for the position of Rock County sheriff. Not only does Jude have high leadership qualities, his character speaks volumes. Jude has high standards of honesty, integrity, morals and fairness. I've known Jude for more than 40 years as he grew up with m…

“Fake news” is in the news again. P. T. Barnum explained fake news with his supposed quote, "There's a sucker born every minute."

Wisconsin governor candidate Mike McCabe says we should legalize marijuana and tax the sales from licensed dispensaries. This would raise about $200 million a year for Wisconsin rather than for black market profiteers. Colorado and Washington are already doing this.

On March 5, Oak Creek residents woke up to black dust covering their homes, cars and the neighborhood playground. Many already knew that the culprit was the coal-fired power plant less than a mile south. Three days later, independent testing done by Aspen Consulting confirmed this assumption…

Nationally, April is recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Although the connection may not seem obvious, child abuse is a major contributing factor to opioid and heroin abuse. In one study, it was found that for women, 78 percent of injected drug use can be attributed to adverse childh…

What is wrong with the Republican Party? We need a strong two-party system, yet the current leadership seems intent on self-destruction. Our president has declared war once more on the FBI and now the Department of Veterans Affairs, with the tacit approval of the Republican Party. (Silence i…

In 1999, there occurred the school shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado. Greg Toppo, journalist for the USA Today, has written about "Generation Columbine," which knows no world without school shootings.

Guns do kill. Cars can kill, bombs kill, and knives can kill people. These are not the problem. It's the person behind the object.

As I read The Gazette's "endorsement" editorial in Sunday morning's paper, I see that you recommended that the Janesville City Council incumbents retain their positions. That's OK. You are entitled to your opinion. The problem I had was the reason you gave for not supporting two of the chall…

With Rock County Sheriff Bob Spoden's recent decision to retire, Rock County will need a strong leader in the sheriff's office.

I'm writing to encourage everyone to be aware of a bill by state Rep. Christine Sinicki giving patients the right to have an operation video-recorded and preserved for their use. Such a right should enjoy wide support. However, a state hospital association is reportedly in opposition. Medica…

On April 3, Wisconsin voters will be asked whether to eliminate the state treasurer’s position. If this referendum passes, it will be a huge mistake for the state of Wisconsin. The state treasurer serves as a fiscal watchdog for the citizens of Wisconsin. This position also serves as an impo…

Jim Naughton’s March 24 letter concerning the Milton School District was very confusing and misleading. He spends three paragraphs claiming that the “referendum” money had been moved around in a non-transparent way. There is no referendum money because none of the recent building referendums…

Over the last year or so, I have been following what has been going on with the number of school referendums purposed for school repairs to the Milton School District through a friend from work and the news media coverage. I have lived in Wisconsin all my life and have never seen people act …

Jason Davis has much to offer Janesville. He has a passion for helping those in need and has done so by creating an organization that helps students receive school supplies, personal items and clothing. It is called the Rock County Cares Committee. This committee is making a difference in th…

The spring elections next week feature a race for Supreme Court justice. It is hard for citizens to know which candidate is best for the job. But Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce has again picked a candidate, and instead of supporting his candidacy, they attack his opponent, Judge Rebe…

A black cloud hangs over Wisconsin as it's citizens step out to vote on April 3. Disguised as a budget cut is a plan to eliminate the state treasurer position. Why would we be the only state without a treasurer?

When you vote this April 3 for the job of state Supreme Court justice, consider that it is supposed to be a nonpartisan position. Are you aware that the Republican Party of Wisconsin has given Michael Screnock at least $142,000? Millions more are expected to pour in by election day. In addit…

I am urging voters in the Beloit Turner School District to vote "yes" April 3 for the school facilities referendum.

The remains of a missing-in-action Korean War veteran from Lancaster, Wisconsin, are finally coming home to be laid to rest. This young man should be here April 23, according to a WKOW news report. As a veteran, I believe the whole state of Wisconsin should honor him home.

Re-elect Jim Stevens for town of Beloit supervisor. Jim has continuously worked hard for the town of Beloit and will continue to do so. He is dedicated to the township, rarely missing a meeting and holding seats on numerous committees for the town. He’s not a snowbird leaving in the winter f…

Supreme Court candidate Rebecca Dallet went to California to add to the out-of-state special interest money she has been raising for her campaign. While pandering to the hard left, she made it obvious she will legislate from the bench to change laws she doesn’t like, regardless of their cons…

When I moved to Wisconsin to attend college in 2011, I never imagined I would stick around post-graduation. So it was purely by gracious luck that I stumbled upon Beloit’s young professionals group, then in its infant stages in 2015. It has turned into a driving reason behind my desire to li…

I am writing to urge your readers to join me in voting for Kelly Davis for the Whitewater School Board on April 3. Kelly is a mother of three elementary school children who cares deeply about her community. I first met Kelly eight years ago as our daughters became friends in preschool. I kne…

It is disappointing to see the need for political advantage trumps the rights of voters to be represented. Gov. Scott Walker has already promised to sign any legislation that the Senate and Assembly will send him to avoid a special election made necessary by moving Assembly members into his …

The Economist magazine for Feb. 17 describes China’s technology industry as “42 percent as powerful as America’s” but “catching up fast.” Now the cover article of the March/April issue of Wired magazine places China as “tech’s dominant superpower.”

If you’ve never seen a Jim Tropp production, you’re in luck! "Beauty and the Beast," in all its romantic glory, opens at Parker High School on April 13 and runs through April 22. Do not expect a generic high school play with student actors and cardboard scenery. Expect an extravaganza replet…

Milton School District Administrator Tim Schigur made the statement that the school board's presentations about the high school pool’s deficiencies were intended to be transparent rather than used as scare tactics.