I was born in a small town and I live in a small town. Probably die in a small town, that’s probably where they’ll bury me.
These are the lyrics that John Mellencamp sings in his hit song Small Town and I completely agree with him.
I currently live and was raised in the small town of Grafton, Iowa.  Having a population of nearly 300, Grafton is located about 20 miles north of Mason City.
During my life, I have had the opportunity to live in the country (two miles from town) and also smack-dab in the middle of the small community of Grafton.
Country living is wonderful.  I can feel free to do almost anything my heart desires without having to worry about disturbing others and I have the reassurance of knowing that there is a grocery store only two miles from home.
Although I enjoy calling the country my home, I find living in a small town to be more satisfying.  Living in town not only requires less mowing time than in the country, but it also provides me with a sense of security because there’s almost always people around town.
Living in a small community also allows me to get to know everyone in town because, in a small town, everyone really is neighbors.  Being in a small community with my family and close neighbors gives me a feeling of assurance to know that if something goes wrong, there will always be a neighbor close by to lend a helping hand.
I’m sure that some of you might be thinking that small town living offers a person nothing to do.  I realize that small towns don’t appeal to everyone, but I find it amusing when I hear others comment that all small towns have to offer are fields of corn.
For example, the small town that I call home offers numerous activites to participate in all year long.  Like most other small communities, Grafton has a town celebration during the summer that attracts thousands of visitors, even some from large cities. 
My community also has two parks, a small pool, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a softball diamond, an ice skating rink during the winter months, a grocery store, two restaurants, a library and other attractions too numerous to mention.
With all of these attractions, not to mention all of the backyard barbecues, and Mason City a mere 20 minutes away, I cannot image living anywhere but in a small town.
For those of you who are searching for a place to relocate in the future, I highly recommend giving small town living a try.  After all, you might just develop some new interests, make some new friends and find a place where you want to live for the rest of your life.

We need four hugs a day for survival.  We need eight hugs a day for maintenance.  We need twelve hugs a day for growth. 
  — Virgina Satir
It’s a cure for worry, stress, anger, broken hearts and gloomy spirts, yet it cannot be found in any bottle, pill or potion. 
This miracle drug is  called the hug.
But the hug I’m referring to wasn’t invented by Hershey’s.  No, not a chocolate candy wrapped in foil, but two arms wrapped around each other.
And unlike the chocolate by the same name, a true hug is fat-free, calorie-free and all-natural.
It has no consideration for diet, condition, or age.  Everyone from newborn babies to the elderly can benefit from the expression of friendship, love, pride, encouragement or appreciation that is conveyed through hugging. 
However, all hugs aren’t created equal.  Hugs can come in many forms, from big bear hugs to spontaneous group hugs to the much more intimate embrace. 
 “I love you,” “I care about you,” “I’ve missed you,” “I appreciate you,” “I believe in you,” or “I understand what you’re going through,” can be said without words through hugs. 
No wrapping paper needed, each hug is a gift you can give and receive simultaneously.
Then there are the hugs that can’t be returned, such as those given to non-human forms.  In my room is a poster that reads “How to Be Really Alive.”  One of the suggestions listed to lead a fulfilling life is to hug trees.  Hugging trees, I’ve heard, brings about a feeling of exhiliration.  After all, trees cannot turn you away. 
Hugs can be given through kind words, e-mail messages and thoughtful deeds, but the best hugs involve two people, four arms, and a dose of love. 
It’s been medically proven that the psyche has a large role in physical illness.  Since hugging relieves stress, a hug a day can keep the doctor and the blues away. 
Have you had your daily dosage?

Almost every time I think of cancer, I think of a scene from St. Elmo’s Fire,  when Wendy (Mare Winningham) takes Billy (Rob Lowe) home for supper with her parents.  Before everyone sits down to eat, Wendy pulls Billy aside and explains that her mother finds a few words too horrible to say, so she whispers them. 
“Did you hear about Betty Rothberg?” the mother said, lowering her voice to a whisper, “Cancer.” 
Of course the really funny part is when one of Wendy’s sisters asks Billy where he and Wendy met, and he whispers, “Prison.”
However, as I watched that movie again, I noticed that almost all the main characters smoke at one time or another.  Smoking could be  just  a fad from the 80s, but walking from class to class, I see many NIACC students lighting up today.
I’m not trying to ban anyone from smoking because I know it’s his or her choice and lungs.  Yet, is every smoker aware of the risks he or she is inhaling?
A long life of smoking can lead to many medical problems, ranging from that sexy smoker’s cough to lung cancer.
I know that you’re not going to get sick from smoking because you’re going to beat the odds and live as long as George Burns.  Or will you?
Did you know that there are over 4,000 different chemicals in cigarette smoke?
According to the Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign, lung cancer leads in cancer deaths in the United States more than breast, prostate, and colon/rectal cancer combined.  Also, 87 percent of lung cancer cases are smoking related. 
According to the American Lung Association (ALA), male smokers are 22 percent more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers while women are 12 percent more likely.  In the last few years, more women have developed lung cancer than men.
For the the non-smokers, it’s estimated a 16 percent increase risk for spouses of smokers, and 17 percent increase in a smoking work environment.
But there is good news out there, as the ALA said that lung cancer occurs most often in people over 50, who have a long smoking history.  So if you don’t feel like kicking the habit, you might have about 30 good years left. 
I know that sounds like a lot now, but knowing from personal experience my grandpa died from smoking related diseases just after my mom graduated from high school. 
My grandpa never got the chance to see my mom graduate from college, walk her down the aisle for her wedding or meet my brother, sister and myself.
Life is full of choices; every day we chose to do things that will influnce our future, whether it be getting up in the morning or not.
It was my grandpa’s choice to smoke, but on the same hand he didn’t know the risks. 
Now I understand the risks, and everyone knows why I made the choice not to smoke.
I’m all for pro-choice because  this is your life and no one can tell you how to live it.  But are you willing to learn to live with your choices? 
St Elmo’s Fire is definitely a care free movie about seven people coming to age.  Throughout the movie I find myself laughing at the nature of people, and at the same time crying.

Editorial Board: Amy Hackbart, Editor; Jennifer Litterer, Assistant Editor; Seth Ramaeker, Advertising Manager; Charles Emerick, Sports Editor; Jana McBride, News Editor; Laura Ostrander, Opinion Editor; Jana McBride, Feature Editor; Laura Ostrander, Entertainment Editor; Darren Ohl, Photo Editor.

Staff: Carah  Barnes, Nicole Blaser, Chris Bowe, Daisy Bram, Nicole Chenoweth, Sadie Cutler, Jamie Dietrich, Tom Fagerholm, Michael Foster, Chris Fraker, Joshua Frayne, Jill Gray, Nicole Gretillat, Brooke Harriman, Travis Hirsch, Evar Johnson, Emily Kammrad, Nichole Glaser, April Lien, Jessie Lockwood, Kristin Lura, Corey Marquardt, Natalie Meyer, Melissa Miller, Jake Peterson, Jennifer Schlicher, Jessica Scholorholtz, Nathan Sills, LaShonda Small, Tess Tjaden, Molly Trenary, Jeremy True, Justin Ullman, Justin VanLaere, Crystal Weiss.
Adviser: Paul Peterson

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