Breaking News

Local News

City issues $4.3M in bonds for Corridor Plaza

When a developer announced plans to turn the stagnant Crossroads Mall into a new multiuse area of stores, restaurants, a hotel and outdoor gathering spaces, the Fort Dodge city government offered financial help. On Monday, the City Council moved to meet its obligation to Crossroads Plaza Development by approving a bond issue that will be paid off with property taxes generated at the old mall site. In 2020, when the Ankeny firm purchased the mall property, the City Council pledged $18.2 million to reimburse the company for property acquisition, demolition and infrastructure ...

Investing in Calhoun County

TWIN LAKES — More than 150 guests gathered in the Moore family cornfield near Twin Lakes on Friday for Leadership Calhoun presents Cuisine in the Corn, a sold-out evening celebrating local food, agriculture, leadership and the spirit of Calhoun County. The event was the community service ...

FD school board OKs $6.4 million amendment

By KADIN LUHMANN The Fort Dodge Community School District Board unanimously approved a $6.4 million amendment to its construction agreement with Jensen Builders Ltd. for additional renovations at Fort Dodge Senior High Monday. Zach Thompson, ISG Architects of Des Moines project manager for the high school, said Jensen Builders Ltd., of Fort Dodge, is working under a budget just shy of $6 million. “We went through some pretty heavy value engineering from the starting of a storm shelter to having a walking track that brings it all the way down to where we're at now,” Thompson ...

Baby blues

By HANS MADSEN ALGONA — There really aren’t that many building projects, home-grown root vegetables or animals that can’t be entered in one of the classes at the Kossuth County Fair. This year, babies were added to that list. Caroline Van Dine, of Wesley, entered her daughter ...

Preserving Iowa’s heritage

By Kadin Luhmann The history of Iowa barns and the restoration of old barns was presented Saturday at the Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center. More than a dozen people gathered to learn some “Barnology 101” as part of Webster County Conservation’s monthly “Coffee and ...

Dayton landmark gets a second act

By Kelli Bloomquist DAYTON — A downtown building that has sat empty for years is headed for restoration after its owner secured a Community Catalyst grant to help rehabilitate the historic opera house at 39 S. Main St. The building, known to most of Dayton as the former Iron Saddle, has ...