Breaking News

Editorial

Group marks 125 years of study, service and friendship

An unfortunate fact of recent years is that membership in civic groups, clubs and even churches is dwindling. Some of those organizations have even folded due to a lack of members. Something remarkable happened in Fort Dodge recently which defies that trend. The Ingleside Club celebrated 125 years of study, service to the community and friendship among the generations of women who have been members. The club was established in 1901. Its name comes from the word for a nook next to a fireplace, which is a good place to read. “The women who started this were amazing women,” ...

October is National Pork Month

October has been designated National Pork Month. That makes it an especially good time to reflect on the importance of the pork industry to this state. It’s unlikely that anyone who lives in Iowa does not already know that pork production contributes mightily to the economic vitality of the Hawkeye State. It may come as a surprise, however, that hogs raised in Iowa account for more than 30 percent of U.S. hog production. Iowa ranks as the nation’s top hog-producing state. It’s also the top state for pork exports. According to the Iowa Pork Producers Association: • Exports ...

Speedier e-bikes, scooters should prompt greater road awareness

Both kids and grownups have been riding bikes throughout Fort Dodge for decades. And while scooters faded from the scene for awhile, they are enjoying a resurgence of popularity with young people today. We view people traveling on bikes and scooters as a good thing. It beats driving everywhere in this age of $4-a-gallon gas. And getting outside is good for physical and mental health. But something has changed. A growing number of the bikes and scooters have electric motors in them. That means they are going faster than any bike or scooter powered by human strength alone. Bicycles ...

Voting requires research

For the last year, Iowans have been immersed in numerous political campaigns for Congress, the governor's office, the state legislature and various county offices. A lot of people may feel like they have been bombarded by non-stop political ads. With the general election less than 30 days away, the campaigning will shift into what easily could be described as maximum overdrive. In a democracy, that is to be expected. Every candidate for every office wants to get their message out and take a few jabs at their opponents. As fed up as folks may get with all of this campaigning they may ...

Support Coats for Kids this fall

It’s hard to imagine facing an Iowa winter without a warm coat. Sadly, some area kids could be confronted with just that prospect if their families are facing a challenging economic situation. Fortunately, however, through the combined efforts of Fort Dodge Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge, many of these young folks will have warm coats and other winter wear as the colder, wintry days arrive. This joint project — called Coats for Kids — accepts donations of new and gently used winter coats, along with hats, scarves, mittens and snow boots. ...

4-H is about helping youths achieve

National 4-H Week, which begins Sunday and concludes Saturday, is a good time to celebrate the enormous contributions 4-H makes to our community and nation. It's hard to imagine anyone in Iowa who doesn't know a bit about 4-H, but this week is an appropriate occasion to reflect on the important contribution this organization makes by helping young people develop skills and values that will serve them well for a lifetime. I4-H got its start in Iowa in 1901. Today it is the largest youth-development program in the state. About one-quarter of the state's young folks are involved in 4-H. ...