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Editorial

Pay It Forward Friday to honor Henderson’s legacy

The late Rev. Al Henderson had a habit of wrapping up conversations by saying, "Carry on." Residents of Fort Dodge and Webster County are being asked to spend Friday carrying on Henderson's legacy of support and compassion on what has been named Pay It Forward Friday. Doing so will not require some big elaborate action, according to organizers of the event. Small gestures of kindness can make a huge difference, also. Henderson, who was killed on Oct. 2, 2019 — exactly one year before the inaugural Pay It Forward Friday — was the pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. ...

Soybeans are big business in Iowa

Nobody knows exactly how long humans have cultivated the soybean, but agricultural historians seem quite certain its domestication as a crop in China dates back three millennia. There are actually Chinese records documenting soybean growth as far back as the 11th century. There is some disagreement about who first introduced soybeans into North America, but researchers seem to agree that by the 1760s, soybean seed had reached Georgia. Whatever the origin, few would dispute that in the 21st century, soybean cultivation is important to the world as a food source and a great deal more. ...

Scholarship honors the memory of Landon Smith

Area residents will soon have the opportunity to enjoy good food and live music as a way to support the training of the next generation of local electricians. At the root of the effort is the remarkable grit of a Fort Dodge woman determined to see that something good would come out of the tragic death of her son. That woman is Donna Smith. Her son, Landon Smith, was an electrical technologies student at Iowa Central Community College when he died in a 2020 motorcycle crash. At the time of his death, the COVID pandemic was disrupting just about every aspect of life. One result was ...

Area residents don’t have to look far for fall fun

The days are now noticeably shorter. And the temperature seems to dip just a little bit lower every night. Those are sure signs that fall is here. The long lazy days of summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean there are no more chances for fun outside. And that fun can be found close to Fort Dodge, which is an added bonus with gasoline prices through the roof and unlikely to come down anytime soon. In the Fort Dodge area, there are some remarkable opportunities for families to enjoy this fall. There are long running festivals that are returning this year with fun, food and of ...

Urban deer hunt begins in Fort Dodge on private lands

A deer hunting season is getting underway in Fort Dodge. It starts today and continues through Jan. 10, 2027. Chances are good that many people will have no indication that it is happening. The fact that the hunting won't be obvious to everyone in town is a good thing. We hope it stays that way because that means the hunt is being conducted flawlessly by expert archers. The hunt will be conducted on privately owned land that meets size requirements. Most of that property is on the northern, eastern and western edges of the city. The decision to allow what is called an urban ...

One man’s trauma spurs effort to help others

Most people take their arms and legs for granted. They use them every day to do anything they want to do. But what would happen if suddenly, an arm or a leg wasn’t there? What if a person had to go on without an arm or a leg that was lost to disease or some massive injury? John Thompson, of Fort Dodge, found out what would happen when, about five years ago, his right leg below the knee had to be amputated due to complications of diabetes. After he got out of the hospital, he found there wasn’t a lot of support available for amputees. He used his own willpower and physical ...