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Editorial

Iowa Sales Tax Holiday starts Friday

Area families are already beginning to think about the items that will be needed to send young people back to school properly equipped and looking good. According to the National Retail Federation, families with children in school will spend about $38.8 billion nationwide on back-to-school clothing and supplies. Surveys by the federation have shown that clothing and shoes account for about half of a family’s back-to-school spending. Finding bargains is part of the fun of back-to-school shopping every year. Clothing and shoes are among the necessities that will be on just about ...

Work of many led to softball tourney’s success

The 2025 Girls State Softball Tournament did not end exactly the way the St. Edmond Gaels and their fans had hoped it would, but it still showcased our community and its outstanding sports complex. The fact that Fort Dodge has hosted the tournament for more than 50 years is a tribute to the work and the partnerships created by essentially a generation’s worth of local leaders. These are leaders who have seen the value in both having a world-class facility in Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex, and maintaining a close relationship with the Iowa High School Girls Athletic ...

Lunch on Central is returning

There will be some good eating during a picnic to be held in the 700 block of Central Avenue Friday. We are, of course, referring to Lunch on Central which will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the alley between The Messenger building and the Webster County Courthouse in the 700 block of Central Avenue. The menu will include beef brisket, pasta salad, chips and bottled water, all for $8. There will be desserts available for sale separately. Lunch on Central is an activity of Main Street Fort Dodge. It uses food as a way to help people get familiar with the downtown, the businesses ...

State softball returns to Fort Dodge

One of summer’s most enjoyable events gets underway today. The Girls State Softball Tournament will be the highlight of the season for the teams that made it to state-level competition, including the St. Edmond Gaels. That hometown squad posted a 24-10 record and is making its third straight appearance in the tournament. But we must admit that all the teams are outstanding. Making it to this final event of the season means that none will have any reason for more than a brief lament, no matter what their final standing. Making it to state is itself an accomplishment that marks a ...

Golden Day Adult Day provides vital service

Everyone needs a place close to home that they can escape to even for a few hours to have some fun and enjoy some good company just to break the usual routine. But for our friends and neighbors who have disabilities, finding that place can be tough. But some have found it thanks to a group of parents and volunteers who created Golden Day Adult Day in Fort Dodge. Three days a week, it offers a full day of activities for disabled folks who might otherwise just sit at home.Those activities include a book club, games, crafts, learning and discussion time, and food. Having such a program ...

Fruit, vegetable growers deserve recognition

There’s more than corn and soybeans growing in Iowa’s rich soil. Iowa’s farmers grow staggering amounts of corn and soybeans, so it makes sense that those crops are the first ones many people associate with the state’s farms. But there is also a surprising amount of fruits and vegetables grown in Iowa. Fruits and vegetables raised by the state’s professional horticulture industry contribute an estimated $48 million to the state’s economy every year. According to a recent statewide survey, the top fruit and vegetable crops in Iowa are tomatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers, green ...