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Editorial

Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight is back

When a 737 roars into the sky above Fort Dodge Regional Airport just as the sun begins to brighten the horizon this morning, one of the most unique and heartfelt tributes to area veterans will be back in action. There will be 122 veterans aboard that plane. Five of them served in the Korean War, 107 served during the Vietnam War era and 10 served in peacetime. They will all be going to Washington, D.C., for free to see the nation’s war memorials. The trip will be the 25th one conducted by the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight. The first took place in 2010. Since then, about 3,500 ...

It’s time to honor emergency medical service providers

In Webster County and all across America, teams of dedicated professionals stand ready to render medical assistance in emergencies. For some this is their career. For many others, it is a volunteer undertaking that is performed in addition to their normal employment. It’s impossible to overstate how important emergency medical service (EMS) personnel can be to just about any of us in a moment when knowledgeable help is needed fast. Honoring the men and women who handle this vital work is appropriate at all times, but especially so just now. That’s because National EMS Week began ...

Congratulations graduates

The annual ritual of high school graduation is upon us. On Sunday, several area schools, including St. Edmond Catholic School, Manson Northwest Webster High School, Southeast Valley High School and others, will hold their commencement exercises. Each ceremony is a familiar ritual. Excited graduates in caps and gowns will arrive to the accompaniment of “Pomp and Circumstance.” Friends and relatives sitting in the stands will nudge each other and say “Look, there she is.” Hundreds of photos will be snapped. There will be speeches, and it’s a pretty safe bet that someone ...

It’s a good time to enjoy our parks

Saturday is National Kids to Parks Day. This is a countrywide celebration organized annually by the National Park Trust “to connect kids and families with their local, state and national parks and public lands.” It has helped popularize these wonderful outdoor recreational venues since 2011. In conjunction with the national festivities, this weekend the Fort Dodge Recreation Department and Webster County Conservation are putting on a scavenger hunt throughout six area parks — both well-known ones and some not visited as often. Details about how to participate in the scavenger ...

May is Beef Month in Iowa

As we enter the month of May, it is worth noting that it is a time to celebrate an important meat product. May is Beef Month. For many of us, every month is a time to partake of a food that ranks high on the list of culinary favorites. It’s no secret that Americans have a love affair with beef. That’s been true for generations and the demand for this tasty and healthy product is on the rise — up about 15 percent in the last decade. The passion for beef is widely shared. It is the beef industry’s vital role in the state’s economy, however, that warrants special ...

Sign up for fun at Frontier Days

Mention Frontier Days and perhaps the first thing that comes to mind for many people is the massive parade that moves down almost the entire length of Central Avenue. It’s a signature part of a traditional three-day event that celebrates the frontier heritage of Fort Dodge and truly launches the summer season. In addition to the parade, Frontier Days features music, food, games and live entertainment at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village. The 2024 version of Frontier Days is a little more than a month away. It will be held May 31, June 1 and June 2. The theme for this year, which ...