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Editorial

FD council should approve franchise fee plan

Fort Dodge now has a chance to get more police officers, a slightly lower property tax rate and some extra money for quality of life programs. It is a chance that the City Council must seize. None of that — the additional officers, the lower levy rate or the money for quality of life — is free. A franchise fee added to the gas and electric bills of MidAmerican Energy customers would generate the $2.4 million annually to make it all possible. We realize that no one wants to pay more in monthly bills. But in this instance, the benefits of doing so will far outweigh the ...

A thank you for a job well done

During a big winter storm such as the one that blew into Fort Dodge Monday night, lots of people like to stay inside, sipping their favorite hot beverage while they watch the white stuff pile up outside. But one group of people goes out in every storm, and the work of these unsung heroes makes it possible for everyone to travel in snowy conditions. They are the men and women who drive snowplows. They are employed by the Iowa Department of Transportation, counties and cities. Their mission requires them to maneuver big trucks and sometimes, motor graders and loaders, in the worst ...

Flu shots provide potentially lifesaving protection

Just about everyone has called in sick at some point, saying they had the flu when they were sniffling, sneezing, maybe running a fever and generally feeling lousy. Those symptoms definitely add up to an illness, but the problem is not really the flu. Influenza, as it is properly known, is much, much worse. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, influenza is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. Influenza and pneumonia are among the top 10 causes of death in the state. Fortunately, there is a way to prevent influenza. A yearly vaccine can protect a person ...

Innovative child care program is model for Iowa

It may not seem likely, but child care is a key driver of economic development. Now, that statement may leave some folks scratching their heads. How can providing a safe space for little ones help to power economic growth? Well, here’s how it works. Businesses obviously need workers if they are to thrive and grow. But lots of people, especially women, need a place for their kids to go while they are at work. Providing more child care opportunities gives those people the opportunity to get out into the workforce. They earn a living and businesses get the workforce they need. For ...

The Christmas spirit of giving should continue throughout the year

Every year around the holidays, the generosity of people who live in and around Fort Dodge blossoms. The familiar red kettles of The Salvation Army get filled with change by people going in and out of stores. Donations flow for initiatives like Bikes for Tykes. Those are some of the best-known helping campaigns in the Fort Dodge area that ramp up at Christmas time, and we know there are a lot of others out there as well. The holiday season is now over. Several charitable programs have gone dormant until next Christmas. But the need is still there. Hunger, sickness, poverty and ...

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2024

Soon, we will welcome in a new year. Tomorrow, no doubt many readers will stay home, joining the ranks of those sitting on the couch, counting down the final moments of 2023 while participating vicariously in the festivities broadcast from Times Square in New York City. Others will celebrate the passing of another year by making merry until the wee hours of the new year. And yet others will let the new year come in just as they let each new day, week or month arrive – snugly tucked into bed getting some sleep. There is no right or wrong way to mark the arrival of another year. ...