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Editorial

One man’s donation makes huge difference for Humane Society

Someday soon, the animals sheltered by the Almost Home Humane Society of North Central Iowa will be traveling to veterinarian appointments in comfort, safety and even a little bit of style. This will be possible thanks to a remarkable gift by one man. Dave Ristau, of Fort Dodge, and his late wife, Lis, were passionate about animals for all of their married life. They shared their home with lots of dogs and cats over the years, including six dogs adopted from Almost Home. Recently, Dave Ristau made a $10,000 donation to Almost Home. By doing that, he provided all the matching ...

Farm News Ag Show is Friday, Saturday

As farmers wrap things up on the 2023 growing season, it is not too early for them to start thinking about next year’s growing season. Farm News, a sister publication of The Messenger, is ready to help them do just that with the upcoming Ag Show. CJ Bio America presents the 21st annual Farm News Ag Show will be Friday and Saturday at the Webster County Fairgrounds south of Fort Dodge at 22770 Old Highway 169. The show will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. At 7:30 a.m. Saturday there will be a free pancake breakfast sponsored by Webster County ...

Lights at Kennedy makes season bright

As Christmas approaches, the campground at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park is once again being transformed into a holiday wonderland. The 20th annual Lights at Kennedy will help make the season more festive for area residents and visitors. Additionally, the event raises money to support local service groups. The light display, featuring multiple different exhibits, debuts Friday night. It will also be open Saturday and Sunday. In addition to this weekend, the upcoming dates are Dec. 15-17 and Dec. 22-23. The display will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on each of those days. Free ...

A Time for Angels helps those who mourn

The death of a loved one is the emotional equivalent of getting hit by a train. There’s almost nothing that can create the bewildering range of emotions that the death of a loved one can generate. The range of emotions can include anger, fear, sadness, loneliness and other feelings that defy ordinary description. And those emotions can hit hardest during the holiday season. The staff of Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services is well aware of that. So for 25 years, they have organized an event called A Time for Angels to help soothe the pain of people who have experienced a ...

Video highlights local farmers, agribusiness

The great things local farmers and agribusinesses are doing are highlighted in a film that will be viewed worldwide online. It’s called “Fort Dodge is Incredible.” It was produced by Land O’Lakes and NEW Cooperative. Its imagery includes combines churning through bountiful fields and sweeping overhead vistas of downtown. Included are voice-overs by area farmers Brian Wagner and Laura Bunda; Dan Dix, general manager of NEW Cooperative; Emily Stucky, co-owner of Community Orchard; and Jesse Ulrich, president of Iowa Central Community College. It drives home the point that Fort ...

Shared Thanksgiving is fine tradition

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday that features family, food, and yes, the occasional football game. In the spirit of the holiday, thousands of people in the Fort Dodge region gathered around tables with relatives and friends for a traditional feast on Thursday. Dining room tables throughout the area were laden with turkeys, stuffing, corn, cranberries, green bean casseroles, pies and all kinds of other delicious things. But some of our neighbors couldn’t afford such a meal. Perhaps some lost a job; perhaps others had been hit with unexpected and high medical bills. ...