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Editorial

Get out and vote Tuesday

Despite what critics may say, there are a lot of exciting things going on in Fort Dodge. Fort Dodge and Webster County are well-positioned to prosper, but doing so will require the right leadership. That’s why the election process is so important. Tuesday’s general election will be a big one for the local area. In Fort Dodge, voters will pick five members of the City Council. They will also pick five members of the Fort Dodge Community School District Board of Education. And if that isn’t enough, they, along with all the other Webster County voters, will weigh in on a ...

Vote yes on jail bond issue question

During this year’s general election, Webster County voters are being asked if their county government should be allowed to borrow $45.5 million to pay for building a new jail that would replace the one in the downtown Law Enforcement Center. The ballot question is specifically about that $45.5 million. But the issue before voters can be summed up as “pay me now or pay me later.” The Sheriff’s Department is running that jail, but it is also spending hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to house inmates elsewhere because the local jail is too small to hold all of them. ...

State must be more transparent on equalization orders

Chances are a lot of companies and individuals that own commercial property in Webster County are scrambling right now to get all their paperwork in order so they can meet an important deadline Tuesday. Yes, Halloween is the last day they can file an appeal if they want to challenge a scary surprise received from their state government that could potentially hit their finances pretty hard in the form of higher tax bills The state Department of Revenue last month issued an equalization order that would increase the assessed valuation of all commercial property in the county by 14 ...

It’s time to support Community Health Center

In Fort Dodge, those who do not have health insurance have an option for getting high quality medical care. It’s called the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge and it offers medical, dental and behavioral health care. While most insurance is accepted there, those who need a financial break will have their bills based on their ability to pay. It opened in 2006 and has been a key source of care for thousands of area residents since then. A chance for everyone to support the Community Health Center that helps so many of our neighbors is now underway. It will conclude Saturday with ...

Support Coats for Kids

It’s hard to imagine facing an Iowa winter without a warm coat. Sadly, some area kids could be confronted with just that prospect if their families are facing a challenging economic situation. Fortunately, however, through the combined efforts of Shimkat Motor Co. and the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge many of these young folks will have warm coats and other winter wear as the colder, wintry days arrive. This joint project — called Coats for Kids — accepts donations of new and gently used winter coats, along with hats, scarves, mittens and snow boots. All sizes are ...

Keep the buses rolling safely

Riding the big yellow bus is an essential part of the school day for thousands of local children. Those school buses do more than take kids to and from class. They are also the transportation to field trips, sports events and other activities. With so many buses on the road carrying students from preschool to seniors in high school, safety is of paramount importance. That’s why the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa State Patrol have stringent standards for school buses. But the rest of us on the road also have some responsibility for keeping the kids on those buses ...