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Pay It Forward Friday to honor Henderson’s legacy

The late Rev. Al Henderson had a habit of wrapping up conversations by saying “Carry on.” Residents of Fort Dodge and Webster County are being asked to spend Friday carrying on Henderson’s legacy of support and compassion on what has been named Pay It Forward Friday. Doing so will not require some big elaborate action, according to organizers of the event. Small gestures of kindness can make a huge difference, also. Henderson, who was killed on Oct. 2, 2019 – exactly one year before the inaugural Pay It Forward Friday – was the pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort ...

Keep Iowa’s roads safe during harvest

This is the time of the year when big, slow-moving farm vehicles rumble out onto roadways dominated by faster-paced traffic. That shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who lives in farm country. Even so, all of us should pay special heed to safety considerations as we share the roads with agricultural vehicles. Iowa has been doing a good job of keeping accidents involving farm vehicles to a minimum. According to data from the Iowa Department of Transportation, fatalities and major injuries resulting from such accidents have been on the decline in recent years. That’s encouraging ...

Residents should attend tonight’s candidate forum

In an election year, the races for national and state offices usually get the most attention, but it is the campaigns for local offices, such as county boards of supervisors, which can have the most impact on the everyday lives of Iowans. In Webster County there are two seats on the Board of Supervisors which will be filled by the voters on Nov. 8. In District 1, Republican Supervisor Keith Dencklau is retiring after 16 years in office. Democrat Tommy Coleman and Republican Austin Hayek are vying to replace him. District 1 includes Badger, Duncombe, parts of northeastern Fort Dodge, ...

New owners seek bright future for Laramar Ballroom

For 118 years, the building that we know today as the Laramar Ballroom has stood at 710 First Ave. N. It opened in 1904 as a National Guard armory. Decades later, the soldiers moved to a different location and the site became an entertainment venue. Buddy Holly and J.P. Richardson, also known as The Big Bopper, took the stage there for one of their final concerts. There were many other dances, gatherings and even mixed martial arts fights there in the following years. Recently, the Laramar Ballroom has been closed and empty. Some local investors are working to change that. Chris ...

Colliding with a train is a no-win situation

Take a long admiring, look at your personal vehicle some time, and then think back on the last time you saw a train. The difference between the two is spectacular. You may have the biggest, most tricked out SUV or pickup and it still won’t stand a chance against a diesel locomotive if the two collided. That big SUV, or any other vehicle for that matter, would be squashed like an old beer can. And if a person was struck by a train, the consequences would be too horrible to contemplate. The nation’s railroads stress safety, especially during this week designated Railroad Safety ...

Schools are starting — drive safely

It won’t be that long before cooler weather becomes the norm rather than the exception — summer is drawing to a close. Even though the calendar shows another month of summer to be enjoyed, for students, vacation days are ending. All across Iowa, young folks are heading back to school this week. Classes at St. Edmond Catholic School begin Tuesday. Classes at Fort Dodge Community School District begin Wednesday. That makes it especially important that each of us resolve to keep our streets and highways safe during a time of year when youngsters are present on or near roadways at ...