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Overdose deaths are rising in Iowa, US

Heart attacks, strokes, cancer and car accidents have been major causes of death for generations. More recently, COVID-19 emerged as a killer. But there is something else out there that is claiming increasing numbers of lives: overdoses. Last year, 470 Iowans died from overdoses, according to data released by the state government. In 2020, there were 419 overdose deaths. In 2019, there were 350 such deaths. The number of overdose deaths is going in the wrong direction – in other words, up – even as the medical profession scores more and more successes against the old foes such as ...

To benefit their community, bicyclists hit the trails

A pair of local shelters received a healthy financial boost from a group of dedicated bicyclists recently. The organizers of the Prairie Rivers Trail Ride presented $5,000 donations to both the Beacon of Hope and The Lotus Community Project. That money was generated by the Aug. 13 Prairie Rivers Trail Ride during which bicyclists started on Central Avenue and proceeded to pedal their way down all the local trails. A total of $10,000 in donations is pretty impressive. But that is only a portion of the money the trail ride has generated over the last four years. Since the first ride ...

Farm Progress Show warrants a look

It won’t be long before the 2022 incarnation of the Farm Progress Show welcomes a multitude of visitors to the Boone area. This year’s event begins Aug. 30 and will run through Sept.1. The show is a highlight of summer for farm folks and others with a business interest in agriculture. It also attracts a diverse assortment of others from all parts of the world who simply want to remain abreast of the latest trends in farming. With good reason, the Farm Progress Show has been characterized by its organizers as the “World’s Fair of Agriculture.” They say it is the nation’s ...

Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight is back

When a 737 roars into the sky above Fort Dodge Regional Airport in the pre-dawn darkness today, one of the most unique and heartfelt tributes to area veterans will be back in action. There will be about 130 veterans aboard that plane. They will be going to Washington, D.C., for free to see the nation’s war memorials. The trip will be the 22nd one conducted by the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight. The first took place in 2010. Since then, close to 3,000 area veterans have made the journey. The Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight is largely the vision of one man, Ron Newsum, of Fort ...

The Messenger unveils 65th football publication

Fall in Iowa is the season of harvest, pumpkins, orange-colored leaves and, of course, football. On cool Friday evenings and on Saturday afternoons, people from all across the Fort Dodge area gather every fall to watch their local heroes of the gridiron compete. They’ll scream and cheer for their favorite team, occasionally grumble about the referees and even embody the Iowa nice tradition by applauding fine play by the opponents. We may have to wait a bit longer for the cool Friday evenings. We will not have to wait for football action, which begins tonight. To get the inside ...

Growth of Cargill should be welcomed by Webster County, Fort Dodge

The Cargill plant in Webster County is beginning a $50 million growth spurt. When it is done sometime in 2024, the plant will begin making corn syrup for the first time. That will be a nice addition to a product line that already includes dextrose, ethanol, feed for cattle, corn gluten meal fed to poultry, corn germ and a molasses like substance called corn steep liquor. The corn syrup will be the first food-grade product to come from the plant. The project will not be a big creator of new jobs, but it will enable many current Cargill employees to train for more complex jobs which ...