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Emily Markert was inspirational in promoting organ donors

The story of the late Emily Markert is both tragic and inspiring. Like those who knew her, we prefer to focus on the inspiring part. But first, the tragic part. When she was 17, the Manson resident was stricken with a severe lung problem that necessitated a partial lung transplant. Her uncles, Don Fitzgerald and Larry Fitzgerald, donated lobes from their lungs and the operation was completed in October 1999. She was healthy for awhile, but then her body began rejecting the donated lobes. In February 2006, she had a second transplant. Her health failed again however, and she died in ...

For OHV riders, Gypsum City is paradise

A sprawling testament to a creative vision and strong partnerships can be found south of Fort Dodge. It is called the Gypsum City Off Highway Vehicle Park and it is spread over 800 acres of land that were once gypsum quarries. The first section of the park opened July 8, 2006. Since then, it has steadily grown to become the largest park of its kind in the state and one of the largest in the Midwest. Its amenities include 65 miles of trails, a 1.5 mile motocross track, a short track for kids learning to ride, a campground with 33 camping sites and a couple of tiny houses that people ...

More CASA volunteers are needed locally

The English language seems to be overflowing with acronyms these days, but there is one acronym that is very important to Iowa kids who are struggling. It is CASA. It stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. A CASA is a volunteer who works with children who have been removed from their homes or were placed under the supervision of the state. Their responsibilities include regularly visiting with the children, meeting with case workers and parents, and making recommendations to the courts. The regular tasks of a CASA include gathering information, reviewing documents, and ...

It’s time to tee up to stop violence

Some of the golf carts that will be rolling along the paths at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course on Aug. 6 will have something extra attached to them. As part of the sixth annual Tee’d Off Against Violence Golf Tournament that day, the carts will have shields on them which tell the story of someone lost to violence. Those shields will serve as a reminder of the twin purposes of the day’s event: raising money and raising awareness. It is a noble cause worthy of wide support. The tournament is sponsored by the Homicide/Other Violent Crimes Program, which is part of the Domestic/Sexual ...

New park building honors park benefactor

To say that the late Donna Monkelien liked Oleson Park would be putting it mildly. Her name and her love of the sprawling park on the south side of Fort Dodge will be remembered for decades to come thanks to the newly opened shelter in the park which is named after her. A $183,412.93 gift she left the city in her will specifically to support the park made its construction possible. Monkelien and her husband, Richard, lived across the street from the park. They could see the park’s historic bandshell from their living room. The Monkeliens had a front row seat for all the sights and ...

Iowa’s fruit and vegetable growers deserve recognition

There’s more than corn and soybeans growing in Iowa’s rich soil. Iowa’s farmers grow staggering amounts of corn and soybeans, so it makes sense that those crops are the first ones many people associate with the state’s farms. But there is also a surprising amount of fruits and vegetables grown in Iowa. To recognize that fact, Gov. Kim Reynolds has proclaimed this week as Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Week. The proclamation states, in part, that “local Iowa fruit and vegetable producers receive support and recognition for their achievements by celebrating this week across ...