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CJ Bio America is valued member of the local community

A unique international business has been flourishing in Webster County since 2013. CJ Bio America has a major facility west of Fort Dodge in the ag industrial park called Iowa’s Crossroads of Global Innovation, and it is growing. A $20 million expansion was formally launched last week with a ribbon cutting ceremony. It is the second expansion of the plant, which started production in November 2013. CJ Bio America receives fermented dextrose from the Cargill plant next door and uses it to make amino acids that are added to livestock feed. It also makes a liquid soil amendment. The ...

Bipartisan cooperation on gun bill is historic

Fifteen Republicans in the Senate and 14 in the House joined with congressional Democrats recently to break more than 25 years of inaction on gun safety. That these Republicans, many of whom had ratings of A or A-plus from the National Rifle Association, defied the gun lobby with their support of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act suggests they saw the political peril in doing nothing about the gun violence gripping the country. Indeed, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who voted for the bill, admitted as much when he said he hoped GOP support for the measure “will be ...

Check out the 2022 Farm News Ag Show

An upcoming event will give people a chance to hear from their favorite Farm News columnists, get some insight on the latest developments in the commodities markets and check out the offerings of various ag businesses. And don’t forget the food, which will include a free watermelon feed. The event that will offer all of that is the 2022 Farm News Ag Show. It will be held June 29-30 at the Palo Alto County Fairgrounds, 2101 Madison, in Emmetsburg. The show hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 29 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 30. Karen Schwaller, a longtime writer for Farm News, will ...

Help celebrate Hometown Pride

In every town there are special people who contribute to the success of the community through the giving things they do. These folks — whose selfless contributions make life better for others in their hometowns — sometimes go unacknowledged. That’s unfortunate because many of the people who work without much fanfare to enhance the lives of others truly are accomplishing exceptional results. Similarly, there are organizations that have that type of impact. That’s one of the reasons that each year The Messenger publishes a magazine supplement called Hometown Pride. The goal is to ...

It’s time to celebrate Manson

For some good fun this weekend, check out a party for an area town that’s hitting the big 150. Of course, we are talking about Manson in Calhoun County, which is marking 150 years since its founding. The celebration starts today and runs through Sunday. The action starts this evening with an appreciation meal at Heartland Bank. A truck pull will cap off the day. Saturday’s events will include a parade, vendor fair, games for all ages, helicopter rides, historical displays and a skid loader rodeo. There will be a food court to feed hungry folks. Gates for the Crash My Crater ...

Lunch on Central

A fun and tasty event will return to downtown Fort Dodge Friday. Main Street Fort Dodge is orchestrating Lunch on Central from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This will be a new version of what used to be called Lunch on the Square. Instead of being held on the City Square, it will be in the alley between The Messenger building and the Webster County Courthouse in the 700 block of Central Avenue. The name and location have changed, but the goal remains the same. That goal is to get more people to come downtown to enjoy a festive lunch hour and also spend some time in the shops that are ...