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Letters to the Editor

What is a trillion?

To the editor: Let’s consider this for a second; A day on Earth consists of 86,400 seconds. One MILLION seconds is 11 1/2 days, one BILLION seconds is 31 years, and, one TRILLION seconds is 31,000 years. Those zeros sure add up. Now let’s consider that the U.S. government is $22 TRILLION in debt and will soon be running a one TRILLION dollar deficit every year in the future. I have not mentioned all the unfunded mandates coming soon which is projected to be about $240 TRILLION. $240 TRILLION is about $750,000 for every man, woman and child in America, while polls show that the ...

Still time to sign up for Strengthening Families program

To the editor: Strengthening Families for parents and youths 10-14 is about to start in Fort Dodge the week of Feb. 10. This PROSPER program will begin its 18th year of programs with sixth-graders and their families. Families that participate in the programs delivered through PROSPER can expect more time spent together as a family to feel closer to one another, and to use more effective and consistent discipline. As one mom shared after the fall session, “I was hesitant to sign up at first due to the time commitment, however, it has been so well worth the time. Even though I feel ...

Salvation Army gives thanks for help

To the editor: The Salvation Army would like to thank the community for helping us in assisting the needy and marginalized people in Webster County. Through your efforts our Angel Tree program brought toys, food and clothing to many families this Christmas season. With the help of many volunteers, our Red Kettle Campaign met our goal of $48,000. It is a blessing to see this community come together as one each holiday season. A special thanks goes out to the managers of Fareway, Hobby Lobby, Hy-Vee and Walmart for allowing us to ring bells at their locations. Many thanks go also to ...

YWCA Silver Showcase was a success

To the editor: A huge thank you! Bigger and better than ever! The YWCA of Fort Dodge would like to give a resounding thank you to all those who gave their time, talents and gifts, to make The YWCA Silver Showcase a huge success. This was, without a doubt, the most successful event in our history. The community came forward and let us know that they care about the very important work being done at the center. And that’s not all. This year we introduced The Christmas Giving Tree. Participants selected a room for individuals and their children who reside at rhe YWCA. Then the ...

Return of NAACP to Fort Dodge is a good sign

To the editor: I was pleased to read in the Jan. 20 Sunday Messenger that the Fort Dodge community is reinstating a local chapter of the NAACP. Ira Shivers’ comment that the organization is about “ … bringing in different people from different backgrounds, different races, to bring it all together” echoes the mission statement of the NAACP, which is to ensure justice and equality for all and to eliminate discrimination. Martin Luther King was an inspiration to all people; and he reminded us that, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are we doing for ...

Why does Congress allow a shutdown?

To the editor: Question: Why hasn’t our government passed a law (through all these years) that the President or Congress CAN NOT shut down the goverment? Nancy Rinehimer Webster City