Breaking News

Letters to the Editor

Garden Club expresses thanks

To the editor: Thank you to all who supported the Fort Dodge Federated Garden Club’s recent annual plant/ garage sale. An amazing crowd of enthusiastic shoppers bought a large percentage of our plants during the first two hours. Congratulations to Linda Sorenson, who won the raffle for the beautiful flowering hanging planter, donated by Jeff Becker. Additional congratulations go to those geranium winners who were present at our half-hour drawings. They were Christian Guthrie, John Peterson, Wanda Wisthoff, Shirley Chase, Merrily Dixon, Julie Traster, Larry K., Michelle Crimmins, ...

Fort Dodge must address violence

To the editor: We take The Messenger and are aware of all the bad choices made by many local young people that will ruin the whole rest of their young lives. It makes me so sad. Perhaps Fort Dodge could set up an office of some sort to counsel and set some of these young folks to a job path and ignite their interest away from violence. I saw on television that Des Moines has such a facility. Fort Dodge absolutely must do something. Perhaps the Des Moines organization could be called for advice. Marjorie Franks Fort Dodge

Impressed by FDSH musical

To the editor: A few observations about the musical. I had the good fortune to be tricked into reading Hugo’s “Les Miserables” my senior year in high school here. It captivated me and I remember Hugo’s writing, and Miss Thomas with gratitude and affection to this day. So when the Broadway traveling company came to Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City with the muscal version around 1990, my wife and I went. It was a disaster. The sound system allowed one to hear a fragment of a word now and then, the cast seemed to respond to the lack of enthusiasm, the Thenardiers came across as ...

Seeks help for museum move

To the editor: On behalf of the board of directors and Phyllis Stewart, a big thank you for the write-up The Messenger and staff did on the Webster County Museum. A lot of work still is ahead of those concerned with getting all the items moved to Fort Dodge. Asking businesses and clubs who give monies to charities to please put the museum on their lists for 2023. Also need help with packing and marking the boxes for the trip to the new home in Fort Dodge. We need to get these items moved so the Webster County Museum and all the historical items will be moved and opened to the ...

Local family likes riverfront jetties

To the editor: My wife and I took our three children to the newly constructed jetties down by the old little dam. Laughter. Fun. Excitement. All of those words would describe our recent visit to the jetties, not only for our family, but also the other numerous families who were taking advantage of the beautiful scenery. My wife and I have always been big proponents of developing the Des Moines River and we are excited to see some of the plans coming to fruition. How lucky is Fort Dodge to have a big, beautiful river flowing directly through our home? Thank you to the city of Fort Dodge ...

Legislators must act now to save long-term care in Iowa

To the editor: Our local legislators, Sen. Kraayenbrink and Rep. Meyer, who have been long-time supporters of long-term care, and the rest of Iowa’s legislators must vote to substantially increase Medicaid reimbursement this month or Iowa will see a steeper decline in local access to long-term care. Already, closures in Fort Dodge and Humboldt have limited local families’ access, and cost-based reimbursement is at the heart of the problem. A majority of Iowa’s long-term care patients rely on Medicaid, but in 2022, Medicaid only covered 80 cents on every dollar of care costs, ...