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Letters to the Editor

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, ...

Much history in newspapers

To the editor: After picking up the Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th Messenger, I put it down and got pen and paper out after reading page with the letter. Always good to read those, knowing there are people that have same thoughts as me. A few weeks ago we had a celebration put on by family for our local weekly editor for his 50 years of his paper. Since that day, I have been wanting to get another one of mine to you. Just had another birthday this past week which seems bigger each year. Two years ago my 80th fell on Easter Sunday. At that year, I started assembling a personal life story ...

Booster Club says thanks

To the editor: Duncombe Elementary Booster Club’s annual Fun Night event — held Saturday, March 25 — was a tremendous success and an opportunity for Duncombe families and the community to come together, have fun, and support the youth of Fort Dodge. We would like to thank all of the parents and families who sold raffle tickets, donated silent auction items, baked cakes, or volunteered to work, as well as Duncombe staff and Fort Dodge Senior High students who volunteered to work at this event. We would also like to thank the members of our community who supported our school by ...

Thankful for The Messenger

To the editor: As I sit down to renew my subscription to The Messenger, I also felt the need to say thank you for the service that this newspaper provides for our community. There is absolutely no question that local, state and national newspapers are in distress as we move to an internet-based society. Unquestionably, The Messenger has felt this challenge as much as any. The loss of weekly advertising funds from grocery stores, department stores, auto dealerships and other businesses has been dramatic. At the same time, the public’s desire to be informed with in-depth reporting has ...

Dismisses concerns about DC jail

To the editor: So our state Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink thinks the 1/6 morons are being held in our version of a Nazi concentration camp? Really? These poor souls are where they are by court order, an order signed by their trial’s presiding judge for stated and demonstrated reasons such as being a flight risk, refusal of a plea offer, and in some cases being a danger to society. You might ask what danger these Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, white supremacists and Jan. 6 rioters/insurrectionists could possibly pose, but you would not want your neighbors to know you are stupid. Getting back to ...

Confused by senators’ actions

To the editor: I was a little confused when I saw six of our state senators were introducing a resolution concerning the District of Columbia Jail, but then I saw they were all Republicans and it made perfect sense. These prisoners are all Trump supporters. I guess it doesn’t matter that these people broke into our Capitol, assaulted police officers and Capitol guards, destroyed property and tried to overthrow our government as long as they support Trump. It’s funny that these senators had no concerns when families were torn apart at the border and thrown into cages, which sounds ...