Breaking News

Supports Austin Hayek for supervisor

To the editor: I encourage The Messenger area to support Austin Hayek and his run for Wester County supervisor. I have known Austin for a few years and I am grateful that he has stepped up to run for supervisor. One of my favorite lines that I have heard is , “Whatever has given you joy in life, give back to those things.” Austin comes to mind when I think about this line and look at his resume. He has a proven heart for public service and it shows with the following: He spent six years as a Fort Dodge police officer. He has served on the Community Christian School ...

Supports Conrad for county supervisor

To the editor: First and foremost, I would like to ask you to vote in the upcoming election on Nov. 8. Second, I would like to ask for your vote for someone I will not be able to vote for, due to moving to a new voting district. The person I am asking you to vote for may not always agree with you, but will show you respect and work to find common ground with you. This in itself is a rare thing in today’s political environment. This person is experienced, running for a second term, has shown a willingness to learn and become knowledgeable on subjects put before the board. Hard ...

Invites everyone to concert for YWCA

To the editor: The YWCA has invited the talented and harmonious Brown family from Le Mars, to perform at the Fort Dodge Middle School on Sunday, Sept 25 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the Hy-Vee Store in Fort Dodge or at the door for only $25. Thanks to the amazing local sponsors of this event the 100 percent of proceeds will benefit the approximately 35 women and 20 children that reside at the YWCA. What a wonderful community we have! The local YWCA has been doing much for others for over 100 years and we are thankful for those that help us continue to aid those in ...

Opposes abortion

To the editor: If a doctor has a patient in his office that was not born in the United States, but they need a blood transfusion or else they will die, does the doctor have a moral, legal obligation to find access for that? What if a patient needs laser vascular surgery, which is more expensive, and they were not born in the United States, does the doctor have an obligation to treat them? What if the patient needed even more expensive heart surgery and they were not born in the United States, does the doctor have a legal and moral obligation to operate? Hopefully you answered that a ...

E-cigarettes should be taxed like tobacco

To the editor: Before Iowa’s General Assembly decides how to classify and tax e-cigarettes, we must first establish what they are not. E-cigarettes are not a healthy alternative to cigarettes. They have dangerous chemicals like other nicotine products and they are certainly not meant to help their users quit smoking. That’s why I am grateful to State Rep. Ann Meyer for her leadership to pass HF 2523, a bill that would define e-cigarettes (defined as “vapor products” in state law) as tobacco products in Iowa and ensure they are taxed as such. One in five high schoolers use ...

State leaders should advocate for public education

To the editor: What kind of state leadership advocates to get kids out of their public schools? Ours does. That is exactly what Gov. Reynolds and some current Republican legislators are doing when they try to push an initiative to transfer public taxes to support educational opportunities outside of the public school parameters and requirements. And that is exactly what they are doing when they fund public schools at a percent far less than that of inflation. How do public schools pay their bills? They must cut the services they provide. Our governor and those state legislators ...