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Letters to the Editor

Peer support is key to helping those with mental health issues

To the editor: People with mental health challenges are statistically at a greater risk of committing crimes than the average person, but I don’t believe that is directly due to their mental health in most cases. Rather, it’s when untreated mental health challenges lead to poverty, homelessness, self-medication through drugs and alcohol, and the like, that people with these challenges become much more likely to get into trouble with the law. I don’t use the term mental health “challenges” to be politically correct. I use it because these people thinking and behaving ...

Supports Andy Fritz for City Council

To the editor: I live outside Ward 2 in real life. But I live Ward 2 almost every day of the week. And that is because I have the opportunity to sit next to Andy Fritz for 40+ hours a week. I urge anyone in Ward 2 to vote for Mr. Fritz. While many of you might see him as just a face of Fort Dodge, I see the passion he has for this town and making it better. I hear the care and concern Fritz has for every single issue brought his way and he tactfully and respectfully addresses these with the appropriate people or city department. You’re looking at someone who has lived in Fort Dodge ...

Disagrees with praise for senators

To the editor: I was amazed by the irony of your Oct. 20, 2019, editorial. It praised Sen. Grassley for seeking to “stem the increase in farmer suicides.” It quoted his concerns that “farmers are increasingly feeling the pain of sinking commodity prices, devastating natural disasters, and ongoing trade disruptions.” These three concerns that Sen. Grassley stated “have caused great distress to farmers” are the direct results of President Trump’s actions with which the senator has found little fault. It must be comforting to receive praise for trying to solve problems ...

Event to benefit Health Center

To the editor: The Community Health Center of Fort Dodge has been in existence since 2006, serving Fort Dodge and the surrounding communities. We are writing this letter to ask for community support in helping us continue our mission of providing quality healthcare to all. In 2018 over 7,000 patients made over 25,000 visits to the health center, of these patients 184 were veterans, 32 were homeless and 96% were at or below the federal poverty level. On Saturday evening, November 2nd we will hold ou fifth annual fundraiser titled ‘All Star Fundraising Costume Party.’ The event, ...

Honor Flights a success

To the editor: Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight has completed its 2019 flying season. We had two flights, May 11 and Sept. 21. Some 300 plus veterans, World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veterans, from some 55 Iowa counties and some 208 Iowa communities participated. No major complications, just plain successful. All veterans taken and all returned safely. It is time to thank all persons and organizations that have participated in that success. Unfortunately, it is impossible to list all that have participated in that success for fear of leaving someone out. You know who you ...

Supports renewable fuels standard

To the editor: I must be missing something in the information provided about the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in the Messenger recently. In the Messenger editorial Oct. 9, 2019, the writer praises President Trump, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Andrew Wheeler, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for reaching an agreement to follow the law! I wasn’t aware that they needed an agreement to do that. The quote from Governor Reynolds says in part “We are grateful to President Trump for honoring the federal statute-” “By protecting the RFS President Trump ...