Breaking News

Letters to the Editor

It’s time to consider lowering the voting age

To the editor: The voting age is a topic that has received national attention over the last few years. However, that has not translated into a push to lower the voting age in Iowa. I think it should. I interviewed Iowa senators Tim Kraayenbrink and Janet Petersen to get their opinions on this matter. Senator Tim Kraayenbrink was opposed to the idea, stating, “As far as just blanketing, saying we’re going to lower the voting age to 16, I am not in favor of that. ... I do think that in order to vote you should have civic classes.” However, Senator Janet Petersen supports ...

AFES is asking for community’s support

To the editor: Athletics for Education and Success (AFES), has been in existence since 2004, serving youth and families of Fort Dodge and surrounding communities. I am writing this letter to ask for community support in helping us continue to “develop better athletes, stronger students and tomorrow’s leaders.” Over the last 15 years, AFES has been very successful in getting youth on the right track and helping them navigate their middle school and high school years. We see over 100 youth a day with our various programs, and have been able to help countless at-risk youth ...

Thanks goes to garden seminar supporters

To the editor: Gardens Alive! The annual garden seminar, held on April 6 by the Fort Dodge Area Gardeners was all about growing things! We had two really great speakers. Dr. Ajay Nair, associate professor of horticulture at Iowa State University, spoke on growing vegetables, and gave us valuable information on planting, the value of adding organic matter to the soil, crop rotation, and soil testing. Did you know that tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes are all in the same vegetable family? Remember that when rotating your crops yearly. Our second speaker was Jeff Becker, of Becker ...

We should reflect on the true purpose of Memorial Day

To the editor: As we approach Memorial Day 2019, we should reflect on its purpose and how it began. Back on May 5, 1868, after the Civil War, General John A. Logan, Commander In Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, set his General Order No. 11. General Logan’s Order began: “The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no ...

Political cartoon is an insult

To the editor: The political cartoon on the opinion page of today’s May 16th paper is an insult to every senior citizen. First off young people are not sponsoring the old guy on social security. We have paid into social security for the last 50-60 years. We did not have a choice. The government took our money telling us it was for our own good for our retirement. Many of us also had student loans that we paid back all the while the government took out social security money from us. These young people taking student loans are not forced to take it. They sign contracts ...

Thank you for supporting plant sale

To the editor: Thank you to all who supported the Fort Dodge Federated Garden Club’s annual plant and garage sale. Even on a cool, cloudy day, we had many customers. At the close of the sale, unsold perennial plants were donated to PICA, Pride in Community Appearance. Congratulations to Marge Herrington, who won the raffle for a beautiful hanging planter donated by Jeff Becker. We want to express a huge thank you to Becker Florists and Garden Center, the businesses who graciously allowed us to post fliers in their restaurants and stores, the Lions Club for making their facility ...