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Local Columns

For 124 years, this book club has connected Fort Dodge women

For well over a century, the Ingleside Study Club has connected women of Fort Dodge through their love of one of the world’s oldest forms of communication — reading a book. The book club — the name Ingleside means fireside, around which books were often read — was formed in October ...

Now more than ever is the time help others

When you work in local government, you learn pretty quickly that helping people isn’t just part of the job. It is the job. Every day, someone calls, emails, or stops by with a question, a concern, or a problem they hope you can help solve. Sometimes it’s something small, like putting ...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Throughout the month of October, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we proudly honor the incredible strength of breast cancer survivors and those who continue to fight this disease today. You are true warriors, and we are deeply honored to call you our friends and members of this ...

Setting the record straight on city debt and responsible progress

Editor’s note: The Messenger generally does not publish letters or columns from candidates for office. However, because Councilman Dave Flattery is running unopposed for mayor and will in fact be the next mayor of Fort Dodge, we feel it is appropriate to share with the readers his thoughts on ...

The Ian Roberts scandal should teach government boards 4 important lessons

The lesson of the hot stove emerged again. That is the lesson toddlers learn early and smart ones retain for a lifetime. Touch something hot and you know not to touch it again. Educator Ian Roberts delivered a new rendition of the lesson over the past fortnight. Time will tell whether ...

Blood donors are badly needed

Across Iowa and the nation, hospitals are facing a critical shortage of type O blood. This shortage is especially concerning because O-negative blood is the universal donor type – it can be used in emergency situations when there’s no time to determine a patient’s blood type. Meanwhile, ...