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Thanks those who made MAGWED a success

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: I would like to give a shout out to several of your area friends and family for the tremendous job they do in hosting a fishing event held annually at Triggs Bay Resort in Okoboji, called MAGWED. This event was started by Bob Brown, of the Fort Dodge Messenger, in 1975 to encourage fellowship and fishing. Fifty years later, this event has evolved into one of the best fishing events held in the Okoboji area each year. I want to thank Jerod Dencklau, of Moorland, and his whole crew for the incredible job they do every year in hosting this family event. Next year Grant ...

RCF residents ready to work, ready to learn

Local Columns

I’m writing this because I believe our town needs to see what’s actually happening behind the scenes of our local support programs. We hear a lot about second chances, but I want to tell you what that looks like in the real world. My name is Jesse Edwards, and I’m writing as a roommate and peer to a man named Mark Pierce — but more importantly, I’m writing for all the guys at the Residential Correctional Facility (RCF) who are working just as hard to prove their worth. I’ve watched Mark and others like him put in the work every single day. These guys aren’t finished ...

It’s a good time to enjoy our parks

Editorial

Saturday is National Kids to Parks Day. This is a countrywide celebration organized annually by the National Park Trust “to connect kids and families with their local, state and national parks and public lands.” It has helped popularize these wonderful outdoor recreational venues since 2011. In conjunction with the national festivities, this weekend the Fort Dodge Recreation Department and Webster County Conservation are putting on a scavenger hunt throughout six area parks — both well—known ones and some not visited as often. And while National Kids to Parks Day is Saturday, ...

When Main Street thrives, so does America

Local Columns

For 250 years, our nation has been built on innovation coming from Main Street storefronts, rows of rolling corn fields, and mechanic shop workbenches. These unassuming yet extraordinary spots in every corner of America have been essential to helping our nation thrive and to setting so many of our citizens up to live the American Dream. I’ve witnessed the American spirit of innovation up close while crisscrossing Iowa from the Mississippi River to the Missouri River over the last decade. From small town grocers like the folks at Dutchman’s Store in Cantril who built a thriving ...

May is Beef Month in Iowa

Editorial

During the month of May, it is worth noting that it is a time to celebrate an important meat product. May is Beef Month. For many of us, every month is a time to partake of a food that ranks high on the list of culinary favorites. It’s no secret that Americans have a love affair with beef. That’s been true for generations, and the demand for this tasty and healthy product is on the rise — up about 15 percent in the last decade. The passion for beef is widely shared. It is the beef industry’s vital role in the state’s economy, however, that warrants special ...

Postal Service should not be privatized

Editorial

As we Americans celebrate the 250th birthday of our country this year, we ought to take a minute to appreciate an often maligned organization that has helped tie the nation together throughout its history. That organization is the United States Postal Service. Even in the age of email, the Postal Service has a key role in helping Americans communicate and do business. We ought to keep it that way. Privatizing the Postal Service would be a mistake that would result in less service and higher costs for citizens. Unfortunately, the concept of privatizing it has come up a couple of ...