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The power in giving back to your community

Local Columns

Throughout our lives, from childhood to adulthood, community is an essential part of everyday existence. Sometimes, we don’t see or fully understand its impact, and sometimes we may think it is irrelevant. But for both rural towns and larger cities, community is vital in ways we can’t imagine. No matter where we grew up, it is almost certain that in some way, your community contributed positively to your formative years. This is why it is so important to return these favors, and to give back, even in small ways. There are many ways of contributing to your community. Giving back ...

It’s D/SAOC auction time

Editorial

One of the popular fundraisers this community has traditionally experienced is the annual auction conducted by the Domestic/Sexual Assault Outreach Center. This online event generates money that is vitally needed to help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. And it starts Thursday and runs through April 7. It is traditionally known as the Cake Auction. For years, bakers tried to outdo each other with elaborate cakes that went on the auction block. Today there may be some cakes available, but the diversified event also offers other goodies, tickets to local events, Easter ...

Ernst: In celebration of Iowa agriculture

Local Columns

In Iowa, agriculture connects us all. Those of us who live on farms, in rural communities, and even in cities across our great state, are fortunate to have a deep-rooted understanding of all our farmers do to make sure folks have food on their tables, gas in their tanks, clothes in their closet, and so much more. Growing up walking beans and feeding hogs on our family farm in southwest Iowa, I had a front-row seat to both the joys and hardships of life in farm country. That’s why I am so proud to celebrate Iowa Agriculture Week in recognition of our hardworking farmers and all those ...

House addresses eminent domain, distracted driving

Local Columns

We have now been here for 11 weeks, and this session has 16 weeks. Which means we have five left before per diem runs out. This week has flown by. I spend most of my time in meetings now. I’m working on several bills that we meet on daily so we can have enough votes to get it off the House floor. Then we need to be working with the Senate so when it gets over there, they will have enough votes to get it down to the governor. Which means we also must be working with the governor’s staff at the same time so the governor will sign it when it gets to her desk. So having said all that ...

Officials’ DC trip is worthwhile

Editorial

Visiting Washington, D.C. is always a fascinating experience. The Capitol, the White House, the Supreme Court building, the towering Washington Monument and even the cherry trees surrounding the Tidal Basin make the city a unique place. And within that place, history is made every day and has been since the original portion of the Capitol opened in about 1800. What happens in Washington affects Fort Dodge and Webster County. That’s why a group of local leaders representing Fort Dodge, Webster County, Iowa Central Community College and the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance will ...

Appreciates work of Fort Dodge airport staff

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: I had a flight booked from Fort Dodge to Nashville, Tennessee, to attend the American Pharmacists annual meeting on March 20. When the blizzard occurred on Wednesday, March 19, I was concerned. I contacted Rhonda Chambers, the head of the Fort Dodge Regional Airport. She stated the airport would be ready the next day. The airport personnel were personable, knowledgeable, helpful and kept everyone flying that day up to date on the arrival and departure of the Chicago flight. There were 15 to 20 passengers flying out that morning. The plane was full on the return trip back ...