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Use your RMD to start a charitable fund

Local Columns

To alleviate the tax burden of required minimum distributions from IRAs, many people are using their RMDs to make qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) to their favorite charities. These tax-free distributions are a financially advantageous way for clients age 70 ½ or older to turn their retirement savings into a meaningful gift. Normally, distributions from a traditional IRA are taxable when received. With a QCD however, these distributions become tax free as long as they are paid directly from the IRA to an eligible charitable organization. Each year, an IRA owner age 70 ½ ...

Iowa companies step up to provide food for the holidays

Editorial

Food, like twinkling lights and carefully wrapped presents, is a major component of the holiday season. At family meals across the area, dining room tables will be just about creaking under the weight of all kinds of good things to eat. But unfortunately, not everyone can afford even a modest holiday meal. Two Iowa companies recently stepped up to ease the burden for families struggling to put food on the table.Their efforts got thousands of pounds of meat to thousands of Iowans, including many in the Fort Dodge area. The first of those efforts, Operation Christmas Meal, was ...

Lights at Kennedy makes season bright

Editorial

As Christmas approaches, the campground at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park has once again been transformed into a holiday wonderland. The 21st annual Lights at Kennedy will help make the season more festive for area residents and visitors. Additionally, the event raises money to support local service groups. Although it is now mid-December there is still a chance to see it. Lights at Kennedy will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Free will donations will be accepted. Some of the donations will support the philanthropic efforts of the event’s sponsors, the ...

Keeping our military the strongest fighting force in the world

Local Columns

Our national security depends on a strong military laser focused on defending our country and our values. China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, terrorist groups, and other diabolical forces are intent on destabilizing our nation, dismantling our economy, and sowing chaos across the globe. We cannot let this new Axis of Evil and their proxies undermine American leadership on the world stage nor can we let them get away with openly disregarding the rule of law, international norms, and global security interests. To ensure that our troops have the resources and support that they need to keep ...

Bikes for Tykes brings cheer to kids

Editorial

These days, cars, pickups and SUVs share the showroom of Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota with an entirely different kind of wheeled vehicle. That vehicle is the bicycle. And there are a lot of them, maybe hundreds of them, in the showroom. But before long they will be going out the doors to be distributed to kids who would not otherwise get a bicycle of their own. The effort is called Bikes for Tykes. The annual Bikes for Tykes drive has a simple mission: making Christmas merrier for youngsters. Each year hundreds of new bicycles are donated so that children in families facing ...

Oral surgeon announces retirement

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: To the people of Fort Dodge and the surrounding communities, I want to announce my retirement from the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery. It is time to enjoy the next chapter of my life. Health is wealth, and I want to retire when I am healthy enough to enjoy my hobbies. I would like to thank Dr. Terry Hopper, who started the practice and took a chance on me so many years ago. He was a great mentor and is a terrific man, besides being a good surgeon. I owe so much to him. I also want to thank Mr. Tom Tibbitts for establishing a fantastic medical staff at ...