Breaking News

Land O’Lakes building gets new owner

The big building on Eighth Avenue South that was once the local office of Land O’Lakes will soon be a place where race cars will be stored and the administrative work for a local race track will be done. The Better Way Project on Wednesday announced the sale of the building to Jeff ...

Chase ends in crash

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea People look at a car that hit the garage at 2219 Third Ave. N. Wednesday night while the driver was reportedly trying to elude law enforcement. One man was taken into custody following a pursuit that began outside the Fort Dodge city limits and ended at about ...

Unique art for a cause

Looking for a Christmas gift that's guaranteed to get a laugh while supporting a great cause? The Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association (FDFAA) is bringing back its annual Poorly Drawn Portrait Fundraiser, giving the community a chance to turn their favorite photographs into one-of-a-kind works of questionable art. For a $25 donation, participants can submit a photograph of a person, pet, family, or just about anything they can dream up and receive their very own Poorly Drawn Portrait as a digital download. The catch? You never know who will draw your picture. You might get one of ...

Haakenson received Purple Heart

During his time in South Vietnam, Steve Haakenson jumped out of helicopters and inched through tunnels in pursuit of an elusive enemy. He carried up to 150 pounds of gear as he and his fellow Army soldiers slogged through jungles. And he survived a massive explosion that inflicted wounds ...

Meyer, Larson on track to return to Iowa House

State Rep. Ann Meyer appeared to be well on her way to winning her fifth term in office Tuesday. With seven of the 15 precincts in House District 8 reporting late Tuesday night, the Fort Dodge Republican had opened a wide lead over Democratic challenger Kris Williams. Unofficial election ...

Eldal leads in Webster County recorder’s race

Tina Eldal appeared to be on the path to winning the Recorder’s Office in the one contested race in Webster County government Tuesday. With nine of 19 precincts reporting Eldal, a Republican, had a roughly 800 vote lead over Democratic incumbent Courtney Bender Balkenende. According to unofficial results posted late Tuesday night by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, Eldal had 4,740 votes. Balkenende had 3,956 votes at that point in the count. Balkenende, who had been deputy recorder, was appointed to the post by the Board of Supervisors after former Recorder Lindsey ...