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Local News

Travel woes

A mid-morning snow squall brought traffic throughout north central Iowa to a halt Sunday. “We have a tow ban in place,” said Webster County Sheriff Luke Fleener on Sunday afternoon. “Stay home and don’t travel. Our deputies are having trouble getting to stranded motorists due to ...

True Hometown Pride

Editor's note: This feature first ran in a special publication called Hometown Pride, published June 28, 2025, featuring people and organizations from Fort Dodge and the surrounding area who are making a difference in their communities. DAYTON — Coming to the aid of community members ...

‘People helping people’

A local nonprofit dedicated to ensuring affordable housing throughout Fort Dodge is asking residents to don formal wear and a mask for a new fundraiser on New Year’s Eve. Heartland Hope and Homes will host a masquerade ball at the Cardiff Event Center at Fort Frenzy on New Year’s Eve ...

Gibbons returns to The Messenger as publisher

Grant Gibbons has been named the publisher of The Messenger. While he is new to the position of publisher, he is no stranger to The Messenger. He worked at the paper as regional circulation manager from 2000 to 2023. Most recently, he was the publisher of The Journal in New Ulm, Minnesota, ...

Merry and bright

HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt community is merry and bright this holiday season thanks to the artistic prowess of local artist Kelsey Olson. Olson, who attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City for art education, wanted to spread holiday joy through art this Christmas, and painted ...