Local News

Go and Do: March 6, 2026

Around the area OTHO — The Otho United Methodist Church will hold its annual pancake breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to noon SATURDAY in the church basement. Menu includes pancakes, eggs, sausage and drinks for a freewill donation. LEHIGH — The Lehigh Methodist Church will hold its Second Sunday Supper from 5 to7 p.m. on SUNDAY at the church basement. The menu includes hot turkey sandwiches (or open face turkey sandwiches) with mashed potatoes, desserts, and a drink for a freewill donation. Carryouts are available. In Fort Dodge FORT DODGE — Knights of Columbus Lenten Fish Fry is ...

FD Middle School performs ‘The Wizard of Oz’

New effort gets students back on track for diplomas

Giving individuals across the Fort Dodge Community School District another chance to finish their educational experience is at the heart of the new Gateway Program. “Conversations about this began in the spring of 2025,” district Superintendent Josh Porter said. “Our dropout rates haven’t been where we want them to be. We knew we needed to create a different kind of support system — one that recognizes every student’s story is different and provides a pathway that fits their needs.” The program is designed for students ages 17–21 who have left the traditional high ...

New effort gets students back on track for diplomas

Giving individuals across the Fort Dodge Community School District another chance to finish their educational experience is at the heart of the new Gateway Program. “Conversations about this began in the spring of 2025,” District Superintendent Josh Porter said. “Our dropout rates ...

EMS coordinator candidate advanced

Webster County may soon have its first emergency medical service coordinator. The county’s Emergency Medical Service Advisory Council recommended Scott Richards, a Lifeflight paramedic and paramedic instructor, for the job Wednesday evening. The recommendation came on a unanimous vote. The council’s vote was a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, which will have the final say on hiring him. Establishing the position was part of the plan for the EMS essential service tax approved by the voters in March 2025. The coordinator will not be in charge of the EMS agencies in ...

Meyer, Larson support community college bill

State representatives Ann Meyer and Wendy Larson voted Wednesday for a bill that would enable community colleges to offer a limited number of baccalaureate degrees. “It’s just good for our Fort Dodge workforce,” said Meyer, a Republican from Fort Dodge. “It will keep a lot of our Fort Dodge young people in Fort Dodge to join our workforce.” There was a community college event in the Iowa Capitol Tuesday, and Meyer said during it she met with a couple of Iowa Central Community College students. She said they both told her that they would prefer to stay at Iowa Central to ...