Local News

Fur Ball is Saturday

Long before many local dogs and cats find their forever homes with loving people, they are at a place called Almost Home. Its full proper name is the Almost Home Humane Society of North Central Iowa, and it offers shelter, food and veterinary care for pets. On Saturday, area residents will be able to support that mission during a fun night on the town featuring food, live music and many auction items to bid on. That event is the 16th annual Fur Ball to be held at the Laramar Ballroom, 710 First Ave. N. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $25 at the door. “The furry friends, ...

Rost Motor closes

MANSON — Rost Motor Inc., a fixture in the Manson community for 78 years, has closed. A statement on the Ford dealership’s web site indicates that the business closed this month. The phone at the business rang unanswered Thursday afternoon. A call to owner Bernie Rost was not returned Thursday. The business was founded by Manson area native Leo Rost, a self-taught mechanic. In 1947, after Rost returned from serving in the Army during World War II, he and another man opened a combination mechanic’s garage and hardware store. Initially, he did his mechanical work with just ...

House moving day

Go and Do: April 17, 2026

Around the area WEBSTER CITY — First Congregational United Church of Christ will hold its spring thrift sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. TODAY and 8 a.m. to noon SATURDAY at the church, 1000 Willson Ave, Webster City. DAYTON — The Dayton Vendor Expo will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. SATURDAY at the Dayton Community Center, 104 First St. NW, Dayton. Lunch provided by the Pork Producers and POET will be held at noon for a freewill donation. FONDA — The father/daughter acoustic duo of Josh and Rowyn Nielsen will perform at 3 p.m. SUNDAY at the Fonda Arts Center. Free admission. ROWAN ...

A BROADWAY BREAKTHROUGH

NEW YORK — A poignant moment in the 1987 film “Broadcast News” may best describe the life of Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Ben Ahlers these days. Tom Grunick — played by William Hurt — asks Albert Brooks’ character, Aaron Altman, “What do you do when your real life exceeds ...

Appeals court rules against convicted killer

A man convicted of killing two people in a 2020 Fort Dodge gun battle has lost what is likely his last bid to get his long prison sentence overturned. Michael Shivers had taken a post conviction relief action case to the Iowa Court of Appeals, which on Wednesday affirmed a lower court ...