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School board gets update on FDSH goals

Senior High Principal Staci Laird gave the Fort Dodge Community School District Board of Education a comprehensive review of goals at the school, entitled “A Vision for You.” Those goals include 70 percent of students being proficient in literacy. They also include having all teachers assess on employability skills. Other areas include an individual/district career and academic plan. The first Iowa Central Career Day was held in October with three more to follow. Laird reported that 54 students have been taken on two college visits this year to Iowa State University in ...

Rentz served in Alaska, Pacific Northwest

It takes a lot of people serving in hundreds of different specialities to protect American shores. Wayne Rentz, a former mayor of Moorland, was one of them. He served in the United States Coast Guard. Restless after high school, he enlisted in the Coast Guard in January 1973 at age 19. ...

FD man acquitted in sex abuse case

A Webster County jury found a Fort Dodge man not guilty of third degree sexual abuse last week. According to court documents, Zachary Andrews, 32, was found not guilty in Webster County District Court of sexual abuse for an incident that occured in June 2026. “I’m disappointed in the verdict in this matter but appreciative of the dedication of the jury,” said Webster County Assistant County Attorney Bailey Cavanaugh. “The victim will continue to navigate the trauma suffered due to these events.” The case was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department and ...

No paper on Veterans Day

The print edition of The Messenger will not be published on Wednesday in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. Check www.messengernews.net throughout the day for breaking news and news updates.

THE RED KETTLES RETURN

Starting on Saturday, the familiar sound of bells ringing in front of stores began in Fort Dodge as the annual Salvation Army Kettle Campaign kicked off. It’s a sound heard every year and a need that’s always there, every year. “The need is great this year,” said Salvation Army ...

FD bridge contract on council agenda

A contract for replacing the 101-year-old Highland Park Avenue Bridge will come before the Fort Dodge City Council tonight. The council will also consider the second readings of proposed increases in the monthly water and sanitary sewer bills. The council’s work will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 819 First Ave. S., with a workshop on future street improvement projects. The council’s business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. That’s when the bridge contract will be considered. The timber frame bridge was built in 1925. It carries Highland Park Avenue over the ...