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‘Practical Magic’ Movie Night coming to Fort Dodge Public Library

Get ready for a little magic, mystery, and sisterhood at the Fort Dodge Public Library’s "Practical Magic" Movie Night at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the library 424 Central Ave. Join us for a special screening of the beloved 1998 film “Practical Magic,” starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, two witches navigating family, love, and a little bit of supernatural trouble. This is the perfect chance to revisit the magic of the Owens sisters before the long awaited “Practical Magic 2” hits the big screen. The program is free and open to the ...

FDPL board to meet Monday

The Fort Dodge Public Library Board of Trustees will meet at 3:30 p.m. Monday in the conference room of the library, 424 Central Ave.

Gas leak contained in FD

A small natural gas leak in southern Fort Dodge was quickly controlled early Friday afternoon. The leak was reported at 1:10 p.m. near Ninth Avenue South and 29th Street. A contractor struck and broke an underground service line, according to Geoff Greenwood, a spokesman for MidAmerican Energy. He said a service line connects a gas main to a single customer, which in this case was a residence. A MidAmerican Energy crew stopped the leak within five minutes of arriving, Fire Department Capt. Jeff Hill said. He said firefighters used air monitoring equipment to check the area round ...

North Ninth Street to be closed Monday

A long section of busy North Ninth Street will be closed to traffic beginning Monday, so that it can be repaved. The road will be closed between First Avenue North and Seventh Avenue North. Traffic will be detoured onto North Seventh Street. At the intersection of First Avenue North and North Ninth Street, traffic will be able to go east, west and south. At the intersection of Seventh Avenue North and North Ninth Street, traffic will be able to go west and north onto Williams Drive. All intersections between First Avenue North and Seventh Avenue North will be closed.

Man charged with sexually abusing a child

A man has been arrested and accused of sexually abusing an 11-year-old child. Eldon Eugene Rose Lanstrum, 29, of Lohrville, was arrested by Webster County sheriff’s deputies and charged with two counts of second degree sexual abuse and two counts of lascivious acts with a child. According to criminal complaints filed against Lanstrum, the abuse occurred Sept. 28, 2025, at a residence in Harcourt. He was arrested on Monday and made his initial appearance in Webster County Magistrate Court Tuesday morning. Magistrate Sarah J. Livingston set a preliminary hearing for Aug. 28. She ...

Workshop on helping grieving children is today

POCAHONTAS — A program on children’s grief and bereavement will be offered today by the Pocahontas Area School District and Pocahontas Community Hospital. The event is from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Pocahontas Rialto Theatre. Information on helping support children who are grieving a loss will be presented. New York Life’s Grief Sensitive School Initiative and Every Step featuring Amanda the Panda will provide the information. The presentation is targeted to school faculty and staff and representatives of any other organization.