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Sac County shooting under investigation

SAC CITY — An investigation is underway in Sac County following a May 4 shooting. According to Chief Deputy Katie Stange, the Sac County Sheriff’s Office and Sac County Emergency Medical Service were dispatched to the area of U.S. Highway 71 and 330th Street on May 4 at 6:22 a.m. Once on scene, they discovered an injured subject with a gunshot wound. One individual has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting, according to the Sheriff’s Office. According to Stange, the investigation is ongoing, and additional details will be released at a later date.

Fonda Specialty Care celebrates deficiency free survey

FONDA — Fonda Specialty Care is celebrating a deficiency free state survey and recognizing its team members for their commitment to quality care. A deficiency free survey means state surveyors found zero deficiencies during their annual inspection and confirmed that Fonda Specialty Care is meeting or exceeding all state and federal requirements in the areas of resident care, services, and environment. This designation is rare and comes after a rigorous process where state agencies conduct unannounced surveys, often over the course of several days, to observe resident care, check all ...

Man charged in gunfire incident

FONDA — A man has been charged with firing a gun in Fonda, according to the Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Office. No one was injured in the incident. According to the Sheriff’s Office, at 9:59 p.m. Sunday 911 dispatchers received a report of a gunshot and a woman screaming in the area of Franklin and Fourth streets in Fonda. On Friday, Dennis Kelly, 68, of Fonda, was charged with reckless use of a firearm and disorderly conduct, the Sheriff’s Office reported. In criminal complaints filed against him, deputies wrote that Kelly was intoxicated when he got a gun out of his gun ...

One injured in head-on collision near Thor

THOR — High winds and dusty conditions Thursday afternoon created areas of zero visibility which authorities say contributed to a head-on collision near Thor. According to the Iowa State Patrol, William L. Dencklau, of Dakota City, was southbound on Utah Avenue in a 2016 GMC Sierra pickup truck when he crossed the center line and collided with a northbound 2017 Chevrolet Impala driven by Rosemary Baker, of Humboldt. According to troopers, the visibility for both drivers was clouded due to the blowing dirt throughout the county. Baker was transported to the Humboldt County ...

DNR: Lizard Creek is clear of spill contaminants

Test results from water samples collected from Lizard Creek indicate that the creek no longer shows any byproducts from the spill that occurred on April 14, and that normal recreational activities can resume in the South Branch and Lizard Creek, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported. The DNR continues to work with CJ Bio America regarding clean-up at the site. State fisheries experts reported that the event impacted 71,933 fish. Information regarding enforcement actions and further updates will be provided upon the completion of the ongoing investigation. “The time of ...

Nominate someone for Hometown Pride

Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond for their community? Nominate them for The Messenger’s 2025 Hometown Pride publication. Email your nominations to bshea@messengernews.net. Please include the name, hometown and contact information for the nominee, as well as why you are nominating them. Nominees can be individuals as well as groups or organizations. The Messenger’s coverage area includes Calhoun, Hamilton, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Sac, Webster and Wright counties. Nominations can be anonymous.