News
Mayor: All key Fort Dodge services operating
Local News
Although in-person contact between Fort Dodge residents and several city government offices have been suspended because of the threat of COVID-19, all essential services are continuing as normal, according to Mayor Matt Bemrich. That means all the police officers, firefighters and paramedics ...
Honor Flight rescheduled
Local News
The May 9, 2020 Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight is rescheduled for August 22, 2020. The suspension is in response to concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19. All veterans who were scheduled to go on the May 9 flight leaving from the Fort Dodge Regional Airport will be invited to go on the ...
Messenger readers warned of scam
Local News
Readers of The Messenger need to be aware of an apparent telephone scam targeting them. Some people have reported receiving phone calls from an individual identifying themselves as a representative of the local newspaper. The caller claims that the newspaper could not process the person's ...
SCC High School play postponed
News Brief
LAKE CITY — The South Central Calhoun Community School play “Little Women” has been postponed and will not be presented this weekend.
FD council OKs $93M budget for 2020-21
Local News
The roughly $93 million budget for Fort Dodge in 2020-2021 was approved by the City Council Monday. Totalling $93,699, 279, the budget maintains local government services at their current levels. It also trims the property tax rate slightly, to $20.17 per $1,000 of taxable value. The ...
‘Ahead of the curve’
Local News
Though there hasn’t been a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in Webster County yet, leaders across the spectrum have been meeting twice a day for nearly two weeks in preparation for when it lands — but they can’t do it alone. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is asking for all ...
FD district to pay employees during school closure
Local News
All employees of the Fort Dodge Community School District, will continue to be paid during the school closures due to COVID-19. On Monday night, the FDCSD Board of Education voted to pass a resolution to allow the district to continue to pay its staff during this time. One of the factors ...
Humboldt names new superintendent
Local News
HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt Community School District announced its next superintendent following a special school board meeting on Monday night. Jim Murray will begin his duties as superintendent on July 1, 2020. “Jim’s authenticity, educational experience, community mindedness and his ...
Railroad netting knocks out power for nearly 450 in FD
Local News
Netting failure from a railroad bridge caused a power outage late Monday morning, affecting nearly 450 MidAmerican Energy customers through a wide swath of Fort Dodge. MidAmerican Energy Co. said that 446 customers lost power at 11:35 a.m. after protective netting used to contain falling ...
When it comes to weather, official says be prepared
Local News
In an unprecedented time when Iowans are being encouraged to stay inside as much as possible, the weather outside — good and bad — will continue. That means staying alert to severe weather is as important now as ever to weather the storm. Here’s what you need to know about severe ...
FD City Council supports day care expansion plan
Local News
Faced with an ongoing shortage of available day care in the community, the Fort Dodge City Council moved on Monday to help finance a planned expansion of the Community Early Childhood Center. Leaders of that facility at 1314 S. 24th St. plan to expand to accommodate 56 more children. The ...
FD council sets 2020 paving program
Local News
A fresh coat of asphalt will be applied to several Fort Dodge streets this summer as a result of a contract awarded Monday by the City Council. The council hired Fort Dodge Asphalt Co. to do the work at a cost of $542,158.47. These streets will be repaved: ∫ 14th Street between Sixth ...
FD Community School board OKs budget, union agreements
Local News
The Fort Dodge Community School District Board of Education adopted its 2020-2021 certified budget during an electronic meeting on Monday night. Board members, members of the media, district staff and community members attended the meeting via the video conferencing service Zoom. The ...
Confidence
Local News
Dr. Megan Srinivas, of Fort Dodge, has been named a Confidence Award finalist for the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa’s Inspiring Women of Iowa event. Srinivas, an infectious disease and internal medicine physician at the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge, is one of four finalists for ...
Kossuth Co. confirms first COVID-19 case
Local News
On Sunday, the Iowa Department of Public Health confirmed the first positive COVID-19 coronavirus case in Kossuth County, in north central Iowa. The patient, whose location and gender is not being released, is an adult between the ages of 18 and 40, according to Bob Jennings, public ...
‘We will all get through this’
Local News
As he sat thousands of miles from home, Jake Heidenreich was reassured that everything would work out. Heidenreich, a St. Edmond graduate and current Loras College student, was in Spain on a study abroad trip when the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, was just starting to spread ...
10 Under 40: Luke Hugghins
Local News
Editor’s note: This feature highlights one of 10 individuals under age 40 who make a difference in their business and their community. This spotlight first ran in the Sept. 8, 2019, special section of The Messenger, presented in conjunction with the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance ...
Humboldt CSD names new superintendent
Local News
The Humboldt Community School District announced its next superintendent following a special school board meeting on Monday night. Jim Murray will begin is duties as superintendent on July 1, 2020. “Jim’s authenticity, educational experience, community mindedness and his preparation ...
Blessings on the curb
Local News
When the Rev. Emily Sauer put on her vestments Saturday afternoon at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, the first two items were just like any other service. Her Alb, the long white robe. Her Stole, purple for the season of lent. Then came the new items. A surgical mask and a pair of blue latex ...