News

Meet the candidates

Today’s edition of The Messenger features information on the candidates from the area running for the state House of Representatives. In House District 8, Republican state Rep. Ann Meyer, of Fort Dodge and Democrat Kris Williams, of Fort Dodge are competing. Meyer is seeking her fifth term. Williams is making his first run of public office. House District 8 includes Fort Dodge and eastern Webster County. In House District 7 Republican state Rep. Wendy Larson, of Odebolt, faces Democrat Rachel Burns, also of Odebolt. Larson defeated Burns in a December 2025 special election to ...

Snell Settlement Services eases the process of home buying

Closing the purchase of a home can be a confusing process loaded with a mind boggling array of documents. There is a Fort Dodge business dedicated to helping ease that procedure for buyers and sellers. That firm, Snell Settlement Services, has been in business since 2002 and now has a new ...

Sole of the community

When Craig Jarrard opened his Fort Dodge shoe store in 1996, he had one employee and 3,000 square feet of space. Thirty years later, he has a staff of 18, a much larger store, and customers whose families have been shopping with him for three generations. Ask him what accounts for that ...

FDSH students looking for a few bad cars

The U.S. Marines might be looking for a few good men, but the Fort Dodge Senior High School automotive program is looking for a few bad cars. Students in the high school automotive classes are looking for vehicles from the community to help them build real-world skills while also supporting ...

Crash sends two to hospital

News of Record: Oct. 24, 2026

Police Log FORT DODGE Wednesday A traffic sign problem was reported at First Avenue South and 12th Street. A parking complaint was reported in the 900 block of South 17th Street. An assault was reported in the 700 block of First Avenue South. A suspicious person was reported in the 1600 block of Triton Drive. An open door or window was reported in the 300 block of South 25th Street. A welfare check was conducted in the 1400 block of 20th Avenue North. An animal complaint was reported in the 1100 block of First Avenue North. Criminal mischief was reported in the 2800 ...