Breaking News

Fire destroys house in Fort Dodge

A fire immediately described by firefighters as suspicious destroyed an abandoned house in Fort Dodge Friday evening. The fire at 454 First Ave. N.W. was reported at about 6:30 p.m. No one was injured.

FD man gets nine years on federal drug charge

A Fort Dodge man will spend nine years in federal prison for trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa. Matthew Groat, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand on Wednesday. He had pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in January. Federal prosecutors said that Groat and others distributed more than 2,200 grams of methamphetamine and at least 10 grams of cocaine in the Fort Dodge area between August and November 2025. He also admitted that on two occasions in ...

New role for Exposition Park celebrated

The sounds of people splashing around in the pool and generally having a good time could be heard every summer for years at Exposition Park in Fort Dodge. The pool is long gone, having been replaced by the Rosedale Rapids Aquatic Center on the east side of the city. Now the park near ...

Go and Do: May 29, 2026

Around the area CALLENDER — A time capsule placed inside the Prairie Elementary School sign on May 26, 1976, will be opened at 1 p.m. SATURDAY before being moved to the Gowrie Historical Museum. There will be refreshments in the City Park afterward. WEBSTER CITY — The Kendall Young Library will hold a family summer kickoff party from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. SUNDAY at the library. There will be hot dogs, chips and cookies, balloon art, games, face painting and live music by Chad Elliot. In Fort Dodge FORT DODGE — Fort Dodge Summerfest will begin with the opening of the vendor fair ...

News of Record: May 29, 2026

Police Log FORT DODGE Wednesday A suspicious person was reported at 17th Street and 12th Avenue South. A suspicious person was reported in the 1000 block of Central Avenue. A suspicious person was reported in the 200 block of First Avenue South. A suspicious person was reported in the 500 block of North Ninth Street. A shoplifter was reported in the 200 block of North 15th Street. A suspicious person was reported at Fourth Avenue North and 14th Street. A fraud was reported in the 600 block of 11th Avenue North. A theft was reported in the 3000 block of First Avenue ...