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Decoration rules for city cemeteries announced

News Brief

Grave site decorations will be permitted in the Fort Dodge city-owned cemeteries three days prior to Memorial Day, according to an announcement from the Public Areas Department. Decorations will be removed and disposed of seven days after Memorial Day. The three cemeteries are Oakland Cemetery on North 15th Street, North Lawn Cemetery on North 15th Street, and Fort Dodge Memorial Park Cemetery at Fifth Avenue South and 32nd Street. The post Memorial Day cleanup of those cemeteries will begin June 2. All flowers and decorations not in permanent bases will be removed. Items that ...

Feenstra bill aims to support rural maternity care

Local News

U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra is working on legislation he says will enable small rural hospitals to provide childbirth services while still keeping a form of extra Medicare support. The bill introduced by the Republican from Hull is intended to support those hospitals designated as critical access hospitals under Medicare, the federal health insurance program for seniors. With a critical access hospital designation, facilities get reimbursed by Medicare for the allowable cost of a treatment plus an additional percentage. Several area hospitals have the designation. They are Humboldt ...

Disaster proclamation issued for Pocahontas County

News Brief

POCAHONTAS — Pocahontas County received a disaster proclamation from Gov. Kim Reynolds, allowing state resources to be used to help in recovering from severe weather that struck on Friday. The proclamation also activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program, which provides grants of up to $7,000 to households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federally-designated poverty level. Those grants can be used for home or vehicle repairs, replacement of personal property, buying food and temporary housing expenses. Reynolds also issued disaster proclamations for Emmet, Hancock, ...

News of Record: May 21, 2026

News of record

Magistrate Court WEBSTER COUNTY Wednesday First degree harassment — Brandon L. Tiernan, 28, Fort Dodge, preliminary hearing set for June 9, no contact order issued. Driving while barred — Juan Lopez Velasco, 36, Ames, preliminary hearing waived. Tampering with witness — Labrandon J. Williams, 24, Fort Dodge, preliminary hearing set for May 29, no contact order issued. Reckless driving — Brandon A. Farrand, 36, 2240 Ninth Ave. S., trial set for July 15. Failure to obey traffic control device — Brandon A. Farrand, 36, 2240 Ninth Ave. S., trial set for July ...

Nominations for Hometown Pride wanted

News Brief

The Messenger is seeking nominations for its annual publication called Hometown Pride. Do you know someone who has an interesting story to tell? Perhaps they have a long track record of civic and public service. Or maybe they have an interesting and unique hobby. Or perhaps they have had some fascinating experiences they’re willing to talk about. The Messenger would like to highlight them in the annual magazine. If you know someone worth featuring in this publication, please send some information about them and ways to contact them to bshea@messengernews.net.