News

Principal: FDMS reading marks are up

Local News April 14, 2026

The Fort Dodge Community School District, striving for student literacy improvements, saw more impressive results at the board’s Monday meeting. Middle School Principal Shawn Chesteen presented the group with a look at what sixth through eighth grade students have been accomplishing. “We have a building goal to increase by 8 percent on the state’s student readiness program charts,” he said. “There are several avenues in which we are working towards this.” Chesteen said those avenues are a reading achievement program in place for special education students, several RAPs ...

‘The Beverly House’

Local News April 14, 2026

DAYTON — At first light later this week, the former rectory that once housed nuns and Catholic clergy in Dayton will begin a new journey. The now vacant home was lifted onto a trailer Monday and will soon be moved 6.5 miles southeast to Hidden Acres Christian Center, where it will ...

Council OKs agreement for animal control service

Local News April 14, 2026

Fort Dodge will continue to have someone available to respond to complaints about loose dogs and other animal problems, despite a pending lapse in the previous contract for those services. On Monday the council unanimously approved an interim agreement with Webster County Animal Protection. The agreement will keep the company on the job until June 30, and city officials expect to have a new contract with the company in place on July 1. Under the interim agreement, the company will be paid $5,321.50 per month. The council approved the agreement unanimously without ...

FD council awards contracts

Local News April 14, 2026

A three-block section of Third Avenue Northwest will get an overhaul this year. The City Council on Monday awarded a contract for the complete reconstruction of that road between Seventh and 10th streets northwest. Rasch Construction, of Fort Dodge, was hired to do the job at a cost of $2,119,339.50 Other bidders for the work were Castor Construction, ($2,256,418.38) and Doyle Construction ($2,452,989.37), both of Fort Dodge. This project follows a 2022 job that reduced the slope and curve of the hill just west of the Hawkeye Avenue Bridge and rebuilt a couple blocks of ...

Purchases, new position approved by FD council

Local News April 14, 2026

Some new municipal vehicles were ordered by the Fort Dodge City Council Monday. The council ordered two Dodge Durangos for the Police Department from Fort Dodge Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for $84,486. Those will replace two older, high mileage patrol vehicles. The council also bought a Ford Ranger pickup for the Recreation Department from Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota for $35,496. The council also created a new, part-time records and support technician in the Fire Department. This individual will assist with billing for the ambulance service provided by the Fire Department. They ...

News of Record: April 14, 2026

News of record April 14, 2026

Police Log FORT DODGE Sunday A fight was reported in the 300 block of South Fourth Street. A suspicious person was reported in the 3100 block of North 15th Street. Criminal mischief was reported in the 200 block of South Ninth Street. A civil dispute was reported in the 300 block of Avenue M West. A vehicle accident was reported in the 100 block of South 29th Street. Water problems were reported in the 200 block of North 25th Street. A missing person was reported in the 300 block of Avenue M West. A shoplifter was reported in the 2900 block of First Avenue South. Criminal ...