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Opinion

Scholarship honors the memory of Landon Smith

Editorial

Area residents will soon have the opportunity to enjoy good food and live music as a way to support the training of the next generation of local electricians. At the root of the effort is the remarkable grit of a Fort Dodge woman determined to see that something good would come out of the tragic death of her son. That woman is Donna Smith. Her son, Landon Smith, was an electrical technologies student at Iowa Central Community College when he died in a 2020 motorcycle crash. At the time of his death, the COVID pandemic was disrupting just about every aspect of life. One result was ...

Impressed by the kindness of a stranger

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: I wish to share an experience I had while shopping for groceries at Walmart this past Tuesday morning, Sept. 22. As I was checking out with a clerk, my credit card would not work in the machine. I did not have any cash or checks to pay for it. The young lady behind me spoke up and told the clerk she would pay for it in her checking out. I was so surprised and thanked her, but was in a hurry to meet our bus. I took the cart of groceries and left the store. I was so surprised and thankful. I want her to know I intend to give an equal amount to a local charity. Carol ...

Writer wants incumbents out of office

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: I don’t know about you folks , but I’m getting really tired of all these political ads. You’ve probably got an idea who’s going to get your vote. That is, if you’re going to vote, but I hope so. Just remember who we have to thank for the tariffs, the One Big Beautiful Bill, $4.40 a gallon gas and $6 diesel fuel. The Strait of Hormuz was open, and we had people helping to furnish fuel to the rest of the world. All our representatives and senators from Iowa voted for everything the current administration wanted. Tariffs have made things three times higher ...

Area residents don’t have to look far for fall fun

Editorial

The days are now noticeably shorter. And the temperature seems to dip just a little bit lower every night. Those are sure signs that fall is here. The long lazy days of summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean there are no more chances for fun outside. And that fun can be found close to Fort Dodge, which is an added bonus with gasoline prices through the roof and unlikely to come down anytime soon. In the Fort Dodge area, there are some remarkable opportunities for families to enjoy this fall. There are long running festivals that are returning this year with fun, food and of ...

Refutes Grassley’s stance on socialism

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: This letter responds to Sen. Chuck Grassley’s editorial “Socialism doesn’t work” published Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. Sen. Grassley and Republican senators clearly support tariffs without oversight. Tariffs have raised prices on goods for consumers and farmers. On Liberation Day, April 2, 2025, Donald Trump imposed tariffs on approximately 140 countries under IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act). Trump’s tariffs are considered a form of taxation and were ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Because those tariffs were ruled illegal, ...

Urban deer hunt begins in Fort Dodge on private lands

Editorial

A deer hunting season is getting underway in Fort Dodge. It starts today and continues through Jan. 10, 2027. Chances are good that many people will have no indication that it is happening. The fact that the hunting won't be obvious to everyone in town is a good thing. We hope it stays that way because that means the hunt is being conducted flawlessly by expert archers. The hunt will be conducted on privately owned land that meets size requirements. Most of that property is on the northern, eastern and western edges of the city. The decision to allow what is called an urban ...