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Opinion

Be part of area effort to support our troops overseas

Editorial

There are still thousands of American troops who are stationed not only far from home, but thousands of miles away from the United States. They are on the frontlines, protecting our rights and freedoms in a world that seems increasingly scary. An effort now underway will enable folks from northwest Iowa to send those soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardians and Marines a few comforts of home in the form of care packages that will arrive as the holiday season gears up. And people will be able to be a part of this effort without lugging anything to the post office. The troop care package ...

Wants Republicans to prevail in election

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: President Trump and Republicans have closed the border to illegal immigrants, reduced the amount of fentanyl coming across the border, reduced crime to historic lows, reduced the poverty rate to an all-time low, are against men competing in women’s sports, are against the mutilation of minors in the effort to change their gender, support the police and all law enforcement, created Trump Accounts providing $1,000 for children born between 2025 and 2028, arranged for the release of all the remaining Israelis held by Hamas, and passed that One Big Beautiful Bill in July ...

Keep the buses rolling safely

Editorial

Riding the big yellow bus is an essential part of the school day for thousands of local children. Those school buses do more than take kids to and from class. They are also the transportation to field trips, sports events and other activities. With so many buses on the road carrying students, from preschool to seniors in high school, safety is of paramount importance. That’s why the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa State Patrol have stringent standards for school buses. But the rest of us on the road also have some responsibility for keeping the kids on those buses ...

Group marks 125 years of study, service and friendship

Editorial

An unfortunate fact of recent years is that membership in civic groups, clubs and even churches is dwindling. Some of those organizations have even folded due to a lack of members. Something remarkable happened in Fort Dodge recently which defies that trend. The Ingleside Club celebrated 125 years of study, service to the community and friendship among the generations of women who have been members. The club was established in 1901. Its name comes from the word for a nook next to a fireplace, which is a good place to read. “The women who started this were amazing women,” ...

Cooperatives bring value to communities

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: Agriculture is an industry built to withstand challenges, but today’s operating environment feels a little more intense and a little less cyclical. But as the CEO of NEW Cooperative in Fort Dodge, Iowa, I've seen firsthand how the cooperative model helps farmers and rural communities succeed in good times and bad. During National Cooperative Month, I'm reflecting on the value cooperatives bring to communities across Iowa and why they remain essential to agriculture's future. For generations, cooperatives have helped farmers navigate uncertainty, access new ...