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Editorial

Take the time to remember

Monday is Memorial Day. For many people, it is a time to welcome the summer season by taking advantage of a three-day holiday weekend to spend time relaxing with friends and family. It is important, however, not to forget what this day is truly about. Beginning soon after the Civil War, a day in May was set aside as a time to decorate with flowers the graves of the war dead. The original stimulus for this day came from the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union Army Civil War veterans. For many years it was called Decoration Day. Honoring those who gave their lives in ...

Big construction season in Fort Dodge will provide big benefits

If there is one thing Fort Dodge residents have consistently complained about over the years, it is the condition of the city’s streets. This year they may have something entirely different to complain about: the amount of road work that will be impacting their daily travels. It does no good to point fingers or accuse anyone of negligence, but the reality is that our city’s infrastructure problems were caused by years of neglect. Nothing was done to maintain and improve things. Over the last few years, that has been changing. And this year’s construction season promises to be ...

It’s time to honor EMS providers

In Webster County and all across America, teams of dedicated professionals stand ready to render medical assistance in emergencies. For some, this is their career. For many others, it is a volunteer undertaking that is performed in addition to their normal employment. It’s impossible to overstate how important emergency medical service (EMS) personnel can be to just about any of us in a moment when knowledgeable help is needed fast. Honoring the men and women who handle this vital work is appropriate at all times, but especially so just now. That’s because National EMS Week began ...

Postal Service should not be privatized

As we Americans celebrate the 250th birthday of our country this year, we ought to take a minute to appreciate an often maligned organization that has helped tie the nation together throughout its history. That organization is the United States Postal Service. Even in the age of email, the Postal Service has a key role in helping Americans communicate and do business. We ought to keep it that way. Privatizing the Postal Service would be a mistake that would result in less service and higher costs for citizens. Unfortunately, the concept of privatizing it has come up a couple of ...

It’s a good time to enjoy our parks

Saturday is National Kids to Parks Day. This is a countrywide celebration organized annually by the National Park Trust “to connect kids and families with their local, state and national parks and public lands.” It has helped popularize these wonderful outdoor recreational venues since 2011. In conjunction with the national festivities, this weekend the Fort Dodge Recreation Department and Webster County Conservation are putting on a scavenger hunt throughout six area parks — both well—known ones and some not visited as often. And while National Kids to Parks Day is Saturday, ...

May is Beef Month in Iowa

During the month of May, it is worth noting that it is a time to celebrate an important meat product. May is Beef Month. For many of us, every month is a time to partake of a food that ranks high on the list of culinary favorites. It’s no secret that Americans have a love affair with beef. That’s been true for generations, and the demand for this tasty and healthy product is on the rise — up about 15 percent in the last decade. The passion for beef is widely shared. It is the beef industry’s vital role in the state’s economy, however, that warrants special ...