With headlines about Ebola, the Secret Service and Islamic State terrorists monopolizing the news, some Americans may have missed an extraordinarily significant report this week.On Sept. 30, U.S. and Afghan officials signed an agreement allowing American combat troops to be stationed in ...

Here at The Messenger, we work diligently to put out a daily newspaper that we hope readers find both informative and useful.This is National Newspaper Week. That makes it a good time to reflect on our industry.Newspapers are so much a part of daily life that most people spend little time ...

National 4-H Week is a good time to celebrate the enormous contributions 4-H makes to our community and nation.It's hard to imagine anyone in Iowa who doesn't know a bit about 4-H, but this week is an appropriate occasion to reflect on the important contribution this organization makes by ...

There are various types of businesses that operate as cooperatives, but according to the National Cooperative Business Association they all are owned and democratically controlled by their members and are designed to serve those members. The members typically are the people who "use the co-op's ...

President Barack Obama admitted on Sept. 28 what most observant Americans already knew:?Once again, U.S. intelligence agencies failed to "connect the dots" on a terrorist group. And once again, U.S. officials had too much confidence in foreign allies.Obama conceded the threat from Islamic State ...

Attorney General Eric Holder, who is stepping down, will not be missed by Americans worried about the drug abuse epidemic. With support from his boss, President Barack Obama, Holder in effect declared a truce in the war on drugs.The result? Drug abuse has increased substantially during the last ...

It will come as no surprise to even the most casual student of American history to learn that manufacturing has contributed mightily to our nation's economic prosperity. It may not be so obvious, however, that Iowa's economic well-being - while influenced hugely by agriculture - is also ...

Most of President Barack Obama's game plan for destroying the Islamic State terrorist group seems logical.Unfortunately, U.S. officials have boxed themselves into a corner to the point there are not many options.Part of the president's plan, however, could be an invitation to disaster.Obama ...

When our armed forces go to war - and make no mistake about it, they have - Americans rally in support. To ensure their sacrifices are not in vain, we as a people also owe it to them to examine the goals and strategy of the conflict.Air attacks have been launched against Islamic State terrorist ...

Nobody knows exactly how long humans have cultivated the soybean, but agricultural historians are quite certain its domestication as a crop in China dates back three millennia. There are actually Chinese records documenting soybean growth as far back as the 11th century. There is some ...

Omar J. Gonzalez was carrying a knife when he stormed into the White House recently.What if he had been equipped with a bomb?Gonzalez, a military veteran, clearly is mentally unbalanced. As yet, his state of mind when he invaded the White House and what he intended to do there has not been ...

Numerous Fort Dodgers have worked hard during the last few years to make sure this is a town with a great future. Those efforts are generating a booming economy. They are also producing a quality of life that is excellent and on target to get even better.A state-of-the-art trails system and a ...

Anyone who visits downtown Fort Dodge regularly knows that finding a place to park is not often a problem. As the game plan for making the city's historic central business district a vibrant part of its economic future evolves, however, the parking environment may become less favorable for ...

Let us hope Department of Homeland Security officials took note of recent remarks by their boss, Jeh Johnson, on a major terrorism threat that requires careful attention.Speaking to the American Bar Association, Johnson, who heads the department, reviewed various types of terrorism challenges. ...

Last week the Gypsum City Off-Highway Vehicle Park celebrated a major expansion. The second phase of this remarkable recreational area is now open. This enhancement adds 34 miles of trails in this huge outdoor complex south of Fort Dodge. Traversing the park one passes through fields and ...

The quality of the school system is among the most important determinants of a community's long-term prospects.Excellent schools can have an enormous impact on economic development. Businesses seeking to expand or relocate pay close attention to the quality of the schools that will serve their ...

It's still more than six weeks until Election Day. The upcoming election will afford those citizens who choose to vote the opportunity to shape the future of our community, state and nation. Given the impact American policies have almost everywhere in the world, it is really no exaggeration to ...

In those old Westerns that were so popular with movie-goers not so many years ago, cattle-rustling was a recurring theme. Anyone who supposes that is a crime that disappeared ages ago would be wrong.It turns out that problem is still with us in 21st-century America.According to a recent ...

Most of the financial support for public schools comes from the taxpayer through property taxes, state monies or federal programs. Consequently, people tend to forget that charitable contributions to public schools are possible. They also can be especially important during an era when ...

Karl King's musical legacy is well-known by Fort Dodgers. The legendary bandmaster, composer and musician was part of the local musical world from the time he moved to our town at age 29 until his death in 1971.Before he became an Iowan, however, the early part of King's career was devoted to ...