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Dogs are making hospital rounds

People and dogs seem to have a bond that defies ordinary definition, and that bond is known to provide health benefits. There is a stack of medical research which shows that interacting with a dog lowers human blood pressure, improves cardiovascular health and reduces anxiety. In Fort Dodge, patients have a unique opportunity to take advantage of the human-canine healing connection. There are four therapy dogs that work at UnityPoint Health - Trinity Regional Medical Center. The newest addition to the staff is Tedwin, a Corgi owned by Toni Deal, of Coalville. Tedwin and Deal also ...

Phil Gunderson has remarkable record of community service

“It’s so great to do great things with great people.” Those were the words of Phil Gunderson, of Fort Dodge, Thursday evening at the annual dinner of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. Many in this city view Gunderson as one of those great people, a fact that was reflected at the dinner when he received the Catalyst Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Growth Alliance. We believe he truly deserves the honor. Just how much Gunderson has done and continues to do for the community was made very apparent when The Messenger obtained a copy of the remarks made by Jim ...

Group dedicated to helping families of fallen officers deserves support

A police officer being killed in the line of duty seems like something that would happen only in a big city. Such a death in Chicago or New York seems possible, but in our mostly rural area that seems far-fetched. Unfortunately, it can happen here. The citizens and law enforcement officers of Algona can provide firsthand confirmation of that sad fact. On Sept. 13, 2023, Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram went to a home where a man named Kyle Ricke was known to be staying. He went there to arrest Ricke on a warrant accusing him of third degree harassment. Cram found Ricke, who shot and ...

Eggs and Issues is democracy in action

Interaction between citizens and the officials they elect to represent them is crucial to a democracy. Citizens must be able to tell the officials what they want and what they don’t want. They must also be able to hold the officials accountable for their actions. The elected officials must explain to the citizens why they take the actions they do. In Fort Dodge, there has been an event in place for at least 25 years that brings state, and sometimes federal, legislators together with citizens. It’s called Eggs and Issues. Eggs and Issues is a forum that is held once a month ...

FFA enriches the lives of students

FFA was established in 1928 as Future Farmers of America. It was renamed the National FFA Organization in 1988 to reflect the rapid changes and greater employment diversity in agriculture. To most of us, it is known simply as FFA. After more than eight decades, FFA continues to enrich the lives of students by helping them develop their potential for leadership, personal growth and career success through agriculture education. The FFA motto captures the spirit of the organization succinctly: “Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve.” Those 12 words help ...

Officials’ DC trip is worthwhile

Visiting Washington, D.C. is always a fascinating experience. The Capitol, the White House, the Supreme Court building, the towering Washington Monument and even the cherry trees surrounding the Tidal Basin make the city a unique place. And within that place, history is made every day and has been since the original portion of the Capitol opened in about 1800. What happens in Washington affects Fort Dodge and Webster County. That’s why a group of local leaders representing Fort Dodge, Webster County, Iowa Central Community College and the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance will ...