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State softball returns to Fort Dodge

One of summer’s most enjoyable events gets underway today. The Girls State Softball Tournament will be the highlight of the season for the teams that made it to state-level competition, including the St. Edmond Gaels. That hometown squad posted a 24-10 record and is making its third straight appearance in the tournament. But we must admit that all the teams are outstanding. Making it to this final event of the season means that none will have any reason for more than a brief lament, no matter what their final standing. Making it to state is itself an accomplishment that marks a ...

Golden Day Adult Day provides vital service

Everyone needs a place close to home that they can escape to even for a few hours to have some fun and enjoy some good company just to break the usual routine. But for our friends and neighbors who have disabilities, finding that place can be tough. But some have found it thanks to a group of parents and volunteers who created Golden Day Adult Day in Fort Dodge. Three days a week, it offers a full day of activities for disabled folks who might otherwise just sit at home.Those activities include a book club, games, crafts, learning and discussion time, and food. Having such a program ...

Fruit, vegetable growers deserve recognition

There’s more than corn and soybeans growing in Iowa’s rich soil. Iowa’s farmers grow staggering amounts of corn and soybeans, so it makes sense that those crops are the first ones many people associate with the state’s farms. But there is also a surprising amount of fruits and vegetables grown in Iowa. Fruits and vegetables raised by the state’s professional horticulture industry contribute an estimated $48 million to the state’s economy every year. According to a recent statewide survey, the top fruit and vegetable crops in Iowa are tomatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers, green ...

Be sure to check out the Webster County Fair

The Webster County Fair begins Wednesday and continues through Sunday on the fairgrounds at 22770 Old Highway 169. It will feature all of the traditional 4-H and FFA livestock exhibits, plus other projects completed by the youth of those organizations. The fair royalty will be crowned early in the event so that the king and queen can be on hand for all the festivities that will follow. In addition to the farm-related activities, there will also be a full slate of entertainment. There will be Mini Madness, plus the ATV and Tough Truck races. A truck and tractor pull will be ...

New assisted living units help senior citizens live comfortably, safely

Staying in their own home for as long as possible is always the best option for people as they age. But for many, doing that eventually becomes impossible. Fort Dodge is blessed to have many options for those people. And that array of options just got better thanks to the Marian Home and Village. This week, the Marian Home and Village debuted its new assisted living apartments at 925 Martin Luther King Drive. Lots of people may recall that structure as the former Villa Cottages. After the Villa Care Center closed, the Marian Home bought all of its property. The main Villa Care Center ...

Socks for the Sole effort meets a community need

It’s an automatic part of daily life for many people: when you get dressed, you put your socks on. Clean, dry socks make the feet feel good. Putting socks on is so routine many folks do that without even thinking about it. Unfortunately, there are children in the Fort Dodge community who don’t get to put on a good pair of socks every day. Family financial problems mean that they don’t have enough socks or the ones they have are pretty threadbare. To make sure that as many kids as possible go back to school this year with good socks on their feet, the Community Health Center of ...