Breaking News

Editorial

Be sure to attend your county fair

Times change. Even so, there are a few constants in life. One is the pleasure provided by the county fairs that continue to be a highlight of summer in Iowa. For as far back as anyone who now lives in this part of Iowa can remember, these summer festivals have been much-anticipated and much-enjoyed features of summertime. The fairs, of course, have changed over the decades. One central theme, however, remains much the same — a celebration of farm life and the assorted positive educational and personal-growth pursuits that are treasured features of life in rural and small-town ...

New surgery center is investment in the future of the region

Nobody wants to end up in an operating room. But when a person has to have surgery, they want to be in the most up-to-date facility with the best trained staff. In Fort Dodge, UnityPoint Health - Trinity Regional Medical Center is taking a huge step toward making sure that surgery patients will find themselves in that very situation by adding a nearly $40 million new surgery center. The project had been planned for five years. Construction is now underway, and the work is very obvious to anyone going to the hospital or even driving by it on Kenyon Road. It is expected to be completed ...

Enjoy Fourth of July fireworks safely

When Americans enjoy fireworks on every Fourth of July, they have John Adams to thank for the colorful displays. Adams, one of the Founding Fathers who became the country’s second president, wrote to his wife, Abigail, when the Declaration of Independence was approved in July 1776 in Philadelphia. “It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more,” Adams wrote. His reference to “illuminations” is traditionally interpreted as ...

Friendship Haven is a special place

Friendship Haven has been part of Fort Dodge for so long that people take it for granted. Last week, a series of special events showed just how long Friendship Haven has been an integral part of the community — 75 years. When the first residents moved into the former East Building in July 1950, Harry Truman was the president, the Korean War had just started and Elvis Presley had yet to record a hit song. And while the retirement community opened in1950, the planning for it began a few years earlier. The concept of Friendship Haven was the idea of one Methodist minister, the Rev. ...

Help celebrate Hometown Pride

In every town there are special people who contribute to the success of the community through the giving things they do. These folks — whose selfless contributions make life better for others in their hometowns — sometimes go unacknowledged. That’s unfortunate because many of the people who work without much fanfare to enhance the lives of others truly are accomplishing exceptional results. Similarly, there are organizations that have that same type of impact. That’s one of the reasons that each year The Messenger publishes a magazine supplement called Hometown Pride. The goal ...

Lunch on Central is coming

There will be some good eating during a picnic to be held in the 700 block of Central Avenue Friday. We are, of course, referring to Lunch on Central which will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the alley between The Messenger building and the Webster County Courthouse in the 700 block of Central Avenue. The menu will include pork burgers and tenderloins grilled by the Webster County Pork Producers, pasta salad, chips and bottled water, all for $8. Kosovo Exchange, a youth group that is part of Fort Dodge’s Sister City relationship with Gjakova in Kosovo, will be selling ...