Jim Reed, Ted Bodensteiner, Craig Schlienz and all the other volunteers who make up Shellabration Inc. have done it again. On Saturday night, about 5,000 people crammed into the intersection of Central Avenue and Ninth Street for this year’s Downtown Country Jam concert. They were treated ...

Like our nation, our city is a democracy that needs the participation of the people to be a success. That participation is especially needed now as the community begins a local election cycle. It is time for citizens who are concerned about their city to take a step toward being more involved ...

The time for eating all kinds of food on a stick while gazing at a cow sculpted in butter has arrived. Yes, we are talking about the Iowa State Fair, which begins Thursday and continues through Aug. 17. It may well be the grandest of our nation’s state agricultural festivals. Iowans ...

If it seems like it gets dark just a tiny bit earlier every night, that is because it probably does. As the days get just a bit shorter and the nights get just a bit cooler, that means summer is winding down. And as summer winds down, that means one thing for local kids — school will soon ...

Over the last year, Fort Dodge has lost at least a century’s worth of experience, knowledge and dedication. That loss is a result of a long line of municipal employees recently retiring. That list includes, but is not limited to, these individuals: • Vickie Reeck, community and economic ...

Area families are already beginning to think about the items that will be needed to send young people back to school properly equipped and looking good. According to the National Retail Federation, families with children in school will spend about $38.8 billion nationwide on back-to-school ...