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Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight is back

When a 737 roars into the sky above Fort Dodge Regional Airport just as the sun begins to brighten the horizon this morning, one of the most unique and heartfelt tributes to area veterans will be back in action. There will be about 120 veterans aboard that plane, going to Washington, D.C., for free to see the nation’s war memorials. The trip will be the 26th one conducted by the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight. The first took place in 2010. Since then, about 3,600 veterans from 228 Iowa communities have made the journey. The Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight is largely the vision of ...

Soybeans are big business in Iowa

Nobody knows exactly how long humans have cultivated the soybean, but agricultural historians seem 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 disagreement about who first introduced soybeans into North America, but researchers seem to agree that by the 1760s, soybean seed had reached Georgia. Whatever the origin, few would dispute that in the 21st century soybean cultivation is important to the world as a food source and a great deal more. ...

‘Don’t learn safety by accident’

Farms can be seen as quiet, peaceful places where the crops grow and animals graze in the pastures. Farms can indeed be such tranquil spots. But as all Iowans know, farming is an industry. And like all industries, there are certain hazards associated with it. Tractors can be in crashes on rural roads. Machines can snag arms and legs. Grain bins can become death traps. Most of those nightmare scenarios can be avoided by using common sense and basic safety precautions. National Farm Safety and Health Week, which begins Sunday and continues through Saturday, is a time dedicated to ...

A day for memories and fierce resolve

Sept. 11, 2001, is a day etched in the memories of Americans. The horrifying images of what began as a beautiful September morning and changed abruptly into hellish chaos remain vivid. The heartbreak of that awful day stems not only from the innocent lives destroyed, but also from the shattered dreams of the survivors. These obscene acts of terrorism inspire in our hearts a fierce resolve to take the actions necessary to prevent a similar tragedy from claiming more lives. The American people opened their hearts to the families touched by the evil work of the terrorists. They also ...

FD voters should approve franchise fee plan

Fort Dodge now has a chance to get more police officers. It is a chance the voters must seize. Obviously, adding eight officers to the 40-member force will not be free. A franchise fee added to the gas and electric bills of MidAmerican Energy customers would generate the $1.8 million annually to make it possible. We urge the voters to approve that fee. We realize that no one wants to pay more in monthly bills. But in this instance, the benefits of doing so will far outweigh the comparatively low cost of the franchise fee. The fee would cost the typical residential customer about ...

Merz was champion for FDCSD students, families

For 22 years, Jan Merz was a staunch advocate for the students of the Fort Dodge Community School District. Merz, who died Aug. 6 at age 76, was a member of the district’s Board of Education from 1991 to 2013. Serving on a school board involves much, much more than going to a couple meetings a month and voting on some agenda items. To govern a school district, a board member must become familiar with everything from reading curriculum to roofing materials. Doing all that was a challenge that Merz eagerly embraced. She wanted to make a difference in the lives of students by ...