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A time for Christmas thoughts

Some 2,000 years ago, an event took place that changed the course of history. No singular event has focused the attention of man on himself to the degree that the story of Bethlehem has, for it is the story of man. Kingdoms have risen and fallen, and great nations have perished from the earth. Attempts have been made through the centuries to wipe out any trace of the message that event portrayed. Yet, that one story has stood the test of time. It is the story of a man, sent from God, as salvation for mankind. It is the story of Jesus Christ, his son. He was born in a manger, lived ...

Worthy new program cultivates future leaders

Dangling from the ceiling of the local firehouse in a complex rope harness is one unique way to learn about the services your community provides to its residents. At least one young man did that recently as part of the new Junior Leadership Program conducted by the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. It is a series of classes intended to teach juniors in high school about all the interesting and important aspects of the town they live in. In addition to giving them knowledge, the program also strives to inspire them to be proud of their community and, eventually, take a leadership role ...

Christmas spirit prevails over vandalism

The home of Bill Miller and his family at 1502 Second Ave. S. has been a joy to behold every year at Christmas for more than a decade. Every holiday season, the property at a highly visible intersection has been filled with bright lights and all kinds of decorations, including big inflatable versions of snowmen, candy canes, and Santa Claus. While lots of people of all ages enjoy the decorations, perhaps no one likes them more than Miller’s 10-year-old grandson. Connor Brokaw is living life to the fullest despite his epilepsy and spina bifida. During this time of year, one of his ...

Check out the Farm News Ag Show

An upcoming event will give people a chance to hear from experts in the field of agriculture, get some insight on the latest developments in the commodities markets and check out the offerings of various ag businesses. And don’t forget the food, which will include a free pancake breakfast. What kind of event will offer all that? It’s called CJ Bio America presents the 20th annual Farm News Ag Show. The show hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. It will be held at the Webster County Fairgrounds south of Fort Dodge on Old Highway 169. The lineup ...

Have a happy and safe holiday season

The Christmas season is one for spending time with family and friends, watching some bowl games and generally enjoying life. Christmas trees and other decorations set the scene for holiday activities. Unfortunately, those same decorations can cause real problems, perhaps even deadly ones, unless some basic fire prevention strategies are followed. Start with the tree. A live Christmas tree needs to be watered to prevent it from becoming a fire hazard. So if you have a live tree, give it a drink of water every day. You might have to give it a drink a couple times a day. It might be a ...

Santa Cops were on the beat again

The Santa Cops project is a delightful annual effort to make the holiday season a bit brighter for area youngsters whose families need a hand up to make this time of year as merry as it should be. The Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa State Patrol and Iowa Department of Transportation motor vehicle enforcement officers again collaborated on a truly inspiring holiday undertaking. Officers took the young folks on $130 holiday shopping sprees Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Area schools help pair law enforcement officers with needy families and ...