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Editorial

Voters, it’s time to get serious about the election

This is an election year, during which voters will pick federal, state and local officials. Thanks to campaign signs and candidate forums, anyone who pays the least bit of attention to current events knows that. For most of the year, the upcoming vote has been kind of an underlying theme to the daily ebb and flow of events. That won’t be the case anymore, with the Nov. 8 general election just weeks away. It is time for voters to get serious about the choices facing them on the ballot. We urge all voters to educate themselves not only on the candidates, but on the act of voting ...

Today is National Farmer’s Day

Today has been designated as National Farmer’s Day. It’s the contemporary event to honor the hard work of America’s farmers and to reflect on their important contribution to not only the success of our nation, but to helping feed the world far beyond America’s borders. The commemoration grew out of an event that began long ago called Old Farmer’s Day. That observance began at a time when many more Americans were directly working in agriculture. The selection of Oct. 12 for National Farmer’s Day is a reflection that by then the annual harvest is done or nearly done. With a ...

October is National Pork Month

October has been designated National Pork Month. That makes it an especially good time to reflect on the importance of the pork industry to this state. It’s unlikely that anyone who lives in Iowa does not already know that pork production contributes mightily to the economic vitality of the Hawkeye State. It may come as a surprise, however, that hogs raised in Iowa account for more than 30 percent of U.S. hog production. Iowa ranks as the nation’s top hog-producing state. It’s also the top state for pork exports. According to the Iowa Pork Producers Association: • Exports ...

Group with compelling list of accomplishments to be honored

Since it opened a little more than 50 years ago, Iowa Central Community College has had students who excel in the classrooms, labs and shops and also in the venues of athletic competition. It has also produced graduates who went on to distinguished careers in public service, business, health care and just about every other field of human endeavor. The school has a Hall of Fame to honor its outstanding students, faculty and staff members, and alumni. Each year, a select few are inducted. This year’s induction ceremony will be held on Oct. 22. The inductees are: • 2007 and 2008 ...

Local event will offer unique chance to get hands-on with science

There will be a STEAMfest in Fort Dodge on Saturday, but it will not be about the steam produced by boiling water. In fact, the STEAM portion of the name STEAMfest is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. The event will offer young people a chance to get a little bit of hands-on experience in each of those fields of endeavor. Hopefully, those experiences will nurture or even start a lifelong interest in one of those fields. Perhaps some of the leading scientists and engineers of the future will get their start at this event. STEAMfest will be from 1 ...

Iowa Central shows enrollment increases

Iowa Central Community College continues to attract students to its high caliber programs and has seen a nice increase in enrollment. The college’s Board of Directors was recently informed that the total number of students is 5,058 across its three campuses in Fort Dodge, Storm Lake and Webster City. That’s up 2 percent from the first semester in the fall of 2021. Those students come from 97 of Iowa’s 99 counties. Additionally, the student body includes people from 45 of the 50 states. There are also 105 international students from 40 other countries, which is a remarkable ...