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Editorial

Americans unite behind veterans today

How fortuitous it is that today, while the attention of millions of Americans seems focused on controversy, we take time out to honor those about whom we are in complete agreement: veterans of military service. No matter how we view politics, we are united in revering the men and women who have served and do serve us in uniform. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are the solid wall behind which our freedoms rest. They serve us not as Democrats, Republicans, Independents or adherents to any particular political philosophy. They serve us simply as Americans. It ...

Hard work of governing must begin

The 2022 general election is over. Many folks will breath a sigh of relief at that thought, knowing that annoying campaign ads will no longer be cluttering up the airwaves and their mailboxes. We congratulate the winners of Tuesday’s votes, and we challenge them to do two things. First, the easy challenge, for both the election winners and losers: remove your yard signs and any other promotional materials you may have put up. The election is over, so there is no need for them to be up any more. We challenge the winners of Tuesday’s voting to do something much more difficult than ...

Make your voice heard

After a seemingly endless campaign season and weeks of early voting, Election Day is finally here. Today, thousands of people will go to the polls to decide who will lead our nation, state and community. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. A listing of Webster County polling places is in today’s edition of The Messenger. If you have not voted already, do not miss this chance to make your voice heard. Casting a ballot is a crucial way for everyday citizens to help shape the future. Anyone thinking about skipping this election ought to remember that their right to vote has ...

The time has come to end Daylight Saving Time

People across Iowa will set their clocks back one hour tonight because of Daylight Saving Time. That means if they go to bed at their regular time they will get an extra hour of sleep. Hopefully, they will also replace the batteries in their smoke detectors that use 9-volt batteries. Serving as a reminder to replace the smoke detector batteries is a big advantage of the twice yearly ritual of changing the clocks. The other advantages to changing the clocks are less and less apparent. For as long as anybody can remember, Iowans have been changing their clocks twice a year for Daylight ...

‘Grandma Pat’ Hassett: Keeper of history for St. Edmond High School

If Trivial Pursuit ever invented a game involving facts about St. Edmond High School, you’d want your partner to be Pat Hassett. You couldn’t lose. Hassett, a member of the Class of 1960, has been chronicling the history of the Catholic high school for 45 years, operating from a first-floor office off the school library called the Alumni Room – stuffed full of all kinds of items relating to the school. If there was such a Trivial Pursuit game, here are some questions that might be posed. Go to the bottom of this article for the answers. No peeking! Who is St. Edmond named ...

100 Women Who Care makes a big impact

The organization called 100 Women Who Care may be one of the newer philanthropic groups in Fort Dodge, but it is capable of making a big impact. It made such an impact this week by making a donation of about $10,000 to Golden Day Adult Day, which strives to provide meaningful programs to enhance the dignity, independence and quality of life for older people and those with disabilities. Right now, Golden Day Adult Day is run entirely by volunteers. It operates on alternating Mondays at Citizens Central. The organizers of Golden Day envision it becoming a fulltime operation complete ...