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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 ...

Clay County Fair is an Iowa treasure

The days are a tad shorter. The kids are back in school. There’s a hint of fall in the air. The season for summer fairs and festivals is nearly at an end. For the countless Iowans and others who love county fairs, however, one big event remains — the Clay County Fair. The fair that opens in Spencer on Saturday and runs through Thursday is not just any fair. It is by far the largest county fair in Iowa and ranks among the grandest agricultural expositions in the nation. The members of the Clay County Fair Association had big plans for their fair when it launched more than 100 ...

Building tomorrow’s community leaders

Leadership Fort Dodge has an ambitious mission. It seeks to develop community leaders who are informed, dynamic, qualified and motivated. Now in its 17th year, the project endeavors to mold future leaders by providing them the background information and other tools they need to become positive forces in the community. The program is now overseen by the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. It got underway initially in 2005 under the auspices of the Fort Dodge Area Chamber of Commerce. Participants spend one day per month for nine months learning about many aspects of the community, ...

Flu shots provide potentially lifesaving protection

Although the potential next round of COVID-19 booster shots is getting attention, we must not forget the importance of an older vaccine: the flu shot. Just about everyone has called in sick at some point, saying they had the flu when they were sniffling, sneezing, maybe running a fever and generally feeling lousy. Those symptoms definitely add up to an illness, but the problem is not really the flu. Influenza, as it is properly known, is much, much worse. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, influenza is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. Influenza ...

FD resident will play key role in selecting judges

Iowa has a unique way of selecting its judges and Supreme Court justices. Instead of electing them, the jurists are selected by a process that examines their legal knowledge, experience and writing skills. There are panels called Judicial Nominating Commissions that review the qualifications of lawyers seeking to become judges. Those commissions then submit names to the governor, who picks one of those individuals to fill a position on the bench. There is a commission for each of the 14 judicial districts in the state. Obviously, members of those commissions fulfill a key role in ...

It will be a good day to recall past struggles for economic fairness

To most Americans in 21st-century America, Labor Day is not an especially important holiday. It marks the unofficial end of summer. As such, it affords a three-day weekend to pursue summertime passions one last time before the weather cools. For most of us, it has little additional meaning. It may come as a surprise to many contemporary Americans, therefore, to learn that Labor Day became a national holiday during an era characterized by great conflict between organized labor and the business community. The decision to create the holiday was, in part, an act of conciliation. The ...