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Tim Flaherty set an example of service

Fort Dodge lost someone special when Tim Flaherty died last year. During his entirely too short time in the community he made an impact that was recognized far beyond the city and Webster County. That’s why the Iowa Parks and Recreation Association recently honored him with its 2022 Business Support Award. It was presented Monday to his widow, Jodi, daughters Shannon and Katie, and parents Mick and Alyce. The award specifically recognizes the things Flaherty did in his role as Hy-Vee store director, and later as district store director, to support the programs of the Fort Dodge ...

New E15 law is a winner for Iowa

The designation E15 will be turning up at more and more gas pumps across Iowa in the months to come, and that’s a good thing. E15, obviously, is the common name for ethanol that contains 15 percent alcohol from corn and 85 percent gasoline. E15 fuel will be sold at all filling stations in Iowa thanks to a new law which passed the state Senate and House of Representatives by huge margins and was recently signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The law requires gas stations to offer E15 at 50 percent of their fuel pumps. The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. Requiring another type of ...

Congratulations graduates

The annual ritual of high school graduation is upon us. On Sunday, several area schools, including Fort Dodge Senior High, St. Edmond Catholic School, Manson Northwest Webster High School and others, will hold their commencement exercises. Each ceremony is a familiar ritual. Excited graduates in caps and gowns will arrive to the accompaniment of ”Pomp and Circumstance.” Friends and relatives sitting in the stands will nudge each other and say ”Look, there she is.” Hundreds of photos will be snapped. There will be speeches, and it’s a pretty safe bet that someone will read ...

It’s a good time to enjoy our parks

Saturday is National Kids to Parks Day. This is a countrywide celebration organized annually by the National Park Trust “to connect kids and families with their local, state and national parks and public lands.” It has helped popularize these wonderful outdoor recreational venues since 2011. In conjunction with the national festivities, this weekend the Fort Dodge Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department and Webster County Conservation are putting on a scavenger hunt throughout six area parks — both well-known ones and some not visited as often. Details about how to ...

Tough-looking bikers are key support for abused kids

The members of BACA may look like an intimidating bunch. They ride big motorcycles and favor leather biker style vests. But that is where the group’s resemblance to some kind of motorcycle gang ends. Far from being a motorcycle gang, BACA is one of the most unique organizations working to help abused children. BACA is the acronym for Bikers Against Child Abuse. The organization was started in 1995 by a licensed social worker and all of its members have had to pass background checks to join. The group started in Utah and grew throughout the United States and the world. There are ...

Dodger Hero saves choking child

A young local child is alive today because of quick action by a school district food service worker. Chelsea Strait, assistant food service director for the Fort Dodge Community School District, used a recently acquired device called a LifeVac to save the life of the child, who was choking at the Early Childhood Center. The incident happened in late April. The district’s Board of Education recognized Strait as a Dodger Hero on May 9. Strait saw a student choking in the lunchroom on that scary day in April. She alerted the school principal, Carmen Banwart, and ran out to her ...