Unique attractions await along historic Highway 20

April 13, 2022

If you want to get across northern Iowa quickly and efficiently, by all means take four-lane U.S. Highway 20. Advocates for the highway worked for about 60 years to get it widened to four lanes as a way to grow the economy of the northern tier of the state. But if you want to take a leisurely road trip, see some unique sites, and enjoy some food and beverages, there is a part of the highway that is perfect for that, too. The original U.S. Highway 20 was laid out in 1926, and much of that first route is still intact. The Historic Route 20 Association, a national group, is ...

Donations make new biofuels lab possible

April 9, 2022

All the ethanol and biodiesel that gets pumped into fuel tanks across Iowa has to meet state standards, and the place where those biofuels are tested against the standards is in Fort Dodge. The biofuels lab at Iowa Central Community College is more than a teaching facility. It is the official analytical laboratory for the state’s Bureau of Weights and Measures.The lab was started in about 2007. A bipartisan effort by federal and state legislators secured the money to get it started. The key players were former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, a Democrat; former U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, a ...

Special Olympics volunteers to be honored

April 8, 2022

When about 150 Special Olympics athletes enter Dodger Stadium this morning for their track and field competition, some of their biggest supporters won’t be present. Tim Flaherty, Donna Gutknecht, Charles Johnson, Laurie Mullen and Lis Ristau will not be in the stadium. But the dedication that they demonstrated to support Special Olympics athletes will be remembered and honored. All of them passed away within the last year or so. They will be honored during the opening ceremonies, set for 9 a.m. today in the stadium. Flaherty was the store director of the Fort Dodge ...

Is your family eligible?

April 7, 2022

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is encouraging eligible farm owners to apply for the 2022 Century and Heritage Farm Program. The program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and recognizes families that have owned their farm for 100 years in the case of Century Farms and 150 years for Heritage Farms. It has been more than 186 years since land that is now the state of Iowa was opened for settlers. The America of the 21st century is far different from the nation presided over by President Andrew Jackson in ...

Tasty fundraiser will support D/SAOC

April 6, 2022

In January, February and March this year, the Domestic and Sexual Assault Outreach Center served 346 clients with 1,041 bed nights, which means nights spent in its shelter. Compared to last year’s first quarter, those numbers have increased by about 14 percent. Although the Domestic and Sexual Assault Outreach Center in based in Fort Dodge, it is crucial to remember that it provides shelter and support services for 20 counties in Iowa, including Boone, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Kossuth, Marshall, Mitchell, Story, ...

Fur Ball is April 9 at FD Ford Toyota

April 2, 2022

It would be hard to imagine 21st-century America without pets. They contribute wonderfully to the happiness and well-being of people of all ages. In a perfect world, every pet would at all times be a welcome and loved part of someone’s home. Unfortunately, reality falls short of that ideal. That’s why it’s important to our community that the Humane Society of North Central Iowa remains strong and grows even more robust. As with so many other worthwhile endeavors, achieving laudable goals depends in part on mobilizing the financial resources necessary to support the cause. The ...