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Friends of St. Edmond Ball is tonight

Catholic education has been an important part of life in Fort Dodge almost since the town was founded. The first Catholic school got underway in 1862. The 160 years since have witnessed many changes and stupendous progress. The impressive educational complex that is today’s St. Edmond is a treasure admired and valued by the whole community. The world of the 21st century is vastly different from the America of the Civil War era, when that first school was established. Even so, the dedication of the Catholic community to the enhancement of its educational system, which was robust from ...

Nurses remain dedicated to caring for all

There is perhaps no profession that is so intertwined with an individual’s life as nursing is. Nurses are there to help bring new life into the world. They administer the vaccines, and help people get through all the various illnesses and injuries of a lifetime. And at the very end, nurses care for people in their last days. Nurses provide care in the form of medicine and therapy. But they also provide it in the form of reassuring words and a comforting presence. In light of what they do for all of us, it is highly appropriate that we spend a little time honoring them. National ...

Grants will put federal relief money into the hands of local businesses

Small businesses throughout Webster County that took a financial beating at the height of the COVID pandemic and didn’t get much help now have a second chance at relief. The Webster County Board of Supervisors, working with the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, is once again offering grants for those businesses. Last year, the board chose to use some of of the county’s share of its federal COVID relief money to offer grants of $2,500 to $10,000. The first of those grants were awarded in January. Applications are once again being accepted for the Webster County Business ...

Used book sale offers good reading for a great cause

Reading a good book is a great way to spend a rainy spring afternoon. And with summer coming up, chances are people will be wanting something to read on the beach, on a plane or on the back porch at home. The Friends of the Fort Dodge Public Library is now offering a good opportunity for everyone to expand their collection of reading materials. That group is now holding the spring version of its twice yearly used book sale. There are tables stretching the length of the library’s big meeting room and they are covered with books for sale. There are even some books still in boxes ...

May is Beef Month in Iowa

Gov. Kim Reynolds has officially proclaimed May as Beef Month in Iowa. For many of us, every month is a time to partake of a food that ranks high on the list of culinary favorites. It’s no secret that Americans have a love affair with beef. That’s been true for generations and the demand for this tasty and healthy product is on the rise — up about 15 percent in the last decade. The passion for beef is widely shared. It is the beef industry’s vital role in the state’s economy, however, that warrants special recognition. The governor took note in her proclamation of some ...

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE

Sports are my passion, but I’ll let you in on a little secret: I’m also a big fan of musicals. To clarify, I’m no aficionado — mostly just an admirer from afar. This dates back to witnessing my first Fort Dodge Senior High performance, a rousing rendition of “Oklahoma!” in the ...