To the editor: The 17th annual Oakland Cemetery Walk was a great success thanks to several people and businesses. We would like to take the time to thank them: DART bus, Iowa Central Community College, Friendship Haven, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Gunderson Funeral Home, Graham Tire, The ...

To the editor: When I visited Oakland Cemetery where some of my relatives in the five Haviland families that settled here decades ago and planted the huge apple orchard south of North Lawn are buried, I was saddened to find the flag I had left in the ground (because there was no flag holder ...

To the editor: I would like to give a shout out to the good people of Fort Dodge. On May 23, my wife and I went to Memorial Park Cemetery to decorate family graves. I was very upset that the grass was 8 to 10 inches tall and a lot of headstones were covered with grass. I vented on Facebook. ...

To the editor: On Sunday, April 28, Youth Empowerment Association Inc. held its sixth annual Kids Choice Awards banquet. This event gives our community youth opportunity to nominate individuals that have made their lives more positive and beneficial. This year we had teachers, coaches, ...

Who was Nancy Stanek? A devoted wife to Gilbert, a loving mother to Marshall, Keith and Sarah, a caring grandmother to her grand children. And, a humanitarian with a golden heart to help the downtrodden and oppressed people in America and the whole world. She indeed practiced what Jesus ...

To the editor: Unless you already know the Master Matrix is a set of 44 criteria. It’s used for the determination of approval for the construction application of a CAFO, a confined animal feeding operation. Imagine you’re still in school and the teacher gives you a test where you need ...

To the editor: The MAGWED foundation would like to thank everyone for making this year another great success. What we consider a “great success” is when we see all the youth that signed up. The youth winning bass was almost as big as the winner. It was another beautiful weekend with lots ...

To the editor: The voting age is a topic that has received national attention over the last few years. However, that has not translated into a push to lower the voting age in Iowa. I think it should. I interviewed Iowa senators Tim Kraayenbrink and Janet Petersen to get their opinions on ...

To the editor: Athletics for Education and Success (AFES), has been in existence since 2004, serving youth and families of Fort Dodge and surrounding communities. I am writing this letter to ask for community support in helping us continue to “develop better athletes, stronger students and ...

To the editor: Gardens Alive! The annual garden seminar, held on April 6 by the Fort Dodge Area Gardeners was all about growing things! We had two really great speakers. Dr. Ajay Nair, associate professor of horticulture at Iowa State University, spoke on growing vegetables, and gave us ...

To the editor: As we approach Memorial Day 2019, we should reflect on its purpose and how it began. Back on May 5, 1868, after the Civil War, General John A. Logan, Commander In Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, set his General Order No. 11. General Logan’s Order began: “The 30th ...

To the editor: The political cartoon on the opinion page of today’s May 16th paper is an insult to every senior citizen. First off young people are not sponsoring the old guy on social security. We have paid into social security for the last 50-60 years. We did not have a choice. The ...

To the editor: Thank you to all who supported the Fort Dodge Federated Garden Club’s annual plant and garage sale. Even on a cool, cloudy day, we had many customers. At the close of the sale, unsold perennial plants were donated to PICA, Pride in Community Appearance. Congratulations to ...

To the editor: When I was a little girl, my grandpa, Jack Stanberg, would take me to the Webster County Museum in Otho. When I walk into this building I feel at home. A long white dress with rhinestones running down the front, a long white veil so beautiful and profound. White shoes with a ...

To the editor: We wish to thank Hans Madsen and The Messenger for the great story prior to our 2019 Gem Mineral and Fossil show. Attendance far surpassed that of recent previous shows and it was one of most successful shows ever. We are already planning next years show and keeping a ...

To the editor: I am writing in regards to the Webster County Museum located in Otho. I was unable to attend the meeting at the VFW when Phyllis Stewart was asking for suggestions on what to do with the museum because of the leaking roof. This museum does not receive county funding and relies ...

To the editor: As co-chairs of the 36th Friends of St. Edmond Ball we would like to send a tremendous thank you to the community for making the 2019 ball a record setting one. Our theme this year was “Together We Can” and together we did! With your help and support we were able to raise ...

To the editor: April has been designated as Motor Awareness Month. May is Motorcycle Awareness Month. These two things go very much hand in hand. Spring is upon us and motorcycles will be out and about. Motorists, having put up with a very cold and snowy winter, are also anxious to be out and ...

To the editor: On April 11, the Webster County Veterans Affair Commission held two sessions for veterans, spouses and widows, to give them valuable information and current details concerning Veterans Administration benefits for which they may be eligible. We had an excellent turnout, with ...

To the editor: The board of the Webster County Museum are inviting all the citizens of the county to a open forum to discuss the future of the museum. This meeting will be on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the VFW in Fort Dodge. There will be someone at the meeting who can give you a ...