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Letters to the Editor

Here’s a way to show we care for our youth

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, band instructors, lunch ladies, pastors from surrounding communities, and individuals who give of themselves for the kids to escort them down the red carpet to be honored. A special tribute to the Jeff Paulson family to honor his wonderful love of supporting youth as he drove bus for Manson Northwest ...

Honoring Nancy Stanek’s memory

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 Christ and Christianity had taught her. She was compassionate but had an intense passion to seek and work for peace — the inner personal peace and that between tribes and nations. I will proudly call her a Great Woman. I first met Nancy in the winter of 1968 months after I had arrived in Fort Dodge ...

Master Matrix needs to be revised

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 only 50 percent to pass. Where you don’t have to answer even half the questions and you get to pick the questions. Sound sweet? Well that is the Master Matrix. Before the 2018 election, Representative Mike Sexton had a quote in the Fort Dodge Messenger, “I will work to put together a working ...

Thankful for all the help with MAGWED

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 of fish weighed in. Some of our original foundation members are looking to retire and just go to the tournament and fish. They have been involved for going on 20 years. What that means is we are turning the reins over to a younger group of fishing enthusiast. As always, the foundation is looking ...

It’s time to consider lowering the voting age

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 this matter. Senator Tim Kraayenbrink was opposed to the idea, stating, “As far as just blanketing, saying we’re going to lower the voting age to 16, I am not in favor of that. ... I do think that in order to vote you should have civic classes.” However, Senator Janet Petersen supports ...

AFES is asking for community’s support

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 tomorrow’s leaders.” Over the last 15 years, AFES has been very successful in getting youth on the right track and helping them navigate their middle school and high school years. We see over 100 youth a day with our various programs, and have been able to help countless at-risk youth ...