The crisis-in-caring is becoming a catastrophe

May 31, 2023

A crisis ignored eventually leads to catastrophe, and that’s what we’re witnessing. The word crisis was first used in 1990—33 years ago—by the Bipartisan Commission of the United States Congress to describe the challenges the nation faced in providing long-term care services to people with disabilities and older citizens. The Commission also used phrases like an “urgent need for action” and “current conditions that are unconscionable” to alert Congress to act on recommendations that would ensure all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable long-term care ...

We can build a vital community

May 27, 2023

We all want to see Fort Dodge thrive and prosper. We want our community to be a vital and vibrant place that we take pride in and call our home. But what is a vital community? It depends on how we look at ourselves and our community and the vision we have for the future. Every community is different, but vital communities have things in common that separate them from the ordinary. Vital communities seem to have a community optimism that inspires a sense of hope and a can-do spirit. This optimism produces a community energy that creates inspired leadership and engaged citizens who ...

Economic development, quality of life and workforce

May 24, 2023

Communities with a higher quality of life experience both higher employment and population growth. Our region’s elected officials and leaders understand this and have invested in improving the quality of life initiatives, such as trails, arts and culture, and other amenities. Understanding that a vibrant business climate also impacts quality of life is in our wheelhouse at the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. Having a solid business climate attracts customers, employs residents and gives consumers more choice for buying everything from groceries to furniture, to automobiles to a ...

Beware of the danger posed by ticks

May 17, 2023

As this rocky Iowa spring rolls into summer, you may find yourself spending time in the great outdoors enjoying nature. The beautiful meadows of dandelions or river bottoms full of Morrell mushrooms may distract you from a small, but potentially serious danger: ticks. Ticks are small parasites that feed on the blood of humans and other animals. Ticks carry various diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, STARI (Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness) and Lyme disease. The breed of tick determines what disease they may carry, and tick breeds have specific geographic locations where ...

Making the world a healthier, happier place

May 13, 2023

At UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge, we are proud to recognize our amazing team and the incredible work of health care professionals across the country during Healthcare Worker Appreciation Week and Nurses Week. Every one of our team members play a vital role in ensuring the health and well-being of our patients, and I am continually amazed by their skill, dedication and commitment. During our week of celebration, we were able to recognize our team in a variety of ways, from special events to handing out awards to deserving team members. We celebrated their hard work, perseverance and ...

Iowa’s Congressional delegation set to lead on clean energy policies

May 10, 2023

As we prepare for another planting season, there is no more important conversation in agriculture right now than the reauthorization of the Farm Bill and getting these titles right. The conservation programs being debated in the ongoing Farm Bill negotiations will only enhance opportunities for producers to adopt more climate smart ag practices and be rewarded for doing so. It’s important we have a seat at the table for these important conversations. I had the honor of chairing the Farmers for Grassley Coalition during the senator’s hard-earned reelection this past year. My family ...