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Opinion

Matt Cosgrove deserves nature center honor

Editorial

For nearly a decade, Matt Cosgrove has been the person most closely associated with the drive to create a new nature center in Webster County. Now, his name will be associated with it forever. The county Board of Supervisors surprised the conservation director earlier this month by announcing that the facility along the Des Moines River would be named the Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center. Attaching his name to the center was a clandestine effort which only a few knew about. Cosgrove was taken by surprise at the July 11 dedication of the facility. “This has been a ...

Uniting our organization through our values

Local Columns

Caring for people — it’s what we do best. And it starts on the inside. We’ve created a culture that values every aspect of our team members’ lives. From a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, robust professional development opportunities, encouraging regular feedback from our teams and prioritizing the health and well-being of our staff — showing our people how much they matter is at the center of everything we do. Our team members — all 32,000 across the UnityPoint Health network — are brought together by our common values. Known as our FOCUS Values, ...

Salutes Messenger team’s efforts

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: My first attendance at a Major League Baseball game, August 1971, with parents and brothers featuring the great Harmon Killebrew, got me hooked on baseball. After all of the games I have attended, I have cut out the box score from the city I was visiting or The Messenger when I arrived home and put it in a scrapbook. Recently, I attended my No. 188 MLB game in Minnesota, and since the game was not completed until after 10:30 p.m., I was afraid the local paper, if I could even find one, would not have the completed box score. I stopped at four stores before obtaining a ...

Be sure to attend the Webster County Fair

Editorial

Times change. Even so there are a few constants in life. One is the pleasure provided by the county fairs that continue to be a highlight of summer in the Hawkeye State. The Webster County Fair begins today and continues through Sunday on the fairgrounds at 22770 Old Highway 169. It will feature all of the traditional 4-H and FFA livestock exhibits, plus other projects completed by the youth of those organizations. But wait, there’s more. Fair highlights will include free entertainment, the chance to encounter stingrays up close and personal, shows and lots of good food. For as ...

Let us help your new employees thrive

Local Columns

Do you have new employees who have started within the last 12 months? Don’t let them navigate this journey alone. Studies show that if your new employee does not feel a sense of belonging within 90 days, you could be at risk of losing them. Our Community Concierge program is here to ensure they seamlessly integrate into the community and feel right at home, strengthening your workforce and our community as a whole. Make the most of this opportunity - we want to help your new employees thrive in Fort Dodge. Step one: Contact our office today so that we can sign up your new ...

Feenstra recounts lessons from trip to Israel

Local Columns

Last month, I traveled to Israel to meet with government officials about the ongoing war. We walked the Kibbutzes where innocent Israelis were murdered, raped, beheaded, and tortured by Hamas terrorists and learned more of the horrifying details about the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust. We saw firsthand the food, water, medical supplies, and other aid that Israel is actively delivering to civilians in Palestine despite unfounded outcry from Hamas apologists. My visit to Israel left me even more determined to support our strongest ally in the Middle East, disprove the ...