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A day for memories and fierce resolve

Editorial

Sept. 11, 2001, is a day etched in the memories of Americans. The horrifying images of what began as a beautiful September morning and changed abruptly into hellish chaos remain vivid. The heartbreak of that awful day stems not only from the innocent lives destroyed, but also from the shattered dreams of the survivors. These obscene acts of terrorism inspire in our hearts a fierce resolve to take the actions necessary to prevent a similar tragedy from claiming more lives. The American people opened their hearts to the families touched by the evil work of the terrorists. They also ...

Respect to servicemen

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: My older brother, Col. Warren A. Polking, is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He would have been shocked and disgusted that a politician would have the gall to use the hallowed grounds of the cemetery for a political photo op. My younger brother, Lt. Mark R. Polking, probably falls into ex-President Trump's terminology “suckers and losers” as he lost his life when his jet plane flamed out while serving his country in the U.S. Air Force. There are approximately 3,500 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Its recipients combine the values of ...

We can’t let the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expire

Local Columns

In 2017, Congress passed, and President Donald Trump signed into law, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) — the single largest and most comprehensive reform of the tax code in decades. As promised, this legislation boosted our economy, strengthened our global competitiveness, and let American families, farmers, and small businesses keep more of their hard-earned money. Real median household income increased by $5,000, real wages rose at the fastest rate in 20 years, the child tax credit was doubled from $1,000 to $2,000 per child, the corporate tax rate was lowered to spur investment and ...

FD voters should approve franchise fee plan

Editorial

Fort Dodge now has a chance to get more police officers. It is a chance the voters must seize. Obviously, adding eight officers to the 40-member force will not be free. A franchise fee added to the gas and electric bills of MidAmerican Energy customers would generate the $1.8 million annually to make it possible. We urge the voters to approve that fee. We realize that no one wants to pay more in monthly bills. But in this instance, the benefits of doing so will far outweigh the comparatively low cost of the franchise fee. The fee would cost the typical residential customer about ...

Sue Koenig opens ‘Window to the World’ for students

Local Columns

Sue Koenig’s “Window to the World” — stored in a windowless facility in Denver for the past 18 years — soon will break into daylight to reach a new generation that will receive a hands-on education about the world through the Fort Dodge native’s collection of artifacts from her ...

Merz was champion for FDCSD students, families

Editorial

For 22 years, Jan Merz was a staunch advocate for the students of the Fort Dodge Community School District. Merz, who died Aug. 6 at age 76, was a member of the district’s Board of Education from 1991 to 2013. Serving on a school board involves much, much more than going to a couple meetings a month and voting on some agenda items. To govern a school district, a board member must become familiar with everything from reading curriculum to roofing materials. Doing all that was a challenge that Merz eagerly embraced. She wanted to make a difference in the lives of students by ...