Breaking News

Opinion

It’s time to honor EMS providers

Editorial

In Webster County and all across America, teams of dedicated professionals stand ready to render medical assistance in emergencies. For some, this is their career. For many others, it is a volunteer undertaking that is performed in addition to their normal employment. It’s impossible to overstate how important emergency medical service (EMS) personnel can be to just about any of us in a moment when knowledgeable help is needed fast. Honoring the men and women who handle this vital work is appropriate at all times, but especially so just now. That’s because National EMS Week began ...

Honoring the heart of health care: Our nurses

Local Columns

As we celebrate National Nurses Week, I want to take a moment to recognize our incredible nurses who are dedicated to delivering exceptional care to our patients, each other and the communities we serve. I’ve been a nurse for 33 years and am honored to serve as the chief nursing officer for UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge. I’m so proud of the more than 450 nurses who provide care in our clinics, hospital and home care services every day across our community. Our nurses show up when fear and uncertainty are present, advocate for patients in need and offer comfort even when healing ...

Postal Service should not be privatized

Editorial

As we Americans celebrate the 250th birthday of our country this year, we ought to take a minute to appreciate an often maligned organization that has helped tie the nation together throughout its history. That organization is the United States Postal Service. Even in the age of email, the Postal Service has a key role in helping Americans communicate and do business. We ought to keep it that way. Privatizing the Postal Service would be a mistake that would result in less service and higher costs for citizens. Unfortunately, the concept of privatizing it has come up a couple of ...

Thanks those who made MAGWED a success

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: I would like to give a shout out to several of your area friends and family for the tremendous job they do in hosting a fishing event held annually at Triggs Bay Resort in Okoboji, called MAGWED. This event was started by Bob Brown, of the Fort Dodge Messenger, in 1975 to encourage fellowship and fishing. Fifty years later, this event has evolved into one of the best fishing events held in the Okoboji area each year. I want to thank Jerod Dencklau, of Moorland, and his whole crew for the incredible job they do every year in hosting this family event. Next year Grant ...

RCF residents ready to work, ready to learn

Local Columns

I’m writing this because I believe our town needs to see what’s actually happening behind the scenes of our local support programs. We hear a lot about second chances, but I want to tell you what that looks like in the real world. My name is Jesse Edwards, and I’m writing as a roommate and peer to a man named Mark Pierce — but more importantly, I’m writing for all the guys at the Residential Correctional Facility (RCF) who are working just as hard to prove their worth. I’ve watched Mark and others like him put in the work every single day. These guys aren’t finished ...

It’s a good time to enjoy our parks

Editorial

Saturday is National Kids to Parks Day. This is a countrywide celebration organized annually by the National Park Trust “to connect kids and families with their local, state and national parks and public lands.” It has helped popularize these wonderful outdoor recreational venues since 2011. In conjunction with the national festivities, this weekend the Fort Dodge Recreation Department and Webster County Conservation are putting on a scavenger hunt throughout six area parks — both well—known ones and some not visited as often. And while National Kids to Parks Day is Saturday, ...