Breaking News

Opinion

Speedier e-bikes, scooters should prompt greater road awareness

Editorial

Both kids and grownups have been riding bikes throughout Fort Dodge for decades. And while scooters faded from the scene for awhile, they are enjoying a resurgence of popularity with young people today. We view people traveling on bikes and scooters as a good thing. It beats driving everywhere in this age of $4-a-gallon gas. And getting outside is good for physical and mental health. But something has changed. A growing number of the bikes and scooters have electric motors in them. That means they are going faster than any bike or scooter powered by human strength alone. Bicycles ...

Rooted in community, committed to truth

Local Columns

When the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago, newspapers throughout the colonies shared the life-changing news with their readers. With all of the enormous changes in this country and media since 1776, it’s noteworthy that more than 5,000 newspapers are still informing ...

Voting requires research

Editorial

For the last year, Iowans have been immersed in numerous political campaigns for Congress, the governor's office, the state legislature and various county offices. A lot of people may feel like they have been bombarded by non-stop political ads. With the general election less than 30 days away, the campaigning will shift into what easily could be described as maximum overdrive. In a democracy, that is to be expected. Every candidate for every office wants to get their message out and take a few jabs at their opponents. As fed up as folks may get with all of this campaigning they may ...

Support Coats for Kids this fall

Editorial

It’s hard to imagine facing an Iowa winter without a warm coat. Sadly, some area kids could be confronted with just that prospect if their families are facing a challenging economic situation. Fortunately, however, through the combined efforts of Fort Dodge Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and the Community Health Center of Fort Dodge, many of these young folks will have warm coats and other winter wear as the colder, wintry days arrive. This joint project — called Coats for Kids — accepts donations of new and gently used winter coats, along with hats, scarves, mittens and snow boots. ...

4-H is about helping youths achieve

Editorial

National 4-H Week, which begins Sunday and concludes Saturday, is a good time to celebrate the enormous contributions 4-H makes to our community and nation. It's hard to imagine anyone in Iowa who doesn't know a bit about 4-H, but this week is an appropriate occasion to reflect on the important contribution this organization makes by helping young people develop skills and values that will serve them well for a lifetime. I4-H got its start in Iowa in 1901. Today it is the largest youth-development program in the state. About one-quarter of the state's young folks are involved in 4-H. ...