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October is Co-op Month across US

Editorial

There are various types of businesses that operate as cooperatives, but according to the National Cooperative Business Association, they all are owned and democratically controlled by their members and are designed to serve those members. The members typically are the people who use the co-op’s services or buy its goods. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, there are 40,000 co-ops of all types in the country. Collectively, they pay out some $25 billion a year in wages. Here in Iowa, we are most familiar with the co-ops that run grain elevators and provide fuel ...

Supports McCubbin in City Council race

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: As a local business owner and active community member, I am asking you to consider voting for Todd McCubbin for City Council in the Tuesday, Nov. 4, election. More than ever, people are working to make Fort Dodge a point of pride in the state of Iowa. We deserve City Council members who understand the complexities of city government, are driven by a passion for our city, and who would rather point to solutions, then point fingers of blame. I have been able to see firsthand how multiple agencies and local governments work together for our county and greater region. It ...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Local Columns

Throughout the month of October, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we proudly honor the incredible strength of breast cancer survivors and those who continue to fight this disease today. You are true warriors, and we are deeply honored to call you our friends and members of this community. We know your journey has not been easy, and we want you to know you are not alone. We stand with you and will continue to walk beside you — offering hope, support, and care every step of the way. In your honor, we extended our clinic hours for mammogram screenings and shared ...

Setting the record straight on city debt and responsible progress

Local Columns

Editor’s note: The Messenger generally does not publish letters or columns from candidates for office. However, because Councilman Dave Flattery is running unopposed for mayor and will in fact be the next mayor of Fort Dodge, we feel it is appropriate to share with the readers his thoughts on a city issue. Recently, a letter to the editor raised concerns about the City of Fort Dodge’s debt, creating a misleading picture of our financial position. As someone who has served the City Council for 18 years, our residents deserve the facts in clear terms. The City of Fort Dodge has ...

Southeast Valley gives its seniors an assist on financial aid work

Editorial

Applying for student aid can require almost as much work as an actual college course. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a chore under the best of circumstances. Bureaucratic bungling in the last year resulted in the document, often called the FAFSA, being released late and more complex than ever. Parents and students need a big assist to deal with the application. And while dealing with it is a headache, completing the FAFSA is a must because it determines a student’s eligibility for thousands of dollars worth of loans and grants to help pay for higher ...

Urges people to vote yes on Iowa Central issue

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: As the owner of a local real estate brokerage, Kesterson Realty, I see every day how education and economic growth go hand-in-hand. Iowa Central Community College continues to be one of our region’s greatest assets — training the workforce, supporting local employers and attracting new residents and businesses to north central Iowa. The upcoming bond renewal is not a new tax. It simply continues an existing levy at the same rate. For the average homeowner, that’s about $2.08 per month — a small investment that delivers a tremendous return through skilled ...