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Sexton is right choice for USDA rural development job

Editorial

It may not seem like it right now, but at some point the federal government will get back to work. When it does, an area man will be playing the lead role in managing the United States Department of Agriculture’s rural development programs for the state of Iowa. Mike Sexton, of Rockwell City, resigned from the state House of Representatives on Sept. 19 to take the post. We think he is a fine choice for the job. There is no doubt that Sexton, who has been a farmer all of his life, is well familiar with the needs of rural Iowa. And in addition to his farming background, he once ...

Fort Dodge, Kosovo relationship is worthy of support

Editorial

Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has Americans thinking about foreign affairs in a way that they probably have not done in a long time. Among other things, the war has made it clear once again that peaceful bonds of friendship need to be forged between countries, and the United States is no exception. Iowa and Fort Dodge are already doing this, creating a steadily growing relationship with Kosovo and Gjakova, one of the cities in that relatively young Balkan nation. These relationships began in the early 2000s during the civil war in which Kosovo separated from Serbia. Iowa Army ...

Iowa Central bond is an investment in the future

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: As president of Iowa Central Community College, there is not a single day that passes without a business owner or community member asking me how we can increase the number of people in the skilled workforce that our region, state, and nation so desperately depend on. On Nov. 4, our region will have the opportunity to support the infrastructure essential to enhancing our workforce needs by extending Iowa Central’s current General Obligation Bond. This renewal continues an existing levy, meaning no increase to the current property tax rate. For the average homeowner ...

Duncombe School strives to help students succeed

Local Columns

Recently, a story was published reporting on the statewide measure of success for Iowa public schools. The School Performance Profile is a mathematical formula that creates a standard score based on standardized test scores, reading and math proficiency scores, student attendance, and a number of other factors. This is my seventh year as principal at Duncombe Elementary in Fort Dodge, my 15th year as a school administrator, and my 22nd year in education. I won’t negate the ratings; they are my reality and I won’t make excuses, I don’t allow students to make excuses at school, ...

4-H is about helping youths achieve

Editorial

National 4-H Week, which began 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. It has been more than a century since 4-H got its start in Iowa in 1901. Today it is the largest youth-development program in the state. About one-quarter of the ...

Serving Iowans during the Schumer shutdown

Local Columns

The same Washington politicians who were whining about DOGE laying off unnecessary bureaucrats just a few months ago are now exposing who is and isn’t an essential employee by shutting down the government. The Schumer shutdown has sent home 750,000 federal employees deemed non-essential, but the kicker is that despite being on their couch, in a bubble bath, or wherever else, they will still collect a paycheck paid for by your tax dollars. In fact, every day the shutdown goes on, taxpayers will be on the hook for $400 million in salary for these bureaucrats who are not working. With ...