News and Events

Elijah Decious The word through the grapevine in Fort Dodge is that you don’t have to travel long distances to get a great variety of wine. In fact, the vineyard is right in Webster County’s back yard at wineries like Soldier Creek Winery. There, a local family grows 10 different grapes tha...Continue Reading

MEDIACOM PARK, NY – June 23, 2020 -- Mediacom Communications announced today the company is extending through the July and August billing cycles a series of previously announced initiatives directed at helping American families address work, education and health care challenges created by the Coronavirus pandemic. Specific initiatives include: • Offering th...Continue Reading

Bill Shea Ten downtown Fort Dodge buildings will get a new look thanks to a contract, paid for mostly with grant funding, that was awarded by the City Council on Monday. Cornerstone Commercial Contractors Inc., of Corning, will renovate the facades of buildings in the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Central Avenue...Continue Reading

Elijah Decious UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center began to ease some visitor restrictions in its clinics and hospital Monday. “As healthcare providers, we have seen up close how difficult it has been for our patients, as well as their families, to be separated from each other in an already difficul...Continue Reading

Chad Thompson A lawn mower fun run, truck pull and drive-in movie are just some of the activities on tap for Manson’s Greater Crater Days, which will take place this weekend during a summer that has been filled with cancellations of many major events due to COVID-19. Some precautions will be take...Continue Reading

Elijah Decious Though the momentous gratification of walking across the stage for St. Edmond Catholic School’s class of 2020 was delayed, graduating seniors finally had their chance to gleam in the sunlight Sunday. “Today is that ‘one day.’ Today is the day we take a step. Today is the ‘one day’ tha...Continue Reading

Chad Thompson Decisions matter is one of the life lessons Major Johnson shared with her classmates during the Manson Northwest Webster High School graduation ceremony on Saturday. “Every decision you make will have an impact on someone, somewhere at some point in time,” said Johnson, one of three class speakers who earne...Continue Reading

Bill Shea The new owner of Crossroads Mall in Fort Dodge appears to be moving closer to redeveloping the site. Crossroads Plaza Development LLC, of Ankeny, is asking city officials to change the zoning designation of the property.The requested change would then allow the company to move forward with converting the sit...Continue Reading

Kelby Wingert An eye-catching wall of brick adorned with carbon steel mining carts recently found its home welcoming visitors to Gypsum City Off-Highway Vehicle Park, 2390 Mill Road. The wall and sign project got started in the fall, but with weather delays, was mostly completed over the past few weeks, said Mat...Continue Reading

Elijah Decious Fareway’s Fort Dodge location delivered $1,000 in gift cards Thursday to the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance for small businesses impacted by the regulations and effects of COVID-19. The donation comprised of $50 gift cards will be distributed by the alliance to randomly selected small business members impacted by restriction...Continue Reading

Chad Thompson UnityPoint Health and Blank Children’s Hospital announced a new partnership Thursday that will result in expanded pediatric care being delivered in Fort Dodge. “Blank Children’s Hospital is joining UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge to provide pediatric care in your own area,” said Dr. Steve Stephenson, president and COO of Blan...Continue Reading

Kelby Wingert When the COVID-19 pandemic reached the United States earlier this spring, the leaders at Hy-Capacity Tractor Parts in Humboldt wanted to know what they could do to help. Molly Varangkounh, president of Hy-Capacity, said they had seen posts on social media about hospitals facing a shortage of personal protective equipmen...Continue Reading

Chad Thompson With the help of $4 million in federal funding, mental health services will be expanded and become more inclusive for Webster County residents, according to Aaron McHone, director of UnityPoint Health — Berryhill Center. Berryhill has been awarded a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic grant by the Substance Abuse an...Continue Reading

Chad Thompson The Fort Dodge Senior High class of 2020 may still have the opportunity to wear their Dodger red caps and gowns to walk across the stage and accept their high school diplomas. The Fort Dodge Community School District announced Tuesday night its plans to host commencement on July 26 a...Continue Reading

MEDIACOM PARK, NY – April 30, 2020 -- Mediacom Communications announced today the company extension through June 30, 2020 of a series of previously announced initiatives directed at helping American families address work, education and health care challenges created by the Coronavirus pandemic. Specific initiatives include: • Offering the Mediacom Connect2Compete low-cos...Continue Reading

DES MOINES, Iowa (April 20, 2020) – LifeServe Blood Center, the only community-based blood center in our area and only provider of blood products to more than 120 hospitals throughout Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota is actively working with the FDA and area hospitals to collect convalescent plasma from healthy...Continue Reading

Chad Thompson The airplanes are still landing and taking off from the Fort Dodge Regional Airport — even after a statewide public health disaster was declared in March due to the threat of COVID-19. But the number of passengers aboard those flights has significantly decreased, according to Rhonda Chambers, director of aviatio...Continue Reading

Bill Shea The MidAmerican Energy Foundation has donated $30,000 to Fort Dodge organizations helping people who are reeling from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The utility provider’s foundation announced that it has donated $25,000 to the new Disaster Response Fund established last month by the Fort Dodge Community Foundation an...Continue Reading

Kelby Wingert A Fort Dodge business owner and community leader was honored by Main Street Iowa last week. Jim Bird, owner of Olde Boston’s Restaurant and Pub, Sports Page, Mineral City Mill and Grill and Pancheros, received the Leadership Award for his work with Main Street Fort Dodge. The award recognizes “inspirationa...Continue Reading

Volunteers sought to make cloth gowns Chad Thompson Nursing homes across the state are running low on cloth gowns, according to Dan Clark, director of Iowa Prison Industries. So the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility is doing something about it. About 90 inmates there have been cutting the fabric needed for the gowns. By Monday...Continue Reading

Kelby Wingert One downtown store’s facelift helped Main Street Fort Dodge nab the award for Excellent Exterior Rehabilitation from the 2020 Main Street Iowa Awards earlier this month. Main Street Fort Dodge nominated the Diamond’s facade restoration project by Dave Madsen for the award. The building, located at 605 Central Ave., wen...Continue Reading

Kelby Wingert Community Health Center of Fort Dodge received a special and much-needed gift from Elanco Animal Health on Tuesday morning. Jason Hansen and Lee Stimpson, Elanco staff members, delivered just over 1,000 vials filled with a solution called viral transport medium to the Community Health Center, 126 N. 10th St. Viral transpor...Continue Reading