News and Events

What is the name of your business? Peoples Credit Union Where it is located? Home office is in Webster City, with branches in Fort Dodge and Lehigh When was it founded? We first established roots in Webster City on May 25, 1962 operating out of the home of Don and Colleen Follett an...Continue Reading

CHAD THOMPSON City Editor When customers would ask Chris Staley and Tim Mapel at Optic Ink about custom vinyl signs or vehicle wraps, they would direct them to Creative Signs and Graphics, owned by Maddie Lind. And when Maddie Lind, of Fort Dodge, was asked about custom T-shirts, she would direct them t...Continue Reading

CHAD THOMPSON City Editor In an effort to make sure every student who needed a mask got one, CJ Bio America delivered thousands of them to area schools just as the school year was getting underway. The company delivered about 7,000 masks total. Those masks were delivered by Andy Sheffield, CJ human resource...Continue Reading

CHAD THOMPSON City Editor Selling the idea of fun typically isn’t that much of a challenge for the staff at Fort Frenzy, 3232 First Ave. S. But during the COVID-19 era where people are encouraged to socially distance and mask up, business has been slower for the Fort Dodge amusement center, which offer...Continue Reading

What is the name of your business? Grell Commercial Roofing, LLC Where it is located? 2125 Lainson Ave., Suite 1 When was it founded? Roughly around 1983 Who are the key leaders? Read more.Continue Reading

What is the name of your business? Next Edge Performance Where it is located? 2419 Fifth Ave. S. Suite A When was it founded? January 2020 Read more.Continue Reading

The greater Fort Dodge area is growing in population as companies choose to locate in the region. The Growth Alliance and City of Fort Dodge have made a concerted effort to focus on the development of the housing units necessary to support this growth. Public-private partnerships have been utilized t...Continue Reading

Bill Shea The former JC Penney and Younkers stores at Crossorads Mall will be knocked down soon as a transformation of the property begins in earnest. Construction of two new roads through the mall site is expected to begin late this year. Additionally, construction of a new tire store close to Fifth Avenu...Continue Reading

The City of Fort Dodge is taking on a retail redevelopment project in the form of a brand new open-air Corridor Plaza Development! This exciting project will feature new and improved retail spaces, restaurants, green space, a hotel and mixed-use buildings with apartments, bringing a fresh look to the are...Continue Reading

Bill Shea AML Riverside LLC, a Fort Dodge-based manufacturer of veterinary medicines, plans a $6 million investment that will create 12 new jobs in the next three years. The company now employs 80 people at its plant at 141 E. Riverside Drive. The company, which is part of Argenta, based in New Zealand...Continue Reading

Kelby Wingert Regardless of how schools choose to approach the fall 2020 semester during this COVID-19 pandemic, not everyone is going to be satisfied. No one knows this more than Jesse Ulrich, superintendent of the Fort Dodge Community School District. “As a district, we’re trying to balance educating children with keeping our staf...Continue Reading

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