Business Connection • March 2024

• Compensation for Service Connected Injuries

• Enrollment in VA Healthcare

• Rent & Utility Assistance*

• Funeral & Burial Assistance*

Terry Christensen PUBLISHER tchristensen@messengernews.net

Bill Shea EDITOR bshea@messengernews.net

Leanne Darr MARKETING DIRECTOR ldarr@messengernews.net

Jody Kayser SALES MANAGER jkayser@messengernews.net

Nick Manwarren GRAPHIC DESIGNER nmanwarren@messengernews.net

Jessica Nemechek SALES CONSULTANT jnemechek@messengernews.net

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance News

ANNUAL DINNER AND AWARDS BANQUET

The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance recently hosted its Annual Dinner and Awards Banquet, marking a momentous occasion to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and set the stage for a future defined by collaboration, progress, and a shared vision for Webster County and The Greater Fort Dodge community.

The evening commenced with gratitude, as attendees recognized the invaluable contribution of sponsors whose generous support made the event possible. The event was also an opportunity to express appreciation to the dedicated Growth Alliance Ambassadors and the Board Members for their leadership and support.

Acknowledging the collaborative spirit that defines the Greater Fort Dodge community, the event highlighted the ongoing partnerships forged at weekly and bi-weekly City/County team member meetings, emphasizing the significance of unity in addressing key regional issues. The spotlight then turned to the Growth Alliance team, recognized for their commitment, outstanding work,

and contribution to the organization’s success. The team’s dedication was evident as they were individually acknowledged:

Economic Development Director, Jefferson Fosbender

Community Engagement Director, Jill Nelson

Operations Coordinator, Deena McCaulley

Marketing Specialist, Skyla Porter

Administrative Assistant and YP Liaison, Emily Ayres

Expressing gratitude for the collaborative foundation laid by predecessors, the Annual Dinner also highlighted the unique collaborative process between local government and private business in the region. This intentional approach, championed by past leaders, has set the stage for the community’s success.

The recap emphasized the incredible achievements accomplished over the past year, showcasing the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance’s commitment to education, professional development, and investment in future leaders. Initiatives such as MEET AND EAT quarterly lunches, Leadership Programs, and the

groundbreaking Junior Leadership Fort Dodge program were highlighted as successful endeavors to empower individuals and foster community pride.

Networking opportunities, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and events like the Leading Ladies luncheons were celebrated for their role in strengthening professional connections and contributing to the vibrant community spirit.

The Growth Alliance’s commitment to continuous improvement and community involvement was evident through forums with local Iowa Legislators, advocacy efforts, and strategic marketing initiatives, including a new website and CRM software.

Economic development milestones were also spotlighted, showcasing the Greater Fort Dodge Region as a leader in US biofuel production. Impressive net new investments, job creation, and projects in the pipeline exemplify the region’s economic vitality.

The recap concluded with a call to embrace collaboration, champion forward-thinking, and propel Webster County and The Fort Dodge Region into an era of unparalleled growth. The message highlighted the essence of growth extending beyond economic metrics, emphasizing the community’s heartbeat and grit.

As the evening concluded, attendees left with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to contribute to the continued growth and success of the Greater Fort Dodge Region.

In gratitude for the unwavering support from partners, community members, and visionaries, the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance looks forward to another year of growth and prosperity.

Cheers to the future!

WITH Q&A VICKIE REECK

2024 CATALYST AWARD WINNER

When you look back on everything you’ve been a part of, what do you feel has been the most impactful to the region?

I think the most impactful thing the City has done that I’ve been a part of is changing from a strong Mayoral to a City Manager form of government. Prior to the City Manager form of government, every four years (or so) we would get a new leader with new ideas. Not that the new ideas were always necessarily bad, but we just didn’t have consistent leadership. We might be focusing on one thing for four years and then end up going a completely different direction the next four years. Long-term plans and visions could shift overnight, as could long-term employees. With the City Manager form of government, we can do strategic planning and rely on that plan not changing after an election year. We can plan for the future and count on carrying out long-term, multi-year plans. The City is now run more like a business with a CEO at the helm. This completely changed our way of doing business.

Q&A

WITH VICKIE REECK

What advice can you share for future leaders and individuals wanting to be more involved in the community?

It takes everyone working together to make things happen in our community. Our leadership in the City, the County, and the Growth Alliance must be on the same page with the same overall goals. We can’t compete against each other. It takes all of us putting our resources together for the good of our community to make the biggest impact. We hear it throughout the State, “you need to go see what Fort Dodge and Webster County are doing”. What a testament to our community. One of my favorite quotes, “There’s no end to the amount of good you can do when you don’t care who gets the credit.”

Name one thing that fills you with pride as you reflect on your career.

Dennis Plautz hired me to work for the City in 1988 as a clerk typist. I always tell him, I appreciate the fact that he took a chance on me, that he must have saw something in this teenager that I sure didn’t see in myself. I worked with Dennis for over 25 years and was promoted 3 times. I earned my AA at ICCC and my BA at Buena Vista while working for the City. I was the first in my family to go to college. After Dennis left to lead the Growth Alliance, I was promoted to Community & Economic Development Director and worked with Chad Schaeffer before being promoted by David Fierke to a Department Head in 2020. I never dreamed I’d be in this type of position. I’ve been given so many opportunities to grow with the City. There are so many people that have been placed in my path that have helped me along this journey and have been in my corner since day 1. I absolutely love the work that I do and am so grateful to be a part of the amazing things going on in our community.

What do you hope for regarding the future of Fort Dodge?

My hope is that we can continue with the great strides that we have made in the last decade. We have seen such a resurgence in Fort Dodge in all aspects, with the new facilities at Iowa’s Crossroads of Global Innovation, expansions at many of our existing companies, the redevelopment of Corridor Plaza, the recent housing developments and the rehabilitation of our historic downtown buildings. My hope is that Fort Dodge will be the location of choice for potential employees to live, work, play and raise a family.

GREATER FORT DODGE GROWTH ALLIANCE BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

PURINA MAKES AN IMPACT IN THE FORT DODGE COMMUNITY

The Purina Fort Dodge factory opened its doors in 1975 and is committed to delivering safe, high-quality, nutritious pet care products. Every day, the team of more than 275 associates at Purina Fort Dodge produces brands beloved by pets and trusted by pet owners, including Friskies® and Pro Plan®. The global pet food company continues to invest in its Fort Dodge facility, located along Fifth Avenue South, and in the community where factory associates call home.

“At Purina, we strive to support crucial programs and partners in the communities we call home,” said Trever Morgan, Purina Fort Dodge factory manager.

Team members from Purina Fort Dodge recently presented a $25,000 donation to Linking Families and Communities to support creating a new child care center facility.

With a decline in child care for over a decade in Webster County, finding care can be a barrier to employment for parents, forcing them to stay home, forgo additional income, work fewer hours, or even leave the community. The donation from Purina will be used to support a high-quality care and education center for children in the community with expanded hours to accommodate various shifts for parents, filling a vital need and supporting children in critical developmental years.

“Linking Families and Communities is a vital organization for families with young children, and it’s an honor to support their work and purpose,” said Morgan.

People and pets are better together. The Fort Dodge team also partners with the Almost Home Humane Society to support their housing and adoption services. The factory team donated funds to supply a much-needed van to transport animals to their vet appointments and adoption events.

The Fort Dodge team innovates alongside the community. “Pu rina continues to adapt and modernize our operation in Fort Dodge, and we evaluate and utilize new technologies whenev er possible,” explained Morgan.

One new technology we’re exploring at Purina is Spot, a doglike maintenance robot that assists associates working in the factories. Purina associates enjoy sharing these exciting tech nologies with local schools – including Iowa Central Com munity College, Kirkwood Community College, Fort Dodge Public Schools and St. Edmond Catholic High School – to give students an inside look into operations at the factory and the meaningful careers Purina can support.

Purina operates one facility in Fort Dodge and employs more than 275 local associates. To learn more Purina and opportuni ties in Fort Dodge, visit Nestlejobs.com/locations/fort-dodge.

City Connect FORT DODGE

Fort Dodge Fiber

The staff here at Fort Dodge Fiber is very excited to connect more residents and businesses to our network this year! We’ve been fortunate to experience an exceptionally mild winter, enabling us to kick off our construction season ahead of schedule. This year, we’ve successfully launched Cabinets 24 and 26 for service and are nearing completion on Cabinets 15 and 21. There are multiple addresses on hold to receive their fiber drop due to an upcoming sewer work project in Cabinet 15.

Our dedicated crews have initiated mainline construction in both Zone 3 and Zone 4, and also focusing on pulling fiber through the main line in Zone 2. For a detailed breakdown of these zones, please visit the process tab on our website.

We currently serve over 550 active customers, with an extensive infrastructure that includes nearly 500,000 feet of laid conduit with more conduit being installed this year. Our contractors have successfully installed 1,300+ fiber drops and laid an impressive 178,977 feet of fiber.

Additionally, we have conducted 4,700 completed site surveys to ensure a comprehensive and efficient service delivery. Patriot Communications continues to be our contractors performing the site surveys. Fort Dodge Fiber crews have also successfully installed fiber lines to a few new apartment buildings in town to be sure when vacancy is being filled, those residents have an easy transition to take Fort Dodge Fiber services. For those in Zones 4 and 5, stay tuned as invitations to schedule your site surveys will be extended later this year. This will be sent to your email that you used to register your address with.

Switching to fiber internet offers a superior online experience with faster speeds, greater reliability, and the capacity to meet the evolving demands of today’s digital world. As technology continues to advance, fiber-optic networks are well-equipped to provide a robust and future-proof internet solution. With symmetrical speeds, no data caps, no contracts, a local team that cares, and plans up to 5 GB, you will not regret making the switch when Fort Dodge Fiber when it is available in your area!

As Fort Dodge Fiber continues to expand its network, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of service and customer satisfaction. The feedback that we are getting is a powerful reminder of the positive change Fort Dodge Fiber brings to our community, delivering not just faster internet but also exceptional customer service. A recent review from a new customer highlights the significant difference our service makes: “We just had service hooked up and wanted to say the technician was very friendly and helpful. He certainly knew what he was doing. Also, the speed is unbelievable. We were with another provider previously on their fastest plan, and this is already faster. We will be spreading the word so get ready.” We are so grateful for our customers spreading the word throughout our community.

When your property is ready for installation, you will get a call directly from our local staff at the Customer Experience Center. Before this step, you will see white flags in your yard identifying where your fiber drop will be coming up to your home or business.

To all registered individuals, we strongly encourage completing your site survey promptly to ensure you don’t miss out on the opportunity for a free fiber drop. Failure to complete this step may result in a waiting period if our crews have already completed fiber drops in your neighborhood. Be proactive and secure your spot at the front of the list!

If a business is inquiring about Fort Dodge Fiber services, please contact our Sales & Marketing Supervisor, Rachel Rowe at 515515-5112 or rrowe@fortdodgefiber.com. Residential properties can call our main line at 515-515-5000 and talk to any Customer Experience staff about timelines and services available. You can also follow our monthly newsletters and social media where we share our community events and construction updates.

artistspot

When did your love of music begin?

When I went to Iowa State University for college, I found some friends that I started to hang around with. They took me along to see the Allman Brothers. I had never been to see live music. I saw them and the first thing I wondered was “Where have they been hiding this all my life”. Their 15 minute long songs turned me onto music for the rest of my life. Then I was introduced to the Grateful Dead. I saw them in the fall of ‘71 after Duane died earlier that spring. The cover to attend live music was only $5 back then. You got in early and left late. People were respectful and fully embraced the talented musicians

I went to ISU to major in Telecommunicative Arts and switched to a Speech and Drama major later. I wanted to go to a school in Minnesota to be a DJ ,but my mom wouldn’t let me.

Did you come from a music loving family?

My family didn’t even have a stereo. They finally got a suitcase radio when I was in high school. My mom went to a record store and asked them to suggest something for me for my birthday. They picked one out and I was given an album by the Eagles.

Byron Stuart

Age: 71 • Hometown: Pomeroy • Career: Living Day by Day

What inspired you to open Byron’s?

I had been a bartender for 10 – 15 years and when the bar, where Byrons is now located, came up for auction I was interested. Initially they wanted $60,000 - 70,000 for the building. I got it at the auction for $17,000 with everything in it. I said I wasn’t going to make it into a Grateful Dead shrine but, after a guest brought me a Jerry Garcia t-shirt, it all got out of hand.

When, after opening, did you start having live music?

I opened in January and had Larry Myer perform in May. Larry suggested I have Rob Lumbard. After Rob performed, live music started happening once every two or three months. Shortly after, I saw Brother Trucker at the M-Shop in Ames. I fell in love with their sound instantly. They started showing up often enough to play that they quickly become known as the “house band”. My first national act was Todd Snyder on March 4, 2001. Todd was so great and I was nervous something would go wrong with a musician of this caliber. Word started to spread and before long Canned Heat had contacted me to play. The date they played just so happened to be my 50th birthday. What a way to celebrate!

What have been some of your most memorable performances?

There are simply too many to pick from. I always say “the next show” is my most memorable show. I do remember Kevin Gordan playing the night before Ragbrai came through Pomeroy one year. He ended up playing for 6 hours that day. I’ll never forget that show.

Why is live music important?

I don’t know. It affects my body. I don’t know how to explain that. I only feel it when I’m listening to live music. It must be in the air. The vibrations are felt through every cell in my body.

Do you play any instruments?

I played baritone in high school. I was in plays, band, choir, editor of the paper and manager of all the sports teams. I was a social butterfly in high school. I loved the experience.

What makes Byrons so special?

This is not like church, Byrons fills in from the front as opposed to from the back. It’s become a family. Live music only happens once.

What can people to do help “Save Byrons”?

People are encouraged to attend our fundraising events scheduled for March 3 at Historic Phillips Auditorium. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.com for that and will be available soon for our events on April 12 and 13 at Historic Phillips Auditorium and the Laramar Ballroom. People can also bid on the online auction that contains artisan items donated by friends, family and musicians. The Friends of Byron committee also set up a Gofund me where anyone

The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

MARCH 2024

24 North 9th Street, Suite A Fort Dodge, IA 50501

Phone 515-955-5500

Fax 515-955-3245 www.greaterfortdodge.com

STAFF

Astra Ferris CEO astra@greaterfortdodge.com

Jill Nelson Community Development Director jill@greaterfortdodge.com

Skyla Porter Marketing Specialist skyla@greaterfortdodge.com

Emily Ayres Administrative Assistant emily@greaterfortdodge.com

Jefferson Fosbender Economic Development Director jefferson@greaterfortdodge.com

Deena McCaulley Operations Coordinator deena@greaterfortdodge.com

“Greater

MISSION STATEMENT

Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings

County Connect Webster

Webster County Supervisors helping think outside the box

The Webster County Supervisors strive to improve the lives of Webster County residents. They do this by thinking outside the box and through collaboration with organizations like the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.

You can find the current Webster County Supervisors listed below, along with the commissions and boards they are a part of.

Austin Hayek, District 1

Conference Board

Drainage District No. 96 Rep

Emergency Management

GFDGA Board Directors

Growth Primary Sector Committee

Ioway Watershed Management Authority

MIDAS Board

North Racoon River Watershed Coalition

Webster County Drug Alliance

Mark Campbell, District 2

Conference Board

County Buildings-Public Health/Bank

Growth City/County

Iowa Crossroads of Global Innovation Advisory Board

Insurance Committee

MH Advisory/Plan Committee

Public Health

Solid Waste Commission

Wellness

Bob Thode, District 3

Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Conference Board

County Buildings-DH

E-911 Service Board

Foster Grandparent

GFDGA Board Director

Linking Families

NCARF

Second Judicial Workforce

Niki Conrad, District 4 Conference Board

Visit Fort Dodge

County Buildings-LEC

Department Head Meeting

GFDGA Exec Committee

Growth City/County

Haz/Mat Response Committee

Hazmat Foundation

MH Advisory/Plan Committee (alternate)

Second Judicial (alternate)

Nick Carlson, District 5 Conference Board

County Buildings - Courthouse

Crime Stoppers

Iowa Crossroads of Global Innovation Advisory Board

Insurance Committee

MIDAS Government Sharing Committee

Telecommunications

Upper Des Moines

The Dayton Vendor Expo is set for March 23, from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Dayton Community Center.

All proceeds generated from this event will support the community center. Lunch will be provided, and attendees are encouraged to contribute a free-will donation. For further details, please contact Kevin at either 515-547-3333 or 515-351-9391.

Fort Dodge Community Foundation and UNITED WAY

FORT DODGE ENJOYS A UNIQUE CULTURE AND A ROBUST HISTORY

Richard “Dick” Johnson, 95, of Great Falls, Montana, passed away on February 21, 2024. For many people and kids in Fort Dodge and the surrounding communities, Dick Johnson was known as “Uncle Dick.” UNCLE DICK’S FUN HOUSE, hosted by Dick Johnson was a kiddie TV show that quickly found a huge audience with F.D. children. In 1953, Dick Johnson came to KVFD TV at Ed Breen’s invitation. He served as an announcer, weatherman and newscaster. A time slot opened after the Eve’s Kitchen show and Breen asked Johnson if he would host a children’s program at that time slot. During this time, Johnson wrote, directed, and starred in the “Uncle Dick’s Funhouse,” a children’s program which is a part of Fort Dodge’s folk tradition. Dick Johnson was a talented sketch artist and cartoonist. The success of the show shocked WHO in Des Moines, which lost all its audience in the F.D. area in that time slot due to the popularity of Uncle Dick. The show was televised from 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. five days a week and it ran for more than six years. Later the show’s name changed and was called “Birthday Party.” For seventeen years, Dick Johnson put smiles on the faces of hundreds of Fort Dodge girls and boys and helped them celebrate special birthday parties on live television. The show went off the air in 1970.

Fort Dodge is blessed with unique culture and a dynamic history, filled with rich traditions and interesting nostalgia. Learning about and celebrating the history of our community is important because it allows us to know our past, understand our present and shape our future. It helps us appreciate the context of how our community’s history and how it is notably integrated into the history and development of our state and the pioneer movement that built and expanded our nation.

Our history provides us with insight into our community’s culture, traditions, and folklore. It details the progress and growth of our community and how it happened. Celebrating our history helps us gain greater understanding, appreciation and respect for the amazing leadership, commitment and sacrifice that early Fort Dodgers made to build our community. And it creates greater appreciation for the place we call home.

The Fort Dodge History website (www.fortdodgehistory.com) encourages people of all ages to learn, embrace and enjoy the robust history, abounding culture, and fond memories of our community. Plus – reading about our community’s history and nostalgia is just plain interesting and enjoyable.

Reasons Why Learning, Embracing and Celebrating Our History Is Important

1. It helps us understand Fort Dodge and its culture: One of the most important reasons to know our community’s history is so we can understand our community and culture today by knowing who and what created it. Learning about and understanding the events and people that built and shaped our community is incredibly important. Knowing about and understanding the positive and negative events of the past teaches us a great deal about addressing the challenges of the future.

2. It helps us understand change: The events that led to change in our community help us understand how and why our community progressed through the decades. Knowing this can help us advance change for the better for our community today.

RANDY KUHLMAN

C.E.O FORT DODGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND UNITED WAY

3. It helps us relate our own history to our nation’s history: When we learn about the stories of the pioneer settlers that risked everything, including their lives, to migrate across the uncharted territories and difficult terrain to come to Fort Dodge, we gain a much greater perspective and appreciation for our own history.

4. It helps us preserve stories: It is important to know about the stories of those before us. It is important to understand what those before us had to say, how they thought, and why they did what they had to do to survive and advance. We need to hear their stories, preserve them, and pass them down to those that will follow us. Hearing the stories of those before us can inspire us to take action in our own lives and community.

5. It offers us memorable nostalgia: Memories of our past, especially the good times – the fun times, can truly enrich our lives. These memories warm our hearts, they bring smiles to our faces, and they even inspire us. The fun and heart-warming events of the past help form our character and our identity. They are important to us and need to be appreciated, embraced, enjoyed, and never forgotten.

Please visit our Fort Dodge history website (www.fortdodgehistory.com). If you would like to receive our weekly emails that highlight aspects of Fort Dodge history and nostalgia, just email me your email address and I will add you to our distribution list.

If you have information that can enhance our website, please contact us and let us know. You can reach the Fort Dodge Community Foundation at 515-573-3171 or email me at: rk@fd-foundation.org.

Iowa Central Community College

College Connect

Iowa Central Community College plans Grand Opening for Decker Auditorium and Center for Performing Arts in April

Excitement is in the air as Iowa Central prepares to cut the ribbon for the grand opening of Decker Auditorium and the Center for Performing Arts. The entire auditorium has been transformed and a two-story addition has greatly expanded the space. College officials are excited to turn on the spotlights and celebrate. Iowa Central invites the community to join them on Friday, April 19th at 4:00 PM for a ribbon cutting, tours and special performances by Iowa Central students and alumni. Everyone is welcome!

The grand opening will mark a transformational moment in the history of Iowa Central, and that would not be possible without the generosity and support of many. “We extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone that has made a gift to our Dream Big, Act Now campaign for the auditorium and Center for Performing Arts. Their kindness is greatly appreciated,” shares Mary Ludwig, Vice President of Development and Alumni of Iowa Central Community College. Don and Dianne Decker of Fort Dodge made the lead gift to the campaign

with a $1 Million dollar donation. “We are very fortunate to have the support of the Deckers whose commitment and generosity has positively impacted the college and students for many years,” says Ludwig.

“The renovation of the space opens the door for expanded opportunities with the fine arts and much more. We take pride knowing this investment for our students, and the Iowa Central service region will improve quality of life by providing new experiences to enjoy,”

shares Dr. Jesse Ulrich, President of Iowa Central Community College. With construction complete, the college will turn its focus on bringing in new acts to the stage and provide a state-of-the art space for local groups. “Our region is fortunate to have a lot of local talent and we look forward to partnering with those groups to take the stage at Iowa Central,” shares Dr. Ulrich. He adds, “It is just the beginning of a new era for our college and community. Our goal and intentions are to provide a space for everyone in our service area to enjoy and benefit from experiencing the arts firsthand and close to home,” notes Dr. Ulrich.

Decker Auditorium is the largest venue in the nine-county Iowa Central service region, and it now shines brightly. The new seats are comfortable and handicap seating is now available. The stage is enhanced with new curtains, new flooring and two new catwalks. Theatrical lighting is now in place along with modern audio equipment. Electrical equipment will now meet the needs of local and touring groups. And the list doesn’t stop there. Improvements include an elevator, a new entrance, more classrooms, backstage dressing rooms and amenities, a set building shop, large band room, a team room, more bathrooms, and much more.

If you would like to support the Iowa Central Performing Arts programs, you can donate online at https://www. iowacentral.edu/dreambig/ or send a gift to: Iowa Central Performing Arts, c/o Foundation Office, 1 Triton Circle, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. For more information, contact Mary Ludwig at 515574-1145 or ludwig@iowacentral.edu .

UPCOMINGEVENTS

Bingo at the Fort- Fort Museum Opera House

March 18 and 21 at 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Bingo for Almost Home- The Laramar Ballroom

March 19 at 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.

DJ Bingo- Creekside Restaurant

• March 20 at 7:00 p.m.

St. Edmond High School production of “Annie”

5 Course Meal Served

Wednesday through Friday

March 21 & 22 at 7:00 p.m. & March 23 at 3:00 p.m.

5 p.m. - 9 p.m. $30

515 Big Band Concert- Phillips Auditorium • March 22 at 7:00 p.m.

Kiwanis Annual Pancake Fundraiser

Reservations are not required, but always appreciated

Willow Ridge Golf Course and Restaurant

1788 MADISON AVENUE • WILLOWRIDGEGOLF.COM • 515-576-5711

Community Christian School • March 23 at 7:00 a.m. to Noon

Go to our website www.willowridgegolf.com for upcoming menu

FD Parks, Rec, and Forestry Spring Vendor Show

Citizen’s Central • Mar 23 at 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Easter Egg Hunt- St. Olaf Lutheran Church

March 24 at 10:00 a.m. (please pre-register)

FD Area Symphony, “Music From Middle-Earth”

FD Middle School • March 24 at 3 p.m.

Cardiff Center Bridal Expo

March 24 at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Bingo at the Fort- Fort Museum Opera House Mar 25 and 28 at 5-9:30 p.m.

Bingo for Almost Home • The Laramar Ballroom • Mar 26 @ 6-10 p.m.

DJ Bingo- Creekside Restaurant

Adult Easter Egg Hunt- Soldier Creek Winery

March 30 @ 2 p.m.

Dueling Pianos- Webster County Fairgrounds • March 30 @ 6 p.m.

Bingo at the Fort- Fort Museum Opera House • Apr 1 and 4 @ 5-9:30 p.m.

Bingo for Almost Home- The Laramar Ballroom- Apr 2 @ 6-10 p.m.

DJ Bingo- Creekside Restaurant- Apr 3 @ 7 p.m.

Home and Farm Show- North Central Iowa SBDC- Apr 5 (not sure on times, it says April 5 1 p.m. to April 6 5 p.m. which obviously isn’t correct)

Autism Awareness Walk- Fort Dodge Middle School- Apr 6 @ 2-3:30 p.m.

Monica Austin- The Laramar Ballroom- Apr 6 @ 7 p.m.

Bingo at the Winery- Soldier Creek Winery- Apr 7 @ 3 p.m.

Bingo at the Fort- Fort Museum Opera House- Apr 8 and 11 @ 5-9:30 p.m.

Bingo for Almost Home- The Laramar Ballroom- Apr 9 @ 6-10 p.m.

DJ Bingo- Salty Suz- Apr 10 @ 7 p.m.

DJ Bingo- Creekside Restaurant- Apr 11 @ 7 p.m.

Author Book Signing- Sara Broes, “Perfect Day Iowa”-Fort Dodge Public Library- Apr 9 @ 6-7:15 p.m.

shiningstar

When did you first start taking guitar lessons?

I started taking online lessons around three years ago, but I switched to inperson lessons with Jeremy Ober about one year ago.

What is the most challenging thing about playing the guitar?

A year ago I would have said the bar chords. Although those can still be challenging at times, I would say doing lead guitar and picking out the right individual notes while keeping time and not rushing or slowing down is more challenging. Picking the notes gets more challenging the longer I have to repeat a part because there is more time that I could mess up.

Age:15 • Hometown: Gowrie, Iowa • Instrument: guitar, vocals, and occasionally piano

Grade/School: 9th – I am homeschooled and duel enrolled into South East Valley for extra circular activities.

What do you most enjoy about playing the guitar?

I enjoy the challenges that come with learning new songs, and I enjoy how many different things one can do with the guitar whether that be strumming and being more of a back-ground filler or a lead guitar part.

What made you decide to take voice lessons?

I wanted to learn where my limit is with my voice and learn how to sing without going flat or sharp.

What do you most enjoy about being a part of your church’s Praise Team?

I enjoy the community that comes with it. I love how they all cheer each other on, and how they never judged me for where my abilities were when I started. I also appreciated that they did not count my age against me, and that they treat me like a young adult instead of a young kid.

Who inspires you and why?

Francesca Battistelli inspires me because she started her singing career when she was young, became married, had kids, and still found time for music. I also appreciate how she kept her faith and did not conform to this world even when she gained popularity.

If you could take a trip, anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I would travel to a mountain that is located right outside of Nashville, Tennessee and hike into it so that I was not by the road with all the cars. I love that the mountains out in Tennessee have rocky parts but also contain plenty of trees. Being up on a mountain, I can look out and see a great amount of land, and the view reminds me that there are bigger things than the problems that I am facing. There is also just a sense of peace about being away from tons of people.

What do you plan to do after you finish school?

I would love to become either a worship leader at a church or start/join a band.

Walk us through a typical day in the life of Abby.

Every day I start off with making my bed then proceeding to start school. Once I am done with school, I will usually play some music and sing to it while I straighten up my bedroom. After that I will practice guitar or vocals. I often do both at the same time. Then I will probably go outside and play with my brothers. Once the evening hits I will either play a song on my guitar, watch a movie with my family, or read a book.

To become a member or let us know about an event contact:

WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE?

We all hope to remain healthy and independent throughout our lives – but life can be unpredictable. If you were ever to need some type of long-term care, would you be financially prepared?

Long-term care encompasses everything from the services of a home health aide to a stay in an assisted living facility to a long residence in a nursing home. You may never need any of these kinds of care, but the odds aren’t necessarily in your favor: Someone turning age 65 today has almost a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care services and support in their remaining years, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

And all types of long-term care can involve considerable financial expense. The median annual cost for a home health aide’s services is more than $60,000 per year, and it’s more than $100,000 per year for a private room in a nursing home, according to Genworth, an insurance company. Furthermore, contrary to many people’s expectations, Medicare usually pays very little of these costs.

Of course, some people expect their family will be able to take care of their long-term care needs. But this may not be a viable strategy. For one thing, your

family members simply may not have the skills needed to give you the type of care you may require. Also, by the time you might need help, your grown children or other family members might not live in your area.

So, you may need to protect yourself and your loved ones from the potential costs of long-term care. Basically, you’ve got two main choices: You could self-insure or you could transfer the risk by purchasing some type of long-term care insurance.

If you have considerable financial resources, you might find self-insuring to be attractive, rather than choosing insurance and paying policy premiums. You may wish to keep an emergency savings or investment account that’s earmarked exclusively for long-term care to help avoid relying on your other retirement accounts. But self-insuring has two main drawbacks. First, because long-term care can be costly, you might need to plan for a significant amount. And second, it will be quite hard to predict exactly how much money you’ll need, because so many variables are involved – your age when

you start needing care, interest rates or inflation, the cost of care in your area, the type of care you’ll require, the length of time you’ll need care, and so on.

As an alternative to self-insuring, you could purchase long-term care insurance, which can provide benefits for home health care, adult day care and assisted living and nursing home facilities. However, you will need to consider the issues attached to long-term care insurance. For one thing, it can be expensive, though the younger you are when you buy your policy, the more affordable it may be. Also, long-term care policies typically require you to wait a certain amount of time before benefits are paid. But policies vary greatly in what they offer, so, if you are thinking of buying this insurance, you’ll want to review options and compare benefits and costs.

In any case, by being aware of the potential need for long-term care, its cost and the ways of paying for it, you’ll be able to make the appropriate decisions for your financial situation, your needs and your loved ones.