Business Connection • 0223

business CONNECTION

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

Brittney Bensen SALES CONSULTANT bbensen@messengernews.net

ADDRESS: PHONE: 713 Central Ave. (515) 573-2141 Fort Dodge, IA 50501 FAX: (515) 571-4529

Fort Dodge BUSINESS CONNECTION is published monthly by The Messenger in cooperation with The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2023. Reproduction in part or in whole without the expressed written permission of Fort Dodge BUSINESS CONNECTION is strictly prohibited. Unsolicited manuscripts must be accompanied by return postage. Fort Dodge BUSINESS CONNECTION is not responsible for unsolicited photographs, artwork or manuscripts. The opinions expressed in editorial material are not necessarily the opinions of Fort Dodge Business Connection.

Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

ANNUAL DINNER THE

GREATER FORT DODGE GROWTH ALLIANCE

On March 2 The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance will be hosting its Annual Dinner for 2023. The dinner will be held at the Fort Frenzy Cardiff Center with the Social Hour from 5 PM to 6 PM and the dinner being served at 6 PM. This year’s guest speaker will be Kathryn Kunnert, Vice President of Economic Development and Integration for Mid American Energy Company. Ms. Kunnert will share information on initiatives and changes in Mid American Energy, their importance and role in economic development, and additionally what they see occurring and likely to occur

About her speech and Mid American, Kathryn has this to say: “We are more than just a pipes and wires company. We are a

Last year we celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Growth Alliance and the many area successes of that decade. This year I am happy to be able to report continued growth and success and to look forward to continued prosperity in the future.

As I have stated a number of times, in the 48 years I have lived and worked in Fort Dodge and Webster County, I had not imagined that the success and positive change that has occurred in recent years would have been possible. Your cooperation, collaboration, and efforts are the single difference, so please consider celebrating with us at the Annual Dinner on March 2. We anticipate being sold out like last year so sign up now.

THANK YOU EVERYONE, AND WE’LL HOPEFULLY SEE YOU ON MARCH 2.

The Alliance will also be partnering at the dinner with The Community Foundation and United Way who will be presenting their awards and acknowledgments. This dinner is again an opportunity to celebrate

WITH

WEBSTER COUNTY SUPERVISOR

Q&A AUSTIN HAYEK

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.

I am a lifelong resident of Webster County, husband of 14 years, father of 5 amazing children, 3rd generation family farmer and, safety professional. I attended high school at Webster City High School, completed an Associates Degree at Iowa Central Community College, and completed my Bachelor’s Degree at Ashford University in Environmental Studies.

Following Iowa Central, I began my career with the Fort Dodge Police Department as a Patrolman, and I continued these duties for 6 years. After leaving the FDPD I went to work for Valero Renewables in Fort Dodge as a Process Operator and then as an EHS professional for the Albert City plant.

Austin Hayek

Q&A

WITH AUSTIN HAYEK - WEBSTER COUNTY SUPERVISOR

We then moved onto the family farm and I spent 4 years working at Koch Fertilizer as a Process Safety Manager. I was then given a chance to move into occupational safety and took a role with Nestle Purina as the Safety Manager.

WHAT COMMITTEES AND BOARDS WILL YOU BE A PART OF?

I am a part of the Beaver Creek, Ioway, and North Racoon River Watershed Management. Watershed Management Authorities connect cities, counties, Soil, Water Conservations Districts, and stakeholders to engage in watershed planning and management.

I am also the board representative of Drainage District 96, which along with the WMA’s aligns with my background in farming. I have also been appointed to the Conference Board, the MIDAS Council of Governments, GFDGA Primary Sector Committee, Webster County Drug Alliance, and Emergency Management Commission. Many of the roles fit very well with my background and experience and I’m excited to be a part of these boards and represent our county.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GOALS AS A WEBSTER COUNTY SUPERVISOR?

Throughout the campaign process, I was really able to focus on what some of my objectives would be for the board, and first and foremost was being a good steward of the taxpayer money and looking for ways to bring down our property taxes. I would also like to use my background to help support our Sheriff’s office to continue driving crime rates down, which would attract new business investment, bring in more visitors and grow Webster County. I have also been an advocate for our family farms, ensuring they have a voice at the table and someone fighting for them to continue driving growth in our county. Lastly, I want to ensure we have an adequate focus on our quality-of-life projects as well, including our

conservation projects, which would bring visitors and residents alike and grow the county by providing jobs and activities for the entire family.

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU’VE LEARNED SINCE BEING SWORN IN THAT SURPRISED YOU OR THAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT?

Being new to any board is always a new experience, this provides a unique opportunity to work for our communities, one of the first things I’ve learned thus far is how the compensation board works. During my campaign I had brought up a plan on how to handle raises for the board, given this topic comes up right away in January I was able to get a quick understanding of the process and what decisions the board can regarding them. After the Comp board makes its reviews and recommendations, the board then decides to accept them, or equally decrease the raises for the next fiscal year. The board could also decide to give themselves 0% if they chose. Being this is all part of budget discussions it’s been exciting to get into this process and really learn these nuances, which has made for an exciting start.

artistspot Andrea Bodholdt

My mom started teaching me to play the piano when I was in kindergarten. I started lessons with a teacher the next year. In high school, I became interested in taking organ lessons from Kathleen Schreier and throughout the rest of my college years. I also started vocal lessons in college and earned my BA in Vocal Performance.

How long have you been performing/ teaching?

I was asked to play for the St. Paul Saturday night church service when I was 12 years old. I have played for a church ever since. I started teaching piano lessons in 2004 and have been teaching piano lessons ever since. I have also added vocal and organ lessons.

Tell us about a couple of your most memorable piano recital experiences.

My first recital was the most memorable since I had no idea what a recital was. I was very shy and when my teacher asked if I would like to play a certain song, I said yes even though I did not like the song at all. I had no idea I could ask if I could play my

In the early years, my mom and I often played duets together at the Villa Care Center since we had an adopted grandma there. I remember one lady in particular during one of our piano visits, pretty perturbed that we were making her miss her afternoon tv program. Not sure if they had TVs in their rooms, but there was one in the room next to the piano where we were playing. I think she called war on our music. We could hear the volume get louder, so we giggled and played a little louder. Other residents (and staff) were asking her to turn the TV back down. I can’t remember who won that round.

Fast forward a few years, adding much more experience. We had a music recital at the old Thompson Friendship Haven center. That was rewarding because we had a room of residents who were eager to see and hear young students perform. Not only did I play my solo piano pieces, but I also played a few pieces in a trio with a violin and cello. That was the first time I played with any other instruments. A whole new exciting world opened up to me!

Who has the greatest influence on you musically?

The two people that really encouraged me and taught me to pursue my passion in music include Joellen Brightman and Kathleen Schreier. There are so many people to include in the last 25 years.

If you had a chance to meet any performer/musician, alive or dead, whom would you choose?

Never thought about it. I have no idea.

What are some of your musical accomplishments?

Music was my first job. I loved it and played piano all the time. I have played for many funerals and weddings. I don’t think I have missed any more than two Sundays a year in the last 23 years. I have played for services in four different denominations. I have held many piano/music recitals in all kinds of venues for my students. We have really had a fun time.

I used to play keyboard and sing in a classic rock band the first two years of college. Then another blues/rock band a few years

Age: 35 • Hometown: Fort Dodge • Instrument: Piano/Vocal/Organ

later. At one point, I would play with the band at a bar or event Saturday evening until 2am, go home and sleep and play one or two services Sunday morning. It was never boring!

Tell us about your educational background with music.

I went to ICCC and took music theory, vocal lessons, and participated in jazz, concert band and choir for two years. Those were great years of learning, making friends and memories!

I finished my degree at BVU taking most of the classes needed to be a music teacher. I drove from my house in Fort Dodge for two years to Storm Lake. I still needed to do student teaching, but after getting my BA in vocal performance, I thought I would finish that part in Fort Dodge. I was asked if I would consider teaching music/choir at Community Christian School. I wasn’t sure about it, but decided I would give it a try. I enjoyed my time teaching the kids and being part of the staff for 5 years.

If a parent, or student, is considering taking lessons, what are some things you encourage them to consider?

One of the questions I ask is why they want to learn. There are many different reasons that kids and adults want to either learn how to read music or play the piano.

I encourage them to set a routine for practicing. Just like eating and sleeping, we need a routine so we can evaluate our progress and be encouraged by how far we have come.

What has been the hardest lesson to learn when it comes to music and performing?

Hm. Hardest lesson – no matter how hard you practice or rehearse, something will be “out of the ordinary” when its time to perform. You can only learn how to overcome or get through that during the performance. That is one thing you cannot practice, but the practice itself comes from performing enough so you can expect those unexpected out-of-the ordinary things. Nerves. Sweaty hands. Dry mouth. A little breeze that sweeps the music off the piano. A sticky piano key that won’t play. A bench that isn’t that right height. Someone holding a microphone for you instead of in a stand. Someone standing over your shoulder holding up the music. Your hands being ice cold. A music stand that is busted and can barely hold up your music. A binder too big for the keyboard stand. Not enough light to see the music or the sun shining so bright on the music that you have to lean to the left in order to see thru the glare.

What do you tell a student who is interested in pursuing a career in music/music education?

You have to have a desire for it. You can tell who has it and who doesn’t.

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

GREATER FORT DODGE GROWTH ALLIANCE BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

TKG Holdings

TKG Holdings was established in 2012 by Tim and Kellie Guderian and Todd and Joyce McCubbin to make Fort Dodge a better place to live, work, and play. Over the last decade they have been involved in several projects that they feel have fulfilled this goal.

Fort Frenzy opened in November 2013 and provides fun for children and adults alike. Inside you will find an arcade filled with over forty-five of the latest video and redemption games, a 2,500 square foot laser tag arena, spin zone bumper cars, an interactive ValoJump trampoline game, and party room that host a variety of events.

Outside, visitors can race around a go kart track, enjoy a game of mini golf, and take their chances against the Sweeper, a giant rotating arm players jump over as it sweeps past. Fort Frenzy also offers outside concerts during the warmer months of the year.

In March 2022, a local favorite, Godfather’s Pizza, found its new home at Fort Frenzy. Pizza can be enjoyed in the restaurant or at home with pickup and delivery options available.

Also attached to Fort Frenzy is the Cardiff Center, which boasts over 6,500 square feet of event space that can accommodate 400+ people. State-of-the-art technology and sound, gorgeous chandeliers, as well as friendly bar staff are among several of the offerings included with the space.

Northland Travel opened in 2015 and is your one stop shop for any travel you are looking to do. Their staff is experienced in booking individual travel, corporate, honeymoons/destination weddings, family travel, tours, cruises, and rail travel.

Northland Travel is located on the Friendship Haven campus and is ready to help you plan your next adventure.

TKG Holdings reopened Mineral City Speedway as Sports Park Raceway, providing a location for USRA Modified and Stock Car racing. The speedway was sold in 2020. When the Sears anchor store closed in Crossroads Mall, TKG Holdings opened the Sears Hometown Store at a different store front within the mall. They sold to a local salesperson in 2018. Sears Hometown corporate has recently filed chapter 11 bankruptcy, unfortunately leading to the closure of the local store.

In 2015, TKG Holdings purchased Creative Cakes, giving the business a storefront in the Crossroads Mall. With the closure and demolition of the mall, the business was later sold to a local businesswoman who renamed it Sweet Retreat Baking Company.

TKG Holdings remains committed to its mission by contributing to the betterment of the quality of life of the Fort Dodge region.

City Connect FORT DODGE

Why is our airport important?

Our airport is more than runways, taxiways, terminal, and hangars. It is a powerful engine for economic growth and possibilities for our community and region. It is often the first impression for those who are visiting and companies looking to locate a new business in our community or expand their current business.

Aviation has many facets that impact the economic growth and well being of our community. It is a tool which contributes to the efficiency and success of many companies along with enhancing our quality of life.

Having access to an airport facility such as ours, with a runway that can accommodate a Boeing 737, supports so much more than just commercial airline flights. Companies across the globe use business aircraft which allows for critical time-savings and efficiencies that other modes of transportation fall short.

Our airport supports medical air ambulances and fulfills the needs of agriculture through aerial applicators. It supports activities such as charters, aircraft maintenance, and flight instruction.

Our airport is certified as a Class I airport within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Meaning, we must meet the same FAA requirements and regulations as a larger airport, such as Des Moines.

The city supports funding for capital expenditures in the form of local match dollars to leverage millions of dollars from the FAA and State of Iowa for projects that continue to improve our airport.

It is important to note that while the airport’s annual operating budget is a little over $700,000, the airport generates revenue for almost 60% of this budget. In 2022, the Iowa DOT Aviation Bureau completed an Economic Impact Study for Iowa’s airport. The total Annual Economic Activity for the Fort Dodge Regional Airport translated to $87,000,000. Not a bad return on $300,000 of tax supported dollars annually for our airport.

The airport property is just shy of 1,000 acres. To put this in perspective, the airport property would cover from the Des Moines River by the Karl King Viaduct and go all the way out to 32nd Street by Sherwin Williams and Perkins. It would encompass all of downtown, all of the retail center, and everything in between.

The airport must be maintained in compliance to strict FAA standards for all of the runways, taxiways, lights, pavement markings, airfield signs. In addition to runways/taxiways/aprons there are hundreds of acres that are deemed by the FAA to be aircraft safety areas. The FAA conducts an annual two-day inspection of our airport for compliance

to the regulation. There is a night inspection which consist of inspecting airfield lighting brightness and color, counting the times the rotating beacon turns in a minute, airfield lit signage, and the percentage of reflective beads in the paint markings. The daytime inspection would look at things in the regulation for safety compliance such as anything more than a 3-inch drop off the edge of a runway, taxiway, or apron pavement, the width of a centerline paint marking and distance from other pavement markings. And yes, they do physically measure these things with a tape measure. They also look for any uneven surfaces or loose aggregate on all the airfield pavements. There are regulations for snow removal restricting height of windrows, removing snow/ice containments from the runways and taxiways for aircraft operations. They inspect all training records as required in the regulations within a 12-month cycle.

In addition to the FAA regulations, our airport employees maintain over 30 pieces of airport equipment and vehicles, including specialized airport equipment. These employees also perform building maintenance on all the structures at the airport. This includes 28 aircraft hangars, the main terminal building, FAA building, their shop and fire station, the perimeter fence, and other things like our two aviation 12,000-gallon fuel tanks. They maintain the grounds that are outside of the airport operations safety areas and address all wildlife issues in compliance with our wildlife hazards management plan.

These employees are also cross trained as Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighters (ARFF) and must be on standby at the fire station for any commercial flights.

There have been many celebrities that have passed through our airport. One I will always remember is a helicopter landing and seeing a man in sunglasses and hat walking close to the terminal building instead of out on the ramp. As he walked right past my office window, he saw me and waived enthusiastically! I thought to myself, “Wow, that guy looks just like Harrison Ford!” Not believing this could really be him, I did not investigate. However, the employee fueling the helicopter had talked to him and verified that, indeed, it was Harrison Ford. He had walked into the terminal, which was full of airline passengers, went to the restroom, paid his fuel bill, and left in his helicopter without anyone knowing it was him except the employee who fueled his helicopter.

In conclusion, you just never know who might come to our airport because as we all know…

A Mile of Highway will take you a Mile, but a Mile of Runway will take you Anywhere!

20 1 7N E W S 20 23

The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance

FEBRUARY 2023 24 North 9th Street, Suite A Fort Dodge, IA 50501 Phone 515-955-5500

Fax 515-955-3245 www.greaterfortdodge.com

STAFF Dennis Plautz CEO dennis@greaterfortdodge.com

Kelly Halsted Economic Development Director kelly@greaterfortdodge.com

Jill Nelson Community Development Director jill@greaterfortdodge.com

Skyla Porter Organizational Administrator skyla@greaterfortdodge.com

Deena McCaulley Office Manager deena@greaterfortdodge.com

Lydia Schuur Communications Specialist lydia@greaterfortdodge.com

MISSION STATEMENT

“Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance is an efficient organization whose mission is to unify and coordinate accountable, economic and community development, to enhance the quality of life in Fort Dodge and the region.”

New Member Spotlight

Remington Leather is a full -service leather shop offering custom work, promotional products, and pre-made goods. Repair services are also available.

Remington Leather is located at 23 S 1st Street in Fort Dodge.

The Growth Alliance Ambassadors will be celebrating Remington Leather with a ribbon cutting on March 23 at 4:00.

Little Paw by the Paw Print Pad LLC offer daycare, boarding, and grooming for small dogs weighing 25 pounds and under.

Little Paw by the Paw Print Pad LLC is located at 1644 Nelson Ave in Fort Dodge. You can reach them by calling 515 -269-3912.

OnMedia can help you reach your customer through any screen, on any internet, any time of the day. We will be a dominant provider of Multi-screen marketing solutions to the businesses we swerve, with original and creative advertising utilizing customized research and data driven strategies.

To see how we can assist you in reaching your customers call Renee McDonald at 515-422-8154 for further information.

Sign Up for Webster County’s Spring Break Manufacturing Tours!

These aren’t your grandfather’s factories, and Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance wants the next generation to know it. They have coordinated tours of CJ Bio America, Elanco, and Cargill on March 14, 2023, for Iowa college and tech students on spring break.

Each year, numerous technical and high -paying jobs go unfilled because the modern manufacturing industry sector is misunderstood. Historically, manufacturing was considered dirty, dangerous, and rife with layoffs due to cuts and automation. This may have rung true over two decades ago, but today, manufacturing is a whole new game functioning on technology and job security.

Long gone are the days of dark, dingy factories. Many modern manufacturing sites are high -tech production facilities that are safe, clean, and protect the well -being of their employees. Automation and robots are not stealing jobs; they are simply shifting them. Robots allow manufacturers to add more skilled human workers who can design, innovate, and think critically. When companies open their doors and unfurl the welcome mats for tours, it goes a long way to dispel negative impressions.

The Robust Manufacturing Sector in Webster County, Iowa

The Greater Fort Dodge area in Webster County, Iowa, is a hotspot for skilled talent entering the lucrative manufacturing jobs market. For online job postings, the national average for a comparably sized region is 31 postings per month, while there are 60 per month in Webster County. Likewise, the national average for employees in an area this size is 1,441, while in Webster, there are 2,424.

In 2022, the Gross Regional Product (GRP) for Webster County totaled $1.2 billion. Property income alone was $881.5 million. The manufacturing industry is dedicated to sustainability as well: 88.5 percent of energy used is from a renewable source.

The Story Behind Webster County’s Extensive Labor Pool

The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance’s Workforce Committee has been very thoughtful in the tools they have developed for our member’s needs. Recruitment, as well as retention, of a diversely qualified workforce is vital to the success of our members.

The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance sponsors community and industry tours so students can see firsthand the types of jobs available. To better train high school educators about the workforce needs of area businesses, Iowa Central Community College offers externship programs to take teachers out of the classroom and into the field to gain hands -on experience and knowledge that they can take back to their students. These externships provide an opportunity for business leaders to communicate directly to educators the skills they seek in t heir employees. Home Base Iowa assists veterans entering the civilian workforce, thereby accessing a vast talent pool.

Sign Up Today to tour these innovative Webster County facilities on March 14th! Registration is required.

8:30 a.m. Breakfast - Bunkhouse at Starlite Best Western near the restaurant.

9:00 a.m. Welcome

9:30 a.m. Tour Elanco

11:00 a.m. Tour CJ Bio America

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. Tour Cargill

2:15 p.m. Return to Starlite Visit the Growth Alliance website, under News and Events to sign up!

‘Come peek behind our fence!’

County Connect Webster

Feel the LOVE in Webster County!

WEBSTER COUNTY SUPERVISORS

What’s not to love about working at Webster County, really? The team here is full of friendly peo-ple, all coming together for a common goal – to serve the citizens of Webster as efficiently and ef-fectively as possible, all with a genuine desire to make a positive impact on each and every per-son. We’re big on community here, and that’s evident from the moment you visit our historic coun-ty courthouse or encounter any of our hardworking colleagues. As the Board of Supervisors, we get to see big picture how our county works, and we’re appreciative of it every single day. After all, if we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times: We really do love how every county team member puts the WE in Webster.

Webster County Board of Supervisors: Niki Conrad, Mark Campbell, Nick Carlson, Bob Thode, Austin Hayek

WEBSTER COUNTY CONSERVATION

As a life-long resident of Webster County, I feel extremely fortunate to help manage the parks, wild-life areas and waterways that I grew up enjoying as a child. I truly love the variety of work and the services counties provide to their citizens and visitors. Each day offers different opportunities and challenges, but no day is the same. I love the diversity of Webster County’s recreational opportuni-ties and the quality of the offerings. I enjoy coming to work every day with a talented and motivated team that continues to strive for constant improvement. For over twenty-five years, Webster County has provided me with amazing experiences and opportunities that have encouraged my constant growth, both professionally and personally. Webster County has great people! I love the collaboration among governments, departments, community leaders, businesses, service organizations and volunteers that are working hard every day to make Webster County a great place to live, play and work!

Matt Cosgrove, Director

Webster County provides multiple outdoor recreation opportunities which makes an avid out-doorswoman, like myself, love spending plenty of time in the area. From the city, county and state parks there is plenty to do in Webster County. The community has developed beautiful walking and biking trails for any age to enjoy. The Des Moines River and Lizard Creek are in the heart of Fort Dodge which makes for a beautiful view when traveling through and a fun place to kayak and fish in the summer. Lastly, Webster County is home to the largest Off-Highway Vehicle Park in Iowa! I truly enjoy maintaining the park and seeing visitors come from all over to visit. It’s a hidden gem and I hope everyone is able to experience it!

Tasha Nielsen, Trail Technician

Feel the LOVE in Webster County!

WEBSTER COUNTY SHERIFF

I am a lifelong resident of Webster County and I am truly honored to be the Sheriff. I have been in this profession for more than 33 years and have always been driven to serve the citizens of Webster County with the best possible effort each and every day. I am blessed to be able to lead a great team of employees that include our sworn deputies and detectives, our correctional officers and our telecommunication operators that serve Webster County. Our profession always offers oppor-tunities and challenges, both good and bad, to make a difference in someone’s life, and due to all of our dedication and training we are able to make a difference every single day.

Webster County is a great place to live and work and I love the partnership that exists among our local governments, departments and business and schools, all focused on making Webster County a great place to live.

Luke M. Fleener, Webster County Sheriff

WEBSTER COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING

I guess I love living/working in Webster County because it is my home. I moved away for about ten years and honestly had no intentions of coming back to the area, but my family and friends are here and I love being close to them. I have worked for Webster County for four years this May, and one of the reasons I wanted to work for Webster County was that if I was moving back home, I wanted to be a part of the changes and the growth. Webster County has so much potential and so many good people who want to make this community something great, I love that and I want to be part of it. My position with Webster County as the Environmental Health Officer offers me a chance to help people and it is so gratifying to go home every day knowing that I was able to help someone.

Allison Roderick, Webster County Planning & Zoning Assistant/ Environmental Health Of-ficer

2,200,000 Iowans read their local community newspaper.

SOURCE: Iowa Market Study 2022, Coda Ventures

shiningstar

Creighton Urban

Age: 17 years. Grade/School: I am a Junior at Southeast Valley Hometown: My hometown is Callender, Iowa.

What are some of your accomplishments?

Musically, I have been selected as my school’s drum major this year. I have also been awarded the outstanding soloist award at the Triton Jazz Festival. I have been selected for numerous honor bands throughout the years, I have auditioned for the All-State band for the past three years, and have been awarded multiple Division I ratings for my solo in the solo/ensemble contest. I have also performed in the school’s musical for the past three years, this year being the role of George Banks in Mary Poppins. I have done the spring play for the last two years, and in last year’s play I had the lead role of François LaRoache in the play “Château La Roach.” I participate in an improv team in our school’s large group speech program. My team has gone on to the state competition after receiving 1 ratings at the district level. I am one of the captains for my school’s robotics team, and last year, our team went on to the state level. This year’s season is currently ongoing, and we hope to make it to the state level again. This year, I have also been nominated as a Dean’s List semi-finalist in the state for robotics.

What is your earliest musical memory?

What activities and/or community groups are you involved in?

Some of the activities I am in are musical, play, choir, jazz choir, band, jazz band, marching band, pep band, large group speech, robotics, student council, and national honor society.

What do you most enjoy about being involved in band and choir?

One of the biggest reasons I like band and choir is because it puts me around people who have the same musical interests as me. These people have gone on to be some of my best friends. Band and choir have also provided me with many opportunities to improve on my musical skills, as well as help other students grow theirs. Being involved in band and choir have also provided me with outside experiences, such as this coming summer, I will be headed to Europe to perform for two weeks with the Iowa Ambassadors of Music band.

Do you plan to pursue the arts after high school? If so, in what way?

I do plan to pursue the arts after high school. For a start, I would like to join concert, jazz, pep, and marching band in college, and would also like to sing with a choir. I would also like to keep playing/ performing in my church and throughout my community. Further down the road, I am considering majoring in music education.

How do you think the arts will be in your life 25 years from now?

Hopefully, I would like to be directing a band or choir in a high school or college. Again, I still would like to be performing in churches and throughout my community. If I do end up teaching at a high school, I would also like to help direct the school’s musical and/or play.

My earliest musical memory would have to be back in elementary school. We learned how to play recorders. Alongside the recorders, we also played with boomwhackers, which helped us learn rhythm, and the very basis of harmony.

Talk us through a typical day in the life of Creighton Urban.

A typical day for me would start with jazz band, jazz choir, or student council. After this, I go throughout my school day, spending any free time I have working on the robot in the robotics lab. Every day, my final class is band and choir, doing about 45 minutes of each. After school, I either have more robotics practice or speech practice. Depending on the day of the week and time of the year I either have jazz band practice, play or musical rehearsal, or we perform pep band or marching band. On top of all of this, I still manage to squeeze in time for individual instrument practice.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR CHILDREN

As a parent, you wouldn’t unlock the door to your house and have signs pointing to your teenage daughter’s open bedroom saying – all strangers welcome. Yet, that may be what is happening with the majority of our teenagers via their phones and social media. As parents, do we really know what our kids are being exposed to online and on their phones? Probably not.

Recent studies show that adolescents today average between six to eight hours per day on social media. That amount of time almost equals two days every week.

Facebook’s founding president, Sean Parker, said it this way, “When Facebook was being developed the objective was: “How do we consume as much of your time and conscious attention as possible? The capacity for so-called “persuasive technology” to influence behavior in this way is connected to the addictive power of the dopamine system – the same system that is already familiar to drug addicts and smokers. Every habit-forming drug, from amphetamines to cocaine, from nicotine to alcohol, affects the dopamine system by dispersing many times more dopamine than usual.”

For most adults, it is easier to see the effects of time lost. Because we have developed self-discipline, it is also easier for us to walk away from the draw of social media and targeted advertising. Children and adolescents, on the other hand, need guidance and boundaries when it

comes to setting limits on social media. Without someone teaching and modeling these skills, it is a matter of time before social media use becomes an addiction, where consequences include an inability to focus for long periods of time, poor self-esteem and depression.

Imagine for a moment the entire day that your child is “not present”. He/She is off in a world with no supervision. Do you know what he is doing? Do you know who she is speaking to? Would not knowing these things bother you in the physical world? If left unsupervised, the digital world can be much more dangerous than the physical. This is where children are being exposed to cyberbullying, illegal drugs, explicit images, pornography, and child predators. The FBI estimates that nearly 500,000 online predators pose a threat to children on a daily basis, and children ages 12 to 15 are their primary target. 1 of 25 of those children will be manipulated into physical contact with a predator within a year.

As alarming as those facts are, parents need to understand that the online world is important to their children. Finding a way to balance a child’s need to stay involved with peers, while keeping them safe in a world that many of us don’t understand is a difficult but necessary task. There is no “one size fits all” answer. Throughout February and March, The Fort Dodge Community Foundation is offering Parent Cafes in each of the elementary schools in Fort Dodge for the parents of 4th and 5th grade

JEANETTE POTTER SAFE COMMUNITIES COORDINATOR

students. These Cafes will offer an opportunity for parents to talk about how they handle these issues in their own homes, as well as learn about steps to take to ensure their child’s online experiences are healthy and safe, as well as fun.

In addition, on March 28th at 7:00 PM at the Fort Dodge Middle School, the Fort Dodge Community Foundation will be hosting an event for parents and grandparents. Dan Armstrong, a social media expert and speaker from the organization Protect Young Eyes, will be sharing information with families on how to keep their children and grandchildren safe from the dangers and perils of social media and the Internet. This will be an engaging and informative evening that is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact me the Safe Community Coalition office at the Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way, 515-573-3178 or email me at jeanette@ fd-foundation.org.

College Connect

Iowa Central students have a lot to say when sharing what they love about Iowa Central!

We agree! What’s not to love? With a vibrant campus that offers a mini-university feel and numerous programs to choose from, Iowa Central is a great choice for students to continue their learning! Here’s what they’re saying!

“From the first day I stepped on campus, Iowa Central has felt like a second home. My coaches and staff have given me many opportunities for a successful future.

Kayla York - Victor, IA

“I love Iowa Central due to the opportunity that is provided for everyone. From athletics to the arts and even student friendly programs such as TRIO. TRIO is an amazing program to set you up for success. The ‘cherry on top’ is that Iowa Central has a four-year feel for a two-year price. Why wouldn’t you want to be a Triton?”

Jaden Gonzalez son, IA

“I love the opportunities you have at Iowa Central; you get a university type education with a small town feel. There are so many ways to get involved and create your own college experience. The staff and faculty are for you. They want you to succeed in everything you do.”

Ashley Reicks - Cresco, IA

“It is my community - a home away from

home - even though I live five minutes from campus. Iowa Central is a small enough campus where everyone knows everyone. I love forming relationships with other students and faculty members.”

Jersey Summers

Fort

Dodge, IA

“Coming from a small town, Iowa Central was easy to acclimate myself to. The teachers, faculty and staff that I have come to know are some of the most wonderful people. Iowa Central is more than a college, it’s a home.”

Andrea Grundon - Jefferson, IA

“I love Iowa Central because it made the transition from high school to college so easy. I love the people here and have made so many connections with people from all across the world.”

Ian Wagner - Excelsior, MN

“I love Iowa Central for the opportunities it has allowed me. I have been able to become prepared for my future endeavors while making so many connections along the way. The staff and faculty are so friendly and truly want nothing more than to see all students succeed.”

Ellacyn Coleman - Nora Springs, IA

“I love the music opportunities at Iowa Central. I have participated in concert band, jazz band, pep band, marching band, percussion ensemble, concert choir, show choir, jazz choir, pop choir, musical and the play. Every ensemble has been so much fun and made me feel so welcome.”

Matthew Anderson Fort Dodge, IA

“I love the student-to-teacher ratio in the classroom. The teachers know me by name and want me to succeed.”

Dominic Sisneros - Calmar, IA

“I enjoy that Iowa Central provides many opportunities for the students like sports, activities and a broad range of classes.”

Bo Tracy - Fort Dodge, IA

“I love that even though Iowa Central is a Community College it gives off the feeling of a big four-year university.”

Mya McClain - Fort Dodge, IA

“I enjoy many things about Iowa Central. I love how easy the instructors are to work with and how available they make themselves. I also love how lovely our campus is.”

Ben Meyer - Quincy, IL

“I love Iowa Central, because it is such a welcoming environment with plenty of opportunities to meet new people and try new things. I have not had a negative experience in any way with a person on campus and the instructors are great by reaching out to and trying to make the best out of their students.”

Antonio Hildreth

Rockwell City, IA

tRIBBON

Rise Women’s Fitness & Wellness

Congratulations to Rise Women’s Fitness & Wellness on your ribbon cutting! Rise Women’s Fitness & Wellness is located at 1728 Central Ave and is a gym for women of all ages and fitness levels, and offers nutrition guidance.

tRIBBON

Rejuvenate Health + Wellness

Congratulations to Rejuvenate Health + Wellness on your ribbon cutting! Rejuvenate Health + Wellness is located at 1728 Central Ave and offers Botox, Dermal Filler, Functional Medicine, IV Therapy

TIME FOR FINANCIAL ‘SPRING CLEANING’

Now that we’ve put winter behind us — at least on the calendar — it’s time for us to think about sprucing up our homes, inside and out. But it also may be time to do some financial spring cleaning.

Some of the same ideas involved in tidying up your home can also be used to help put your financial house in order. Here are a few suggestions:

Dust off your investment strategy. As you look around your home, you might find that many items — tables, desks, bookshelves, and computer and television screens — could benefit from a good dusting. And, once you’ve accomplished this, you’ll get a clearer view of all these objects. Similarly, your investment strategy needs to be “dusted off” every so often, so you can see if it’s still working to help you move toward your financial goals, such as a comfortable retirement. Over time, your personal circumstances and risk tolerance can change, and these changes may lead you to reexamine your future financial and investment decisions. De-clutter your portfolio. if you took a survey of your home, would you find duplicates or even triplicates of some things — brooms, vacuum cleaners, toasters, and so on? If so, it may be time to do some de-cluttering. And the same could be true of your portfolio — you might have

several identical, or substantially identical, investments taking up space. If so, you might want to replace these redundancies with investments that can improve your diversification. While diversification can’t guarantee profits or protect against losses in a declining market, it may help reduce the impact of market volatility on your holdings.

Get organized. If your closets are overstuffed, with clothes and miscellaneous items crammed on shelves and the floor, you may well have trouble finding what you’re looking for — but with a little straightening up, your searches will become much easier. And when you’re trying to locate financial documents, such as investment statements or insurance policies, you’ll also benefit from having everything organized in one central location. Even if you get most of these documents online, you can save what you need and keep them in a file on your desktop, laptop or tablet. (And it’s also a good idea to tell your spouse, adult child or another close relative how these documents can be accessed, just in case something happens to you.)

Protect yourself from dangers. If you look around your garage, shed or other storage area, you may well find some objects — such as gardening tools, paint thinners, engine fluids and leaning ladders — that could be dangerous if they aren’t stored properly. As part of your spring cleaning, you’ll want to remove these hazards to safeguard yourself and your family. But have you addressed the various financial risks that could threaten your loved ones? For example, if something were to happen to you, could your family members maintain their lifestyle? Could your children still go to college? To guard against this risk, you may want to discuss protection strategies with a financial professional.

Spring cleaning can pay off — in a cleaner, safer home environment and in helping ensure your financial strategy continues to work hard for you.

Did you know GreenState is consistently ranked in the Top 1% Nationally for returning profits with better rates & lower fees? That means one of the Top financial institutions in the country, is here in Fort Dodge.