Hometown Pride • 2023

Luke Hugghins serves his community in many ways

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ON THE COVER

Fort DoDge

Honored to Serve

By KELBY WINGERT kwingert@messengernews.net

After moving back to Fort Dodge following college, Luke Hugghins threw himself fully back into his hometown and his years of community contributions have earned him a special accolade.

Hugghins, a 2010 graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High School, is a 2022 recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Award. He, along with other recipients, received the award from Gov. Kim Reynolds at a special recognition ceremony at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake on Sept. 15, 2022. For Hugghins, receiving the award was a total surprise.

“I think it’s a great recognition,” he said. “I didn’t know that this award existed, so I’d certainly encourage people, come this next spring, to nominate other local volunteers.”

Hugghins was nominated for the honor by Michael Wagler, state coordinator for Main Street Iowa. Hugghins met Wagler through Hugghins’ involvement in Main Street Fort Dodge.

Hugghins works as a human resources business partner and regional manager at McClure Engineering Co. in Fort Dodge, and as a parttime emergency medical technician with the Fort Dodge Fire Department.

Shortly after returning to Fort Dodge after graduating from Iowa State University in December 2014 with a degree in mechanical engineering, Hugghins joined the Badger Fire and Rescue as a volunteer firefighter.

“The chief (Jeff Brundige) works with me at McClure and then I knew Mike Magruder, who has been on the department for a long time,” Hugghins said. “I ran into him after I was about to move back and he said to just come check it out.”

Now, Hugghins is always ready for any page from Badger. “I keep my gear in my truck and I’m able to just go meet them wherever the call may be,” he said.

Hugghins receives Governor’s Volunteer Award

Hugghins also serves as the Badger Fire and Rescue department’s treasurer and secretary. Earlier this year, through a grant at Iowa Central Community College, he trained as an EMT and received a certification.

Hugghins’ service to the Fort Dodge and Webster County communities goes beyond being an emergency responder. He’s the past president of Main Street Fort Dodge, the Design Committee chair for Main Street Fort Dodge, treasurer and committee member for the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance and the vice chair of the North Central Iowa Workforce Development Board.

Previously, Hugghins served as a church elder and committee chair at First Presbyterian Church, as a board member for Kid Zone Daycare, president of the Fort Dodge Young Professionals organization and committee chair for RAGBRAI Fort Dodge in 2021.

“Volunteering in general gives you a broader perspective on how the world works,” he said. “And the more organizations you’re involved with, you start to see how things kind of relate and interconnect.”

Hugghins said he’s grateful for these organizations having him be part of the team.

“I’ve learned a ton through these organizations,” he said. “The more that we can support each other to grow in our professions and our volunteer lives, it’s a good thing for all of us.”

“I’ve learned a ton through these organizations. The more that we can support each other to grow in our professions and our volunteer lives, it’s a good thing for all of us.”

— LUKE HUGGHINS

2022 Governor's Volunteer Award recipient

-Submitted photo

GOV. KIM REYNOLDS presented Luke Hugghins, of Fort Dodge, with the Governor’s Volunteer Award during a ceremony at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake on Sept. 15, 2022.

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Fort DoDge

HelPing Fort dodge grow

Conrad works to recruit visitors to her hometown

By DANA BECKER dbecker@messengernews.net

Tiffany Conrad felt the pull to return to her roots.

Conrad, a Fort Dodge Senior High School graduate, returned to become a member of the team for Visit Fort Dodge. She serves in the role of community sales.

Prior to coming back to Fort Dodge, Conrad was a sales manager for Catch Des Moines, the Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Since graduating from FDSH and the University of Iowa, Conrad’s career has taken her to Chicago, California and back to Iowa. And while she has been close to home for the past five-plus years working in Des Moines, there was still something missing.

“Family was my biggest pull for bringing me back,” Conrad said. “I think after COVID I realized how many trips I made back here to be with my parents and it made me realize — all cheesiness aside — that life is short.

“Even though I have been away for so long, I had pride and a desire to be part of the community I love. I have lived in Chicago, Santa Monica (California) and Des Moines, and it’s just not the same. You just don’t get that same community feel and togetherness that you get when you are here in Fort Dodge.

“These past years of being in Iowa and visiting, I have seen that Fort Dodge is trying to better itself in so many ways. I was so excited when this opportunity arose and I realized I could have the best of both worlds finally. I could be close to my parents, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends, and still do what I love. It was such a relief to have the puzzle pieces finally fit together to start this new

15 Years in a row!

journey.”

In her role with Visit Fort Dodge, Conrad is actively recruiting groups to come to town with the main goal of getting visitors to stay overnight in Fort Dodge as part of their conventions,

-Submitted photo

meetings and sporting events. With nearly 20 years of sales experience under her belt, Conrad feels up for the challenge of helping Fort Dodge grow. She has a strong vision of what is to come — both in the

immediate future and long-term.

“My most important long-term goal is helping the people of Fort Dodge see the value of partnering with (Visit Fort Dodge) and what economic value and growth can come out of that partnership. The easiest way we can achieve this goal starts with a community member becoming a local tourism ambassador. All that requires is letting us know what you are involved in — you may have a church group that meets in a different community for a meeting every year.

“As a tourism ambassador, you would let us know about this event. I will reach out and see what it will take and how we can potentially host this same meeting here in Fort Dodge. Everything starts with the visitor experience. Our team is in place to grow this visitor experience and with the help of our local community, we have the pieces to make Fort Dodge a destination people are excited to visit and come back to. Get involved and help us show people they can ‘Dodge the Ordinary’ by choosing Fort Dodge as their destination.

“Even though I have been away for so long, I had pride and a desire to be part of the community I love.”

— TIFFANY CONRAD

TIFFANY CONRAD returned to Fort Dodge, joining the Fort Dodge Convention and Visitors Bureau in the role of community sales in 2022. Conrad is a Fort Dodge Senior High graduate.

Junkman Jane Junkman Gwen Ewing Ann Wildt

rewarded For Her 'Quick tHinking' Fort DoDge

Friendship Haven employee receives Lifesaving Award

By KELBY WINGERT kwingert@messengernews.net

Sept. 22, 2021, was just a normal day at work for Timica Shivers, of Fort Dodge. It was lunchtime and she was a dietary aide serving lunch to residents of Kenyon Place at Friendship Haven.

Then, suddenly, everything changed when a resident began choking on a bite of food. Shivers quickly sprung into action and performed the Heimlich maneuver on the resident, dislodging the food blocking the resident’s airway and saving the resident’s life.

“It was just automatic; it’s not something I really had to think about doing — you just do it,” Shivers said. “After that, we went right back to service as normal.”

That day in September 2021 was the first time Shivers has ever had to use the Heimlich maneuver or any of her CPR training.

“It was nothing that I would ever want to do again, but if I had to, I would,” she said.

In March 2023, Shivers was recognized for her heroism at the Governor’s Lifesaving Awards and Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor presentation at the state Capitol. Shivers was one of 14 Iowans honored during the ceremony.

“Timica’s successful response in this critical situation is the essence of who she is as a person,” said Kelly Hindman, director of campus support services at Friendship Haven. “She always thinks of others first. This selfless trait served her and our resident exceptionally well in this incident.”

Hindman said Shivers was calm and

quick-thinking, and performed the Heimlich maneuver “flawlessly.”

“It is no less heroic simply because her character is forged on helping others,” he said. “We could not be more proud of Timica’s life-saving effort. She is most worthy of this recognition from Gov. (Kim) Reynolds and we are so proud to have her on our team.”

Shivers was just 16 when she started her career at Friendship Haven in 1991. She started as a dietary aide in the Health Center and, with the exception of a few years between 2014 and 2018 when she

moved out of state, she’s stayed working on the Friendship Haven campus. Over the years, she’s worked in every position in the kitchen, she said. Today, she’s the supervisor of Kenyon Place Dining.

“I started when I was 16 and then I had my first kid when I was 19 and I had my second when I was 20, so it was a good fit for me to be able to raise my kids and work and take off when I needed to,” Shivers said. “I just like the people, I enjoy the residents, enjoy my coworkers. So for me, it’s a fun place to be and it’s an easy fit.”

Over the years, she said, the staff and residents have become her second family.

Shivers said all Friendship Haven employees who work in the dietary department or as wait staff are trained in CPR, which includes the Heimlich maneuver. Though they may not often need to use that training, Shivers is glad she had it on Sept. 22, 2021.

“It was almost like it was automatic,” she said.

While the employees at Friendship Haven work with a population who may have a higher risk of things like choking on food, Shivers said CPR training is something everyone should have.

“Just in case, because you never know,” she said. “You could be out at a restaurant and someone’s choking and everyone’s just looking at each other because nobody knows.”

Shivers said her daughter and her son are also trained in CPR, so she rests easy knowing that if something were to happen at home with their family, someone would be able to jump in and help.

When Shivers learned she’d been nominated for the award, she didn’t really believe she deserved it.

“It was something I did not expect, because to me, it was a normal day and something that I think anybody would have done,” she said. “Anybody would have done the same thing I did.”

On March 3, Shivers’ family joined her at the Capitol to watch her receive her award from Gov. Kim Reynolds.

“I think they’re more excited than I am,” Shivers said. “I don’t really like to be in the limelight.”

-Submitted photo

GOV. KIM REYNOLDS presented Timica Shivers, of Fort Dodge, with the Governor’s Lifesaving Award on March 3. Also pictured are Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan K. Bayens and Iowa State Patrol Chief Col. Nathan Fulk.

HumbolDt

By CHRIS JOHNSON cjohnson@messengernews.net

HUMBOLDT — For the last 24 years, Greg Thomas has helped mold young athletes and make sure students of all talents were able to succeed during their days in the Humboldt Community School District.

The long-time activities director, who came to Humboldt as a teacher and coach in 2000, has finally decided it’s time to retire — sort of.

“Humboldt has been the perfect place,” Thomas said. “The community has supported us and Humboldt High School in so many ways. Any time we needed financial help or volunteer work, someone was there and they would answer the call.

“I can’t thank the community enough.”

Thomas has also received the backing at home that made his entire professional career even possible in the first place.

“My wife, Michelle, has just been unbelievable taking care of the family and all of the other behind-the-scenes-stuff,” Thomas said. “She’s been incredible for our family in the 33 years (overall) I have been in education.

“She was a great support system, and sometimes, gave me the kick in the pants I needed. She’s a tremendous person and I can’t imagine going through this without her. She has been my rock.”

Thomas has been the Wildcats’ activities director since 2005, and for the past 18 years, he’s guided all levels and programs filled with extracurricular students.

Long-time activities director retires, takes new teaching role

“When I got to the high school, Julie Nielsen (AD administrative assistant) was just a rock star and has been ever since,” Thomas said. “She made sure everything was good to go.

“Without Joni Torkelson (Humboldt registrar/office administrative assistant), I don’t think I could have pulled it off. Lori Westhoff (former Humboldt principal) made sure I had everything I needed and stepped in to help when I was doing my dual career (as an administrator and coach).

Along with being activities director, Thomas served as an assistant principal for 15 years — from 2005 until 2020.

“When I took the assistant principal job, it was full of surprises,” Thomas said. “When you are involved in athletics, you see some of the things that the kids are going through and you adapt.

“As assistant principal, it’s about how I can help them. The relationships I’ve made, I will cherish forever.”

For the last three years, Thomas has served as the activities director for grades 7-12.

Walking away now was a hard decision, but the timing was right for the long-time football coach.

“I had a great run and it was a blast,” Thomas said. “It’s been tremendous, but it’s time to let someone else do it.”

It won’t be a complete retirement, though, as Thomas will now step back in the classroom and be a sixthgrade teacher at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Humboldt. Thomas taught sixth grade in Humboldt public schools from 2000 to 2005.

“The opportunity came up and I haven’t been in the classroom for a while, so it was a new challenge,” Thomas said. “Mrs. (Sara) Bormann (principal at St. Mary’s) asked if I was interested and we talked about it.

“I think I’m going to enjoy being in a smaller environment and teaching again.”

Both before and while serving as activities director, Thomas was busy on the sidelines as head football coach from 2000 to 2017. He helped guide the Wildcats to a Class 3A state championship in 2006.

“The relationship with a player is so rewarding,” Thomas said. “When you get invited to former players’ weddings and (to share personal milestones), that means the world.

“The kids have been tremendous on and off the field. It has been great to be a small part of what they have accomplished. That is so fulfilling.”

As football coach, Thomas compiled 79 wins at Humboldt, six state playoff appearances, along with three district championships.

“It was the right time,” Thomas said about stepping away from football. “With the assistant principal and activities director role, I had too much on my plate.

“It’s just so much more than Friday nights. Weight room and film stuff, preparation and practice — it was a lot, given what else was on my plate. I do miss coaching football, though, and I miss Friday nights.”

Before coming to Humboldt, Thomas spent eight years at Galva-Holstein, where he went 44-24. In his 26-year head coaching span, Thomas was a combined 123-117 at the two schools.

-Photo by Phil Monson, The Humboldt Independent HUMBOLDT ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR GREG THOMAS, shown here at Mason Maach Field in Humboldt, is retiring after 24 years in the district.

'get involved' Dayton Dayton funeral home director loves giving back

By HANS MADSEN editor@messengernews.net

DAYTON — Rob Stapp, owner of the Carson-Stapp Funeral Home in Dayton, got to enjoy a typical small town ritual in front of his business recently.

While enjoying his morning cup of coffee, a crew a few houses away was cutting up the remains of a felled ash tree.

The funeral home, and Stapp, are very much a part of the neighborhood and the community.

“We’ve been here since 1997,” Stapp said. “We love it here, we just absolutely love the small town life. This is home.”

Stapp is a Webster City native. He started his career as a funeral director under the mentorship of Joe Laufersweiler in Fort Dodge while Stapp was attending Iowa Central Community College.

“He was a good mentor,” he said. “I lived above their funeral home. That was my start. I helped with visitations and funerals.”

He earned his degree in mortuary science at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, then completed a one-year apprenticeship with Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home. After a four-year stint in Sioux City, he returned to the area.

He also owns the majority of the Carson-Stapp Funeral Home in Ogden.

Sometimes he finds himself answering a phone call intended for the Ogden home.

“Usually we can figure it out by the family name,” he said.

Stapp is currently involved with several Dayton boards. He serves on the Grandview Care Center Board and the Dayton Community Grocery Store Board.

He’s involved because he wants to give back. “We love the community, we love to give back, we want to see Day-

ton thrive,” he said. “This community has been very supportive of us. We want to give back. It can be a struggle for any small-town business. The grocery store, that’s huge to me.”

Stapp is also a member of the Dayton Methodist Church and the Dayton Lions Club. In the past, he served on the Dayton Park Board.

His wife, Michelle, is also active in the community, she’s served on the School Board and the City Council. They have two children Logan, 21 and Cael, 18.

He encourages others to get involved.

“Absolutely,” he said. “The fire department, the ambulance service, they’re always struggling to find volunteers. Give back, get involved.”

For Stapp, it’s all about being a “part of” rather than just being a resident.

“We enjoy serving the people we see at ballgames, at the grocery store,” he said.

“Our kids have been involved with their kids. It’s challenging and rewarding at the same time but you get to know all the people here. There’s only about 800 of us, but we all get along.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen

ROB STAPP, owner of the Carson-Stapp Funeral Home in Dayton, enjoys a quiet morning recently with a cup of coffee. Stapp is involved with several groups serving the residents of Dayton.

Fort DoDge

By JOHN MCBRIDE editor@messengernews.net

Dan Adams said he knows firsthand how busy teenagers’ schedules can be. As the father of three active children, he lives it.

That’s why he decided to launch a drivers training program that fits around families’ busy schedules.

“The biggest obstacles for kids are their schedules,” said Adams, who is a high school social science teacher and football coach. “Kids are involved in athletics, they are involved in activities. Then you have church activities and school work. Kids are very busy all year long.”

That’s why seven years ago, Adams decided to open DA Driving School, a driver program that fits around students’ schedules.

“We try to accommodate everyone’s schedule. That’s what separates us from other programs,” said Adams. “I’ve had students with very busy schedules and we try to work around that as much as possible.”

His company motto matches that thinking. It’s “Where there’s a wheel, there’s a way.”

Adams said young drivers are required to have both in-class hours and behindthe-wheel hours. He teaches the classes and also behind-the-wheel training. Scott Timmerman, a counselor at the high school, helps with driving sessions.

Adams and Timmerman are both certified drivers’ training instructors through the state of Iowa. Adams said it’s a 15-hour course to be certified to teach both classroom instruction and driving instruction. Teachers can also be certified in just behind-the-wheel training, but

BeHind tHe wHeel

Adams has adventures in drivers

education

said. “We’ll start in a parking lot and just work on going forward and backward. Just simple things to get them comfortable behind the wheel.

“It’s just a matter of practice. I tell the kids it’s like riding a bike. The more you do it, the better you will be.”

Adams said he likes to remind kids that having a driver’s license is a privilege and not a right. He wants them to take that seriously.

“I remind kids they are sharing the roadway with other people and they have to take that civic responsibility to be a good driver,” he said. “I just want them to be the best version of themselves they can be.”

He said most students have a goal of obtaining a school permit while taking his class. He said students need to have a learner’s permit for at least six months and take drivers training before they can get that.

they can’t teach any classes.

Adams has been a driving instructor for 18 years. He started working with Jim Duncan in Webster City as a way to supplement his teaching salary.

DA Driving School offers five sessions each year that last around six to eight weeks each. Students get a combination of classroom time and driving time. There are typically 20 kids per session.

In the summer, he offers two sessions and can accommodate up to 40 to 45 students per session.

“I like to keep things light and use humor at times,” said Adams. “We’ll pull

up to a farm and I will have the kids switch drivers and tell them to hurry because the dogs might charge them. Or we’ll stop at the automotive shops and I’ll have them ask about blinker fluid.”

While class time is pretty set, Adams does his best to work around students’ schedules for behind-the-wheel sessions.

Adams said students need to have their driver’s permit obtained before taking the class. He also said it benefits students to have some driving experience already under their belts, but he’s willing to work with any experience levels.

“We start with the small things,” he

Adams said he didn’t want to sound like he’s bragging, but he’s had some prominent students go through his classes. That includes 13 or 14 Division I college athletes, including three current members of the Iowa softball team. He also thinks he’ll have his first former student that will go on to win an Olympic gold medal in sophomore-to-be Dreshaun Ross, a state champion wrestler as a freshman this past year.

Adams and his wife, Fort Dodge teacher and softball coach Andi Adams, have three children. Jalen just completed her freshman year at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, while Ty will be a senior and Cael is in middle school.

“I’d just like to thank all the families that I have worked with,” he said. “It’s so nice that they are willing to support a small business like mine.”

-Messenger photo by John McBride

DAN ADAMS shows off one of the two cars he uses for DA Driving School. Adams offers driver training classes several times a year.

‘JeSuS, otHerS, yourSelveS’ Fort DoDge McBride serves 'JOY' through meals, veterans quilts

By HAILEY BRUESCHKE editor@messengernews.net

Ever since Ann McBride was a child, she has been a part of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge.

“I have been a member ever since my baptism there when I was an infant,” she said.

Most of the memories she has of attending as a child are of going to Sunday School every Sunday.

McBride was born and raised in Fort Dodge, even raising her three sons here. She worked for a chiropractic office most of her adult life, but it was not until she retired four years ago that she really started to be involved with the church and serving her community.

Through St Paul, McBride started the JOY committee in 2021.

“It means Jesus, Others, and Yourselves,” she said.

“I’m not really even sure how it occurred to me, but I just felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to serve the Beacon of Hope Men’s Homeless Shelter a warm, filling meal they can all enjoy,” she added.

After the first meal they served was finished, the pastor and Beacon staff asked if she would be willing to provide a meal once per month and McBride said of course she was more than happy to serve monthly meals.

On the fourth Thursday of every month, the JOY committee

comes together to plan, prep, cook, and serve a delicious meal to the men. There are 35 men to cook for and each time there are different volunteers from the church willing to help McBride with the meal.

Sometimes members will donate their time to help cook and serve, donate a little money to go towards groceries, donate certain food for the meal, or even donate the whole meal so all the JOY committee has to do is serve to the Beacon.

“We’ve had tubes of hamburger, pork loin, baked cookies, and one time we even had someone donate 13 butternut squash,” McBride said.

Once the meal is served to all the men, all the volunteers sit down and eat the meal with them.

“It is always nice to converse with them at that time and show them that through their struggles they are still worthwhile, “ said McBride.

McBride recalled how one time a gentleman was talking to her during the meal about how long it had been since he had his grandma’s scalloped corn as it was one of his favorite foods growing up. So the next month McBride made sure to include scalloped corn in the meal’s lineup for the man to enjoy.

“He came up to me after and was so touched that I remembered him telling me the story and served it at the meal,” she said. “It’s always a blessing to me when I am able to bless them and do whatever I can to

help through their journey at the Beacon.”

Along with the JOY committee, Ann is also part of the St. Paul Quilters, which makes

are members of St. Paul Lutheran Church,” she said. “That way we can show our thankfulness for all that they have done for our country.”

That is when Valor’s of Veterans began at the church. There are about six different members who all help with Valor’s of Veterans. The ladies meet once a week on Tuesdays to work on the quilts.

“This is also a great way for us to strengthen the bond with members of my church as it creates the want to have a stronger relationship with the Lord,” McBride said.

Every veteran who is a member will have a chance to receive a quilt, but who receives them during a given year is always a surprise.

“It is a long process to make a quilt and we can usually make one to two per year,” she said. Each quilt is handsewn, with beautiful details and patterns usually incorporating red, white and blue.

Once the quilt is ready, they will personally take it to the veteran.

“Right now we are on our ninth one and it is all ready to be presented,” McBride said. “Usually when we give them the quilt they are in awe and taken aback. It’s always nice to see a smile on their face when they see the quilt.”

Since her battle with beating cancer, McBride is happy to be alive and wants to give back in any way possible. She loves to stay busy with her grandkids, church and community and serve wherever there is a need.

handmade quilts of various colors and patterns, then sells them.

“While making the quilts one day, I thought of an idea of making quilts for the veterans that

“God came not to be served but to serve others, and that is what we are supposed to do for one another while encouraging each other in the best ways possible,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Hailey Brueschke

ANN MCBRIDE relaxes on a bench in downtown Fort Dodge. McBride is an active volunteer at her church, St. Paul Lutheran Church. Her efforts include helping to prepare meals for residents at the Beacon of Hope and making quilts for church members who are veterans.

“God came not to be served but to serve others, and that is what we are supposed to do for one another while encouraging each other in the best ways possible.”

— ANN McBRIDE JOY Committee founder

Saving liveS — one Pint at a time eagle grove Eagle Grove Army veteran keeps on giving back

By HAILEY BRUESCHKE editor@messengernews.net

EAGLE GROVE —

Donating blood is truly a heroic, lifesaving act. In fact, just one pint of blood can save up to three lives.

Ronald Bliss, of Eagle Grove, knows all too well about donating blood since becoming a regular donor in the late 1960s.

“Last summer I celebrated my 13th gallon and was given a certificate from the (LifeServe) Blood Center for Iowa,” said Bliss.

Bliss first donated blood when he volunteered to serve in the Army in 1968. He admits it was nice to help others, but in those early days, he had another reason for giving blood.

“If you donated blood, then you would get the afternoon off,” said Bliss, “which was great at the time because it got you out of kitchen prep and guard duty.”

Bliss served in the military from 1968 to 1971 in West Germany and Vietnam.

“I was never drafted into the military, it was always my choice to go,” he said. “Being a veteran means having pride and respect for your country, and if I were younger, I would not hesitate to join again.”

What really inspired Bliss to volunteer for the service was the sacrifice his dad made as a prisoner of war for 18 months in Germany. That was all the moti-

vation he needed to fight for his country and to honor all that his dad had been through.

Bliss’ pride for his country has become a family affair. Even his daughters take great pride in all that he has done and the time he served.

Cynthia Craig, Bliss’ daughter explains, “We learned from dad being in the military that you stand, salute and respect the military and the colors of the flag when they are being displayed. We take great pride in all that he has done.”

His time in the Army is how Bliss ended up in Eagle Grove. He is originally from Illinois and once he was out of the service all the jobs that were available in his area dealt more with farming, which he was not interested in.

Bliss had military training as a mechanic, and he wanted to stay in that field of work, so he found a job as a mechanic with a trucking company in Eagle Grove. From there he worked for Umthun Trucking for 25 years, S & L for one and a half years, and Gold Eagle Cooperative for 22 years.

Over the years, Bliss’ reasons for donating blood have changed. It has really become an easy and helpful way to save lives.

“There was really no reason to stop,” he said. “It was easy to do for me, it helps everyone out, and it just became a way of life. Plus, I have type O blood which can be transfused to all blood types and is usually in short sup-

ply.”

About four years ago, Bliss switched from donating whole blood to double red cells. This type of donation allows you to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning your plasma and platelets back to you.

“This donation usually takes longer because the blood is

drawn from one arm through an automated machine,” he said. “The machine separates the blood and collects the two units of red cells and then returns the remaining blood, along with some saline, back to your arm.”

Bliss even inspired his daughters and granddaughter to donate. In fact, he said the first time he took his granddaughter

to donate blood it did not work out so well.

“She watched me do it, and then when it was her time to donate, her blood pressure was too high and she was unable to donate that day,” Bliss said. “I think watching me is what freaked her out at first, but later down the line she was able to donate at Iowa Central among her friends, so it all worked out.”

Bliss acknowledges that donating blood can be a sensitive subject for some people as not everyone likes needles and some don’t like even seeing blood.

“But the truth is there is very little discomfort,” he said. “There is usually one little poke and then you do not feel it the rest of the time.”

Along with that little poke are some perks that come with donating blood. Most places have a perks program where every donation earns points that can be exchanged for prizes. Some prizes you can earn include: hats, koozies, T-shirts, sweatshirts, water bottles, coffee cups, and more.

Bliss jokes how he has so many shirts from all the points he exchanged that he will never be able to wear them all.

It’s a great feeling being able to give back, said Bliss.

“Whether it is a simple thing like giving your blood or volunteering to serve your country,” he said, “it all goes a long way and I am glad to be able to help any way that I can.”

-Messenger photo by Hailey Brueschke

RON BLISS, OF EAGLE GROVE, HAS BEEN A BLOOD DONOR since 1968. Last summer, he received a certificate from LifeServe Blood Center for donating his 13th gallon of blood.

By HANS MADSEN editor@messengernews.net

GOWRIE — While chatting with a customer recently in her Farm & Country Insurance office in downtown Gowrie, Marsha Farnham stood up from her desk.

That instantly made one of the signs of her service to the community visible.

It’s a pager she wears on her waist that will loudly summon her to calls with the Southwest Webster Emergency Medical Service.

So what happens if she gets a page in the middle of her work day?

She answers it.

“I have a sign for the door,” Farnham said. “It reads, ‘Gone on an ambulance call.” I recently upgraded it by laminating it.”

Farnham has been a certified EMT since 2005. She joined the ambulance service in 2001. She quickly realized that the people that they were serving, and the people they were helping, were the very same people that often stopped and talked to her.

“I realized I could step up,” she said. “You wear a lot of hats in a small town. You have to keep the town running.”

She’s seen many changes during her time on the ambulance squad, including the change from paper forms to the latest online communication that lets the waiting ER staff see the patient report before they arrive at the hospital.

One thing remains constant though.

“The adrenaline kicks in and you do your job,” she said. “We have a great crew and we’re always looking for volunteers.”

Farnham is married to Trent Farnham. They have two children: Morgan, a junior at Iowa State University in Ames, and Grant, 17, who will be a junior at Southeast Valley High School in the fall.

'on a call' in gowrie

Farnham ready to help at a moment's notice

Farming is the other family business.

“I don’t have a lot to do with that; I do take credit for it though,” she joked.

Farnham is also the current leader for the Gowrie Groundbreakers 4-H Club.

“I was a 4-H’er, my kids were in 4-H since fourth grade, one of the leaders asked me to co-lead,” she said.

It’s a very rewarding role.

“I love seeing the kids grow up,” she said. “Especially seeing their communication skills and confidence grow. I love seeing their growth through their projects.”

Farnham is also the current secretary of the Gowrie Development Commission and she serves on its Downtown Committee.

She’s helped with a project that joined both the Gowrie Groundbreakers 4-H Club and the Downtown Committee. Members of the club planted flowers in the planters located throughout the downtown business district.

Farnham also serves on the board of the Gowrie Grocery LLC Board. They operate the Market on Market store which opened in April 2020 after the community raised $250,000 to purchase it from former owner Nick Graham, who operated it as a Jamboree Foods. At the time, the store was expected to close.

“We were trying to get people to stay local,” she said. “We opened during COVID. What a great time to get into running a grocery store.

Today she can look across the street and see the result of all the work the community invested. The store is open and a steady stream of customers go in to shop.

“We take a lot of pride in that,” she said. “I would hate to see that as an empty store front.”

There’s an added bonus for her as well.

“It’s convenient if I forget my lunch,” she said. “They cook better than I do.”

Farnham is also a member of the Zion Lutheran Church. “I’m in the hand-bell

ABOVE: Marsha Farnham, of Gowrie, shows off the sign she has for the door of her Farm and Town Insurance agency in downtown Gowrie. Farnham, a long time member of the Southwest Webster Emergency Medical Service, uses it when she’s responding to a call.

RIGHT: Marsha Farnham, of Gowrie, looks over some of the flowers the Gowrie Groundbreakers 4-H Club planted in downtown Gowrie as part of a club project. Farnham is the club’s leader.

choir,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun.” Farnham encourages others to get involved. “There’s always something that needs to be done,” she said. “Step up and volunteer. You can actually make a big impact. It’s really neat how we all work together here.”

-Messenger photos by Hans Madsen

GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH

211 S. 9th St. • Fort Dodge 576-4106

Pastor Daniel Kahl

Summer Blended Worship (June, July, August)

Regular Worship Services (Sept. - May) 8:30 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Call or visit website for updated service times www.graceelca.com

TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

838 N. 25th St. Fort Dodge (515) 573-3519

Worship Times

Saturday 5:30 pm (Casual)

Sunday 9:30 am (Blended)

Wed. 7:30 pm (High School)

A place to… Belong, Believe, Become. www.trinityumcfd.org

Facebook-Trinity UMC FD

Youtube-Trinity UMC FD

emPowered to give Back Fort DoDge Nelson

leads Santa's Helpers, organizes food drive

By BRANDON BRUESCHKE editor@messengernews.net

When it comes to helping families in need, Linette Nelson is eager to answer the call.

Nelson has organized several charitable organizations and events such as the Shag the Drag food drive; Operation Warm it Forward, which is a coat-exchange program she started with Troy Schroeder, and she runs Fort Dodge Santa’s Helpers.

Being the recipient of help from the community herself motivated Nelson to want to give back.

“I went through a pretty bad health journey from 2018 to 2019, and the community definitely came together and helped my family get through that. So at the end of that journey in 2019, my husband and I were at church services for Christmas Eve and I got a message from a mom who had recently fallen on hard times and was going to have a hard time providing Christmas to her kiddos. So she reached out to me just knowing that I had the coat drive program and did other things for the community at that point in time and asked if I would be willing to help.

“I put a post up on my Facebook page looking to see if anybody could help, and I instantly got tons of feedback and people that were offering to buy groceries for the family or people that were donating money and people that were gonna go out to the store right then and there and get gifts.

“So within probably about six hours we put together an entire Christmas for that family, and we also got to stock their fridge, freezer, and pantry and get them other household supplies to help her get through her struggle,” Nelson said. “Then the following Christmas came around and I decided, ‘Hey, that had such great feedback. Let’s see if we can go ahead and do something again this year.’”

Out of this came the Santa’s Helpers project.

“Fort Dodge Santa’s Helpers was created and I started getting posts out about whether anybody else knew of a family in need and then I would post about that family to see if there were any families in Fort Dodge that would want to basically adopt them for Christmas. And that program has grown

greatly over the past few years.” Nelson continued. “It’s been an incredible community effort to provide Christmases for all of the different families in this area that have struggles that were similar to mine. Then from that last year, I used Fort Dodge Santa’s Helpers in a fundraiser for ice cream cone coupons that we call Cones For Kids.”

Nelson said she partnered with Shea Springer at Snack Shack, and they gave

300 coupons to the Fort Dodge Police Department, which officers handed out to kids in the community.

“So it was really a community-building effort and it focused in honor of Pastor Henderson,” she said, referring to the late Rev. Al Henderson, the former pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church.

A similar effort this year involves Shimkat Motor Co. and Mid Iowa Towing. Nel-

son said the two companies did a donation match.

“So we were able to raise $1,800 this year,” she said. “I got 500 coupons that will be handed out by the Fort Dodge Police Department. We’re also working on a surprise event with the Police Department as well with the remaining money from all the donations.”

“Those are the main programs that myself and my family have started over the last how many years,” Nelson said. “This will also be our 11th year of partnering with the Fort Dodge youth shelter and providing meals on holidays or special occasions to them. We bring in catered food, and then on Christmas we bring them gifts that can be shared amongst all of them, such as puzzles, games, art supplies, and then also just normal hygiene supplies for the kiddos there. So that’s another one that my family is actively involved in.

Nelson also organizes the Shag The Drag food drive.

“That really got started when COVID happened, because we didn’t want the kids to go without seeing Santa,” she said. “That was a great event. I partnered with Amanda Peart on the food drive portion. That was her idea and we partnered together on bringing the food drive together with Santa at the gazebo for Shag The Drag. That one was definitely special.”

Nelson said her father is the inspiration for her involvement.

“My father was a very active member of the community, and he was involved in everything. He passed away when I was 13, which is what prompted us to move back to Fort Dodge,” Nelson said. “Keeping his thought and legacy alive and then just getting to know different members of the community like Pastor Henderson and other people that were givers in the community kind of helped spark that in me.

“We started with the youth shelter. It was just my kids and I, trying to teach them about doing random acts of kindness. And then Troy helped to get me out of my bubble a little bit with the Operation Warm It Forward. Then after I went through my health issues and the way that the community stepped up for me, I really felt empowered to just give back as much as I possibly could.”

-Submitted photo

LINETTE NELSON AND HER HUSBAND, DANIEL NELSON, stand in front of the gazebo on the library square in downtown Fort Dodge as Santa waves in the background.

Linette Nelson started Fort Dodge Santa’s Helpers and helps with several charitable organizations within the community.

Fort DoDge StePPing uP to tHe State level Pettigrew helps break down language barriers

By JOHN MCBRIDE editor@messengernews.net

For the past 12 years, Rachel Pettigrew has been serving as the English Language Learner (ELL) teacher for the Fort Dodge Community School District.

Starting this summer, she’ll take on a new role at the state level, but with the same goal of helping students, families and educators overcome any language barriers that may exist.

Pettigrew has been working with both high school and middle school students, families and staff in her role as ELL instructor.

In her new role, she’ll serve as education program consultant for Title III and Migrant Programs with the Iowa Department of Education. She starts training this summer, then will begin her new position, which allows her to work from home.

“It’s such a cool opportunity, but it’s also a little bittersweet,” said Pettigrew. “My students and I have become like a family. I have had such great support from the staff here, but it’s such an amazing opportunity. I feel like I will have a much bigger impact.”

Part of her role will be working with different Area Education Agencies and with school districts to navigate all the things that go into working with ELL students and families. She said she’ll serve as a contact point for anyone who needs help dealing with laws,

“It’s a little bit daunting when you think about all the immigrants coming to Iowa. But there are a lot of great people at the state level that I will work with, so I am excited. They can teach me a lot.”

stand that immigrant students aren’t just another sub group. They are such a big part of the future of America,” she said. “We need to focus our efforts on helping them become successful.”

legal documentation and other paperwork.

“It’s a little bit daunting when you think about all the immigrants coming to Iowa. But there are a lot of great people at the state level that I will work with, so I am excited. They can teach me a lot,” she said. “But I am going to miss my students here. That’s the hardest part of walking away from this job.”

Pettigrew will also serve as a contact point when school districts run into questions about coding or funding or testing within their ELL programs. She’ll also help implement professional development for districts and schools centered

around ELL training. However, she won’t be working directly with students any longer.

“I feel like I have the skill set for this new position,” Pettigrew said. “Obviously, I am going to have to learn a lot over the summer. I feel like I am going to be able to be an advocate for immigrants and legislative change. We really need someone in that position to advocate for our students.”

Pettigrew was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and her first and only job was for the Fort Dodge district. Along with serving as the

ELL instructor, she also taught a couple semesters of French, which was actually the first foreign language she learned.

She’s hopeful that the district will be able to find a replacement for her position, because she said it’s such a vital part of the school.

“My role here was a lot different than I expected it to be,” she said. “I expected to just be a classroom teacher, but it’s really being a liaison for students and families and teachers who want the skills to help ELL students succeed in school.”

Pettigrew said all school districts in Iowa are required by law to have an ELL teacher.

“Every district should under-

Pettigrew said the school district does have one Spanish interpreter, Danitza Cardenas. She works with most of the ELL students and families.

Pettigrew also said the World Language teachers in the district have been a big help to her over the past 12 years.

“We’ve been able to tap into the resources we have to help families, from the counseling department to BRIDGES to the food pantry,” she said. “A lot of times our immigrant families don’t know who to ask for help or what is available. We try to connect those dots.”

Pettigrew and her husband, Tierre, have two sons. She’s excited to be able to spend more time with them while working from home.

-Submitted photo

RACHEL PETTIGREW, an English Language Learner teacher for the Fort Dodge Community School District, celebrates the last day of school with some of her students. From left are Melani Cutino Rodriguez, Pettigrew, Kenia Suriano Zepeda, Cesar Suriano Carrillo and Denzel Martinez Bustillo. Pettigrew will be taking on a new role with the Iowa Department of Education this summer.

— RACHEL PETTIGREW Education program consultant, Iowa Department of Education

Rachel Pettigrew

Back to tHe world

Heath helps others through AFES DRIVE Reentry Program

By HANS MADSEN editor@messengernews.net

Vanice “Tiger” Heath was released from prison on Dec. 6, 2022.

He came into a world unlike anything he had known when he was locked up.

“I was in since I was 17,” Heath said. “I’m 45 now.”

Heath was convicted of first-degree murder on Feb. 14, 1996. He was released as a result of life sentences for juvenile offenders being declared unconstitutional. He’s served the 25 years an offender would be sentenced to today.

Since his release, he’s been involved in the AFES DRIVE Reentry Program. Drive is an acronym for Determination, Resilience, Initiative, Values and Encouragement.

AFES Director Charles Clayton formally began the program about two years ago.

“When you’re released,” Clayton said, “there’s a thousand unwritten sentences that you still face — housing, landlords, getting a job, transportation. I might not be from Fort Dodge. I don’t have a ride or a vehicle to take my test in. I don’t have a positive network or social group at all.

What am I supposed to do to reconnect? You need to belong to something in life.”

Clayton said that the program helps by helping the recently released take care of those things. A lift to take their driver’s exam and a vehicle for the road test. Rides to job interviews. A list of landlords that are not hostile to renting to felons.

“Some guys just come here to use the gym,” he said. “It’s one guy that needs transportation to a doctor’s appointment. We had another one we took to Boone for a custody hearing so he could get his kids back.”

For Heath, the program has helped him greatly. The key, he said, has been the mentoring.

“For starters,” he said. “Charles has become a mentor. That’s what’s so good about mentors. He can sit down and guide you. You can always talk to him.”

Heath also has Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink as a mentor. The two speak frequently.

He’s also been helped with housing. That’s difficult.

“Just looking for a place,” Heath said. “It’s hard to get housing. They see that felony.”

Even though Heath had done a lot of the preliminary prep work before his release date. There are still things that have to be done in person and sometimes lines of communication break down. He had difficulty being able to communicate with an employer through the correctional system.

Having that mentor or friend to talk to can make a big difference.

“All it takes is a person who will say, ‘Look I’m here to help’ you,” Heath said. “Someone to say, ‘Hey you’re going off track.’”

Clayton, who’s also a convicted felon, was lucky when he was released. Someone stepped up to serve as his mentor. It wasn’t him and the system. For Clayton, it was the late Jerry Patterson.

“I know that the system without mentorship and help can eat you alive,” Clayton said. “He was that non-family mentor that took me under his wing.”

Heath plans on continuing and expanding his role in the DRIVE program.

He would like to spearhead a program to help women struggling with taking care of their family.

“I personally think that AFES can use more help,” Heath said. “Whether they have it or not, there’s a need. They need the mentor program and people that can guide them.”

Clayton and Heath would both like to see more active partnerships with the community. Whether it’s landlords willing to rent, volunteer mentors or additional support from the correctional system.

“It just takes partnerships.” Clayton said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen

VANICE “TIGER” HEATH, right, poses with AFES director Charles Clayton. Heath is a participant in the AFES DRIVE Reentry Program that helps individuals recently released from incarceration adjust to life outside prison.

Fort DoDge one Pedal at a time

Walker seeks to change lives through work at bike shop

By BRANDON BRUESCHKE editor@messengernews.net

Chris Walker has been providing Fort Dodge with transportation and a feeling of community since 2019.

Walker is the owner of Walker’s Bike Shop, located at 808 First Ave. N. in downtown Fort Dodge. Started in 2000 by his parents, Walker took over the business in 2019. The shop handles bike repairs as well as selling brand new bikes.

“I started working for them being a mechanic and a manager,” he said. “They went out of business after 18 years, and I was at a crossroads about what to do with my life. I figured I’d just give this bike shop a shot under my own name.”

“I started this business with $300,” he added. “My dad gave me some tools and some parts, and that was pretty much it. I had $300 in my savings account, and I took $150 and put it in the cash register and used the rest to buy more parts. I’ve been flipping the $300 ever since then.”

It wasn’t easy.

“It was pretty scary,” said Walker. “I didn’t have rent for the first month. I didn’t have anything. It was a blessing when people started coming and I started turning that $300 over and over. Then I came to another crossroads with my life and my business. At first I thought I wanted more than one store. I had this vision of a Walker’s Bike Shop all around Iowa. And I realized that that is not my call-

ing. My calling is focusing on my community, just my community and building my community.”

When speaking more about his work with the community, Walker said, “My motto is change a life one pedal stroke at a time.”

He wants to help others remember their first bike ride.

“I try to bring people back to their childhood,” he added. “We all remember our first bikes, the freedom. You would get out of your house and you’re kind of on your own. Your hair is blowing and you’re pedaling with your friends. At that moment, life slows down.

“That’s what I want to capture when people get on a bicycle. It can be done, you just have to think about those things like that and be away from life. All the troubles America is going through, you get on a bike and get away from that. I really try to relay that to our customers.”

Walker hopes to make a difference in others’ lives.

“Most people come in here for a change, and that really intrigues me because I’m a recovered alcoholic and drug addict,” he said. “I’ve been 18 years sober, so I know what it’s like to want to change your life, and how dramatic it is and how it can feel so good.”

“Changing people’s lives rather than chasing money is way more gratifying to me,” Walker added.

He said he views the shop as “my ministry.”

“I get a lot of people in here that are recovering alcoholics, drug addicts, from the halfway house, or from the Beacon of Hope,” Walker said. “I always try to strike up a conversation of where I come from, and my journey as a recovered addict. Everybody’s got a story in their life of someone who’s a drug addict or going through other struggles, and it’s nice to see a success story. There’s so much pain with it. I’ve opened up and

cried with customers and they come back and just talk about their problems in their life and help them get through it. That’s really what I want the business to be — the secondary is to make some money while the primary really is changing lives.”

Recently Walker’s Bike Shop was broken into and had some bikes stolen. When the community learned about this, it banded together to try and help Walker.

“I was very impressed with the community. I got over a thousand shares on it, and it meant a lot to me as a business owner in my community. It’s so hard to be a small business owner right now. I’m just so impressed by the community,” Walker said.

He doesn’t hold a grudge against the perpetrator.

“I’m not even mad at the person who did it. I have no vengeance towards them; I would just want my one bike back — the custom bike I built with my son. There’s a $500 reward for it. I’ll give it to them fully, the $500, and I’ll let them go. What they’re going through in life must be horrible. I’m sure there’s hurt in his life, and I’m not mad at the person. I’m a follower of Jesus and I’m always trying to follow his path. The path is really hard, to be forgiving, and to find good things in people no matter what they’ve done. But they can be forgiven.”

-Messenger photo by Brandon Brueschke

CHRIS WALKER WORKS ON A BICYCLE in his shop. Started in 2000 by his parents, Walker took over the business in 2019. The shop handles bike repairs as well as selling brand new bikes.

Chris Walker

“Changing people’s lives rather than chasing money is way more gratifying to me.”

— CHRIS WALKER Owner, Walker's Bike Shop

By LORI BERGLUND editor@messengernews.net

WEBSTER CITY

— Russ Naden’s hitch in the U.S. Navy lasted about three years, nearly 60 years ago. His service to his country has extended far longer, and still continues to this day.

Call him a sailor’s sailor, a veteran’s veteran. Naden not only served his country in his youth, but in retirement he has made it a mission to serve the men and women who also served the nation.

Retirement was “boring” to Naden, who had spent his working life leading the family business, Naden Industries, in Webster City. He needed something more, and found it as director of Webster County Veterans Affairs. It was a part-time job when he started and grew over the years.

And while he may be retired again, he’s still serving, now as a long-time volunteer with the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight.

“It’s been pretty amazing, some of these flights,” Naden said. “Some of the family members have told us that after the veteran comes home from the Honor Flight, they open up for the first time about their service.”

In 23 flights since 2010, some 3,000 veterans have been escorted to Washington, D.C., as part of the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flights to see the memorials and, in many ways, to receive the appreciation of a grateful nation, which they may or may not have received when their official tour of duty ended.

Naden loves to retell the stories that veterans and their families have shared with him over the years.

“On our very first flight, there was a nurse who really wanted to go,” Naden said. “Her father was a World War II veteran. She said

in Service to country, community

Navy veteran Russ Naden serves fellow veterans

‘He’s no longer with us, but I’d like to be a guardian for one of the other veterans.’”

Nurses are always in demand for the Honor Flights and she was approved as a guardian. Her father had been at Bastogne at the Battle of the Bulge. German forces had literally bulged forward, breaking into Allied lines and cutting off many soldiers. After much debate, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower sent in Lt. Gen. George S. Patton to beat the Germans back — and Patton wasted no time in doing just that.

“She was asking one of the veterans about his service, and he told her, ‘I was with Patton’s army when he came and rescued the guys at the Battle of the Bulge.’ She lost it and said to that veteran, ‘I might not be here if it wasn’t for you.’”

Stories such as these make all the hours of volunteer planning, fundraising, and organizing, more than worthwhile for Naden and other volunteers on the Honor Flight committee.

The son of a World War II veteran himself, Naden grew up in Webster City in the 1950s and ’60s. Franklin’s Manufacturing was the county’s largest employer, and the local school district was putting up a new high school for all the Baby Boomers coming of age.

“We were the first class to graduate from the new high school,” Naden said. “We came back from Thanksgiving break of my senior year and we loaded our books out of the old Lincoln Building, got on a bus that took us to the new high school, found our lockers, and went to home room.”

That was the Class of 1962. John F. Kennedy was president and Americans had barely heard of Vietnam.

That would soon change. For Naden, he was off to the University of Iowa where he would earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

College graduation came as American involvement in Vietnam was heating up. He joined the Navy in 1967 and was sent to Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island. Naden’s first assignment landed him on a destroyer, the USS Macdonough, based out of Charleston, South Carolina.

“It was actually over in the Mediterranean, so I met the ship in Istanbul, Turkey,” Naden said.

“It had been over there about five months and came back pretty quickly. I was assistant gunnery officer on that one.”

From there, Naden was transferred to the USS Tutuila, which was stationed full-time in South Vietnam.

slept and ate. We pulled engines, repaired engines, props, shafts, hulls, whatever needed done. We would lift them out of the water and set them in a cradle to repair them.”

While most of his tour was spent at the mouth of the Mekong River, the ship would eventually be moved to an island off the border with Cambodia.

“There was a North Vietnamese prison camp on the island and we anchored off that island,” Naden said. “We repaired ships and we trained South Vietnamese sailors to take care of the ones we turned over to them.”

Naden was discharged in March 1970 and, while many veterans at that time were treated with great disrespect, he came through fine.

“I got discharged at Treasure Island, which is a Navy base by San Francisco,” Naden said. “We were told, ‘When you leave base, don’t be in uniform, go to the airport, or go where you’re going, and don’t pay attention.’ Being out of uniform and coming from Vietnam you didn’t have a military haircut, so most people didn’t recognize me as military. I saw some people being harassed, but personally I was OK.”

“It was a non-rotated ship,” Naden said. “Crew members would be on for a year, but not everyone rotated at the same time.”

The job of the Tutuila was to keep other ships up and running to continue the battle.

“We were the home base for the gunboats, the riverboats that went up and down the Mekong Delta to try and disrupt trade coming down from North Vietnam.”

Back home, Naden Industries was building fishing boats. In South Vietnam, Naden worked to keep the gunboats in the fight.

“We were called ‘Brown Water Navy,’ Naden said. “We had a barracks ship tied along one side of us, and that’s where the crew

Returning home, life soon turned very sweet for Naden, He met a beautiful girl named Sue, a few years younger than him, and a classmate of his sister’s. They married in 1971 and never looked back. Together, they would raise two daughters.

“When we got married, she had one year left at UNI, so I used the G.I Bill and took some classes that I thought would fit with our business (Naden Industries). The G.I. Bill was $60 a month back then, but it paid our rent.”

Sue Naden passed away in 2022 after 50 years of marriage, and decades of happy memories. For himself, Naden shows no signs of slowing down in his commitment to service.

-Submitted photo

RUSS NADEN stands in front of his Webster City home. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Naden continues to help other veterans by volunteering with the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight.

giving Back to HiS Hometown

Grossnickle works to bring live music to Manson

By BILL SHEA bshea@messengernews.net

MANSON — In the fall as the days grow shorter and cooler, Jesse Grossnickle is hard at work planning a way for lots of people to have a good time with live country music on a hot summer evening.

Since the shows began in 2017, he has been the lead organizer of the Crash My Crater concert held every year in conjunction with Manson Greater Crater Days.

The concerts, he said, offer an opportunity for people to see and hear “big-time artists in smalltown Manson, Iowa.”

Over the years, the concert has featured Riley Green, Niko Moon, and Travis Denning, to name just a few. This year’s concert features Parmalee, Matt Stell, Trevor Hill and Corey Waller and Emily Johnson.

But getting all those performers lined up requires months of advance work.

That’s why every year in the fall Grossnickle is busy making contacts with booking agencies in Nashville, Tennessee, to get artists lined up for Crash My Crater the following June.

Organizing the concerts is just one of many things Grossnickle does to benefit Manson.

“I’m involved in too much stuff, actually,” Grossnickle joked.

He said he pitches in with all kinds of groups and activities because he is “a local boy who just wants the best for my town.”

“I like seeing people enjoying themselves, taking advantage of all the things we have here in Manson,” he added.

He is a member of the Manson City Council and the Manson Trail Project Committee. He previously volunteered with a successful effort to renovate the Manson playground.

He is also a fixture of the Manson business community. He has owned the Shore Side Pub &

Grub for 11 years.

He and his wife, P.J., bought the building on Main Street that houses the restaurant in 2011. They opened the doors a year later in 2012.

That was not his first foray into the food business, however. He has worked in restaurants since he was 14, when he started by washing dishes. From 2009 to 2012, he owned the Beach House Pub & Grub in Humboldt.

In addition to running his own business, he is teaching future restaurant owners how to someday manage their own eateries. He is doing that by serving as the coordinator and instructor of the

hotel and restaurant management program at Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg. That is the same program from which he earned his associate degree.

He has been the program coordinator and instructor since 2014.

“I love it because the restaurant industry is something that I have an extreme passion for,” he said.

Grossnickle was 2 years old when his parents moved from Lehigh to Manson, and he considers Manson to be his hometown. He graduated from Manson Northwest Webster High School in 2004, then went on to Iowa lakes Community College. He and his wife have three sons.

-Messenger file photo JESSE GROSSNICKLE, of Manson, has been the lead organizer of the Crash My Crater concert since the shows began in 2017. He and his wife, P.J., have owned and operated Shore Side Pub & Grub since 2012. Grossnickle is also a member of the Manson City Council and the Manson Trail Project Committee.

“I like seeing people enjoying themselves, taking advantage of all the things we have here in Manson.”

— JESSE GROSSNICKLE

Crash My Crater organizer

By KELBY WINGERT kwingert@messengernews.net

The Ruan Center in Des Moines, with its 32 flights of stairs, isn’t exactly Mount Everest, but for someone climbing those steps while carrying more than 50 pounds of gear, it might as well be.

On March 26, a team representing the Otho Fire Department ascended several “mountains” in Des Moines as part of the American Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb.

Otho Fire Chief Marty Smith was joined by Jodi Smith, of Fort Dodge; Travis Stanberg, of Otho; and Shawna Schuler, of Coalville. This team also completed the challenge together in 2019.

The Fight For Air Climb is an event hosted by the American Lung Association nationwide to raise awareness, support and funds for lung health research. In Des Moines, participants climb the stairs at three downtown high-rises — the EMC Insurance building, the Financial Center and the Ruan Center. In total, there are 91 flights of stairs and 1,936 steps.

“I just hope I finish without dying,” Marty Smith joked.

As part of a relay team, Smith climbed the first building — the EMC Insurance building with its 15 floors and 371 steps. The next two legs of the relay were in the Financial Center with Jodi Smith and Stanberg each ascending its 22 floors and 464 steps. Schuler then completed the summit of the team’s metaphorical mountain at the Ruan Center with its 32 flights and 637 steps. All four were wearing full firefighter suits and carried a full load of gear weighing around 50 pounds.

As first responders, the Otho team was given a name tag to

on

Otho Fire Dept. team completes Fight For Air Climb

the challenge. “I about died the first time,” he joked.

The Otho team was one of about 15 fire department relay teams on the climb. For the several months leading up to the event, the team had been training in the Otho Fire Station, climbing up and down the stairs leading to the workout room. Up and down, up and down, up and down.

Still, it doesn’t quite prepare them for what it feels like to get to the top of those buildings.

“It’s bad when you’re done; like I get to the top and collapse for at least a couple of minutes before I can even take the elevator down to give the baton to the next person,” Jodi Smith said.

“You’re just pushing as hard as you can push, especially at the end to try to finish up strong,” Marty Smith added.

In addition to exhaustion, they feel a great sense of accomplishment when they reach the top, Marty Smith said.

“You’re just happy to be done, but happy you did it,” he said.

“Being at the top, it just feels good once you get it done; it feels good to say you did it,” Jodi Smith said. “We don’t even care if we beat our times last time; we just want to stay active and complete what we started.”

The mission of the American Lung Association is also part of why members of the team volunteer to go through such a grueling challenge.

wear in honor of a first responder who was killed during the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.

While the climb challenge is timed, the Otho team just aimed to finish.

“In the past, my goal has been just to do it without stopping, but I doubt I can do that this year,” Marty Smith said. At 74, he was one of the most sea-

soned participants on the climb. “I don’t have as much energy as I did when I was younger, but I still keep plugging away at it.”

This year was the eighth time Marty Smith has participated in the climb. He jokes that he signs up each year because he’s crazy.

“For me, it’s the hardest challenge I’ve ever had in my life,” he said. “I mean, this is way harder than a bunch of the stuff

I did in basic training in the service.”

Being the fire chief’s daughter, Jodi Smith was roped into joining the Otho climb team a few years ago. This was her third year participating. In 2019, she enlisted her friend, Schuler, to join the team.

Stanberg, a firefighter with the Otho department, said this was his third time completing

Marty Smith had a brother who suffered from asthma his whole life and eventually developed the lung disease COPD toward the end of his life, and Jodi Smith’s youngest child has asthma, and they support the American Lung Association’s efforts to fund the development of cures for these lung diseases.

“My grandma passed of lung cancer, so that’s near and dear to my heart too,” Schuler added.

-Messenger file photo by Kelby Wingert

THE OTHO FIRE DEPARTMENT TEAM ascended nearly 100 flights of stairs on March 26 while wearing full firefighting gear for the American Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb in Des Moines. The four-person relay team includes Shawna Schuler, of Fort Dodge; Otho Fire Chief Marty Smith; Jodi Smith, of Fort Dodge; and Travis Stanberg, of Otho.

“For me, it’s the hardest challenge I’ve ever had in my life. I mean, this is way harder than a bunch of the stuff I did in basic training in the service.”

— MARTY SMITH Otho fire chief

Hardware and HotrodS roCkwell City Young entrepreneurs help Gentry Hardware thrive

By DARCY DOUGHERTY MAULSBY editor@messengernews.net

ROCKWELL CITY

— There’s just something memorable about stepping into a small-town hardware store. The distinctive aroma of lawn fertilizer. The dazzling sight of colorful paint samples. The metallic rattle of bolts and screws scooped out of bulk bins.

Most customers aren’t thinking in poetic terms, however, when they head to Gentry Hardware and Rental in Rockwell City.

“People usually aren’t having the best day when they need something from the hardware store,” said Nathan Gentry, 40, who has owned Gentry Hardware with his wife, Emily, since 2022. “Maybe their lightbulb burned out, their toilet is backed up or something else isn’t working. We try to help them and make it a better day by the time they leave our store.”

On a recent spring day, a customer with 60-year-old metal lawn chairs in the back of his vehicle reported that a bunch of bolts had broken off the chairs in the same week. Gentry and his team were able to help him find the bolts he needed to repair his vintage chairs.

Customers’ needs are as diverse as the merchandise in the well-stocked store. Some people who are heading to nearby Twin Lakes to fish purchase live bait. Others are working on home improvement projects and need garden mulch, paint or other supplies.

Many buy top-selling products like bird seed, packaged concrete mix and bags of water softener salt, which Gentry Hardware delivers in town. Many also select flowers and other garden plants in the spring and early summer at the

store’s greenhouse.

There’s a lot to learn in this business, and it helps to have an entrepreneurial mindset, said Gentry, who also owns and operates Gentry Restorations & Kustoms, an automotive business in Rockwell City.

“In general, hardware stores

are recession-proof, so it’s a good business to be in,” he said. Running his own businesses in his hometown suits Gentry. The 2001 Rockwell City-Lytton High School graduate completed specialized training in auto body work, paint and hot rod/streetrod fabrication at WyoTech be-

painted the Hardware Hank logo on the building’s west exterior wall, complete with Hardware Hank himself roaring off in a classic roadster.

The building has long been a part of Rockwell City. Built in two phases, with the older section dating to 1958 and the east section added in 1963, the store housed Clark’s Supermarket for years.

“We both worked there in high school,” said Emily (Knouf) Gentry, 39, a Rockwell City native who teaches kindergarten at the South Central Calhoun elementary school in Rockwell City. “We never dreamed we’d own a hardware store here someday.”

In 2009, Randy Swanson (who owned a hardware store in Manson) transformed the former grocery store into Swanson Hardware. Gentry happened to be there the day Swanson hung a for-sale sign in the window in 2021.

ABOVE: Emily and Nathan Gentry have owned Gentry Hardware and Rental in Rockwell City since 2022, and Nathan Gentry said the store has become a community hub, which is something he hoped it would be.

LEFT: Nathan Gentry painted the Hardware Hank logo on the building’s west exterior wall, complete with Hardware Hank himself roaring off in a classic roadster.

fore returning to Rockwell City. Through Gentry Restorations & Kustoms, Gentry handles a wide range of projects, from overhauling a 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle to repainting a 1973 Plymouth Barracuda.

His artistry carries over to Gentry Hardware, where he

As he thought about buying the store, he discussed it with his family, including his mother, Lynne. “She said I’d be foolish not to take this opportunity,” Gentry said. “Emily and I also got tremendous support from lenders, too.”

The couple debuted Gentry Hardware on April 28, 2022. Since then, they’ve learned a great deal about what it takes to succeed in this business, including:

1. Meet your customers’ needs. Many of Gentry Hardware’s customers are retirees who want smaller appliances like two-to three-cup coffee makers and small microwave ovens. Sometimes meeting customers’ needs involves a bit of detective work.

“People will call the store and ask, ‘Do you have filters?’” Emily Gentry said. “We have tons

-Messenger photos by Darcy Dougherty Maulsby

it'S SHowtime!

Volunteers help Lake City's Capri Theatre thrive

By DARCY DOUGHERTY MAULSBY editor@messengernews.net

LAKE CITY — Michelle Blair will never forget mid-March 2020.

“Spies in Disguise,” a 2019 computer-animated comedy film, had played from March 13 to March 15 at the historic Capri Theatre in downtown Lake City, attracting a good crowd of 158 moviegoers during the weekend. That would be the last film shown at the Capri for months.

“We had to close when all the COVID-19 lockdowns started in midMarch,” said Blair, who joined the all-volunteer, 11-member board of the Capri Theatre in 2008 and has served as board president since 2013. “We didn’t know what the future would hold for the Capri, because no one knew how long the lockdowns would last.”

During the pandemic, the cinema business was challenged like never before. Movie studios stopped making movies for months, and demand for online streaming services skyrocketed.

“It was a scary time for everyone, because there were so many unknowns,” Blair said.

While moviegoers couldn’t come to the Capri anymore, the theater’s bills (from insurance to taxes to utilities) kept coming. By December 2020, the theater was facing red ink. Government grants designed to help theaters survive the COVID-19 pandemic kept the theater going. By early 2021, the Capri hosted some soft openings to encourage people to return to the theater, even though there were few movies available.

“By October 2021, we were finally able to open again on our regular Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday matinee schedule,” Blair said.

The crowds slowly returned during the next year. Today, the volunteer-run theater has become a hub of the community once again. In recent months, hundreds of people flocked to the 396-seat theater to see the 2022 action-drama “Top Gun: Maverick” and “A Man Called Otto,” a 2022 comedy-drama about a bitter old man, played by Tom Hanks.

“I support the Capri’s mission statement of providing affordable family entertainment,” said Blair, who noted that all tickets are $2. “I also like the nostalgia of this theater and am so glad people continue to support the Capri.”

Lake City has had a rich history of movie theaters, starting with the Star Theater, which burned in the early 1900s. Next, the Iowa Theater was built on the west side of the historic town square. On New Year’s Day 1958, the Iowa Theater burned to the ground.

Lake City was without a movie theater for a number of years until the new Capri Theatre, dubbed “Iowa’s Most Beautiful Theater,” opened on the site of the former Iowa Theater on June 30, 1965. The luxury theater included a stone wall, waterfall and pond east of the concession stand in the lobby. Back then, moviegoers could see hit shows like “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” and “Clarence, the CrossEyed Lion” for 85 cents (adult tickets) and 35 cents (children’s tickets).

Times were good until the 1980s Farm

Crisis. Business slowed so much that the Capri was only open sporadically.

Nick Burley enjoyed going to the Capri when he was in high school in the mid-1990s.

“I remember when ‘Twister’ came to Lake City,” said Burley, referring to the 1996 film (parts of which were filmed in Iowa) about amateur storm chasers trying to deploy a tornado research device. “There were people lined up around the block to get into the theater.”

The Capri was on its way to closing permanently, however, in the early 2000s. In 2002, a group of Lake City citizens talked the owner, Bob Fridley, into donating the theater to the community. Fridley agreed, and local volunteers worked tirelessly to secure nonprofit status and open the theater to the public once again. Opening day arrived on March 8, 2003, to great success. Ever since then, volunteers from high school students to local businesses and families continue to operate the theater.

Ashley Thieszen, of Lake City, started volunteering at the Capri with her friend when they were in high school and now serves on the board.

“We could watch the movie for free and got free popcorn, and it was a blast,” she said.

Capri board members meet every couple months and volunteer at the theater one night each month, with the assistance of additional volunteers. The Capri shows children’s movies and family-friendly movies each weekend. Moviegoers typically come from four to five counties around Calhoun County.

“It’s easy to get entertainment at home, with streaming services and more,” said Burley, a farmer from Lake City who joined the Capri board about five years ago. “Seeing a movie in the theater is a unique experience that helps you connect with the community. That’s why we try to keep our prices affordable.”

The $2 ticket price and moderately priced concessions help support the operation of the Capri and also fund college scholarships for local students who volunteer at the Capri.

Thieszen orders the movies that are

-Messenger photo by Darcy Dougherty Maulsby

MICHELLE BLAIR and her grandson Evan hang out together behind the counter in the Capri Theatre in Lake City. In a post-COVID world, the volunteer-run theater has become a hub of the community once again.

shown at the Capri, while her husband, Pat, volunteers as the movie projectionist.

“We love movies and the atmosphere at the Capri,” said Thieszen. “It’s fun to be involved with this historic theater.”

Local businesses or individuals and families sometimes sponsor free tickets for the first 50 or 100 people who come to a movie. The Calhoun County Farm Bureau has worked with the Capri to help people learn more about modern agriculture. The organization has provided free tickets and popcorn for ag-related films like “Silo.” In this 2019 film, disaster strikes a small American farm town when a teenager becomes the victim of a grain bin entrapment accident.

“We try to get movies that not every theater gets,” said Burley, who noted that the Capri also accepts financial donations. The Capri has shown Iowa-based films like “Kinnick: The Documentary” (2022) about Hawkeye football legend Nile Kinnick, and “Silent Night in Algona” (2022), which tells the story of World War II German prisoners of war in Algona, and the nativity scene they made in 1944.

Whether people come to the Capri to watch a movie or just stop in to buy the fresh popcorn and take it home, the Capri’s volunteers are glad the theater remains a gathering place for the community.

“There’s nothing like the Capri,” Thieszen said. “We want to see it continue.”

-Messenger photo by Darcy Dougherty Maulsby

NICK BURLEY offers theater popcorn to moviegoers. The Capri Theatre in Lake City is entirely run by volunteers.

of filters. We ask questions to figure out exactly what they’re looking for.”

Can’t find it in the store?

“We work with three distributors, so there isn’t too much we can’t get,” Nathan Gentry said.

2. Offer the unexpected. Gentry Hardware offers fun products like retro-inspired pop in individual glass bottles (which are popular with kids), from Bubble Up and Capone Cream Soda to Sioux City Sarsaparilla.

Sometimes the unexpected comes in the form of customer service. While hardware has traditionally been a male-dominated business, Gentry Hardware’s manager is Amanda Allbee, who graduated from high school with Nathan Gentry.

“The ladies who work here know their stuff, just like the guys do,” said Emily Gentry, referring to their team, which includes Wendy Miller, Rusty Farrington, Lowell Stoolman, Sandi Kuebler, Landon Anderson and Mason Bahr. “Everyone has their specialty. Wendy knows all about cleaning products, for example, while Rusty is the wood guy.”

3. Add value and be honest. When customers ask questions about specific products, Nathan Gentry often creates how-to YouTube videos for Gentry Hardware’s Facebook page. These short videos explain the ins and outs of various items from grinding disks to lightbulbs, plus the videos offer practical tips, like how to select the right paintbrush for the job and “know your fasteners.”

“We don’t advise you to buy something you don’t need, just so we can sell more products,” Nathan Gentry said. “Honesty pays off.”

4. Become a community hub. Whether it’s local contractors stopping by, retirees dropping in to catch up on the latest news, or customers sticking around to chat, Gentry Hardware is a gathering place.

“That’s what I hoped this store would be,” said Nathan Gentry, who serves on Rockwell City’s City Council and is the fire captain with the Rockwell City Fire Department.

Friendly, well-behaved dogs are also welcome to tag along with their owners and get a free dog treat, Emily Gentry added.

5. Inspire others. The Gentrys work with a variety of local, young entrepre-

neurs, including Jacob Lauver, who operates Lauver Live Bait Co., and Parkside Flowers in Rockwell City. The couple also hopes Gentry Hardware will create options for their two sons, Grayson, 11, and Wyatt, 8.

“Our boys love hands-on learning,” Nathan Gentry said. “I hope they’ll have the opportunity to run the store someday if they want to.”

“We get to meet so many great people in this business,” Nathan Gentry said. “It’s all about building community.”

ABOVE: Nathan Gentry rings up some plants for a customer at Gentry Hardware and Rental recently. The store features a greenhouse that offers flowers and garden plants in the spring and early summer.

LEFT: The Gentrys try to offer the unexpected, including fun products like retro-inspired pop in individual glass bottles.

“We get to meet so many great people in this business. It's all about building community.”

— NATHAN GENTRY Co-owner, Gentry Hardware and Rental

-Messenger photos by Darcy Dougherty Maulsby

Farming tHrougH tHe yearS DunCombe Geis brothers weather ups and down together

By LORI BERGLUND lberglund@farm-news.com

DUNCOMBE — Brothers Joe and Bill Geis have seen a lot of planting seasons together. Through late-season snows, early springs, floods and drought, there isn’t much they haven’t worked through in a lifetime of farming in Webster County.

With their late dad Kenneth, the brothers grew up planting corn and soybeans four rows at a time, lugging bags of seed and hoping that the weather would hold to get every field planted on time.

Today, the brothers have separate farming operations but work closely together.

Of course, things have changed a little. They plant corn 24 rows at a time, while the soybean planter takes a 16-row swath. Seed tenders have replaced the bags, but they still find themselves hoping every afternoon that the weather will hold so that they can get every field planted on time.

Earlier this spring, farmers were talking about much the same things — input prices, and the weather.

“Probably our biggest concern this year is moisture,” said Bill Geis. “It’s abnormally dry. Last year it was dry going into the spring, but this year I think it’s even worse.”

While there have been plentiful snowfalls in the winter season, the moisture that is received just doesn’t get into the soil as needed, he noted.

“It all goes down the river,” Bill Geis said.

While dry, the 2022 season was not a bad one for the Geis brothers.

“Yields last year were average,” Bill Geis said. “They weren’t great, but they were pretty good.”

In 2022, the brothers finished planting both corn and soybeans in the first two weeks of May.

“In a normal year, we like to be done with corn in April, and with beans the first week of May, usually,” Bill Geis said.

While there is a growing trend that sees some farmers planting soybeans before corn, these brothers concentrate on both commodities at the same time. They run

two planters, one with corn, one with soybeans, and just keep going from field to field as soil conditions and weather allow.

“Our biggest challenge is finding the help,” said Joe Geis. “We just need enough bodies to do everything.”

Part-time help is used to deliver seed and just help out with any jobs that keep the planters rolling. Their brother, Dave Geis, who is retired from an off-farm job, helps when possible, and they also have a few others that work as needed.

One thing that hasn’t changed is their crop rotation plan. They’ve never been too tempted by the idea of going all-corn, mainly out of concerns for plant health.

“There’s too much risk of disease, root worm and other things like that,” said Joe Geis.

Technology, the brothers agree, is the biggest change they have seen in more than four decades of farming. Such things as auto-steer and seed monitors may seem to make the job easier, but it’s an ev-

er-changing challenge to just keep up.

“The technology is great when it’s working. When it breaks down, you have to call somebody,” Joe Geis said. “We didn’t grow up with it, so we struggle sometimes.”

When it comes to routine farm maintenance, the brothers work together in a spacious shop that is also a bit of a neighborhood gathering place. Early March has seen them busy with maintenance on semi-trailers and getting them ready for hauling water when it comes time to spray. The shop is designed in three separate areas, including an office, equipment maintenance, and cold storage.

The shop is a good place for neighboring farmers to stop in, visit about the weather, inputs and commodity prices.

“No one is happy about prices,” Bill Geis said. “I hope the price we’re paying for things goes down, but we’re used to it at this point and we just have to pencil it into the budget. It’s nothing new.”

“You can’t change it,” Joe Geis agreed. The brothers also agree on perhaps the biggest advancement they have seen in their decades on the farm. During their farming careers, the brothers have seen new tractors that are much easier to drive, hybrids that perform better than ever, and yet they have a simple answer for what has made life better for farmers.

“Air conditioning,” the brothers readily agree. And for anyone who grew up sweating under a blazing hot sun or stuck in a stuffy cab, it’s easy to say that the comfort of a little cool air on a hot summer day should never be under-estimated.

-Farm News photo by Lori Berglund BROTHERS BILL AND JOE GEIS work together in the spring to get equipment ready for planting. They have weathered a lot of planting seasons through the years.

'SiSterHood' Fort DoDge Rholl embraces role at Gateway to Discovery

By KELBY WINGERT kwingert@messengernews.net

Over the last year, Lyndsey Rholl has been settling into her new role as program coordinator at Gateway to Discovery in Fort Dodge. Gateway to Discovery is a faith-based residential recovery program for women struggling with addiction.

Rholl, herself, has been in recovery for the past decade. Recovery from substance use disorders and addiction isn’t a destination or a finish line they cross — it’s an ongoing state they work to maintain for the rest of their lives. And like so many others, Rholl decided to dedicate herself to helping others on their recovery journeys.

“I’ve been in Fort Dodge for about nine years now,” Rholl said.

Before taking the program coordinator job at Gateway in February 2022, Rholl had spent the previous six years working at Community and Family Resources, a local substance use and addiction treatment center. And although she helped people find recovery at CFR, she still spent time supporting and being involved with Gateway to Discovery, from volunteering at events to giving residents rides to appointments or work to being a sponsor for a resident.

“There’s no place I’d rather be — it is a sisterhood,” Rholl said. “The (residents) know that I’m the program coordinator, but they know at the end of the day, we’re all in this together. We’re all sisters.”

Gateway to Discovery was established in Fort Dodge in 2013 as a two-year, faith-based residential program as a sanctuary for women recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction in the community. In the decade since the organization’s start, it’s seen more than a dozen women graduate from the program — and several have stayed in the area to help others going through recovery.

Part of the organization’s mission is to also play an active role in the Fort Dodge community.

“Our goal at Gateway is just to give back as much as we possibly can and volunteer as much as we can to let the

community know how grateful we are,” Rholl said. “We wouldn’t be able to run Gateway without the community.”

In early June, the group hosted a week-long community cleanup they call Paint the Town Purple.

“Paint the Town Purple is to give back to the community, because the community is constantly giving to us,” Rholl said. “The community in Fort Dodge is very giving and they absolutely adore what we’re doing here at Gateway.

They’re super passionate about helping our women, and we wanted to give back in some way.”

Each year, Gateway invites community groups and individuals to join in the cleanup and this year, a couple dozen came out to help.

“I think it’s awesome to have the community’s support and know that not all negative things happen in Fort Dodge, there’s some positive stuff too,” she said.

“We just need to focus on the positive.”

Looking ahead to the next 10 years of the program, Rholl only sees bright skies.

“I have big dreams for Gateway to Discovery,” she said.

-Messenger file photo by Kelby Wingert

GATEWAY TO DISCOVERY PROGRAM COORDINATOR LYNDSEY RHOLL carries a bucket of trash down the hill on 14th Street Southwest during Gateway’s annual Paint the Town Purple community cleanup event recently.

“Our goal at Gateway is just to give back as much as we possibly can and volunteer as much as we can to let the community know how grateful we are. We wouldn’t be able to run Gateway without the community.”

— LINDSEY RHOLL

Gateway to Discovery program coordinator

'in good HandS' Fort DoDge Porter reflects on 27 years at Fort Dodge Police Dept.

By KELBY WINGERT kwingert@messengernews.net

In 1996, Roger Porter sat in front of the late Ivan Metzger, who was then the chief of police for the Fort Dodge Police Department, when Metzger asked him an eerily foreshadowing question — “Where do you envision yourself in 20 years?”

Porter’s answer was simple — he saw himself leading the Police Department as its chief.

That vision became a reality on March 28, 2017, when the Fort Dodge City Council confirmed his appointment as chief, almost exactly 20 years to the day that Porter graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.

Earlier this spring, after six years as the top cop, Porter was ready to hang up his hat and take off his badge. His last day on the job was April 4.

“I’m looking for a different pace,” he said of his retirement. “I want to do something different.”

Law enforcement wasn’t Porter’s first career. A native of Fort Dodge, Porter graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High School and went straight to work at United States Gypsum.

After a while at USG, Porter realized he wanted something different for his life and with help from an accommodating supervisor, he enrolled as a non-traditional student at Iowa Central Community College to study criminal justice.

“Law enforcement was something that I always had in the back of my mind that I wanted to do,” he said. “Working at USG was great and I had a lot of good experiences out at USG, but even while I was working at USG, always law enforcement was something that I wanted to do.”

After graduating with an associate’s degree from Iowa Central, Porter transferred to the University of Northern Iowa to finish his bachelor’s degree.

“I was a little older and I wanted to get done with UNI as quickly as possible and start my career,” he said. “I had to cram a lot of hours those semesters, and I was working full-time.”

The hard work was worth it, he added.

When he returned to Fort Dodge, Porter spent about a year working in securi-

ty, and then on the jail floor at the Webster County Law Enforcement Center. Eventually, he found himself sitting across the desk from Metzger, interviewing to be a patrol officer for the Fort Dodge Police Department.

The chief must have seen something special in the young officer-to-be, because Porter got the job and was sent to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to complete his training. According to a story from the March 20, 1997, issue of The Messenger, Porter was 28 years old when he graduated as one of 40 officers in the 155th basic training class at the ILEA.

Porter once again returned to his hometown and hit the streets as a patrol officer for the FDPD. After a couple of years, he was offered a promotion to work as a detective in narcotics, alongside a young Webster County Sheriff’s deputy named Luke Fleener.

“I think I worked pretty hard and it was recognized by the front office,” Porter said. “So I jumped right on that and within three years, I was promoted to the rank of sergeant.”

After about five years on the narcotics beat, Porter moved back to patrol, eventually being promoted to a patrol lieutenant in 2004. Around that time Porter and Fleener started the regional Special Emergency Response Team, which handles things like barricaded suspects and high-risk search warrants.

In 2007, Porter was promoted to captain and placed in charge of the department’s criminal investigation division. He also commanded the SERT around this time.

“There’s a lot of stress, a lot of pressures that are put on you just as a law enforcement officer in general,” he said. “And then, as you climb the ranks, that stress gets to be a little harder and a little bit more.”

Despite the stress, Porter wanted to lead and, in 2014, he was promoted to acting assistant chief under the late Chief Kevin Doty. Three years after that, he succeeded Doty as chief.

When Porter took over the department, he wanted to put a focus on community service and showing the community that

See PORTER, Page 44D

-Messenger file photo by Britt Kudla

THEN-FORT DODGE POLICE CHIEF ROGER PORTER receives boxes of cookies for the police officers from the Fort Dodge softball program at Fort Dodge Senior High in December 2022. Porter retired in April of this year. In May, the Fort Dodge Community School District announced that Porter would be hired to serve as the district’s new drector of safety and security.

officers are more than just the badge.

He said that when he first became a police officer, most members of the community had never had an interaction with law enforcement before and, if they did, it was because they were being arrested or the victim of a crime. Over the years, that began to change, Porter said, and he wanted to continue that under his leadership as well.

“We need the community to solve some crimes,” he said. “We need to have trust in the community, and the communities have to trust in us as law enforcement officers and we have to work together to make our community safer.”

As chief, Porter has kept the department active with community outreach events like National Night Out and fundraisers for Special Olympics Iowa. Until COVID threw a wrench into everything, he also hosted a citizen’s academy for community members to come in and learn about what the department does.

“I’m pretty proud of everybody,” Porter said. “All the officers are great about it — they want to get involved. … I think that helps build the bridges and helps knock down some of the walls.”

Officers also log hundreds of hours a month volunteering their time in various ways around the community, he added.

It’s the community service Porter hopes he’s remembered for.

“I think we built a lot of relationships over the last 10 years with a lot of the community,” he said. “And 10 years is a start, you’ve still got a lot of work to do and it’s something that’s got to be maintained, and I think we’re set up pretty well to maintain that going down the road.”

So much has changed in the last three decades, Porter said.

“When I started, we didn’t have cell phones, we didn’t have car computers,” he said. “We had the rotating lights that you had to bang on once in a while to get them to spin.”

As technology has changed, Porter said, the FDPD has adapted pretty well.

“I was instrumental in getting body cameras for everybody,” he said. “Car cameras, I was instrumental in getting those when they first came out. … I think we’re probably one of the better equipped departments around here with all the technology that’s been going on.”

Shortly after joining the Police Department, Porter married his wife, Amy, and the couple started their family. Together, they’ve raised three children — two of whom are in college and one who is in

high school.

Porter said he’s grateful for the support and understanding from his family over the years. A career in law enforcement can be hard on the officer’s family.

“Just like every officer, I’ve missed a lot of holidays, a lot of birthdays,” Porter said.

He said often when he was working in investigations, he’d be home with his family for a holiday or some other special event and he’d get called out to cover a crime scene.

“Not one time did [Amy] ever bat an eye or say ‘I want you to stay home’ or get upset because I had to leave her or my family,” Porter said. “My wife was very supportive all the way through the last 27 years.”

Porter recalled a Mother’s Day where he and his kids had planned a special day to celebrate Amy, but then his phone rang and he was gone for two days.

“There was no Mother’s Day that year for her, but she understood,” he said. “She supported that and held onto that all the way through the 27 years we’ve been doing this together.”

After nearly 27 years in uniform, Porter has plenty of memories — some good, and some bad. He was in Rockwell City with the SERT when Rockwell City Police Officer Jamie Buenting was killed during a standoff with a suspect on Sept. 13, 2013.

Over the years, Porter racked up too many arrests to count and though he doesn’t necessarily remember them all, a few do

stick out to him because of the outcome.

“I’ve had on at least three occasions that come to mind, people that I’ve arrested mostly when I worked in narcotics, and they got sent to prison and then came back and thanked me a couple years later because now they’re clean,” he said.

Looking back, Porter recalls a humorous incident he had while on duty.

Officers were receiving a number of calls from residents to come take care of a bat loose in their home, so for a while all officers carried around a bat kit — a tennis racket, a garbage bag and gloves.

“I got a bat one night,” he said. “We didn’t kill them, we’d stun them and then pick them up in the sack and then we’d take them outside and release them and throw everything in the trunk.”

But that night, after tossing the kit back in the trunk of his patrol vehicle, Porter drove off as the bat — which had clung to the garbage bag he had just tossed in the trunk — found its way into the cab of the vehicle.

“I had an [Iowa State Patrol] trooper that was behind me and all of a sudden, the bat got through the trunk and into the car and the damn thing’s flying all over the place as I’m going down the road, swerving,” Porter said. “The trooper gets out because he sees me swerving and is wondering what the hell’s going on. I jump out screaming like a little girl and then he sees that bat in the back window.”

Porter said he’s going to miss the camaraderie in the department when he retires.

“We’ve got a great department … it’s kind of like a big family,” he said. “So I’m going to miss that on a day to day basis.”

What’s next for Porter?

In March, he told The Messenger, he’s going to be spending some time with his family and volunteering as a middle school softball umpire and as a volunteer coach with the Fort Dodge Senior High softball team.

“I enjoy doing that and staying involved in that type of stuff,” he said.

A Dodger through and through, Porter doesn’t plan to leave his hometown anytime soon — or maybe ever.

“This is my home; I’ve grown up here,” he said. “We have our issues just like every other community has their issues, but this is where my family’s from and I can’t really see myself anywhere else. I’m not going anywhere.”

In May, the Fort Dodge Community School District announced that Porter would be hired to serve as the district’s new director of safety and security.

-Messenger file photo

MIA NUZUM, then 6, gets some help from then-Fort Dodge Police Chief Roger Porter in picking out some Christmas gifts for the Fort Dodge Police Association’s Santa Cops event at Target in December 2022.

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