Stories

Members of the Webster County Drug Task Force met with the Club and discussed their activities in three broad categories, Drugs, Cyber Crime, and Awareness for Adults with children. For obvious reasons the names of the presenters are not listed here.

Drugs:

• Fort Dodge has about 100 private and public cameras around the community and the goal is to raise #150,000 to match a grant to purchase many more.  Placed in key neighborhoods would significantly aid in the fight against drug transactions and shootings.  Some cameras would be placed in the small communities the County Sheriff patrols.  Crime Stoppers and the Community Foundation are involved in this effort;
• Since July 2024 the following statistics are reported:
  • 117 drug related cases have been handled;
  • 23 pounds of meth has been confiscated;
  • 25 firearms have been confiscated;
  • $26,000 in cash has been seized;
  • 8 Federal Indictments have been achieved;
• What has been the impact of the federal effort to stem the flow of drugs through our southern border?  The effort is achieving results, but at this time there are so many drugs in the system that local manufacture has not resumed.  However, the process of “stretching” Fentenal has begun;

Cyber Crime:

• The Task Force has purchased specialized items and software to crack security measures with phones, laptops, etc.  The cost of the service is $30,000 per year.  But, the price is well worth it as being able to crack a variety of cell phone models/brands (many foreign) has yielded significant help in solving other crimes.  The system has dealt with over 400 cases last year.  

Adults with Young Children:

• As growing concern is young children being solicited in a wide variety of cyber crimes without their parental units being aware.  To combat this growth the following are suggested:
  • Know the passwords your children use;
  • Use tracking software to permit you to view where your kids are;
  • Know their friends;
  • Check their phones regularly for unusual apps (some are loaded without any knowledge of the kids);
  • Check the gamming apps (discourage if possible);
  • Do the best you can because this is an exploding problem area.

Rotarian Ludwig was pictured on the cover of the Friday “Messenger” as here ICCC office announced that annual Hall of Fame nominations are being accepted.

Rotarian Meyer appeared on the cover of the “Messenger”  as an  article outlined the success of her Mental Health Bill as it passed the House and will now move to the Senate.  Contact Ann if you have questions.

She was also pictuted on Thursday as she voiced support for Community Colleges to issue 4-year degrees in workforce deficit areas.

Rotarian Ulrich appeared on the cover of the “Messenger” as he explained in an accompanying article how proposed legislation would affect job training programs.

Our very own Elizabeth Stanek has been with Linking Families and Communities for 26 years, teaching and coaching prior to that. 

What is Linking Children and Communities?

• Vision: “Happy, Healthy Children”
• Mission: Our mission is to empower parents in raising happy, healthy children by providing families with educational, economic and health support by coordinating services with community resources.
• Focus: Prevention/early intervention with children age 0-5 and their families.
• It has helped with these programs: Halo Sleep Sack Project; preschool tuition assistance; an in-home visitation program providing parenting and child development support; literacy programming; transportation to/from Head Start; and quality improvement supports to childcare providers. By the way, according to the 2025-2026 Fall Early Literacy Screening, 47% of Fort Dodge Community School District kids in kindergarten are below literacy levels.

There is a huge need for childcare in Webster County:

• There are 1.63 school-aged children who need childcare, for every one slot.
• There are 2.29 children ages five and below who need childcare, for every one slot.
• There are 3.47 infants who need childcare, for every one slot. 

Linking Families and Communities is moving the needle through the Sprouts Early Education and Development School: 

• This is currently under construction in the former Becker’s Florist building.
• This will open at the end of June, employing 10-15 staff
• Children will range from six weeks of age to school age.
• It is funded with a grant ($746,292) and private funds for a total project cost of $1.8M. (with Elizabeth and her Board doing all the fundraising themselves, so please send help and money!!)

There is legislation this year that could take away funding for Linking Families and Communities. HF 2712/ SF2462 is an act “relating to early childhood and family services, including the creation of an early childhood and family services system, state childcare assistance for the childcare workforce, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.” Since this is an appropriations bill, it is funnel-proof and is of concern until the legislature ends its session. 

• Mission: Rotary is a service organization comprised of community leaders of various professions dedicated to humanitarian causes locally and throughout the world. Simply put, Rotary is an organization that is out to do "good" in the world. 
• Vision: It is incumbent upon the Fort Dodge Noon Rotary Club and its Board of Directors to be good stewards of available resources.  The club budgets dollars annually.  The budget may fund identified programs.  The club also has a small “Special Fund” available for requests made throughout the year for unbudgeted causes, which the club and Board may want to support. 
• Eligibility for the Special Fund:  Grants must have the support of one or more members of the Fort Dodge Noon Rotary Club. Funds are granted in support of humanitarian causes.  Causes may relate to youth, poverty prevention/intervention, community betterment, health care, human services, and more.  There are many, many good causes.  There are also limited dollars.  Grant awards will not exceed the dollars available in the special fund.   Preference may be given to one-time projects or to programs that are deemed to have sustainability.  For example, grants may be given to a building project to provide some seed money to start an educational program that the schools will fund in the long term.  Collaboration with other funding sources is encouraged.