The City Council awarded the construction contract for the Nebraska Street Corridor. The project received up to $275,000 in grant funds for storm water management elements included in the plans.

On Tuesday, March 25, Kossuth County Farm Bureau hosted their annual Shopping Cart Race event supporting the Kossuth County Food Pantry. Hy-Vee filled carts with random items and eight teams competed to return those items to where they correctly belong on the shelves. Thank you to all the teams that participated and to the businesses that gave donations in lieu of a team for this great cause. This year $3,850 was collected for Kossuth County Food Pantry.

At the 2025 Midwest Free Community Newspapers Awards Contest the Algona Reminder claimed 13 total awards.

Kathy Arndorfer won second place and Tatum Phelps won third for ad creation.

In addition to their individual wins, the Reminder took first place for:

Best holiday ad - other than christmas - color

Best digital ad design - banner or digital ad

Second place

Best digital ad design - banner or digital ad

The North Central Conference Art Show took place on April 9 at Iowa Central Community College and was hosted by St. Edmond High School. Thirteen Algona High School art students were selected to showcase their work at the Arts and Science Center. The featured students included Reese Taylor, Melani Beria-Rivera, Reagan Haynes, Ryan Haynes, Jessy Brown, Elizabeth Kinsman, Detra Broesder, Izaha Crawmer, Emma Cecil, Mara Davis, Jonas Kiel, Ellie Vaske, and Natalie Johnson.

The annual STEM event, sponsored by the Algona Branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW) took place Tuesday, April 1. The event annually honors eighth grade girls from Algona and Bishop Garrigan schools. These girls, recommended by their school’s math and science teachers, receive certificates for their outstanding work in: science, technology, engineering and/or math (STEM).

ALGONA—Algona Municipal Utilities has received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2024. The recognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA), a trade group representing over 2,000 not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities.

By Molly Montag

News Correspondent

Officials say a fire set in a roadside ditch burned parts of a bridge in southern Kossuth County.

The damage was reported Friday, April 11, to the bridge on 150^th Street east of 70th Avenue  in Garfield Township about six miles east of West Bend.

The Burt Presbyterian Church recently donated $1,500 for supplies used by community liason Marissa Miller. Miller helps individuals referred by local law enforcement offficers, connecting them with needed resources. These may include emergency shelter, personal safety assistance or mental health care. The Presbytery of North Central Iowa also provided grant funding for this project. Submitted photo.

By Molly Montag

News Correspondent

Some immigrants living legally in Algona face an uncertain future after a federal judge temporarily blocked officials from ending an immigration program. Without the court order, they would have faced deportation this month.

By Molly Montag

News Correspondent

The Algona Community School District and has agreed to an agreement with the district’s teachers’ union for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

By Cameron Giddings, RN/ED Coordinator

Kossuth Regional Health Center

April marks Donate Life Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of organ, eye tissue donation. This month-long observance is dedicated to honoring the lives of donors, transplant recipients and their families. It serves as a reminder of the life-saving power of organ donation and the critical need for more registered donors.

The Kossuth County Historical Society (KCHS) hosted its annual popular event, KCHS Antique Roadshow on April 8. More than thirty inquisitive people came to tell and learn more about their treasures. Items included a whatchamacallit which later was identified as a pocket watch key to antique quilts. Glassware, watches, figurines and primitive tools with their stories filled the evening.

Photos below:

A nice crowd enjoyed warm soup on a cold day to support the West Bend Public Library.

Karen and Jim Sewell, Doug Wirtz, Jan Lauck and others enjoy soup and conversation at the Library Soup and Salad Lunch.

Submitted photos.

By Malyn Davis, AHS Journalism

On Saturday, March 29, 24 choir events and 45 band events traveled to Clear Lake to compete in one of the eight district sites for a solo/ensemble contest. Receiving a placement from Division I as best, to Division III as needs improvement, students got great suggestions from performing in front of judges.

By Olivia Thilges, AHS Journalism

On Sunday, March 30, in the Performing Arts Center, the Algona FFA chapter hosted their 78th annual FFA banquet. Many different awards and degrees were presented that night, such as the Greenhand Degree, Chapter Degrees, Blue & Gold Award, Chapter Member Award and many more. After the awards ceremony the Algona FFA hosted a meal and the FFA Alumni Association held an auction.