WHITTEMORE — Despite battling a rare form of kidney cancer, Royce said he felt “blessed” while standing in front of St. Michael’s Parish Center on Sunday morning talking and meeting with family and friends.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “It really makes you appreciated the small town. Everyone cares for each other and rallies together to help each other.”

WEST BEND — A single vehicle rollover accident claimed the life of Hunter J. Origer, 17, of West Bend, on Wednesday, April 5.
“Hunter was a student with a lot of potential,” said West Bend-Mallard School District Superintendent Amanda Schmidt on Thursday morning. “He was kind to everyone that he met.”

50th anniversary
 
Ed and Judy Helmers were married on April 1, 1967 and will be celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Their family, including Justin, Elizabeth, Kasjen, Jennetta and Aiden, are encouraging family and friends to give them well wishes. 

50th anniversary
Lamont & Judy Junkermeier were married on April 7, 1967 and will be celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. An open house is being held in their honor on Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to Noon at the Buffalo Creek Activity Center in the Titonka School. They have requested no presents. Family and friends are also encouraged to shower them with cards to help them celebrate. Cards and well wishes will reach them at 2105 330th Street, Titonka, IA 50480.

85th birthday
Irene Rosenstiel was born on April 10, 1932 and will be celebrating her 85th birthday this year. Her family, including her five children, eight grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild due in May, are encouraging family and friends to shower her with cards. Cards and well wishes will reach her at Westview Care Center, 445-8th Avenue Southwest, Room 35, Britt, IA 50423.

90th birthday
Bill Hellman was born on April 6, 1927 and will be celebrating his 90th birthday this year. 
Family and friends are encouraged to shower him with cards to help him celebrate. 
Cards and well wishes will reach him at 333 West Ramsey Street, Bancroft, IA 50517.

Charlie Joshua Olsen
Taylor Olsen and Jessica Springer of Cylinder are the proud parents of a baby boy, Charlie Joshua, born Wednesday, March 22, at Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg. Charlie weighed 8 pounds, 10.5 ounces and was 24 inches long at birth. 
 
Megan Cassandra Reimers

90th birthday

90th birthday
Mary Jane (McWhorter) Collett was born on March 15, 1927 and celebrated her 90th birthday this year. Her children hosted an open house for her on Sunday, March 12 at the MorningStar Senior Living Center in Wheat Ridge, Colo. A card shower is also being held in her honor. Cards and well wishes will reach her at 10100 West 38th Avenue, Suite 212, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.

50th anniversary
Eugene and Anna Mae Weir were married on March 28, 1967 and will be celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Family and friends are encouraged to shower them with cards and congratulations wishes to help them celebrate. Cards will reach them at 3343 350th Avenue, Ruthven, IA 51358. 

60th anniversary
Melvin and Shirley Ostwald were married on March 24, 1957 and will be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. Family and friends are encouraged to shower them with cards to help them celebrate. Cards and well wishes will reach them at P.O. Box 66, Whittemore, IA 50598.
 

50th anniversary
James and Maxine Haas were married on March 23, 1967 and will be celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Their family, including Paula (Troy), Allison, Colton and Jaydon Nichols of Syracuse, Neb., and Colleen (Jay), Emma and Sam Johnson of Faribault, Minn., are encouraging family and friends to shower them with cards to help them celebrate. Cards and well wishes will reach them at 2321 Highway 18 East, Algona, IA 50511.

Bella Marie Hellman

Many say that information is knowledge. Those attending last week’s Ag Education Day in Emmetsburg soaked in all the information they could from agronomists, an economist, a climatologist and a person who discussed generational differences in the workplace.

Algona High School students are not in Kansas anymore.  Drama students are getting ready to perform in the upcoming Wizard of Oz musical on March 31 and April 1 at 7 p.m. at the Ed and Betty Wilcox Performing Arts Center. 
Rachel Zuetlau, an English and language arts teacher at AHS, is directing the musical with the help of Jamie Kelley, AHS vocal music instructor and the production’s music director.