Algona’s Last Call Before Fall event drew a big crowd last Saturday, Sept. 24. The downtown street was filled with booths from businesses, churches, schools, civic organizations, actors and music for one last hooray before the weather starts getting colder and farmers will be to busy in the fields. More photos on page 2. Amy Frankl-Brandt photos

Music filled the air from sisters Deanna Mayer and Mary Jane Keith. Amy Frankl-Brandt photos

Keifer Brandt checks the sound equipment before he and Scott Larsen entertained the crowd with music. Amy Frankl-Brandt photos

And if you got tired you could always take a ride on daddy’s shoulders. Amy Frankl-Brandt photos

FORT DODGE—The Algona High School Scarlet Regiment Marching Band participated in the North Central Marching Band Invitational in Fort Dodge on Saturday, September 24. The band was evaluated by six adjudicators and earned a total score of 77.0 on a 100-point scale. The Scarlet Regiment’s performance earned them first place in Class 3A out of five bands. The Scarlet Regiment’s 2022 show is entitled “Scarlet Vibe.”

LU VERNE—Ashton Collins, of Collins Show Horses, hosted the first annual Horse Fun Show on Saturday, September 17. Ashton helps many students from Humboldt, Algona and the surrounding area cultivate their love for horses by teaching them to ride, helping them prepare for shows, and the county fairs.

Ashton's students range from children as young as six to adults. There were 30 riders at the horse fun show on Saturday which included a wide range of events.

BRITT—The West Hancock Ambulance Service (WHAS), based in Britt, recently accepted a contribution from the NEW Cooperative Foundation totaling $1,000. The funds will be used to purchase repeaters for the ambulance service’s portable radios. The project also received support from the Land O’Lakes Foundation, which provided matching funds totaling $1,000.

The Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office is honored to announce the September 1440 Citizen of the Month is DeeAnn Bierstedt of  Fenton. DeeAnn was nominated for her lifelong commitment to demonstrating a positive attitude toward supporting our area youth. She has been active in numerous 4-H activities from judging local achievement shows all the way to state involvement within 4-H. She has served as secretary for Kossuth 4-H groups for many years.

ST. BENEDICT—The Kossuth County Historical Society held their cemetery walk in St. Benedict this year on Sept. 14.

Some of the Bishop Garrigan football team members riding in the homecoming parade Friday afternoon were from left: Connor Davis, Ben Greteman, Gavin Menke, Keaton Helleseth, Matthew Kollasch, Nate Bronk, Benji Trainer and Sam Plathe. Kim Wegener photo

Cheerleaders sharing a laugh during the parade are from left: Savannah Waechter, Avery Berte, Emma Bacha, Zoey Von Bank, Ava Kemna, Ellie Rosenmeyer, Ella Schaaf and Ava Hough. Kim Wegener photo

Top left photo: Kindergarten Bulldog heroes are from left: Lily Wilson, Jax Faust, Nevaeh Hagedorn, Jaxon Godfrey, Noah Waltman and Aaron Miller.

Top right photo: First grade Bulldog heroes are from left: Harper Bauer, Zion Whitley, Brantley Leiting, Leo Henn and Avery Fuerstenau.

ALGONA—More than 200 area 3rd grade students attended the Kossuth County Progressive Agriculture Farm Safety Day at the Kossuth County Fairgrounds on September 8.

By Joanne Roepke Bode

Kossuth Farmers Market

In the fall, everything gets sweeter. The long sunsets at dusk become sweeter, because we know the shorter and darker days of winter are coming. The kale leaves become sweeter, due to the cooler weather. They will be at their best after the first frost! And, of course, the squash gets sweeter. Once these are ripe, the sweet aroma of a baking squash is a welcome one.

By Kim Wegener

Features Writer

LIVERMORE—Their focus is on thanking veterans for their service. They call themselves “The Support Our Veterans Ride Team” and on Saturday, October 8 the group will host the first ever Support Our Veterans Ride.

The ride for all vehicles will begin at the Livermore American Legion Post 415. Sign-up will be from 10 to 11 a.m. with kickstands up at 11:15 a.m.

Lifeserve Blood Drives

There will be two days of LifeServe blood drives in Algona the first week of October both at the First United Methodist Church.

On Monday, October 3, hours will be from 12:30-5:30 p.m. On Tuesday, October 4, hours will be from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.  Appointments can be made at lifeservebloodcenter.org, 800-287-4903 or text lifeserve to 999-777.

Support Veterans

KOSSUTH COUNTY—Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has commented on the Iowa crop progress and condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November.