AMES—Nine Algona students were recently selected for participation in the 36th annual Opus Honor Choir Festival. More than 2,100 students were nominated by their directors for 720 positions in the four Opus Honor Choirs. Selections were made by means of a recorded audition.

Photo above and at left: The Kossuth County C.A.R.E. Team hosted the Algona Area Chamber Coffee at the Loving Hands Nursery located in the First United Methodist Church on Friday, Sept. 16. Children between two weeks and five-years-old can attend for free when their parents have errands to run or just need a break. For information and hours call 507-213-1320 or email lovinghandsnursery@outlook.com.

ALGONA—The Tietz Entrepreneurial Center at Iowa Lakes Community College awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Jordynn Garrison for the business idea she pitched at the 2021 Summer Entrepreneurial Experience program.

DES MOINES—Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Brent Johnson and Vice President Joe Heinrich honored 351 Iowa farm families with Century or Heritage Farm designations at the Iowa State Fair this summer.

The Merlin E. Walker family farm in Kossuth County was honored as a century farm.

The program celebrates farms that have been owned by the same families for 100 and 150 years, respectively.

ALGONA—Building assignments for board members were assigned to Andrea Vinci for Bertha Godfrey, Dr. Owen for high school, Tom Nugent for high school, Jay Limbaugh for Bryant, Todd Louwagie for Lucia Wallace, Gloria Bartelt for middle school and Rodney Davis for middle school during the Board of Directors of the Algona Community School District meeting on October 10.

The results of Iowa’s annual spring spotlight survey indicate the population has slightly increased over the last couple years, said Jace Elliott, deer research specialist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), who coordinates the project.

ALGONA—The Algona FFA Chapter’s annual fruit, cheese, and sausage fundraiser is underway. Interested persons can contact an Algona FFA member or Mrs. Becker, agriculture instructor/FFA advisor at 515.295.7207 ext. 277 or bbecker@algona.k12.ia.us. The fundraiser ends Wednesday, November 2.

DES MOINES—Iowa’s 2022 pheasant season is expected to be another good one when more than 60,000 plus blaze orange clad hunters take to the fields on October 29.

The annual August roadside survey found Iowa’s statewide pheasant population to be essentially unchanged from 2021 at slightly under 20 birds per 30-mile route.

DES MOINES— Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced that Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is accepting applications for water quality demonstration projects. Iowa has a long and well-established track record of utilizing demonstration projects to spur the development of new or improved conservation practices that are helping to protect water quality.

DES MOINES—The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will again offer its crop insurance discount program for cover crops this year. The program offers farmers and landowners who plant fall cover crops, like rye and oats, the opportunity to apply for a $5 per acre discount on their spring crop insurance premiums. The sign up for the program will begin on December 1.

By Kim Wegener

Features Writer

ALGONA—Are you looking for a one of a kind gift for that hard to buy for person or just wanting to find some new useful or decorative items for your own home?

There will be 100 crafters and vendors showcasing their creations at the 30th Annual Algona Autumnfest Craft and Vendor Show on Saturday, October 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Algona High School Commons and Gym and at the Algona Middle School Commons.

The Brushy Creek Honor Flight Committee is looking for veterans who have served in the Armed Forces between Dec. 7, 1941, and April 30, 1975. Any veteran who was discharged under honorable conditions and who has served within these dates is eligible to participate in the next Honor Flight, May 10, 2023, or later in the fall.

Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge announces the auto tour route will be open from Saturday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 16, in celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week. The Refuge pools have produced a tremendous amount of food this year which is attracting thousands of ducks, geese and swans.

The water to camping sites and the restrooms will be shut off on Friday, Oct. 14 for the season. This includes the campgrounds at Smith Lake and Siems Park.

The Kossuth County Conservation Board campgrounds have closed for the season on Monday, Oct. 3. This includes the campgrounds at Smith Lake, Siems Park and Burt Lake Park. All park areas will still be open for day use between the hours of 6 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

Local residents graduate from BVU

STORM LAKE— Five area residents were among the 2022 summer graduates at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake.

Algona: Abbey Thul, bachelor of arts degree in human services.

Corwith: Kari Rubel, bachelor of arts degree in accounting and business.

Lakota: Lauryn Hershey, bachelor of arts in business (financial decision making track).