How predictable are you?

Habits. Rituals. Routines. We all have them, whether we want to or not. Some of these can be quite good and even healthy. Others, not so much. But are there differences between habits, rituals and routines? The American Psychological Association says yes.

Christian holiday

season traditions

Many adjectives can be used to describe the holiday season, including festive, jolly and religious. Another word that may come to mind is tradition. Traditions factor heavily into holiday celebrations of faith and family.

By Dar Elbert - KRHC CEO

Have you started holiday shopping? Have you stocked up on baking supplies for the Christmas cookies? Gift-buying season is in full swing, as we prepare for the holidays. We all know that shopping locally, whenever possible, helps support our neighborhood retailers and businesses.  

Did you know that shopping locally for your healthcare also makes a difference?

By Molly MacDonald

By Gene Miller

150 Years Ago

Here’s something to look forward to next year. According to this article from 1976, the year 2024 is when this treasure will be dug up and revealed. Does anyone remember what’s inside? If you were there when it was buried we want to know about it. Email news@algona.com.

By Michael Tidemann

The Family Chou 

Lan Samantha Chang 

W.W. Norton & Company 

ISBN 978-0393868074 

$12.88 hardcover (On Amazon) 

Sometimes a book not only suggests, but requires, a second reading. 

By Rev. Dan Jordan - Pastor, Evangelical Free Church, Algona

I Can’t Be Thankful For That

But I can be thankful in that. 

By Barb Smith

City of Algona

We’ve enjoyed a nice, long fall season, but we all know what’s coming. That four-letter word of winter will soon be here: snow! Winter weather can strike at any moment, and the street department is gearing up for it. 

Clearing and removing snow from our city streets is a big job, and getting it done properly requires your help. Here are three key things to keep in mind when the snowflakes begin to fall.

By Randy Evans

 The rationale behind Iowa’s professional licensing laws is simple:
 People in certain professions and skilled occupations are required to hold state licenses to work in Iowa. This is to ensure they meet the minimum standard of training and skill necessary to serve consumers safely and effectively.

By Gene Miller

150 Years Ago

NECK-TIE FESTIVAL AND OYSTER SUPPER -- A Neck-tie Festival and Oyster Supper will be given under the auspices of the ladies of the Congregational Church tomorrow (Thursday) evening, Nov. 20th. A good time is expected.

125 Years Ago

36 years of Tacos for Tots-How it began

On Christmas Eve in 1972 I looked at my wife and said “We have no money to get our 2-year-old boy any presents for Christmas,” and we had very little food to eat. We were both very sad. There was a knock on the door and people came in with food and presents for our little boy. They came in and left. I didn’t find out who they were or even got to thank them. We both had tears running down our faces and we were both super happy.

By Shane Goodman

Well, it’s almost that time of year again. Time for a family photo. Time to update our address lists. Time to summarize anything and everything that’s changed in our lives this year. Time to fool ourselves into thinking someone might actually read it.

Yes, you guessed it; it’s time to send out holiday greeting cards.

By Rev. Walt Reemtsma - Pastor, Burt, Lone Rock Presbyterian churches

IT IS NOT A SCAM

Have you ever been scammed? Scammers are increasingly getting better at their game and unless you are on guard you can easily get sucked into their trap. I almost got caught in the trap a few weeks ago when I received an email stating that there was a package addressed to my house that could not be delivered for lack of a zip code.