Quality Friends

Friends can come in all shapes and sizes, but it seems that we have quality categories for many of them. We have family friends, close friends, distant friends, loyal friends, fast friends and, since 1978, we may have a BFF (Best Friend Forever).  It is popularly expected notion to say, “I married my best friend,” but we may also have bad or disloyal friends to whom the saying goes, “With friends like you, who needs enemies?”

150 Years Ago

Letter to the Editor:

Dear Representative Stone,

I am convinced that there are two types of people in this world — those who like dogs and those who don’t. For most of my life, I belonged in the “those who like dogs” category. Then, for about a year, I was in the “those who don’t like dogs” group. And now I am back in the prior class. At least I think so.

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

May 2023 be filled with good things

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

Flying machines of all sorts were the rage according to this Jan. 21 issue of the Algona Upper Des Moines in 1982. Local daredevils put on a show in the skies for crowds of people to ooh and aah. The photos were from a look back at what had happened during the previous year.

By Shane Goodman

My mother’s 87th birthday would have been Dec. 6. Dates like that make me think about important people in my life and what I learned from them. None of us are perfect, but I am a firm believer that we can learn something from everyone, and our parents should, hopefully, be at the top of our lists.

By Dr. Michael Lampe 

Taking precautions to prevent frostbite

By Molly MacDonald

Since I promised in my last column to report this week on my California Christmas, here goes:

Out of the Past by Gene Miller

150 Years Ago

Delinquent Train - The regular train from Calmar did not arrive last Friday night. Cause why. Snow in the cuts. It was plowed out next day and the train came through as usual.

125 Years Ago

By Rev. Chris Burtnett - Pastor, First Congregational United Church of Christ

Skip the resolutions.  Covenant instead.

By Gene Miller

Shortly before Christmas there was a world movie premiere in Algona. I would imagine most Kossuth County folks heard about it.  The movie was “Silent Night in Algona.”  It is the story of the construction of the famous nativity scene that resides at the Kossuth County fairgrounds.

By Vicki Mallory

Director,  Algona Area

Chamber of Commerce

Happy New Year!   The Algona Area Chamber of Commerce, Algona Area Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC), Kossuth County Economic Development Corporation (KCEDC) and the City of Algona are constantly working together to foster growth among our existing retail business community.  These organizations also work to bring new retail businesses to Algona.

By Shane Goodman

With Christmas over, warmer weather upon us and the snow melting, some people are acting like it’s springtime in Iowa. They are ditching their coats, hats and gloves and seem to be looking for their flip-flops. Hold tight, Iowans. I shouldn’t need to tell you this, but the worst of the winter weather is yet to come. As Bill Murray famously said in “Caddyshack,” “I don’t think the heavy stuff is going to come down for quite a while.”

The angels did say