By Molly Montag, News Correspondent

Officials will likely start the search next month for a school resource officer for the Algona School District.

The Gopher College Rugby club was formed in 1981 and had many successful seasons including winning the All-Iowa tournament in 2012. They disbanded in 2013 when there weren’t enough players to compete. Ideally, the team needs 25 players for regular league with 15 playing at a time on the field. Given the physical demands of the game, it is necessary to change men out frequently. The summer league is 7-on-7.

By Molly Montag, News Correspondent

County-level budget talks continued this week.

The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Jan. 14, reviewed several more funding requests and department budgets as part of its ongoing budgeting workshops. The budgeting process is for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which starts July 1.

The Kossuth County Historical Society held their annual meeting in Whittemore at Pitchers in the dining room on Saturday, Jan. 11. Attendants enjoyed a buffet meal and watched a film of the 1978 Whittemore Cenntennial parade. Linda Farrell gave a talk about the history of Whittemore and Stuart Simonson talked about the plans they have for a Whittemore museum to preserve and protect artifacts and information for future generations. The planning is still in the infant stages.

Shared by The West Bend Journal

Abigail Fickbohm and Ashlyn Waldera were the two recipients of the American Legion Scholarships that were announced in May 2024 during the Memorial Day program in Whittemore. The $500 scholarship checks are then presented prior to the recipients second semester of college.

The Grand Prize winners for the Bancroft Chamber Bucks Wrap it Up event were Allison Delperdang, pictured above, and Bill Lofstrom, pictured below. They each received $150 in Bancroft Chamber Bucks. Submitted photo.

WASHINGTON – Corn production declined, while soybean production increased from last year, according to the 2024 Crop Production Annual Summary released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Seventeen Algona Middle Scholars were accepted into ICDA District Honor Choir to be held in Algona. This district honor choir features fifth and sixth grade students from around the area. The  Honor Choir director is Jolene Shaefer from Storm Lake. Their performance will take place in the Wilcox PAC on Tuesday Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.

Marisa Merkel is the 3-8 vocal music instructor for Algona Community Schools.

Each year blood donors help to save millions of lives. Individuals who routinely donate blood may not give it a second thought, but this selfless gesture ensures accident victims and others get a helping hand when they need it most. Recipients of blood donations are there for the culmination of a process that begins with generous donors, who may be curious about exactly what happens to their blood after it's collected.

By Suzanne Slack, Kendra Meyer

ISU Extension & Outreach

Topics include viticulture, enology, fruits and vegetable production and more

AMES, Iowa – Registration is open for the 2025 Iowa Specialty Producers Conference, Feb. 11-12, at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. Session topics include viticulture, enology, fruits, vegetables, specialty crops and business and marketing.