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

Mrs. Robert Kain (top, left) heard about Santa Apples at a cake decorating workshop, and she was able to put that experience to use this holiday season. She helped members  of Mrs. Alan Asa’s first grade class at Lucia Wallace school make their own two-colored frosting Santas atop apples.

When you work with words every day, they tend to be important — much like a mechanic’s tools or a farmer’s machinery. Every industry has its jargon, and the publishing industry is no different. Those outside of our industry may write off these distinctions as simple semantics or splitting hairs, but they are meaningful — and distinct.

If you live anywhere in the Upper Midwest, particularly with our recent blizzard, you can understand the value of a handmade quilt.

Quilting is the subject of a wonderful book, The Farmer’s Wife: Homestead Medallion Quilt, by Laurie Aaron Hird of Shullsburg, Wis. The book, one of a series, was inspired by Ada Melville Shaw, whose own story is both intriguing and inspiring.

I find myself once again in a bit of a time-warp muddle. I’m writing this a few days before I wing my way to California to spend Christmas with daughter Amy, her husband, Dave, their children Dylan and Molly, son Wade, his wife, Jackie, and yet-to-make-first-his-public-appearance, Baby MacDonald. His debut is to be in January. I hope you now have the cast of characters straight. There will be a pop quiz shortly ago.