By Cheryl Johnson

Business Health Nurse

Keeping your employees healthy not only makes for happier workers, but more productive ones as well.

Research shows that a healthy employee is more likely to show up to work and be productive when they get there. They also tend to be happier in their work each day.

WAUKEE—Bishop Garrigan’s Jazz Choir Viva Voce has been selected to participate in the Iowa Vocal Jazz Championships on Tuesday, March 26 at Waukee High School.

The group will compete in the Class 1A division against Central City, Griswold, Harris-Lake Park, Newman Catholic and Riverside - Oakland. Antonia Rupert is the jazz choir director at Bishop Garrigan.

The Pork in the Pantry program provides funding to the county organizations for pork donations to local food pantries. This is the second year that the lowa Pork Producers Association will reimburse participating counties up to $1,000 for pork products donated to local food pantries.

ALGONA—The Todd Becker Foundation, a nationally recognized high school assembly group, announced that they are bringing their presentation, “Hear the Story. Be Moved.” to Algona High School on April 3. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place in the gymnasium. Doors open at 6:40 p.m., with the event starting at 7 p.m. MST. The night will feature a live concert from the band “All the Noise”, followed by an impactful and life changing message from Keith Becker.

Students at Twin Rivers Elementary are experiencing an early spring with open arms this year, engaging in a variety of activities that blend education with fun. On Monday, February 26, the 2nd through 5th graders spent the afternoon at the Cozy Grover Sugar Shack south of Algona, collecting sap from tapped maple trees.

Arts and Crafts

Dragonflies were the theme for the last kids craft morning at the Burt Public Library.

Lunch & Learn

On March 25 at 12 p.m. Craig Giddings will be doing a presentation on rocks. Check out their Facebook page for more upcoming events.

4th annual seed exchange in Burt

The Algona Active Seniors Center hosted the weekly Algona Area Chamber of Commerce coffee on Friday, March 15. Dan Peterson gave a rundown of all the things the center provides including entertainment programs, educational programs such as navigating Medicare, games and events, Meals on Wheels and more. They also participate in the Iowa Food Boxes program giving away more than 70 boxes of food to people over 60 each month.

By Lola Wolf

AHS Journalism

ALGONA—The journalism class at Algona High School has been working hard putting together the yearbook and senior book for the 2023-2024 school year. The yearbook theme this year is “Bulldog Eras,” based off of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.

By Jaxon Roberts

AHS Journalism

The 2024 archery season has begun! Students involved in archery began practicing a few weeks ago and have already been doing great at their meets. Some AHS students involved in the local archery program are Ethan Riggert, Braxton Dahlhauser, Sam Schutjer, Riley Schechinger and Zoe Nason.