ALGONA—The City of Algona celebrated its first gift of the splash pad campaign, with a pledge of $25,000 from Erpelding, Voigt and Company, CPAs.

“Erpelding and Voigt is proud to continue their history of being a strong community supporter and we look forward to all the terrific things happening in Central Park and around the community,” said Jeff Knapp, managing partner at Erpelding, Voigt and Company.

ALGONA—Iowa State Bank announced their commitment as a lead donor to the splash pad campaign this week, with a pledge of $100,000 toward the project.

Sally Jameson Bond is an Iowa girl, born and bred. She is the daughter of a WWII and Korean War Veteran father and an artistic mother who loved to write. In 2015, she learned from her husband Joe (who hails from Fort Dodge) that there were prisoner of war camps in Iowa during WWII.

After Sally recovered from her shock (it didn’t take long), she decided she would write a story about one of those camps. And so, she did.

ALGONA—Pilots flying into the Algona Municipal Airport will have a new ride waiting for them. Kemna Auto Center donated a 2008 GMC Acadia to the airport this fall to be utilized as a courtesy vehicle.

This is the fourth vehicle that Kemnas has donated to the airport for this purpose. Area pilots rent the airport hangars and utilize the airport, but it’s not limited to local use.

Robert and Jeanette Buscher of Algona were surprised when John and Sue Fink with Marriage Encounter arrived at Homestead of Algona on November 7 to honor them as the longest married couple in Iowa. The Buschers received a plaque, a dozen roses and a box of chocolates.

The annual trunk or treat community event was held on the streets bordering the First United Methodist Church in Algona on Halloween, October 31. Top trunk or treat winners included first place: Hocus Pocus entry from left: Lisa Rongved, Sheila Baer and Stephanie Rooney.

Second place honors went to the Elf entry by the Fuerstenau and Olmstead families and third place went to Holmes Animal Clinic. Submitted photo

ALGONA—Kossuth Regional Health Center Foundation's Annual Legacy Ball was held on Saturday, November 5 with 225 guests attending the "Tropical Getaway" theme event at the Columbia Events Center in Algona. Officials said the foundation raised a record breaking amount of $91,133 for the endowment fund, with the help of a successful silent auction and a generous group of event sponsors.

Goetz 80th

Sister Janet Goetz will celebrate her 80th birthday on November 20. A card shower is planned. Cards will reach her at 2360 Carter Road, Dubuque, IA 52001.

Bleich 50th

Merle and Susan (Dearchs) Bleich will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

A celebration in their honor will be held on November 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the St. Joseph Parish gym in St. Joseph.

The couple’s two daughters, three sons and 15 grandchildren will host the celebration.

The Bleichs were married on November 23, 1972 at St. Cecelia’s Church in Algona.

Cards will reach them if sent to 1014 Hwy. 169, Bode, IA 50519

Trysta Penning is showing Denise White of Lake Mills a blanket made with love by Grammy’s Blankets at  Wesley’s holiday Sip-n-Shop held at the community center on Nov. 3. Joella Leider photo

BODE—The 5th graders at Twin Rivers have discovered what it would have been like to be part of an ancient civilization. Students have had a taste of the Maya, Aztec and Inca civilizations. Their studies have included social classes, architecture, ancient writings and farming methods. Students enjoyed learning about the types of crops grown in each area, as a result of the successful farming methods each region practiced.

ALGONA—Students in grades K-6th at Bishop Garrigan Schools recently participated in a new fundraiser, Walk and Pray, which was an upbeat walkathon based on prayer and special intentions.

The students raised money by finding donation sponsors. On top of raising money the students also gathered prayer intentions. The goal of the event was to raise $50 per student and $10,000 for the school. The Bishop Garrigan students exceeded that goal by raising more than $14,500.

WAUSAU, WISC.—Perry Dau’s family and friends attended a ribbon cutting for Perry’s Fireside at Nine Mile Forest near Wausau on Saturday, October 22.

A graduate of Algona High School, Dau died at age 59 from kidney cancer on June 9, 2021. Dau was an avid runner and loved the outdoors. His wish was to create an outdoor space for those who went to Nine Mile Forest could use.

Kindergarten Bulldog Heroes are from left: Beckett Wirtz, Graham Kuecker, Walter Schmitt, Lyla Carroll and Aayden Dahlhauser.

First grade Bulldog Heroes are from left: Ava Heyer, Sapphire Jordan, Starr Bell, Everette Rahm and Sadie Berte.

Second grade Bulldog Heroes are from left: Back Row: Emmet Wolter, Kimberly Sankey, Henry Reynolds, Henry Rivas-Torres, Riley Meyer and  Kennedy Klaschen.