ALGONA—As a sophomore at Algona High School, Seth Walker has already accomplished a lot in choir and drama and he’s just getting started. His most recent awards have been Outstanding Male Soloist at the Emmetsburg Extravaganza and Outstanding Male Soloist at the Spirit Lake “Shake the Lakes” Jazz and Show Choir competition where his jazz group Scarlet Midnight also won 1st place in the Class 3A Jazz Choir. The group sings everything from ballads to upbeat jazz.

By Maddie Hilbert

AHS Journalism

Algona’s speech team has been very successful this year, and they had another good competition on Saturday, March 12. This competition was at Woodbury Central in Moville. This was an individual competition and everyone competing from AHS got Division I’s. 

Even though the Kossuth County Farm Bureau’s Shopping Cart Race event was cancelled this year, $2,250 was still raised to benefit the Kossuth County Food Pantry in Algona and North Kossuth Food Pantry in Swea City.  

Businesses that gave donations were Corn & Soybean Growers, Northwest Bank, Iowa State Bank, Farm Credit Services of America, SteierAg, Tom Eischen Sales, Algona High FFA Chapter and Hy-Vee.

Recognition was given to several individuals for their contributions to the West Bend-Mallard High School FFA program during a banquet on March 21 at the school. Photos : Hawkeye FFA Mother of the Year presented to Twila Massner front, from left: Abby Gehrt, Massner and Lexi Brown. Back: Ethan Zaugg, Tyler Banwart, Sam Fehr, Dawson Knobloch and Max Fehr; Hawkeye FFA Honorary Chapter Member of the Year was Amy Warrington.

Riders will pedal through on July 27

Organizers of the Register’s Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) announced that Algona will be a pass-through stop on the route this summer. Bicyclists will pedal from Emmetsburg to Mason City on July 27, with riders expected in Algona between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

By Morganne Cassens

AHS Journalism

Superstars is an event held at Algona High School. It allows students to get involved and play games, competing with their classmates against other grades. Each grade wore a different color to represent their grade. Seniors wore black, juniors wore red, sophomores wore blue and freshmen wore white. 

Kindergarten Bulldog Heroes pictured above are: Ava Heyer, Joey Hart, Duncan Zeece, Everette Rahm and Kennedy Johnson

First grade Bulldog Heroes pictured below are: Henry Reynolds, Watson Potts, Blake Doocy, Trinity Thompson, Corvo Hanson and Hayden Tomason.

Second grade Bulldog Heroes are in front: Brynlee Bierle and Michelle Phillips. Back: Zach Bronson, Aiden Enos, Mikah Jordan and Braxton Lenz. Submitted photos

By Olivia Foertsch

AHS Journalism

Algona High School's Academic Night of Excellence was held on March 14 at 6:30 p.m. This is a night that recognizes students for their various academic achievements at AHS. 

By Kiley Pearson

AHS Journalism

In baking class with Mrs. Louwagie, the class has been learning to bake cakes. The first sweet treat that was made by the class was an angel food cake. The class worked really hard and they all turned out great. Morganne Cassens stated, “Baking class is pretty fun, I look forward to it.”

Students achieving NCC All Conference Academic honors are Jackson Cecil, Stren Crouch, Harsh Modi, Jordan Buscher, Hunter Thilges and Wren Menke. Students must have a 26+ACT score and  a 3.5 cumulative GPA to qualify. Submitted photo

By Jaden Zwiefel 

AHS Journalism

The college fair was held on March 3 in the Algona High gym. There were 47 colleges and the military present, representing their organizations. The schools ranged from two year schools, like Iowa Lakes, all the way to universities, like Iowa State University, to some out of state colleges, like South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City, S.D. The farthest representative drove more than six hours. 

The Kossuth County C.A.R.E. Team hosted the Algona Area Chamber of Commerce coffee last Friday, March 25. Ally Klee was welcomed as the new C.A.R.E. Team director. This Friday the Chamber coffee will be held at Cafe Boutique on Hwy. 18 at 9:30 a.m. Submitted photo

ALGONA—Lots of laughter from fierce competitors at the first ever family dodgeball night sponsored by the Algona Park and Recreation Department on March 21. The hour long event attended by approximately 50 people of all ages was held in the gymnasium at Algona High School. 

DES MOINES—The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has announced an order cancelling all live bird exhibitions at fairs and other gatherings of birds due to highly pathogenic Avian influenza (HPAI). The order also prohibits live birds from being sold or transferred at livestock auction markets, swap meets and exotic sales. 

DES MOINES—Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision to hear the case against California’s Proposition 12 filed by the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Pork Producers Council. 

California’s Proposition 12 prohibits the sale of pork from hogs born to sows– anywhere in the world – not raised according to the state’s highly prescriptive housing standards.