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Ag in South America

During a recent trip to Brazil, Matthew Bormann, St. Joe, has seen the different ways Brazilian farmers operate compared to those in his home state of Iowa.
“The main takeaway is that Brazilian farmers are more willing to adapt to change than an Iowa farmer,” Bormann said. “It is not a knock on Iowa farmers. In Brazil, mainly Mato Grosso, if they see something or research something that makes them better off they just do it.”

County makes payment to CSS

The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors may have made the last payment to County Social Services (CSS) at the April 14 board meeting. The county becomes part of the Northwest Iowa Care Connections system on July 1. The payment to CSS is $327,353 for the fiscal year 2020 second half levy request.

No, you can’t stop breathing for 10 seconds to see if you have the coronavirus

Taking a deep breath in the morning and holding it for 10 seconds means there is no inflammation in your lungs, which means you don’t have coronavirus. Or, you could take a hair dryer and shoot it up your nose and heat it to a certain degree to kill the virus in your nose.

How will businesses change when re-opened?

When businesses open once more in Algona, it may be a slow process for customers to go back to a normal shopping experience.

Iowa Lakes tech 3D prints face shields

ESTHERVILLE—The Iowa Lakes Engineering Technology program is partnering with Rick Ayres, Lakes Marketing and Print; Adam Perry, band director at Sioux Central Schools; and other businesses, individuals, and schools to help combat the shortage of personal protective equipment for health care professionals who are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic in the Iowa Lakes District and throughout northwest Iowa.

Social distancing?

The Algona Public Library has a series of events for children and adults designed to meet the social distancing requirements that are now in place due to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
For more information on events, contact the Algona Public Library at 515-295-5476 or by email at vscrivner@algona.lib.ia.us.
Find the events in the April 23 Advance.

Secure your online video meetings

Miller warns consumers to protect against hackers 
DES MOINES ― Video conferencing has become an essential way to do business and socialize during the COVID-19 pandemic. Iowans, however, should beware of the possibility “Zoom-bombing” and other security breaches while using the technology. 
The FBI and other authorities have received multiple reports of video conferences being disrupted by pornographic and hate images and threatening language. 

Concerned about COVID-19 fraud? Find help at these links

The United States Postal Inspection Service made the following links available for those who might suspect fraud related to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/coronavirus/
 
Federal Trade Commission

FDA approves test-at-home kit for coronavirus

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the first diagnostic test with a home collection option for COVID-19. Specifically, the FDA re-issued the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp) COVID-19 RT-PCR Test to permit testing of samples self-collected by patients at home using LabCorp’s Pixel by LabCorp COVID-19 Test home collection kit.

Record enrollment in farm safety net program

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2020 – Producers signed a record 1.77 million contracts for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2019 crop year, which is more than 107 percent of the total contracts signed compared with a 5-year average. USDA also reminds producers that June 30 is the deadline to enroll in ARC and PLC for the 2020 crop year.

KRHC to offer rapid testing for COVID-19; will be available soon

Kossuth Regional Health is one of 13 health care providers in rural Iowa communities to receive a rapid COVID-19 testing machine from the Iowa Department of Public Health. Training is underway with the new equipment, and KRHC officials hope to have testing available as soon as possible.

Church says ‘hi’ to member with drive-by

Unconventional times can lead to unconventional opportunities to help others. 

Easter joy

As long as I have been in ministry and even before, the celebration of Holy Humor Sunday or Bright Sunday has been part of my Easter observance. This old tradition was practiced in the early centuries of Christianity. It was a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the Sunday following Easter and was observed by the faithful as “days of joy and laughter” with parties and picnics to celebrate Jesus’ defeat of sin and death.

Easter Bunny shows up

The Easter Bunny arrived on the back of an Algona fire truck on Saturday at the Kmart parking lot.
At least 70-75 vehicles, with children inside, drove to see the Easter Bunny and collect suckers, pencils and police badges. The Algona Police Department, Algona Fire Department and Algona Area Chamber of Commerce all helped with the festivities.

Read more in the April 16 Advance.

Bancroft takes steps to grow

Last year, the Iowa Downtown Resource Center visited Bancroft and conducted a walk-around to look at all aspects of the community. Last month, city leaders and other interested parties brainstormed ideas on what the community could expand on or add in the future.

Algona schools continuous learning plan during pandemic

The Algona Community School District has developed a continuous learning plan for students during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

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