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Courthouse offices still conducting business, but there are operational changes

ALGONA — With concerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus in Kossuth County, the courthouse and its employees have changed the way they will conduct county business during the pandemic.
 
Treasurer’s Office

Property taxes still due March 31, but...

ALGONA — The Kossuth County treasurer’s office can accept property tax payments through April 16 with no penalty according to a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds on March 19, 2020
“The property taxes are still delinquent on April 1, but no penalty will be assessed until April 17,” said Nick Rahm, Kossuth County treasurer.
“That is what is going on right now. Of course it is subject to change.”

Chamber helps with babysitter options

ALGONA — Many read or hear the worst of the coronavirus, but many have also talked about the outpouring of community members who have risen to the occasion to help their neighbors.
The Algona Area Chamber of Commerce is one of those entities that have reached out to community members for support. In this case, they are taking names for those who are interested in childcare, day care and babysitting services.

Algona airport hangar ready for construction

ALGONA — A three-stall extension at the Algona Municipal Airport moves the city of Algona closer to completion of a 10-hangar project that would house 10 airplanes.
Jim Kohlhaas, Algona Municipal Airport manager, said the expansion is good for the airport because more aircraft can fly here.
“It will keep the airport active and busy,” he said.
He said the extension also adds more room and larger doors for the planes.

Can battery tech integrate into AMU system?

ALGONA — Collaboration with Electric Power Research Center (EPRC) will determine if Algona Municipal Utilities (AMU) can integrate battery technology into its current system software for distributed solar or wind energy projects.

ACSD sees more surplus funds

ALGONA — Last year, the Algona Community School District (ACSD) operated with a surplus of $61,000. Superintendent Joe Carter said that surplus could be higher this year.
“We reduced expenditures about $430,000 during the 2018-19 school year. That is a huge adjustment that was made,” Carter said. “The second thing we did was the early retirement program passed this fall.”

North Union offers free meals for kids

ARMSTRONG—North Union Community School District is offering free meals for children ages 1-19 during the mandated school closure.
Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, according to a press release from the school district. It said there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

Hope for the best, plan for the worst

It has been a heck of a few weeks hasn’t it? All at once, the world changed. Some things that were just unimaginable 14 days ago are now standard operating procedure (SOP). I could never imagine a scenario where in-person worship would be suspended for the foreseeable future.

AAUW celebrates 100 years of 19th Amendment

ALGONA—Women donning hats and gloves, a dessert from the 1920s, a Readers’ Theater depicting women who fought for the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, and plans for Equal Pay Day were all part of AAUW-Algona Branch’s March meeting at the UCC Church Fellowship Hall on Thursday, March 12.
The branch honored women who worked hard for the right to vote and are still working to make the lives of women and girls better.

Swea City plans big parade for 125

SWEA CITY — The parade for the 125th anniversary of Swea City could be one of the larger ones the community has seen.
“Over the years there has been a steady decline of parade entries,” said Nina Harbaugh, one of the organizers of the event. “This one will be larger than normal years, partly because of classes for the all-school reunion are designing floats. We’re hoping to get closer to 100 for the anniversary.”
The Swea City 125-year celebration will be held June 26-28.

COVID-19 Local Updates

For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Iowa
For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the IDPH webpage at https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus or call the local Kossuth County Public Health hotline at 515-295-4451.
 
Kossuth County operations center requests volunteers

Schools prep meals for homebound kids

ALGONA — Students may not be in class in the Algona Community School District, but staff will make sure that the students and their families are fed during the school closure.
“This is important because they are our kids, our families. Our families are in need,” said Merrill Mueller, ACSD transportation director. “We, as a district, have to do whatever is possible to lessen the burden on the families.”

Fundraiser for Titonka community center

TITONKA—Buffalo Creek Activity Center hosted its second annual pancake supper, and effort to assist with fixing up the former school building turned community center.
Behind the scenes of the Saturday, March 14, fundraiser were Mayor Aaron Boyken; council members Mike Fredrickson, Gail Hamilton, Allie Janssen, David LaGue and Barbara Zwiefel; and city clerk Karen Hamilton.

Burt hosts great steak at cattlemen's banquet

Burt hosts great steak and cattle industry discussion
BURT — When the Kossuth County Cattlemen’s Association has its annual steak supper, it was not just about the food. There are also awards handed out and an update provided on the cattle industry.
“We get together and there is a lot of socializing,” said J.D. Morris, president of the Kossuth County Cattlemen’s Association. “It is just a chance for some people to meet people they haven’t see for a few months.”

Coincidences? Nah, it was God

About a month ago, my wife and I were able to spend a week in Yuma, Ariz., during which we spent time with some dear longtime friends. The week was packed with times of reminiscing and seeing the sites of the area. During our time there, I was reminded on three occasions of the fact that God is always with us and looking out for us.

COVID-19 Scare Can't Stop Love

While the COVID-19 coronavirus has resulted in the elimination of visits to health care facilities, 49-year-old Gary Laubenthal decided it wasn’t going to stop him from his every-day visit to the residence of his 89-year-old mother, Marguerite Laubenthal, a resident at the Good Samaritan facility in Algona.

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