With the turn of the new year and a twirl of a new decade, it seems fitting to turn over a few new leaves. People write resolutions in January, maybe embark on their ambitions, yet only a fraction come to fruition.
The Fenton Public Library is here for you to reconnect with those resolutions throughout the year. Our adult programming theme for 2020 is Health and Wellness – connecting body, mind and soul.
Read the complete column in the Jan. 16 Kossuth County Advance.

As the New Year is here, people are often inclined to make New Year's resolutions. Two of the most popular resolutions year after year are to lose weight and get in shape.
One way to lose weight is to change your diet.
Read all about diet and exercise options in the Jan. 16 Kossuth County Advance.

Lori Walton began working as the director of Algona Public Library Jan. 6, taking interim director Sheila Foxhoven's place.

For the next few weeks, until Ash Wednesday, the church celebrates the season of Epiphany. The season of Epiphany has a lot to do with teaching us that Jesus is God. For this reason, the Gospel lessons on Sundays feature many miracles of Jesus.
As we hear of many of the miracles of Jesus this Epiphany, however, it is important that we remember the reason why Jesus performed them. In other words, we must remember that God the father did not send Jesus to earth to perform miracles.

One person was killed after an accident on U.S. Highway 18 between Sexton and Wesley Jan. 3.
According to a Kossuth County Sheriff's report, Linda Kay Bronson lost traction, swerved and drove into the westbound lane where her vehicle struck another driven by Merrill Borman of Whittemore. Bronson later died in the hospital.
Read more about the storm in the Jan. 9 Kossuth County Advance.

Lynn Kueck served his final day as mayor of Algona on New Year's Eve, ending more than two decades in that role.
"I said, 'I've got to step aside,'" Kueck explained of the decision he made in mid-2019.
Read more in the Jan. 9 Advance.

Kossuth County elected officials will receive pay raises ranging from 4 to 5 percent in 2020.
The new salaries for Kossuth County officials will be $38,006 for supervisors, $99,472 for the attorney, $71,718 for the auditor, $68,140 for the recorder, $88,700 for the sheriff and $68,652 for the treasurer. The supervisors approved the salary increases unanimously.
Read more about it in the Jan. 9 Kossuth County Advance.

State Rep. Tedd Gassman begins his last session in the Iowa Legislature next week. He is not seeking re-election in the fall but looks forward to the work ahead.
Gassman, along with fellow lawmakers Rep. Ted Baxter and Sen. Dennis Guth, will begin the 2020 legislative session Jan. 13. All three have bills they will try to push through this year.
Read more in the Jan. 9 Kossuth County Advance.

It is January in Iowa, and snow is a fact of life. Some people love snow; some people hate snow, but we all have to deal with the snow when it comes.
There are two types of snow: Snow that falls on public property, and snow that falls on private property. For the snow that falls on public property, it is the responsibility of the city of Algona Department of Public Works to push the snow from the traveled portions of streets and alleys and then salt or sand as needed for safety.

Before I finally agreed with God about my call to ministry, I taught eighth grade mathematics for Des Moines Public Schools. Each year we would receive students from other countries who were unfamiliar with our customs.
One year, a teenage girl from Somalia came to be one of my students. We were not sure of her age or her education level. I do remember that she was quite intelligent, learned quickly and had a beautiful personality.

Two Kossuth County road projects, with an estimated cost of almost $2 million, will be finished over the summer.
The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors amended a 28E agreement for a bridge replacement five miles north of Highway 18 on County Road P30. The estimated cost is $400,000.
Get all the news from the supervisors' meeting in the Jan. 9 Kossuth County Advance.

Those attending An Elegant Event wedding and special events show on Sunday were funneled through the Bancroft Summit Center to see how the facility could be set up for different events.
"We have this great center that has been renovated," said Ellengray Kennedy, a business coach, wellness consultant and owner of Spa Dee Dah and Bancroft Boutique. "It is a great place for wedding or any family event or community event."

The move toward a countywide EMS system hit the top of the list during a strategic planning session for the city of Algona.
"Our EMS system is in crisis," said Curt Wiseman, Algona city administrator.
Get more news from the session in the Jan. 9 Advance.

Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer was at Water's Edge Nature Center north of Algona on Friday, Jan. 3. He spoke to voters, asking for their caucus support on Monday, Feb. 3.
Steyer expressed an anti-corporate, pro-democracy sentiment, suggesting citizens should have an opportunity to vote on the laws they want enacted.
Read more in the Jan. 9 Kossuth County Advance.

A planned development in Eastland Heights, and possibly a Good Samaritan - Algona project, can proceed after the Algona City Council adopted an ordinance to provide zoning overlay to promote flexible development.
Council members unanimously appoved the final reading at the Jan. 6 meeting in city hall.
Get all the news from the council meeting in the Jan. 9 Advance.