Kay Kaiser holds her newborn daughter, Huxley Ann, and her 7-year-old son, Quinten, after Huxley was born on Jan. 3 at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona. Huxley is the first child born in Kossuth County in 2020.
Joe and Vicki Kaiser were all smiles as watched their newborn granddaughter sleep in her mother's arms. "They are both okay," said Joe. "Grandkids are great to have around."
Read more in the Jan. 9 Kossuth County Advance.

The deadline to submit grant applications to the Kossuth County Foundation for its 2020 grant cycle is 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 15.
Grants are awarded to projects in the areas of art and culture, community betterment, education, environment, health, historic preservation and human services.
Get all the details in the Jan. 9 Kossuth County Advance.

The Bishop Garrigan Dance Team earned first place for its Class I kick routine and second place for its Class III pom routine at the 2019-20 Iowa State Dance team championships in Des Moines Dec. 5-6.
The two days of competition hosted more than %,000 participants from 254 high schools and 24 Iowa college dance teams. It is the largest high school dance team competition in the U.S.
Read more about it in the Jan. 9 Advance.

Two years ago, Bishop Garrigan instructors Rob Meister, Erin Miller and Stephany Plathe were among several teachers to participate in a mental health first aid class through Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency. They believed it would benefit the entire Bishop Garrigan staff.
A mental health first aid class took place Dec. 4 for all Bishop Garrigan teachers.
Read the complete story in the Jan. 2 Advance.

Algona Mayor Rick Murphy has made it clear that he is committed to developing a strategic plan with long-term goals to continue helping Algona prosper.
"I want to increase communicaiton between city hall and the citizens of Algona," he said. A question and answer column is already being implemented with the Kossuth County Advance.
Read more in the Jan. 2 Advance.

Check out the year in review in the Jan. 2 Kossuth County Advance. This week, we feature May through December of 2019.

Teachers in the Lu Verne Community School District found some success changing to a new literacy curriculumn last year so why not change to a new math curriculum this year?
"We have been using Everyday Math for a few years now," said Jon Hueser, superintendent and principal, "We found out that Everyday Math had holes in it to the core standards. As a staff, we felt like it was time to move and go toward a new math program."

Democratic presidential candidate and Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar made a scheduled campaign stop at Miller's Sports Bar and Gril in Algona on Friday, Dec. 27.
The stop was the penultimate of Klobuchar's 99-county tour of Iowa, a feat she considered common due to her history of campaigning. Klobuchar offered a perspective on President Donald Trump and talked about how she's run her campaign.
Read the complete story in the Jan. 2 Kossuth County Advance.

Sometime in 2020, the Bishop Garrigan School chapel will open.
"It will provide a wonderful environment for a lot of the faith activities that we do," said Lynn Miller, Bishop Garrigan school president. "I think the environment will enhance how we do things."
Read more about it in the Jan. 2 Advance.

This week we usher in the year 2020. Wow.
When I was a kid, there was a cartoon that took place in the year 2020. It was incredibly futuristic with laser guns, hover cars and all the usual high-tech elements of good science fiction.
Read the pastor's column in the Jan. 2 Kossuth County Advance.

Stress has become a concern in agriculture.
During the recent 2020 Farm Bill Decisions program in Titonka, the topic was discussed with Iowa farmland owners and operators.
Read more in the Jan. 2 Kossuth County Advance.

Youth in the Titonka Valley Indians 4-H Club were not only purchasing gifts for family members, they also spent time buying them for two families the members adopted during the holiday season.
"We want to give back to the community," said Ronda Gray, who along with Pam Morris co-lead the Titonka Valley Indians. "It also teaches the kids about citizenship and leadership."
Read more in the Jan. 2 Kossuth County Advance.

A $500,000 pledge from the Donald R. Tietz Charitable Foundation helped jump-start fundraising for a $1.2 million project to install a new turf field for the Algona Community School District.
Read the rest of the story in the Dec. 26 Advance.

One-hundred-three-year-old Ruth Stephens learned you're never too old to receive a piece of chocolate from Mrs. Claus and a Christmas gift from an elf.
"I love chocolate," Stephens said.
Read the complete story in the Dec. 26 Kossuth County Advance.

First section of a series
Jan. 3
Board proposes increase in elected officials salaries.
Developing a warrior code with sixth-grade students.
Medicaid health plans impact hospital reimbursements.
Review the important events of 2019 in the Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 editions of the Kossuth County Advance.