Editor’s note: This is the second of three parts of the year in review, featuring May-August 2021. Next week will feature September-December.

May 6

Six selected KCA Academic All-Stars

By Brad Hicks

Publisher

ALGONA—Council members Monday night approved giving the city clerk the power to sign a notice of expiration and right of redemption and send it to the owner of an abandoned and nuisance property.

The work is part of the process of the city obtaining the property at 812 S. Moore St. The owner is deceased, and no heirs want the property, City Administrator Jacob Tjaden told the Algona City Council at its regular meeting. 

ALGONA—A water main looping project on Algona’s northwest side took a step closer to reality last week.

The Algona Municipal Utilities Board of Trustees hired Bolton and Menk to design the plan at a cost of $114,000.

By Brad Hicks

Publisher

ALGONA—City council members were told construction of a splash pad in Central Park has more elements to address than originally understood, and it could take more time and money to do the project.

By Brad Hicks

Publisher

KOSSUTH COUNTY—Response is something done after an incident. Kossuth County Emergency Management Director Charissa Mueller and Kossuth County Emergency Medical Services Director Phil Albers did it prior to the arrival of the Dec. 15 weather system that brought high wind and possible tornadoes to the area.

MASON CITY—The United Way of North Central Iowa announced the release of the 2022 Community Impact Funding Letter of Intent for Nonprofit human services programs providing services in the United Way of North Central Iowa Region.  

KOSSUTH COUNTY—The deadline to submit grant applications to the Kossuth County Community Foundation’s 2022 grant cycle is 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15. 

The online grant application can be found on the community foundation’s website at kossuthccf.org.

Grants are awarded to projects within the program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. 

LU VERNE—Mrs. Olson’s fourth grade class at Lu Verne Elementary (CWL) recently studied careers. They started by talking about the different categories of careers in detail including: the health sciences, business services, communication arts, technical sciences, agricultural sciences and human services. 

ALGONA— For anyone who has missed attending community plays in Algona, the newly formed community theatre group, All Call Theatre, has been working hard to bring the first community children’s theatre play in more than 10 years. 

Duck, goose and dove hunters now required to register with HIP

Resident hunting, fishing and other licenses for 2022 are available. The menu of license options includes the popular Outdoor Combo annual resident hunting/fishing/habitat combo license for $55; the Angler’s Special three-year fishing license for $62; and the Hunter’s Special three-year hunting license with habitat included for $101.

The recent blast of arctic air is growing ice on lakes and ponds over much of Iowa. Anglers are ready to get out for the popular early ice fishing season.

“Many of us can’t wait to get out on the ice each winter,” said Joe Larscheid, chief of fisheries for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “Ice fishing is a fun, inexpensive activity for anglers of all ages to get outdoors and avoid cabin fever.”

ALGONA—On Jan. 4 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced new guidelines for those who test positive for COVID-19 as well as those who are exposed to the virus. 

The CDC has shortened the isolation guidelines for those who have tested positive to: 5 days, if asymptomatic followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others. 

By Madi Adams

AHS Journalism

ALGONA-—Going to college is something some people choose to do. You can go for many different majors. Whether you go to a four year or a two year college, all have lots of classes and activities offered. Sometimes athletes go and play sports in college. Playing sports in high school and playing college sports are different, but they still are very fun.

Hunting seasons will begin closing in early January. Pheasant, archery turkey and deer seasons, and late muzzleloader deer season close on Jan. 10. Goose seasons start closing in the north zone on Jan. 8, followed by the central zone on Jan. 15, and the south zone on Jan. 22.

DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Fish Iowa! and First Catch Center are offering a free ice fishing basics webinar on Jan. 12, from 6 - 7 p.m., via Zoom, for those who have little to no ice fishing experience and would like to try it.

“If you have not tried ice fishing, or if you are just getting started, this webinar is for you,” said Barb Gigar, Fish Iowa! coordinator with the Iowa DNR.