By Amy Frankl-Brandt, Assistant Editor

ALGONA— Jemma Vaske’s  family and Mandie Studer, founder of the non-profit organization, Pay it Forward Always, teamed up together to donate 62 Thirty -One bags filled with goodies for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Des Moines over Thanksgiving.

ALGONA—It’s been almost 17 months since the Algona Public Library staff and volunteers boxed up the entire operation and moved it to a temporary location so a massive renovation project could get underway. 

The interior renovations are complete, and at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 6, the library will reopen at its permanent home at 210 N. Phillips St. 

The public is invited to stop and see the updated facility – and use its services.

ALGONA—Kossuth Regional Health Center (KRHC) is reacting to the Biden Administration’s requirement that medical facilities receiving Medicare reimbursement meet requirements to have employees vaccinated against COVID-19 by early 2022.

The matter was reviewed at the Nov. 23 hospital board of trustees meeting, according to Dar Elbert, hospital administrator and chief nursing officer.

ALGONA—This week’s free holiday merchant movie at the State 5 Theatre is “Sing.”

Showtimes for the free movie are Saturday at 11 a.m. and noon and then Sunday at noon.

ALGONA—The renovated Algona Public Library will host Cocoa and Carols Thursday, Dec. 9, 4-6 p.m. There will be a hot cocoa bar, live holiday music, prize drawings and other activities in the reopened facility at 210 N. Phillips St.

The event will be followed by Santa Storytime from 6 to 8 p.m.

ALGONA—Another Kossuth County resident has died from the COVID-19 coronavirus, and the state’s website reported Monday that 43 more county residents have tested positive for the virus – a rate of 7 percent, which is below the statewide average of 10.8 percent.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 2,894 cases in the county and 77 deaths. 

“Carols of Christmas,”  a cantata written by John W. Petersen, will be presented by the Algona Presbyterian Church Christmas choir Sunday, Dec. 12, at 3 p.m.  

Jim and Teresa Baer lost their home on North Wooster Street in Algona to a fire Saturday, Nov. 20. Both have health problems. Their granddaughter has set up a Go Fund Me page for people to make donations to help them. The link is https://gofund.me/fc05e3f5. As of Tuesday, $960 of a $10,000 goal had been raised.

Lifeserve Blood Center will host drives in Algona and Wesley next week. The Algona drives are Monday, Dec. 6, 12:30-5:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 7, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church. The Wesley drive is at the community center Thursday, Dec. 9, 2-6 p.m. Appointments are required at 800-287-4903 or lifeserve.info/schedule.

The Fenton Public Library has changed its hours. They are Monday and Thursday, 9-11 a.m. and 1-7 p.m.; Tuesday, 9-11 a.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The library is closed Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

ACCIDENT: Rear ended when avoiding hitting deer

BIRTH: Letti Marie Laubenthal

Jordan and Chelsea (Banwart) Laubenthal of West Bend announce the birth of their daughter, Letti Marie, on Nov. 4, 2021, at the Kossuth Regional Health Center. 

Letti weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces and was 21.5 inches long. She is welcomed home by a sister, Sadie.

Maternal grandparents are Craig and Tina Banwart of Ottosen. Paternal grandparents are Keith and Connie Laubenthal of West Bend. 

Jacob Bollinger of Fenton was recently awarded a Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship and grant recipients were announced during Niman Ranch’s 23rd annual Hog Farmer Appreciation Dinner. 

WAVERLY—Joseph Goetz of Buffalo Center was one of 36 Wartburg College students recently inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma honor society.

Phi Eta Sigma is the oldest and largest freshman honor society. A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 and be in the top 20 percent of their class by the end of the first year.

Fenton Public Library hosts its annual holiday open house Saturday, Dec. 11, 9-11 a.m., corresponding with Fenton’s Santa Day. The library will serve cinnamon rolls and coffee, and there will be door prizes for children and adults.