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.

The 5th Annual Little Al Foundation Concert will be held this Sunday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m.  The concert will be held at the Lone Rock Presbyterian Church. Guest musicians this year will include Bill Hansen, Glen Henriksen, Ivy Kitzinger, Kent Madison and Gene Miller. The Fenton Sweet Corn Community Choir will perform three songs, including “Noel” and “Celebrate the Child,” and there will also be congregational carol singing.

WHITTEMORE—Whittemore will host “A Walk Along Broad Street” Friday, Dec. 3, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. to celebrate It’s A Wonderful Life in Whittemore.

WEST BEND—The West Bend-Mallard Community School Board of Directors met Tuesday, Nov. 16 to discuss options to meet the need for more space among other things.

The elementary Christmas program will be Dec. 9. Preschool will kick the program off at 6 p.m. followed by the elementary at 7 p.m. There will be art projects displayed for the public to view during the Christmas program as well. The middle school and high school music concert will be Dec. 6. 

ALGONA—The Kossuth County Temporary Redistricting Commission is reviewing options for aligning voting precincts to be used over the next 10 years after holding its second meeting Monday afternoon, Nov. 29, at the courthouse.

Stinson Prairie Arts Council is proud to present a special exhibition of photography that includes various subjects and printed mediums. “Kossuth County Photographers” will be on exhibit from Dec. 9  to Jan. 9 at Algona Publishing. A public opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served and all are welcome.

ALGONA—People are returning to public places to socialize, and starting in January the Algona Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors are planning to resume a practice that was dropped when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Table tents promoting local events were prevalent at restaurants and other locations prior to the March 2020 shutdown and subsequent slow return toward pre-pandemic activities. 

AMES—Farm to school sales from Iowa food hubs were cut in half in 2021, following the loss of state and federal funding. 

In 2020, seven food hubs sold food to 57 schools, compared to 26 schools, colleges and early-care sites in 2021, according to summary report released by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

An incident early Thanksgiving Day has resulted in the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation taking over for the Algona Police Department. Here is a press release from the Algona Police Department, posted to its Facebook page:

By Amy Frankl-Brandt, Assistant Editor

ALGONA—Nettie Renshaw was across the street at her rental property with Wade Pettit, who had been living there. They heard screams for help. The two looked across the road to 419 N. Wooster St. and saw the house was on fire, black smoke billowing out of the windows and doors,  and a woman in the doorway trying to get out.

By Kim Wegener, Features Writer

FENTON—The most rewarding part of Trudy Huskamp Peterson’s career as a certified archivist has been seeing people use the archives and find what they are looking for. 

By Brad Hicks, Publisher

ALGONA—A plan to ask voters about funding emergency medical services advanced Tuesday when the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors okayed the next step in the process.

KOSSUTH COUNTY—The Kossuth County Sheriff’s office recognized Sandy Reefer of Algona as the November 1440 Citizen of the Month.

By Brad Hicks, Publisher

ALGONA—Nonprofits that traditionally received contributions from the city of Algona are being  notified this week of possible changes in how that will be done going forward.