It has been a long struggle, but effective July 1, Kossuth County will no longer be affiliated with County Social Services (CSS). The county will join Northwest Iowa Care Connections for mental health and disability services.
Read the complete story in the Jan. 23 Kossuth County Advance.

There are three finalists to fill the position of chief executive officer and administrator at Kossuth Regional Health Center.
Scott Curtis, vice president of Network Development with MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, said MercyOne, as the employer does not release the names of candidates.
Read more in the Jan. 23 Kossuth County Advance.

Bill Farnham and Anne Bottaro took a few moments to talk about the good old days at the Wilcox Performing Arts Center in Algona on Jan. 16.
Farnham was there to listen to Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg. Bottaro is Buttigieg's deputy political director. Her job is to work with elected officials in Iowa for county party activities, set up meet and greets and talk to Iowans in general.
Read the complete story in the Jan. 23 Kossuth County Advance.

As many as 70 Kossuth County community leaders erupted in applause for the oddest reason during a Kossuth County EMS board meeting. It was after the board made its recommendation to ask the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors to place a tax increase on the ballot for EMS.
At the meeting Jan. 7, the EMS board made two recommendations to the supervisors. Fenton Mayor Al Miller suggest a third.
Read all about it in the Jan. 16 Kossuth County Advance.

Kossuth County Attorney Todd Holmes has been asked to research options for declaring emergency medical services (EMS) an essential service and options for funding, including putting it to a vote of the people.
That was one of three EMS matters addressed during the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday morning, Jan. 14.
Get the whole story in the Jan. 16 Kossuth County Advance.

Meredith Tigges, a member of the Fenton Forwards 4-H group, has sewn quilts with the Trinity Lutheran Center Quilters for two years.
Tigges and other Fenton Forwards spent one of their Christmas break days helping sew bears to donate to nursing homes around the county. "It is a good feeling to give something to someone," Tigges said.
Read more the complete story in the Jan. 16 Kossuth County Advance.

Algona street superintendent Kurt Nielsen and assistant street superintendent Dave Miller were busy Jan. 3 loading sand before the first snowstorm of 2020 hit Kossuth County.
Nielsen said the policy is to hit the streets when their is at least two inches of snow.
Read more in the Jan. 16 Advance.

Standing in front of a tractor at the Kossuth County Ag and Sports Museum Jan. 9 brought back memories for former Sen. John Kerry.
"I was inspired by all the equipment, the role farms played in my life. It brought back memories," Kerry said.
Read the whole story in the Jan. 16 Kossuth County Advance.

While Algona Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vicki Mallory hopes people understand the chamber drives activities that bring people to town. She also realizes there were activities in 2019 that were down compared to previous years.
"We're doing the things that people think just happen and the activities bring people to town. I want them to think of the chamber in relationship to what makes Algona go," she said.
Read more in the Jan. 16 Advance.

Seven teachers in the Algona Community School District (ACSD) plan to take advantage of the district's early retirement program at the end of the school year.
ACSD's board unanimously approved a new early retirement program during a special session last year to pre-empt possible shortfalls in future budgets.
Get all the details in the Jan. 16 Advance.

The Real ID will be required to take domestic flights beginning this October.
The new driver's license includes a star in the top, right corner and will be required for domestic flights or entry into federal and nuclear facilities.
Get the whole story in the Jan. 16 Kossuth County Advance.

A procurement policy was adopted by the Swea City Council to assist the community in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) projects for roadwork in different areas of town. In order to spend any federal funds, this policy must be in place, said Mayor Wendy Zielske.

The Swea City Quasquicentennial Committee is looking for volunteers for the town's 125th anniversary celebration June 26-28.
"A volunteer is someone who is willing to give of their time for the community, having the satisfaction of a job well done and seeing others enjoy the event," said Janet Deim, a member of the committee.
Read more in the Jan. 16 Kossuth County Advance.

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.