KOSSUTH COUNTY—Individuals interested in serving in local municipalities and school districts can now begin the process of filing paperwork to get their names on the November election ballot.
Candidates may file papers from Monday, Aug. 23, through Thursday, Sept. 16, 5 p.m. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 2, and polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day. Announcements about early voting and voter registration will be made at a later date. 
 

WESLEY—The city is looking for a new mayor after Vahn Schumacher resigned effective Aug. 17. The resignation is due to Schumacher moving out of the city limits. The city council plans to appoint a replacement to serve until the Nov. 2 general election. 
 
Get the full report on this and other city news in the Sept. 2 Advance.

Lone Rock Fun Day events on Sat., Aug. 28 included garage sales, a free throw event, bingo, a meal and street dance. Inclement weather forced the street dance to end a half hour earlier than planned as well as the cancellation of the bags and horse shoe tournaments, kiddie games, happy train rides and pedal pull. A service was held on Sunday at Blakjer Church.
 
See the full report and photos in the Sept. 2 Advance.

ALGONA—A new face can be found at the Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach Kossuth County office. Gentry Sorenson, ISU Extension and Outreach Field Agronomist, began his role on July 6, following the retirement of Paul Kassel. Sorenson is housed in the Kossuth County office located in Algona.
To welcome Gentry to the area, ISU Extension and Outreach Kossuth County is hosting an “Agronomy Coffee” on Friday, Sept. 3, from 9 to 11 a.m. at their office. 
 

KOSSUTH COUNTY—From two to seven inches of rain was reported across Kossuth County in the week ending Sunday. For some crops, it was too late to make much of an impact, but in terms of replenishing the topsoil and subsoil moisture, ag experts universally said it was important.
 
See the full report on the Farm page in the Sept. 2 Advance. 

ALGONA—The Algona City Council selected Brad Hoover to fill a vacancy and serve as an at-large council member.
The action came at Monday evening’s regular meeting. 
Among other items, the council discussed a development agreement with Fratco, reviewed the street project and previous downtown development planning, and started work to enact a different snow removal policy for parking lots.
 
Read the full accounts in the Aug. 19 Advance.
 

ALGONA—Ten employees at Good Samaritan Society-Algona staged a planned walk-out to protest a mandate that they become vaccinated against COVID-19 or be fired this fall.
The noon-hour protest was in the parking lot of the facility. The group held signs that stated objections to the vaccine and/or the requirement they take it. 
 
Read the full story in the Aug. 19 Advance.

KOSSUTH COUNTY—Kossuth County’s population fell 4.6 percent from 2010 to 2020, according to new county and city population figures from the decennial U.S. Census and released by the State Library of Iowa Data Center. 
 
Get the full story on this and all of the communities in the county, plus area counties, in the Aug. 19 Advance.

ALGONA—Kossuth County on Tuesday afternoon began the process of trying to figure out what to do with $2.8 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan. 
The board of supervisors held a special planning meeting at the courthouse starting at 1 p.m. 
The work begins around a document that outlines the allowable uses for the funds. 
 
For info on this and other county board activities, see the Aug. 19 Advance.

This story is presented complete as a public service by the Advance.
 
   KOSSUTH COUNTY—One death and 25 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Kossuth County last week, according to statistics on the Iowa coronavirus website. 

ALGONA— This has been an exciting summer for Algona band students so far and it doesn’t look like the fun is ending anytime soon. 
The students received top-notch instruction at band camp this year and are excited for their debut performance at the first home football game on Aug. 27. 
 
See the full story on this, and get a Bishop Garrigan school year preview in the Aug. 19 Advance.

Editor’s note: Here are profiles on some of this year’s new teachers in the Kossuth County area. The Advance submits questions to all of the new instructors in the area each new school year, but it is up the teachers to respond if they so choose. We thank those who decided to share their insights.
 
Joe Ingalls
School District & Teaching Assignment: 7th grade social studies at the Algona Middle School.

EMMETSBURG—Summer commencement ceremony for Iowa Lakes Community College was held on the Emmetsburg campus of ILCC on Friday, July 30. More than 70 students applied for summer graduation to receive the certificate, diploma, and/or degree earned.
Abigail Kintzle, a massage therapy diploma candidate and business owner from Swea City, presented the student address. Elizabeth Larsen, massage therapy instructor from Algona, introduced Kintzle. 
 

The final Party In the Park event for the summer with the theme, “Summer Showcase,” was held on Wednesday, Aug. 11, on the lawn of the future Carnegie Centre for the Arts in Algona. Sponsored by the Algona Area Chamber of Commerce and co-sponsored by Algona Public Library, the August event featured entertainment by Morgan Kahler Kuecker, Emma Elsbecker, Kyle Wehrspan, Brian Kollasch and Noah Wehrspan. 
 
Get more information and photos in the Aug. 19 Advance.